Read an Excerpt
Think for Your Self with Inspirational Words
By Joseph J.R. Mattera AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2015 Joseph J.R. Mattera
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-2932-5
CHAPTER 1
Motivational people
These are the people that try to inspire us to reach for the stars. They are the ones that make us look at ourselves and find out what we want out of our lives. The libraries and bookstores are filled with their self-help material.
Most of us want more out of life than what we have, and there is a certain "wonder" that we feel when a story is told about a successful person that achieves something great. If you are old enough, do you remember how you felt when Neil Armstrong first walked on the Moon? As a young boy I could only imagine what it was like to actually travel that far into space and then to get out of the spaceship and step onto the Moon. What was it that inspired man to invent a rocket ship that can travel that far into space? Who was the person that motivated someone to do this?
Motivational people can transform our lives if we only listen to them and do the things they say. What do you want in your life? Who inspires you? Perhaps one of the next 10 quotes will drive you into action and change your life forever. Everyone needs some motivation. Why not listen to the successful motivational people of the past and present and allow them to enter your mind, maybe you will get what you really want from your life. Who knows what can happen if you try to transform negative thoughts into positive ones and really try to be all that you can be?
Ask yourself these 5 questions:
1. What do I see myself doing in the next year?
2. What do I want in my life that is currently missing?
3. What are the places that I want to see?
4. What is it that keeps me from doing what I always wanted?
5. What makes me happy?
Maybe the answers will come from the 10 quotes of motivational people. Then after you are done reading this book try to come up with your own quotes and live your life as you want to, using your quote as your guide to find what you want in your life. Live in the moment and glide toward the future. Look toward the sky and wonder.
NUMBER 1
"Don't let the fear of time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might as well put that passing time to the best possible use."
Earl Nightingale
Procrastination comes to mind with this first quote. How many times have we put off doing something simply because we are afraid of the outcome but yet not even know we are afraid? Many successful people fail and fail again before they get it right. Why not use our time to the best of our ability and try to accomplish what it is we set out to do. Everybody has the same amount of time in a day to use. Why is it that some people seem to accomplish so much while others seem to struggle all of their lives? Maybe it is because successful people seem to try different things until they find what it is they want and unsuccessful people don't bother to try at all? Or the disappointment may seem so great that the person feels overwhelmed by trying to change? Who knows? Perhaps a good doctor can help when things get too tough. One thing I do know is this quote really tells you to just do it. Follow your dream and have no fear. Fear is a terrible feeling and should not be part of your life. Become who you really want to become. Maybe this is the first step toward true happiness?
NUMBER 2
"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals"
Zig Zigler
I was once told by a person much wiser than myself that it is not necessarily the goal or achieving the goal that is as important as the journey. The experience of accomplishing a goal is definitely a confidence builder and it can be exciting. I really love this quote because it has a simple message. The mystery is, you never really know what is going to happen unless you take action. The fact that you take the time to set a goal and accomplish it becomes a great human accomplishment which in many ways sets us apart from animals. The human mind is a magnificent thing that should be used to the best of one's ability. The life experience that you gain in accomplishing a goal is as important as accomplishing the goal. Zig Zigler says we should enjoy the ride along the way and get as much out of the experience or even more than the actual goal.
The old saying it's not how you drive but how you arrive. Achieving a goal is the result of hard work and dedication directed toward an achievement. The experience and the excitement of achieving something you set out to do can be a fantastic journey. The problems you face will build your character and make you appreciate hard work. When you achieve a goal that is important to you, it helps build your confidence and self esteem, which directly makes you an accomplished person.
NUMBER 3
"All successful people men and women are big dreamers, they imagine what their fortune could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose."
Dr. Brian Tracy
Isn't this the summary of how the American dream can be achieved? To be successful is what almost all good parents want for their children. Schools are supposed to educate children and prepare them for the real world and most children believe early in life that they will be successful. They dream big and look at the world innocently. I think what sometimes happens to people is they lose sight of their dreams. They get caught in the everyday world of working and caring so much about others sometimes they forget how great they can be. If there is anything you really want and dream about, I feel you should give it the old college try because it is better to have tried and failed then to have never tried at all. There are many stories of men who became millionaires only to lose it all and become millionaires again. There are many stories about people who start second careers later in their life and become wildly successful. Remember the story of the late Colonel Harland Sanders?
NUMBER 4
"You have to put in many tiny efforts that nobody else sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile."
Dr. Brian Tracy
This quote seems to go along with the previous quote perhaps because it is the same man who wrote it. After you dream what you want and visualize it, you must then start the process of achieving it and this may take a lifetime, depending on the dream. After you accomplish what it is you set out to do, you may look back at all the little steps you took to accomplish your goal. For example let us say your dream is to build a "dream house". Think of all the planning and details needed to make it a reality. Finding land, buying the proper permits, having it surveyed, designing the structure, and this is before you even break ground. Think of all the details that go into the design. How important are those little details if one of them is wrong? Isn't it the little things in life that really mean a lot?
NUMBER 5
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
I heard this quote from an educational television program from Dr. Dyer. This particular quote meant a lot to me because after I started to think, it made me realize, there are always different ways to look at almost anything or any situation. What you may think is right may be wrong to someone else. If you are in a bad situation change the way you look at the situation and maybe you can figure a way to survive it or make it better. You can take almost any negative and turn it into a positive. I believe the world is made up by people and into this world or air, negative and positive thoughts are spoken and they almost equal out. You've probably walked into a room and felt some type of feeling either positive or negative, a phenomenon. What a powerful quote. Remember no one has the power to change you, except yourself.
NUMBER 6
"Fear is a little dark room where negatives are developed."
Unknown
Not sure when I heard this the first time but it sure motivates me to think positive or at least try to have positive thoughts. A friend of mine wrote a book called Mental Science 101 and in his book he states that many negative thoughts enter the mind on a daily basis. You have to train your mind into believing positive thoughts or it is quite possible for the negative thoughts to take over your mind. Perhaps this may be a basic explanation of how a person becomes depressed. Fear is certainly something most people are afraid of. Yet this very fear can take over a man's life and make him do things that he would never do. Find the fear, try to understand the fear, then conquer the fear, and you may set yourself free. We all want to be free of worries and fear. Once you have found out how to do this, think how much happier you can become.
NUMBER 7
"Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant seeds like love, courage, and appreciation instead of seeds like disappointment, anger, and fear."
Anthony Robbins
Tony Robbins is a modern day miracle worker for those that seek his services. He has helped many people change their lives. His ideas and words not only inspire, but they can turn you into the person that you always wanted to become if you let yourself. Your mind he says, is the ultimate garden. What do you plant in your garden? If you talk about love, courage, and being grateful and appreciative who you are and what you have done, then you have a world class garden and are someone that people will enjoy being with. Spread love in the world and teach your children if you are fortunate enough to have them, how to love others as you love them? Think how wonderful the world would be if we all lived with these thoughts.
Most of the terrible things that happen such as hate crimes and rape, happen because the people that commit these terrible crimes are full of fear and anger of someone or something in their life or past. If only those people would realize that the alternative is a much more peaceful way of life and if they could only change their way of thinking they would bring joy to others instead of hatred. Imagine what the late, great John Lennon said and sang. Imagine all the people living life in peace.
NUMBER 8
"It is in the moment of your decisions that your destiny is shaped."
Anthony Robbins
I like this because it is very profound. It almost sounds as if it came from the days of ancient history. King Arthur could have said this to one of his faithful followers. When you make a decision there will be some type of reaction or change that is directly affected by that decision. I believe in the end when our destiny is behind us, our decisions that we made, our choices in life, caused or influenced our destiny. It is imperative to make important decisions carefully. We should always think how our decisions will affect those people around us. Especially our families. If we are filled with love in our hearts then love will affect our decisions. Keep good thoughts in your head and good decisions will be made. From these good decisions a great destiny may transform.
NUMBER 9
"The world is full of people who are grabbing and self-seeking. So the rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage."
Dale Carnegie
I first read this quote in his classic book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People." A book that at one time was required reading in many professional sales careers. Some people can be selfish and self-centered and some people are willing to lend a hand to a person in need. What type of person are you? Maybe it is the fast paced world we live in that causes people to focus primarily on their individual needs. It really takes a special person to care for other people. Special people help other people and that is really what makes the world great, especially when you meet people who are that way. When you encounter a person who is caring of others, try to honor that person because in today's society they seem to be rare. Become the person you want to be. Perform a self-analysis because as you know people can change if they really have that burning desire. My old Italian manager, from a job I worked at many years ago, used to have a button he wore that read, "you gotta wanna."
NUMBER 10
"One of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone is the gift of attention."
Jim Rohn
When you make a stranger feel good it makes you feel good. When you make a loved one feel good it also feels good. Paying attention to other people is such a wonderful trait to have. Instead of being all wrapped up in your own world, step outside of your self and make other people feel good about themselves. If we all felt this way and practiced this religiously we would all feel better about ourselves. Attention to detail can be a learned behavior.
Isn't attention all young children really want, along with candy? Children are innocent and young and they can be taught almost anything. My question is, what are we teaching our children in society today? Is it possible that we can reshape society by just paying attention to what the children are saying? Young children are usually paying attention to their parents. They may not listen the way we want but they are paying attention. They see what we do and try to emulate us. Be that solid role model for your children. The leaders of the family are the parents who pay attention to their children.
Notes
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CHAPTER 2
The Spiritual Leaders
These are the people that are more in touch with their souls and spirits. They look deeper into the world and help us to find the answers to many questions about our existence. It is these Spiritual Leaders that try to influence us to find peace and love within ourselves. These quotes are moving emotionally and spiritually. They are the quotes that ask you look into your heart and find yourself.
Most of these quotes come from famous people, however there is one from a friend of mine who is a spiritual leader to me and to the people that know him. Whenever the need arises to be moved spiritually, I simply pick up the phone and give him a call. He has not failed me yet. At one time he was also my instructor. I think I even passed his class.
Take a look at these quotes and maybe one will fill your heart with something that will move you spiritually. There are certainties in life and one thing for certain is that we all need to be uplifted at some point in our lives. Think of the times when you may have lost a loved one or even a special pet. This was probably a time in your life when perhaps you looked for a reason or an answer. Spiritual Leaders can also be inspirational leaders and that is something we all need.
NUMBER 11
"There is no way to gratitude, gratitude is the way"
Mahatma Gandhi
The "great soul" Mahatma Gandhi tried to stop wars and promote peace during his lifetime. This particular quote is pertinent to me as a father. Being grateful for what you have rather than for what you do not have is so important. I have tried to instill this value in my children for many years. Gratitude must be the only attitude. We should all start our day with gratitude. Gratitude for the fact that you are awake. Gratitude for all the wonderful things in your life. Gratitude for experiences in your life, good or bad. Even if your life may not seem wonderful there is something you have in your life you can be grateful for. Change your life by being grateful for everything and every person you have ever met. If you start each day with thoughts of gratitude then your life will take a turn for the better and will continue to be wonderful. Do not skip a day without being grateful. Gratitude must be the only attitude.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Think for Your Self with Inspirational Words by Joseph J.R. Mattera. Copyright © 2015 Joseph J.R. Mattera. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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