Stormy Sea

Gather round my friends, for I have a tale to tell you. It is about a sailor on his maiden voyage, a young man of eighteen sailing the seas for the first time. It is his adventure and what he learned from the experience. Listen closely, for his words will bring much wisdom.

I wander lonely through the weary world,

Lost on a stormy sea. The waves descend

To crash against my little boat, to climb

Once again like a huge hand, and rend

My world to pieces. Is this the crime

Of sailing? I shudder to see the end.

But no! The clouds above disperse and flee;

Sunlight greets me upon a silent sea.

Stop Being A Volcano!

lava

from a volcano

abusive words

There are many times in our lives when we feel angry and upset. We are like pent up volcanoes, ready to explode at any moment. The lava that comes out of our mouths is destructive, destroying everything we hold dear, and turning our relations with others into a barren wasteland.

But it does not have to be this way. We do not have to explode and use abusive language against others. This is not the way to win people's affection and trust. You must release this rising tension within you in a less destructive way. Instead of exploding, and hurling insults like bombs against other people, close your eyes and take a deep breath. This will calm your body and soothe your nerves. With calmness comes peace, with peace, love and affection to all. This is the way to win the love and trust of others. Not by being a volcano, but a pond of cool, clear water. 

Whenever you feel the anger rising within you, remember to step back and calm yourself. Relax your body and your mind. Let the feelings of anger and hate leave your body and embrace peace and calmness. Abusive words are a reaction, a reaction of hate. Compassion and understanding are reactions of peace and love. Aim for these emotions in your life, and you will never have to worry about volcanoes destroying the land of your happiness. 

Are You A Compromiser?

barking dogs

behind the fence

stalemate

Throughout life, we have many challenges. One such challenge is our interaction with other people. How we treat them will have a big impact on our future relations with others. Like it or not, we can not always get what we want - at least not directly. Yet, if we take the time to reason and compromise with the other person, our chances of success increase.

If we are to compromise with others, we must understand two things:

1. Understanding the other person's point of view.
2. Being flexible and willing to meet the other person halfway.

These two things are essential in compromising with others. Reflect on this knowledge, and practice it on people that you encounter during the day.

Stop being in stalemate situations. Compromise with people, and you will find yourself emerging from behind the fence.

Is Life Biting You?

red sun

mosquito bites

on my skin

I tread the path

of Dante Alighieri

In life, we are often beset with troubles. They come out of the sky unexpected, to take us by surprise. While we cannot always avoid them, we can reduce their impact by staying calm.

Patience has always been a prized virtue. The Merriam-Webster definition for patience is "the ability to remain calm and not become annoyed when dealing with problems or with difficult people." This is a valuable insight that can help a person develop the traits needed to become more patient in life.

But how do you become more patient? The answer is to emulate the laws of nature. Just as the seasons have their own course and schedule, so should the things in your life. Everything should be done in due time and in its proper setting. By doing this you will begin to see the natural flow of things. Instead of fighting and forcing your way up a strong current, just go with the flow and let things happen as they should.

Another way to become more patient is to take timeouts. Whenever your feeling stressed, walk away from the problem and take deep breaths. Do not panic, but instead let peace and calmness flow through your body. Closing your eyes and taking slow deep breaths will force your body and emotions to relax. Once you feel calm and in control, you can then return to the problem and solve it in a rational manner. This strategy will reduce the wild emotions from a sudden crisis and help you think more strategically. You will find yourself able to handle the problems that come up in your life.

Patience is your friend. Train yourself to be a calm and collected person. Practice these strategies daily, and you will become a better and wiser person in the process.

Small Steps To Success

climbing a mountain

the footsteps

of a little mouse

In life, we are faced with many challenges. Between our goals and us, lies a mountain to be climbed. But the mountain is high in the sky; its slopes are treacherous and icy; climbing too fast can lead to a mishap and defeat. With such a formidable foe in front of us, how are we to conquer it? 

The answer is to take small steps. We must use as our inspiration the little mouse. The mouse is a tiny animal, but size has no bearing on determination and will power. If the mouse continues to take small steps day by day, and it believes in itself, it will eventually reach the summit. The journey may take longer, but the destination is the same, and success is achieved.

Learn to be like the mouse. Treat all your goals with small steps. Make it a daily habit to reach one step closer to your dream. Slowly but surely, you will achieve what you desire. Your small steps will lead to success.

Patience Is Your Friend

moonlight

on a lake

sunshine

Life is full of problems. In one form or another, we are beset with complications. And many of these are surprises that spring into our lives with little or no warning. How can we cope with such difficulties?

The answer is to be patient. Do not panic in such a crisis, but stay calm. Think through the problem and try to find ways to solve it. It can often help to do this in steps. Small steps are less intimidating and can give you the courage to continue with something that at first glance may seem impossible.

And remember: no matter how bad the problem is, take heart. Nothing lasts forever, and if you simply ride the storm, the sun will emerge from the clouds. Patience and belief in yourself are the keys to living a life of unending challenges. Step out of the darkness in your life and follow the moon to the sunshine of happiness.