Inspirational Living: Life Lessons for Success & Happiness

Inspirational Living: Life Lessons for Success & Happiness

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Inspirational Living: Life Lessons for Success & Happiness episodes

  • Know Thyself & The Meaning of Success | Life Skills
    Listen to episode 293 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Know Thyself & The Meaning of Success. Edited and adapted from Gaining the Round Above by Gustavus S. Kimball.
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    Motivational Podcast Excerpt: During a conversation with a learned and distinguished professor, the question was asked, “What would you do if you had your life to live over?” His reply was: ''First, I would be a better man. Second, I would know more and study more carefully to know my own capabilities. And third, I would cultivate public speaking."
    Without underestimating the force of the first or third answers, the second one should be uppermost in the mind of every person who is busy making a career for themselves. It is a great day in our lives when we begin to discover our capabilities and what it is possible for us to achieve. It is often true that we have latent capacities greater than we suspect, and which often lie dormant until some sudden awakening reveals them to us — therefore, every person should study to know themselves and what they are best adapted for in life.
    You should take stock of yourself, as it were, for a knowledge of your limitations and possibilities is worth much to you. You must, in a sense, interpret and judge your own capacities from a study of the lives of other people. History is full of records of men and women who discovered somewhat their own capacity. But history has yet to record the individual who fully discovered all they might have been.
    Remember that every person in this world is created differently from every other, and the success which some people achieve does not appeal to all alike. The success of some, means nothing to others. The interpretation of life's meaning and vocation reveals itself to you in what you enjoy: the books you read, the company you keep — to where your tastes lead you. Hence these should not be overlooked in selecting an occupation, and in deciding what your life work should be.
    While there are many notable examples on record of people, with strong minds, who have shown their natural aptitude very early in life, most of us require years of waiting to discover our bent. The first years of every person's adult life are years of education. Doors do not open to us until we are prepared to enter them — for really we are only valuable, in the best sense, to the business world, to the community about us, when we have grasped life's full meaning and have gained poise of character, power, and self-control. Every person should thus find out from their interests for what they are best adapted, what they desire to do — and then do it with the bravery and enthusiasm which belongs to the bold.
    17 min
  • How to Cultivate Courage | Mastering Fear & Anxiety
    Listen to episode 277 of the Inspirational Living podcast: How to Cultivate Courage | Mastering Fear & Anxiety. Edited and adapted from “Thoughts Are Things” by Prentice Mulford.
    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: COURAGE and presence of mind mean the same thing — for presence of mind implies command of mind. Cowardice and lack of mental control also mean about the same thing — for cowardice is rooted in hurry, the habit of hurry or lack of repose.
    All degrees of success are based on courage — mental or physical. All degrees of failure are based on timidity. You can cultivate courage and increase it at every minute and hour of the day.
    You can have the satisfaction of knowing that in everything you do, you have accomplished two things — namely, the doing of the thing itself and (by the manner of its doing), adding eternally to yourself another atom of the quality of courage. You can do this by the cultivation of deliberation — deliberation of speech, of walk, of writing, of eating — deliberation in everything.
    There is always a bit of fear when there is a bit of hurry. When you hurry to the airport, you are in fear that you may be left behind, and with that comes fear of other possibilities resulting from that. When you hurry to work, or a meeting, or an appointment, you are in fear of some negative consequence of not being on time....
    Today's podcast is sponsored by Audible, which has an unrivalled collection of audiobooks by both contemporary and classic authors. Take advantage of a 30 day trial membership + 1 free audiobook by visiting: https://audible.com/inspirational.
    18 min
  • Literary Life Lessons from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Listen to episode 268 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Literary Life Lessons from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Edited and adapted from The Maxims and Reflections of Goethe.

    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. I’d like to thank all of you who’ve taken the time to subscribe to our YouTube channel. I’m only about 45 people short of my goal of 1000 subscribers by the end of the month.

    So, if you would like to help me out and subscribe, please visit LivingHour.org/youtube. Or simply go to YouTube, search for the Inspirational Living podcast, and click the subscribe button. Thank you.

    Today’s reading was edited and adapted from The Maxims and Reflections of Goethe. Translated by T. Bailey Saunders, and published in 1906.

    THERE is nothing worth thinking but it has been thought before; we must only try to think it again. In the works of humankind, as in those of nature, it is really the motive which is chiefly worth our attention.

    How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, but only by doing. Try to do your duty, and you will know at once what you are worth. But what is your duty? The claims of the day.

    Tell me with whom you associate, and I will tell you who you are. If I know what your business is, I know what can be made of you.

    Every person must think after their own fashion — for on your own path you find a truth, or a kind of truth, which helps you through life. But you must not give yourself free rein; you must control yourself. Mere naked instinct does not become you. Unbridled activity, of whatever kind, leads at last to bankruptcy.

    In Botany there is a species of plants called Incomplete; and just in the same way, it can be said that there are people who are incomplete and imperfect. They are those whose desires and struggles are out of proportion to their actions and achievements. The most insignificant person can be complete if they work within the limits of their capacities (innate or acquired). But even fine talents can be obscured and destroyed by lack of this indispensable requirement of symmetry.

    It is only men and women of practical ability, knowing their powers and using them with moderation and prudence, who will be successful in worldly affairs. It is a great error to take yourself for more than you are — or for less than you are worth.



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    19 min
  • The Religion of Every Day Life | Attaining Harmony
    Listen to episode 314 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Religion of Every Day Life. Edited and adapted from The Will to be Well by Charles Brodie Patterson.
    Spirituality Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. I’d like to start today by thanking our two newest patrons, Glenn Webb and Gretchen Elizabeth. I’d also like to thank those of you who have reached out to me recently to let me know the positive impact that this podcast has had on your life. If you would like to contact me, you can always do so by sending an email to living (at) livinghour (dot) org. Or you could leave a review at the iTunes Store or Google Play, and I’ll be sure to read it there. Thank you.
    Today’s reading was edited and adapted from The Will to be Well by Charles Brodie Patterson, published in 1906.
    To live naturally in any age means to adjust yourself naturally to your environment, and to the requirements of your being. When we live naturally, we live harmoniously. Unnaturalness in any degree creates discord. But God lives in every life — lives fully, unfailingly, despite apparent setbacks.
    Nothing can really separate us from God. And by God I mean the great Universal Life that is in us, through us, and above us — the Universal Love that floods our being whenever we are open to it.
    We are living in a world where a constant readjustment is required. The demands of today are inadequate for tomorrow. It is through meeting new difficulties that we develop new powers — through overcoming that we grow strong. It is only through the facing and fighting of perplexities and troubles that we come to know life as it really is — that we truly learn the lessons of life.
    Each encounter awakens fresh powers of adjustment or resistance — for even resistance has its place at certain times. Everything indeed has its place: the so-called "evil" — the shadows, as well as the good — and the light. There are times when effort — real struggle — is required, and other times when we find genuine good in giving ourselves up to the current.
    There is a time, too, for serious consideration of the vital things of life — a time to ask ourselves honestly if we are in a right relationship with things and people — with our daily environment. This adjustment to things and people is the true religion of life. Harmonious adjustment is, indeed, all there is in life.
    17 min
  • A Brahmin Guide for Living a Noble Life | Brahman Wisdom

    Listen to episode 265 of the Inspirational Living podcast: A Brahmin Guide for Living a Noble Life. Edited and adapted from The Economy of Human Life, translated from an ancient Brahmin manuscript by Robert Dodsley.

    Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. With high school and university graduations upon us, you may be looking for the perfect graduation gift. Share a lifetime’s worth of wisdom by giving the new graduate our books of timeless inspirational life lessons—available now in both heirloom hardcover and e-book. Purchase your copies today by visiting our website InspirationalLifeLessons.com. Thank you.

    Today’s reading was edited and adapted from The Economy of Human Life, translated from an ancient Brahmin Manuscript by Robert Dodsley, published in 1839.

    COMMUNE with yourself and consider for what reason you were made. Contemplate your powers, your wants, and your connections — so that you shall discover the duties of life, and be directed in all your ways.

    Proceed not to speak or to act before you have weighed your words, and examined the tendency of every step you will take. By doing so, disgrace shall fly far from you, and in your house, shame shall be a stranger; repentance shall not visit you; nor sorrow dwell upon your cheek.

    The thoughtless person speaks at random. They are entangled in the foolishness of their own words. They are like the person who runs in haste and leaps over a fence, only to fall into a pit on the other side, which they did not see — for they plunge suddenly into any action, not having considered the consequences.

    Hearken therefore unto the voice of Consideration. Her words are the words of wisdom, and her paths shall lead you to truth and safety.



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    19 min
  • Gautama Buddha | Inspirational Siddhartha Quotes

    Listen to episode 264 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Gautama Buddha | Inspirational Quotes. Edited and adapted from words and thoughts attributed to Gautama Buddha.

    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast, brought to you by the generous financial support of listeners like you. Gain access to our exclusive series on spiritual growth by becoming our patron today. Learn more about the series Our Sunday Talks by visiting LivingHour.org/Sunday. Thank you.

    Today’s reading has been edited and adapted from words and thoughts attributed to Gautama Buddha.

    “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

    “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

    “Three things cannot hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.”

    “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

    “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.”

    “To insist on a spiritual practice that served you in the past is to carry the raft on your back after you have crossed the river.”

    “Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame.”

    “I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”

    “‎Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion.”

    “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.”

    "Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence.”

    “A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”



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    14 min
  • Lift Yourself with Love | The Gentle Heart is Strongest
    Listen to episode 262 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Lift Yourself with Love | The Gentle Heart. Edited and adapted from A Gentle Heart by James Russell Miller.
    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. You can now listen to us, along with other inspirational podcasts and music at Shining Bright Radio. Check out their daily programming by visiting them at ShiningBrightRadio.com. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from A Gentle Heart by James Russell Miller, published in 1896.
    Gentleness is a beautiful quality. It is essential to all true character. When a person is harsh, cold, unfeeling, rude, and rough in their manner, no one speaks of their fine spirit. When one is loud-voiced, dictatorial, given to speaking bitter words and doing unkindly things, no person is ever heard saying of them, "What a lovely person they are!" They may have many excellent qualities, and may do much good, but their lack of gentleness mars the beauty of their character.
    No person is truly great who is not gentle. Courage and strength and truth and justness are essential elements in a strong character; but if all these be in you and gentleness be wanting, your life is sadly flawed. This world needs nothing more than it needs gentleness. All human hearts hunger for tenderness.
    We are made for love — not only to love, but to be loved. Harshness pains us. Ungentleness touches our sensitive spirits as frost touches the flowers. It stunts the growth of all lovely things. We naturally crave gentleness. It is like a genial summer to our life. Beneath its warm, nourishing influence beautiful things in us grow.
    There always are many people who have special need of tenderness. We cannot know what secret burdens many are carrying, what hidden griefs burn like fires in the hearts of those with whom we mingle in our common life. Not all grief wears the outward garb of mourning. Sunny faces often times veil heavy hearts. Many people make no audible appeal for sympathy, yet crave tenderness as they bow beneath their burden.
    18 min
  • Being the Master of Your Destiny | Fate & Providence
    Listen to episode 260 of the Inspirational Living podcast, Being the Master of Your Destiny. Edited and adapted from The Mastery of Destiny by James Allen, published in 1909.
    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast, creator of The MAJESTY meditation program that employs our unique autosuggestion sound method. Learn how you can replace your negative, self-defeating, thoughts with positive ones by visiting LivingHour.org/majesty. To get 30% off the $11.99 purchase price, use the coupon code: inspiration. Thank you.
    Today’s reading was edited and adapted from The Mastery of Destiny by James Allen, published in 1909.
    THERE is, and always has been, a widespread belief in Fate, or Destiny — that is, in an eternal and inscrutable Power which apportions definite ends to both individuals and nations. This belief has arisen from long observation of the facts of life.
    People are conscious that there are certain occurrences which they cannot control, and are powerless to avert. Birth and death, for instance, are inevitable, and many of the incidents of life appear equally inevitable. Men and women strain every nerve for the attainment of certain ends, and gradually they become conscious of a Power which seems to be not of themselves, which frustrates their puny efforts, and laughs, as it were, at their fruitless striving and struggle.
    As we advance in life, we learn to submit, more or less, to this overruling Power which we do not understand, perceiving only its effects in ourselves and the world around us — and we call it by various names, such as God, Providence, Fate, Destiny, etc.
    18 min
  • The Art of Healthy Thinking | Food for Thought
    Listen to episode 255 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Art of Healthy Thinking | Food for Thought. Edited and adapted from The Royal Path of Life by T.L. Haines & L.W. Yaggy.
    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Thinkers rise upon us like new stars — a few in a century. The multitude run after them, and eat the crumbs that fall from their table. They follow them by instinct; they adopt their theories and accept their thoughts at sight. Indeed, the majority swallow whole what they eat, wheat or chaff, meat or bone, nut or shell. They do not masticate their mental food; they do not examine the facts they learn; they do not digest their knowledge. If they did we should not have schools of thought, sects, parties, but one grand lyceum of individual thinkers; every one making their own use of their knowledge, forming their own conclusions, and working out their own kind and degree of culture. We read enough to have a generation of philosophers.
    Dull thinkers are always led by sharp ones. The keen intellect cuts its way smoothly, gracefully, rapidly; the dull one wears its life out against the simplest problems. To perceive accurately and to think correctly, is the aim of all mental training. Heart and conscience are more than the mere intellect. Yet we cannot tell how much the clear, clean-cut thought, the intellectual vision, sharp and true, may aid even these.
    Some say that we never feel until we see, and when the object disappears, the feeling ceases. So we cannot exaggerate the importance of clear, correct thinking. We should eat, drink, sleep, walk, exercise body and mind, to this end. Just so far as we feel, we often make dolts and idiots of ourselves. We cast away our natural armor and defense. The designing make us dupes; we are overreached by the crafty, and trodden under foot by the strong.
    Undigested learning is as oppressive as undigested food; and as in the dyspeptic patient, the appetite for food often grows with the inability to digest it — so in the unthinking patient, an overweening desire to know often accompanies the inability to know to any purpose.
    Today's podcast is sponsored by the Molekule air purifier, whose breakthru technology is capable of destroying air pollutants at the molecular level ­­-- including allergens, mold, bacteria, and airborn chemicals. Visit them at Molekule.com.
    15 min
  • The Spirit & Power of Perseverance | Success Talks
    Listen to episode 253 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Spirit & Power of Perseverance. Edited and adapted from The Royal Path of Life by T.L. Haines & L.W. Yaggy.
    Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: "Continual drops wear out the stone." So persevering labor gains our objectives. Perseverance is the virtue wanted — a lion-hearted purpose of victory. It is this that builds; constructs; accomplishes whatever is great, good, and valuable.
    Perseverance built the pyramids on Egypt's plains; erected the gorgeous temple at Jerusalem; enclosed in adamant the Chinese empire; scaled the stormy, cloud-capped Alps; opened a highway through the watery wilderness of the Atlantic; leveled the forests of a new world; and reared in its stead a community of states and nations. It has wrought from the marble block the exquisite creations of genius, painted on the canvas the gorgeous reproductions of nature.
    It has put in motion millions of spindles; harnessed a thousand iron steeds to as many a freighted car, and set them flying from town to town and nation to nation; tunneled mountains of granite, and annihilated space with lightning speed. It has whitened the waters of the world with the sails of a hundred nations, navigated every sea and explored every land. It has reduced nature in her thousand forms to as many sciences; taught her laws; prophesied her future movements; measured her untrodden spaces; counted her myriad hosts of worlds, and computed their distances, dimensions, and velocities.
    But greater still are the works of perseverance in the world of the mind. What are the productions of science and art compared with the splendid achievements won in the human soul? What is a monument of constructive genius, compared with the living domes of thought, the sparkling temples of virtue, and the rich sanctuaries of Divine contemplation, which perseverance has wrought out and reared in the souls of the enlightened?
    17 min

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