Make Your Own Bible

“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I remember the first time I read that Emerson quote… The idea of “making my own bible” really did sound like an important message was blasting me in the face! There are so many times I’ll see a powerful post on social media, hear a clever song lyric, or read an inspiring book, and think, “this is going to change my life!” Then inevitably… I’d forget all about it in the midst of being busy. Can you relate?

Ralph’s trumpet broke through the other noise for me that day. He got me to start a collection of my favorite quotes, and I’ve been building my own little “bible” ever since. I start by copy-pasting or screenshotting what I read into a “note” on my phone before I can forget about it and move on. Later, I categorize them into topics, print them up, and put them in a simple binder where I can read them again when I need some motivation. For example, I have a page on my favorite quotes about connection that I can read when I feel lonely. I have a page on my favorite quotes about addiction and I turned that into a worksheet that I have used with clients. I have quotes and verses that I’ve used for morning prayer. And I even have a page devoted to the hilarious and prophetic wisdom of Homer Simpson.

This blog is another way for me to process and share some of the words that have inspired me along the way. I don’t expect that every quote I enjoy will necessarily hit you like the blast of a trumpet in your life, but I do believe that if you “make your own bible” (or at least copy and paste some inspiration into your phone), you can be reminded and encouraged to focus on what matters most to you too.

How about you?

What are the quotes that have inspired you?

How do you keep those inspiring words in front of you?