If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee.

We see the world, not as it is, but as we are──or, as we are conditioned to see it.

The process of building trust is an interesting one, but it begins with yourself, with what I call self trust, and with your own credibility, your own trustworthiness. If you think about it, it's hard to establish trust with others if you can't trust yourself.

Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment.

When you make a commitment to yourself, do so with the clear understanding that you're pledging your integrity.

When we listen with the intent to understand others, rather than with the intent to reply, we begin true communication and relationship building. Opportunities to then speak openly and to be understood come much more naturally and easily.

Private victories precede public victories. You can't invert that process any more than you can harvest a crop before you plant it.