Catalyst Quotes

Compiled by Alex Pena ~ ‘Catalyst’: “to spark, to ignite, energize, mobilize; something that accelerates a reaction (DDI)." Thought-provoking & motivational quotes and stories for you to read, reflect on and move forward in making creative and positive changes in your life.

Archive for the category “Inspiration”

13 Oct 2012

“It Is Up to Me”

“Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today: you can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood.

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. The bottom line: it’s your choice how you live life. (Jerry, a friend of Harvey Mackay, ‘Bottom line: your choice how to live’ by Harvey Mackay)

“Marcia Martin said, “‘What I point out to people is that it’s silly to be afraid that you’re not going to get what you want if you ask. Because you are already not getting what you want … without asking, you already have failed, you already have nothing. What are you afraid of?’

The next step is to ask yourself, ‘If I ask for this thing, what is the best that could happen?’ Wow! Think about it! You could actually get what you ask for—perhaps even more.” (The Aladdin Factor, Jack Canfield & Mark V. Hanson)

“Perhaps the ten most important two-letter words ever put together: If it is to be, it is up to me.” (Unknown Author)

Posted in Attitude, Challenges, Inspiration

12 Oct 2012

“What Are You Going to Do, Right Now?”

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” (Michelangelo)

“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” (Winnie-the-Pooh)

“If you want to succeed in your Life, remember this phrase: The Past does not equal The Future. Because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months; the last 16 years; or the last fifty years of Life, doesn’t mean anything … All that matters is: What are you going to do, RIGHT NOW!!?” (Anthony Robbins)

Let’s get to work! ~ GMUniverse

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11 Oct 2012

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Imagination, Truth and Bliss

“Only in men’s imagination does every truth find an effective and undeniable existence. Imagination, not invention, is the supreme master of art, as of life.” (Joseph Conrad)

“Why abandon a belief merely because it ceases to be true? Cling to it long enough and … it will turn true again, for so it goes. Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favors.” (Robert Frost)

“Follow your bliss.” (Joseph Campbell)

Posted in Attitude, Inspiration, Life, Uncategorized

11 Oct 2012

“Dreams Soon Become Inevitable”

“Before you can lead others, before you can help others, you have to discover yourself. Today a leader can’t impose himself on others. He makes himself available to others. And nothing is more powerful than someone who knows who they are. The traditional view of leadership talks about leadership as a package, but it looks at the outside of the package. I’m talking about starting with what’s inside the package.” (Joe Jaworski, Synchronicity)

“It’s one of the characteristics of a leader that he not doubt, for one moment, the capacity of the people he’s leading to realize whatever he’s dreaming.” (Benjamin Zander, TED – Ideas Worth Spreading)

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” (Christopher Reeve, aka ‘Superman’)

Think back on the leaders you have worked for or know of. What do you believe made them a success? Those that were successful knew themselves well – strengths and weaknesses, believed in their mission and trusted, cared about and had deep confidence in the people they ‘served.’ ‘Servant leadership’ – successful leaders ‘served’ the people who reported to them. As a result, the leaders’, no wait …, the teams’ dreams became inevitable. Be a ‘servant leader’ and make dreams come true. ~ GMUniverse

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10 Oct 2012

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“Success in a Nanosecond”

“Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to make important changes in our lives. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause.

We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life – If you don’t like how things are, change it! You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life – and it all begins with your very own power of choice.” (Jim Rohn)

“One of the most common things I hear is, ‘I’d like to do something remarkable like that …, but my xyz won’t let me; where xyz = my boss, my publisher, my partner, my licensor, my franchisor, etc. Well, you can fail by going along with that and not doing it, or you can do it, cause a ruckus and work things out later.

In my experience, once it’s clear you’re willing (not just willing, but itching, moving, and yes, implementing) without them, things start to happen. People are rarely willing to step up and stop you, and often just waiting to follow someone crazy enough to actually do something. I’m going. Come along if you like.” (Seth Godin)

“You can be as successful as you wish the nanosecond you decide you will not settle for anything less.” (Tom Peters)

Posted in Attitude, Challenges, Change, Inspiration

09 Oct 2012

YOU

“People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.” (St. Augustine)

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” (Leo Buscaglia)

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” (William James)

Be who you really are, show the world your uniqueness and share with everyone. ~ GMUniverse

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09 Oct 2012

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Be Like Children

“You can understand and relate to most people better if you look at them – no matter how old or impressive they may be – as if they are children. For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much – we simply grow taller. Oh, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we always are, whose needs are simple, whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales.” (Leo Rosten)

“The great enemy of creativity is fear. When we’re fearful, we freeze up … . Creativity has a lot to do with a willingness to take risks. Think about how children play. They run around the playground without thinking about where they’re going. They trip, they fall down, and then they get back up again and run some more. They have a wonderful belief: that everything will be all right. They feel capable; they let go; they play … . No matter how many facts and figures you have, you can’t predict the future. There will always be surprises … . Creativity helps us realize that we don’t have to understand everything. We can enjoy something – feel it and use it – without ever fully comprehending it.” (Faith Ringgold, Fast Company, April 2000)

“All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile …. These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.” (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum)

Posted in Attitude, Inspiration, Life, Perception

07 Oct 2012

“Heroes and Fools”

“If one of us could ascend to the heavenly realm and for a few hours accompany the Divine on His daily rounds, he would see below millions of his fellow humans busily hurling themselves into the passions, sports, (work) and actions of the moment – all the while seemingly oblivious of those around him.

But if our observer had the power … he would also feel and sense, pulsing through and vibrating from every one of us here below a desperate and unending plea …. ‘Notice me! I want to be known, admired, and loved by the whole world!’

And it is this; this glorious weakness, this dependence of us on each other that makes some of us heroes and some of us fools – and most of us heroes and fools at the same time!” (Rev. Michael Burry)

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)

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06 Oct 2012

“It’s Fun To Do the Impossible”

“You’re good, but you’re going to be great. You’re the best, but you’re going to get better. Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember: those are always the ones that lead to the most beautiful views. Challenges come along, inevitably; how you respond to them determines who you are deep down inside – and everything you’re going to be. Increase the chances of reaching your goals by working at them gradually. The very best you can do is all that is asked of you. Realize that you are capable of working miracles of your own making. Remember that opportunities have a reason for knocking on your door, and the right ones are there for the taking. You don’t always have to win, but you do need to know what it takes to be a winner. It’s up to you to find the key that unlocks the door to a more fulfilling life. Understand that increased difficulty brings you nearer to the truth of how to survive it – and get beyond it. Cross your bridges. Meet your challenges. Reach out for your dreams, and bring them closer and closer to your heart. Get rid of the “if only’s,” and get on with whatever you need to do to get things right. Go after what you want in life, with all the blessings of all the people who care about you. And find out what making your wishes come true really feels like.” (Unknown)

“If we did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” (Thomas A. Edison)

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” (Walt Disney)

Whenever you are faced with a challenge or you believe that something is impossible, think of the words above and you will rise above your challenges. ~ GMUniverse

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05 Oct 2012

“If You Can Dream It …”

“Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns and that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns; but that is of interest only to pigs. Our faith gives us knowledge of something much better: that we can become oak trees.” (E. F. Schumacher)

“We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts, we make the world.” (The Buddha)

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.

If you can dream it, you can become it.” (William Arthur Ward)

Open your eyes and realize what you can do. To repeat a quote stated in an earlier post, “Control your own destiny or someone else will.” (Jack Welch)

Whether it is at work or at home, you have the power inside of you to determine what you can do positively and not let outside negative forces stop you. Use that power wisely or as a great ‘philosopher’ once said “Use the Force, Luke.” ~ GMUniverse