If life is made up of a round pie and the pie itself represents 100%, then you are the one who decides the allocation of marks on the pie. What do I actually mean? Everyone naturally owns 100%, if you treasure money, you would allocate 70% to earn money and the remaining 30% to share among your family, hobbies and entertainment. In short, this means that you need to spend about 70% of time and effort on your work and sacrifice your time with your leisure and your family.
If you treasure your time with your family, you would need to sacrifice your working hours in order to spend more time on your family. Everything relies on what you give and what you take.
Hence people who equally allocate a quarter of their time onto their career, entertainment, family and society are the smartest out of all. Knowing how to give and take in life would shape a 100% complete pie.
Once, a billionaire saw a beggar taking an afternoon nap in front of his house. He went forward and asked, "Why don't you seek for a proper job?" The beggar ignored the question and asked, "Why do you work?" The billionaire replied, "I work because I wan to ear money." The beggar continued, "Then, why do you need to earn money?" The billionaire replied, "I want to live a carefree life after my retirement!" The beggar smirked and said, "Then I don't think there's a need for me to look for a job because I'm thoroughly enjoying my carefree life!"
The beggar gave up his reputation, status, family and even his pride; hence his life is naturally free from burdens which allow him to live a carefree life. However, we're definitely not implying the idea of taking up the career of a beggar. Instead what you need to do is to truly comprehend on how to 'give' away your mentality of gain and loss and to understand the idea of 'you don't need to own to enjoy'. By doing so, we can possess more compared to the beggar and at the same time live a carefree life.
The current society is very strange, everyone is discussing on how to de-stress themselves and how to lead a carefree life but still they are all immersed in their own busy lives.
During the day they occupied themselves with all the mundane tasks, such as going to work, class, meetings, working overtime and dealing with endless household chores. Finally after work, they would occupy themselves with shopping, gatherings and countless drinking sessions. When it's holiday, they would occupy themselves with outing plans, which they normally spend more time in the car instead of having fun.
When you're expecting your working hours to end, why filled your schedule with all the unnecessary social occasions? When you're expecting your holidays that allows you to relax and unwind, why filled your schedule again with countless road trips that would most likely exhaust yourself?
You work so hard to live, but you have never worked hard to lead a good life every day!
Take a look at the dog that is lazily lying under the sun sunbathing, feel the breeze that touches against your cheeks and look at the people who are idly strolling down the park, everything is so calming and relaxing. So why can't you slow down? Slow down your pace and allow your body, mind and soul to feel the ease.
I am a freelancer hence every now and then when I've earned a sufficient amount of money that could supply me for a year; I'll slow down my pace and lead a leisure and idle life for about 6 months. However, my friends could never agree with me. As time passed, they are still very into their career and when they have accumulated a significant amount of fortune, they would always plan on how to double the amount of money. Unfortunately they always ended up losing money through investment, gambling or sometimes being cheated by business partners. In the end, not only they have to bear the losses, but also have to pay their debts, eventually making themselves more miserable than I am. In some cases, those who have succeeded in their investment have to work even harder than how they normally do in order to sustain or improve their current financial status. Today, after ten years, all the friends have realized and told me, "You are smart because you know how to live life!"
Once there's a Yunnan businessman who hired a group of young Hmong porters to carry his goods to another town's market in order to run a new business. These porters are known to be economical, efficient, dedicated and hardy as they can travel for 3 days without having any rest.
However during the day, all the porters stopped moving, the businessman thought, 'Probably they have used up all their strength!' He told the porters, 'It's okay, take a good rest since everyone is tired, we can continue the journey tomorrow instead.' Surprisingly the porters replied, 'To be frank, we aren't really worn out. But since we have been in a rush for days, our souls just can't keep up with us. We are afraid that our souls might get lost in the woods, so we're sorry that we might need to slow down and wait for our souls to catch up with us.' At that instant, the businessman felt like he had a valuable life lesson.
For instance, a successful boss doesn't need to take care of every single thing instead he/she needs to give up certain things in order to be successful and responsible boss; a successful manager doesn't need to get concerned with every single detail instead he/she needs to know how to disseminate tasks. By doing so you would be able to save time and energy and yet work efficiently and happily.
I would also like to remind parents to let their children be as they are. If there are things that we aren't supposed to butt in, please refrain; if there are things that we aren't supposed to do, please refrain; if there are things that are not meant for them, it is pointless if you would to leave a great amount of inheritance for them, because in the end they would still spend it recklessly and there goes your money! You should be grateful with the fact that your kids are managing well in school. You can help them by nurturing and assisting them into their specific interest, but there's no need to send them to endless tuition classes after school just because you are afraid they might not stand a chance to shine in the society. You are not creating a conducive childhood life for your kids; instead you are creating a mentally and physically stressed environment for your kids. Moreover why put yourself through the extra financial stress that you already have?
You need to clearly differentiate what are 'need' and 'want'. Needs are life necessities, things you have to have. Wants are luxuries, things you would like to have.
Friday 2 May 2014
Thursday 1 May 2014
In a Mirror is Where We Find a Reflection of Our Appearances, but in a Heart is Where We Find a Reflection of Our Soul.
If there are no construction laborers, who is there to build your multimillion dollars house? If there are no car technicians, who is there to fix your convertible car's engine? If there are no subordinates who are willing to work diligently for you, how is it possible for you to be where you are today? If there are no farmers, who is there to provide you with food supplies? If there are no waste collectors or janitors, who are there to keep your place and environment, clean?
The world would be free from nonsensical rumors if we were to embrace everything in life with the 'impartiality' mindset. Don't you agree?
Don't let your behavior expose your inner self.
A hotel jockey said, "Normally most of the rich people pay very little tip, instead, those who are less wealthy pay more. This is because those who are afraid of the unnecessary problems that might entail if they are being known wealthy. On the contrary, those who are less wealthy pay more tip for the sake of face-saving."
A deceitful shaman told Sam that he would be encountering an inevitable mishap that might threaten his life. The shaman said, "But things might change if you fulfill God's request by donating some money to the less fortunate." However, Sam was so poor that he couldn't do anything but to expect the worst day to come.
Weeks later the day came, Sam is still living fine like every other day. The simple-minded Sam was wondering what went wrong, so he decided to pay a visit to the shaman to clarify. He asked, "Didn't you say that I would face an inevitable great mishap?"
The shaman solemnly said, "You have to be grateful to me because I have been praying to the Lord to spare your life! Without me, it would be impossible for you to fend off this great mishap!"
Sam did a little thinking and said, "If it is evitable through praying why did you say I have to donate money in the very first place?" The shaman was irritated and yelled, "Believe or not it is all up to you,but why on earth would I lie to you? It is not as if I would gain anything if I did. All I wanted to do is to help you out and now you think I am deceiving you? Get lost!"
Look! This wily shaman made everything sounds so legit. Usually it's a lie when people try too hard to make everything sound extremely convincing. If you are truly humble, there's no need for you to emphasize the fact that you are humble. If it is a fact there's no need in emphasizing it, unless it is not the truth hence you need to explain and emphasize it repeatedly, because once you tell a lie, you need ten more lies to cover the lie.
Those who talk more are the culprits!
When one did wrong, one would speak loudly to portray that they are innocent in order to cover their wrongdoings as the thief catcher is the thief.
Probably you think there's a need to explain yourself to avoid misunderstanding. But let me tell you, there's no need to do so! Because when you are right and when someone misunderstand you, it's his/her loss but definitely not yours!
There are two hunters arguing intensely over a matter and they couldn't come to a conclusion. At that moment, a Buddhist monk passed by and so both of them agreed to seek for his conviction. They have also agreed on betting over their harvest as the loser has to give up his harvest to the winner.
The hunters were arguing about whether apple grows on the tree or on the ground.
After listening to the explanation of the both, the Buddhist monk gave all the harvest to the hunter who claimed that apple grows on the ground. The hunter left happily with a load of harvests. The other hunter who claimed that apple grows on the tree was extremely furious, he exclaimed, "What's wrong with you master? Even idiots know that apple grows on tree!" The Buddhist monk replied, "If that's the case, why are you arguing with someone who is even more idiotic than an idiot? Although he took all the harvest, he is going home with a lifelong of foolishness; although you lost all your harvest, you are going home with a valuable lesson." After listening, he has dawned with the lesson and left happily.
Sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right, we do not need an intelligent mind that speaks, but a patient heart that listen.
Remember! All we need to do is to do things right, there's no need to be the 'right person'. Trouble wouldn't have existed in the very first place, if no one fights to be the 'right person'. When you are right, you needn't prove anything to be one.
Knowing how to enjoy and value 'the possession of none', as 'the possession of none' truly possessing.
When one possesses money, one fear of death; when one possesses power, one fear of losing their status.
The things you own end up owning you.
For instance, if you own a convertible car, the car you own would end up owing you because you need to service it, polish it and purchase a car insurance for it, moreover, you need to worry whether the car would be stolen or tow if it was left at an illegal parking but that's definitely not the end of your commitment towards your car, you need to spend the time and money to wash your car, to pay parking tickets, to pay car license, to pay for petrol and sometimes you might need to pay the occasional summons. So tell me, who owns who?
Let's say you don't own a car, so subways, buses, trains, and taxis are all at your service and the great thing is you needn't commit or bear any responsibility on them. This is just like possessing nothing but yet you possess it.
When you possess a good career, self-owned house, a nice convertible car, a great wife and a bunch of adorable kids, you are bound to sacrifice for every single one of them as you wouldn't be able to live a stress-free life. You would say these are all too burdensome, but aren't these what you have longed to possess?
Learn how to be content. This is like switching on torchlight in a pitch dark room. When the torchlight is your only light source, the torchlight itself seems to be able to illuminate the entire room. But when the room is already illuminated with equipped lights, the torchlight would be insignificant and no longer plays its role. The insignificance of torchlight reflects how we treasure things, when you possess more, things would become insignificant but when you possess a handful of things, the limited things you own are insignificant to you.
Back in the day, hanging out with friends in McDonalds is one of the most blissful moments. However when we dine in high-end classy restaurants now, we would make ourselves critical by complaining the dishes or the attitude of waiters/waitresses. When one possesses more, one would never be pleased because one expects the impossible.
This is also like having a monthly salary of 2000. If your employer gave you an increment of 500, you would most likely be overwhelmed. But if you earn a whopping 30,000 a month, an increment of 1000 doesn't make any difference to you, isn't it? Let's think over this, do you think you really need to possess this much in life?
The craze and desire of a consumer or in some cases shopaholic has consumed your soul. Swiping credit cards is exactly what people do in this era, spending future money or spending money that one doesn't have. All of these stem from the impulse thought of showing off branded clothes, cards, watches and what not, but in the end aren't you the one who bear for all the bills? Various banks would be hunting you down for your card debts and eventually you resort to absconding or when situation has gotten worse you resort to committing suicide.
Let me ask how long does the happiness last with merely showing off branded goods?
Ironically, all these credit card debt slaves would blame the bank officials for being inhumane in collecting debts instead of repenting on their vanities. Nowadays, politicians and the media only aim to please the people and claimed to have hear the people's voices. However, if everyone insists to be a debt slave, when a bank's debt exceeds its capital and the domino effect happens to the rest of the banks and eventually causes national financial crisis, who should we point our fingers to? When we are facing national financial crisis, don't you think if would affect the entire nation? Furthermore, would it be fair to those who lead a debt-free life to suffer with the fellow debt slaves?
Although bank officials can somehow be mean when it comes to collecting debt, are you acting humane as well? You want others to be considerate to you, but have you ever take into account the future of others and yourself?
The current society is in such a great mess. Some debt slaves would even make up absurd excuses like, "it is all because of our poor economy, which has left us with no choice to resort to." Oh people pleas come back to your senses! The well-being of a country's economy strongly relies on the nation and the government, how can you expect banks to be solely responsible for this?
Most of the people who live in a huge mansion never have the chance to enjoy what they earn due to their busy business commitments. Instead their maids are the one who enjoyed the most, they have the leisure to enjoy every single facility in the house and at times the maid really seems to be like the owner of the house rather than the actual owner. You can only sleep on one bed at a time, regardless how many beds you have; you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time, regardless how many pairs of shoes you have; you can only held onto one bag at a time, regardless how many branded bags you have so why torture yourself?
There's a billionaire who has precious luminous pearl. Because of its value, the billionaire is always afraid of theft hence he has never brought it out, besides he has also hired a team of securities to guard the pearl.
One day the billionaire wanted to show off his precious possession to a wise man, after viewing the pearl, the wise man said, "Thanks for the gift!"
The billionaire hurriedly replied, "I'm sorry but I didn't intend to give it to you!" The wise man smiled and replied, "You have allowed me to 'admire' the beauty of your pearl, isn't it equivalent to granting me a gift? Besides admiring its beauty what else can we do with a luminous pearl? You don't need to own beauty to admire beauty, isn't it?"
Wealth can't be measured by how much we possess, instead it is measured by how little we want. One who lives on needs wouldn't think that they lead a poor and miserable life; one who lives on wants would always think they lead a less wealthy life.
Take your time and ponder the meaning of your truly needs.
To be rich, is not what you have in your bank account, but what you have in your HEART
The world would be free from nonsensical rumors if we were to embrace everything in life with the 'impartiality' mindset. Don't you agree?
Don't let your behavior expose your inner self.
A hotel jockey said, "Normally most of the rich people pay very little tip, instead, those who are less wealthy pay more. This is because those who are afraid of the unnecessary problems that might entail if they are being known wealthy. On the contrary, those who are less wealthy pay more tip for the sake of face-saving."
A deceitful shaman told Sam that he would be encountering an inevitable mishap that might threaten his life. The shaman said, "But things might change if you fulfill God's request by donating some money to the less fortunate." However, Sam was so poor that he couldn't do anything but to expect the worst day to come.
Weeks later the day came, Sam is still living fine like every other day. The simple-minded Sam was wondering what went wrong, so he decided to pay a visit to the shaman to clarify. He asked, "Didn't you say that I would face an inevitable great mishap?"
The shaman solemnly said, "You have to be grateful to me because I have been praying to the Lord to spare your life! Without me, it would be impossible for you to fend off this great mishap!"
Sam did a little thinking and said, "If it is evitable through praying why did you say I have to donate money in the very first place?" The shaman was irritated and yelled, "Believe or not it is all up to you,but why on earth would I lie to you? It is not as if I would gain anything if I did. All I wanted to do is to help you out and now you think I am deceiving you? Get lost!"
Look! This wily shaman made everything sounds so legit. Usually it's a lie when people try too hard to make everything sound extremely convincing. If you are truly humble, there's no need for you to emphasize the fact that you are humble. If it is a fact there's no need in emphasizing it, unless it is not the truth hence you need to explain and emphasize it repeatedly, because once you tell a lie, you need ten more lies to cover the lie.
Those who talk more are the culprits!
When one did wrong, one would speak loudly to portray that they are innocent in order to cover their wrongdoings as the thief catcher is the thief.
Probably you think there's a need to explain yourself to avoid misunderstanding. But let me tell you, there's no need to do so! Because when you are right and when someone misunderstand you, it's his/her loss but definitely not yours!
There are two hunters arguing intensely over a matter and they couldn't come to a conclusion. At that moment, a Buddhist monk passed by and so both of them agreed to seek for his conviction. They have also agreed on betting over their harvest as the loser has to give up his harvest to the winner.
The hunters were arguing about whether apple grows on the tree or on the ground.
After listening to the explanation of the both, the Buddhist monk gave all the harvest to the hunter who claimed that apple grows on the ground. The hunter left happily with a load of harvests. The other hunter who claimed that apple grows on the tree was extremely furious, he exclaimed, "What's wrong with you master? Even idiots know that apple grows on tree!" The Buddhist monk replied, "If that's the case, why are you arguing with someone who is even more idiotic than an idiot? Although he took all the harvest, he is going home with a lifelong of foolishness; although you lost all your harvest, you are going home with a valuable lesson." After listening, he has dawned with the lesson and left happily.
Sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right, we do not need an intelligent mind that speaks, but a patient heart that listen.
Remember! All we need to do is to do things right, there's no need to be the 'right person'. Trouble wouldn't have existed in the very first place, if no one fights to be the 'right person'. When you are right, you needn't prove anything to be one.
Knowing how to enjoy and value 'the possession of none', as 'the possession of none' truly possessing.
When one possesses money, one fear of death; when one possesses power, one fear of losing their status.
The things you own end up owning you.
For instance, if you own a convertible car, the car you own would end up owing you because you need to service it, polish it and purchase a car insurance for it, moreover, you need to worry whether the car would be stolen or tow if it was left at an illegal parking but that's definitely not the end of your commitment towards your car, you need to spend the time and money to wash your car, to pay parking tickets, to pay car license, to pay for petrol and sometimes you might need to pay the occasional summons. So tell me, who owns who?
Let's say you don't own a car, so subways, buses, trains, and taxis are all at your service and the great thing is you needn't commit or bear any responsibility on them. This is just like possessing nothing but yet you possess it.
When you possess a good career, self-owned house, a nice convertible car, a great wife and a bunch of adorable kids, you are bound to sacrifice for every single one of them as you wouldn't be able to live a stress-free life. You would say these are all too burdensome, but aren't these what you have longed to possess?
Learn how to be content. This is like switching on torchlight in a pitch dark room. When the torchlight is your only light source, the torchlight itself seems to be able to illuminate the entire room. But when the room is already illuminated with equipped lights, the torchlight would be insignificant and no longer plays its role. The insignificance of torchlight reflects how we treasure things, when you possess more, things would become insignificant but when you possess a handful of things, the limited things you own are insignificant to you.
Back in the day, hanging out with friends in McDonalds is one of the most blissful moments. However when we dine in high-end classy restaurants now, we would make ourselves critical by complaining the dishes or the attitude of waiters/waitresses. When one possesses more, one would never be pleased because one expects the impossible.
This is also like having a monthly salary of 2000. If your employer gave you an increment of 500, you would most likely be overwhelmed. But if you earn a whopping 30,000 a month, an increment of 1000 doesn't make any difference to you, isn't it? Let's think over this, do you think you really need to possess this much in life?
The craze and desire of a consumer or in some cases shopaholic has consumed your soul. Swiping credit cards is exactly what people do in this era, spending future money or spending money that one doesn't have. All of these stem from the impulse thought of showing off branded clothes, cards, watches and what not, but in the end aren't you the one who bear for all the bills? Various banks would be hunting you down for your card debts and eventually you resort to absconding or when situation has gotten worse you resort to committing suicide.
Let me ask how long does the happiness last with merely showing off branded goods?
Ironically, all these credit card debt slaves would blame the bank officials for being inhumane in collecting debts instead of repenting on their vanities. Nowadays, politicians and the media only aim to please the people and claimed to have hear the people's voices. However, if everyone insists to be a debt slave, when a bank's debt exceeds its capital and the domino effect happens to the rest of the banks and eventually causes national financial crisis, who should we point our fingers to? When we are facing national financial crisis, don't you think if would affect the entire nation? Furthermore, would it be fair to those who lead a debt-free life to suffer with the fellow debt slaves?
Although bank officials can somehow be mean when it comes to collecting debt, are you acting humane as well? You want others to be considerate to you, but have you ever take into account the future of others and yourself?
The current society is in such a great mess. Some debt slaves would even make up absurd excuses like, "it is all because of our poor economy, which has left us with no choice to resort to." Oh people pleas come back to your senses! The well-being of a country's economy strongly relies on the nation and the government, how can you expect banks to be solely responsible for this?
Most of the people who live in a huge mansion never have the chance to enjoy what they earn due to their busy business commitments. Instead their maids are the one who enjoyed the most, they have the leisure to enjoy every single facility in the house and at times the maid really seems to be like the owner of the house rather than the actual owner. You can only sleep on one bed at a time, regardless how many beds you have; you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time, regardless how many pairs of shoes you have; you can only held onto one bag at a time, regardless how many branded bags you have so why torture yourself?
There's a billionaire who has precious luminous pearl. Because of its value, the billionaire is always afraid of theft hence he has never brought it out, besides he has also hired a team of securities to guard the pearl.
One day the billionaire wanted to show off his precious possession to a wise man, after viewing the pearl, the wise man said, "Thanks for the gift!"
The billionaire hurriedly replied, "I'm sorry but I didn't intend to give it to you!" The wise man smiled and replied, "You have allowed me to 'admire' the beauty of your pearl, isn't it equivalent to granting me a gift? Besides admiring its beauty what else can we do with a luminous pearl? You don't need to own beauty to admire beauty, isn't it?"
Wealth can't be measured by how much we possess, instead it is measured by how little we want. One who lives on needs wouldn't think that they lead a poor and miserable life; one who lives on wants would always think they lead a less wealthy life.
Take your time and ponder the meaning of your truly needs.
To be rich, is not what you have in your bank account, but what you have in your HEART
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