Ann Voskamp Quotes

Having children is my greatest achievement. It was my saviour. It switched my focus from the outside to the inside. My children are gifts, they remind me of what's important.

It is the paradox of life that the way to miss pleasure is to seek it first. The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.

Now, I look at where I am now and I know what I wanna to do. What I would like to be able to do is to spend whatever time I have left and to give, and maybe some hope to others.

It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.

I'm very aware that just driving blindly towards money won't get me anything. I drive blindly towards making the world a better place.

Existence is a strange bargain. Life owes us little; we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.

Before my accident I was a little too... selfish and self-absorbed and for me, to now be at the place where I can kinda give back and inspire people. I'm blessed. I'm really blessed.

May you live all the days of your life.

Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.

All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.

I was given such a great gift. It's a miracle that never stops amazing me and reminding me to give thanks, every day. Having a wife and daughter gives me a lot more purpose. I was much more selfish before, but now I think about what kind of role model I'll be. I just want to be a better man.

What good is my parents' wealth and education and upbringing if I'm not contributing to the world?

I was gifted with a life that was full of adventure. I've always believed, if you're gifted, that it's incumbent not to think about giving something back.

I think about legacy, of course. I don't want to make my life nothing. I want to know that I died and made a massive difference. I want to know that my life purpose was bigger than myself, and I want to pay forward because the amount of people that have helped me... the list of people that have contributed to where I am now is insane.

I want to live a fulfilling life.

A life in pursuit of position or power is not a life well-lived or in service to others.

Only a life lived in a certain spirit is worth living. It is a remarkable fact that a life lived entirely from the ego is dull not only for the person himself but for all concerned.

I believe that a worthwhile life is defined by a kind of spiritual journey and a sense of obligation.

Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give.

Maybe getting more isn't the answer to life. Maybe it's giving.

I love the accomplishments and the awards that I've received through the years. But I've always worked more for the rewards than the awards. I've always counted my blessings before I've counted my money. I'm glad that new dreams come to me everyday.

If you only think about yourself - how much money can I make, what can I buy, how nice is my house, what kind of fancy car do I have? - over the long term, I think, you get bored. I think your life becomes diminished. The way to live a full life is to think: What can I do for others?

My life is a contribution.

The important point is to not just follow your passion but something larger than yourself.