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.

Sweet As Pie

fresh apple pie

cooling under the sky

honeybee hive

Sugar is a wonderful ingredient. When used properly, it can turn bland dishes into mouth-watering sweet ones. With the right amount of sugar, a dessert can be a wonderful and memorable experience.

But if sugar is used too much, the food will be too sweet; it will be uneatable. Even worse, too much sugar in a diet can lead to diseases like diabetes.

So it is with your life. A little fun can do wonders to an overworked existence. It can divert your mind from weighty tasks and bring lightness to your steps. Much joy and pleasure can happen when you do something you love.

Fun and relaxation are the "sugars" of your life. They add sweetness to a dull world of routine. But if you have too much fun, that can have negative consequences as well. You neglect your career and family to live a life of hedonistic pleasure. Things then fall apart, because you prefer to live in this dream world rather than face the realities of life.

You must learn to use fun as a topping, rather than the main dish. Sprinkle enough to add and enhance your life, but do not ruin the dish by dumping the whole bag of sugar into it. Sweetness is only so good if you can enjoy the taste. Learn to use it well, and you can bring much joy into your life.

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. 

Build Your Dam!

 thunderstorm

a beaver

builds its dam

Life is full of surprises. On any day, there is a high chance that we will encounter something unexpected. It is a sad fact of life that most surprises are negative. How can we avoid these negative influences in our lives that sap our strength and leave us drained?

We can do this by planning ahead. Look at the beaver. It plans ahead for the rainy days by building its dam ahead of time. Thus, it avoids many of the surprises that life is so fond of throwing at us.

Be like the beaver. Plan things ahead, so the surprises won't catch you. By being prepared for emergencies, you increase the quality of your life and reduce the amount of stress during a crisis. So plan ahead of that thunderstorm by taking action now. A little reflection beforehand will save you much grief in the future. Build your dam and be happy while the rain pours.

The Lantern Of Life

a paper lantern

shines at night

the sound of crickets

Look into the picture. What do you see? If you said a paper lantern, you would be right. But it is so much more than that. Surface appearances can be deceiving. We cannot always trust our senses in seeking the truth of matters. Instead, we must look deep within, to our hearts, our mind, and our intuition. Only then we can come to an understanding of the true nature of things.

A lantern is precious because it holds a light - a light from within - our very essence of who we are as a person. This light is what guides us in life. It is our friend, a companion that will always be with us, even in our darkest hours. As the lantern is precious for holding the light, so is our body for being the container of our own light. It is a gift we must not abuse. For the body must be strong to hold the light, to be a container the way the paper lantern is.

Learn to value the light for what is - your unique personality. Yes, you are unique. No one in the history of the world will be exactly like you. Embrace this idea and make it a part of you. You can in your own way make a difference in this world. And that is what matters. That while the lantern holds, we did something with our life - our light shone strong and true. We lived, and loved, and laughed. We are the lanterns of our lives.