Category Archives: Personal Growth

We are all like icebergs

Posted on January 26, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

People say there’s nothing more awe inspiring than standing on the deck of a ship watching an iceberg passing by. Icebergs, of course, are dangerous to shipping because what we see is only a small part of what’s actually there. … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Perceiving, Personal Growth, Self assessment, understanding | Leave a comment

Freedoms that destroy freedom

Posted on April 10, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Some years ago Enron filed the largest bankruptcy in US history. The following year Fast Company magazine reported the story of Phyllis Anzalone who had been with Enron for five years selling energy supply contracts. Her earnings quickly went to … Continue reading →

Posted in Facing the future, Failure, Freedom, Greed, Personal Growth, Riches, Success | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The last shall be first

Posted on September 25, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Do you remember when Steven Bradbury won Australia’s only Olympic gold medal for ice-skating? The one thing that stands out about him is persistence. In an earlier competition he cut his leg and almost bled to death. Then he broke … Continue reading →

Posted in Judgement, Persistence, Personal Growth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Think yourself to happiness

Posted on September 17, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

“Most people,” said Abraham Lincoln, “Are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Well, that may be an oversimplification, but there is still great truth in it. A positive mental attitude does have a powerful effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, God, God with us, Happiness, Living Life, Peace, Personal Growth, Positive Thoughts, thankfulness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Secular bigotry

Posted on September 8, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the more arrogant claims of that group of people who call themselves the new atheists is that people who profess religious faith are less intelligent than people like themselves, who believe that the unimaginable complexity of the Universe … Continue reading →

Posted in Bigotry, Faith, Personal Growth, Spiritual blindness, Superficial judgements, supreme being, The God Delusion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Happiness is like a butterfly

Posted on August 19, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The greatest conundrum of modern life is that we don’t become happy by pursuing happiness. Harold Kushner talks about this in his evocatively titled book ‘When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough.’ ”You become happy by living a life that … Continue reading →

Posted in Generous spirit, Happiness, Personal Growth, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Virus Called Peace

Posted on March 24, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

I once received an email warning me of the spread of a virus called “Inner Peace.” It told me to be alert for symptoms that could pose a serious threat to my usual stable condition of conflict. These symptoms include: … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Appreciation, Attitude, Awareness, Compassion, Contentment, Faith, Forgiveness, Generous spirit, Grace, Happiness, Healing, hope and love, inner peace, Inspirational, Jesus, Joy, Knowing God, love, Mercy, Personal Growth, Seeing Jesus, Spirituality, thankfulness, Transformation, Unselfishness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Discovering our wings

Posted on February 27, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The famous Danish theologian and philosopher, Kierkegarde, once remarked that the first miracle Jesus performed was to turn water into wine. He went on to say, “The Church, however, has performed an even greater miracle; it has turned the wine … Continue reading →

Posted in asceticism, Awareness, Faith, God, Hope, Inspiration, Living Life, Personal Growth, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Transformation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blooming where you are planted

Posted on February 21, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

One of life’s joys is to find a small patch of beautiful, fragrant flowers, almost hidden by weeds, and yet still blooming amidst the ugliness. Sometimes you meet people like that who, in the most unlikely surroundings, live lives of … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Attitude, Awareness, Contentment, Encouragement, Generous spirit, Inspiration, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Personal Growth, Spiritual Insight, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Go with the Flow

Posted on February 3, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

In the frigid waters of the Arctic and Antarctic there are numerous icebergs, some small and some gigantic. If you observe them carefully, you notice that sometimes the small ice floes move in one direction while their massive counterparts flow … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, God, Guidance, Inspirational, Life's journey, Living Life, Personal Growth, Promise, Spiritual Insight, Trials and testings, Uncategorized, Uncertainty of Life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment