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Aptitude Quotes

    “It is trust in the limits of the self that makes us open and it is trust in the gifts of others that makes us secure. We come to realize that we don’t have to do everything, that we can’t do everything, that what I can’t do is someone else’s gift and responsibility… My limitations makes space for the gifts of other people.”

    Sister Joan Chittister, via Think Like A Monk (Page 100)

      “If the Egyptians had so capably built their temples and pyramids without the benefit of modern architectural tools, then I, the daughter of this great civilization, must be capable of more than I knew. We all are. Anything we can conceive of can be built. Perhaps not through our efforts alone, but also by the generations of dreamers whose feet will rest on our shoulders.”

      Alicia Keys, More Myself (Page 105)

        “I’m not sure how much of identity comes threaded in our genes and how much of it is shaped by our environment, but as far back as I can recall, placing my fingertips on a keyboard felt like coming home to myself. There was no courtship phase, no period of becoming acquainted with the piano; rather, the connection was instantaneous, as comfortable and familiar for me as breathing.”

        Alicia Keys, More Myself (Page 24)

          “You are by no means only what you already know.  You are also all that which you could know, if you only would.  Thus, you should never sacrifice what you could be for what you are.  You should never give up the better that resides within for the security you already have—and certainly not when you have already caught a glimpse, an undeniable glimpse, of something beyond.” ~ Jordan Peterson, via 12 Rules for Life (Page 223)

            “I’m not saying that genetics don’t play a role in athletic performance, or that everyone has an undiscovered ability to run a four-minute mile, dunk like LeBron James, shoot like Steph Curry, or run the Hurt 100 in twenty two hours.  We don’t all have the same floor or ceiling, but we each have a lot more in us than we know, and when it comes to endurance sports like ultra running, everyone can achieve feats they once thought impossible.  In order to do that we must change our minds, be willing to scrap our identity, and make the extra effort to always find more in order to become more.” ~ David Goggins, Can’t Hurt Me

              “Discipline is the spark that ignites the fire of a habit.  Those fires must be lit daily, and discipline provides the original source energy.  The word discipline literally means to be a disciple to a higher purpose.  Developing the discipline to train hard every day means you become a disciple—not to the training itself, not just to looking good or stroking your ego, but to the higher purpose of developing yourself fully as a human being and as a leader.” ~ Mark Divine, The Way of the Seal

                “It is so easy to make a life and a career out of sitting in the bleachers… There are people who have amazing gifts, who could make the world an incredibly better place, who won’t put their work out there for [fear of judgement].  And that’s a loss.  And whether we know what that work was or not, we miss it and grieve it every day.   There are songs that we need to hear, there are stories that need to be told, that we’ll never see or know because there are so many people out there who are so reflectively cynical and critical and mean-spirited.  I don’t like it.” ~ Brené Brown, via How To Live A Good Life

                  “Passion is the thing that will help you create the highest expression of your talent.” ~ Larry Smith, via Talk Like TED

                    “Understand once and for all that your mind has magnetic power to attract all that you desire into your life.  If there is a lack in your life it is because there is a lack in your thoughts.  Hold wonderful pictures in your mind’s eye.  Even one negative image is poisonous to your mindset.  Once you start to experience the joy this ancient technique brings, you will realize the infinite potential of your mind and begin to liberate the storehouse of ability and energy that currently sleeps within you.” ~ Robin S. Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

                      “To live life to the fullest, you must stand guard at the gate of your garden and let only the very best information enter.  You truly cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought – not even one.  The most joyful, dynamic and contented people of this world are no different from you or me in terms of their makeup.  We are all flesh and bones.  We all come from the same universal source.  However, the ones who do more than just exist, the ones who fan the flames of their human potential and truly savor the magical dance of life do different things than those whose lives are ordinary.  Foremost amongst the things that they do is adopt a positive paradigm about their world and all that is in it.” ~ Robin S. Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

                        “Most people live – whether physically, intellectually, or morally – in a very restricted circle of their potential being.  We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon of which we do not dream.” ~ William James

                          “Most often people believe that the ‘gift’ is the ability itself.  Yet what feeds it is that constant, endless curiosity and challenge seeking.” ~ Carol Dweck, Mindset

                            “Squandering our gifts brings distress to our lives.  As it turns out, it’s not merely benign or ‘too bad’ if we don’t use the gifts that we’ve been given; we pay for it with our emotional and physical well-being.  When we don’t use our talents to cultivate meaningful work, we struggle.  We feel disconnected and weighted down by feelings of emptiness, frustration, resentment, shame, disappointment, fear, and even grief.” ~ Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

                              “You’ve gotten to where you are right now by doing whatever it is you’re doing, so if you’re less than impressed with your current situation, you clearly need to change things up.” ~ Jen Sincero, You Are a Badass

                                Excellence can be attained, if we…

                                Care more than others think is wise.
                                Risk more than others think is safe.
                                Dream more than others think is possible.
                                Focus more than others think is reasonable.
                                Trust more than others think is practical.

                                ~ Unknown

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