As it turns out …. Mama was right again.

What she never really said was that the wise person is the person who thinks twice before speaking once. Why? Because then what we say comes from our wisdom, not just our conscious thoughts.

Perhaps the greatest quality in a leader and the most valuable skill
in building relationships is the ability to think before you speak.

If you have a tendency to speak hastily in anger and regret your actions at leisure, the idea we were taught as a child to count to ten before speaking, will still serve you well.

When you pause — if only for a moment — to consider the sequences, your thoughts will mix with your wisdom and your words will be much more appropriate to the moment.

NOTE: If you must speak strongly, it’s a good idea to sugarcoat the words — just in case you have to eat them later . . .

http://www.themattermeter.com/?p=338

Wise people are those who think twice before speaking once.

It isn’t defeat, but rather your mental attitude toward it, that whips you.

Defeat is NOT permanent unless you allow it to be so. When you have a positive attitude, you will recognize failure for the impostor that it is and realize that it is really a learning experience, a valuable lesson that will help you succeed with the next attempt.

Ask yourself: What could I have done differently that would have altered the outcome? What can I do in the future to minimize problems and mistakes? What did I learn from this experience that I can put to good use next time? If you approach obstacles and setbacks with a positive attitude, you will be surprised how quickly you can turn defeat into victory.

There always remains an opportunity to make a new start.

Though it may not seem so when you first encounter a serious blow, you can never lose two of the most important assets you have – the power of your mind and your freedom to use it. Once you have turned them to understanding what laid you low, you can begin forming new plans.

You may not have the money you once had; you may lack the allies you had cultivated. But you still have the benefit of a universe that eventually rewards honest effort, as well as gaining the experience of mistakes you will never make again.

Remember, no matter where you are now, whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve.

The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.

The tiny, insignificant postage stamp is a good example of what it is possible to achieve if you stick with the job until it is finished. Inconspicuously stuck on the corner of the envelope, it provides the impetus to keep moving until the entire packet reaches its ultimate destination.

The influence you may have upon your company, your church, your family, or any organization is incalculable if you have the persistence to pursue your goal until you achieve it. It is an absolute certainty that you will encounter obstacles in any worthwhile endeavor. When you do, remember the inconsequential little postage stamp and stick with the job until it is finished.

Those who do no more than they are paid for have no real basis for requesting more pay because they are already getting all they deserve to earn.

If you look around you, it will be apparent that there are two types of people in the world. There are those who say, “When this company decides to pay me what I’m worth, then I will do what they want me to do.” The second is the person who says, “I’m going to be the best I can be because that’s the kind of person I am. I also know that if I consistently give more than expected, I will eventually be rewarded for my efforts.” It is easy to see that the positive person contributes most to the organization. Yet, very few people are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve success. Make sure you’re a member of that group.

You may trick yourself into believing that you are only playing devil’s advocate or searching for weaknesses in apparently good ideas, but in the end negative thinking always produces negative results. Just as your mind will work tirelessly to translate your positive thoughts into their physical equivalent, it will work equally hard to create negative results when all of your thoughts are negative.

True wisdom is shown through modesty, silence and persistence.