I am back with Coelho again! Can't seem to help it! :-) This is one of his best articles in the book "Like the flowing river". Many must have already read it before, but it is something that I would like to preserve and read again and again. Hence this post. Here goes:
The Story of the Pencil
A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter.
At one point, he asked:
‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is
it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said
to her grandson:
‘I am writing about you, actually, but more important
than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you
will be like this pencil when you grow up.’
Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t
seem very special.
‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’
‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five
qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, will
make you a person who is always at peace with the
world.
‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but
you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your
steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us
according to His will.
‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing
and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a
little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too,
must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because
they will make you a better person.
‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an
eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting
something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it
helps to keep us on the road to justice.
‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not
its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always
pay attention to what is happening inside you.
‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a
mark. In just the same way, you should know that
everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be
conscious of that in your every action.’
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
An excerpt from Coelho
This is an excerpt from Coelho's famous book 'Like the flowing river' that I think I would like to remember for ever. So I am typing it out. It is from the article 'The Art Of Trying'. I know my blog is looking like a Coelho book of late, but I can't help it. His writing is captivating and thought-provoking, at the same time being simple and understandable. I can truly relate to his philosophy. I read this piece and I could only say 'Wow'! Here goes:
When we decide to act, some excesses may occur. An old culinary adage says : "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs." It is also natural that unexpected conflicts should arise, and it is natural that wounds may be inflicted during those conflicts. The wounds pass, and only the scars remain.
This is a blessing. These scars stay with us throughout our life and are very helpful. If, at some point - simply because it would make our life easier, or for whatever other reason - the desire to return to the past becomes very great, we need only look at those scars. They are the marks left by our handcuffs, and will remind us of the horrors of prison, and we will keep walking straight ahead.
So, relax. Let the universe move around you and discover the joy of surprising yourself. "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise," says St. Paul.
A warrior of light often finds that certain moments repeat themselves. He is often faced by the same problems and situations and, seeing these difficult situations return, he grows depressed, thinking that he is incapable of making progress in life.
"I've been through all this before," he says to his heart.
"Yes, you've been through all this before," replies his heart. "But you have never been beyond it."
Then the warrior realises that these repeated experiences have but one aim : to teach him what he has not yet learned. He always finds a different solution for each repeated battle, and he does not consider his failures to be mistakes but, rather, as steps along the path to a meeting with himself.
When we decide to act, some excesses may occur. An old culinary adage says : "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs." It is also natural that unexpected conflicts should arise, and it is natural that wounds may be inflicted during those conflicts. The wounds pass, and only the scars remain.
This is a blessing. These scars stay with us throughout our life and are very helpful. If, at some point - simply because it would make our life easier, or for whatever other reason - the desire to return to the past becomes very great, we need only look at those scars. They are the marks left by our handcuffs, and will remind us of the horrors of prison, and we will keep walking straight ahead.
So, relax. Let the universe move around you and discover the joy of surprising yourself. "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise," says St. Paul.
A warrior of light often finds that certain moments repeat themselves. He is often faced by the same problems and situations and, seeing these difficult situations return, he grows depressed, thinking that he is incapable of making progress in life.
"I've been through all this before," he says to his heart.
"Yes, you've been through all this before," replies his heart. "But you have never been beyond it."
Then the warrior realises that these repeated experiences have but one aim : to teach him what he has not yet learned. He always finds a different solution for each repeated battle, and he does not consider his failures to be mistakes but, rather, as steps along the path to a meeting with himself.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Understanding problems...
Once again, a great forward that I received which touched me a lot:
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. .. I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD.
"GOD", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me..."Look around", GOD said, "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes," I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo,"GOD said.
"In year three, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit," GOD said.
"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
GOD said to me."Did you know that all this time you have been struggling,you have actually been growing roots?"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." GOD said.
"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", GOD said to me, "You will rise high."
"How high should I rise?," I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?," GOD asked in return.
"As high as it can?," I questioned.
"Yes," GOD said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can. "
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that GOD will never give up on you.
Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed. Keep Smiling.
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. .. I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD.
"GOD", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me..."Look around", GOD said, "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes," I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo,"GOD said.
"In year three, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit," GOD said.
"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
GOD said to me."Did you know that all this time you have been struggling,you have actually been growing roots?"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." GOD said.
"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", GOD said to me, "You will rise high."
"How high should I rise?," I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?," GOD asked in return.
"As high as it can?," I questioned.
"Yes," GOD said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can. "
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that GOD will never give up on you.
Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed. Keep Smiling.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Never lose your value!
Something great I picked up from a forward:
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rs. 500 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rs. 500 note?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you, but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still hands were up in the air."Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rs. 500/-. "
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special.
Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rs. 500 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rs. 500 note?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you, but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still hands were up in the air."Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rs. 500/-. "
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special.
Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Hope
Every day I stand
On the edge of the bough,
Every day I flap my wings
And try to fly.
Every day I realise
My wings are not strong yet,
Every day I fall down
And hurt myself.
Every day I try,
Every day I fail,
But every day I grow
And my wings become stronger.
Every day I wake up
Wiser than yesterday,
Every day my wish to fly
Grows some more.
One day I know I will fly
Up there in the blue, blue sky.
Loved ones say the sky is vast,
Don't go, you'll get lost,
But I'll never know
The true breadth of the sky
Until I spread out my wings
And fly,
Maybe I'll not get lost,
Maybe I'll find my way back.
Every day I watch
As birds larger and stronger
Soar high above,
What if they strike me?
My heart is filled with fear,
But I'll never know
My true strength
Until I spread out my wings
And fly,
Maybe I'm just as strong
Or even stronger.
How will I fend for myself?
Will I find my own food?
The unanswered questions are many,
But I'll never know the answers
Unless I try,
Until I spread out my wings
And fly.
So every day I try,
And will keep trying,
Till I know
I'm ready to soar,
Till I know I'm strong
And won't fall down again.
One day I'll be ready
To explore the whole sky.
On the edge of the bough,
Every day I flap my wings
And try to fly.
Every day I realise
My wings are not strong yet,
Every day I fall down
And hurt myself.
Every day I try,
Every day I fail,
But every day I grow
And my wings become stronger.
Every day I wake up
Wiser than yesterday,
Every day my wish to fly
Grows some more.
One day I know I will fly
Up there in the blue, blue sky.
Loved ones say the sky is vast,
Don't go, you'll get lost,
But I'll never know
The true breadth of the sky
Until I spread out my wings
And fly,
Maybe I'll not get lost,
Maybe I'll find my way back.
Every day I watch
As birds larger and stronger
Soar high above,
What if they strike me?
My heart is filled with fear,
But I'll never know
My true strength
Until I spread out my wings
And fly,
Maybe I'm just as strong
Or even stronger.
How will I fend for myself?
Will I find my own food?
The unanswered questions are many,
But I'll never know the answers
Unless I try,
Until I spread out my wings
And fly.
So every day I try,
And will keep trying,
Till I know
I'm ready to soar,
Till I know I'm strong
And won't fall down again.
One day I'll be ready
To explore the whole sky.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Reasons to rejoice.....
Dear God,
I am writing to thank you for the various gifts that you have so kindly showered upon me.
Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for breathing life into me and giving me a chance to have this wonderful experience called life.
Thank you for giving me a wide world to make my mark in.
Thank you for the gift of womanhood. Thank you for giving me the chance to become a mother, which is the next best thing to your divine self.
Thank you for giving me a loving family to shelter me from the flames of hatred and trouble.
Thank you for giving me a home where I can come to at the end of a tiring day.
Thank you for giving me good teachers who taught me to read and educated me so that I could always get the best knowledge and differentiate between good and bad.
Thank you for giving me friends who guide and criticize me so that I can be a better human being. Thanks for the helping hands that are always there for me.
Thank you for giving me people who are not well-wishers who spur me on to do my best and prove myself.
Thank you for giving me my daily food and water so that I stay strong and healthy.
Thank you for giving me a mind which can think, feel, reason, learn and create.
Thank you for giving me four faithful slaves, my hands and feet, which can help me do anything in the world.
Thank you for giving the gifts of sight and hearing so that I can see and hear the good and the bad and realize how lucky I am.
Thank you for giving me a mouth that can smile and bring a smile to other people's faces. Thank you for the gift of speech through which I can influence and express.
Thank you for giving me opportunities to progress in life.
Thank you for giving me challenges that bring out the best in me and make me realise my true potential.
Thank you for making me a unique personality that distinguishes me from others.
Thank you for being present in me in the form of my conscience and constantly guiding me on the right path.
Thank you for the joys that you give me that make my life better.
Thank you for the sorrows that you give me that make me a stronger and more capable person.
Thank you for giving me a pure and sincere heart that wishes well for everyone and is not entangled in vices.
Thank you for giving me all that you have given me. Thank you for giving me so much to be grateful to.
I am writing to thank you for the various gifts that you have so kindly showered upon me.
Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for breathing life into me and giving me a chance to have this wonderful experience called life.
Thank you for giving me a wide world to make my mark in.
Thank you for the gift of womanhood. Thank you for giving me the chance to become a mother, which is the next best thing to your divine self.
Thank you for giving me a loving family to shelter me from the flames of hatred and trouble.
Thank you for giving me a home where I can come to at the end of a tiring day.
Thank you for giving me good teachers who taught me to read and educated me so that I could always get the best knowledge and differentiate between good and bad.
Thank you for giving me friends who guide and criticize me so that I can be a better human being. Thanks for the helping hands that are always there for me.
Thank you for giving me people who are not well-wishers who spur me on to do my best and prove myself.
Thank you for giving me my daily food and water so that I stay strong and healthy.
Thank you for giving me a mind which can think, feel, reason, learn and create.
Thank you for giving me four faithful slaves, my hands and feet, which can help me do anything in the world.
Thank you for giving the gifts of sight and hearing so that I can see and hear the good and the bad and realize how lucky I am.
Thank you for giving me a mouth that can smile and bring a smile to other people's faces. Thank you for the gift of speech through which I can influence and express.
Thank you for giving me opportunities to progress in life.
Thank you for giving me challenges that bring out the best in me and make me realise my true potential.
Thank you for making me a unique personality that distinguishes me from others.
Thank you for being present in me in the form of my conscience and constantly guiding me on the right path.
Thank you for the joys that you give me that make my life better.
Thank you for the sorrows that you give me that make me a stronger and more capable person.
Thank you for giving me a pure and sincere heart that wishes well for everyone and is not entangled in vices.
Thank you for giving me all that you have given me. Thank you for giving me so much to be grateful to.
Monday, April 16, 2007
I will grow
The beautiful butterfly
The world marvels at
Was once an ugly caterpillar,
The swan so majestic and regal,
It was but an ugly duckling,
Mock me not, my fellow men,
For one day
My life too shall change,
I will put out roots and grow,
Spread out my shoots
And grow leaves,
One day I will grow into a mighty tree
From the insignificant seed that I am,
I will fight against the storms and the rain,
And I will sustain,
Then you will stand beneath my boughs
And enjoy my shade and generosity,
Then you will know me
For my true worth.
The world marvels at
Was once an ugly caterpillar,
The swan so majestic and regal,
It was but an ugly duckling,
Mock me not, my fellow men,
For one day
My life too shall change,
I will put out roots and grow,
Spread out my shoots
And grow leaves,
One day I will grow into a mighty tree
From the insignificant seed that I am,
I will fight against the storms and the rain,
And I will sustain,
Then you will stand beneath my boughs
And enjoy my shade and generosity,
Then you will know me
For my true worth.
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