"Daily Dose of Discernment: Quote 5 A Day" 2006

by Kevin E. FitzMaurice, M.S., LPC

2006-12-31

Right does not make might.

Right does not make magic.

Right does not make reason.

Right does not make happiness.

Right does not make justification.

2006-12-30

Study peace as way.

Study peace as priority.

Study peace as solution.

Study peace as psychology.

Study peace as relationship.

2006-12-29

Stop when: you are doing it for you and not them also.

Stop when: there is nothing you can do but make it worse.

Stop when: you do not have the power or authority to make it better.

Stop when: it is not the right time or place for the person to hear or use it.

Stop when: you are not sure of your facts and have not yet sought counsel.

2006-12-28

You need relationship therapy with your self.

Your problem is you have a bad relationship with your self.

Unfortunately, you relate to your self based on how others did and do relate to you.

To relate well to your self, first accept your self independently of accepting your behaviors.

If you have a good relationship with your self, then you can have a good relationship with others.

2006-12-27

Your interpretations of experience are not experience but only imagined experience.

Imagined experiences appear and feel real but do not thereby become real.

Your heart will regard your imagined experiences as real, but that cannot make them real.

Experience is one thing and interpretation another no matter how personal or private that interpretation is.

Do not lose your experience for your interpretations, rather, let each stand on their own and complete independently.

2006-12-26

You are nothing but a reflection.

You offer nothing but a reflection.

You know nothing not even what you reflect.

You have nothing but memories of reflecting.

You do nothing but find pleasure or pain in reflecting.

2006-12-25

God is just as you will get what you serve in the end.

God is good just as you are not as He is the only source.

God is intelligent just as you are not as He is the only source.

God is one just as you are one but have a heart, soul, and mind.

God is our savior as only by giving up your self for His Son's self can you enter.

2006-12-24

Yes, they taught you bad habits--now you teach yourself good habits.

Yes, the world serves up a lot of garbage, but only you decide what is worth eating.

Yes, there is meanness and bitterness in the world, but you can choose to focus on the goodness and optimism.

Yes, those who should love and protect you can do the worst to you, but you can choose to love and protect yourself.

Garbage-in-garbage-out (GIGO) is an acceptable excuse for computers, but not for people since people can reprogram themselves.

2006-12-23

Are you an occasion for good or evil?

Are you a temptation for good or evil?

Are you an opportunity for good or evil?

Are you an inducement for good or evil?

Are you a stumbling block for evil or a springboard for good?

2006-12-22

If you hold others responsible for your social problems, then they must rescue you: a surer way is to rescue yourself.

If you hold others responsible for your mental problems, then they must rescue you: a surer way is to rescue yourself.

If you hold others responsible for your spiritual problems, then they must rescue you: a surer way is to rescue yourself.

If you hold others responsible for your physical problems, then they must rescue you: a surer way is to rescue yourself.

If you hold others responsible for your emotional problems, then they must rescue you: a surer way is to rescue yourself.

2006-12-21

Failure and frustration: trying to control the experience of the heart with the experience of the mind.

Failure and frustration: trying to control the experience of the mind with the experience of the heart.

Failure and frustration: trying to control the experience of the soul with the experience of the mind.

Failure and frustration: trying to control the experience of the soul with the experience of the heart.

Failure and frustration: trying to control the experience of the mind or heart with the experience of the soul.

2006-12-20

Before the world you can have pride, but before God only humility.

Before the world you can claim ability, but before God only lack of ability.

Before the world you can claim creativity, but before God only lack of creativity.

Before the world you can claim intelligence, but before God only lack of intelligence.

Before the world you can claim responsibility, but before God only lack of responsibility.

2006-12-19

Judgment is not the problem, rather, judging the experiences of heart, soul, and mind against each other is.

Contrasting is not the problem, rather, contrasting the experiences of heart, soul, and mind against each other is.

Comparison is not the problem, rather, comparing the experiences of heart, soul, and mind against each other is.

Juxtaposing is not the problem, rather, juxtaposing the experiences of heart, soul, and mind against each other is.

Measurement is not the problem, rather, measuring the experiences of heart, soul, and mind against each other is.

2006-12-18

You get the behavior you fight.

You get the behavior you resist.

You get the behavior you accept.

You get the behavior you put up with.

You get the behavior you pay attention to.

2006-12-17

You can serve pride or God.

You can follow pride or God.

You can please pride or God.

You can focus on pride or God.

You can believe in pride or God.

2006-12-16

What evidence do you have that you grow?

Is there not only evidence that you grow your ego?

What evidence do you have that you change?

Is there not only evidence that you change habits?

Is there not only evidence that change your ego and never your self?

2006-12-15

What evidence do you have that you control?

Is there not only evidence that you influence?

What evidence do you have that you create?

Is there not only evidence that you copy and repeat?

Is there not only evidence that you receive not create?

2006-12-14

Relationship stages: it is about being two as one.

Relationship stages: it is about not losing being one for being two.

Relationship stages: it is about choosing to fix it, accept it broke, or to quit.

Relationship stages: it is about not losing being two for being one.

Relationship stages: it is about both two as one and each as one.

2006-12-13

Is your relationship mainly about you?

Is your relationship more about you than both?

Is your relationship equally about you and both?

Is your relationship more about both than you?

Is your relationship mainly about both as one?

2006-12-12

Retreat is victory.

Retreat into victory.

Retreat is the way of victory.

Retreat till God has the victory.

Retreat till you are out of the way of victory.

2006-12-11

You say you hate them, then why are you relating to them as your judging is relation!?

You say you hate them, then why are you relating to them as your emotion is relation!?

You say you hate them, then why are you relating to them as your reaction is relation!?

You say you hate them, then why are you relating to them as your blaming is relation!?

You say you hate them, then why are you relating to them as your damning is relation!?

2006-12-10

Does it work to make it worse?

Does it work to feel it is worse?

Does it work to treat them worse?

Does it work to act like it is worse?

Does it work to believe it is worse?

2006-12-09

If it is hard, then retreat.

If it is hard, then stop trying.

If it is hard, then you are not in flow.

If it is hard, then face what you are hiding.

If it is hard, then surrender and give up pride.

2006-12-08

"Why" is avoidance.

"Why" is distraction from what is.

"Why" is defense against facing what is.

"Why" is the way of being out of the way.

"Why" is how to remain blank, dull, deaf, and dead.

2006-12-07

Hate makes them inside of you.

What they think and feel you think and feel because you hate them.

In order to hate them, you make them out of you in your mind so become them.

Keep hating them for being mean so you can be them being mean to you in your mind.

You spend lots of time in your mind with those you hate so perhaps you really want to be with them.

2006-12-06

Happiness is when your principles and practices agree.

Happiness is when your beliefs and behaviors are befitting.

Happiness is when your ideals and actions are harmonious.

Happiness is when your conscience and conduct correspond.

Happiness is when your values and responses are congruent.

2006-12-05

A stone is still, be a stone inside.

A stone is silent, be a stone inside.

A stone is single, be a stone inside.

A stone is simple, be a stone inside.

A stone is secure, be a stone inside.

2006-12-04

It not only does not matter, it does not exist.

It does not matter for it is thought not matter.

Face it, it is only in your head so it is not matter.

If it mattered, then it would be reality not fantasy.

The power of it is the power of fantasy, so it matters only if you say it matters.

2006-12-03

You are your true self when you experience self as relating to your feelings.

You are your true self when you experience self as relating to your thoughts.

You are your true self when you experience self as relating to your sensations.

You are your true self when you experience self as relating to your experiences.

You are your true self when you experience self as relating to your life force or living.

2006-12-02

You can't be wrong, but your attitude can be wrong.

You can't be wrong, but your feeling can be wrong.

You can't be wrong, but your thinking can be wrong.

You can't be wrong, but your behaving can be wrong.

You can't be wrong, but your motivating can be wrong.

2006-12-01

5Rs: Recognize my thinking about the problem is worse than the problem.

5Rs: Regard the problem without reacting to it in any way.

5Rs: Redirect the energy of the problem into a better channel.

5Rs: Remove the problem by making it not an option.

5Rs: Replace the problem by preferring its opposite or some useful substitute.

2006-11-30

How is that attitude working for me?

How is that thinking working for me?

How is that feeling working for me?

How is that reacting working for me?

How is that motivating working for me?

2006-11-29

Excuses mean you refuse to stop.

Excuses mean you want more of the same.

Excuses mean you aren't willing to quit yet.

Excuses mean lying because they deny responsibility.

Excuses are mean to both you and those you give them to because they are blaming and damning false causes.

2006-11-28

Trust your own experience first.

All you have is your experience.

Without experience you are dead.

Lose your experience lose your self.

Deny your experience deny your soul.

2006-11-27

Face and replace.

Wait it out in the light.

Stare it down and out.

Go through it till the bitter end.

Trust the light to handle it and let it run its course.

2006-11-26

Failure is trying to do with thought thinking thought can be.

Failure is trying to do with thought thinking thought can know.

Failure is trying to do with thought thinking thought is energy.

Failure is trying to do with thought thinking thought is experience.

Failure is trying to do with thought thinking thought is knowledge.

2006-11-25

Only God is right.

Only God can be right.

Trying to be right is trying to die.

God is always right and you are always wrong.

Your right is wrong as it is pride and a false claim.

2006-11-24

With effort, more is less and less is more.

With trying, more is less and less is more.

With resisting, more is less and less is more.

With becoming, more is less and less is more.

With controlling, more is less and less is more.

2006-11-23

You are no more your behavior than an iPod is the music it plays.

You are no more your behavior than a TV is the shows it displays.

You are no more your behavior than a radio is the music it transmits.

You are no more your behavior than a camera is the pictures it displays.

You are no more your behavior than a cell phone is the conversations it transmits.

2006-11-22

Get out of your head and into your heart.

Get out of your thoughts and into your feelings.

Get out of your labels and into your sensations.

Get out of your comparing and into your sensing.

Get out of your distinctions and into your perceptions.

2006-11-21

There two kinds of people in the world: those who focus on criticizing you and those who focus on encouraging you.

There two kinds of people in the world: those who focus on what you shouldn't be doing and those who focus on what you can do.

There two kinds of people in the world: those who blame you for their problems with you and those who take responsibility for their problems with you.

There two kinds of people in the world: those who condemn you as your bad behavior and those who accept you and only condemn your bad behavior.

There two kinds of people in the world: those who focus on nagging you to get you to do what they want and those who focus on motivating you to get you to do what they want.

2006-11-20

The trying mindset can never become the wining mindset.

The victim mindset can never become the coping mindset.

The problem mindset can never become the solution mindset.

The whining mindset can never become the forgiving mindset.

The blaming mindset can never become the problem-solving mindset.

2006-11-19

Counseling is simply helping you to prefer different channels.

Counseling is simply helping you to tune into different channels.

Counseling is simply helping you to realize you choose the channels you are on.

Counseling is simply helping you to realize you choose the negative channels you are on for the pride of playing court.

Counseling is simply helping you to realize you cannot change or control channels but you can easily switch channels.

2006-11-18

You can't make people happy or sad as you can't make people.

You can't make people happy or sad as you can't control people.

You can't make people happy or sad as you can't run people's minds.

You can't make people happy or sad as you can't run people's hearts.

You can't make people happy or sad as you can't make choices for other people.

2006-11-17

To the depersonalized: the feeling that you have no feelings is a real depressed feeling.

To the depersonalized: the experience of your experience not being real is still an experience.

To the depersonalized: the experience of your experience not being real is not a real experience.

To the depersonalized: the experience of your self not being real takes a real self.

To the depersonalized: the experience of your self not existing takes an existing self.

2006-11-16

My attitude is dependent on my environment and the people in it.

My attitude is dependent mainly on my environment and only a little on my interpretations of my environment.

My attitude is equally dependent on my environment and my perceptions of my environment.

My attitude is dependent mainly on how I react to my environment and only somewhat on my environment.

My attitude is dependent on what I choose to think, feel, and do independent of any environmental factors.

2006-11-15

If they would only stop that, then I could be happy and nice.

If they would only stop most of that and I some of that, then I could be happy and nice.

If both of us would only stop most of that, then I could be happy and nice.

If I would stop most of that and they would stop some of that, then I could be happy and nice.

If I would only stop that, then I would be happy and nice.

2006-11-14

You can't find it: it is a gift.

You can't learn it: it is a gift.

You can't know it: it is a gift.

You can't discover it: it is a gift.

You can't understand it: it is a gift.

2006-11-13

Failure is trying to do something as trying is both a copout and an expectation of failure.

Failure is trying to become something as nothing can become anything else—instead switch.

Failure is trying to not something as not-ing what is, is impossible—instead switch.

Failure is trying to change something as changing what is, is impossible—instead switch.

Failure is trying to control something as controlling what is, is impossible—instead switch.

2006-11-12

The fool takes credit.

The wise defers credit.

To be wise know nothing.

To be a fool know many things.

A wise man is wise because he knows he is a fool, and a fool is a fool because he thinks he is wise.

2006-11-11

If you see a problem, then fix it or you are just part of the problem.

If you see a problem, then it means it is your job to fix that problem.

If you see a problem, then help yourself and others to either problem-solve or cope with it.

If you see a problem, then it means you have been given a gift: an opportunity to be helpful.

If you see a problem, then do not whine, blame, or damn about it as that makes everything worse.

2006-11-10

Men see cute as sexy or a come-on.

Women see cute as romantic or pretty.

Men see cute as the means to attract sex.

Women see cute as the means to possess.

Men understand the function of cute as sex and women as compliment.

2006-11-09

You prefer to play judge, jury, and executioner instead of serving peace: pride before good.

You prefer to whine, blame, and damn instead of being happy: pride before good.

You prefer to play judge, jury, and executioner instead of having a successful career: pride before good.

You prefer to whine, blame, and damn instead of having successful relationships: pride before good.

You prefer to play judge, jury, and executioner instead of problem-solving and coping: pride before good.

2006-11-08

Abuse is an excuse for self-abuse only for damn addicts.

Abuse is an excuse for self-abuse only for blame addicts.

Abuse is an excuse for self-abuse only for sympathy addicts.

Abuse is an excuse for self-abuse only for victimhood addicts.

Abuse is an excuse for self-abuse only for irresponsible addicts.

2006-11-07

If you don't know, then you can be open.

If you don't know, then you can be taught.

If you don't know, then you can be flexible.

If you don't know, then you can be humble.

If you don't know, then you can be under God.

2006-11-06

The way not to be a target is to target yourself first.

The way to stop being a target is to make yourself the target.

The way not to be a target is to make yourself too big of a target.

The way to stop being a target is to make yourself too easy of a target.

The way not to be a target is to make yourself too silly of a target.

2006-11-05

You can be right or you can be peaceful.

You can be right or you can serve higher values.

You can be right or you can have good relationships.

You can be right or you can focus on what really matters.

You can be right or you can be agreeable and willing to compromise.

2006-11-04

Nothing is about you: you must choose to make it about you.

Nothing makes you dwell on it: you must choose to dwell on it.

Nothing forces you to hold on to it: you must choose to attach or detach to it.

Nothing makes your self at risk: you must choose to consider your self at risk.

Nothing causes you stress: you must choose to consider something stressful.

2006-11-03

Nothing worries you: you must worry it.

Nothing builds up in you: you must feed it.

Nothing gets to you: you must take it to heart.

Nothing makes you anything: you must identify with it.

Nothing makes itself important: you must make it important.

2006-11-02

Weakness and neediness before God = spirituality.

Weakness and neediness before money = greed or idolatry.

Weakness and neediness before self = compulsion or depression.

Weakness and neediness before authority = loss of integrity and-or identity.

Weakness and neediness before relationships = victimhood or codependence.

2006-11-01

He who prefers inner entertainment is content.

He who prefers outer entertainment is discontent.

He who enjoys inner entertainment is bored by outer entertainment.

He who enjoys outer entertainment is always in need of greater excess.

He who prefers outer entertainment is unaware of the depth and quality of the inner life.

2006-10-31

He who has company inside is never alone.

He who has company outside is often still alone.

He who has company inside has the best company.

He who has company outside must make concessions.

He who prefers inner company finds it easier to remain true to themselves.

2006-10-30

Detach by getting perspective.

Detach by getting space and time.

Detach by making it not about you.

Detach by exploring other points of view.

Detach by making it only mildly important.

2006-10-29

Confusion is when two networks of thought will not relate.

Confusion is when two chains of thought cannot find common ground.

Confusion comes from putting thoughts together that do not go together.

Confusion is when two categorical chains are forced unsuccessfully to relate.

Confusion results from expecting two nodes of thought to connect when they have no basis for connection.

2006-10-28

Repeat self receiving.

Repeat self repeating.

Repeat self as receiving.

Repeat self as repeating.

Repeat self as receiving and repeating.

2006-10-27

A mind focused on garbage gets you garbage thoughts.

A soul focused on garbage gets you garbage experiences.

A heart focused on garbage gets you garbage feelings.

A career focused on garbage gets you garbage relationships.

A life focused on garbage gets you the garbage dump for your grave.

2006-10-26

Whining about their issues makes you one with their issues and so part of the problem.

Blaming your issues on their issues makes you the slave of them and their issues.

Damning them for your issues makes you one with the cause of all issues.

Accept and pray for their problems then focus on your problems.

Accept and pray for their issues then focus on your issues.

2006-10-25

Find your self as only receiving.

Find your self as only repeating.

Find your self as only a transceiver.

Find your self as that which repeats not creates signals.

Find your self as that which receives not causes signals.

2006-10-24

2006-10-23

Don't play their game--distract them from it.

Don't play their game--apologize and end it.

Don't play their game--pray for their game to end.

Don't play their game--make it humorous and defuse it.

Don't play their game--ignore it until they switch to something else.

2006-10-22

There is no you or them to accept or reject.

Do not engage in the acceptance-rejection drama games.

The rejection of anyone is the rejection of your ego for them.

The acceptance of anyone is the acceptance of your ego for them.

Acceptance or rejection of people is acceptance or rejection of fantasy.

2006-10-21

You cannot think your way into self.

You cannot think your way into being.

You cannot think your way into living.

You cannot think your way into existing.

You cannot think your way into personhood.

2006-10-20

Find nurture within.

Strength is internal not external.

The best support is inner support.

Fish for compliments in your own pond.

Encouragement from inside does more than encouragement from outside.

2006-10-19

You can have the pain of work or the pain of sloth.

You can have the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.

You can have the pain of morality or the pain of immorality.

You can have the pain of effort or the pain of procrastination.

You can have the pain of self-control or the pain of other-control.

2006-10-18

Because you repeat it, it does not follow that you have it.

Because you repeat it, it does not follow that you know it.

Because you repeat it, it does not follow that you learned it.

Because you repeat it, it does not follow that you understand it.

Because you repeat it, it does not follow that you are the source of it.

2006-10-17

Perfect control cannot bring about the good.

Perfect method cannot bring about the good.

Perfect practice cannot bring about the good.

Perfect technique cannot bring about the good.

Perfect knowledge cannot bring about the good.

2006-10-16

Perfect rules cannot bring about the good.

Perfect structure cannot bring about the good.

Perfect discipline cannot bring about the good.

Perfect procedure cannot bring about the good.

Perfect instruction cannot bring about the good.

2006-10-15

Focus on the goal for the good and the pain for the bad.

You need the stick to stop the bad and the carrot to continue the good.

Simply be negative regarding negative and positive regarding positive.

Say "yes" to the positive for the prize and "no" to the negative for the penalty.

Focus on the consequences to stop the bad and the rewards to encourage the good.

2006-10-14

If you think you have it, then you missed it.

You cannot know or hold the truth but only float along in it.

Truth is so simple and obvious that it is passed over and its depth lost.

Truth is easily understood verbally and endlessly explorable emotionally.

You say "Yes I know that" with disdain because it is simple, however, you have no clue or you would be living it.

2006-10-13

One wish: to repeat Thee.

One wish: to enjoy only Thee.

One wish: perfect attachment to Thee.

One wish: to receive and resend Thee.

One wish: to be me before Thee forever.

2006-10-12

Living space.

Living silence.

Living stillness.

Living simplicity.

Living singleness.

2006-10-11

What you see in others you first saw in your self.

People talk about themselves when talking about you.

It is impossible to talk about people without talking about your self.

What people say is not about you but projections of their own issues.

Your experience of your self is the only basis you have to use to talk about others, hence, whatever you say about others is really about you.

2006-10-10

You start here to go there.

You start now to go when.

The fastest way there is to start here.

You must be here before you can go there.

You start with what you have to get what you don't have.

2006-10-09

Mindless inner-chatter exists to maintain ego.

Mindless inner-chatter creates the delusion of being.

Mindless inner-chatter creates the delusion of doing.

Mindless inner-chatter creates the delusion of knowing.

Mindless inner-chatter creates the delusion of controlling.

2006-10-08

Amplifying is living.

Amplifying is being.

Amplifying is doing.

Amplifying is knowing.

Amplifying is experiencing.

2006-10-07

Receiving is living.

Receiving is being.

Receiving is doing.

Receiving is knowing.

Receiving is experiencing.

2006-10-06

Complicated means you are trying.

Complicated means you have no feel for it.

Complicated means you do not understand.

Complicated means you have no sense of it.

Complicated indicates one of two things: learning or lying.

2006-10-05

When you say "It is too hard," "It is overwhelming," "It is too much for me," what you mean is the thought in your mind is physically too big to process.

Shrink your thoughts down to manageable sizes and they will not cause you stress or distress.

Shrink your thoughts by focusing on parts, pieces, chunks, steps, or bits of them at a time.

Shrink your thoughts by bringing them into perspective and your thoughts will not overwhelm you.

Thinking big is having big goals not physically big thoughts as the means to big goals is physically small thoughts completed one at a time.

2006-10-04

You are responsible for what you take in.

You are responsible for what you send out.

You are responsible for what you do with what you take in.

You are not responsible for what is available to take in.

You are not responsible for what others do with what you send out.

2006-10-03

Wisdom cannot be taught.

Wisdom cannot be learned.

Wisdom cannot be followed.

Wisdom cannot be understood.

Wisdom must be felt and lived.

2006-10-02

News is narrow-minded by format and need.

News is distortion to gain attention through conflict.

News is entertainment as it exaggerates and dramatizes for effect.

News is selling minimalist information that can only form uninformed opinions.

News is when the least amount of information and facts produces the most amount of prejudiced opinion.

2006-10-01

Knowledge is not life.

Knowledge is not living.

Knowledge is not being.

Knowledge is not sensation.

Knowledge is not experience.

2006-09-30

I have to be so mean to you that you will be nice to me.

I have to act like a devil until you see I am really an angel.

I have to control you so you will control me the way I want.

I have to make you feel bad enough so you will be good enough.

I have to punish you by sending you to live with devils so you will learn to be an angel.

2006-09-29

People invariably first try to fix the problem with the problem for instance: they try not to try.

People invariably first try to fix the problem with the problem for instance: they abuse abusers.

People invariably first try to fix the problem with the problem for instance: they return meanness for meanness.

People invariably first try to fix the problem with the problem for instance: they become anxious about being anxious.

People invariably first try to fix the problem with the problem for instance: they gamble to cover their gambling losses.

2006-09-28

People don't cope because they don’t detach.

People don't detach because they serve pride.

People serve pride because they surrendered self for ego.

People surrender self for ego because they care for the opinion of the world over God's opinion of them.