Will steadfastness prevent a mean streak of revenge?

March 6, 2012 - PRLog -- Steadfastness

QUOTE: "Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows unconsciously into genius." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton)

Whilst that quote is ‘just’ a quote; it begs the question of whether it has any truth?

Our experience, knowledge and good judgement would answer intuitively. Perhaps the claim for genius maybe replaced with ‘a wise and intellectual person’.

What is steadfastness? Resolute, dutifully firm and unwavering.

Whilst wisdom requires an open mind, we must not mistake steadfastness for stubbornness. To remain resolute on just an opinion without any basis for truth is being stubborn and not steadfast.

Wisdom knows the answer, and opinion is a thought that thinks it has the answer. Any sentence that you start with “I think…” as in, “I think as the weather has started with bright sunshine, that northerly wind shouldn’t bring rain until midweek.” Remains only an opinion and to stay resolute with that opinion is being stubborn.

Steadfastness on the other hand is beauty. The beauty of planning your life based upon the truth; but… in a moment of frailty you decide to change course, your steadfastness has been lost and no doubt the wrong seeds have been sown and you will have to tussle with problems and suffer from serious anguish in future months.

It is this frailty that wisdom seeks to overcome. When you are angry for example your body may have the strength of an ox, but your mind is as weak and timid as a snowflake by the fire. Allow me to illustrate strength and frailty in the same story…

THE STORY ABOUT REVENGE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who insisted that to live well, one had to be positive and thankful for all of life.

One day, a traveller came to him and said, 'How can I be positive? Nothing goes right in my life! I've been badly hurt by people I trusted, and now I want revenge!'

The wise man shook his head. 'What would you do to those who have hurt you?' he asked. 'I'd tear them limb from limb ... I'd ruin their business ... I'd ...' and he broke off.
'Can you help me to get revenge?' he begged. 'Yes,' said the wise man. 'I'll certainly help you, but first you must do two things for me.'

"I will,' said the traveller.

'First,' said the wise man, 'I want you to tear a branch off that tree over there.'

The traveller readily went to the tree and twisted off a large branch. 'There you are! What's the second thing?'

The wise man smiled. 'Now put it back,' he said.

The traveller stood staring. 'I can't do that,' he said.

'No,' said the wise man. 'So remember this: it's very easy to wound and to destroy, but it is more difficult to repair the damage that has been done. Note that the tree won't hurt you back. It will go on growing and bearing fruit.  It's much better to be creative than destructive -- even to people that have hurt you.'

(A Buddhist Story)

If you hear a truth, add it to your ‘personal philosophy’ and allow it to manifest when a situation arises that needs that answer.

Seldom will remaining resolute let you down, but the important thing to remember is whether you can identify stubbornness and steadfastness.

Has there ever been a moment that you simply knew? And what happened? No doubt you were right in that knowing. What does that teach us? That when we KNOW, this knowing appears to be instantaneous (intuitive). That knowing is from our compilation of mind; our ‘add-ons’ of the truths that we have come across.

It is wise therefore to trust in this instantaneous knowledge as we have compiled it from truth. As for when we are frail in mind we must remain steadfast and remind our self that our frailty will pass. To constantly change our path as our frail mood dictates will cause anguish that we can well do without.

A good decision will invariably arise from a good state of mind. Poor decisions generally arise from fear and panic, as these two states arrive in frailty. Proof if you ever needed confirmation will have already happened within your own life. Can you remember a moment of fear and panic? Then remember the moment you did it for the second time.

Fear and panic is the result of not knowing. If you add on the truths you come across those fears and panics will lessen.

Remain steadfast in your knowledge of the truth.

Onto our weekly stories…

2. STORY 1

THE HORSE AND THE LITTLE BURRO

In the days of the great western cattle ranches, a little burro would sometimes be harnessed to a wild horse. The two would then be turned loose together onto the desert range. Bucking and raging, the wild horse would drag and pull the little burro, throwing him like a bag of feed.

In several days, however, the two would return. The little burro would be seen first, trotting back toward the ranch with the submissive steed in tow.

Somewhere out of the wild, the horse would become exhausted in trying to free itself of the burro. In that moment, the burro became the master of the two. The slow, patient, unimportant animal became a leader over the faster , and more volatile, and more prized one.

Patient, committed, methodical, and hardworking people may find themselves the brunt of abuse from those who are more rambunctious in the workplace. But in the end, they tend to accomplish more, rise higher, and win greater respect from their colleagues and those who work under them.

Choose to be patient and quietly determined today, and tomorrow will reward you.

"Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet".

(Unknown Author)

by Wisdom-and-Philosophy.com

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Andria Bolton
Editor, Author and Businesswomen
Wisdom-and-Philosophy.com and How-to-be-Happy.co.uk
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