You spend most of your life running after things, doing things. You forgotthat being comes before doing. Those who remember this secret make an effortto "be" and discover that when they stop and observe, life helps and bringswhatever is needed. Learning to be is learning to be at peace. It is ourmost fundamental nature.
To attain peace when something unfortunate happens, we have to open up to the possibility that there may be benefit and good hidden in that situation. Accept and learn, then your feelings will be positive and you will find solutions. You will have transformed defeat into victory.
Your true enemies - which will destroy your peace - are negative habits and waste thoughts. Your true attainment is the conquest of the self.
Peace ends when you are emotionally involved in a situation. The practice of being an independent observer helps you stay stable and calm. It is the best way to approach a decision in any circumstance.
It is easy to create new things, change places or do something different. To sustain that sense of newness that creates enthusiasm is more difficult. The secret of newness in life is not to do new things constantly, but to see everything you do with new eyes, new insights and a new perspective.
The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing. They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ablility to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself.
--- Wang Yang-Ming
Self-control is not about suppressing emotions or tolerating the pressure of circumstances. Self-control is to be the creator of your thoughts and feelings, to be creative and find new answers. This helps you to remain calm and cool.
At times there is a weak spot, something you do not want to see about your character. The way to discover it is through others. They are the mirrors that reflect your personality. If something bothers your about someone, you are recognizing an attitude that is actually within you. When you feel it does not affect you and you can respond calmly, it means that this weakness is no longer in you.
To stay happy in every situation remember what has helped you, what has made life worthwhile. Forget the old, the things of no value, and what has stolen your dreams. You grow and progress in life thanks to what motivates and inspires you. You get depressed through remembering your weakness and mistakes.
The most powerful form of teaching is by example. What you see through your eyes creates the greatest impact. The heart accepts it and it does not need many words. You cannot impose peace on any one through force but you can bring this about by being peaceful and creating a peaceful environment.
Peace is not a passive attitude; it is an active state. It requires having constant attention and determination, in order to live and to respond as a peaceful being to any upset in life. You need to brave and vigilant.
Your internal dialogue establishes your way of seeing the world. When you make demands on and reproach yourself, you create a world of stress and pain. To be peaceful, create a loving dialogue with yourself, enabling your inner values to awaken and be expressed regardless of your external world.
When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
--- Edgar Watson Howe
Our society encourages distraction and evasion as a means to experience happiness. But actually this takes you far away from yourself and just postpones dissatisfaction. The true solution is to concentrate on what nourishes the spirit and give you life.
Many believe that happiness is achieved through material wealth. It is true that it gives a temporary sense of well being. A rich person is not someone who has more but someone who desires less. Happiness is the result of total appreciation of all that life gives you at every moment.
A mother teaches her child with love and patience until the child learns. Be a mother and teach your mind to have positive thoughts and to let go of worries. Then when your mind most needs peace, it will obey you.
A mother teaches her child with love and patience until the child learns. Be a mother and teach your mind to have positive thoughts and to let go of worries. Then when your mind most needs peace, it will obey you.
Your words might impress others. People will say "He is a good speaker. What interesting things he says". But if you don't practice what you say, others will not feel inspired to do it. It is your actions more than your words which will inspire and show them how to do it.
If you think you can do something alone, either because you don't trust others to do it or because you feel you are the most qualified,
You will always be busy doing everything,
You will be unhappy with others because they are not doing what you want,
It is more effective to invest your time in training and developing others.
There is a greater success in cooperation.
In order to create good relationships -
- With your mind, think about what you have to learn from others.
- With your eyes, look into the good qualities of others.
- With your words, recognize, value and appreciate their accomplishments.
- With your actions, cooperate and do something for others.