Deepak Chopra

One of my favorite quotes by Deepak Chopra is, “If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up.”

In this quote he refers to our every present “need” of all things and notes that when we let go of our neediness we allow room for love to appear—both love of self and love of others. Chopra reminds us the secret of attraction is to love yourself. This is a very difficult task to do when our minds are focused on external expectations and keeping ourselves on track to achieve great success. When Chopra says that “Attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. They are open to gestures of love. They think about love, and express their love in every action. They know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe,” he reminds us that “attractive” is a state of being; it is the state in which others perceive our self-worth. When we value ourselves, we not only bring more value into our lives but are also perceived differently by the world.

“The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years.” Think about this statement for a minute. We all know our thoughts become our words, which in turn become our actions. In this statement Chopra quantifies how this flow of energy can dramatically impact our overall health and wellness. I know this statement alone held my attention for more than just a minute, and in fact it actually has influenced my decision-making process.

“Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution.” I continuously share with my clients that no matter what experience we may be having, there is always a gift in it. It is our responsibility to take a moment to look at and receive the gift. Staying in a place of gratitude will allow us to embrace not only the gift but the lesson as well.

Deepak Chopra is a dynamic self-help author and motivational speaker who has written several books on health and spirituality. His quotes reveal a lot about the man he is. Chopra is an Indian-born American and a physician by training. His teachings are based on the principles of Ayurveda (Indian healing technique), spirituality, quantum physics and Western medicine. The crux of Chopra’s theories is that if you rid yourself of negative emotions and pay attention to your intuition as well as your body’s signals, you can in fact improve your health.

He has written several bestselling books, including Peace Is the Way, which explores the different aspects of war and peace from a spiritual perspective (and won a prestigious Quill award); The Book of Secrets, in which he shares his 15 secrets for enlightenment; and Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment, a fictionalized account of Jesus's lost years prior to his mission as described in the New Testament.

Chopra has found his admirers among the rich and the famous as well as the masses. He does have several critics as well (primarily from the scientific and medical communities) who argue that his ideas regarding healing have no scientific validity. However, despite the criticism Deepak Chopra is considered by many among the top 10 motivational speakers in the world, and the popularity of his books bears testimony to the fact. The beauty of Chopra is that he stays true to his inner wisdom, and as a result he not only talks a great story, he’s walking one as well.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen