“One moment can change a day, One day can change a life and One life can change the world” ~ Gautama Buddha – Put yourself out there.  Don’t sweat it if you feel like you don’t have much to offer the world.  These are crazy times we live in and things are changing faster than just about anybody can keep up with.  One random meeting can dramatically change your life and eventually a lot of other lives.

“Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful” ~ Gautama Buddha – Change is hard because our heads are harder.  Consider a move to a new state or a new country, this will help you learn how to deal with change, whether you like it or not.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ~ Gautama Buddha – Your silly grin is contagious, try it out.

“If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.” ~ Gautama Buddha – This is the essence of meditation.  Seek quiet.

“Everything that happens to us is the result of what we ourselves have thought, said, or done.  We alone are responsible for our lives.” ~ Gautama Buddha – This is a hard one to accept, but you are where you are because of what you have done and haven’t done.

“If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.” ~ Gautama Buddha – A good leader is one who pushes more than she pulls.

“All life is temporary.  Why worry about anything that’s only temporary” ~ Gautama Buddha – Life is short and life is long, but in terms of human history, your life is not even a blink of an eye.  Make your mark by making things better for people you love and for future generations, not just by piling up more money that you can’t take with you when your time is up.

“The greatest victory is the one over oneself.” ~ Gautama Buddha – Our inner demons are strong and determined and know how to gang up on us.  This is why most of us go to the grave secretly miserable and unfulfilled.

“Love in the past is only a memory. Love in the future is only a fantasy. True love lives in the here and now.” ~ Gautama Buddha – This quote applies equally to life.  Learn from your mistakes and make your plans, but live your life today.  Our highly addictive phones are a huge hindrance in this regard.

“The wind cannot shake a mountain. Neither praise nor blame moves the wise man.” ~ Gautama Buddha – Fly true to your mission and do the best you can with what you have, right here, right now and no wind can knock you off course.  If you don’t yet have a mission or purpose, sit down and start writing.  Note – going to a job you hate so you can maybe fly to some fancy resort and sit by the pool and drink overpriced pina coladas once a year is not a proper mission.

“Do not speak – unless it improves on silence.” ~ Gautama Buddha – God, or natural selection, gave you two ears and one mouth for a good reason.  Our big mouths are trouble makers, they have ruined countless more relationships and careers than our ears.  Think about it, who ever heard of someone getting fired for listening too much.