Henri Nouwen Quotes

Transforming yourself is a means of giving light to the whole world.

Correcting oneself is correcting the whole world. The Sun is simply bright. It does not correct anyone. Because it shines, the whole world is full of light. Transforming yourself is a means of giving light to the whole world.

Rise above... cultivate the light you have within you, and it will shine through as a radiant expression that will be seen by others.

Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in the darkness waiting for someone to flick the switch.

According to me, your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving. Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now.

If a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself.

You try to walk in the light.

Overcoming negative tendencies and enhancing positive potential are the very essence of the spiritual path.

Live according to your highest light and more light will be given.

If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself, if you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.

Spiritually, it's always there. It gets better and better all the time. One of these days I'll just finally release all that out.

When our minds are filled with light, there is no room for darkness

We deserve to know light. And grow evermore lighter and lighter.

I change the world by changing myself. I am changing the world by loving myself, by enjoying life, by making my personal world a dream of heaven. I change myself, and just like magic, other people start to change.

As your consciousness becomes more settled, all your life patterns change. What religions have called sin will disappear from your life, and what they have called virtue will automatically flow from your being, from your actions. But they have been doing just vice versa: first change the acts... It is as if you are in a dark house, and you are stumbling over furniture and over things, and you are told that unless you stop stumbling, light is not possible.

Today I set my mind and heart on a new path. I focus my energy on love, appreciation, and my highest possibilities.

A sense of blessedness comes from a change of heart, not from more blessings.

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.

Our own self-realization is the greatest service we can render the world.

I'm totally into new age and self-help books. I used to work in a bookstore and that's the section they gave me, and I got way into it. I just loved the power of positive thinking, letting yourself go.

I see a deep connection between peace and change: peace always starts from within, for communities and people alike. The same is true of change: real change starts from within.

The great solution to all human problems is individual inner transformation.

I don't do anything out of negativity anymore.

Awareness of your weakness and confusion makes you strong because conscious awareness is the bright light that destroys the darkness of negativity. Detection of inner negativity is not a negative act, but a courageously positive act that makes you a new person.