Do not be unforgiving of yourself if you commit a mistake

Do not be unforgiving of yourself if you commit a mistake or make an error. Life didn’t come with a fool-proof manual. Most of us are doing the best that we can. We’re not perfect. We learn from our mistakes and from stumbling. 

Like almost everyone else, I have a great number of responsibilities. In fact, it usually seems like I’m juggling ten or twenty balls in the air simultaneously. So, to assume, I’ll never make mistakes is absurd.

Can you sense how framing mistakes in this more realistic way gets you off the hook? In other words, when you make a mistake – even a stupid one – this more philosophical outlook allows you to keep your perspective and sense of humor instead of beating yourself up. 

Instead of saying to yourself, “What an idiot,” you should be able to say, “More proof that I’m human.”

The 99 Club

Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content. One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy. 

Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King’s woes and the servant’s story, the advisor said, “Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club.”

“The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?” the King inquired. The advisor replied, “Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant’s doorstep.” 

When the servant opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins! He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, “What could’ve happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!

He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection. 

From that day, the servant’s life was changed. He was overworked and chastised his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.

Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor’s help, the advisor said, “Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club.” He continued, “The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they’re always yearning and striving for that extra 1 telling to themselves: “Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life .”

“We can be happy, even with little, but the minute we’re given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires. That’s what joining The 99 Club is all about.” 

Sometimes it’s helpful to put yourself in the shoes of the person you are asking or seeking help

I’ve written or called hundreds of people during my career who have never written back or returned my call. I’ve learned that people are often overwhelmed and overcommitted, and therefore unable or unwilling to help me. 

Instead of feeling defeated, I try to focus instead on how grateful I am that many other people have returned my calls or answered my letters.

Many years ago, I wanted to get in to see a certain professional and was told that I couldn’t because he wasn’t taking any new clients. I persisted, but never succeeded. Finally, I spoke to the receptionist in an impatient tone and said, “Look, I really need to see him. Isn’t there anything you can do?” she responded to me in a very calm and respectful manner. Her words were, “I’m truly sorry, but the doctor has a three-year waiting list. He works six days a week, twelve hours a day, and hasn’t had a vacation in over five years. He’s doing the best he can, but he too would like to have a life.” His schedule put my own busyness into better perspective.

Confidently walk into anything God brings our way

Two men went fishing. One man was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't. 

Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back. 

The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing this man waste good fish. 

 "Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?" he asked. 

The inexperienced fisherman replied, "I only have a small frying pan." 

Sometimes, like that fisherman, we throw back the big plans, big dreams, big jobs, and big opportunities that God gives us. 
Our faith is too small. 

We laugh at that fisherman who didn't figure out that all he needed was a bigger frying pan; yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith? 

Whether it's a problem or a possibility, God will never give you anything bigger than you can handle. That means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.

Be willing to ask, but …

There’s an old saying: “If you don’t ask for what you want, you’re not going to get it.”

The only problem with the “be willing to ask” philosophy is that it doesn’t take into consideration the large percentage of the time that you don’t get something, even when you do ask or when you feel you deserve it. So, the old saying, if taken literally, can create some frustration.

Any potential frustration, however, can be prevented by including a lack of insistence upon your desired result. In other words, it’s terrific, courageous, and important to ask for what you want, but if you’re attached to the outcome, you could be in for a long and ongoing series of disappointments in your life. 

The key to becoming less attached to the outcomes of your requests is to depersonalize them. In other words, try to see that more often than not, being turned down has very little to do with you. For example, if you ask for a raise, your request may or may not be possible, depending on factors other than you – your company’s budget, the implications to other workers, rules within the department, and so forth. 

Make someone else feel good

If you want to feel good about yourself, make someone else feel good! It really is that simple. Perhaps it is because this idea is so simple that we sometimes forget to do it.

It seems that anytime I go out of my way to make someone else feel good, it ends up brightening my day and making myself feel better as well. It reminds me that so often the nicest things in life aren’t “things.” Instead, they are the feelings that accompany acts of kindness and nice gestures. It’s clear to me that “what goes around does indeed come around.”

Whether it’s taking the time to write a note of congratulations for a job well done, a written or verbal compliment, a friendly phone call, an unasked – for favor, a note of encouragement, or any number of other possibilities, making someone else feel good – however you do it –is almost always a good idea. 

Acts of kindness and good will are inherently wonderful. 

There’s an old saying: “Giving is its own reward.” This is certainly true. Your reward for being kind and making someone else feel good are the warm, positive feelings that invariably accompany your efforts. 

Be Responsive

“Responsive” means acting appropriately to the issue at hand. Rather than being driven and controlled by habitual, knee-jerk reactions, being responsive means having the ability to maintain perspective and to choose the best possible alternative or course of action, given your unique situation. 

Because responsive people are able to see the entire picture so well, they are able to factor into every equation all the variables, instead of being limited to their usual way of doing things. 

Responsive individuals are willing to change direction, if necessary, and admit their mistakes when appropriate.

For example, it’s common for a builder to run into unexpected changes in the original plans – unknown soil conditions, a shortage of money, or unforeseen design problems. A reactive builder will panic, overreact and become difficult to work with. A good builder will take the changes in stride, be responsive to the changes, rise to the occasion and get the job done.

Be responsive!

Do not live in imagined future

If you want to be a happier, less-stressed person, there is no better place to start than with becoming aware of “anticipatory thinking,” or an imagined future.

Essentially, this type of thinking involves imagining how much better your life will be when certain conditions are met – or how stressful, or difficult something is going to be at some point down the road. 

Typical anticipatory thinking sounds something like this: “I can’t wait to get that promotion, and then my life will be great.” “Life will be so much simpler when I can afford an assistant.” “These next few years will be really tough, but after that I’ll be having a smooth ride.” 

You get so carried away by your own thoughts that you remove yourself from the actual present moments of your life, thereby forgetting the act of living effectively and joyfully.

There are other, more short-term forms of this type of thinking as well: “The next few days are going to be unbearable,” “I am going to be tired tomorrow,” “I just know my speech is going to be a disaster.” 

There are endless variations of this stressful tendency. The details are usually different, but the result is the same –stress! Do not let your thoughts get caught up in the negative expectations and imagined horrors of the future.

The Supreme Controller

It is natural that a philosophical mind wants to know about the origin of the creation. At night he sees the stars in the sky, and he naturally speculates about their inhabitants. Such inquiries are natural for man because man has a developed consciousness which is higher than that of the animals. The author of Srimad-Bhagavatam (Vyasadeva) gives a direct answer to such inquiries. He says that the Lord Sri Krishna is the origin of all creations. He is not only the creator of the universe, but the destroyer as well. The manifested cosmic nature is created at a certain period by the will of the Lord. It is maintained for some time, and then it is annihilated by His will. Therefore, the supreme will is behind all cosmic activities. Of course, there are atheists of various categories who do not believe in a creator, but that is due to a poor fund of knowledge. The modern scientist, for example, has created space satellites, and by some arrangement or other, these satellites are thrown into outer space to fly for some time at the control of the scientist who is far away. Similarly, all the universes with innumerable stars and planets are controlled by the intelligence of the Personality of Godhead. 

In Vedic literatures, it is said that the Absolute Truth, Personality of Godhead, is the chief amongst all living personalities. All living beings, beginning from the first created being, Brahma, down to the smallest ant, are individual living beings. And above Brahma, there are even other living beings with individual capacities, and the Personality of Godhead is also a similar living being. And He is an individual as are the other living beings. But the Supreme Lord, or the supreme living being, has the greatest intelligence, and He possesses supermost inconceivable energies of all different varieties. If a man's brain can produce a space satellite, one can very easily imagine how brains higher than man can produce similarly wonderful things which are far superior. The reasonable person will easily accept this argument, but there are stubborn atheists who would never agree. 

Trying to please every one

The fact that someone is virtually always going to be mad or at least disappointed with you is inevitable because while you’re busy trying to please one person, you’re often disappointing someone else. Even if your intentions are entirely pure and positive, you simply can’t be in two places at one time. So, if two or more people want, need or expect something from you – and you can’t do it all – someone is going to be left disappointed. 

When you have dozens, even hundreds of demands on your time, and requests being fired at you from all different directions, a certain number of balls are going to be dropped. Mistakes are going to be made.

Four people asked you to call them before five o’clock. The second call took much longer than anticipated. The two who didn’t receive calls are probably going to be upset. If you hurried the call you were on, you risked upsetting that person. Either way, someone’s left upset. Or you go the extra mile to do an excellent job on one project – but only have time to do an adequate job on another project. Again, you let someone down.

When you make peace with this fact of life, a huge weight is lifted off your shoulders. Obviously you would never intentionally hurt or disappoint someone. In fact, most of us will do everything within our power not to, yet it’s still going to happen. And when you know it’s inevitable, your gut reaction to the disappointment is going to be much more peaceful.

But there are still going to be errors

You can try and try – you can make allowances for contingencies and mix-ups, but there are still going to be errors. And when errors happen, forget a promise, meeting, or commitment; then someone is going to be hurt, upset, mad, or disappointed. 

Rather than becoming upset, defensive, or guilty, maintain your bearings and remain compassionate. You should understand that there’s simply nothing you can do – other than your best. You didn’t intend for it to happen, you did everything you knew how to prevent it, yet it happened. 

In fact, most of us will do everything within our power not to, yet it’s still going to happen. And it will happen again. It’s time to let it go and focus on doing the best you can.

Handling criticism

Rather than trying to avoid criticism, expert performers welcome it. They seek out coaches and advisors who can give them constructive, sometimes even painful feedback. They then use this feedback as a guide for steady improvement.

Here are some steps you can take to handle criticism effectively:

1. Acknowledge Your Error - Acknowledging a mistake is not the same as acknowledging that you are an inferior person/a failure. If you believe the criticism is accurate, take full responsibility. Don’t blame something or someone else and don’t make excuses. If appropriate, offer a diplomatic apology: “I’m sorry that my actions led to that result. It certainly was not my intention.” Again, if appropriate, ask for suggestions on how you can improve your performance the next time.

2. Take Corrective Action - After you’ve heard the other person out completely, and listened to any suggestions for improvement, state/communicate your eagerness to improve in the future. If appropriate, describe any actions you will take at his time to counterbalance your previous error.

3. Acknowledge the other person’s motive - Thank the other person for the feedback and make sure to state how valuable you consider it. This demonstrates your ability to use criticism as a way to improve – an essential quality of a leader. In addition, let the other person know that you are open to receiving his or her feedback in the future.

Even when you don’t care for the style in which criticism is presented, be thankful that the other person is willing to give you feedback, and along with it, an opportunity to improve.

Today before you complain about…

Today before you think of saying an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Today before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Today before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Today before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

Today before you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

Today before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us are without sin.

Mistakes are unavoidable part of life

Some mistakes are big. An air-traffic controller’s mistake or one wrong move by a surgeon can be deadly. 

A vast majority of the mistakes we make, however, are not life or death. It’s true that even small mistakes can cause inconvenience, conflict, or extra work – and, can be expensive.
 
While no one enjoys making mistakes, there is something very freeing about learning to accept them – really accept them – as an unavoidable part of life. When we do, we can forgive ourselves, thus erasing all the stress that usually results from cursing ourselves. 

So the suggestion is simple. Forgive yourself; you’re human.

Mistakes are unavoidable part of life

Some mistakes are big. An air-traffic controller’s mistake or one wrong move by a surgeon can be deadly. 

A vast majority of the mistakes we make, however, are not life or death. It’s true that even small mistakes can cause inconvenience, conflict, or extra work – and, can be expensive.
 
While no one enjoys making mistakes, there is something very freeing about learning to accept them – really accept them – as an unavoidable part of life. When we do, we can forgive ourselves, thus erasing all the stress that usually results from cursing ourselves. 

So the suggestion is simple. Forgive yourself; you’re human.

Be Reasonable

“Reasonable” suggests the ability to see things fairly, without the self-serving justification that so often clouds our vision. 

It’s the ability to see your own contribution to a problem and the willingness to listen to and learn from other's point of view. Being reasonable includes the ability to put yourself in the shoes of others, being able to see the bigger picture, and to maintain perspective. 

People who are reasonable are well liked and highly respected. Because they are willing to listen, others pay close attention to what they have to say, as well. 

Reasonable people rarely have enemies, and their conflicts are kept to an absolute minimum. They are able to see beyond their own desires and needs, which makes them compassionate and helpful to others.

Be a reasonable person.

Let us do our duty sincerely

In a certain province there was no rain fall for few years. People were fleeing away to other places for a livelihood. The king’s treasury was also almost got empty. It was an empty sight everywhere. 


During this period Sri Narada was passing by a village. In the outskirts of the village there was a complete dry river. To his surprise Naradaji saw a peasant ploughing the dry sand there. Narada asked the man why he was working so hard in the blazing sun where there is definitely no fruit to get out of it? 


The farmer told,” Sir, I am born in the family of farmers. I have no proper knowledge of anything else. I don’t know the reason why Lord Indra has forgotten his duty to shower rain for last few years. Let me not forget my duty as a farmer. Therefore I am doing my duty in this scorching heat. 


Narada got the point. After his return, he narrated the incident to Indra. Now Indra could realize the issue and took the necessary steps.

Understanding the motivation behind the criticism!

Criticism is an extremely valuable element to success.  It is important to value the opinions of others and change your actions based on good feedback.  It is this feedback that helps us to achieve success. The first rule of accepting criticism is to understand the motivation behind the criticism. Understanding this motivation helps you decide how valid the criticism is, and whether to accept it or not.  Here are some of the more common reasons why people criticize.


    * Out of jealousy.  When others are jealous of your work, they will criticize with the intent of damaging your self-esteem.  It is usually easy to spot this motivation because the critic will usually have something to gain by your failure.


    * Out of anger or frustration.  Often when someone gets frustrated they misdirect their frustration and start playing the blame game.  This blame is dished out in the form of undue criticism. This kind of criticism can easily be identified by the tone and the words used to criticize.


    * Concerned for one's own interest. People have different tastes and preferences.  Some critics will criticize based on their own personal preferences.  Take for example someone who hires an artist to paint a portrait.  The one who is being painted is justified in criticizing the work based on his own personal preferences, since the work was specifically done for him. 


    * Concerned for your best interest. Criticism made by parents, loved ones, or good friends is usually done with your best interest in mind.  This is important to realize because it is this group of "critics" that are usually the most resented for their criticism. 

Make allowances for incompetence!

Regardless of who you are or what you do, you are going to run into (and have to deal with) at least some amount of incompetence in your work life. Why not learn to take it in stride, and not let it bother you so much?

This acceptance of the way things really are will probably allow you to say (or think) something like, “Of course it’s going to be like this from time to time.” Rather than focusing on the most dramatic and extreme examples to validate your belief in rampant incompetence, see if you can recognize and appreciate the fact that most people do really well, most of the time. With a little practice and patience, you’ll cease being so upset over things you have very little control over.

By simply making allowances in your mind for something that is going to happen anyway, you’ll be able to dramatically improve the quality of your life. I know that dealing with incompetence can be frustrating – especially when the stakes are high. I can virtually guarantee you, however, that losing your cool isn’t going to help very much.

The next time you run into incompetence, rather than turning the incompetence into front page news in your mind, see if you can turn it into just another minor story. If you do, you’ll be free from yet another of life’s sources of frustration.

Count to 10 before you speak

If you react immediately to criticism then you’ll often react in a knee-jerk manner. And the words that come out may be overemotional, vicious and unnecessary. Count to at least 10 after someone has criticised you. Then respond.

This simple way of calming yourself down and regaining some perspective can save you a lot of trouble and help you avoid saying something you can’t take back.

It’s a good approach to avoid creating unnecessary problems.

Maybe you’ve heard this one before. It’s a great and practical way to look at criticism. It might be extra useful when dealing with angry, destructive criticism and nasty personal attacks.

“A man interrupted one of the Buddha’s lectures with a flood of abuse. Buddha waited until he had finished and then asked him, “If a man offered a gift to another but the gift was declined, to whom would the gift belong?”

“To the one who offered it,” said the man.

“Then,” said the Buddha, “I decline to accept your abuse and request you to keep it for yourself.”

Simply don’t accept the gift of a criticism. You don’t have to. Then it still belongs to the person who offered it.

Don't let your own thoughts stress you out!

Think about how often we all have conversations in the privacy of our own minds. It happens, practically nonstop, all day long, every day of our lives. We’re in the car thinking about something – a deadline, an argument, a potential conflict, a mistake, a worry, whatever. Or we’re at the office or in the shower, doing the very same thing – and it all seems so real.

When we are thinking, however, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we think thoughts, not reality. Let me explain. It may seem strange, but most of us have a tendency to forget that we’re thinking because it’s something that we’re always doing – like breathing. But until I mentioned breathing, you weren’t really consciously aware that you were breathing—were you?

Thinking works in a similar way. Because it’s such a part of us, we tend to give enormous significance and take very seriously most of the thoughts that drift through our minds. We begin to treat our thoughts as if they were the real thing, allowing them to stress us out.

If you reflect on this idea, you’ll probably be able to see the practical implications. When you have a thought, that’s all it is – a thought. Thoughts certainly don’t have the power or authority to stress you out without your conscious or unconscious consent. Thoughts are just images and ideas in your mind.

Listen to the criticism and get the details

When someone criticizes you, instead of attacking the other person(s) for their words and building a hostile atmosphere try to calm it down. Try to remain level-headed, open and figure out how this can help you. Even when someone blurts out something not too constructive like “Your work/blog/product stinks!” you might want to ask a few open-ended questions like:

- Why does it stink?
- How can I improve it?
- How can we solve this?

If they can’t answer your questions then they are probably just lashing out. But there is sometimes valuable information in negative criticism. Try to get practical and concrete details about what’s wrong. Perhaps there is already a solution to the problem but you need more information to realize that.

By improving the communication and making it more specific and detailed you can come closer to understanding each other and solving the problem. 

And if you can understand, help and change the mood of the one delivering the criticism he or she will probably appreciate it quite a bit. And you may have turned a potential conflict into a valuable relationship.

Going to hell requires great endeavor

The Lord is so friendly to the living entity that He remains within the heart so that one can always contact Him without difficulty. One can do this simply by devotional service. As soon as one hears of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one immediately comes in touch with the Lord. Therefore there is no difficulty in coming in contact with the Supreme Lord. On the other hand, going to hell requires great endeavor. If one wants to go to hell by illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication, he must acquire so many things. For illicit sex he must arrange for money for brothels, for meat-eating he must arrange for many slaughterhouses, for gambling he must arrange for casinos and hotels, and for intoxication he must open many breweries. Clearly, therefore, if one wants to go to hell he must endeavor very much, but if he wants to return home, back to Godhead, there is no difficult endeavor. To go back to Godhead, one may live alone anywhere, in any condition, and simply sit down, meditate upon the Supersoul and chant and hear about the Lord. Thus there is no difficulty in approaching the Lord. Because of inability to control the senses, one must go through great endeavor to go to hell, but if one is sensible he can very easily obtain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because the Lord is always with him. By simple method of hearing about the Lord, the Lord is satisfied. He says, "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." One can meditate upon the Lord anywhere and everywhere. Thus one is advised to take this path back home, back to Godhead, without difficulty.

Make an ongoing effort to stop your mind from wandering!

Many times we are doing one thing, yet preoccupied with a dozen others. We’re distracted by our own thoughts, concerns, and worries.


When you have a strong presence you are completely absorbed in the moment and the people you are with sense that you are truly “right there” with them, fully present. Your mind isn’t drifting somewhere else. Instead, you are focused on what’s going on and you are truly listening to what is being said. All of your energy is focused on the person who is talking to you.


When you have presence with others, they are drawn to you. They relax around you and become undefensive. They enjoy your company and feel your sincerity; they feel important when they are with you.


The way to strengthen your presence is to understand its value. Make an ongoing effort to stop your mind from wandering. When you are with someone, be with them. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back. When you are doing something, don’t be thinking about something else. 


Try to have more presence, see it as a worthwhile goal, and it will appear in your life. Once you experience its value – and feel the effects – there will be no turning back. You’ll be hooked.

Domain knowledge is very important!!!

There was a family with one kid. One day the mother was out and dad was in charge of the kid who just turned three.


Someone had given the kid a little 'tea set' as a birthday gift and it was one of his favorite toys. Dad was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when kid brought dad a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. 


After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea from father, kid's mom came home.


Dad made her wait in the living room to watch the kid bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!!'


Mom waited, and sure enough, the kid comes down the hall with a cup of tea for daddy and she watches him drink it up, then she says to him, 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place that baby can reach to get water is the toilet??'


....Mother knows!!


MORAL OF THE STORY:
Domain knowledge is very important!!! 
Else your supplier will trick you......

I can challenge that you are not happy

I can challenge you that you are not happy in the present set up of your affairs. You may have in your possession your so called accumulated material wealth, health or happiness but still you are always feeling some insufficiency and frustration and thus you are not happy as you ought to have been. If you do not feel like this, then you must be either an abnormal man or a liberated saint or in gross ignorance of lower consciousness. Should you feel yourself abnormally happy, I shall ask you the following plain questions. They are as follows:— 
1) Do you like to die? 
2) Do you like to take your birth again? 
3) Do you like to be an old man? 
4) Do you like to be a diseased man? 
I am sure you shall reply to all these questions by saying the only word "No.'' If you think yourself happy then have you solved all the above problems in any way? Have your vast resources of material knowledge helped you in solving these seemingly common but very big problems? Do you think that you shall ever be able to solve the above problems? If you say so, I shall again call you in abnormal condition. Do not remain in ignorance for your problems. The way in which you are seeking to be happy or trying to make others happy in your manufactured ideology—is called "Maya'' or illusion. By this you have simply been credited with creation of much disturbances and entanglement for all concerned. That is the record of history of the material world. Empire may come and empire may go, the problems of life remain the same. Please therefore be cool-headed and patiently ask within yourself if you are really happy.

Become less self absorbed

A person who is self-absorbed takes him or herself extremely seriously. They value their own time – but no one else’s.  They are usually quite selfish with their time, love, and money, in addition to lacking compassion for those less fortunate. 


Self-absorbed people are arrogant and often treat others as instruments or objects to get something they want. They usually see only one point of view – their own. They are right, and everyone else is wrong, unless, of course, you agree with them.


People who are self-absorbed can be rude, insensitive to the feelings of others, and primarily interested in themselves – their own wants, needs, and desires.
Being self-absorbed is an ugly human quality. Beyond that, being self-absorbed is highly stressful – everything bothers or frustrates them. It seems that nothing is ever good enough.


Self-absorbed people often have very poor learning curves. Since they don’t listen well and aren’t interested in other people, they don’t have the advantage of learning from them.


Become less self absorbed!

We can’t compete with animals

Suppose you increase the span of life to many, many years. What is the use if the life is not properly utilized?  The trees are also living for many years. There are many living entities that are living many, many years more than you. So what is excellence on your part? "There are many animals that have got the facility of eating and sexual intercourse." How do we excel them? The modern civilization thinks they are advanced. In which way you are advanced? The animals, the trees, they are far advanced than you in this matter. So far bodily necessities are concerned, you cannot compete with them. We can fly by airplane. Oh, the vulture can fly more than you. It is a vulture, and it flies many miles above, and it has got very sharp eyesight. He is trying to find out, "Where is a dead body?" You see? Our, this advancement of science, increasing the sex power especially these days; but you have seen the dogs and cats. How much sex power they have got! So begetting children, the hog can beget children, at least three dozen a year. What we can do? In three years it is hardly we can produce one child. And the hog will produce in three years at least thirty-six children. So you cannot compete. Simply by competing in these things, animal life, that is not excellence of your life. Real excellence is that these animals, they cannot become Krishna conscious. That is the only difference. And if you lack in this matter of Krishna consciousness, then the other animals, lower animals, they are far, far advanced. You can excel all these lower animals, trees, birds, beasts and others, only by awakening your Krishna consciousness. That is the only business.

Learn to say ‘NO’ without guilt

One of the ways that many of us get ourselves into trouble is that we commit to too many things; we fail to say no.


Saying no without guilt is not selfish – it’s a protective necessity. If someone said to you, “Can I have the air you breathe?” you’d probably question their sanity. You certainly wouldn’t feel guilty saying no. Yet if someone says, “Can I ask you to do something for me that will push you over the edge and make you feel stressed out and resentful?”, there are many times that you’ll agree either out of habit, obligation, or simply guilt. Sure, the person probably didn’t phrase the request like that, but in reality, that’s what is being asked of you.


Obviously there are many times that we can’t say no, and many other times when it‘s in our best interest to say yes or that we simply want to say yes. Terrific! The trick is to use our wisdom, instead of old knee-jerk reactions, to decide when to say yes and when to say no. 


The key is to be reflective and to ask yourself, “All things considered – e.g., the feelings and needs of the person making the request, the need to say yes, and most importantly my own sanity, is it in my best interest to say yes, or is it okay to refuse? I think you’ll discover that, put in this perspective; there are probably many instances when it’s perfectly fine to say no.

Implications of thinking big!

The implications of thinking big are widespread and impressive. Thinking big is a magic door opener that broadens your perspective and allows you to see new opportunities. Thinking big makes life easier and a lot more fun.

I’ve been repeatedly reminded by successful people in virtually every field that thinking big is one of the keys to success. Let’s consider a few examples. Successful insurance salespersons insist that it takes the identical amount of time to speak to someone about a million-dollar policy as it does a one-thousand-dollar policy.
   
The bigger your visions, the larger your potential for success. If you’re trying to sell homes for a living, as an agent, it takes the same amount of energy to ask a wealthy person for their listing as it does a low-end homeowner. You can think small, or you can think big.
   
As usual, the primary reason many people think too small is fear. Thoughts like, “I can’t speak to a room full of people,” “I can’t risk taking on a larger project,” and “I couldn’t ask the boss to have lunch with me” fill the mind and are taken too seriously. When fearful thoughts enter the mind, try to banish them. The fear you are experiencing is almost always self-created and usually unnecessary.
   
Could you be thinking in larger terms? In most cases, the answer is yes! There may be ways that you can reach more people with the same amount of effort. Regardless of the business you are in, the first step is to eliminate any fear or worry that is getting in your way. As your worrisome thoughts gradually disappear and become less appealing, new ideas and insights will begin to emerge.