21 quotes in honor of Maya Angelou’s life
We all most likely have some memory of studying Maya Angelou, whether it was in high school or college. We skimmed through her words, wrote papers, memorized speeches, but did we really let her words sink in? Now is the time for reflection; this incredible American author, poet and civil rights activist has died at 86. She was found Wednesday at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C.
A little about her life: Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Mo. Angelou attended high school in San Francisco, and studied dance and drama. At the age of 14, she dropped out of school and became the city’s first African-American, female street car conductor. She later graduated and gave birth to her son, Guy, soon after. While in Ghana, Angelou met Malcolm X and, in 1964, returned to America with him to help form his Organization of African American Unity.
Despite being a high school dropout, Dr. Angelou became a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. Dr. Angelou was truly an amazing person. She defied labels. She was a walking encyclopedia of careers and passions, trying careers in all sorts of fields. She wrote 36 books. In all, Angelou produced more than 30 best-selling works of fiction and non-fiction. She was an actress, director, playwright, composer, singer and dancer. She even worked once as a madam in a brothel and as the first female and first black street car conductor in San Francisco.
Dr. Angelou accomplished so much in her 86 years. Her most notable work includes her debut memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which remains widely read in schools. The scope of her influence reached famous figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Oprah Winfrey (who would throw Dr. Angelou elaborate birthday parties). She was recognized in 2000 and received the Presidential Medal of Arts and, in 2008, the Lincoln Medal. In 2010, President Obama awarded Dr. Angelou with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Angelou has also won three Grammy Awards for her spoken-word albuDr.
The last thing she tweeted was highly appropriate, “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”
If you have the chance, read some of her amazing poems from the library or wherever you have the opportunity. Until you do, however, reflect on a few of her beautiful words and honor her memory today.
- “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”
- “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
- “I believe that each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory.”
- “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
- “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
- “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
- “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
- “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”
- “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”
- “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
- “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
- “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”
- “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.”
- “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”
- “I’m grateful to intelligent people. That doesn’t mean educated. That doesn’t mean intellectual. I mean really intelligent. What black old people used to call ‘mother wit’ means intelligence that you had in your mother’s womb. That’s what you rely on. You know what’s right to do.”
- “During bad circumstances, which is the human inheritance, you must decide not to be reduced. You have your humanity, and you must not allow anything to reduce that. We are obliged to know we are global citizens. Disasters remind us we are world citizens, whether we like it or not.”
- “We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror? And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay – and rise!”
- “Of course, there are those critics – New York critics as a rule – who say, ‘Well, Maya Angelou has a new book out and of course it’s good but then she’s a natural writer.’ Those are the ones I want to grab by the throat and wrestle to the floor because it takes me forever to get it to sing. I work at the language.”
- “If you’re serious, you really understand that it’s important that you laugh as much as possible and admit that you’re the funniest person you ever met. You have to laugh. Admit that you’re funny. Otherwise, you die in solemnity.”
- “We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.”
- “I am a Woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal Woman, that’s me.”
Thank you for your words and wisdom, Dr. Angelou. May you rest in peace, and may your memory be honored.
About the Author
Visualizing: How To Use Imagination To Manifest
Visualization is a wonderful tool for manifesting your desires and reaching your goals. Through vivid and detailed mental images, you can align your thoughts and emotions with what you want to attract. In this article, we explore how to effectively apply this technique to transform your life.
Table of Contents
- What Is Visualization And What Is It For?
- Difference Between Visualizing And Imagining
- How Visualization Works In The Law Of Attraction
- How To Do A Visualization To Manifest: Step By Step
- Practical Examples Of Creative Visualization
- Overcoming Obstacles In The Practice Of Visualization
- Combining Visualization With Other Manifestation Techniques
What Is Visualization And What Is It For?
Visualization is the process of creating vivid and detailed mental images of what you want to achieve in life. Unlike letting the mind wander, visualization involves an intentional and conscious focus on the specific goals you want to manifest. This practice is used in various disciplines, from sports to psychology, to improve performance and achieve goals.
Visualization serves to align your mind and emotions with your aspirations, helping you maintain a vibrational frequency that attracts your desires. When you visualize effectively, your brain doesn’t distinguish between what you imagine and reality, allowing you to experience positive and motivating emotions associated with achieving your goals. This process not only reinforces your determination but also prepares you to recognize and take advantage of opportunities that bring you closer to your goals.
Practicing visualization regularly fosters a positive mindset, helping you overcome obstacles and stay focused on your long-term goals. It’s a technique that, when integrated into your daily routine, has the potential to significantly transform the path of your life.
Difference Between Visualizing And Imagining
Visualizing and imagining may seem similar, but they have important differences. Imagining is a more casual process and often involves random thoughts or fantasies without a specific goal. Visualizing, on the other hand, is an intentional and focused act where you create detailed mental images with the purpose of manifesting a particular desire or goal. Visualization requires clarity, concentration, and a deep emotional connection to the desired outcome.
Although both imagination and visualization involve the use of mental images, their purpose and focus differ notably. Visualization is aimed at creating a desired reality through a structured and conscious process, while imagination arises spontaneously and without a clear objective. Visualizing requires a defined intention and a deep emotional connection to the result you want to manifest. This constant practice strengthens your determination and aligns your mind with your goals, increasing the likelihood of achieving them.
How Visualization Works In The Law Of Attraction
Visualization is a central tool in the Law of Attraction because it allows you to align your thoughts and emotions with your desires. When you visualize, you create detailed mental images of your goals, activating your mind and emotions in a way that these vibrations are projected into the universe. This practice reinforces your intentions and helps you maintain a clear and constant focus on what you want to attract.
When visualizing, it’s important to incorporate all your senses to make the experience as real as possible. Imagine not only how your goal looks, but also how it feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. This deep sensory immersion makes your mind accept the visualization as a possible reality, raising your vibration and facilitating the attraction of your desires.
How To Do A Visualization To Manifest: Step By Step
To perform an effective visualization, it’s important to follow a structured process that allows you to deeply connect with your desires and goals. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create powerful and detailed mental images, aligning your thoughts and emotions with what you want to manifest.
- Define a clear goal: The first step is to identify precisely what you want to manifest. The more specific and concrete your goal is, the easier it will be to visualize. Write your goal down on paper and make sure it is clear and detailed.
- Create images of the life you want to live: Once you have your goal clear, start creating mental images of what your life would look like once you’ve achieved that goal. Visualize everyday scenes that reflect your new reality. Imagine every aspect of your life with that goal accomplished.
- Refine and specify the images: Detail the images you have created, adding all possible elements. Include colors, shapes, places, and specific situations. The more detailed your visualizations are, the more real they will feel and the more effective your practice will be.
- Connect the images with the five senses: To make your visualization more vivid, incorporate all your senses. Imagine how it looks, smells, sounds, tastes, and feels to live your achieved goal. This level of detail helps your mind accept the visualization as a possible reality.
- Include secondary characters in your visualization: Imagine the people who will be with you in this new reality. Visualize how they interact with you and how they contribute to your experience. Including secondary characters adds realism and depth to your visualization, strengthening its impact.
Practical Examples Of Creative Visualization
To inspire you to create your own visualization, here are two examples: creating the movie of your life and designing an ideal day in your perfect life. These techniques will show you how you can customize visualization according to your own aspirations and goals.
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Creating The Movie Of Your Life
Creating the movie of your life involves imagining a series of events in which you have achieved your most important goals. Visualize each scene as if you were watching a movie, with you as the main character. Imagine the details of each event, including who is with you, where you are, and what you are doing. This practice helps you establish a deep emotional connection with your goals, making them seem more achievable and real.
When practicing this technique, it’s crucial to include all the emotions and sensations you would experience while living those moments. Feel the joy, satisfaction, and pride of having achieved your dreams. The more realistic and detailed your mental movie is, the more effective it will be in aligning your vibration with the reality you want to manifest.
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Designing An Ideal Day In Your Perfect Life
Another effective method of creative visualization is to design an ideal day in your perfect life. Imagine a typical day in which all your desires have come true. From the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed, visualize every detail of what this day would look like. Include activities, interactions, and specific accomplishments that reflect your desired life.
During this exercise, pay attention to how you feel throughout the day. Imagine the peace, joy, and satisfaction that accompany each moment. By repeating this exercise regularly, you train your mind to accept this ideal version of your life as a real possibility, strengthening your ability to attract these experiences into your daily reality.
Overcoming Obstacles In The Practice Of Visualization
Practicing visualization can present challenges, such as maintaining focus or dealing with negative thoughts. One of the most common obstacles is a lack of focus, which can be overcome by creating a quiet, distraction-free environment for your visualization sessions. Using deep breathing techniques before starting can help center your mind and set the stage for effective visualization.
Another challenge is facing doubts and limiting beliefs that may arise during visualization. To overcome this, it’s crucial to identify these negative thoughts and replace them with positive and empowering affirmations. Additionally, maintaining a regular practice and being patient with yourself makes it easier to strengthen your ability to visualize clearly and effectively. Over time, these obstacles will diminish, and your ability to manifest your desires will increase significantly.
Combining Visualization With Other Manifestation Techniques
To enhance the effects of visualization, it’s helpful to combine this practice with other manifestation techniques such as meditation, affirmations, and journaling. These complementary tools can help you deepen your visualization practice and strengthen your ability to manifest your desires more effectively.
- Meditation: Calming the mind through meditation makes it easier to focus on mental images during visualization. Meditation helps create a receptive and calm mental state, which is essential for effective visualization. Practicing meditation regularly also raises your vibrational frequency, better aligning you with your goals.
- Affirmations: Incorporating positive affirmations into your routine reinforces the beliefs and emotions that support your visualized goals. By repeating affirmations with conviction and emotion, you maintain a high, positive vibration that resonates with your desires. Affirmations act as constant reminders of your intentions, strengthening your focus and determination.
- Journaling: Keeping a journal allows you to solidify your intentions and clarify your vision by writing about your goals and visualized experiences. Journaling helps you reflect on your progress, identify any blocks, and adjust your practices as needed. This tool also provides a space to express gratitude and document the positive changes in your life.
