Refinement

Be strong, really strong.

Be the strongest.

Even if not, try to be.

After all, one's own strength is only what one can count on.

If weak, people simply despise the person.

No matter how sympathetic they show they are, they do so somewhere in their mind.

It is the way real society is.

So, be strong.

Strengthen own ability.

Everything in life can be opportunity for training.

Improve, sharpen, refine the capability to the heart's content.

Be strong.

Then, show them how strong you are.

Enjoy how they are astonished by the art of the strength.

Emotion

Even sorrow can be turned into the source of inspiration.

The emotion, the compelling or even compulsive depth of the emotion can drive the expression.

Even the sense of inferiority or failure on the incorrigible state of the own self can be transformed into such motive and resource to express.

Art or any kind of work in human activities can be materialized in this way.

Suffering

When walking through life, I may come upon various kinds of obstacles and sufferings.

Then, just suffer.

I can suffer whatever.

Then, I will simply face and go through them.

No need to be afraid.

Fear only complicates matters.

Fear only generates unnecessary thoughts and tricks, which eventually turn out to be useless.

Only base myself upon what I believe as real and true.

And, just live as if walking on the calm and beautiful seaside.

Confidence

Have confidence.

Be full of confidence.

Have aspirations.

Be completely filled with them.


Often 'objective' analysis can confine one's possibility to very restricted tiny little area and degree.

The 'objectivity' can be simply based on the limited number and quality of standards of thinking.

There can be millions of different ways of looking at and dealing with matters.

There can be billions of potentials within one's own life.

The perception trapped in such an estimate of 'reality' is merely preoccupation.

It is prejudice against one's own potentiality.

This can harm.

Cast away such a chain of rigid perception.

Free yourself.


Confidence, hope, unlimited prospects.

These constitute the essence of opening potentials and actual accomplishments.

Without them, any excellent capabilities would be of no use.

Be vigilant about any elements that can limit or even destroy confidence.

Never let them catch up with you.

Never be caught.

Try consciously reconstruct, regenerate and nurture confidence.

Have a habit to broaden and deepen it boundlessly.


Just be confident no matter what.

Dare to be confident, absolutely confident.

Be dignified with it like a thunderous roar of a lion.

Decision

It is crucial to make a clear decision.

It is often the case that multiple factors obscure its validity and prevent a definite judgement.

Some of them could make the estimation of an outcome difficult.

Others may be concerned with the conflicting issues of morality.

This can make the matter even more difficult especially for those who have a deeper sense of conscience.

However, even if based on a goodwill, a delayed and ambiguous decision can be harmful.

A clear statement with assertiveness can only lead to solid and consistent arrangement and set the minds of people involved.

This element is quintessential for any projects or matters to be duly carried out and make substantial progress.

Insight

Real creativity manifests itself in the way to turn disadvantage into advantage, weakness into strength, bad into good, failure into success, defeat into victory.

It is not just about one's own nature and matter.

It can be applied to others.

One can even take advantage of everyone's negative aspects in a manner to enable them to function positively.

One can combine and coordinate various natures of various personalities exquisitely in a manner to let the whole work positively.

This can be true of not just things but also phenomena.

Deepen, sharpen and strengthen insight to perceive the true natures of respective beings and matters.

And, fully utilize this principle.

Then, one can make not only oneself but also the world happier than ever.

Process

Normally, people can make great efforts when trying to achieve goals.

And, when the desired results are actually accomplished, they tend to be filled with a sense of pleasure and fulfillment.

But probably one can more focus on the process of pursuing the efforts.

For such an attitude can generate joy from the fact of living fully and a sense of growth.

Without this posture, one can lose motivation when there is little hope of acquiring sufficient outcomes.

Hope can be found in the process of living and efforts per se.

In essence, what really exists is only the present.

Our life resides with this very moment.

The past has passed, and the future are yet to come.

They are conceptual, something imagined in our mind.

Cheer

Even in the depth of adversity, it is important to stay in good cheer.

This becomes the source of resilience to endure and make necessary efforts.

It then enables one to stand up and strike back.

It saves one from falling at the mercy of despair.

It generates composure, deep and steadfast insight, and calm but decisive judgement.

Keep up lasting, exciting and well-organized efforts quietly and joyfully.

Then, be bold and dynamic when a crucial moment comes.

Trial

Don't give up before actually trying every possible means.

It is too early to feel resigned.

People often stop trying even without trying.

They just calculate too many things and conclude that it doesn't work.

Then, they do nothing on the basis of that imagination.

How can we tell that things don't work without doing anything?

It sounds absurd, but many people do that way.

If there are something yet to try, then try it out.

Even if it does not work, still there will be some kind of change caused by the trial.

Action generates changes, and changes can produce opportunities.

Don't be trapped by just an imagination.

Have a courage to take action and resilience to take advantage of any changes that arise.

Place

If one cannot go anywhere ideal, one can at least try to create something with the best possible quality right here.

Even if living in an isolated local area, the person can still try something that can even surpass the world level.

Although an environment can be important, ultimately, it is one's own quality and determination that matter to what is created.

Best

There may be times when everyone else seems leading happy life.

There may be times when one feels left out, isolated and hollow.

There may be times when one cannot help but think, "why me?"

But after all, we cannot escape from being own self.

Wherever I may go, I am always me.

I have to face what I am, not matter where I am.

Nobody can do this for me.

Likewise, I cannot live other's life, whether it is happy or unhappy.

Don't envy.

Just face the own path ahead, and create own life.

Steadily.

Start with what I can do.

One by one, day by day.

Just do the best.

We cannot do more than the best.

Just do the best.

Then, there will be no regret.

What will be there is a sense of satisfaction to have lived fully.

So just do the best.

Reality

Don't be resigned.

Don't adapt yourself to reality subserviently.

Rather, adapt the reality to yourself.

Create a stimulating vision that truly comes from the mind as clearly as possible, and determine to realize it.

Keep inspired and excited by the idea, and continue to work on it.

Don't be trapped with obstacles and compromise with the existing environment.

In fact, the reality is constantly in flux, changing moment by moment.

Our life and environment are always interacting with each other.

They both change in response to one another.

The point is whether our life is dominated by the environment or the other way round.

Obviously, a stronger side will prevail.

If our life or determination is solid, strong and vigorous, the environment will react in accordance with it.

There may be backlash and negative reactions.

But life possesses resilience to push back, redirect or even utilize the force into positive outcomes.

Open our essence to every kind of possibility and opportunity.

Trust the potential.

And, be honest and in tune with what the core of life is truly yearning for.

Center

Ultimately, what is needed is not 'capability.'

It is aspiration, determination that really matters.

What do you really want to do?

Seek for that into the very depth of your own being.

What is there?

What does truly drive your deeds, your life, your entire being?

Find out the real core of life.

Once it is done, unshakable conviction and self will emerge.

Art

In doing any work, it makes huge difference whether one regards oneself as an artist or simply a servant.

If one is doing a job for the sake of the job, simply because of obligation or just for money, it would be felt like slavery.

Its performance will deteriorate inevitably.

But one can be imaginative and creative, so that one can do or create an irresistibly interesting piece of work.

One can love the work and pour the passion into it.

Or one may need to find the very work that one truly loves.

Then, she or he can refine it to the extent of excellence which is second to none.

It can be applied to any kind of jobs.

It even can be true of life per se.

Compromise

It is sometimes necessary to compromise, swallow the pride and take a realistic measure.

This might be painful and even heartbreaking.

But, for now, just grit the teeth and accept what need to be done.

Sometimes, you have to lose a battle to win the war.

Take down-to-earth steps with composure and build up conditions and facts to win in the future.

Steadily and cautiously.

Never lose hope, and keep the bold aspiration quietly.

Prepare, arrange and create every possible element that ensures the final ultimate victory.

Work

When overwhelmed with work to do, take a deep breath and cool down.

Think what is important and what is possible to be done.

No need to get everything done at once.

Concentrate on key points.

Decompose tasks into manageable, essential steps.

They are not so many.

Take these steps one by one with composure.

No need to pressure yourself.

Just enjoy as if building a piece of woodwork.

Intuition

Be intuitive.

Cast away formality, stereotype, what is supposed to be, what is 'desirable.'

Focus on something that clicks the mind.

Never be trapped with 'reality' just there.

See the future.

Think about what will emerge seriously.

And arrange things for that future, which you have just imagined.

Training

Anything can be turned into tools or materials for training.

Any difficult or even absolutely disappointing tasks, circumstances and obstacles can be used in order to elevate the quality of one's capability and character.

At times, one may be put in trying circumstances, which can be felt as if living in the bottom of the sea.

But, depending on one's attitude and perception, everything can be the source of growth.

Rather than simply being discouraged at the mercy of difficulties and problems, use them to train own self and nurture even greater strength and capacity.

Then, one can enjoy anything that comes one's way.

Core

When you have lost confidence and every kind of motivation, try to explore the very depth of your own being, and seek out and reach its true core.

What is it really yearning for?

What is the actual nature of it?

What is the best way to make it truly fulfilled?

Cast way all the accumulated 'data' of experience in the head and any formality of efforts so far.

Just get to the true core of own self.

Really feel it and honestly express it.

Try to think out or feel what is the best actual concrete behavior or attempt to manifest it.

Then just do it.

Quote

"You cannot love others if you do not honestly love yourself. Having a poor opinion of yourself - whether there is reason for it or not - will be reflected in your attitude toward the people around you. If you are tortured by being too short or too homely or too unsuccessful, your resentment will smolder until it flares into hostility toward the rest of the world."
- James Bender

Light

When deadlocked, it could be worth trying to start with an idea of helping others.

In our deeds in daily life, there are elements of benefiting someone else.

Our daily work or even trivial actions can be contributing to somebody.

With that awareness, we can consciously act while thinking our deeds can have positive impacts.

We can more focus on that consciousness rather than simply doing jobs to be done.

This could be comforting even if doing trivial work.

It could be more satisfying than personal success for just one's own sake.

It could lead to more positive behavior that helps someone and society.

If such deeds are helping others, this will eventually and naturally result in greater consequences.

Preoccupation with egoistic success could narrow and darken one's perspective, thinking and existence itself.

Even if in a dark place, when one lights up for others, one will be able to see own path as well.

Dignity

There may be time when one has to reconcile oneself to a totally unfair situation.

One may have to accept a position much lower than the person deserves.

One may have to serve and bow down to something unwillingly.

It may continue for an unreasonably long period of time.

With such hopelessness, one may lose any prospect for the future.

One may become numb and unable to feel any sense of self-respect.

But, never be servile in attitude.

Keep a pride and dignity of own self.

Remember the hope and aspiration which one originally possessed.

Never had them cut off.

Let them breathe.

Never be defeated by the present circumstance.

Believe the day when the dignity is fully recovered, and the aspiration is completely fulfilled.

Roll back the pressure of adversity and disadvantage.

Any of them.

Roar like a lion in mind.

And further, fight against what is called destiny.

Beat it off, and drive it off.

And, win a total victory.

Simplification

Streamline ideas, information and what to do.

Tiredness, depression, confusion and despair can come from the fact that too many thing are in mind, which can not be dealt with at once.

In fact, most of them are not immediately needed and even necessary at all.

Cut down what are unnecessary and just forget about them.

What really need to be done are not so many.

Just simplify thoughts and minimize objectives.

Then, the life will be clear, easier and focused.

Confidence

There may be times when one is about to lose self-confidence due to a lengthy period of adversity or other circumstances.

To recover the confidence, it is often effective to remember experiences where one performed well or review past materials that endorse one's excellence.

It would be also worth trying to hold some occasions or regular practices to demonstrate one's capability in areas she or he is good at.

For the confidence is the very thing that boosts one's performance.

Lack of the confidence really diminishes or even minimizes the performance even though one actually has great capability.

Self-confidence is the key to every kind of success and victory.

Essence

When overwhelmed by loads of work to do, it would be effective to simplify goals to achieve (at least in concept).

A sense of going nowhere can be due to the state of mind that tries to achieve too many goals.

Try to simplify what is important and enough to be acquired on the basis of the primary 'purpose' of the work.

As long as the purpose is fulfilled, the mission can be regarded as accomplished.

Try to focus on the essence, not amount to be done.

Approach

If there are goals to achieve or loads of work to do, the best way is to work out methods or approaches that enable one to feel a deep sense of joy in the 'process' of the efforts towards the goals or the work per se.

Input

It is crucial to have a holistic view.

Especially, when learning something, try to have a bird's-eye view first.

Then, go through a process that covers the whole range again and again.

Input the general structure of the subject.

Through the repetition, gradually add the details of the various parts.

Like a puzzle, place the pieces of information into void spaces, so that unknown areas are filled with relevant bits of knowledge.

The process enables one to deepen the understanding by degrees.

The speed of the learning will be accelerated as it progresses.

Continue the repetitive holistic input until the completion of full understanding.