"We may not be born happy, but we are born with the ability to create happiness." --Source Unknown

Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness. - George Santayana

A budget is just a method of worrying before you spend money, as well as afterward.

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

Firm faith and self-confidence in your goals determine your destiny. Be surenot to forget your goals; do not allow doubts to come. Instead of seeingproblems, see only opportunities.

Peace is simplicity. Simplicity is beauty. A simple exercise to experiencethis is - Choose a day as your day of simplicity. Speak little, and listenwith attention. Do something incognito and nice for a person you are closeto. Eat simple and natural food. Create time periods for not doinganything - just walk, look around, live the moment. Have your mind open to amore profound and silent sensitivity. Appreciate each scene and each personas they are. In the evening write down your discoveries. Observe the stateof your mind.

In the ocean of silence you may discover your eternal treasures of peace, love and happiness. In silence, you can let bad feelings and past sorrows dissolve. Silence calms your heart. It is a balm that heals the wounds of the soul. It strengthens the spirit and takes you to a world without sound where peace reigns.

Self-consciousness distinguishes you from other animals. It enables you to be aware of your thoughts, feelings and emotions and to understand how they influence your behavior. When your consciousness awakens, you start beingtruly free because you decide your destiny and take responsibility for yourchoices.

You spend most of your life running after things, doing things. You forgotthat being comes before doing. Those who remember this secret make an effortto "be" and discover that when they stop and observe, life helps and bringswhatever is needed. Learning to be is learning to be at peace. It is ourmost fundamental nature.

To attain peace when something unfortunate happens, we have to open up to the possibility that there may be benefit and good hidden in that situation. Accept and learn, then your feelings will be positive and you will find solutions. You will have transformed defeat into victory.

Your true enemies - which will destroy your peace - are negative habits and waste thoughts. Your true attainment is the conquest of the self.

Peace ends when you are emotionally involved in a situation. The practice of being an independent observer helps you stay stable and calm. It is the best way to approach a decision in any circumstance.

It is easy to create new things, change places or do something different. To sustain that sense of newness that creates enthusiasm is more difficult. The secret of newness in life is not to do new things constantly, but to see everything you do with new eyes, new insights and a new perspective.

The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing. They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ablility to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself.

--- Wang Yang-Ming

Self-control is not about suppressing emotions or tolerating the pressure of circumstances. Self-control is to be the creator of your thoughts and feelings, to be creative and find new answers. This helps you to remain calm and cool.

At times there is a weak spot, something you do not want to see about your character. The way to discover it is through others. They are the mirrors that reflect your personality. If something bothers your about someone, you are recognizing an attitude that is actually within you. When you feel it does not affect you and you can respond calmly, it means that this weakness is no longer in you.

To stay happy in every situation remember what has helped you, what has made life worthwhile. Forget the old, the things of no value, and what has stolen your dreams. You grow and progress in life thanks to what motivates and inspires you. You get depressed through remembering your weakness and mistakes.

The most powerful form of teaching is by example. What you see through your eyes creates the greatest impact. The heart accepts it and it does not need many words. You cannot impose peace on any one through force but you can bring this about by being peaceful and creating a peaceful environment.

Peace is not a passive attitude; it is an active state. It requires having constant attention and determination, in order to live and to respond as a peaceful being to any upset in life. You need to brave and vigilant.

Your internal dialogue establishes your way of seeing the world. When you make demands on and reproach yourself, you create a world of stress and pain. To be peaceful, create a loving dialogue with yourself, enabling your inner values to awaken and be expressed regardless of your external world.