The Quotation Pharmacy

One of my great sources of inspiration is the British author William Sieghart. Among other things, he has written a book "The Poetry Pharmacy – Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind, and Soul". Its basic idea is as beautiful as it is simple: words can soothe, and poetry can help us when we are in difficulty. Sieghart includes in the book a series of famous poems that can encourage and relieve our thoughts and feelings when we are having a hard time. It is a book I have enjoyed greatly, especially in life's darker periods.

Sieghart is also a great narrator, and if you want to hear him talk about the healing power of poetry, I recommend you take the time to watch his TED talk at this link.

Today, I am inspired by the idea that words can soothe. I am not going to offer you poems, but rather a series of quotes that I think can help us find comfort in the midst of the challenges we meet.

Grief

"Grief is the price we pay for love."

– Queen Elizabeth II

Grief is difficult, but the quote reminds us that grief goes hand in hand with love. That we feel it because we have loved and because something has been good and valuable.

Feeling uneasy and stressed

"Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."

– Glenn Turner

Here we get a humorous reminder that worries are often unproductive. Maybe it can give you peace to let go of your worries, get up from your chair and simply do something else?

Fear of the future

"Fear is the small death that leads to total annihilation."

– Frank Herbert

From the novel "Dune" we get a reminder of how important it is to confront and overcome our fears. Fear is a natural emotion, but it's important to face it instead of turning your back on it. This is how we grow, become stronger and eventually flourish.

Procrastination and difficulty getting started

"The best way to get started is to stop talking and start doing."

– Walt Disney

The easiest thing is to postpone things, the hardest thing is to act, but you can ask yourself what your future self will value the most.

Concern for your loved ones

"Shared grief is halved sorrow, shared joy is double joy."

– English Proverb

The proverb reminds us of the importance of sharing emotions with those we care about. We are not always so good at this, but when we dare to share the difficult things, our worries can also ease.

Stagnation and lack of personal development

"Life is like riding a bike. To keep your balance, you have to keep moving."

– Albert Einstein

We shouldn't be productive for productivity alone, but a sense of personal stagnation can be hard to deal with. Einstein reminds us that we often feel better when we dare to step on the pedals of life and move on a little.

Heartbreak

"It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

– Alfred Lord Tennyson

A great poet, Tennyson gives us a comforting thought about the value of love, even when it ends in pain. Remind yourself that even what causes you pain also makes you wiser about life and carries beautiful memories in it.

Take the quotes to heart

I hope the words in these quotes help. You can take them to heart, hang them on your fridge or find more yourself. It's a good exercise and a good activity for a Sunday. Consider whether there are places where your mental shoe rubs too much and whether you can find words that can soothe. Maybe you can try to find a single quote today?