If you’ve been subscribed to my newsletter or been reading my blog for a while, you’ll realized that I don’t blog everyday although I wish I can. It’s because there are many things going on in my business and personal life. Trying to find a good time to sit down and write from your heart doesn’t happen everyday, for me that is.
Recently, I’m frustrated.
Many things that I wanted to happen did not go the way I’ve expected– especially a few of my business projects. Not only that, my laptop was giving a big problem recently and it’s been a pain in the rear trying to learn Microsoft Vista. Also, there are a million things that I need to approve and review to proceed because most of them are at a bottleneck.
You know the feeling- when it seems like everybody wants a piece of you?
Basically, I’m fighting against time to get tasks being completed and this is very frustrating because each time you finished one, then there will be more popping up.
I was at the verge of losing my patience so I took a break by watching a DVD. And the movie I watched was the Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith. It’s a movie how a man pursues for his goal regardless of the obstacles in his life including being homeless. Great movie, touching story and it ends with a happy ending. By the way, this movie is inspired by a true story.
http://www.sonypictures.net/movies/thepursuitofhappyness/
I believe, Chris Gardner, the character in the movie was able to overcome adversity and pain because he has a purpose that is bigger than himself – of making sure his son gets a better life. That is his inspiration and when your inspiration is about others, it’s many times stronger.
After watching that, it hit me like a bullet train – my mind was not focus on the purpose of why I want to complete the tasks on hand. Whatever tasks we are doing – it’s because WE WANT TO COMPLETE SOMETHING. If that is not true, then it’s not a task. For instance, playing PlayStation 3 is not a task, it’s leisure. So I’m trying to keep up with the work because I am keeping up with the work without a clear direction.
I called this ‘purpose’, the Success Outcome and it’s covered in the You Chan Do It Success Outcome System that I’ve created. Yeah, that course is 100% totally free and I’ll explain why at the webpage. If you go there by clicking here, you can signup instantly and there’s also an option for you to upgrade to accelerate your success. That one requires a small investment but it’s nothing compared to getting what you want in life quicker.
Anyway, by knowing your true purpose, all of your obstacles will be temporary. When you believe in what you can accomplish, everything else that are blocking you are just a test of time and some will called it, God’s test. It’s not Time or God’s denial but test of life we’re going through.
Once I start to evaluate my frustration at a deeper level, I start to learn more about it. How we represent our obstacles is how they’ll mean to us.
Anthony Robbins has taught a lot of analogies in life. On a separate note, I’ve post a video by Anthony Robbins for you to watch at
http://successandlife.com/articles/305/1/Anthony-Robbins-Video—The-Defining-Factor/Page1.html.
How do you see obstacles?
Are they an ongoing battle? If they are, I won’t be surprise that you’ll be in a ‘war’ all of the time. That’s how I represent them earlier and create frustrations that’s draining my energy everyday.
Are they a type of gamble? Then you’ll be living in a fearful state because you can’t afford to lose your stake.
Now, what if… obstacles are represented as games? So if you lose, what should you do? Just play again to win.
Or maybe surfing? Sometimes, there are big waves for you to ride and sometimes, there are just aren’t and all you can do it WAIT. Wait = being patience.
My remedy for stress, frustrations and any negative emotions is this – know why you need to go through these feelings and evaluate them whether it’s worth it. Then represent them with a positive analogy that will assure you that these are not permanent. It’s easier said than done, but now, you know that you have the power to change and control your life.
You have other ways to overcome frustrations and other negative emotions? Share with me at the Comment below.
If you like what you read, it’ll be cool if you can leave a Comment as well. I’ll definitely appreciate it very much because I read every single Comment posted here personally.
You “Chan” Do It!
Patric Chan
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Similar Posts:
Dear Patric,
Stop trying to do everything yourself! Your only task is to picture your ultimate desire and focus on THAT.
Then let the universe work out how to achieve it for you. While you are tying yourself down with the details, you are not allowing Love to do its job.
You are capable of SO much more! – Let your spirit fly, my friend!
Adversity, obstacles and battling are for the unenlightened.
btw why use Vista ? – are you a masochist
Hello Patric,
here is a little bit of a consolation for you:
You are not alone in your experience.
Vista s.ucks! Everybody knows this.
Laptops have a temper, they are subject to emotions, just like us humans.
There are thousands of gurus, mentors, advisors etc out there trying to get a message across to us, how did I get the idea that you were one of them?
What I have learned is to view the irritating happenings not a s obstacles but as challenges and they have to be overcome.
So, take heart, follow your own views and have a nice day!
karmasherab
Hey guys,
Thanks. Vista’s not your favourite too, eh?
Cheers
Patric Chan
http://www.successandlife.com
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Thank you Patric, for your honesty. You are human and there will be days like this, it is how you continue on is the breakthrough.
I have been in a back and fourth trying to be in the right vibration, but impatient and a bit worried if I will receive what I want. Well you know the big W word, is my block…Your sharing allows me to know I am not alone and encourages me to relax today and ALLOW! Blessings to you!
Good article, Patrick.
Frustration happens and obstacles occur in life but, as you wrote, by focusing on our purpose and the bigger “why” of what we’re doing, we can overcome them.
I just experienced something similar. I was not feeling motivated about my new book until I started focusing on the benefits the reader will receive and how many people need the information, since it deals with increasing ones income.
As for Vista, there’s a very good reason I’ve been Mac user for 18 years:-)
Jim
Hi Patric! Seems we\’re on a parallel path, facing challenges and having to step back, look at things from a fresh perspective then try again.
Your words are very inspiring! Patience is a learned skill. Sometimes we forget that timing is everything, and everything in its own time… While we may want things to run smoothly all the time, sometimes we\’re just meant to wait. The rewards are even richer when we receive them in the right time.
I agree with another commenter, you do need to delegate some of your tasks, Patric. As entrepreneurs we believe we\’re the best to do each piece of our business and that makes us our own enemy. I\’ve had to accept that some tasks in my business are better done by others with my direction. That way it\’s done right the first time, just how I want it, but I could pay attention to something else while that task was completed. It actually pays me better that way!
Best wishes, Patric! Look forward to your next post
Patric thank you for that informative post. What you\’ve written is very important and so easy not to remember. How we view things is how we feel about them and vice-versa. We make our reality. Therefore, we can control it. Too may people feel that they are helpless victims of forces beyond their control. That said, yes, Vista sucks. I have a better spec notebook with Vista to mt desktop PC with XP and guess what the desktop with a slower processor and have the RAM is FASTER! Only Microsoft could launch a product which performs worse than its predecessor and get away with it! Maybe that\’s why Windows 7 may be here in only 2 years! Rememeber how much better Windows 98 was over 95? Maybe Windows 7 will be the same in relation to Vista! Try \’downgrading\’ (upgrading?) to XP if you can\’t wait!
Hi Patric, I just wanted to let you know that your message could not have come at a better time. I too have seen the movie “Pursuit of Happiness” and it truly is about Character, Adversity, Overcoming tremendous obstacles and pursuing a worthwhile purpose! Thank you for again sharing something about yourself with us, it is greatly appreciated!
Why is the timing of this message perfect? It is because I am at a point where my Frustration level has got to a point that I am taking the next four days off by myself staying at a unit by the beach to get rest, refocus, re-energize, Dream and get my head in the right space to pursue my purpose (not to mention some Meditation mixed with Gratitude, etc for the life I am lucky enough to live!)…
Have a Terrific Week!
Regards,
Gordon Walker
Hi Patric
frustration is a common feeling in Internet Business – everything seems like it can be done instantly and yet it all takes at least three times aslong as you estimate!
I like your reframe of situations as games / battles etc. It feels to me like a battle so I think I need a new analogy. I agree with the comment above which says let the universe do it. Our job is to hold the intention and then while going about our business let the universe work it\’s magic.
Frustration is also a measure of desire for completion. A piece of advice I heard once was \
Hi Jann,
You’re welcome. I like your statement, ‘how we continue on, is the breakthrough’.
Hi Jim,
Good to hear that we’re sharing the same thought. I’m glad to hear that you’re excited about completing your book now! Mac user?
Hey BGreen,
Yes, patience is a skill that we need to master. It’s not easy, but one of the many skills we need to overcome challenges and adversities in life.
About delegation, most of my business aspects are delegated but there are stil some at a bottleneck.
Hey Gordon,
How’s it going down under? It’s good to hear from you.
Hi Alex,
It’s always great to read your comment.
Thanks.
Cheers
Patric Chan
wwww.successandlife.com
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hi Patric,
frustrating is a normally feeling in human life that because of problem or something that we don\’t excepts in life, but maybe what i feel to face it can help u. enjoy it cause i believe problems or troubles makes me stronger and the important is none of problem that i can\’t pass it in my life, the different only how long i pass the one problem with another problems.
hey patric u are a man will so many talent,that problem u get won\’t let u down i believe and if u think with fresh mind that the problem u get is the same problem that many people get either so if they can pass it so do u,right?
always cheer u face patric what ever u feel. Bless U
Hi, I enjoy your sharing very much. Frustration for me can also mean that I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’m having a hard time accepting what is. Is reflecting that somehow I lost track of the important. Of course goals are, but the process is far more challenging and always a learning experience.
Have a nice day, hope you get back on track, loving yourself beyond what has worked and what needs new approaches.
Rossana
I don’t mean to sound negative, but Windows Vista is an extremely difficult system to learn. I have heard countless disaster stories from friends and instructors alike that report about all the glitches and problems with it. In fact, one of my instructors got so fed up that she went back to Windows XP. As far as work goes, you have to make personal time for yourself. I realize that work is important, but establishing a set amount of time to rest and regroup your thoughts are just as important. Take care.
Thanks Patric. I read this article monday morning. I dont know what to say. Starting from Feb. my life is getting misrable. Every day I get frustrated. Thanks a lot!
Up till about two years ago I was always battling with EVERYTHING. Endless obstacles, nothing went easy, HARD work, little progress. Then I discovered something; if I stopped INTERFERING with the creative process, it all changed. My life changed. Now I can say that I scarcely remember a time in the last two years when ANYTHING has been a problem. Everyday has been filled with magic. And you, Patric, helped me to realise it. But sometimes, as they say – A PLUMBERS TAP ALWAYS LEAKS – so let go of it and do what you taught me to do – DREAM! – YOU CHAN DO IT!! hahaha
That goes for all of you!
Warmest Regards and Best Wishes to All
Oh yeah – and toss Vista to the S***house where it belongs – I still run Windows 98 (99% of the time) and XP (when I HAVE to) and this is where I am staying.
Only Microsoft could come up with a way where you could UPgrade AND be worse off!
Hi Patric,
Boy, do I EVER know where you\’re coming from…
I own restaurants and pubs here in Ireland, as well as B&Bs.
Although I have managers to run the day to day aspects of these operations, I still have a tonne
of elements related to business that I personally
must have a look at.
These are mostly non-production related, and it deals with councils, banks, enterprise board, etc…
But nonetheless, I am also involved on a daily level with the actual business aspects of my operations. No matter how much I already have on my plate.
Because the day I stop taking an in interest, that\’s the day I have lost my entrepreneurial spirit. And it\’ll be only a matter of time before I crash and burn.
I\’m not talking about failures, though.
My first restaurant and my first pub actually put me almost out on the street; I spent so much money setting them up, but I wanted to run it all myself.
Maybe it was pride. After all, these were MY babies.
Maybe it was because deep down, I didn\’t think I could empower any manager to do the job as well as me.
Which, ironically, was not the case, since I then ended up selling it off. I did so poorly, I lost a fortune.
Lesson learned, though. And in my second restaurant, I hired the restaurant manager I knew from a lovely establishment I would often frequent, where I knew the service was brilliant.
THAT made a difference.
In the same way, my first pun barely turned profit.
It wasn\’t until I had the right people working autonomously to run the places, that I strated sleeping peacefully.
Now, once could argue that this was a case of manifest incompetence.
Not so. I\’ve been in the hospitality and catering business all my life. And I\’ve been a Fine Dining Director in 5* establishments, as well.
I know the job.
Yet, I was just stretched so thin, I would have had to spend 20 hours a day working.
Now, don\’t get me wrong. Work and action are what separate us businessmen from the business-been\’s. I am not afraid of hard work.
But there is a limit, and I think you\’ve discovered that now. Ignore it, and you\’ll end up in one four scenarios.
1. You\’ll end up in a hospital, due to a heart attack.
2. You won\’t have time to enjoy the fruits of your work.
3. You actually lose the desire to RUN a business.
4. Your family life falls on the backburner.
Patric, you don\’t want that, mate. You\’re just married, too! Enjoy life.
I am married 13 years, which is one helluva an achievement these days. And I have a darling 3 year old son who is the greatest joy and inspiration a man can have.
Don\’t miss this.
The point is, no man is an army, Patric. Some of us are a Battalion, maybe… like you and me! But we can\’t win a war alone, even if we ARE Gurkhas!
You\’ll be surprised maybe to learn that, somehow, life finds a way to get on with itself even when you\’re not there. That\’s why so many people wonder where all the time has gone.
And guess what? Business does the same. It\’ll get on without you, but you need to set it up in such a fashion as to outsource that which takes up your time, while still being kept up to date on the situation.
You create the vision, and the strategy to follow, and the people to do it.
And then you lead it.
Easier said than done, I know.
But a leader also needs to step back and sit on the hill to get a helicopter view of what\’s going on.
Here\’s an example:
Ever notice how a footbal coach isn\’t out there playing the match? But he directs from the sidelines.
That\’s the idea.
Although you can of course get as involved as you wish and can do (or \
Hmmm… I must have reached a character limit in my previous post, or did something wrong.
My post was truncated.
But I was almost done.
As I was saying:
Although you can of course get as involved as you wish and can do (or “chan” do, rather
), without it becoming overwhelming.
As for Vista, well… I’ve heard only bad about it. But I can tell you that I’ve never had a problem with it. I’ve found it much more stable than XP. It has never once crashed on me.
I use Vista Ultimate 32-bit, and I have a machine with a 5.8 index.
Annoyingly, some applications are not compatible with Vista, and apparently, some compatible releases are not going to be developed.
But otherwise, I’ve been fine with Vista.
All the best, and come out of the slump, Patric.
You “CHAN” do it!!
-Joshua Harris
Hey Joshua,
Thanks for sharing your story. I just got married, http://patricchan.name/optimumhealth/when-two-become-one, so 13 years still a long way to go for me.
From what I’ve read here, seems like Vista’s ain’t most people’s favorite dish.
You “Chan” Do It!
-Patric Chan
http://www.successandlife.com
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Namaste(Hi) to every one,
After reading this great article even greater
comments I can say that all lines are true & worth reading. But practical life is far different
then these theoretical concepts ( I’m not saying that these concepts of dealing with frustrations are wrong or u can’t use them in ur life.)
But what should one do if he already used these concepts or suggestions, keep fighting against all odds, remain positive in worse conditions, keep his cool after many defeats, try to analyze mistakes, increase his focus after every defeat, pray to GOD every time and
after that he is still an unsuccessful person not getting his dreams. Every thing is slipped from his hands.
In short he is totally a disaster. What should he do. Unfortunately I’m in this phase of life.All,I can say that my BEST is not ENOUGH. So, I turned my focus and my way of keeping me positive and enthusiastic. And that way is – RELIGIOUS and GOD. Now,I take my inspirations from GOD. Many times we think that we r doing our best then why things are against us. Now think about your GOD & Religion. e.g. Just think about Gesus and the Pain he suffered. Can u tell me why he suffered so much pain even he is GOD. He could definitely live a happy and joyful life.Then why he suffered so much????
He suffered so much just to tell you that sufferings are not let you down. They are here to increase your qualities depends how u take them. Many times things are not in your hands then only one thing is left to do PRAYER and only PRAYER….
That is What I’a doing…………….
Thanks for reading.
May God fulfill all you dreams and make you happy.
With BestWishes,
Rajan Bansal
Dear Patric,
I feel compelled to write this as I feel we have both arrived at a similar place;
The source of all disappointment is mistakes and conversely, the secret to success is to be adequately informed and prepared for the inevitable reaction to the word or deed put into motion.
Look at all the things that make you sad and you will only find things you shouldn\’t be doing. In some cases, you can\’t readily discern which action has been the one responsible for your frustration and say something like:
WHERE am I going wrong ?
Take Vista, for example….
It\’s really all in how you look at things. In the end, it is always found that the answer was in the approach. Things are seldom what they seem and thinking about something and actually BEING there are often two entirely different things. You must ask yourself what you would do *after* you have achieved that which you are contemplating.
I have invariably found the positive approach to be the best. But it is not so much a matter of doing more marvellous things – but more just to stop doing those things that hold you back – stop making mistakes.
So what IS the preferred action for a being who finds themselves in a universe where every action has an equal and opposite reaction (sometimes called Karma, otherwise, Physics) ?
Love. Because only a Loving act will be the greatest benefit to all.
God is Love. When you pray to God, you pray to Love. Love is the most powerful form of energy in the universe. Those who have learned to control it have at their command all lesser forms of force.
You know all this stuff anyway, Patric…. that\’s why I subscribed to you in the first place because you have always had such a positive view of things.
There *is* a way to be perfectly happy, to have anything and everything you want and never have to worry about anything ever again. It simply requires a sincere, complete and total belief in LOVE. You have to be \
There *is* a way to be perfectly happy, to have anything and everything you want and never have to worry about anything ever again. It simply requires a sincere, complete and total belief in LOVE. You have to be One-pointed.
Belief is what brings things into creation. Look at anything that anyone has ever created and you will see that it was brought into reality by belief. Believe in fear enough and that is what life will bring you. Conversely, believe in Love enough and life will bring you that. How you perceive the world is how the world IS to you. This is important to understand. For each of us, the universe is different. A homeless man may view the universe as unfair, hard and tough. A successful person may view the universe as a lovely place full of luxury and pleasure. Both of them are viewing the same universe, it is just different because of their perceptions of it and their life experiences.
Many people have a distorted view of what Love really is – usually due to the loss of someone or something they loved dearly or the realisation that who or what they thought they loved turned out to be something different but it was not Love itself that was at fault – but a misunderstanding of that to which the love was directed.
Love is the most powerful force in the universe – it is the force of attraction. But we often get burnt because we do not understand how this energy works. People often curse love because they think it brought them pain or suffering, but these people are like the small child who reaches into a fire because it is pretty. It takes some intelligence to understand. To those who say they do not believe in love, I would ask is there NOTHING in their lives that they love ? – ABSOLUTELY nothing ? I think not. Besides, if anyone *was* this miserable, then I don\’t think I\’d want anything to do with them – would you ? Love is what makes life worth living.
Love does not reward the unbeliever because the unbeliever does not radiate the force of attraction that would bring to them what they desire. Doubt is the obstacle. Faith is the key. When you have faith enough to ask for EXACTLY what you want, give NO thought as to HOW it can possibly happen AND start living your life as though the wish has already been granted, then you are more likely to get EXACTLY what you ask for. But the moment you begin to doubt that it CAN, you sabotage yourself, because you rob Love of the very power it needs to do the job.
I proved it to myself by making a \’wish upon a star\’ for EXACTLY what I wanted;
She is fun-loving, petite and small, cute and cuddly, naughty and cheeky, honest and strong in spirit. She has a warm heart and a wicked sense of humor. She likes to read and thinks deeply about life, she loves animals, music and nature and cares about the elderly, appreciates warm affection and is not scared to experience all that life has to offer. She is highly educated and knows how to reach into people\’s hearts. She is versatile and an accomplished musician, singer, dancer and model. When she smiles, she lights up the room and makes all those around her feel better. She does not believe in religion, but considers Love to be the most important thing in her life, as do I.
She knows her power as a woman and knows how to motivate me. We never disagree, but instead combine our viewpoints to our own benefit and the benefit of others. All our energies are devoted to helping each other realise our dreams and desires.
A few weeks later, she contacted me. She saw my profile on the internet and wrote to me. Within a very short time, we fell deeply in love, because she had made the same request for her future partner and that was answered in seeing my profile.
She IS me and I AM her and together, we are ONE. We love each other with a passion that has never been written about. We travel from Japan to Australia and vice-versa several times a year to visit each other and hold seminars on the very message you have tirelessly preached since I first subscribed to you – \
You C(h)an do it!
Both of us were extremely specific about who we wanted and as it turns out, we both got EXACTLY what we asked for. Now what is the probability that this could have happened by chance ?
The next thing I requested from Love was the perfect job, so I could be with her one day. That came too. Then I asked for a house that was really close to my new job. That was also granted. The ONE thing I neglected to specify was what country she was from and so it turns out that she lives in Japan. And even THAT has turned out to be a blessing!
I kick myself for having made so many mistakes! – It took me nearly 50 years to learn about the Power of Love – I cannot begin to imagine where I would be now if I would have seen the light earlier in my life – but like most of you, I didn\’t believe it and of course, I didn\’t get what I wanted. But after many years I started noticing a pattern; When I mentally wished for something and racked my brains about how it was going to be possible, it seldom came – unless I put every ounce of energy into MAKING it happen. That\’s the way people usually get things if they are determined enough. But when I asked for something and just sent that request out into \
….the ether and completely put the matter of HOW it was going to happen aside and started ACTING as though I believed it was coming – IT DID.
So I asked for THE ANSWER – and sure enough, it came – BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LOVE. So I did. And it worked. And it continues to work. Every single day, I make a request for something special to happen the next day and every day, it is granted. Can you imagine what this is like ? – It is like having your own personal genie but the wishes are UNLIMITED! – Those of you who have watched the documentaries The Secret or What the bleep do we know? will know what I am talking about. It is such an amazing thing to discover.
For me, one of the most exciting things is talking to people who have always known it, but never actually put it into practice. It brings an enormous sense of satisfaction when I see them go out there and change their lives.
This IS the Game of Life and I spend my time teaching people how it works. On the occasions where they do not believe, it simply re-inforces our faith in Love even more.
If you really want your life to change, then you just need to think of what it is that would make you REALLY happy – what would really EXCITE you…. image it in your mind – FEEL it as though it were already there. Then ask for it and KNOW in your heart that you will get it.
Anyway, I will close here and just say that if there is anything we can do to help you both, you only need ask. It is the least we can do to say Thankyou for being *you*.
Love each other like you have never loved before!
Warmest Regards,
Michael & Hitomi
Hey Patric – You should start a new form – and call it Chando (Can-do)
Patric,
You say business has not gone the way you expected.
That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon what it is you were expecting… however, I take it you mean the latter.
I assumed that you would have so much business, goodwill and assistance pouring in from all over the planet, that your greatest worry would be finding time to catalogue it all…
Or even worse, HAVING catalogued it all and then realizing that time would have been better spent just taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves!
Why not tell me more about what hasn\’t been going well and I will see what we Chan-do to help.
(I cannot conceive of ANY business problem that can\’t be cured with $Money$
In case you are too busy flying around the globe, disciplining your secretaries or sailing yauchts to email me, the answer to your dilemna lies in automating your business so that these myriad \’things to do\’ fall below the threshold of consciousness, (or conversely, raising your consciousness *above* the level of these considerations) – leaving you to concentrate on more important matters concerning Love for your other half.
M&H (mirrorlogic@bigpond.com)
ps1 if we don\’t hear from you, we will assume you have already received all the help you need and that there will be no more *unhappy* posts
ps2 did you know that to post, I have to submit the ID twice every time ?
Hi Patric,
I’m so sorry your feeling this way. I think most of us are on the same journey if that helps at all. I can’t tell you how many have shared similar stories, but the good news is I don’t think your in bad company. I think energy works this way across the board with like minds. I have to laugh when the subject of patience comes up. I get so mad at God sometimes because of this subject, then when all is said and done “I” am the one apologizing because I have to admit at the end that the divine timing was perfect- I’m talking everytime!!! I would also like to give you some feminine insight if I may… I reflect often on childbirth during the times of feeling frustrated. During childbirth the pain becomes unbearable or so we think until it gets worse. At the time that woman think that they might die from this pain very soon after our baby is born. The pain is then understood because of the blessing that we hold in our arms, so understood that we agree to go through it all over again with all the exact same feelings. So Patric even though men may not bare children you too go through the same emotions when the time comes to give to the world what you know you must give. Patric you too will understand when you embrace your blessing too. So when the frustration becomes what you think is unbarable and then gets worse be thankful because that means your blessing is raedy to be born. God Bless you Patric Know that you are always loved more than you can imagine!!
Hi Chan,
I am a great fan of you and your writing. I am also glad of your association with motivational stalwarts like Anthonly Robbins, Jim Donovan, Brian Tracy, etc.
Like you, I am also going impatient during these for acquring a huge money. But as you said, Peristence pays.
Don’t worry. You’re our motivator. We imbibe what you say.
Hi Patric,
Thanks for sharing about the movie. I watched it on HBO, and I was touched, moved and inspired by the perseverance shown by Chris in facing problems. His was committed to get the best for his son (and himself) and was not attached to whatever result he got. Although the result was not encouraging, he moves on.
What I got is Chris took life as a test. The God wanted to know how he reacted to problems he faced. Did he blame the situation he was in, or God Himself, and give up living? Or, did he stay committed to what we wanted to achieve and work harder to achieve it?
That was what I practice in life, most of the time. I am committed to what I wanted to achieve and work hard for it. However, I do not put any expectation on what kind of result I am going to get. Simply because I am not in control of it, but God. Nevertheless, I believe God is always fair to us. He knows what is best for us. He will grant success when I am ready for it. I always feel peaceful inside when I hold to this belief. When I have an expectation and did not achieve it, I felt frustrated. The frustration may have some effect on my self-confidence, which may lead to quitting.