“Are we really growing towards a realization? Or are we, perhaps, just going in circles—we who think that at some point we shall escape the circle of existence?” — Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha Good habits and bad alike offer ample opportunity to become trapped in a cycle of routine. Writing every morning is likely a good…
I want to break free, I want to break freeI want to break free from your liesYou’re so self-satisfied I don’t need youI’ve got to break freeGod knows, God knows I want to break free— Queen, I Want to Break Free When does a great habit ground another habit before it can take off? Are…
“Be careful how you interpret the world; it is like that.” — Erich Heller “We are defined by the stories we tell ourselves.” — Tony Robbins Our beliefs do have a way of defining us, don’t they? Tell a story enough times and it begins to feel like our truth. Stories about who we are,…
Breaking the habit loop is relatively easy when you’re in an environment that is disruptive to bad habits. If everyone around you gets up early and walks together, it’s an easy leap to join them. But if you’re an early morning walker and everyone around you stays up late talking and drinking until the wee…
“I write because I want more than one life; I insist on a wider selection. It’s greed, plain and simple. When my characters join the circus, I’m joining the circus. Although I’m happily married, I spent a great deal of time mentally living with incompatible husbands.” — Anne Tyler “I read so I can live…
“Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. Read good books, have good sentences in your ears. Be by yourself as often as you can. Walk. Take the phone off the hook. Work regular hours.” — Jane Kenyon Last year my bride and I took…
“The fact of the matter is that aiming discipline at the right habit gives you license to be less disciplined in other areas. When you do the right thing, it can liberate you from having to monitor everything.” — Gary Keller, The One Thing Doing the right thing begins with knowing what the right thing…
“I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.” — Hermann Hesse, Demian We all listen to whispers—hints and suggestions and guidance from deep within. We usually don’t act on most of these. Perhaps…
“Go live your life. Live it fully, without fear. Live with purpose, give it your all, and never give up.” Effort is important, for without it you will never succeed at your highest level. Achievement is important, for without it you will never experience your true potential. Pursuing purpose is important, for unless you do,…
“We are kept from our goal, not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.” — Robert Brault I have a work friend who works at a frenetic pace. He’s constantly charging from one thing to the next, in a hyper-reactive state trying to do more than one ought to aspire to…