When you prepare yourself in the morning, both mentally and physically, you control the rudder of your life. When you start your day consciously, your results are intentional.

Get the rest of the article here: Your Morning Needs a Makeover « Positively Positive.

Do you know the story of Chicago’s Daniel Burnham? He was the one who rebuilt Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871 and his words above have been an inspiration to me since I was in middle school.

“Few individuals have had more impact on the American city than architect and planner Daniel Hudson Burnham. In the midst of late 19th century urban disorder, Burnham offered a powerful vision of what a civilized American city could look like. He built some of the first skyscrapers in the world; directed construction of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition that inspired the City Beautiful Movement; and created urban plans for Washington DC, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco and Manila—all before the profession of urban planning existed. In fact, some say that he invented it.”

Get the rest of the article here: Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City | PBS.

Resilience. A new buzzword? Or something more?

True serenity does not come when we protect ourselves from life’s challenges, but rather when we learn to find ease and strength within, no matter what life sends our way—in other words, to create an experience of heaven even in the midst of hell. Nelson Mandela modeled resilience after 27 years in prison, emerging prepared to serve his nation without rancor or bitterness. The young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai demonstrates resilience each time she challenges the status quo, invoking the right of girls to be educated.

This resilience is available to all of us. We each have some degree of it, and we can amplify that capacity—no matter our age or circumstances—in order to move toward our best selves. Resilience is a choice we make each time we lead from our strengths, practice mindfulness, gather wisdom from our failures, and make small changes that elevate our health, happiness, and sense of inner calm.

via Savoring the Great Moment: A Road Map to Resilience Thrive: The Kripalu Blog.