Mike Robbins - 365 Inspirational Quotes: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Great Thinkers, Books, Humorists, and More

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FOR MUCH OF MY LIFE, especially in my work as a motivational speaker, coach, and author over the past 15 years, Ive been a bit obsessed with quotes.

I display them throughout my house, include them on calendars, and regularly post them on social media. For me, it doesnt matter where the quote comes froman author, artist, politician, comedian, movie, book, teacher, scholar, or even a friend or family member. If it resonates with me, Ill take it... and Ill probably want to share it with you. In the pages that follow, youll be inspired by a unique and diverse list of quotesfrom people like Vincent van Gogh, Tina Fey, Babe Ruth, and Elon Musk and from sources like the Quran, the Bible, and Winnie-the-Pooh. The truth is, we can find wisdom and inspiration from many different people and places; we just need to be looking for it.

From my experience working as a coach for many years, I understand the power of daily practices. From meditation and exercise to journal writing and much more, my own daily practices are essential to my life and well-being. And, in working with people from all walks of life, Ive seen how transformational simple daily practices can be. This book is meant to be part of your daily practice; you can allow the power of each quote to impact how you start or end your day, and what you focus on. Inspiration is vital to just about every aspect of our lives, yet it can be elusive. With more technology and devices in our lives than ever before, its easy to get distracted, to remain insatiably busy, and to lose touch with our inspiration.

If we arent mindful, we can get caught up in the drama, negativity, and hyper pace of the world in which we live. These simple, but powerful, quotes can help open your mind and heart and remind you what truly matters in life, which is no small thing. When I was writing my first book a number of years ago, I would often get stuckmy fears, doubts, and insecurities would take over and make it difficult for me to move forward. I found a few healthy (and many unhealthy) ways to deal with my bouts of writers block (a.k.a. lack of inspiration), which at times was just plain old procrastination (a.k.a. fear).

One of the most productive techniques I found to deal with these issues was to search the Internet for inspirational quotes. Sometimes I was able to take the quotes I found and use them in my book; other times, they would help me expand my mind, think about something in a different way, or even just laugh. One weekend in the summer of 2006, as I was struggling to finish a chapter of that first book, I came across a quote I had not seen before, but that made me laugh out loud: Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
Oscar Wilde This poignant quote resonated with me at the time because it made me realize I was trying to do what I thought I was supposed to dowrite a good bookinstead of actually writing from my heart and sharing my own unique perspective. It left such a strong impression that I included it inside that first book, and used it as the title of my second book, which came out just a few years later. Enjoy this book! Allow its wisdom, wit, and inspiration to sink in... and soak them up as much as you can.

In a world where its easy to find cynicism, resignation, negativity, and constant complaining, it sometimes takes a radical act of courage and self-care to focus on inspiration and what truly matters. Mike Robbins Novato, California October 2015

INSPIRATION IS ALL AROUND US... but its nice to have some of its gems contained in one place. Within these pages, youll find a powerful collection of quotes from great minds, like Albert Einstein and Oscar Wilde, as well as from some classic books, films, speeches, and more. Weve all known the experience of reading an unforgettable book or hearing an inspiring interview, or savored the lyrics to a moving song that seemed to be speaking directly to us, to be made just for us right then, in that moment. These happy coincidences allow us to understand that, while lifes journey seems sometimes solitary, there are others who have walked the same path and even stumbled in the same places along the wayincluding the best and brightest. This diverse collection of quotes will infuse your day with appreciation, encouragement, and wisdom.