Often, what gets us feeling (instead of numbing out) is reflecting on who we are inside and what we’ve learned in life. In the hectic pace of modern life, we might feel too busy to slow down or reflect yet use what free time we have to distract ourselves or “check out” in some way.

Take a minute to read these brief quotes and poems out for insight and inspiration…they help us feel and reflect.

Yes, some of these might strike some of you as too “touchy-feely,” as too sentimental, or too “religious.” That’s okay, that resistance connects with another feeling upon which to reflect.

Remember, no matter whether one is an atheist, agnostic, slightly religious, or completely devout, there is ample evidence that we humans have a spiritual impulse. That impulse, expressed in a variety of ways, is a big part of the human experience now and certainly across human history. So please take these little poems for what they are worth to just to take a moment to connect with your OWN spirit. No religious belief is required to appreciate these.

Reflection helps us recognize that, despite the ups and downs, maybe there are no mistakes after all—or at least that we can make the most of them. If we are learning, then all is not lost. If we are falling, we often fall forward, so we are still making some progress. Reflection helps us recognize that it’s easier to let go and be free in our heart and minds than we often think it is.