Richard Carlson > Quotes

“Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.”
― Richard Carlson

“The key to a good life is this: If you're not going to talk about something during the last hour of your life, then don't make it a top priority during your lifetime.”
― Richard Carlson

“Something wonderful begins to happen with the simple realization that life, like an automobile, is driven from the inside out, not the other way around. As you focus more on becoming more peaceful with where you are, rather than focusing on where you would rather be, you begin to find peace right now, in the present. Then, as you move around, try new things, and meet new people, you carry that sense of inner peace with you. It's absolutely true that, "Wherever you go, there you are.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life

“Choose to be kind over being right and you'll be right everytime.”
― Richard Carlson

“If we would just slow down, happiness would catch up to us.”
― Richard Carlson

“One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It's not and it won't. When we make this mistake we tend to spend a lot of time wallowing and/or complaining about what's wrong with life. "It's not fair," we complain, not realizing that, perhaps, it was never intended to be.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life

“Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success.”
― Richard Carlson

“Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and it's all small stuff

“Learning to stop sweating the small stuff involves deciding what things to engage in and what things to ignore. From a certain perspective, life can be described as a series of mistakes, one right after another with a little space in between.”
― Richard Carlson

“You are what you practice most.”
― Richard Carlson

“Meanwhile, life keeps moving forward. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?”
― Richard Carlson

“One of the most dynamic and significant changes you can make in your life is to make the commitment to drop all negative references to your past, to begin living now.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Worry, Make Money

“If we could only live the way we know deep down we should, we would guarantee ourselves a life of richness & fulfillment.”
― Richard Carlson

“Effective listening is more than simply avoiding the bad habit of interrupting others while they are speaking or finishing their sentences. It's being content to listen to the entire thought of someone rather than waiting impatiently for your chance to respond.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life

“If, however, you take a moment to observe how you actually feel immediately after you criticise someone, you'll notice that you will feel a little deflated and ashamed, almost like you're the one who has been attacked. The reason this is true is that when we criticise, it's a statement to the world and to ourselves, "I have a need to be critical." This isn't something we are usually proud to admit.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life

“The old adage, 'If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is' isn't always correct. In fact, the suspicion, cynicism, and doubt that are inherent in this belief can and does keep people from taking advantage of excellent opportunities.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Worry, Make Money

“Reading is a gift. It's something you can do almost anytime and anywhere. It can be a tremendous way to learn, relax, and even escape. So, enough about the virtues of reading. Time to read on.”
― Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep Your Cool in Stressful Times

“Choose being kind over being right and you'll be right every time.”
― Richard Carlson

“Many people spend their entire lifetimes wishing that other people would acknowledge them. They feel this especially about their parents, spouses, children, and friends.”
― Richard Carlson, A Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Treasury: A Special Collection for Friends

“What interferes with this peaceful feeling is our expectation of reciprocity.”
― Richard Carlson

“Don't sweat the small stuff.”
― Richard Carlson, The Big Book of Small Stuff: 100 of the Best Inspirations From Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

“Life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Nothing is ever good enough the way it is.”
― Richard Carlson

“They will pass away just as surely as the sun sets in the evening.”
― Richard Carlson

“As our appreciation of happiness in relationship increases, we take notice of the things that tend to take us away from this feeling. One major catalyst taking us away is the need to be right. An opinion that is taken too seriously sets up conditions that must be met first before you can be happy. In relationships, this might sound like 'You must agree with or see my point of view in order for me to love and respect you.' In a more positive feeling state, this attitude would seem silly or harmful. We can disagree, even on important issues, and still love one another - when our own thought systems no longer have control over our lives and we see the innocence in our divergent points of view.

The need to be right stems from an unhealthy relationship to your own thoughts. Do you believe your thoughts are representative of reality and need to be defended, or do you realize that realities are seen through different eyes? Your answer to this question will determine, to a large extent, your ability to remain in a positive feeling state.

Everyone I know, who has put positive feeling above being right on their priority list has come to see that differences of opinion will take care of themselves.”
― Richard Carlson, You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective

“as you begin to eliminate your need for perfection in all areas of your life, you'll begin to discover the perfection in life itself”
― Richard Carlson, The Big Book of Small Stuff: 100 of the Best Inspirations From Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

“mistakes are really not that big of a deal. in fact , as most of us acknowledge we need to make mistakes in order to learn and grow”
― Richard Carlson

“we need to break the habit of overreacting because of our speedy assumption and judgments”
― Richard Carlson

“Ironically, when you surrender your need to hog the glory, the attention you used to need from other people is replaced by a quiet inner confidence that is derived from letting others have it.”
― Richard Carlson

“slowing down your responses and becoming a better listeners aids you in becoming a more peaceful person”
― Richard Carlson

“we tend to focus on the annoying expectation”
― Richard Carlson

“its helpful to step back and see the bigger picture”
― Richard Carlson