Aphorisms from Aa to Zz: Oo

Obiter Dictum

Set priorities:  if someone throws you a ball, you don’t have to catch it. ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Get comfortable not knowing.

Make peace with imperfection:  will this matter a year from now? ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Smile at strangers, see the innocence in others, and let others be right (most of the time).

Be grateful when you’re feeling good, and graceful when you’re feeling bad. ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

To become a better listener, seek first to understand.

Obstacles

Obstacles are opportunities in disguise.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~ Teddy Roosevelt

Between the wish and the thing, life lies waiting.

The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. – Moliere

Freedom lies in being bold. Do one thing every day that scares you.

Although the chance of stubbing your toe increases the more you walk, it is always better than going nowhere by standing still. ~ Robin Sharma, in The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery

The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter. ~ Chinese Fortune Cookie

Hardship is inevitable, misery is optional.

The butterfly, emerging from its cocoon, strengthens its fragile wings, then soars.

Think of your problems as potential teachers.

In uncertainty lies all possibility.

Just start and the way will appear. ~ Ancient Wisdom

Om

When the world recedes, we hold infinity in our grasp.

Don’t believe everything you think! ~ Bumper Sticker

Meditate on the still, silent spaces in your mind.

An open mind learns more in an hour than a closed mind learns in a year.

You must empty yourself of the past, in order to receive the present. ~ Zen Parable

Chase away idle thoughts, and see the world as it is.

Optimism

A pessimist sees the obstacles in every opportunity.  An optimist sees the opportunities in every obstacle.

An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out? ~ Michel de Saint-Pierre

Those who can, do.  Those who can’t, try to tell us why we can’t do it either.

Cultivate optimism.  Become the most positive person you know.

Whatever you face in life . . . there are many possible solutions.  Check them out before concluding it’s something you must accept, rather than change.

Rebel against the stranglehold of negative thinking.

When you focus on the positives, the negatives start to fade away.  Soon, you’ll find yourself ignoring minor set-backs that used to throw you into a downward spiral, and your glass will never be half-empty again.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

Master your thoughts . . . master your life.

Want to feel younger, happier, and healthier???  Change Your Attitude.

When we retrain ourselves to focus on the positives, we are happier and have more energy.  Optimism fills us with the creative enthusiasm and inspiration we need to  live the life of our dreams.

Just begin . . . with a big grin . . . and the way will appear.

Ordinary

There are no ordinary moments.  ~ Socrates, Peaceful Warrior

Every moment is a celebration, a miracle, a mystery.

This is my life.  I’m not going to have this moment again. ~ Bernie Siegel

SMILE = See Miracles In Life Everyday!

We don’t have an eternity to realize our dreams, only the time we are here. ~ Susan King Taylor

Rather than allowing our thoughts, emotions, and past experiences to dictate our re-actions to new events, we can view life with alert curiosity.

You must take your chance. ~ William Shakespeare

Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary

There are only so many tomorrows. ~ Michael Landon

When we let go of our automatic responses and begin to live spontaneously in the here and now, we uncover the joy and happiness within.

We might as well live. ~ Dorothy Parker

Present moment, wonderful moment.