Every waking moment is an opportunity to change our lives for the better. When we are young, we are told we must grow up and be an important person—a doctor, an engineer, a scientist, a sportsman, an actor, a musician, etc.
Maybe we are too young to form our own ideas about life. We are not experienced enough to know how to survive in this world, and we are open to guidance. But how much of that advice is really helpful? How much of that advice do we truly believe? Is it fair for us to live our parents’ dreams?
Most professional jobs require us to meet certain criteria, such as an expected minimum grade level. We either meet these criteria or we don’t. We succeed or we fail. We do not meet the expectations of others; we feel we are good for nothing. We are depressed and may end up hurting ourselves. We get sucked into all this because we deviate from our purpose in life.
The purpose we are born for is much more simpler than we realize. We are born to be happy, but not through materialistic paths. That kind of happiness is short-lived. It is linked to certain conditions that we grow accustomed to or become slaves of. The happiness that comes through helping others is much deeper. The smile we bring to the face of another is the one that stays longer in our hearts. The hand we offer to someone in need is the one that assures the innate goodness that exists deep inside us. These are things which nobody can snatch from us. These are qualities that will only grow stronger with time.
By helping others, we help ourselves. We become stronger, happier, and proud of who we are. That instills a confidence in us. We begin to believe in ourselves; we dare to go after big things in life. Suddenly our goals seem achievable. We will not run out of our enterprising energy because we draw our reserves from our own goodness. Many times we forget this but it is very easy to bring ourselves back on track. We just need to look for a genuine opportunity to help someone who deserves our kindness.
惻隱之心
每個清醒時刻都是令我們活得更好的機會。我們年輕時，總被吩咐他日長大後，要出人頭地─成為醫生、工程師、科學家、運動員、演員及音樂家等。
也許我們當時還太年輕去形成自己對人生的想法。我們沒有足夠經驗知道如何在這世界求存，對指導者一律來者不拒。但當中這些意見有多少幫助？你誠心相信又有多少？要我們活出父母的夢想是公平嗎？
大部份專業職位需要符合一定條件勝任，例如最低的期望水平。我們要麼符合這些條件或要麼不。我們要麼成功，要麼失敗。我們不符合別人期望時，覺得自己一無是處。很沮喪，最終可能會傷害自己。我們捲入這一切，都是因為偏離了人生目的。
我們誕生為人之目的，遠比所意識到的簡單。人天生是快樂的，但不是通過物質。那種幸福是短暫的。它與我們習慣接受或受其束縛有關。助人的快樂具深度得多。帶給別人臉上的笑容，留在心中更長久。向有需要的人伸出援手，印證內心深處人性本善。這些東西沒人可從我們身上奪走。這些特質只會隨著時日，發展得更茁壯。
助人，以自助。我們變成更堅強，更快樂，更自豪。這增強我們信心。我們開始相信自己；敢於追求人生更高理想。突然間，目標似乎觸手可及。因為信心能從善良本性得到補充，進步能量取之不竭。我們經常忘記了這一點，但將自己拉回正軌確實容易。我們正等待一個真正機會，去幫助與我們一份善心堪匹配的人。