| Mark Mcguire, who recently broke the record for the highest number
of home runs in a Major League season, said at a press conference that
he felt gratitude for everything. Many people were surprised at his achievement and wondered how was able to maintain such a high level of concentration under the intense pressure of close scrutiny from all over the world. They were amazed by him and wondered whether he is a machine or a human being. The secret of his success may be in his words. The word "gratitude" is often used and not uncommon. It is also true, however, that there are many people who have never used this word. A feeling of gratitude can only arise if you can look up to other people. If you look down on others, you can never feel gratitude, so expressions of gratitude will never leave your lips. Gratitude is rooted in a spirit of respect for others, and humility in the face of others. No one can ever achieve true success just by trying his best. Only people who possess a spirit of serving and caring for others can attain success and happiness. People who are excessively self-conscious and want to be respected by others may want others to show enough respect for or appreciation of them. A feeling of gratitude is beautiful. But the desire to receive gratitude or thanks is not beautiful. Rather, it leads to an unbalanced concern with the favors one has done for others. Even if you do good deeds for the sake of others, if you boast about it or make a point of it, your mind is ugly. It's important to serve people with a genuine desire to please them, without a trace of expectation for thanks in return. There is a big difference between wanting to please someone and wanting to feel good by being thanked by others. If you really value others more than yourself you will never expect to be thanked for your deeds. Self-centered people can never exert great power in life. But people who value others and care about others can generate enormous strength. |