Hugh Prather Quotes

I sometimes react to making a mistake as if I have betrayed myself. My fear of making a mistake seems to be based on the hidden assumption that I am potentially perfect and that if I can just be very careful I will not fall from heaven. But a 'mistake' is a declaration of the way I am, a jolt to the way I intend, a reminder I am not dealing with the facts. When I have listened to my mistakes I have grown.

perfectionism is a slow death. if everything were to turn out just like i would want it to, just like i would plan for it to, then i would never experience anything new; my life would be an endless repetition of stale successes. when i make a mistake i experience something unexpected.... when i have listened to my mistakes i have grown.

Being myself includes taking risks with myself, taking risks on new behavior, trying new ways of 'being myself', so that I can see who it is I want to be.

Live as if everything you do will eventually be known.

It's this simple: If I never try anything, I never learn anything. If I never take a risk, I stay where I am.

It is enough that I am of value to somebody today.

If the desire to write is not accompanied by actual writing, then the desire must be not to write.

To live for results would be to sentence myself to continuous frustration. My only sure reward is in my actions and not from them.

Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes.

Negative feedback is better that none. I would rather have a man hate me than overlook me. As long as he hates me I make a difference.