Motivational Quotes (7)

There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.
John F. Kennedy

You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional.
Joe Paterno

To accuse others for one’s own misfortune is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one’s education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one’s education is complete.
Epictetus, Greek philosopher

In order to succeed, you must know what you are doing, like what you are doing and believe in what you are doing.
Will Rogers

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
Dr. Seuss
(Theodor Geisel)

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

Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.
Henry Ford

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.
Helen Keller

Without justice, courage is weak.
Benjamin Franklin

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Thomas Edison

A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with -- a man is what he makes of himself.
Alexander Graham Bell

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryan

We are all works in progress
Judith Gibson

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change."
Jim Rohn

See Motivational Quote Index for more quotes.

Ooops, did I do that?

Are You Prepared For Success? (Section II - Installment #4 "Solitude" - Male and Female)

(If this is your first time on this site, please begin with "Are You Prepared For Success?" [Introduction])

Solitude

Laugh and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost in the air;

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and mankind will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all--

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no one can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow isles of pain.

(Based on a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

I strongly suggest that you write down your immediate reaction, after passionately reading this poem.

• In your life, think of the people that you really like. Why do you like them?
• How do you feel when you are around them?
• How do people react to you when you are happy? And when you are sad?

Go to Installment #5, (Male & Female versions)

Should Children Witness Childbirth?

Due to a power outage, only one paramedic responded to the call. The house was very dark so the paramedic asked Kathleen, a 3-yr old girl, to hold a flashlight high over her mommy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby. Very diligently, Kathleen did as she was asked. Mommy pushed and pushed and after a little while, Connor was born. The paramedic lifted him by his little feet and spanked him on his bottom. Connor began to cry. The paramedic then thanked Kathleen for her help and asked the wide-eyed 3-yr old what she thought about what she had just witnessed. Kathleen quickly responded, "He shouldn't have crawled in there in the first place......smack his ass again!"

If you don't laugh at this one, there's no hope for YOU!!!!!

No One Is Above Suspicion

Turning Negative Self Talk into Positive Self Talk

This can be viewed as a follow-on to my "Keeping Negative Energy at Bay" post. The following is a chart that takes commonly used negative words and phrases and gives you the Positive words and phrases that you should replace them with. This chart is by no means comprehensive. It is meant to be a starting place. If during your review of this chart you can think of some words and phrases that I omitted, please let me know, along with their positive opposites, and I will add them. In fact consider this, if you like, as an exercise.

Negative Words and Expressions Positive Words and Expressions Agitated Happy Alarmed Aware Ambivalence Passion Anger Forbearance Anguished Determine the cause, and act upon it Apathy Enthusiastic Apprehension Confidence, self-trust, excited At the mercy of I will take control of Awkward Adept Baffled I will understand it Bewildered Become informed Can't be trusted Integrity, trust Complain Look for a solution confused Become informed Cowardice Courage Despair Hope Desperate Hopeful Destiny, it won't happen Faith, that it will happen Disgusted Understand it...then remove it Disinterested Learn, discover, explore, interested Displeased Do what's necessary to remove the displeasure Dissatisfied Change it so that it meets with your satisfaction Distrust yourself Confidence, self-trust Disturbed Understand and/or remove the cause of the disturbance Doubt Confidence Dread Courage Envy I will turn the envy into desire and then pursue it, or let it go Evil Good Eye contact avoidance Eye contact attainment Fail, as in give up or not try Succeed by never giving up Fear, afraid Anticipation, excitement Fidgety Easy, calm Follower Leader Frightened Courageous Frown Smile Futile Make it effective, or move on Give up, not try Accomplish Give up, not try Achieve Give up, not try Flourish Give up, not try Overcome Give up, not try Prevail Give up, not try Thrive Greedy Generous Grief I will work through it and not around it Grudge I will find the source, deal with it, then let it go Guilt I will understand the source, deal with it, then let it go Hate Tolerance Helpless I will take control of my life Hesitant Certain Hindered See to it that the cause of the hindrance is removed I am a victim I am in control I am scared of change I look forward to change, it may bring new and greater opportunities. I can't do it I can do it I don't believe I believe in me I don't have the knowledge to do it I will obtain the knowledge to do it I don't know how I will find out how I feel like a loser I feel like a winner I give up I will never, ever, ever, give up - persistence I have an excuse I have no excuse, I will do better next time I have no time to do that I will make the time to do that I long for the past I look forward to the future I may fail I will succeed, maybe not this time, but next time I may fall I will always get up again I play it safe I take risks I see a problem in every opportunity I see an opportunity in every problem I was never able to do it I never wanted to do it; I never thought I could I will try to do it I will do it I'm a loser I'm a winner I'm bored I will make my own fun I'm no good I'm very good I'm not worthy I am worthy I'm scared I'm excited I'm too poor I will work with what I have to gain what I want If I could get a better job I will look for a better job If I could meet the right people I am only 7 people away from anyone on earth If I could only do it again I will do it much better next time If I could only get a break I will make my own breaks If I could only save some money I will find a way to save money If I did not have to work so hard I will work smarter or will find a different line of work If I had been born rich I will get what I need If I had only embraced past opportunities Starting now I will find new opportunities If I only had a business of my own I will start my own business and I will make it work If I only had somebody to help me I will obtain what I need If I only had the talent I will discover my talents If I only were younger My life starts now If I were educated I will go back to school If I were in better health I will work with what I have If I were not so fat I will lose weight or I will accept myself If I were not so unlucky Luck is giving up control...I will take the control back If I were only sure of myself I will change my attitude so that I can believe in myself If my past did not haunt me I will not live in the past, I will live in the present If only I had a better personality My personality is a function of my attitude...I will change my attitude If other people understood me I will understand myself so that I can understand others If others didn't keep me down (victim) No one can keep me down unless I let them If things were different I will make things different If times were better I will make the best of the time we are in Immoral Moral Impatient I will become more patient Imprisoned Freedom Inconsiderate Considerate Inconsistent Consistent Indecision Decisive, confidence, self-trust Indecisive Decisive Indifference Ambitious Insecure Secure Intimidated Emboldened Irresponsible Responsible It won't happen It will happen It's no fun I will make it fun It's too difficult If it's possible, I will do it It's too hard to do It will be easy, once I have learned how Jealous Trusting Jittery Easy, calm Lie, false, dishonest Truth, honest Look down Look ahead Loss Profit Lost I will find my way Mad Foregiving Negative mental attitude, doomed to fail Positive mental attitude, born to win Nervous Courageous On edge Calm Overwhelmed I will organize Pain I will find a way to relieve it, or I will deal with it Panicky Calm Part of the problem Part of the solution Passive Assertive Perplexed I will get clarification Procrastination Expedite Resentful I will find the source, deal with it, then let it go Restless Calm, courageous Revenge Forgiveness Satisfied with mediocrity Strives for excellence Shaky Calm Sickened I will deal with the cause, or I will remove the cause Skeptical I will do what it take to remove the doubt, or move on Strained Easy and relaxed, with confidence Succumb Surmount Superstitious I will take control of my life Swamped I will organize and set priorities Tense Calm Terrified I will understand if the source is within my control or not, then deal with it accordingly That's an obstacle that I can't get around That is a challenge to be vanquished That's not my job Let me do it for you There is no way I will find a way Thoughtless Thoughtfulness Timid Bold Tormented I will deal with the source of the torment and/or remove it from my mind Uncomfortable Comfortable Uncommitted Committed Uneasy Easy Unfair Overcome it Unfocused Focused Ungrateful I am grateful for what I have Unhappy Happy Unlucky I make my own luck Unpopular I am responsible for what I project Un-prosperous Prosperous Unreliable Reliable Un-resourceful Resourceful Unsure I am very sure of myself What would others say What would I say if I don't ... Worry Confidence, self-trust, action

By Mel Kaye Copyright © MondayMorningPower, All rights Reserved

Keeping Negative Energy at Bay

Our lives today are constantly bombarded with negative material and messages from the media, on the evening news, newspaper headlines, radio stories, to angry co-workers and more. It is difficult to go through a day without being faced with world, national or personal disasters. No matter whom we are, where we go or our intentions, it is difficult to avoid all of the negative sources of information.

Our mind is completely undiscerning when it comes to the information we give it. That is, it takes all the information, whether positive OR negative, and uses it as a resource from which to make decisions. In a sense we are unwittingly programming our mind with negativity.

We all face the constant danger, over time, that these negative messages become our own negative thoughts and often we do not even realize it.

We go throughout the day with other people’s negative thoughts and outside events influencing our own thinking. These negative thoughts soon become our reality and our life is seemingly filled with negative thoughts, energy and behaviors.

The way to combat this negative energy is to be aware of its existence and to take responsibility for our own actions and our own lives - by controlling the messages we receive. We must reverse the negative programming. (By the way, I have developed a process that addressees this subject “Are You Prepared For Success?” This process is completely laid out for you on this site.)

The solution is in taking control of our own destiny and controlling the type of messages that our mind receives. We must purposefully place positive, motivating, inspiring messages in both, our subconscious and conscious mind. This site “MondayMorningPower” is strewn with motivational quotes, empowering poems, essays and articles and positive energy. Let’s not forget a heaping dose of humor. Read the quotes; read the poems; read the essays; engross yourself in positive energy.

The result will be a more positive, pleasant, happy output with less stress and more productivity. As an individual, your thoughts become more positive. You become in charge of your life and its destiny. Your life becomes more empowered and powerful in expression.

In order to effect change in our lives, whether it is just a commitment to be a little more positive in our outlook or to make a radical change in the way we look at life, we must OWN the process. (I must clearly state that I am not leading you towards the purchase of anything. Everything that I talk about, including the “Process”, is laid out on this site.)

Both in my “Process” and in my essays I talk about ownership of these positive messages by the use of PASSION, PLEASURE & REPETITION, or as I call it the “Empowerment Triad.” When reading the quotes, or the poems, or the essays, speak it out loud; say it with Passion; feel the Pleasure of knowing that a change is imminent; and Repeat them often. What I do is to take a quote that has particular significance for me and repeat it out loud about 10 times in the morning before I start my day. It becomes totally energizing.

An added benefit of looking through motivational quotes is that you end up internalize by simply looking through the quotes in order to find the one that has the most meaning for you that day.

Can you imagine the impact it would have if everyone around you were positively motivated first thing in the morning? Take responsibility for your life and the reality you create by doing something positive for YOU! Take care of yourself first and many of life’s struggles will take care of themselves.

As I have dedicated this site to the “Pursuit, Capture, Care and Feeding of a Positive Mental Attitude,” you should dedicate your life to the “Pursuit, Capture, Care and Feeding of a Positive Mental Attitude.” You will be surprised at how the rest of your life seems to just fall into place.

By Mel Kaye

Copyright © MondayMorningPower, All rights Reserved

Are You Prepared For Success? (Section II - Installment #3 "The Rain Will Fall" - Male and Female)

(If this is your first time on this site, please begin with "Are You Prepared For Success?" [Introduction])

The Rain Will Fall

A soft wet mist engulfs the city

As a blue sky fades into a sad shade of gray.

A dark and dreary rain descends

As the sun successfully hides from the day.

The wind howls like a wounded beast

As it swoops down with its twists and its swirls

Leading dead leaves in a frantic dance

And so another day unfurls.

The cold clammy fingers of the day overcomes you

As your happy dreams sadly fade away.

Your life seems so very dark and dreary

As you hopelessly try to hide from the day.

Your thoughts reach out for a shapeless past

As you retrace your life's twists and turns

In your frantic search to find yourself

Your day begins and your heart still yearns.

Be still, take heart, reflect a while.

For soon this will pass and then you will know

That behind that tragic mask you wear,

As behind the wind, the cold and the snow

That the sun still shines and the birds still sing.

For this sadness you feel befalls us all.

No one, as yet has lived untouched,

Because into each life some rain must fall.

Original poem by Mel Kaye

I strongly suggest that you write down your immediate reaction, after passionately reading this poem.

• What causes you to feel blue? What from your past? What currently?

By Mel Kaye
Copyright © MondayMorningPower, All rights Reserved

Go to Section II (Installment #4)

Men Have Better Friends

Friendship Between Women:

A woman didn't come home one night. The next day she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew about it.


Friendship Between Men:

A man didn't come home one night. The next day he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight of them confirmed that he had slept over, and two claimed that he was still there.

American Idol: Jordin Sparks

American Idol: Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey and many other past Idol successes are examples of people who were not afraid to take a risk. For these the payoff was huge, especially Jordin Sparks. Yes, they had to have talent, but what was it that really drove them to succeed, to audition in the first place? They had to have the right ATTITUDE. There’s that word again…..attitude. No matter how much talent you have, no matter how smart you are, no matter how much ________________ you have, without a positive mental attitude, the “never give up” attitude, the “never, never, never quit” attitude, would any of us even know their names today. I’m not saying that fame is your, or should be your definition of success. Everyone has, or will have, something that they want to accomplish, something that they want so bad that they can taste it, their own definition of success.

The American Idol scenario can be played out on the sports field, in the movie studios, in the operating room, in the courthouse…..anywhere where people live free. What about people who aren’t free; what would they give to be free…..well that’s a whole other essay, isn’t it and just a little off track…..just a little.

Attitude is the bases for every meaningful endeavor we begin. Attitude will also determine if we succeed at it or fail. Attitude is the ultimate power. Isn't that the name of this site?

There is no failure except in no longer trying.
Elbert Hubbard

The common denominator of success --- the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful --- lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do.
Albert Gray

The fastest way to succeed is to double your failure rate.
Thomas J. Watson, Founder of IBM

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Thomas Edison

Do it trembling if you must, but do it!

Emmet Fox

Are You Prepared For Success? (Section II - Installment #2 "Bargain With Life" - Female)

(If this is your first time on this site, please begin with "Are You Prepared For Success?" [Introduction])

If you bargain with Life for a penny,

Then Life would pay no more,

However you begged at evening

When you counted your scanty store.

For Life is just an employer,

He gives you what you ask,

But once you have set the wages,

Why, you must bear the task.

If you worked for a menial's hire,

Only to learn, dismayed,

That any wage you'd have had asked of Life,

Life would have willingly paid.

(Based on a poem of unknown authorship)

I strongly suggest that you write down your immediate reaction, after passionately reading this poem.

• In what ways have you settled and in what ways have you reached for the stars?

By Mel Kaye
Copyright © MondayMorningPower, All rights Reserved

Go to Section II (Installment #3)

Are You Prepared For Success? (Section II - Installment #2 "Bargain With Life" - Male)

(If this is your first time on this site, please begin with "Are You Prepared For Success?" [Introduction])

If you bargain with Life for a penny,

Then Life would pay no more,

However you begged at evening

When you counted your scanty store.

For Life is just an employer,

He gives you what you ask,

But once you have set the wages,

Why, you must bear the task.

If you worked for a menial's hire,

Only to learn, dismayed,

That any wage you'd have had asked of Life,

Life would have willingly paid.

(Based on a poem of unknown authorship)

I strongly suggest that you write down your immediate reaction, after passionately reading this poem.

• In what ways have you settled and in what ways have you reached for the stars?

By Mel Kaye
Copyright © MondayMorningPower, All rights Reserved

Go to Section II (Installment #3)