Inspirational Living: Life Lessons for Success & Happiness

Listen to episode 601 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Climbing the Ladder of Life to Greater Things. Edited and adapted from As Natural as Life by Charles Gordon Ames.

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For today's podcast, I am including the entire transcript. If you would like to get full transcripts to all of our podcasts, you can do so by becoming our patron for as little as $3 a month. Learn more at: https://livinghour.org/patron

Podcast Transcript: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from As Natural as Life by Charles Gordon Ames, published in 1895.

The years of a tree's life can be counted by the rings in its woody trunk. And, by looking at how these annual growths differ in thickness, we can tell or guess what years were friendly or backward, warm or cold, wet or dry. Thus the tree writes in itself the history of its life and the record of all passing seasons.

To an eye that sees all things as they are, each person’s inner being must contain the stored-up results of all their choices and conduct, and all the forces and principles that have affected their mind and heart. We number our days as the tree its years. They make of us what we are and what we are to be. Indeed, what we call our character is simply the sum of inward effects produced by thought, feeling, and action.

Worldly matters do not stand with any of us as they did a year ago. Our life has grown richer or poorer, deeper or shallower. We are better or worse (more under the rule of the truth and the right) or less so. The divine voice that calls us upward sounds nearer and clearer, or farther off and fainter, according to how we have heeded or neglected its invitations.

This means that some days count for more than others, because we put more into them and get more out of them. No day is bright when the mind is dull. No day is dull when the mind is bright, and those are the great days which yield great events. But what we call an "event" is always an outcropping of what went before. There comes a day when the blossoms open, when the ripe fruit falls, when the ship enters port, and, after weary climbing, we reach a terrace or summit, draw a deeper breath, survey a wider prospect, and feel rewarded for our toil.

The great days of life are not the days when something happens outside of us. They are the days when something happens inside — days of spiritual expansion; days of discovery or illumination when we gain a clearer perception of high realities, see deeper meanings in life; days of moral re-enforcement, when we make decisions and are prepared for worthier achievement. Our greater birthdays are the days when we enter into truer life and come into possession of a great character.

In reflecting on what the days have done or may do for us, we naturally think about life and time. What is life? No definition seems to make it plain; but perhaps we have a right to say that life is our share of God. While we touch the transient and then leave it, we live in the Eternal and never leave it. Our lives are set fast in the larger life, like the limbs and leaves of a tree. In the very act of contemplating ourselves, we look into the infinite — just as in contemplating a star we look into the boundlessness of space. The more we ponder, the more we wonder. The mystery of our own existence forever connects itself with that larger Mystery which makes our existence possible — and we feel with wonder and awe, "How good it is to be alive!"

What is time, but our present share in eternity. Duration, like space, is infinite. It has neither beginning nor end. But as the orbit of every star is a circle enclosing some tract of the immeasurable space, so our earthly life takes in some tract of the immeasurable duration. Our limited being can only take in a little. But these littles give us a hint of the large, as a drop is a hint of the ocean.

To us mortals, life and time, within these limitations of sense, are conditions of everything else. Emerson exclaims: "Give me health and a day, and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous." What can we do with health and a day? We can live (consciously or unconsciously) in infinite space and infinite time. We can take in something of the universal life and the Godlike forces. We can come in touch with nature, humanity, and the Supreme Spirit.

Between every rising and setting sun, we can gain visions of truth and beauty. We can put our powers of mind and body under the discipline of virtue and usefulness. We can live, learn, and love. We can do, enjoy, and grow.

Thus, in the very act of finding the world around us, we find ourselves, and acquire the use of our faculties. We store up the results of observation and reflection. We become acquainted with reality. We keep step with the larger order. We can convert the days and years into building material for the temple of a noble personality. How precious, then, is time. How sacred, then, is life!

At a funeral, I often find myself asking, "What did the person whose body lies here get out of their earthly years? They came into this world an infant, with empty hands. What did they carry with them when they left? They have moved about among their friends. They have looked on the earth and sky, and into human eyes. Thousands of days and nights have passed over their head. They have seen the flowers come and the leaves fall. They have felt the fever of desire and the chill of disappointment. They have heard words of truth, and soft inward calls of reason and conscience. God gave them time and opportunity. What did they do with their time? What use did they make of opportunity? What did they get out of life?"

But, for the dead, I know not how to answer these questions. But I do know this: let us not shrink from self-questioning. As the years go by, let us ask ourselves, “Has life acquired a deeper meaning and higher value? Do we care more for good things, and care most for the best? Are we more ready to take a suggestion of self-improvement, more open to admit our mistakes, more sensitive to the distinctions of right and wrong? Have we been growing more reasonable, calm, and self-possessed; more amenable to discipline; and more skillful in the worthy use of our abilities? Has this human world in which we live schooled us to a better understanding of what it is to be just and kind, pure and true, helpful and glad? Have we grown stronger to resist bad examples, and yet more tender in our compassion toward human frailty and folly? Have we been drawing closer in fellowship to all good people, and more willing to do our part in all good work?

If we can say yes to such questions, let us thank God, who has helped us to learn from our days the wisdom of the heavens. Every year is full of opportunities. Our pleasures and our pains; our victories and defeats; our gains and our losses; the flowers that have bloomed along our path, and the thorns that have torn our flesh — when we have left them all behind, can we not see in the review that they were part of our spiritual training?

"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial. The one who lives most is the one who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." By the right use of things that are seen and temporal, we rise into communion with things unseen and eternal. "All common things, each day's events, That with the hours begin and end, Our pleasures and our discontents, Are rungs by which we may ascend."

In climbing this ladder of life, we leave the rungs behind, and they are soon forgotten. So must it be with the days themselves, and with what they bring. One glance backward tells this story of merciful forgetfulness. How many things now look little which once looked large! Who cares to remember their toilsome days or their tossing nights, the pains that wrenched our nerves, or the pangs that smote our heart? It is much the same with the pleasures, achievements, and applauses that gratified us most. The events that began with the hours, ended with the hours; and our entire past is rapidly gliding away to mingle with the vague memories of childhood.

Does the traveler remember their steps? Does the sailor remember the waves they crossed, or the winds that helped or hindered them? The steps must be taken, the voyage must be made; but the incidents by the way are forgotten at the destination.

Let us welcome the experiences that conduct us to wisdom and goodness, to power and peace! Welcome all "the rungs by which we may ascend"! Welcome, too, the oblivion which gently closes the past behind us as a brighter future opens before us.

Listen to episode 599 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: The Meaning of Success & How to Achieve It. Edited and adapted from Successward by Edward W. Bok.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Last time I talked with you about the most important element of success: knowing yourself. Today I would like to talk about what is success. Before anyone goes into business, I think that they should set themselves straight on one very important point, and that is what success in business really is and means. Unfortunately, not enough has been written on this topic. It is foolish for you to seek out the methods of success before you are really clear in your mind just what constitutes success — until, in other words, you find out the true definition of the word — which in fact very few have a proper and correct conception of.

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Listen to episode 598 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: The Most Essential Element of Success. Edited and adapted from Successward by Edward W. Bok.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Every woman and man in this world is created differently. No two are alike. Therefore, the nature, the thoughts, the character, and the capacity of one person is utterly unlike that of another. What one person can understand, another cannot. The success of one individual indicates nothing to a second person. What one is capable of doing is beyond the power of another. Hence it is important that, first of all, you should look into yourself, find out what has been given you, and come to a clear understanding of what you can do and what you cannot do.

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Transform your life in 30 days with our MAJESTY meditation program: https://livinghour.org/majesty.

Get our podcast with full transcripts and without ads by visiting: https://livinghour.org/patron

Announcement: Today is the last day of our book sale! Get 30% off our heirloom hardcover books, featuring the best essays read on the Inspirational Living podcast. Go to: https://www.blurb.com/user/livinghour Then use the coupon code: BESTBOOK

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Listen to episode 597 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: The Turn in the Road that Changes Everything. Edited and adapted from The Power of Truth by William George Jordan.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: When walking along a mountain trail there is sometimes a sudden sharp turn where, by seeming magic, the narrow path is transformed into the entrance of a vast panorama of Nature. We are stunned as we involuntarily stop short, rest and surrender to its majesty. The view exalts us, glorifies us, inspires us. We have a new high restful ground of contemplation. We have a new test of values, a new base of interpretation, a new relation to life....

Special Announcement: Get 30% off our hardcover books, featuring the best essays read on our podcast until July 29th! Go to: https://www.blurb.com/user/livinghour

Then use the coupon code: BESTBOOK

Listen to episode 596 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Don’t Wait Until it is Too Late. Edited and adapted from The Power of Truth by William George Jordan.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Love should be constantly made evident in little acts of thoughtfulness, words of sweetness and appreciation, smiles and handshakes of esteem. It should be shown to be a loving reality by our patience, forbearance, courtesy, and kindness. We should have roses of love, ever-blooming, ever-breathing perfume, instead of dried roses pressed in the family Bible, merely for reference, as a memorial of what was, instead of guarantee of what is.

Listen to episode 595 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Connecting to the Life Changing Power Within You. Edited and adapted from You Can, But Will You? By Orison Swett Marden.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Emerson says that we are weak when we look for help outside of ourselves; that it is only as we throw ourselves unhesitatingly on our thoughts that we instantly right ourselves, stand erect and work miracles. In other words, you will never do the biggest thing possible to you while you rely on outside help, upon others to boost you, to give you capital, or to start your business. It is only when, figuratively speaking, you throw everything else overboard and dive right into the great within of yourself that you find the spring of success, the achievement force, the power which does things in a big way.

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Listen to episode 594 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Self-Respect for a Joyful Life. Edited and adapted from You Can, But Will You? By Orison Swett Marden.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: At the very outset of your professional life, you can make no better resolution than that, whatever happens, you will stand well with yourself, that you will never forfeit your self-respect, never besmirch your honor by perverting your divine nature to do mean, low, dishonorable things. If you firmly resolve that you will always have the good opinion of at least one person in the world (yourself), no one, no conditions or circumstances, can cheat you out of an honorable career, an honorable life.

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I would like to share with you today the 2nd variation of our popular Affirmations Sleep Meditation. Previously I shared with you the Ocean Sounds version. This 2nd version features our life changing affirmations spoken over a continuous stream of gently falling rain and rolling thunder. This recording will relax your mind to encourage a deep, restful sleep, and help create instructive dreams to solve problems, inspire new actions, and build a positive mindset.

The 50 affirmations included in this Sleep Meditation were carefully selected and edited by David Alan, host of the Inspirational Living podcast and founder of The Living Hour.

To learn about our MAJESTY meditation, which can help transform your personal and professional life in 30 days, please visit https://livinghour.org/majesty.

Listen to episode 593 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Avoiding Detours on Your Road to Success. Edited and adapted from C’mon Up by Franklin Fillmore Farrington.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Nobody who drives a car enjoys seeing the sign “Detour” — for it means the long and hard way. For some reason, the straight, smooth road has been closed, and we are asked to go out of our way and endure the consequences.

The person who lives an overly emotional life is constantly making detours, going the hard, difficult, “round about” way. The people who end the day with the expression, “I am so weary,” are generally emotional people. They do no great work but allow their energy to leak away in needless emotions.

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Listen to episode 592 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: The Power of Letting Go | Live NOW. Edited and adapted from C’mon Up by Franklin Fillmore Farrington.

Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Worry is the bugaboo of life! You have not yet lived unless you have learned to neutralize the acid thoughts of fear and anxiety. Sooner or later, mental unrest manifests itself physically, mentally, and financially. The old saying, “When about to let go, hold on,” should be revised to say, “When about to hold on—let go.”

One of the best ways of testing a person's physical and mental condition is to ascertain their ability to relax. When we tighten up mentally, we see an immediate effect on the body. High blood pressure, indigestion, headaches, the hardening of the arteries, and a score of other ailments are often a direct result of the desire to “hold on” instead of “letting go.”

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Get the best of our podcast in book form by visiting: https://inspirationallifelessons.com

Get our podcast with full transcripts and without ads by visiting: https://livinghour.org/patron