Elisabeth Kübler-Ross told us that the most beautiful people we have known are those “who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.”

Rumi told us that the wound is the place where the light can enter.

I hope you don’t look back one day and realize that you were always the biggest thing standing in your own way.

The next step is whatever is in front of you. The steps after will be revealed as you choose your path. To plan too intently is, in many ways, to limit what’s possible, to limit what might be. Stay here, act now. The unfolding occurs in the infinite now.

If you could imagine that it was all taken away from you tomorrow, what would you most regret not being grateful for?

If you are self-imposing limitation out of the assumption that shining too brightly will disturb the darkness within others, remember that in itself is an agreement to remain loyal to the dark. The more completely you are within your life, the more you will inspire others to re-enter their own arenas. Your light ricochets, refracts, and reminds.

Often, the things we are unable to let go of and forgive ourselves for are the ones that we didn’t fully live out.

You remember how perfect everything can be, because if you change what you choose to focus on, you change what you naturally see.

What you gather evidence for is what will appear most true. Gather evidence of your fortitude, your faith. Gather evidence of your strength, the way the road has always risen. If you don’t trust ahead, look to what’s behind. Remember, what got you here will get you to whatever’s next.