Keys to Success in Life Vol. 1

"Keys to Success in Life" is a collection of everyday thoughts sprinkled with stories, as well as real-life characters to open your mind and heart to the endless possibilities that life can offer. This anthology of inspirational stories will make you cry, laugh and more importantly, think about things that really matter. It delivers messages of faith, hope, love, compassion, gratitude, courage and trust to make everyday of your life more meaningful. With God as the pivotal point, the book teaches you that living is very different from merely existing and to live you need to submit yourself completely and willingly to the wisdom from above. This is the English edition of the phenomenal Bestseller and the Most Widely Circulated Book in Malayalam Jeevithavijayam. About the Author Fr. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil CMI is the Superior General of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate which has 3000 members including 1710 priests who serve in 30 countries in different parts of the world. With Master's degrees in Government and International Studies (University of Notre Dame, USA) and Journalism (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA), Fr. Jose served Deepika, the oldest daily newspaper in Malayalam, and its allied publications in the state of Kerala, India as its Executive Editor and Chief Editor for a combined period of 16 years. While being the Vice Principal of Christ College, Bangalore he headed its Department of Journalism and taught Political Science. During his Ph.D. research in Mass Communication at Marquette University, USA, he was a part-time faculty member in the Department of Journalism. He is a columnist and a best-selling author in the field of inspirational literature. Address: CMI Prior General's House, Chavara Hills, Kakkanad, Kochi-682 030, Kerala, India. e-mail: panthaplamthottiyil@hotmail.com Contents January Crystals of Eternity A Lesson from Pompeii Everything Happens for a Reason The Thin Line Between Confidence and Arrogance The Power to Create Heaven on Earth Concentration, the Key to Success The Sweetest Revenge Dreams Better Than Ours Inviting Love Home Words Can Kill or Heal Time, the Greatest Teacher Performing Under Pressure The Path to Ever-lasting Happiness Faith Can Move Mountains Repentance Means Returning to God Seeds of Divinity Vices and Advice To Forgive is Divine The Healing Power of Friendship Seeing with Your Heart Anxiety: The Killjoy Hidden Potential God, Our Lifeguard So, You Think Money is Everything? Keeping Your Mind Polio-Free The Redeeming Power of Love Understanding Others The Healing Power of a Kind Word Rising to the Challenge God, the Most Cheerful Psychiatrist The Magic Thread of Life February Opening your Heart to Accept Miracles Destroy Your Enemies by Making Them Friends Blessing in Disguise What Makes God Happy? An Ear to Listen The Elixir of Life The Seven Wise Men of Greece More Blessed than the Receiver Love Makes Everything Possible Remodeling Under Progress Self-Sacrifice vs. Selfishness Being in God's Dreams The Fine Line Between Justice and Injustice A Smile Can Change Your Life Forever Shedding Pride is Better than Shedding Life Avoiding Self-inflicted Catastrophes True Love Expects Nothing in Return Breaking Free of Bad Habits Letting'Go'of'Ego' "According to Your Faith Be It Unto You..." When You Love Someone, Say It Compassion, the King of All Virtues Killing the Green-Eyed Monster Rising Above Tragedies Leaving a Lasting Legacy of Goodness Shedding the Mask Never Say Never Again Get a Facelift by Uplifting Another Life March Love Can Open the Doors of Heaven Sharing Sorrows Uninvited The Prayer That is Really Heard by God Sitting on God's Lap God's Gift to Us, Our Gift to God Invaluable Gifts Are Not Necessarily Expensive Mistakes Are Inevitable What Goes Around Comes Around... The Pain Passes, But the Beauty Remains Forgiving Those Who Trespass Against Us Success Our Birthright Inheriting Heaven Money, a Good Servant, But Poor Master Counting Your Blessings The Lord is My Shepherd God Knows Best Until Death Do Us Part The Courage to Go After Your Dreams Let's Die Just Once Our Links to the World We Can Change Our Destiny The Divine Oxygen In the Strength of His Presence Bearing Your Cross with Fortitude Salvation Through Suffering Idleness, the Holiday of Fools Let Your Angels Rule Grow, But Not at the Expense of Another Make God Proud of You Easter, the Promise of New Life To Be a Human Being is to Be Responsible  April Love Can Win Hearts Fulfilling God's Expectations With God Watching Us Composing the Musical called Life Getting the Night's Rest in Heaven Who Am I? Stop Making Excuses Will You Lie for $ 10,000? You Cannot Always Say What You Think Self-confidence from Above Money Can Make or Break You Beyond Apparent Gentlemanliness To Unlock Hearts The Happiest of All Having a Heart Finishing Touches for Eternity Charity, the Road to Greatness Humility, the Jewel in the Crown Blessings Multiply When Shared Pride Before a Fall Trust Moves Mountains When Money Becomes an Obsession With Malice Towards None The Refuge...First and Forever Mentors Becoming Tormentors Priceless Love Blind Leading the Blind Direction as Important as the Destination Listening to Wrong Advice Give Respect, Earn Respect  May A Simple Formula for Success The Best Graduation Advice Ever The Shortcut to Happiness From Sin to Bliss Sharing Our Daily Bread Finding Hidden Gifts No Excuses for Sloppiness Being a Gift to Others Prayer, the Powerful Shield In All Humility The Power of Kneeling Down Beautiful Inside Praying While You Sleep Ruling the Animal in Us Filling the Soul with Beauty and Music Accepting Things that Cannot be Changed No Such Thing as Overnight Success Love Thy Neighbor Messages from Nature Our Resurrection and Life Be the Change You Want to See Removing the Barricades to Heaven Nothing Constructive About Criticism Let the Tough Get Going Cleansing Our Sins Kill Anger Before it Kills You Safe in His Arms Faith is Believing in the Impossible Faith Can Tame Lions God in the Gallows Bowing to His Mysterious Ways June Faith in Providence Amassing Wealth for the Other World Disappointment: Not Necessarily a Bad Thing Always Hosanna from the Heart Speak When You Must The Power of the Robe and the Man Who Wore It Resurrection Redefining Death Surrendering to the Higher Power When Does a Dead Fish Laugh? Be Careful What You Wish For Dear God, May I Help You? Talk, if You Have Something Worthwhile to Say or Shut Up Enter His Courts with Praise The Man Who Refused to Go Heaven Penance for not Paying Heed The Act of Giving is the Art of Living Are You Foolish or Wise? A Second Lease on Life The Essence of Resurrection The Courage to Face Failures God the Fix-it Expert Act in Haste...Repent in Leisure Sweeter Music from Broken Life Money - Our Ticket to Heaven? Lending a Loving Hand Forgiveness, the Sweetest Revenge Dreams that Don't Die Angels to Guard Over Us Marriages Made in Heaven Fight the Sin...Forgive the Sinner