How Much is Enough?

Once upon a time, a farmer discovered a magical spring.
The spring bursts countless gold coins.
The spring made the farmer rich, because new gold keeps coming out and only stops when the farmers says the word "enough."

The farmer is instantly shocked to see gold coins falling in front of his nose. He picked up a few buckets to collect the gold coins. After the buckets are full, he brought them into tiny huts to be stored there. Gold coins continue to burst while the farmer filled all the sacks, all the barrels, even houses. Still not enough! He digs a big hole to store the gold coins. Not enough, he lets the spring continue to burst until finally the farmer got buried by gold coins along with his greed because he can never say enough.

One of the most difficult words spoken by people is probably the word "enough".
When will we ever say enough? Almost all employees feel their salaries can not be equal with their hard work. Company directors feel that their company's revenue is still below target. The wife complained about her husband of being less concerned. While the husband believes his wife has lack of understanding. The children think their parents are stingy. Everything is not enough. Can we ever say enough?

Enough is not about how much. Self-satisfaction is a matter of the heart. Enough can only be said by people who can be grateful with what they have. Don't be afraid of saying enough. Saying enough does not mean we stop creating or trying. Don't define "enough" as a stagnant condition or I am satisfied. Saying enough makes us able to see what we have achieve, not what we haven't achieved. Do not let greed make it anymore difficult just to say enough. Learn to make do with what you have today, then you'll actually enjoy all that you have.

People in Life's Pressure

Life is not free from various pressures. In fact, life in this modern era serves a variety of risks. Until sociologist Ulrich Beck was named this contemporary era with the title of "risk society". Modern nature presents rapid changes and often surprising.

The pressure actually formed characters, and also determines how people will react in the situation. There are four types of people based on their personality, looked through their attitudes in facing life's pressures.

The first type, the type of brittle wood
Just a little pressure and this person's spirit breaks. People like this look good in their daily life. But the truth is, the heart is very fragile. These people often complains when trouble occurs.
Encountering each difficulty, they immediately complain, feel helpless, cry, ask for pity or help. These people need to have positive thinking and encouragement to face the realities of life.
Time magazine has presented the topic "Cocoon generation". Time has taken the example in Japan, where many people becomes very soft because they're not used to facing problems. Dealing with people like this, sometimes we must have the courage to push them. So they'll learn to face problems on their own. Position yourselves as their companions.

The second type, the type of steel plate
People of this type are usually able to survive the pressure at first. However, like iron, when the situation becomes more pressing and complex, they begin to bend and turns unstable. They are able to handle the pressure, but not in the continuous condition. Additional pressure makes them give up. Fortunately these types of people are still willing to try to survive before finally giving up. These kind of people are still not trained to face problems. But, if you really try, these people will be able to build a successful life.

The third type, the type of cotton
This type is quite flexible in the face of pressure. People like these can be flexible in pressure. Try pressing a loaf of cotton. It will follow the pressure that occurs. It is able to adjust when there is pressure. But, once the pressure lifts, it could quickly return to the original state. They soon forget about the past and return to the starting point.

The fourth type, the type of ping pong ball
This is the ideal and greatest type. Never present pressure on these people because the pressure will actually make them work harder, more motivated, and more creative. Consider the ping-pong ball. When pressed he bounces it up with even more power. I am reminded of the life story of the world motivator Anthony Robbins in one of his biography.
To motivate himself, he purposely buys a luxurious building while the money isn't adequate. But this is precisely the financial pressures that makes him more creative and financially challenged to reach the level he expects.

So, which type are you?

The 3 Trees

Once Upon A Time, there were 3 trees in the forest. One day, they tell each other about their hopes and dreams. The first tree said: "Someday I want to be a treasure chest. I will be filled with gold, silver and various precious stones and everyone will admire the beauty. "

Then the 2nd tree said: "One day I would become a large ship. I will carry kings & sail to the ends of the world. I will be a strong ship & secure everyone close to me. "

Then the 3rd tree told his dream: "I want to grow into the tallest tree ever seen. People would look at me and think how I was close to reaching Heaven and God. I will be the largest tree of all time & people will remember me. "

After several years praying that their dreams come true, a group of loggers chopped them down and took them elsewhere.
The first tree was brought to a carpenter. He was very happy because he knew he would have been made into a treasure chest. But, his prayer didn't become a reality because the carpenter made him into a box for fodder. He was put in a barn and each day, was filled with straw.
The second tree was brought to the shipyard. He thought that his prayer became true. But, he was made into a fishing boat. His dream of becoming a large ship to transport the kings has ended.
The third tree was cut into large pieces of wood and was left sitting in the dark. All their dreams didn't came true.
Year after year changed & the trees had forgotten their dreams. Then one day, a husband and wife arrived at the stables. The wife gave birth and put the baby in a box feeder made from the first tree. People came & worshiped the baby. Finally, the first tree knew that he was holding the greatest treasure of all time.
A few years later ... a group of men got into the custom-made fishing boats, made from the 2nd tree. In the middle of the lake, a major storm came.The second tree thought he was not strong enough to protect the people inside. But one man stood up and said to the storm: "Shut up! Calm down!" And the storm stopped. Then he knew that he had carried the King of kings.
Finally, someone came & took the 3rd tree. A man carried the tree, while people taunted him. The man was then nailed in this timber and died on it. The 3rd tree finally realized that he was so close to God because Lord Jesus was crucified with him.
When things are not the way you wanted, remember that God has a plan for you. If you believe in Him, He will give great blessings. The trees wished to get what they want, but not in a way they imagined.
The same goes for us, we are not aware what plan God has for us. We only know that His way is the best for us, forever.

Sorry it's a bit late, but Happy Easter...

True Strength

There is strength in love, and people who can give love is strong, because they can beat their desire for self-serving.

There is strength in laughter, and people who laughed with delight is strong, because they would never mourn with challenges and trials.

There is strength in peace, and people who are filled with peace and happiness is strong because they never waver, and are not easily swayed.

There is strength in generosity, and people who are generous is strong because they never held their mouth and hands from doing good for others.

There is strength in kindness, and people who are good is strong because they would always be able to do good to everyone.

There is strength in loyalty, and people who are faithful is strong because they can beat their personal passions and desires with their loyalty to God and others.

There is strength in gentleness, and people who are gentle is strong because they can refrain themselves from having revenge.

There is power in self-control, and people who can control themselves is strong because they can control all worldly desires.

That's where where all the True Strength is ...

Realize that you also have enough strength to overcome all your problems. No matter where, or how heavy and complicated it may be.

Step by Step with God

This is my step
Every step that I took,
I took with him
I will go through and
I won't stop
I won't go back
And I will keep walking
Until the finish
I won't give up
I won't fall down
I always believe in God
Because I have God
Who gave me strength
To keep walking until
The finish

Edwin
SMAK 5 Penabur, Jakarta

The True Peace

One day, The Emperor of Japan held a contest and would provide a reward to anyone who can paint about "peace". There are many artists that tried hard to win the race. The Emperor walked around to see the results of their work. Finally, there were only two paintings left that he really liked best. But the Emperor had to choose between the two. He inspected both paintings thoroughly.

The first painting depicted a calm lake. The Lake's surface is like a perfect mirror that reflects the peace of the mountains towering around it. Plastered on top, a blue sky with white clouds drifting. Everyone who sees this painting would have thought, this is the best picture about "peace".

The second painting describes the mountains. The mountains looked rough and bare. Above it, a dark and red sky that signifies a storm. On the side of the mountain there is a waterfall rushing and foaming. But it did not show calmness and peace. However, the Emperor saw something interesting. In the middle of the waterfall's noise, grows small bushes on the sidelines of a stone. In the bushes, lies a mother sparrow's nest & the eggs are laid and incubated.

"Which painting won the contest?", everyone wondered. Japan's Emperor chose the second picture. "Why?", everyone asked. The Emperor replied, "Because 'peace' does not mean you should be in place without any disturbance, trouble or worries. But 'peace' is a calm and peaceful heart, eventhough you are in the midst of the turmoil and remarkable chaos. A peace of heart is the true peace."

(Source: Hands of God)

3 Easy Ways to Overcome Shyness

There are some easy ways to overcome shyness even though it may feel impossible sometimes to beat the awful feelings that occur when you are being put on the spot or when you get tongue tied. Struggling with how to overcome shyness is often an uphill mental battle and more often than not it is actually a battle against your self. Shyness is typically caused by too much self awareness and self conscious.

To overcome shyness, you need to be able to relax in social situations and shift your focus from yourself and on to what is going on around you. In this article you will learn 3 very powerful but still easy ways to overcome shyness by relaxing socially and react to situations with excitement instead of fear.

1) Make an effort out of deliberately catch yourself when you are focusing negatively on yourself. This may be thoughts like worries about what others think about you, if what you said came across as stupid or if somebody thinks your clothes or haircut is bad. If you have any of these or other negative thoughts about yourself, tell yourself to stop those thoughts immediately.

Nothing good comes out of worrying and thinking about negative stuff will only hurt you more. The more you are able to catch yourself with thoughts like that, the more you are able to stop them. Eventually this process will become automatic and you will be less tense and therefore less shy.

2) Make it a daily task to greet or talk to a stranger. This is another one of the most effective and easy ways to overcome shyness. When you are standing in line in the grocery store or when you are in a coffee shop, just say hello to the guy standing behind you or to the waiter. It is however important that it is not too uncomfortable for you - a little bit of anxiety to test your limits is okay, but if you make it too hard for yourself, it may only hurt you instead of help you.

If you start doing this every single day, you will shortly notice that it gets easier to be around other people and to have a casual conversation without feeling shy.

3) Start using self hypnosis every day or even several times a day, to re-program your unconscious mind to stop focusing on the negative thoughts and learn how to keep your body and mind feeling relaxed in any social situation. Self hypnosis is probably the quickest of the 3 easy ways to overcome shyness and change the way you respond to other people.

The reason that self hypnosis is so powerful is because it takes you into a state of deep relaxation. When you are in that kind of relaxing state, it is easier for your sub-conscious mind to learn the new positive messages and thinking patterns that enables you to relax and feel good in social situations.

Visit Cure Shyness to get started using self hypnosis right now and learn more about how you can overcome shyness using this highly effective and extremely simple technique.

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