Top quotes by Peter McWilliams

In reality, serendipity accounts for one percent of the blessings we receive in life, work and love. The other 99 percent is due to our efforts. Votes: 31

We can consciously end our life almost anytime we choose. This ability is an endowment, like laughing and blushing, given to no other animal... in any given moment, by not exercising the option of suicide, we are choosing to live. Votes: 21

The news media are, for the most part, the bringers of bad news... and it's not entirely the media's fault, bad news gets higher ratings and sells more papers than good news. Votes: 21

We are all, right now, living the life we choose. Votes: 19

To the degree we're not living our dreams, our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves. Votes: 17

Choosing what you want to do, and when to do it, is an act of creation. Votes: 16

Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it's a small price to pay for living a dream. Votes: 13

Comfort zones are most often expanded through discomfort. Votes: 13

Prison is a crash course in the darker side of life. Few survive it without becoming a different person: more cynical, jaded, fearful, angry. Its hard to trust again, hard to believe, easy to hate a system that destroyed your life behind the pompous pretense of saving you from yourself, for your own good. Votes: 13

Definition of a victim: a person to whom life happens. Votes: 12

If you're not actively involved in getting what you want, you don't really want it. Votes: 12

It's your life. Live it with people who are alive. It tends to be contagious. Votes: 11

There are many misconceptions about depression-mostly negative. Unfortunately, because depressed people think negatively about depression and its treatment, they don't get help, which allows the depression to worsen, which leads to more negative thinking, which produces a vicious cycle of suffering. Votes: 11

What's more important-your goal, or others' opinions of your goal? Votes: 9

I am the representative of all the sick people and what they are doing to me is only the worst case right now, but there will be others. I am living on borrowed time anyway. I owe this part of my life to luck and modern medical science. But I can't imagine what the rest of it will be like if they won't let me use medical marijuana. Votes: 8

When you start noticing even a small portion of all there is to be grateful for, you'll find there is no room for lack, hurt, or want. The attitude of gratitude: the great, full feeling. Votes: 7

To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all. Votes: 7

To overcome a fear, here's all you have to do: realize the fear is there, and do the action you fear anyway. Votes: 6

That the religious right completely took over the word Christian is a given. At one time, phrases such as Christian charity and Christian tolerance were used to denote kindness and compassion. To perform a "Christian" act meant an act of giving, of acceptance, of toleration. Now, Christian is invariably linked to right-wing conservative political thought -- Christian nation, Christian morality, Christian values, Christian family. Votes: 6

If you change the belief first, changing the action is easier. Votes: 5

The road to positivity is strewn with the abandoned vehicles of the faint-hearted. Votes: 5

We can consciously end our life almost anytime we choose. This ability is an endowment, like laughing and blushing, given to no other animal... in any given moment, by not exercising the option of suicide, we are choosing to live Votes: 5

Learn to ask for what you want. The worst people can do is not give you what you ask for which is precisely where you were before you asked. Votes: 4

Our thoughts create our reality - where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go. Votes: 3

I see nothing wrong with the human trait to desire. In fact, I consider it integral to our success mechanism. Becoming attached to what we desire is what causes the trouble. If you must have it in order to be happy, then you are denying the happiness of the here and now. Votes: 3

..Fear is the energy to do your best in a new situation. The feeling of fear (anxiety, nervousness, shyness, or any of its other aliases) is really "preparation energy". It's getting you ready to excel, to succeed, to do your best and to learn the most. Votes: 3

Contrary to popular belief, a good number of transvestites-both male and female-are also heterosexual. Just because they want to get dressed up like the opposite sex does not necessarily mean they want to go to bed with the same sex. Some have successful heterosexual marriages & enjoy the most delightful shopping experiences. Votes: 3

While goals are chosen, a purpose is discovered. Our purpose is something we have been doing all along, and will continue to do, regardless of circumstances, until the day we die. Votes: 2

Life is not a struggle. It's a wiggle. Votes: 2

Ultimately, censorship comes down to taste. What offends me may enlighten you. Do you want me deciding-based on my taste-what you should or should not be exposed to? Votes: 2

Send the light of your own loving ahead of you. When you get there, the loving will have prepared a place for you. Be kind, gentle, and enjoy the journey. Votes: 0

If you want peace, stop fighting. If you want peace of mind, stop fighting with your thoughts. Votes: 0

The simple solution for disappointment depression Get up and get moving. Physically move. Do. Act. Get going. Votes: 0

..we are trained as children to get good grades, get a good job, get a good spouse, get children, get ahead. In all this getting we get something else: anxiety and depression. Votes: 0

Most people, once they graduate from the School of Hard Knocks, automatically enroll in the University of Adversity. Votes: 0

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves. Votes: 0

Pain (any pain--emotional, physical, mental) has a message. The information it has about our life can be remarkably specific, but it usually falls into one of two categories: We would be more alive if we did more of this and Life would be more lovely if we did less of that. Once we get the pain's message, and follow its advice, the pain goes away. Votes: 0

When we put things off until some future-probably mythical-Laterland, we drag the past into the future. The burden of yesterday's incompletions is a heavy load to carry. Don't carry it. Votes: 0

As with most consensual crimes, this prohibition of hemp is both silly and sinister. Votes: 0

I'm tired of people thinking that Libertarians don't have morality- that they don't have values. that's a lot of hogwash. Libertarians are the ONLY politicians with values. Votes: 0

Pettiness seems to go hand in hand with vindictiveness. The smaller the person, the larger the need for revenge. This may account for the fact that some consensual crimes have stiffer penalties than do most crimes with innocent victims. Votes: 0

One of the great joys of life is creativity. Information goes in, gets shuffled about, and comes out in new and interesting ways Votes: 0

..Since depression is a genetic biological illness, like diabetes, or low thyroid, it wasn't lack of character, laziness, or something I could "snap out of"-it would be like trying to snap out of a toothache. Votes: 0

Although a lot can be learned from adversity, most of the same lessons can be learned through laughter and joy. Votes: 0

Learn to forgive fully and completely. If you want health, wealth, and happiness, you can't afford the luxury of lugging around all those unforgiven, unforgotten past events. Let them go. Votes: 0

If you want peace with others, don't fight them. Go your own way. Live your own life. If some walk with you, fine. If you walk alone for awhile, fine. If you don't like what's going on somewhere, leave. Maintain a portable paradise within yourself. Votes: 0

There is no answer to any of these questions. It's a matter of time and timing, of seas and seasons, of breathing in and breathing out. It's a matter of balance. Votes: 0

Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science, and our leaders have lied about this consistently. [Arresting people for] medical marijuana is the most hideous example of government interference in the private lives of individuals. It's an outrage within an outrage within an outrage. Votes: 0

..Because when medical marijuana is fully accepted for what it is, we will see a phenomenon that makes Viagra's phenomenon seem limp. Votes: 0

Nausea is an unsolved problem of medicine and marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science. Votes: 0

Happiness requires courage, stamina, persistence, fortitude, perseverance, bravery, boldness, valor, vigor, concentration, solidity, substance, backbone, grit, guts, moxie, nerve, pluck, resilience, spunk, tenacity, tolerance, will power, chutzpah, and a good thesaurus. Votes: 0

The more severe the pain or illness, the more severe will be the necessary changes. These may involve breaking bad habits, or acquiring some new and better ones. Votes: 0

For many, negative thinking is a habit, which over time, becomes an addiction... A lot of people suffer from this disease because negative thinking is addictive to each of the Big Three - the mind, the body, and the emotions. If one doesn't get you, the others are waiting in the wings. Votes: 0

For many, negative thinking is a habit which, over time, becomes an addiction... Votes: 0

Negative thinking is always expensive--dragging us down mentally, emotionally, and physically--hence I refer to any indulgence in it as a luxury. Votes: 0

You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought Votes: 0

I'd have a nervous breakdown except that I've been through this too many times to be nervous. Votes: 0

The laws against public nudity make no sense. The idea that Jerry Falwell can go topless while Cindy Crawford cannot is an absolute affront to logic, common sense and the 5000 year human struggle for aesthetic taste. Votes: 0

Anger begins as an inner twinge. We sense something long before it blossoms (explodes?) into an emotional tirade. If we listen to this twinge -- and follow its advice -- the emotional outburst (or in burst) is not needed. Votes: 0

Gays seem to be at the bottom of the pecking order: no matter how far down the pecking order another group is, its members still feel superior to and have no problem picking on gays. Votes: 0

Your Master Teacher knows all you need to learn, the perfect timing for your learning it, and the ideal way of teaching it to you. You don't create a Master Teacher -- that's already been done. You discover your Master Teacher. Votes: 0

Drugs, gambling, and prostitution are the Big Three underground 'moneymakers' in consensual crime. There would be, however, significant boosts to the economy if the stigma attached to the other consensual crimes were eliminated through legalization. Votes: 0

The media tends to report rumors, speculations, and projections as facts... How does the media do this? By quoting some 'expert'... you can always find some expert who will say something hopelessly hopeless about anything. Votes: 0

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves - at what we did or did not do. Resentment is anger directed at others - at what they did or did not do. Votes: 0

This is a lifetime of good-byes. In our time, we will say good-bye to cherished people, things, and ideas. Eventually, we say good-bye to life itself with our death. Learn to say a good good-bye. Allow yourself to mourn each loss. As with a physical wound, the body has its own schedule for healing. It will tell you when it has healed. Votes: 0

This is our true wealth: the riches we take with us, the joy we carry inside, the support we learn to give ourselves, and the self-loving that flows as a natural by-product of that support. Votes: 0

The irony is that the person not taking risks feels the same amount of fear as the person who regularly takes risks. Votes: 0

It is a risk to love. What if it doesn't work out? Ah, but what if it does. Votes: 0

Some people think that meditation takes time away from physical accomplishment. Taken to extremes, of course, that's true. Most people, however, find that meditation creates more time than it takes. Votes: 0

You're asking the government to control individual morality. This is a government that can't buy a toilet seat for under $600. Votes: 0

Don't accept the limitations of other people who claim things are 'unchangeable'. If it's written in stone, bring your hammer and chisel. Votes: 0

To visualize is to see what is not there, what is not real - a dream. To visualize is, in fact, to make visual lies. Visual lies, however, have a way of coming true. Votes: 0

The value of action is that we make mistakes; mistakes show us what we need to learn. Votes: 0

Do what you love and the necessary resources will follow. Votes: 0

As the world gets dumber and dumber, I feel more and more at home. Votes: 0

Mistakes show us what we need to learn. Votes: 0

Acceptance is not a state of passivity or inaction. I am not saying you can't change the world, right wrongs, or replace evil with good. Acceptance is, in fact, the first step to successful action. If you don't fully accept a situation precisely the way it is, you will have difficulty changing it. Moreover, if you don't fully accept the situation, you will never really know if the situation should be changed. Votes: 0

Acceptance is such an important commodity, some have called it "the first law of personal growth". Votes: 0

AIDS has come upon us with cruel abandon. It has forced us to confront and deal with the frailty of our being and the reality of death. It has forced us into a realization that we must cherish every moment of the glorious experience of this thing we call life. We are learning to value our own lives of our loved ones as if any moment may be the last. Votes: 0

All the good, fine, noble, and creative acts of humanity were conceived as a spark in a single human consciousness. Votes: 0

All the things you think you should have done that you didn't do, and all of the things that you shouldn't have done, accept them. You did (or did not) do them. That's Reality. That's happened. No changing the past. Votes: 0

And neither shall we learn to war with ourselves anymore. Votes: 0

Avoid People and Situations That Upset You. Those things, people, situations, and experiences you dont like--avoid them. Stay away. Walk away. Do something else. Some might call this cowardly. I call it smart. The world is brimming with things, people, and experiences. We will never experience all of them if we live to be 10,000. So why not associate with the ones that naturally please you? Votes: 0

Be easier on yourself, on everyone, on everything. Suspend your judgments on the way things should be, must be, and ought to be. Suspending judgments gives you greater ease. Consider ease the antidote for disease. Votes: 0

Because people are afraid of fear, they give up acre after acre of their own life. Votes: 0

By pursuing any one of our dreams, we can find fulfillment. We don't need to pursue them all. Votes: 0

Capitalism is the only economic system compatible with free individuals Votes: 0

Courage, contrary to popular belief, is not the absence of fear. Courage is the wisdom to act in spite of fear.... Votes: 0

Depression is an illness that robs one of the meaning of life. Heal the illness. As the depression heals, enthusiasm, well-being, and a sense of life's purpose will return. Votes: 0

Desire happiness, aspire to gratitude, long for health, crave compassion, seek satisfaction, lust after God, however & whatever you perceive God to be, want to love yourself, others & everything around you more and more each day Votes: 0

Do we indulge our heart, or cater to our fear? Votes: 0

Emotion is energy in motion. Votes: 0

Every time we give our word, it counts. For the most part, most people give it entirely too often. Our word is a precious commodity and should be treated as such.... Votes: 0

Everyone thinks they can be a writer. Most people dont understand whats involved. The real writers persevere. The ones that dont either dont have enough fortitude and they probably wouldnt succeed anyway, or they fall in love with the glamour of writing as opposed to the writing of writing. Votes: 0

Fear is something to be moved through, not something to be turned from. Votes: 0

Fill your life with people who applaud your positive thoughts, feelings, and actions; who encourage you toward more and better; who know how to praise the good and beautiful. Votes: 0

Find your horse. Discover the direction the horse is going. Ride the horse in that direction. Votes: 0

First, all relationships are with yourself-and sometimes they involve other people. Second, the most important relationship in your life-the one you have, like it or not, until the day you die-is with yourself. Votes: 0

For the most part, most people most often choose comfort - the familiar, the time-honored, the well-worn but well-known. After a lifetime of choosing between comfort and risk, we are left with the life we currently have.... Votes: 0

For writing, getting off our buts means getting on our butts-putting it into a chair and not moving from the chair for a set period of time. Votes: 0

Heroes became heroes flaws and all. You don't have to be perfect to fulfill your dream. Votes: 0

I feel that I am entitled to take medicinal marijuana. In general, I believe that everyone who has a doctor's prescription is entitled to take marijuana. I, however, do not believe that my day in court should be taken from me, and that's essentially what's happening. Votes: 0

I must conquer my loneliness alone. I must be happy with myself or I have nothing to offer you. Two halves have little choice but to join; and yes, they do make a whole. But two wholes when they coincide... that is beauty. That is love.... Votes: 0

If our early lessons of acceptance were as successful as our early lessons of anger how much happier we would all be. Votes: 0

If we aren't actively pursuing what we want, we don't really want it. Votes: 0

If we learned everything there is to know in kindergarten, it was promptly drummed out of us in first grade. Votes: 0

If we want the freedom to take part in our bit of differentness, then we must allow others their rights to take part in theirs, as long as they do not harm the person or property of a non-consenting other, of course. IT'S JUST common sense. It's also constitutional and it forms the cornerstone of the American ideal: free individual expression, tolerance and compassion. Votes: 0

If we're not enjoying what we've got...and even if we do get 'more,' we won't enjoy that, either. Votes: 0

If you were arrested for being kind to yourself..would there be enough evidence to convict you? Votes: 0

If you're not playing a big enough game, you'll screw up the game you're playing just to give yourself something to do. Votes: 0

I'm a confirmed negaholic. I don't just see a glass that's half full and call it half-empty; I see a glass that's completely full and worry that someone's going to tip it over. Votes: 0

In life, we have either reasons or results Votes: 0

In order to truly master the comfort zone, you have to learn to love it. Votes: 0

Keep your goals away from the trolls. Votes: 0

Laughter is essential to our equilibrium, to our well-being, to our aliveness. If we're not well, laughter helps us get well. If we are well, laughter helps us stay that way. Votes: 0

Let your intentions create your methods and not the other way around. Votes: 0

Many people weigh the guilt, they will feel against the pleasure of the forbidden action they want to take. Votes: 0

Meditation creates more time than it takes. Votes: 0

Mistakes, obviously, show us what needs improving. Without mistakes, how would we know what we had to work on? Votes: 0

No matter what you do, no matter how stupid, dumb or damaging you judge it to be, there is a lesson to be learned from it. Votes: 0

Our thoughts create our reality-not instantly, necessarily, as in "Poof! There it is" - but eventually. Where we put our focus - our inner and outer vision - is the direction we tend to go. That's our desire, our intention.... Votes: 0

Pain (any pain-emotional, physical, mental) has a message. Once we get the pains message, and follow its advice, the pain goes away. Votes: 0

People who want to appear clever rely on memory. People who want to get things done make lists. Votes: 0

Running from fear only strengthens fear-you are demonstrating that fear has power over you. Fear must be faced and gone through. Votes: 0

Stubborness is also determination. It's simply a matter of shifting from "won't power" to "will power. Votes: 0

That's what depression had wrought inside me: one, vast, barren rock garden-without the garden Votes: 0

The amount of power freed by telling yourself you no longer choose to put energy into something can be remarkable. Be prepared for extra energy. Votes: 0

The Bible, taken as a whole, can be used to praise or condemn practically any human activity, thought, belief, or practice. Votes: 0

The comfort zone takes our greatest aspirations and turns them into excuses for not bothering to aspire. Votes: 0

The most recent studies, . . . both behavioral and biological, indicate one's sexual orientation is genetic, something one is born with. Votes: 0

The ongoing successful treatment of my depression is the single most important positive step I have taken in my life, hence my enthusiasm for the subject. Votes: 0

The only difference between fear and excitement is what we label it. The two are pretty much the same physiological/emotional reaction. With fear, we put a negative spin on it: "Oh no!" With excitement, we give it some positive english: "Oh, boy!" Votes: 0

The part of us that feels anger and depression is the same part that feels peace and love. If you refuse to feel the anger and the pain of a loss, you will not be able to feel anything else until that area heals. In other words, stay out of your own way. Let yourself feel bad if you want to feel bad. Feel joy, too. Healing is taking place. Give yourself the gift of healing. Votes: 0

The purpose of education is to make the choices clear to people, not to make the choices for people. Votes: 0

The reason we feel hurt and anger when things and people outside us let us down is because we believe those things and people shouldn't. Well, sorry, that's not life here on earth. Votes: 0

The state, frankly, could care less. Historically, the state has been able to use any religious point of view for its own ends. . . . The examples of government misusing religion are endless. Votes: 0

The willingness to do creates the ability to do. Votes: 0

there is nothing to be done. only accept it... and hurt. Votes: 0

This is how it happens. We get the Dream, but we don't get to dictate every step toward the dream. Votes: 0

To affirm is to make firm. Votes: 0

To change rules that are already in place takes time, energy, perseverance and a lot of hard work. You only have so many of these assets at your disposal, so choose with care the rules you want to change. Votes: 0

To the degree we can live without the things of this world, to that degree we are wealthy. Votes: 0

Under this law (Controlled Substances Act) a bureaucrat-usually not elected-decides whether or not a substance is dangerous and how dangerous that substance is. There's no more messing around with legislatures, presidents, or other bothersome formalities. When MDMA (ecstasy) was made illegal in 1986, no elected official voted on that. It was done "in house." People are now in jail because they did something that an administrator declared was wrong. Votes: 0

We are not responsible for every thought that goes wandering through our mind. We are, however, responsible for the ones we hold there. We're especially responsible for the one's we put there. Votes: 0

We can do anything we want. The next time you hear yourself saying, to another-and especially yourself-I Can't, take a deep breath and say instead, My resources are otherwise engaged. Votes: 0

We have a problem with drugs? Let's declare war on drugs! We have a problem with crime? Let's declare war on crime! We have a problem with violence? Let's declare war on violence! The deeply ingrained American attitude that we can solve any problem w/enough force creates, feeds, & rewards the epidemic of violence we are currently experiencing. Votes: 0

Wealth is enjoying what we already have, not getting more of what we think will make us happy. Votes: 0

When it comes time to teach, teach from your experience. Go out and do, learn from the doing, then teach from the knowing. Votes: 0

When people don't understand that being uncomfortable is part of the process of achievement, they use the discomfort as a reason not to do. They don't get what they want. We must learn to tolerate discomfort in order to grow. Votes: 0

When thought and action are combined, the results are powerful-among the most powerful forces on earth. The combination of successful communication-the sharing of thoughts-and physical action can, literally, move mountains. Votes: 0

When we realize one Dream, sometimes a deeper Dream reveals itself. At other times a parallel Dream appears. The one that scares the hell out of you is probably it. Votes: 0

Whenever something good happens, write it down. Buy a special notebook . . . and use it to list all the good in your life. Votes: 0

While goals are chosen, a purpose is discovered. Our purpose is something we have been doing all along, and will continue to do, regardless of circumstances, until the day we die Votes: 0

Willingness opens the doors to knowledge, direction, and achievement. Be willing to know, be willing to do, be willing to create a positive result. Be willing, especially, to follow your dream. Votes: 0

Worrying is the interest paid on a debt you may not owe. Votes: 0

Write 10 times: 'Fear is my friend. Fear is the energy to do my best in a new situation.' You don't have to believe it; just write it. Votes: 0

You are powerful. Sorry. Hate to be the bearer of bad news. You are. You can continue arm wrestling with yourself, or you can use both arms, your whole heart, and all your strength to wrestle with greatness. The choice is yours. Votes: 0

You can always find some expert who will say something hopelessly hopeless about anything. Votes: 0

You can change anything you want. You just can't change everything you want. Votes: 0

You can have anything in life you really want - but you can't have everything in life you really want. Decide. Votes: 0

You have to follow the old rule for a while. In fact, once you master the old rule, you are then the master-and masters get to change things. Votes: 0

You need only look at what's in front of you and find something there to appreciate. Votes: 0

No matter what you do, no matter how stupid, dumb or damaging you judge it to be, there is a lesson to be learned from it. No matter what happens to you, no matter how unfair, inequitable or wrong, there's something you can take from the situation and use for your advancement. Votes: 0

The only difference between 'fear' and 'excitement' is what we label it. Votes: 0

Positive thoughts: joy, happiness, fulfillment, achievement, worthiness, have positive results: enthusiasm, calm, well-being, ease, energy, love.... Votes: 0