Contentment, Not Envy

Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy,
to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter,
and to lead but not manipulate.
- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994 writer, educator, and church lay leader)

The more generous we are, the more joyous we become.
The more cooperative we are, the more valuable we become.
The more enthusiastic we are, the more productive we become.
The more serving we are, the more prosperous we become.
- William Arthur Ward

He who is contented is rich.
- Lao Tzu

It is not our circumstances that create
our discontent or contentment.
It is us.
- Vivian Greene

It is not the man who has too little,
but the man who craves more, that is poor.
- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

A good life isn't measured in material goods.
There is no quicker path to misery than coveting your neighbors' stuff.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: What You Have That Money Can't Buy

Simple Joys, the Essence of Life

Contentment in Ourselves
    

Where There Is Great Love

Where there is great love there are always miracles.
- Willa Cather

The greatest gift that you can give to others is the
gift of unconditional love and acceptance.
- Brian Tracy

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

As selfishness and complaint
pervert and cloud the mind,
so love with its joy
clears and sharpens the vision.
- Helen Keller

Love is the greatest force for good.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Where love is, there God is also.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

Further reading: Love: the Greatest Force for Good.

Where There is Love, Nothing is Missing - a Parable

Miracles are Expressions of Love
       

Everyday Miracles

The best portion of a good man's life
is his little, nameless, unremembered
acts of kindness and of love.
- William Wordsworth

A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.
- Anonymous

Miracles happen everyday,
change your perception of what a miracle is
and you'll see them all around you.
- Jon Bon Jovi

Our "Rainbows and Butterflies" are the small miracles of our life -
the little things that are so easy to overlook,
yet so awe inspiring when we take a moment
to notice and to pay attention.
Give thanks for the rainbows, for the butterflies,
for all God's creatures - large and small,
for the bright blue sky and the soft fog and the gentle rain,
for the tree veiled in the season's first frost,
for the baby's laugh,
for the touch of a hand and the whispered "I love you."
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: Everything is a Miracle

Appreciate Your Blessings

Appreciate Today

Have Gratitude for All Life
       

Reality

Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are,
and doing things as they ought to be done.
- Josh Billings

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
- Aldous Huxley

There's a world of difference between truth and facts.
Facts can obscure truth.
- Maya Angelou

You have a choice about the perspective you take on life.
See tragedy, and the world is tragic -
see beauty, and the world is beautiful.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

All that is real is seen with the heart.
- Vivian Greene

Reality = Facts + Emotions
Read my article What Is Reality?

Further reading: Seeing, Really Seeing

Dream To Reality

Perspective
     

What is Important

Take a step back,
evaluate what is important,
and enjoy life.
- Teri Garr

Laughter gives us distance.
It allows us to step back from an event,
deal with it and then move on.
- Bob Newhart

At some point everything gets a little stale
and you have to step away from it.
- Les Claypool

Winners have the ability to step back
from the canvas of their lives
like an artist gaining perspective.
- Denis Waitley

Put some distance between yourself
and whatever is concerning you.
Distance in space or time
always creates a new perspective.
Take time to contemplate -
away from the opinions and influence of others -
what you really want
and what you believe to be important in your life.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Further reading: Through the Eyes of Another

Appreciate the Commonplace

Kick Back

Perspective on Diversity