Choosing is a form of wisdom, and our lives are the result of our choices.
In the vast sea of humanity, in the ups and downs of life, every choice affects our lives and happiness. Every choice is a battle of wisdom. People who live good lives understand these six words: Don’t be annoyed, don’t compete, don’t be afraid.
Don’t Be Annoyed: A Broad Mind
You see a friend in poverty and wisdom in anger.
The hardest thing to control is our emotions. We often do unwise things when we’re angry. Later, when we calm down, we regret it. So, we can say that whoever can manage their emotions controls their life.
One day, I was going home when I ran into my neighbor, Lillie. She’s usually cheerful, but this time her eyes were red from crying. It turns out that Lillie works in a toy factory. She’s new, but she’s quick and was put on a team with two older workers.
But the older workers were acting like they were better than her and kept bossing Lillie around to do extra work. At first, Lillie did what they asked, but after a while, she refused.
The older workers saw that Lillie wasn’t listening to them anymore and started gossiping about her, saying things like, “She’s so lazy, she only does the easy stuff. She’s really selfish.”
They even talked bad about her to the supervisor. Lillie saw them and couldn’t take it anymore. She got into an argument with them and ran out crying. I wanted to tell her to calm down and think of a plan, but Lillie said she was so mad she quit her job.
Later, because the industry wasn’t doing well, she couldn’t find a new job for a long time. She spent all her savings and started worrying about money. Then she regretted her impulsive decision.
When we’re young, we think it’s cool to be impulsive. But after we make mistakes and see how the world works, we realize that acting on impulse is reckless and irresponsible. It reminds me of a story:
A man asked a Zen master what to do when someone stabs him in the back. The Zen master told the man to throw an axe into the sky and then asked, “Do you see the sky getting hurt?”
The man thought for a second and said, “No, because the sky is so vast.”
The Zen master said, “Yes, if a person has a mind as vast as the sky, no matter what others say, it can’t hurt them.”
People with a broad mind can accept praise and criticism. When we are strong inside, nothing can hurt us.
Getting angry is like punishing yourself for someone else’s mistake.
“Most things in life don’t go our way. We can’t make everyone happy. ”
“Life is a hundred years. There are small problems every day. The best thing is to ignore them and just wait for the autumn wind to blow past your ears.”
Don’t get upset or angry. Just stay calm and do what you know is right.
Don’t Compete: An Attitude
Wise people don’t talk, those who talk aren’t wise. Wise people speak slowly, foolish people talk a lot. People aren’t valued for being sharp-tongued, but for being observant.
Foolish people are stubborn, but truly smart people don’t waste time arguing.
When he was young, French writer Stendhal was arrogant and cocky. He thought he was better than everyone else and loved to argue.
His father saw this but never said anything. But a close friend of his father couldn’t stand it anymore and gently advised him:
“Stendhal, think about it. You refuse to respect other people’s opinions and think you’re always right. What’s the result? After being treated like that a few times, no one will want to listen to your boasting and arrogant opinions anymore. Your friends will all avoid you.”
Stendhal was moved by these words and decided to change his ways. He started treating people with respect and speaking more politely.
Soon, he went from being a self-important person who was looked down on and avoided to a successful person who was loved by everyone.
In real life, friction and conflict are unavoidable when people interact.
But if everyone wants to win arguments, it will ruin the mood and hurt feelings.
Our competitive spirit makes us want to be better than others. We don’t want to compromise, but in the end, we often end up hurting each other. There’s a saying:
Being able to take a step back is a sign of intelligence. Taking a step back is like laying the foundation for a future step forward.
“Step back and the world will open up” means that stepping back is not being worldly but a kind of wise flexibility.
Don’t argue or debate. Let go of your anger and improve yourself.
Don’t Be Afraid: A Strength
There’s a saying: Human intelligence isn’t about “sudden inspiration or brilliant ideas,” but about trying again and again bravely.
What makes a person successful is often the courage to not be afraid of any challenge.
Dale Carnegie was like this. To win a speech contest, he spent months preparing.
He practiced his speech while riding a horse, while milking cows, and while carrying hay into the barn. He would stand in front of the pigeons and give his speech, talking loudly and dramatically. The pigeons were scared by his movements.
Even though he prepared so hard, he kept failing. At the time, Carnegie was only eighteen years old, a time when people are young and reckless but also sensitive. He was so disappointed by his failures that he wanted to end his life.
But one day, he started winning—not just one contest, but every contest. Because he had the courage to “try again,” Carnegie eventually made a dramatic turnaround in his life.
People with strong willpower have great strength. No matter what obstacles they face, they can overcome them and remove barriers.
If you’re tired, stop. If you’re scared, back down. If you’re sad, give up. In the end, you’ll get nothing. Life is a marathon. Smart people don’t give up halfway just because they’re afraid and let all their hard work go to waste.
Those who can withstand many trials are not born with special talent, but are willing to believe in themselves and gain strength from courage. Don’t be afraid, and you will win in the end.
There’s a saying: Wise people don’t care about material possessions. They focus on the path beneath their feet. Having a calm and peaceful mind and a relaxed attitude toward life is another kind of happiness.
Happiness isn’t about who gets more blessings or who stands on a grand stage. It’s about being calm, relaxed, and happy inside. When you stop worrying about small things and start smiling, you’ll see a vast landscape before you.
When you stop trying to be better than everyone else and start living a simple life, your mind will be relaxed and happy. When you stop being afraid of life’s storms and challenges and face them head-on, you’ll reap the rewards of your journey.
No matter what happens, just be yourself. Wait patiently for the flowers to bloom and you’ll find a beautiful world.