On my desk I have a worn green index card with these words on it: ”Now I’m going to concentrate as hard as I can. I’m not going to think of anything else.” This touchstone quote from Joyce Brothers has been enormously helpful to me. A popular psychologist, Joyce brought a down-to-earth attitude toward life and work to her columns and books that many people continue to find nourishing. September 20 is her birthday – so here are some of her words of wisdom to inspire us:

 “Trust your hunches. They’re usually based on facts filed just below the conscious level.”

 “Accept that all of us can be hurt, that all of us can — and surely will at times — fail. Other vulnerabilities, like being embarrassed or risking love, can be terrifying, too. I think we should follow a simple rule: if we can take the worst, take the risk.”

“The cynic finds love with the idealist. The rebel with the conformist. The social butterfly with the bookworm. They help each other balance their lives.”

“The world at large does not judge us by who we are and what we know; it judges us by what we have.”

“In each of us there are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them.”

“There’s a very positive relationship between people’s ability to accomplish any task and the time they’re willing to spend on it.”

“An individual’s self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life.”

“When you come right down to it, the secret of having it all is loving it all.”

“Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable.”

“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.”

“I have found in work that you only get back what you put into it, but it does come back gift-wrapped.”

“If Shakespeare had to go on an author tour to promote Romeo and Juliet, he never would have written Macbeth.

“The best proof of love is trust.”

Insights we can apply to developing both our characters and our careers – write on!