Dr Phil McGraw

When you get emotional, slow your thoughts down, and listen attentively (write it down). That way, you’ll be able to hear what you are thinking. You do this becoming very still and very quiet, and recording your thoughts. These high-speed thoughts and internal reactions always precede your feelings and emotions. Trust me, you did tell yourself something if you now feel anger, mad, anxious, frustrated, sad or depressed. From now on, whenever you get upset, listen ever so carefully, to what you are telling yourself.

If you want more, you have to require more from yourself.

There is an interconnectedness among members that bonds the family, much like mountain climbers who rope themselves together when climbing a mountain, so that if someone should slip or need support, he’s held up by the others until he regains his footing.

This is no dress rehearsal.

In the meantime, let’s agree that what makes a problem big is simply that it’s yours.

The truth is, I think we are a self-less society, not a selfish society. Because we’re so busy now.

It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one’s heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.

Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.

In today’’s rapidly changing world, the people who are not taking risk are the risk takers.

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared, but only men of character are trusted.

How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?

I urge people to learn from the mistakes of others.

Life is change; growth is optional. Choose wisely.

When you’re young, you look at television and think, There’s a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that’s not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That’s a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards!

Timid salesmen have skinny kids.

Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.

Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box.

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.

Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.