Helen Keller

I am wondering if you love quotes as much as I do. Quotes are probably one of our greatest sources of inspiration. Not a day goes by that I do not find beauty and wisdom in the words and thoughts of others. Sometimes, it is my patients who speak profound words that touch my soul. Other times, I come upon words that make me stop in my tracks, words which come from a guest on a television or radio show or an article from the internet, the newspaper or a magazine. Of course, there are the words of our great philosophers, writers and great leaders throughout history who continue to motivate and inspire all of us.

Perhaps you have, like my husband and myself, been collecting particularly inspiring words of wisdom and have been jotting them down and storing them somewhere where you can refer to them in times when they seem especially appropriate. I have an ongoing book of quotes I have been creating as a gift to give to my readers, filled with quotes that have inspired me and which, I hope, have the power to inspire you.

Books are one of the greatest sources of words of inspirations. Whether in the form of stories, poems, journal entries or essays, these quotations are often so beautifully and powerfully written that they move, touch, motivate and inspire us to take action – action which may serve to help us find our purpose or to help improve our world on a scale we could not have imagined possible! Perhaps, this is also why we see so many calendars with quotes. What better way to motivate you to have a great day than to provide you, at the beginning of your day, with great words of truth and inspiration.

Just this evening, on the ABC Evening News, the Person of the Week was a woman who had written a children’s book that has inspired children to take actions which raise funds to help children in Africa to have a better quality of life. Because she was honored and her work was discussed on a national news program, I am confident that this author has inspires countless numbers of others to find a way to make a difference.

Even the words of our children’s beloved Mr. Rodgers have been released in a book which I recently purchased. Why would I buy such a book? Because Fred Rogers’ words inspired me while he was alive and are even more inspirational for me since his death. Just consider the following quote which I find to be inspirational: Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors.

One more example that I wish to offer you of words from Fred Rodgers that inspired me: When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is: the lovely with the unlovely, the strong along with the fearful, the true mixed in with the façade, and, of course, the only way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way. I believe that what inspires us about this gentle soul is that he lived what he preached – and he lived with great dignity while inspiring all of us to live with dignity.

Susan Barbara Apollon

Author of “Touched By The Extraordinary”
& Intuition Is Easy & Fun

©2009 Susan Barbara Apollon

Have you noticed that when you are in need of a feel-good experience, and you find something or someone that fills you with inspiration, you suddenly feel so much better  – even bliss and joy? And, you may even feel a sense of intuitive wisdom or purpose rising up within you.

Awareness of what inspires you can be a key to your happiness, bliss, experiencing healing and even living with a sense of purpose. Just consider the beautiful, heartwarming story of Susan Boyle, which, thanks to the internet, has spread around the globe.

Personally, listening to the newest internet sensation, Susan Boyle, became my most recent source of inspiration. I click to listen, knowing that I will cry and be moved to tears as I listen to the gift of her unexpected magnificent voice.. Quite a paradox, if you stop and think about it.

An international sensation taking the world by surprise, Susan Boyle, in the video of her performance on Britain’s Got Talent, has touched hearts everywhere. No one, that I can recall, has inspired so many people throughout the world just by singing one song, amazing as that song is.

Seeing and hearing Susan sing I Dream a Dream from the Broadway show, Les Miserables, brings tears to just about everyone who experiences her. Is it because a dowdy 47 year-old woman surprises us with an unbelievable voice? Are we moved by the stunned looks and words of the three judges, some of whom are known for being rather nasty and sharp tongued with contestants who resemble Susan, an older gal, from a little village in Scotland, dressed plainly and with little or no makeup? Is it that the music is extraordinary? Or is it because, perhaps, we see ourselves in Susan, each of us holding a dream – a vision -, which we are able to make a reality before we come to the end of our life, as she does with this moving, superb and incredible performance?

And why is it that we like to listen to Susan sing I Dream a Dream as often as we do? Perhaps, it is because she inspires us. Yes, she represents hope that we, too, may be able to bring our dreams to fulfillment. When I hear Susan sing, I am inspired; that is, I am infused with the spirit of Hope, Joy, Enthusiasm, Possibility and Love. I feel good hearing her magnificent voice. She is a symbol of hope for me and for all of us that we need to hold onto vision– that anything and everything is possible.

When you choose to focus on someone or something which inspires you, you feel wonderful, full of hope, motivation and joy, enabling you to experience an energetic higher quality of life. A word or two of advice: If you want to feel good, make it a point to become more aware of what it is that inspires and infuses you with life-giving energy, joy and purpose. You will have a win-win situation! (To be continued…)

Susan Barbara Apollon

Author of “Touched By The Extraordinary”
& Intuition Is Easy & Fun

©2009 Susan Barbara Apollon

“I can roll up in a ball and cry…or I can sow some nets. I choose to sow some nets in the time I have”…Randy Pausch

How amazing you are! It is the choices you make that determine your bliss, joy, peace and even contribute to your being aware of how connected you are to your Higher Power, whoever and whatever that may be. This is real Power! And you were born with the intuitive wisdom to do whatever is necessary to find your bliss.

Though you were born feeling and knowing this bliss, life being what it is, this knowing is something you tend to forget. It becomes part of your life’s journey to realize  - or remember – that you are entitled to live in bliss – and that it is all an inside job! There is nothing outside of you that determines whether you are happy or peaceful. It must come from within.

What is bliss, after all? Personally, being in bliss is my awareness of overwhelming peace, joy and well being, as though I am connected to All That Is. It is not unlike what athletes call “being in the zone,” or making love, or successful meditation, or simply being still. Bliss can be the feeling you may experience when you are in the park on a beautiful fall day, on the beach listening to the soothing sounds of the waves, or listening to your favorite music while on a drive in your car or even seated in your special chair at home.

Remember the moment you held your newborn or your first puppy or kitten and how you felt? That is bliss! You were totally in the present moment, enjoying the experience you were having. Perhaps you can recall the first time you traveled somewhere that you had longed dreamed about?  Or remember that moment you experienced winning a competition for which you had long been preparing? That, too, is bliss.

Of course, when things are going well, it is easier to feel bliss. But, when your outside world feels as though it is falling apart, such as dealing with the impact of the recent financial crises, the loss of a loved one or receiving upsetting news about someone or something about which you deeply care, you can and you must, eventually, find your sense of bliss, peace and well-being by connecting you with the core of your being.

You really do have the power to create your bliss via the choices you make and the image, person or thought on which you choose to focus. We have extensive research to validate that when you focus on your fears, worries, tragedies, anticipated problems and losses, you create an inner state of suffering. Yes, suffering.  And, when you choose to focus on what feels good, you feel good!

Please, do not misunderstand. Life is what it is. There are going to be curve balls; there will be events and occurrences which result in pain and suffering. But, there needs to be balance. In  time, you need to re-create a dominance of feelings of well-being and bliss.  This comes by the choice you make about your mental images and thoughts. Choose carefully! 

Susan Barbara Apollon
Author of “Touched By The Extraordinary”

©Copyright 2008 Susan Barbara Apollon