Quote: Success

"If you want to be successful, be excellent. If you want the best the world has to offer, offer the world your best." -- Oprah

The Virtue of Patience

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell linked patience and faith together when he taught: 'Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best--better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His' ("Patience," Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28).

"We can grow in faith only if we are willing to wait patiently for God's purposes and pattern to unfold in our lives, on His timetable."

(Robert C. Oaks, "The Power of Patience," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 16-17)

Quote: Overcoming Shortcomings

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

Quote from Oprah

I really liked this quote -- and thought I'd share:

"It makes no difference how many peaks you reach if there was no pleasure in the climb." -- Oprah

Great Quote on Happiness

"Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy." -- Cynthia Nelms

I liked this quote so much I thought I'd share.

Quote: Spreading Sunshine

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves." -- James Barrie

Quote: Good Attitude

"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude." (M. Russell Ballard, "Providing for Our Needs," Ensign, May 1981, 85)

Quote: Changing Our Lives

"The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." -- William James, a Harvard Psychologist

Quote: True Love

"True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well-being of one's companion."-- Gordon B. Hinckley (CR, April 1971, p. 82.)

Quote: Beautiful Things in Life

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart." -- Helen Keller

Quote: Mothers

"I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is." -- Oprah

Quote: Reason for Trials

"Sometime in the eternities to come, we will see that our trials were calculated to cause us to turn to our Heavenly Father for strength and support. Any affliction or suffering we are called upon to bear may be directed to give us experience, refinement, and perfection." -- Delbert L. Stapley, "The Blessings of Righteous Obedience", Ensign, Nov. 1977

I love this quote -- it's been something that I've been thinking about and experiencing myself. I really believe that the Lord loves us enough to allow us to suffer, so that we may turn to Him and become more like Him.

Quote: Shaping Character

"The decisions we make and the way we behave are what ultimately shape our character. Charles A. Hall aptly described that process in these lines: “We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions, and we reap our habits; we sow our habits, and we reap our characters; we sow our characters, and we reap our destiny" -- Wayne S. Peterson, "Our Actions Determine Our Character,", Ensign, Nov. 2001, 83

Quote: Sabbath

"How we observe the Sabbath indicates our feelings toward our Father in Heaven." -- LeGrand R. Curtis (Ensign, November 1990, p. 13.)

Quote: Changing

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." -- Ezra Taft Benson, "Born of God", Ensign, July 1989, 2

You Are Not Alone

"The Lord will never forsake or abandon anyone. You may abandon him, but he will not abandon you. You never need to feel that you are alone. " -- Joseph B. Wirthlin (Ensign, November 1989, p. 75.)

When Thou Art Converted

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he my sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32)

Increased Faith

"We’re not going to survive in this world, temporally or spiritually, without increased faith in the Lord—and I don’t mean a positive mental attitude—I mean downright solid faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the one thing that gives vitality and power to otherwise rather weak individuals." -- A. Theodore Tuttle, "Developing Faith", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 72

Quote: What is Your Destination?

"As we pursue our journeys, let us ever bear in mind that in train travel and in life, there are stations, there are departures, calls, schedules, and opportunities for being side-tracked and diverted. Wise is the individual who follows in his, the Savior’s, paths. Safety and joy belong to those who will come and follow him. I bear witness to you today that God is eternal. We are eternal, and God never intended for us to travel alone." -- Marvin J. Ashton, "What Is Your Destination?", Ensign, July 1972, 62

Quote: Here am I; Send Me

"It is important that you have oil in your lamps so that when you say to the Lord, "Here am I; send me," you are prepared and qualified to be sent. We are all heaven sent, but what we are able to accomplish in the Lord's work depends to a large extent on our willingness and ability." -- James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent", Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110

Quote: Total Commitment

"To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually--to a love of the Lord." -- Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign, May 1988, p. 4.)

Quote: Prayer

"Prayer is the key which unlocks the door and lets Christ into our lives." -- Marion G. Romney (Ensign, May 1978, p. 50.)

Quote: Doing the Best We Can

"We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and our weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of our choices and decisions, make good use of every opportunity, and do our best in every task we undertake. We should not be unduly discouraged nor in despair at any time when we are doing the best we can. Rather, we should be satisfied with our progress even though it may come slowly at times." -- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Patience, a Key to Happiness", Ensign, May 1987, 30

Quote: Increasing Spirituality

"I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.135)."

Quote: Forgiveness and Peace

"We may have much that worries us, and we may find many reasons to be concerned. Yet, as President Spencer W. Kimball observed, peace and the Savior’s doctrine of forgiveness are inseparably connected: The essence of forgiveness is that it brings peace to the previously anxious, restless, frustrated, perhaps tormented soul." -- Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., "Words of Jesus: Forgiveness", Ensign, Feb. 2003, 48

Negative Thinking

"The most handicapped person in the world is a negative thinker." Heather Whitestone, former Miss America...she is deaf.

There is someone in my life right now who I suppose would be considered a negative thinker. No matter what good things happen in her life, she focuses on the bad. Her job is never right. No one can do what she wants them to do. Everyone surrounding her is incompetent. Negativity permeates.

I have found that that negative thinking creates negative energy. It has come to the point where I no longer wish to spend time with her. I hope she does well in her life. But I wish to surround myself with positive energy and supportive friendships. I hope she will change her paradigms and change her thought processes -- because until she does that, she won't be happy and her relationships will continue to let her down.

I believe in the Law of Attraction. How can we change our own patterns and attract people into our lives who will support us, will see the good in others, will believe in us and our dreams and who will be happy for us when we are happy?

It comes down to what we think about and what we focus on. I have been trying to visualize (with emotion) my ideal life. It's easy for me to identify my perfect relationship, and I'm working on the wealth and physical goals. When I think about what I want in life, I have tons of energy and a smile on my face. It's exciting to think about what's coming. I keep telling myself "Good things are coming!" and I get excited to see what's coming next.

I am excited for my next relationship, for the next big idea for work, and to finish my novel. I can't wait to create the environment at home that I can see in my head. It's so much fun.

And, there is no room for negative thinking in building my dreams!

Priorities

"When priorities are in place, one can more patiently tolerate unfinished business." -- Russell M. Nelson (Ensign, November 1987, p. 88.)