“that we would receive the overwhelming message that the vast majority of adults feel they have no talent in these areas. On the other hand, if we were to conduct the same poll among 4-year-olds, we would find that virtually all of them are convinced they can sing, and virtually all of them have confidence in their ability to dance. Most of the 4-year-olds have little or no real talent, but, instead, they are endowed with incredible confidence in their own potential. This confidence, or certainty of success, is something we were all born with but we later traded in for a strong dose of what we call realism. Shortly after we reach school age, we are taught lessons about the world that revolve around us, limiting our vision and becoming realistic.”
―
Jim Stovall
“I defy you to find a statue or a monument ever erected to anyone because they were realistic. All dreamers, all achievers, all great people kept their child-like faith in their own dream and their ability to carry it out, and these great people had an inordinate gift to disregard the word's cries for reality.”
―
Jim Stovall
“Our family is involved in our life’s journey long before we are born and long after we die. Some of our family is connected by blood and others only by love.”
―
Jim Stovall
“Some friendships are a legacy left to us by those who have gone before. Other friendships are legacies we will leave behind.”
―
Jim Stovall
“Laughter is good medicine for the soul. Our world is desperately in need of more such medicine.”
―
Jim Stovall
“believed that God is always a good God. Facing difficulties, he lost his job. His home was about to be taken and all seemed hopeless. Braxton prayed”
―
Jim Stovall
“The only way you can truly get more out of life for yourself is to give part of yourself away.”
―
Jim Stovall
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching.”
―
Jim Stovall
“gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will”
―
Jim Stovall
“In life’s journey, the things we keep we eventually lose, while the things we give away, we always have.”
―
Jim Stovall
“Happiness is often elusive and fleeting. There are three elements that, when combined, always result in happiness. Like a three-legged stool, they work in tandem. Any two of the three”
―
Jim Stovall
“gentlemen have leant their talent, time, and energy to this project. Please note that the columns appear here just as they were printed in publications around the world. Some of them are more than a decade old at this writing, but the wisdom is eternal, and the context creates points”
―
Jim Stovall
“It is impossible to experience fear, hate, or defeat when we are laughing.”
―
Jim Stovall
“OUR LEGACIES Every footprint that we take Makes a change where we have passed. Small things there beneath our heel Are changing where the print was cast. What then could any difference make When ruthless paths our courses take? Beneath our heel some things will bend Without the strength to rise again. Joye Kanelakos”
―
Jim Stovall
“If we are not allowed to deal with small problems, we will be destroyed by slightly larger ones. When we come to understand this, we live our lives not avoiding problems, but welcoming them them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we can be victorious in the future.”
―
Jim Stovall
