[00:00.97]Get a Thorough Understanding of Oneself
[00:05.67]In all one's life time it is oneself
[00:09.72]that one spends the most time being with or dealing with.
[00:13.54] But it is precisely oneself that one has the least understanding of.
[00:18.35]When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself.
[00:22.95] It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach;
[00:26.56] luck and opportunities will come your way
[00:29.18]and you are overjoyed that they constitute part of your worth.
[00:33.12] When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself,
[00:37.17]mistaking difficulties and adversities for your own incompetence.
[00:41.54]It's likely that you think it wise for yourself
[00:43.98]to know your place and stay aloof from worldly
[00:46.71]wearing a mask of cowardice,
[00:48.86] behind which the flow of sap in your life will be retarded.
[00:52.58]To get a thorough understanding of oneself
[00:55.30]is to gain a correct view of oneself
[00:57.71]and be a sober realist—aware of both one's strength and shortage.
[01:02.09]You may look forward hopefully to the future
[01:04.60]but be sure not to expect too much, for ideals can never be fully realized.
[01:10.07] You may be courageous to meet challenges
[01:12.47] but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts.
[01:15.76]That's to say so long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself
[01:19.47] there won't be difficulties you can't overcome,
[01:21.99] nor obstacles you can't surmount.
[01:24.73]To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation.
[01:29.32] Whether you liken yourself to a towering tree or a blade of grass,
[01:34.02] whether you think you are a high mountain or a small stone,
[01:37.64] you represent a state of nature that has its own raison deter.
[01:42.34]If you earnestly admire yourself
[01:44.63]you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation,
[01:47.26] which will give you confidence.
[01:49.34]As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself
[01:52.39]you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any adversity.
[01:56.77]To get a thorough understanding of oneself
[01:59.61]also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed.
[02:03.77] In time of anger, do yourself a favor
[02:05.95]by giving vent to it in a quiet place
[02:08.69]so that you won't be hurt by its flames; in time of sadness,
[02:12.41] do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends
[02:15.35]so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one;
[02:18.97]in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor
[02:22.03] by getting a good sleep or taking some tonic.
[02:25.42]Show yourself loving concern about your health and daily life.
[02:29.46] As you are aware, what a person physically has is
[02:33.07] but a human body that's vulnerable when exposed to the elements.
[02:37.89] So if you fall ill,
[02:39.53]it's up to you to take a good care of yourself.
[02:42.26] Unless you know perfectly well when and how to do yourself a favor,
[02:46.53]you won't be confident and ready enough to resist the attack of illness.
[02:50.79]To get a thorough understanding of oneself
[02:53.42]is to get a full control of one's life.
[02:56.44]Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor. |