Quotes from Richard Carlson

Irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where you are—always!

It is in our lowest moods, when we are least equipped to do so, that we are tempted to try to solve problems or resolve issues with others.

Do not sweat the small stuff.

Your job is to try to determine what the people in your life are trying to teach you. You'll find that if you do this, you'll be far less annoyed, bothered, and frustrated by the actions and imperfections of other people.

You'll also notice that, as you reach out and let others be "right," they will become less defensive and more loving toward you.

One of the cardinal rules of joyful living is that judging others takes a great deal of energy and, without exception, pulls you away from where you want to be.

Change the things that can be changed, accept those that cannot, and have the wisdom to know the difference.

Something wonderful begins to happen with the simple realization that life, like an automobile, is driven from the inside out, not the other way around. As you focus more on becoming more peaceful with where you are, rather than focusing on where you would rather be, you begin to find peace right now, in the present. Then, as you move around, try new things, and meet new people, you carry that sense of inner peace with you. It's absolutely true that "Wherever you go, there you are.

its helpful to step back and see the bigger picture

It is our ability to forget our problems, through the process of thought, rather than the passage of time, that frees us from the circumstances of our past.

If you want your life to stand for peace and kindness, it's helpful to do kind, peaceful things.

Proving yourself is a dangerous trap.

Trust your intuitive heart. How often have you said to yourself, after the fact, "I knew I should have done that"? How often do you intuitively know something but allow yourself to think yourself out of it?

The need for perfection and the desire for inner tranquility conflict with each other.

Bragging actually dilutes the positive feelings you receive from an accomplishment or something you are proud of. To make matters worse, the more you try to prove yourself, the more others will avoid you, talk behind your back about your insecure need to brag, and perhaps even resent you.

we tend to focus on the annoying expectation

Praise and blame are all the same is a fancy way of reminding yourself of the old cliché that you'll never be able to please all the people all the time. Even in a landslide election victory in which a candidate secures 55 percent of the vote, he or she is left with 45 percent of the population that wishes someone else were the winner. Pretty humbling, isn't it?

I am certain that a quiet mind is the foundation of inner peace. And inner peace translates into outer peace.

If you don't want to "sweat the small stuff," it's critical that you choose your battles wisely.

People are no longer human beings. We should be called human doings.

The truth is, we don't know what's going to happen—we just think we do. Often we make a big deal out of something. We blow up scenarios in our minds about all the terrible things that are going to happen. Most of the time we are wrong. If we keep our cool and stay open to possibilities, we can be reasonably certain that, eventually, all will be well. Remember: maybe so, maybe not.

Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over.

Seeking first to understand isn't about who's right or wrong; it is a philosophy of effective communication.

Often a single act of kindness sets a series of kind acts in motion.