We hear a lot about identity theft when someone takes your wallet and pretends to be you and uses your credit cards. But the more serious identity theft is to get swallowed up in other people's definition of you.

If we spend most of our time concerned about things we cannot truly directly influence, what we can influence will be reduced. If we spend our energies on those things over which we can expect positive results, we will expand our influence.

To judge individuals before understanding them is a form of human rejection and feeds upon itself.

It takes humility to seek feedback. It takes wisdom to understand it, analyze it and appropriately act on it.

If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.

The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person.

If our feelings control our actions, it is because we have abdicated our responsibility and empowered them to do so.