So, who am I to tell you to never give up?

I don’t know you and we have never met. I don’t know your challenges and the struggle that you have faced up until this point. And I certainly don’t claim to know what may be in the store for you in the future.

So again, who am I to tell you to never give up?

I believe that we as humans have so much more in common than we could have ever thought possible. When was the last time you recall relating with another individual through the lens of commonality? Think about that for a moment.

You and I have more in common than I could talk about for hours.

We are both energy beings. We both have a physical body which has the ability to explore and experience this marvelous physical dimension. We were both born into families and places we did not pick. Neither of us picked our sex before birth. We did not choose much of what happened to us in the foundational years of our early life. We just experienced it.

We both became conscious of life one day, realizing that we are spirit in a physical body enjoying planet earth while it’s spinning around the sun, which in turn is spinning around something else, and so on…

You and I are simply concentrations of consciousness who are experiencing the physical dimension in a physical body. We are a part of something so much bigger than us, it is like a single cell in your body trying to imagine what it’s place is in the grand scheme of things.

I could go on and on-

The bottom line is that we have tremendous commonalities if we just sit down for a moment and think about them.

And so I understand your struggle in life because I face and confront mine every morning when I wake up. I share the same experience through my own aspects, just as you do through yours.

You may be facing a plethora of problems and challenges in your life at the current moment.

You may be lost spiritually, not knowing which religion or faith is the answer for you. You may be experiencing the symptoms of a chronic disease at this time which is taking a serious toll on your affairs. You may not be blessed with the relationships and intimacy from other humans that you are naturally wired to crave. You might be sick and tired of school and unsure of where it will take you in the future. You may be experiencing financial lack at this time. And so on and so forth…

Let me share a mindset with you which will make your life easier.

Repeat after me, aloud: “Every problem in the universe has a solution.”

One more time, aloud: “”Every problem in the universe has a solution.”

Yes. It does. There is two ways you can find it. You can either find it yourself (hint: Google it!), or find another person that knows the solution or where to find the solution.

I swear it is that simple. If you choose to view life with a mindset that says.. “problems are a normal state of affairs in life and I realize that every problem in the universe has a solution,” you will just have an easier time going about life. Try it for yourself. If it does not work out for you, find something that does.

So, you and I agree that we all experience problems and challenges while on the journey of life and that there are solutions for those problems out there as long as we are conscious and willing to solve our issues. That is a fact.

What ticks me off big time, and I mean big time (which is why I am taking the time to share this my thoughts with you in regards to this subject) is when people just give up on all different areas of their life.

They give up on their dreams, their challenges, their problems, and their struggles. They stagnate at the current level of intelligence and skill, choosing not to grow and expand their abilities as time progresses while expecting others to hand things to them. They begin to believe that the problems they are experiencing in the areas of spirituality, health, relationships, finances, etc. currently are always going to stop them from experiencing life to the fullest capacity…

For those people I say never give up on your struggle of life because you are a part of a larger whole whose agenda is to advance and move forward. That larger whole that we are all a part of is consciousness. Consciousness is our commonality and it is the canvas on which time, space, and matter are painted.

So I say to you that the larger whole of life is moving forward. That you must move forward because that is what you are wired to do. It is the only way that you can begin to align yourself with the spirit of our universe and experience the joy and abundance that is everywhere around us.

So go out there and give life all you got. You were born to do it.

Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if I was on planet earth thousands of years ago when language was somewhat non-existent, extremely elementary at best. Although our lives would have been much simpler, I am certain people were greatly challenged with their ability to effectively communicate their feelings and the beauty they witnessed in the marvelous world around them.

Fast forwarding thousands of year later, language today is quite comprehensive. Maybe it is a little bit too complex at times. The more complex language a person uses, the smaller their audience.

Anyhow, one absolutely amazing aspect of language is the ability to take a complex concept and put it into simple words which can be easily understood by the masses. For example, a metaphor can shortcut our understanding of concepts which may have taken years to understand otherwise.

One application of words which I have always been extremely touched by is inspirational quotes. It would have taken me a long time to come to the same conclusions on my own had it not been for certain quotes which I came across during specific times of my life.

Below are four inspirational quotes which simply changed my life. I can proudly say that I wake up every morning and live by these words. I hope for you to find them moving as well.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Humans are total creatures of habit. We live our entire life in little chunks called days which seem to last forever between birth and death. As we perform certain actions daily over and over again, we unconsciously create patterns which will thoroughly run our lives whether we are aware of their existence or not.

If you wish you create the life of your dreams, start by creating the day of your dreams. If you can do what matters most to you everyday, your life is almost guaranteed to be a success. Don’t worry too much about tomorrow. Definitely don’t worry at all about yesterday because it is already gone. However, what you do today is most significant since it will become your past and will be your future.

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.” – George Bernard Shaw

One thing is for sure and that is; it matters not where one is coming from, but only where one is going. Since we do not have control of the circumstances we are born into or those present in our life for the first decade and half, it is crucial to realize that how we choose to interpret the circumstances in our early life will either make us or break us.

It is unfortunate to see people blaming everyone else for the circumstances in their lives. Their spouse, their boss, their parents, the government, and the list can go on and on. It is essential for an individual to realize that when they believe “a problem” to be out there in the external world, they are unconsciously giving up their power to find and reach a solution. Therefore, one must always believe in their ability to influence their life and circumstances though the power of choices, decisions, and beliefs.

“Failure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don’t fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.” – Jim Rohn

This quote by Jim Rohn is totally profound. It is profound because not only does it break down “failure” into a very simple yet comprehensive understanding; the same quote gives us the foundational understanding of success as well.

You see success is not a destination, it is a journey. That is why you hear people say “my overnight success took me 30 years.”

Being a success is not an event, but rather a journey of living true to one’s cause and values on a day to day basis. Once you have chosen and locked down your purpose in life, it is your day to day judgments which will serve as the vehicle to transport you to your destination. So, stick to your causes and what means the most to you daily and your lifetime success will take care of itself.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Again, life changing words in my opinion. Each human must realize that at the core of their life lies the same thread which is present in everyone’s life; service to others.

You see, we can spend our whole lifetime creating a legacy through our accomplishments. Fancy cars, huge estates, and marvelous material abundance are all fun and pleasure, and there is nothing wrong with them. These luxuries are our right if we so choose for the time and effort we have put forth in creating our lives and businesses.

However, if we wish to be a legend, what really counts is that which we give to others. Thus, as we pass on to an unknown realm of existence after life on earth, we continue to live through others by our donations of not just money and gifts but through the image of an extraordinary citizen who practiced a habit of giving to others less fortunate in mind and material life.

I hope you enjoyed the quotes and appreciated the profound lessons which they carry. It is words like these which have inspired the great spirit in others to do what was considered impossible, and achieve what was considered unachievable.

I wish for you to find plenty of inspirational quotes which carry profound meaning for you. When you do find such quotes or if you already have some, be sure to put them in places where you are likely to see them everyday such as your bathroom mirror, bedroom wall, car, or the inside of your wallet.

May your life be filled with meaning and accomplishment.

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” Robert F Kennedy

If you find yourself up against the same problems and issues today which you were facing years ago, it may be the right time to start looking at things differently. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.

Being successful is very simple. Just model others who are successful. Talk like they talk, do what they do, and most importantly think like they think. Focus on less, but only on that which is more important to you, whatever that may be.

There are certain areas which are equally important to the well being of every human when it comes to success and happiness. These areas are spiritual fulfillment, vibrant physical health, nurturing relationships, and financial wealth.

There are many reasons why people fail to attain the state known as success, or even happiness. Below are seven of the most common reasons in my opinion.

Not Knowing What They Want
The number one reason why people are unsuccessful or unhappy is because they do not know what they want out of life. You see, life is a like a blank canvas. It is up to each individual to pick the colors they wish to paint and draw any picture they please. If a person does not choose to pick their colors or picture to paint, they can be certain that someone else who does know what they want will pick it for them.

When going into any situation, whether it is as simple as a phone call, or as complex as an entire lifetime, knowing what you want is essential to getting what you want. It is the destination which we must have in mind clearly prior to starting any journey.

Not Doing What They Know
Knowledge and action are worlds apart. Just because you know that you need to eat healthy and exercise regularly in order to attain vibrant health does not mean that you will do it.

In my personal opinion, the only reason why people do what they know is because of an intense desire to gain what they are after. If there is a strong emotional need to become healthier, richer, happier, or whatever else, there is nothing in the world which can stop a human will to achieve these ideals.

Not Associating With The Right People
Simply said, you will eventually become who your friends are. Either they will become like you, or you like them. It is plain, yet profoundly true. It is also a fact that your earnings will be within 20% or so of the average earnings of your five closest friends. Don’t believe me? Do the rough math in your own head for your own situation and you are certainly in for a shocker.

The people who we surround ourselves with immensely affect how we think. We borrow not only their thoughts and ideologies, but also their manners and habits. Associate yourself with positive, successful people and you are certain to become one as well.

Not learning and Educating Further
Tom Hopkins, a Real Estate genius put it this way; “No one limits your growth but you. If you want to earn more, learn more.” Further educating yourself in the areas which you deem important and worthwhile is an absolute necessity to just earning more but also advancing your life further as a whole.

Want to learn more? Walk into a Borders or Barnes & Noble and you are certain to find more books on the areas of your interest that you can possibly read in the next year. There is also a tremendous amount of free information available of the Internet on any subject you can think of. Use this information to learn more and constantly grow yourself.

Doing What Everyone Else Is Doing
If you do what everyone else is doing, you are going to have what everyone else has. This may not be a bad thing, however if you are not wanting to settle for what everyone else has, than be ready to take action differently. Most adults go out and get a college degree, or not even that, they work different jobs for 30-40 years, and are dependent upon the government or others to take care of them in their later years.

If you do not want that for yourself, you have got to get away from the weekly paycheck trap. It is a total hamster wheel. You may be working very hard and constantly busy but you will not be going anywhere in all actuality.

Not Taking Enough Risks
Simply put, the bigger the risk the bigger the reward. If you are willing to put yourself out there and be vulnerable, you will have so much more to gain than those who choose to blanket their lives with “security.” I love what Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy.com has to say about security, “Security is for cadavers.”

The truth is that real growth occurs when you get and stay out of your normal comfort zone. You only gain the most when you push yourself to do things you are uncomfortable doing under normal circumstances.

Giving Up
Unfortunately most people have been accustomed to giving up as being okay. If you are running a marathon and your foot start hurting, society teaches us that it is okay to stop and pull out because you foot was hurting. The question to ask yourself is; how can you ever win a race if you don’t finish it?

In reality, the last 20% of your effort typically gives you 80% of your results. You must keep going until you have accomplished whatever you set out to do. If you can only learn to get out of your own way and just keep going, there is nothing that will be able to stop you.

These seven reasons are what I believe to be the biggest challenges which stop people in living the life of their dreams and experience the beauty of all that life has to offer. If we can learn to overcome these challenges, and constantly push ourselves to advance further, all of the rewards are ours to gain and enjoy.

May your journey to your best be filled with success and happiness.

Now this is one POWERFUL story-

“One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, ‘Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.

They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him…

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, ‘Those guys are jerks.’

They really should get lives.

He looked at me and said, ‘Hey thanks!’

There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before..

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football

with my friends . He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, ‘Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!

He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends..

When we were seniors we began to think about college.

Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.

He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak.

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, ‘Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!’

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. ‘ Thanks,’ he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

‘Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach…but mostly your friends….

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.’

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the

first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

‘Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..’

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it’s depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions..

With one small gesture you can change a person’s life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.”

Wow… I am speechless-