| Ships have the capacity to recover from disasters. Even when they are
battered by heavy waves and lean sharply to one side, ships have the ability
to recover their balance. Circus tightrope walkers don't lose their balance even when they sway from side to side. This is because they are fully concentrated on maintaining their balance and always look straight in front of them. In the same way, our minds are exposed every day to forces of instability from the various waves that crash upon us. Yet, people who stay concentrated on a fixed higher purpose in life can quickly regain their stability, without being knocked over by the waves. People who concentrate on trivial, personal goals are thrown off balance easily by the force of waves and can never stop shaking in life. On the other hand, people with lofty values that transcend their personal self-interest, such as justice, goodness or the well-being of other people, remain steady and focused in the face of the strongest waves. If you discover what is important in life, recognize their importance and concentrate on it, you can never be shaken by the storms of life. Many people become upset, look for an escape, or get depressed when they face difficulties. This is because they are too attached to themselves, and haven't understood what is of real value in this life. People hold all kinds of values beyond their personal self-interest, for example, the care of their children, their parents, the world, people, justice, goodness, or God. They lead their lives upholding these values firmly in their minds. And the higher their values and the stronger their faith in them, the greater will be their power of recovery. |