Inspirational Living: Life Lessons for Success & Happiness

Listen to episode 519 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Success Habits & The Character That Triumphs. Edited and adapted from The Ideal Man by John Priest Greene.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Let us talk about character. IS it grown, or engraved, or forged? All of these. We are born without character, but it soon sprouts, and then grows rapidly. The soil is the home, the school, the social life, the business world — different kinds of soil, each contributing its element to the growth of character.

Parents, teachers, companions, and business associates are the character-cultivators, and largely determine the quality of the product — but each one grows their own character. The word "character" is Greek, and means "engraved" — an ancient and beautiful conception. We (sometimes with the help of others) engrave our own characters when we begin to act on our own judgment, when we choose and do, and thus form habits.

A habit is a groove or a line cut in the soul, fixed, along which future action is almost sure to run. Many habits make an engraving, a permanent picture of the soul or character. 

It may be truly said, also, that character is forged. The human soul is a piece of metal, without form and beauty. It must be worked over. In order to make it right, it must go into the hot fire and under the big hammer. If properly forged, it will come out with a permanent form of grace and beauty. False lines and deformities — bad habits of thought and action — must therefore be hammered out. They cannot be brushed off.  

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Listen to episode 518 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Inspirational Life Lessons on Happiness. Edited and adapted from The True Source of a Happy Life by Hugh Wayt.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: It will help much in learning the lesson of happiness if we persistently train ourselves to be cheerful and to see the bright things in our every-day life. There are some people who seem to have eyes only for the disagreeable things. They find every bit of roughness and hardness in life's pathway. They see at once (and see it magnified) every unpleasant thing that comes into their lives. They remember every unhappy experience they ever had. They keep on the walls of their memory pictures of all their vanished joys and faded hopes. They indelibly record all the trials, adversities and misfortunes they have ever suffered.

But, on the other hand, they are forgetful of all their blessings. They hang up no pictures of the joys they did not lose, which have filled their lives on so many bright days. They have poor memory for the things that beautify and gladden life. There are few habits more common than this: of remembering the unpleasant and forgetting the pleasant things — and there is no other habit which is a greater enemy of true joy.

The person who would be of good cheer must break this habit if it has fastened itself to your life. You must train yourself to see the beautiful things and be blind to the disagreeable things. There are, in the ordinary life, a thousand pleasant things (favors, joys, comforts, things to cheer) to one unpleasant thing, one real cause for unhappiness. It is a shame, therefore, to let the one bit of roughness, trial, or suffering spoil all the gladness of the thousand blessings, to let the one discordant note mar all the music of such splendid harmony.

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Listen to episode 517 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Vitality: Building a Healthy, Energetic Personality. Edited and adapted from Be Good to Yourself by Orison Swett Marden, published in 1910.

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Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: There is nothing which pays greater dividends than self-investment; keeping yourself up to standard by buttressing your health in every possible way and using the utmost care and exactitude in regimen, in work habits, and in life habits.

In order to be well-balanced, self-poised, and broad-minded, one must have a great variety of experience. And for this, play is just as necessary as work. The person who is everlastingly working, who never gets time to play, to see their friends, to travel, or to go into the country, because they think time is too precious, that they must utilize every minute in practical work, is defeating the very purpose which they are trying to attain.

There must be spontaneity, buoyancy, elasticity, and vivacity in your activities. And everyone who wishes to get the maximum of achievement out of life should know all Nature’s methods of rejuvenation.

Listen to episode 516 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Success Mindset: A Sense of Humor. Edited and adapted from Invincible Power by John Henry Remmers, published in 1922.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: When life appears to be going against us, our first inclination is to frown and become irritable. This state of mind causes confusion and leads to despair, throwing us out of harmony with Faith. We lose the power of receptiveness and are unable to receive the Divine message and strength which would otherwise lead us out of the darkness back into the light.

On the other hand, when things seem all wrong and we hold onto Faith, reinforced by a sense of Humor, and a smile of confidence, we retain our receptive mood, and positively (very often swiftly) receive the intelligence to solve those problems confronting us.

If you truly wish to live successfully, it is important that you retain always your sense of Humor. Of course, there are times for seriousness and also solemnity, but do not allow any occurrence or condition to so burden your mind that you lose your sense of Humor. In other words, do not look upon life too seriously. It is only a burden if you make it so.

Listen to episode 515 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Mental & Physical Fitness for Success in Life. Edited and adapted from Keeping Fit by Orison Swett Marden, published in 1914.

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Motivational Podcast Excerpt: The grandest work a human being can do is to keep themselves fit for the greatest thing they are capable of doing, the highest service they are capable of rendering; always up to the level of their greatest efficiency. To keep fit is to maintain perfect health. And perfect health depends upon a perfect balance of mind and body, unimpaired physical vigor, absolute inner harmony, and a calm, mental poise which nothing can disturb.

Every normal human being can, if they will, raise themselves to this condition. You can live in such a simple yet scientific manner that you will not only have great disease-resisting power, but you will also be at the maximum of your creative ability.

Listen to episode 514 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Making the Most of Yourself | Life lessons. Edited and adapted from Personal Power by Keith J. Thomas.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Most people who are conscious of weaknesses of some kind or other, use the knowledge to avoid the work which would call their deficiencies into play. They lack self-confidence because they keep their weaknesses ever before their eyes. The wise individual relies on his or her strength. They take their stand upon what they can do. And when they are called upon to do something which will make use one of their weak faculties, they make up their mind to do the best they can, while they draw upon their strong qualities as much as possible.

The golden rule, therefore, is to keep your strong qualities in front of your eyes, so to speak, and ignore your weak ones. Do not pander to these latter ones. Treat them as if they were sources of strength, too. That is what Shakespeare means when he says, "Assume a virtue if you have it not.”

Every now and then you will ask yourself how your weak faculties are improving (and if you have done your best to develop your mind and character); and you will have the satisfaction of noting an extraordinary development of strength which you never dreamed of.

Listen to episode 513 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Making the Most Out of the Day | Motivational. Edited and adapted from Youth and Opportunity by Thomas Tapper.

Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, please do share your favorite episodes with friends on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. We also appreciate your positive reviews at the iTunes store. Thank you.

Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Youth and Opportunity by Thomas Tapper, published in 1912.

When Alexander Pope wrote the line, "Hope springs eternal in the human breast," he expressed a truth that (considered in the fullness of its suggestion) is electrifying. With the coming of the inspiring impulse of hope, we find again open to us the doors that have shut us in. We look out over a vast field of possibility.

Once more, we are in the presence of our rightful heritage. It lies, bright and enticing, before us; it beckons us to come; it speaks to us plainly; it promises much if we will only go forth and dwell as a worker in the fair field of its golden opportunities.

We feel no doubts arise within us about the reality of eternal hope. We are convinced that we may possess the best things of life to whatever extent we desire. We realize that we have only to be brave and pay the price. And the price is Work.

Shall we, then, with courage (and courage is rightly a quality of the heart) begin to labor for the rewards and blessings of hope — or shall we permit the light to fade from our sight, and entering again upon the way of darkness, grope in a poverty of opportunity?

Our decision in this matter, conditions all the success that may be our portion — for, curiously, this word “success” has a simple basic meaning: to go along. It implies motion toward the thing desired.

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Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Personal Power by Keith J. Thomas, published in 1917.

It is the modern habit to worship bigness. The people we are told to admire are those who conceive of vast undertakings and carry them through successfully. There seems to be a romance about “thinking in millions,” which is apparently absent when dealing in smaller numbers.

I once knew a titan of industry. He was a man known for big thoughts, who did big things. He controlled hundreds of workers; he traveled all parts of the world; he was ever searching for ideas, and always seeking the expansion of his big undertakings. And yet, through it all, he was always most profoundly impressed with the vital importance of the little things of life. Thus we, who are so enamored with talk of bigness, may well consider the significance of this mature conclusion from a great captain of industry: that the small things may well be the greatest things after all.

Listen to episode 511 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Key that Unlocks the Heart | Life Lessons. Edited and adapted from Personal Power by Keith J. Thomas.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. To support our podcast with a one-time financial donation, please visit LivingHour.org/donate. Thank you.

Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Personal Power by Keith J. Thomas, published in 1917.

Our own mind is for our own use. We cannot exert any of its power without affecting ourselves. Feelings of anger affect us physically. Indeed, they hurt us, and do not harm the object of our displeasure.

There are what may be termed positive and negative forces of mind. Active sympathy is a positive quality. Indifference is negative. When we exercise a benevolent feeling of mind it has some practical use, and this is clearly understood in the case of sympathy.

Sympathy is a good sentiment. We were meant to be compassionate. And if a habit of mind is good, it must produce some good effect on our lives. The value of sympathy lies in its power to harmonize minds, so that one can become susceptible to the influence of another's thoughts.

You will find that the cultivation of sympathy will draw people toward you. They instinctively open their hearts to a sympathetic listener. When two brains are "tuned up" to sympathy, they will naturally convey and receive messages from one another. The action of the brain is similar to that of phone in its ability to generate waves. We do, in fact, project thought waves which are capable of penetrating space and affecting a brain that is in sympathy with our own.

Listen to episode 510 of the Inspirational Living podcast: How to Create Good Luck | Success Tips. Edited and adapted from Personal Power by Keith J. Thomas.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. I’d like to start today by thanking our two newest patrons: Patrick Hampton and Linda Brill.  Patrick and Linda now get exclusive access to over 250 additional podcasts plus full transcripts. You too can gain access right now for as little as $3 a month. Learn more by visiting LivingHour.org/patron.

Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Personal Power by Keith J. Thomas, published in 1917.

An old proverb says that "Good courage breaks ill luck.” In other words, mental power, rightly directed, is the only force that creates good luck. Hard work alone will not make you lucky. You must be ready to seize your good luck when it comes, and you must search for it until you find it.

Ask yourself now, "Am I lucky! Am I trying to be lucky? Am I determined to be lucky?" You are the only person who can decide. If you want to be lucky, you must train your mind to obey your will, and you must rule it with wisdom, courage, and foresight.

In what manner are you exercising your mind and keeping it fit? You must know that your mind will do a lot of work for you without any effort on your part if you train it carefully. For instance, the mind works while we sleep. Not only is this shown by our dreams, but there are countless instances where people have gone to bed worried and perplexed over some problem, and on waking in the morning have found the solution in their minds.