When we try our best and still lose, that is the best time for reflection. As we ponder what went wrong, we can come understand ourselves better. Sometimes we learn by getting beaten. As we learn to lose, we eventually will learn to win. 

If you want what you have, you are already successful.

If you are thankful for who you are, you are already successful. 

Being ready doesn’t mean it won’t be hard. Being ready just means you are prepared to keep going. 

Counting your blessings can be done one-by-one. 

Counting your blessings can be done bushel-by-bushel. 

Counting your blessings can be done day-by-day. 

Counting your blessing can be done year-by-year. 

It doesn’t matter, as long as you count them. 

Everybody wants to give advice, 

yet – nobody wants to change, 

no body wants the work. 

Without the willingness to also do the work yourself, advice is worthless. 

Pursuit creates the satisfaction. 

Not the achievement, not the attainment, but the worthy endeavor.

Joy and happiness are found from pursuing what is right, not getting what you feel you deserve. 

What we ask for is always important. 

How we answer the call of what others ask for is more important. 

The more we avoid discomfort, suffering, and pain the more sensitive we become to everything that happens around us. 

We get tricked into believing that what is happening around us is actually happening to us. 

If we have pain inside of us, it is natural to avoid more pain. 

If we let go of the pain inside of us, then there is nothing to avoid and we do not get bothered or affected by what happens outside of us. 

Specific problems require specific solutions. When you ask “What is to be done?” and you get vague response, either you are not trusted or you will also get vague results. Both are negative scenarios, to negative to allow. If you help people develop detailed plans, then the results will be more predictable. 

Once you decide you want to be free,

that is when suffering,

ends.