I learned the power of words at an early age. My father was a master storyteller known for his original Brer Rabbit stories—I have vivid memories of him sitting between my sister’s and my twin beds at night, hands waving, voice morphing from one character into another, as he took us deep into the Big Woods on journeys of imagination and taught us wonderful lessons about life and ourselves.
        By the time I was seven, I was persuading my neighborhood friends to line up in rows on my driveway, so I could share my own stories with them. Seems I had a lot to say back then—and my love affair with words continues to this day!
        Words have the power to reveal the deepest part of ourselves, to give voice to the most authentic expression of who we are. An inspirational keynote address is an opportunity for an organization to inspire its members and say “We care about you.” A good editor can help an author bring his or her message to people everywhere.
        So whether you’re a meeting planner or an author, let’s see if, together, we can find the right words for your message—jewels of wisdom and inspiration that will help you make an impression in the world. One that people will remember for a long time.

Inspiration on Receiving
When a person is a recipient of an act of kindness, his or her serotonin (that’s a really good chemical for your body) levels rise. Amazingly, serotonin levels also rise in the person performing the act of kindness. They even go up in a person witnessing an act of kindness. So don’t rob yourself or others by not allowing yourself to receive. We all claim we want love—and receiving from others, whether it’s a gift, a smile, or a compliment—is one way to prove we mean it.

Reflection on Listening
One of the greatest gifts we can give others is listening to them. Notice whether you tend to interrupt others or are constantly thinking of what you’re going to say as soon as the person you’re talking with takes a breath. Then see if you can cultivate “presence” by forgetting about your own opinions for a moment and just receiving the other person by listening to him or her.

Reflection on Appreciation
Research shows that being appreciated is far more important to most employees even than salary. In one study, pay was #5 on the list of what motivates employees, appreciation #1.

Reflection on Sleep
Sleep is an elixir! Yet as a culture, we are sleep deprived. If you want to do one thing—that won’t cost you a penny—to significantly change your life for the better, try arranging your schedule to get more sleep. You’ll make better decisions, have more energy for you and your family, and enjoy life a lot more.

Reflection on Self-Esteem and Human Performance
Self-esteem is considered by many to be the single most critical element in human performance. The principle seems to be: the more you like yourself, the better you perform in every area of your life.

Inspiration on Meditation
Meditation is a well-known way to relieve stress, but Transcendental Meditation can also help you contact the source of infinite, unbounded intelligence within you. I’ve been practicing the T.M. technique daily for 40+ years—it’s been the single greatest game-changer of my life.

Inspiration on Making a Difference
It’s impossible NOT to make a difference in the world around you. The only question is, what kind of difference do you want to make? It’s possible to be a shining light to everyone you come in contact with. What you radiate to the world through who you are is far more significant than anything you do.

Reflection on True Health
Good health goes far beyond the physical—it’s mental and spiritual too. That’s why the mind/body/spirit movement is so big—and important. We finally understand that all these aspects are intimately connected; it’s impossible to enjoy good health in one area without the others.

Inspiration on Peace
The famous Indian spiritual teacher J. Krishnamurti once stopped in the middle of a lecture and asked his audience, “Do you want to know my secret to life? I don’t mind what happens.” If you’re looking for a practice to find peace, this is it!

Inspiration on Context
Another way to know peace is to find a context for new ways of looking at difficult or challenging circumstances. This is beautifully illustrated by one of my favorite Japanese poems: My barn having burned to the ground, I can now see the moon.

Inspiration on Thriving
Edward Bach, renowned British physician who founded the Flower Essence Society, said human beings need two things to thrive: (1) a sense of purpose or meaning, and (2) the ability to express and receive love. Are both of these present in your life?

Reflection on Making Friends with Your Body
In order to balance our heavily mental activities (sitting at a computer, watching television, etc.) it’s important to nourish your body. Find something that brings you back into our bodies (from your mind), like walking in nature, swimming, dancing, yoga, working out, massage, or deep breathing. Or just laugh more! When you laugh, it’s impossible to be “in your head.”