This was contributed by Arta Thanapati for the September 2012 edition of our club newsletter.
Whose fault it is if your eyes see the thorns instead of the roses? Everything
will appear scratched, if there is a scratch in the spectacles through which
you view your life. And remember, you can't get your life right by speaking
about what is wrong all the time.
Why do you keep complaining about things over which you have no control?
Why do you keep complaining to people, who can do nothing about it?
Remember, complaining only reinforces your own pain and discomfort; thus
causing you to suffer even more. Complaining operates on the principle of
escalation. Groaning and complaining about life, situation, people, talents
will only divert you from the real you. Michael Jackson was not talented if
you complain that you don't have talents. He practiced everything he wanted
to get and stick to it until he reached to his highest potentials and he indeed
reached. That is why today he is Michael Jackson. This is the ultimate goal
of every human being to reach the highest potential. I will not complain
about anything rather I would ask for more skills. This should be the attitude
of every human being.
The world can stop you only temporarily. The only one who can stop you
permanently is yourself. I can experientially validate the dialogue in the
movie 'In Pursuit of Happiness' - "Don't ever let someone tell you, you can't
do something. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can't do some-
thing themselves, and they want to tell you - you can't do it. You want some-
thing, go get it. Period." There will be issues. People will come and go. You
will be discouraged. The world will sometimes be vindictive. You will be
judged, belittled and laughed at. Friends will turn into foes. You will have
'You too, Brutus…' moments. But all-in-all, whether something is a stumbling
block or a stepping stone depends on how you use it. Strength of character
is born out of the obstacles overcome.
