Words shape our world, our experiences and our Journey through Life. The words we use on ourselves and others shape the way our brain organizes thought patterns and beliefs, and sends messages to the Universe about what is most important to our value systems and desires.
We soak up a great deal from the words of others as well. Remember the old line, “Garbage in, garbage out”? Well, it could also be switched to “Pearls in, pearls out. “Pay close attention to the words you are steeping your life tea in. They determine what you will drink in of life.
My mother is one of the wisest women I know. Her words are valuable words to live by all the time. I often feel as if I should be following my mother around with pen and paper, collecting the little pearls that drop unwittingly out of her mouth when she opens her mouth to speak. She is, after all, the hometown originator of CAN and WILL and BELIEVE. Although, as I have mentioned in that post, I had to go and pay good money to someone else to really understand the wisdom of those words.
Sometimes when a Mother speaks, it takes awhile for the children to grow up enough to listen. I’m old enough now to unashamedly think my mother is brilliant. Once, while speaking with my mother on the phone, we were discussing the subject of self-respect and the puzzlement of why a certain otherwise intelligent, creative, successful woman had such difficulty meeting nice men. I could hear my mother breath out an exasperated breath on the phone before she exclaimed somewhat impatiently, “Well, where does she meet them? You gonna find a mink coat in the Five and Dime?” Words to live by indeed.
In fact, those are words she raised me by. Along with, “If you want to be treated like a diamond, don’t act like a common stone. “ ( ahem…it took me awhile to listen to that one too.)
This morning, in a Facebook conversation she wrote out these important words: “People have a right to choose their path of destination. Even God will let you go to hell if that’s what you want. It’s all about choice. ” Amen… and a great reminder for whenever we are on the warpath to change anyone but ourselves.
My mother sees the world in interesting pictures. It has behooved me to finally listen. Just a few more “Bobbi LaBelle’s Words of Wisdom” include:
- You want to be treated like a diamond, don’t act like a stone.
- Your mother may love you but no one else has to. Be nice or be lonely.
- The only thing CAN’T ever did was sit down and DIE.
- People who are bored are boring. Find something that interests you and you will become interesting to others.
She has many, many others. I have decided I really do need to follow her around and collect them up into a book of Wisdom Tidbits from Mothers. We really should pay more attention.
Mothers aren’t the only ones out there spewing out fountains of brilliant advice. We could save ourselves so much time and heartache if we would learn from others instead of being the hard-headed types who felt the need to re-invent all of the mistakes by ourselves. ( Note: I have a PhD from the school of Hard Knocks because I didn’t listen to other experts’ pearls of wisdom enough)
Some of the ones I wish I had paid more attention during my younger side of life rather than on the Wack On the Side of the Head side of Life are:
Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, but the parent of all the others. ~Cicero
Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire. ~Fred Shero
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, can become great. ~Mark Twain
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. ~Mother Teresa
Until you are happy with who you are, you will never be happy with what you have. ~Zig Zigler
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. ~Danny Kaye
Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.~Jim Rohn
Life is Difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. One we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it- then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters. ~M. Scott Peck, MD
OK, now it is your turn. In the comments below, share your favorite “Words of Wisdom”. What have you learned from others, or your own journeys through life that you would like to add to our Words of Wisdom?
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