Sideway Glances

"Whoever thinks of himself first, of his own interests, his own honor and glory, his own satisfaction, the fulfillment of his own egotistical plans and intentions, must keep casting sideways glances all around him; he cannot develop the "single eye." What will other people say? How will the matter end?"

Doing things to please everyone, to catch attention, to be held high by people puts you out of focus.

Right intention - do things because you KNOW it is good to do them and you BELIEVE so.


Ref.: In Silence with God, Benedict Baur

White Flag

Accept peace offerings.

Think: The other party has already acknowledged her faults. She is offering some sweets to remove whatever may seem to have left a bitter aftertaste.

Fix your attention on that, not on the hurt.

Give the other person a second chance.

Time to move ahead... Don't you want to remove those "dark clouds" in your head?

Take a Break

Working hard? Want to work harder?

Then, you need to rest, unwind and relax.

It’s time for some fresh air...

Your body’s asking for a respite – don’t deny it!

Have a little change of activity. A bit of distance from your usual concerns would be fine.

It’s essential – to overhaul the machine so it could work faster and better.

Know and Accept

Each of us has strengths and weaknesses, which, hopefully, we’ll discover and understand with the passage of years.

It’s important to recognize what we can change and what we cannot.

If we realize we’re unhappy with something about ourselves that we can’t alter, we’ll have to accept (but please don’t fall into dejection) and learn to handle it better.

But, for those which we can change, then let’s start working on them today.

Clean Slate

“Tomorrow is always a new day with no mistakes in it yet,” says Ann of Greengables.

We could always start all over again.

If today’s a bad day, don’t let it spill over the next day.

Set off anew... and move on.

Each day is a clean slate – another chance given to you.

Grab it!

Target Balance

Want to improve your self-esteem?

Try new things – that’s one track.

Get in touch with talents you may have hidden all these years.

Aim for balance – it’s important!

Say, if you think you’re left-brained, experiment on activities that will develop the right side, and vice-versa.

It’s good to have hobbies as well – and take pride in the new skills you develop.

Where to find time?

As in anyone’s experience, if you’re convinced of something, you’ll manage to sneak a little bit of time.

Project Change

In a conference, I heard Tony Blair say, “What is forgivable is to fail; what is not forgivable is not to try.”

He explained: “You don’t always succeed... Resistance is there.”

You may think you have a bright idea but for others, it’s not bright at all.

When introducing change, not everyone’s going to be on your side.

There could be rejections.

On sunny days though, you may receive suggestions or even commendations.

One day you fail; another day, you succeed.

Each situation is different. So, do keep trying so you learn to manage change.

Be open... Rectify if you must.

Adversity Quotient

“Always remember that no matter how difficult a problem is or how insurmountable it seems... a problem is only a problem if you think you can’t solve it,” says a professor on Problem Solving and Decision Making.

Raise your Adversity Quotient!

Don’t be “onion skinned” – paralyzed with a little scratch.

Let adversities strengthen you...

That depends on how you face them.

Turn problems into opportunities ... make the most out of it!

Full Stop

I heard somebody say, “Don’t give up. It’s not wise.”

... even if difficulties seem to envelope you.

You may feel like you’re at the end of the road – a dead end, at times.

But it’s always possible to make a turn and go back to the right path.

Keep driving... Gas up, if you need to.

On its own, the car wouldn’t make a full stop unless the driver brings it to a halt!

Seek to Understand

Don’t be quick to judge!

In others, you may find defects but you’ll never really see what’s inside (even the magic crystal ball can’t do that!).

You, too, are not perfect after all. So, suspend your judgment and try first to understand...

“And in the practice of compassion we discover, perhaps, with some surprise, that charitableness is so much more fun than harsh judgment and criticism.

In faultfinding and vindictive criticism, there is venom that corrodes and destroys the heart of the one who sits in judgment on his fellows.

In compassion, there is constructiveness, a creativity that brings a sense of achievement to the understanding soul – almost a feeling of exhilaration.

Because of our compassion, we are happier persons...”


Ref. Seventeen Steps to Heaven (Leo Trese)

Fly High

“Don’t flutter about like a hen, when you can soar to the heights of an eagle.” (The Way, Josemaria Escriva)

If others can do it, why can’t you?

Take courage...aspire to be far above the ground (of course, not too far as reaching the sun to burn you up).

By taking small and sometimes, big steps, you’ll get to your aim.

Obstacles may come but be patient...at the right time, in the right place, you’ll conquer them.

Then, with greater force, more prudence, and better tactics, you’ll do better in the battle front.

Avoid negative thinking... otherwise, you’re proclaimed as defeated even before the war starts.

Be bold...to believe is to see!

Abandonment

"Jesus, take the wheel. Take it from my hands 'coz I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go..."

These lines are taken from a song which unexpectedly entered my mobile phone via bluetooth.

Well, I guess it's meant for me, for us.

When we're no longer sure of ourselves, after having done everything humanly possible, then it's the hour of abandonment.

If things still turn out not as we had expected them to be; then, maybe they're good for us.

We just have to trust...

Pace Yourself

Take things one day at a time...as you leaf through a book from one page to the next.

If you try to solve everything today... most likely, you’ll be overwhelmed.

And before you know it, your “haywired” imagination would have eaten you up.

Don’t be overanxious about tomorrow... wait for each subject to take its turn.

Pace yourself and avoid getting burned out!

De-clutter

Spend a minute to take a view of your cabinet...

Overflowing with stuff? Lacking space to fit in all your effects?

If so, it’s time to sort things out one by one – this one, I still need; that other one, I don’t...

As soon as you’re done, there’ll be “magic” in your life.

It’ll be simpler, easier, and HAPPIER.

(Actually, it’s not “magic.” It’s just the natural consequence of de-cluttering. Most of the time, the state of our life is reflected in the amount of things we hold on to – some may be indispensable but most may not be truly necessary. If we’ve got too much stuff, it’s time to de-clutter – your brain, too - before your entire cabinet falls on you! Take a hold of your life and don’t allow yourself to be enslaved!)

Time and Space

Relationships are never perfect... there are usually bumps.

When such times come, you may be quick to forgive and forget...but you can’t expect and force the other to be as swift as you are.

If the person’s not ready... give him/her time and space...

Take the chance to reflect – it’s an indispensable step! You, as well, ought to own up mistakes.

When you’re both ready, face each other to iron things out. And you’ll see ... what better results you’ll have.

Not Just Feelings

Love is not a matter of feelings – although feelings facilitate loving, nonetheless. But feelings come and go. Neither is love a matter of the intellect. Ideas should not be detached from emotions, leaving the idea bland and emotionally flat. Love knows how to strike the balance.

Love is kept burning from beginning until the end – consistently, persistently. Of course, there may be “dark nights.” But it doesn’t mean love is gone. It simply means that one finds oneself in extraordinary moments when love is tested and proven to be true.

Smile

I just received this e-mail and found it interesting:

"The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed."

Enjoy each day!

By tomorrow, it’s already yesterday.

How to make each day meaningful?

Smile, laugh... and make others do the same.

That’s a clear indicator that you’ve spent the day well.

Set Free

Our stay in this world is not forever. That’s 101% sure!

Nobody escapes this reality... no riches can extend it if it’s really time to go.

Many don’t even want to think about it – “It’s morbid,” said a classmate of mine.

But whether we like it or not, we’ll have face it at one point in our lives.

Ergo, if you’re too immersed in your own world right now, kindly step back a little and look at your life from an outsider’s perspective... Where are you heading?

Understand that “all passes away in this life, whether it be joy or sorrow; but in eternity nothing passes away...We must leave all to gain all... He that desires nothing in this world is master of the whole world.” (Alphonsus de Ligouri)

Detachment is the name of the game.

Trust

Trust is given; trust is gained.
It cements all relationships.

It’s not forced overnight.
Days have to be counted.

Give yourself and you’ll learn it.
Once there, it is nurtured.

Yes, it could be broken.
But it could also be repaired.

The more you trust, the more you love.
And the more you love, the more you trust.