As the New Year approaches, many of us feel moved to make a fresh start in life. We want to live in a way that is more personally fulfilling, as well as more beneficial to others. But with all the division we see in the world today, and all the cruelty it brings, we may question the transformative power of these higher values we want for ourselves.
Never fear. These values are rooted in the celestial. They are indomitable. And when we put them to work in our lives, even in the smallest way, they raise our own level, and in turn raise the level of the world.
In even the most difficult of times, these qualities shine through the darkness to ennoble and support us.
The real hope for our planet comes in remembering them, keeping them alive in ourselves, and working to express them through all we do.
To help remind us of these truths, here are inspiring quotes related to just some of the eternal, universal virtues that have brightened the lives of human beings from time immemorial: beauty, love, kindness, humility, and friendship.
Beauty…
It is only through the morning gate of the beautiful that you can penetrate into the realm of knowledge. That which we feel here as beauty, we shall one day know as truth. — Friedrich von Schiller (1759 – 1805)
The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart. — Helen Keller (1880 – 1968)
Love…
As you express unconditional love, you become more than you previously perceived yourself to be. You become illumined, the full manifestation of your divinity. — Mayan (circa 325)
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along. — Jalal Al Din Rumi (1207 – 1273)
Kindness…
Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you. — Confucius (551 – 479 B.C.E.)
Kindness is to use one’s will to guard one’s speech and conduct so as not to injure anyone. — Oral Tradition, Omaha Tribe
Humility…
How does the ocean become the king of all rivers and streams? Because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. — Lao Tse (604 – 490 B.C.E.)
Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights. — Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)
Friendship…
By humility, out of an enemy He has made a friend, which is more than to have created a new earth. — Meister Eckhart (circa 1260 – 1328)
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” — C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)
No matter how many challenges life may throw at us, beauty never ends, love is never lost, and we can always work to be kind, humble, and a true friend.
So let us remember these sublime qualities and become their instrument by working to keep our attention in the present moment where they can enter and express themselves through us.
Here’s a Gift for You
Of course, there are many other virtues that help us achieve a better life. One of them is patience.
As a gift to you, here’s a brief talk by OneJourney founder Guy Finley titled In Your Patience Possess Ye Your Soul. Take a few minutes to watch and you will learn a secret that can help you meet any setback in a new way that enables you to turn it to your benefit.
Click here to watch the video >>
What are some of the virtues your tradition encourages people to express?
Can you share with us a quotation about it from a sacred text? It can help raise the level of understanding of us all. Please submit your quotation to the OneJourney Living Book: Click here to submit your favorite quotation >>
And Finally…
Have a wonderful New Year. May we all meet the challenges of 2022 with open hearts, willing to learn instead of demanding that we always be seen as right. And may we invite the celestial virtues to guide us through our days.
Best wishes,
Dr. Ellen Dickstein
The OneJourney Project
PS: Throughout the year, OneJourney founder Guy Finley presents free, livestreamed self-discovery classes on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm PT and Sunday mornings at 9:30am PT. Each class includes a talk by Guy followed by an open dialog with people logging on from around the world. Come join us. Click here to learn more and to register for the classes >>
