It has been my practice to scribble down some of the points which I read. Recently, while going through some of the notes, I came across the following.
These are the mistakes we quite often make in our life, thereby making the life miserable not only for ourselves, but for others:
1. To suppose that our individual advantage depends on the fact our having crushed someone else.
2. To nourish the worrying tendency, being always in a stew about things which we are powerless either to change or to correct.
3. To insist on the false notion that, because we cannot accomplish something, no one else can.
4. To hold stubbornly to insignificant things, instead of giving place to more important things.
5. To give up the habit of good reading, a sure means of refining our character and rubbing off our rough corners.
6. To force other people to see things and to do things as we ourselves see and do them.
As I reflect upon the above points, a few things come to my mind.
Instead of a scarcity, we can always have a "Abundance" mentality. (This idea, again is from one of the books of Dr. Wayne Dyer about whom I blogged before.) This world has resources for all, and more. Essentially, somebody need not lose when gain.
It is always better to work on what you can change. The popular author Stephen R Covey calls this the 'Circle of Influence'. No doubt, our 'Circle of Concern' will be much bigger than the one where we can have influence. Still, it is better to work more in the circle of influence. According to Covey, those continue to do so, will enlarge their circle of influence, often making it even bigger than the circle of concern. A very powerful idea indeed. Have a look at Out of the Box Coaching site if you want to know more about this. You can also read about this detail in Covey's Seven Habits book.
On point 4 above, much has been written. Stephen Covey asks you to put "First things First". It is such an important aspect that he has written a whole book on the theme. When you actually, do that, there is no role for "insignificant things". Life becomes meaningful, whichever field you are in.
Points 5 and 6 needs no further emphasis, they speak for themselves. Just try to avoid those mistakes.
Bye for now.
