Response-ability

We spend so much time and energy trying to seek power over others. We want to control, we want others to behave the way we would have done in their place. We want them to be nice to us, regardless of whether we deserve it or not.

How much time and effort do we put in gaining power over our own self? Can I be calm when someone criticizes me? Do I have enough power to make myself happy when others are making me unhappy?

Often we feel that others are responsible for our condition. People can trouble you, yes. But they cannot make you unhappy. You may think you are not responsible for what is happening to you.

Could you change �responsibility� to �response-ability?� You have the ability to respond, don�t you? You can respond in any way to the actions of others. You choose the response, take the responsibility, and see how your life becomes better. Slowly, but surely.                                        �Ali Khwaja

 

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Loneliness

Loneliness is often our own making. And the way to cope with loneliness is to get out of your shell because being there will make you feel like hell. Therefore, be interested in what interests others so that people will get to know you and expect to see you. The ability to be interested and to listen is a great social asset which makes and keeps friends, and drives loneliness away.

Aim at being cheerful and pleasant to all whom you meet. A shared interest and a shared activity bring you closer to people, and take you further away from loneliness.

�Sent by Linus Ferreira