M.J. Ryan Quotes & Sayings

No matter what, I want to experience a sense of peace while talking. As I look out into the audience, Ill remember to breathe and notice that at my core there is peace. — M.J. Ryan

The major rule in the American belief system - that anyone can do anything ... is a lie that we have perpetuated, and it fosters mediocrity. Knowing what you're good at and doing even more of it creates excellence. — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude is a feeling of fullness, a recognition of the heart of what we are receiving in this moment. — M.J. Ryan

much of life requires waiting and we have a choice to do it happily or miserably. — M.J. Ryan

I'm so happy that James Baraz's AWAKENING JOY class is now available in book form. His class has been helpful to thousands of people. I plan to give it to all my clients who are struggling with creating a life of meaning and happiness. Joyfulness is our birthright. This book shows you how to reclaim it. — M.J. Ryan

Patience is no small, fell-good personal quality. It is at the heart of diplomacy and civility, lawfulness and civil order. Without it, people can't work together and society can't function at all. With it, we create the possibility of peace between people and between nations. — M.J. Ryan

UNDERLYING NEED "COPING" MECHANISM To have support in figuring out your talents Getting stoned to avoid thinking about it To be loved, held, appreciated Negativity, pessimism to "control" expectations To have feelings received Overeating as an attempt at self-soothing To be recognized as mattering Overwork to prove worth To forgive yourself Becoming perfectionistic to try and avoid mistakes To avoid punishment or disapproval Focusing solely on the needs of others so you don't take care of yourself by exercising Rest and rejuvenation Drinking alcohol to excess, "rewarding" yourself with fatty or sweet foods Solitude and contemplation Picking fights so you end up alone Stability in chaos Worrying as a way to feel in control A sense of purpose Overspending in an attempt to find meaning in material things — M.J. Ryan

As any gardener will tell you, the cycles of nature require patience ... Even a fast-growing vegetable like a radish requires time. — M.J. Ryan

As you put your children to bed, spend at least three minutes of private time, after books and bathroom and teeth-brushing, and ask them to tell you one thing they did that they appreciate themselves for and one thing someone else did that they are thankful
for. You — M.J. Ryan

in order to actually do something new, you have to get clear on why you are willing to expend all that energy. Why do you want to start that new hobby, have time alone with your spouse, get more sleep, move across the country, get out of debt? The benefits of where you're headed need to be clear. Just as you need a powerful what, you need a meaningful why. — M.J. Ryan

Because it takes work, often a lot of work and sacrifice, you have to really want to bring something into being. — M.J. Ryan

TOP TEN RESOLUTION PITFALLS 1. Being vague about what you want 2. Not making a serious commitment 3. Procrastinating and excuse making - no time, wrong time, dog ate my homework 4. Being unwilling to go through the awkward phase 5. Not setting up a tracking and reminder system 6. Expecting perfection, falling into guilt, shame, regret 7. Trying to go it alone 8. Telling yourself self-limiting rut stories 9. Not having backup plans 10. Turning slip-ups to give-ups — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude helps us love well by keeping us focused on the beauty in our relationship and the person we love. — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude is like a flashlight. It lights up what is already there. You don't necessarily have anything more or different, but suddenly you can actually see what it is. And because you can see, you no longer take it for granted. — M.J. Ryan

Take a deep breath and think of the three things you are grateful for, right in this moment. — M.J. Ryan

Look for the hidden blessings in difficult situations. — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude connects us to others and feeling gratitude allows us to be our best selves. When we are truly grateful, we can count on living the life we want — M.J. Ryan

At each level of gratitude our soul's capacity deepens, starting with contentment to meaningfulness, and finally, to pure joy. — M.J. Ryan

Finding a positive motivation also engages your emotional brain to work for the change, not against it. Remember, it wants to go toward pleasure. So the more emotionally pleasurable your positive motivation, the more it will help you achieve your goal. — M.J. Ryan

As you breathe, say to yourself: Breathing in, I am aware of breathing in. Breathing out, I am aware of breathing out. — M.J. Ryan

Whenever we are appreciative, we are filled with a sense of well-being and swept up by the feeling of joy. — M.J. Ryan

We hold on so tightly that our hands are unavailable to reach out for the happiness we could gain by letting go. — M.J. Ryan

if you really want it, you'll keep at it. Despite setbacks, interruptions, and sidetracks. No matter how long you get off course, you'll eventually return - if you really want what you say you do. — M.J. Ryan

Eating healthy and exercising won't help you if it's only temporary. — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude is the realization that we have everything we need, at least in this moment. — M.J. Ryan

Spiritual leaders teach that waking up is a process, that it doesn't just happen once and for all, but must occur again and again when we realize we have forgotten the miracle of being alive, and in recognizing our forgetfulness, we wake to the miracle once again. In the moments we are awake to the wonder of simply being alive, gratitude flows, no matter our circumstances. — M.J. Ryan

I learned that you don't have to be saddled for life with the mental attitudes you adopted in early childhood. All of us are free to change our minds, and as we change our minds, our experiences will also change. — M.J. Ryan

Like so many other positive acts, it turns out that hugging boosts our immune system. Plus it just plain feels good! So hug someone today, perhaps a person who seems particularly in need. — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude makes us feel bursting with delight, just to remember the gifts we have received. Thus we are doubly blessed when we receive something: for the gift itself and later, in recall, for the miracle of having been given it. — M.J. Ryan

Here's a practice for dealing with envy ... each time you find yourself envious of someone ... ask yourself, "What is there that I am noticing in the other person that I want to find in myself?" ... If it's money, is it the freedom? The cance to play that money buys? A sense of security? Whatever it is-more play, a sense of security, free time-you can work on getting more of it in your life, no matter what the circumstances. — M.J. Ryan

you will greatly increase your chances of success if you stop long enough to get clear on your motivation, understand why you've been doing what you're doing now, — M.J. Ryan

We can't wait until everything is OK-with us or with the rest of the world-to feel thankful, or we will never experience joy at all. — M.J. Ryan

whatever we're doing, healthy or unhealthy, is always a solution to some problem. — M.J. Ryan

The right brain is future oriented. It's where our aspirations, our dreams, our longings reside. It's where creativity is born. This is the part of your brain that doesn't care that you haven't done it before - in fact it's energized by newness and bored by routine. — M.J. Ryan

In every single moment, we have the choice to be happy or not. No matter what is going on, we can choose to focus on what is right, what is good and whole in ourselves and our lives, and what options we have in any given situation. In other words, we can choose to be happy no matter what. — M.J. Ryan

Gratitude is the antidote to bitterness and resentment. — M.J. Ryan

We do what we do because it serves some need. — M.J. Ryan