Paulo Coelho
“It’s odd,” the warrior muses to himself. “I have met so many people who, at the first chance they get, try to show the worst of themselves. They hide their interior strength through aggressiveness and disguise the fear of solitude with an air of independence. They don’t believe in their own capacity but are always extolling their virtues to the four winds.”
The warrior reads these messages in many men and women he knows. He is never fooled by appearances and insists on remaining silent when others try to impress him. But he uses the opportunity to correct his flaws – since people are always a good mirror.
A warrior puts to good use every opportunity to teach himself and to admit his own contradictions.
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Dearest Paulo,
Very apt. I am wondering about my rather hard stance(this very recently too) with a person I met earlier this month. I know the challenges she has faced in life and still is.I wept for her when I got back home that night and it occurred to me how wrong we read people at times- I do.
We got along well.I understood why i had had that kind of a response from her on earlier occasions.And she said just in that one meeting she had learned so much from me???I did too about jumping to conclusions.I had all the empathy for her. But yesterday I was rather unforgiving about her lack of response where work was concerned. I realise now I was under pressure too about the work on hand and I expected a lot more from her. She has my copy of The Alchemist I lent her,btw.And is reading it.
Why was I irritated about some things in her response? I did let her know just as she did with her explanations. But I was not convinced.
Maybe it’s because when I have a job on hand or even otherwise, I keep people informed about the progress and where we stand. Make that extra effort. So maybe I expect that from others too. But then again I see that this is a lesson for me not to be so impatient. I was that way too and I must still have so many faults that must drive others crazy too.Sigh!
Love
Sheela.
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I muse to myself now ‘what about the paradoxes in me…’?
Thank you Paulo
xxx
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Very insightful Yes you learn a lot about yourself in how you react
to others What bothers you the most might be something you don’t like about yourself
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That is it exactly. I think, at least for myself, it is that naked feeling of being vulnerable that sometimes makes me act like I’m more independent, like I’m tougher than I really am. It’s a form of protection, like the quills on a porcupine. And you’re right, at least in my case, that I don’t always believe in my own capabilities, that I have the aptitude or the potential to let go of the armour once in awhile and to just be my self.
I continue learning to be more open to all the possibilities, as well as to learn to admit my flaws and to find the courage to correct them.
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There is a quote: The best defence is attack!!!= Η καλύτερη άμυνα είναι η επίθεση.
This strategy is used by many insecure people. They want to hide their faults, inferiority complexes and insecurity under the hard mask of aggressiveness. Instead of seeing the Light in others they hide their own…
But Jesus said: Do not hide your Light..
LOVE,
Thelma.
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Anna Marie Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am
True what you are saying dear Thelma, also control and manipulation, since the subject is about paradoxes, I’ll bring in a view to introduce contradiction. A warrior sometimes needs the quality of aggressiveness in battle, in which case, if he is defending his right, standing his ground, it is a tool one needs to have handy in battle. Unless you disagree, believing in the ideology of turn the other cheek. ‘People are always a good mirror’ this is brilliant dear Paulo, and I have found this to be true, smile at someone, they always smile back, this analogy is important to remember. Contradictions exist everywhere, and we must take delicate measures to access each situation and the best weapon to use.
Thank you dear Paulo!
Love,
Anna Marie
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THELMA Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Dear Anna Marie, thank you for your response! The ideology of ‘turning the other cheek’ and ‘love your enemy’ has many times made me wonder. ;-], me being a passionate person, with immediate response to the ‘environment’.. When I was a teenager a friend of mine was teasing me, that me reacting was like pressing a button.. Now with age and ‘acquired wisdom’ I have learnt ’self-discipline’, self-mastering and that it is not necessary to draw our sword whenever a fly sits on it!! I also know that by sending waves of warmth and love we disarmed our enemies and we do not allow them to destroy our peace of mind. After all we ‘know’ that the evil energy returns to its sender, unless we vibrate on the same level.
LOVE,
Thelma.
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Satora Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I came upon this story this morning on the http://www…:
—
The Gift of Insults
There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was
determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior’s challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and
calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was
defeated, he left feeling shamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. “How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?” - “If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it,” the master replied, “to whom does the gift belong?”
—
With loving kindness,
Satora
People live in an imaginary world,but not in the Real One.And as imaginations differ,so people try to find the ‘language’ to understand each other.They try many ‘masks’ on to be closer to those,around.The Sight,Sound,Taste,Smell,Touch-just the right combination creates the unique individual language.We try again and again,until the right ‘Handwriting’ will be found.
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I am not always aware of my weaknesses. Even after many years of introspection, i sometimes find myself being (negatively) judgmental about someone’s behaviour and then suddenly I go “Hhhhhh…” because i have just realised that i occasionally behave exactly the same…live and learn :-)
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Years ago, i had read an article which stated that he who tries to be in the center of a group or in a conversation,making others laugh and speaking all the time, he tries so hard to get attention, so that he forgets his solitude..this is his covering veil..
I have come to the conclusion that one does not need to seek attention so as to cover his loneliness. maybe all he needs is seeking attention from himself..
Surely,sOmetimes it is not easy to accept ourselves..But only by accepting our weaknesses we can then act and try to fix them..
Love and Graditude
Annie
Love and Graditude
Annie
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I see me. Today after exam went to see my mark. The prof say come in, I tell you. I entered, and I saw a sad face. I did not expect much. He said, you got 8.20. I said ok, even if I knew I worked hard, I used new things, I was prepared. I said the theme was not the best? Than prof says look yourself , see, here is your 8.20. I look there, but saw 10.
I say, but that is 10 here. The prof start laughing, me too, and said him that I almost had a shock and this is not the best joke. But good it was only a joke. Than he caring hold my back, laughing and wishing me the best. I saw again how much I lack faith, because he did a similar joke once,and than worst, he said I got 6. Instead I had the only 10 from all others students. Funny.
Ohhh, the portrait fits me, but I fight with my fears. Just I still dont know how to do that in the best way.
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Yes, I’m very aware of my weaknesses. I will see if I can do something about it.
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a wol is focused, always ? even when he is just taking rest, he is alert ?
a wol is focused primarily on himslef for both observations and refinements, with respect to others he is focused on observations. an unfocused focus , when one is alert towards everything?
love
aditya
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