“Do not consider any vice trivial, and so practice it; do not consider any virtue trivial and so neglect it.”– Chinese Proverb-
Shortly before George Bernard Shaw died, someone approached and asked, “You have known all the great men of your time, who have shaped the destiny of the world. Now, if you could be born again and re-live your life, as any one of your choice, who would it be?” Without a moments hesitation he said “If I could re-live my life in the role of any person I desired, I would want to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but wasn’t”.
It is only when we can look back and think, that we become aware, how much we have missed over the years, by not waking up to realize our own full potential and for not changing ourselves, while we could, to the highest level of our capabilities.
We cannot accomplish anything, greater than what we are. It is indeed a tragedy to observe people struggling to improve their circumstances without giving a thought to improving themselves. It is elementary, that we should put ourselves under the microscope for observation and from time to time engage in self analysis with complete honesty and humility, so that we know what we have to do and must do to become better individuals.
The One and Only Sure Way Towards Self Improvement
Self Realization is the only sure way towards self improvement.
This has to become a continuous and self committed process. To be yourself and to be the best of your own self is the only sure way to live a happy and spiritually enhanced life. A peacock looks beautiful and charming only when it spreads its wings and walks like a peacock. If it tries to copy the mannerisms of another beautiful bird it will fail miserably and not make any impact of its own graceful personality.
Along with awareness must come flexibility and the burning desire to become a better person. Some people learn from the mistakes and experiences of others. Most learn from their own mistakes and life experiences. Still, there are some who refuse to learn at all. They probably feel that there is no real need for them to improve and become better individuals than what they already are. For them time shall not wait.
Self realization is a game equally won and lost in the mind. It takes courage to take the hard decision of self improvement. We must act only when we are prepared in order to get the best of what this universe has to offer.
GOD has given us a world that nothing but our own folly and our refusal to benefit from our experiences, keeps from being a paradise. The longer we live, the more we realize the impact of this truth. This small but powerful poem sums up the importance and urgency of acting while there is still time.
“The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one’s health is more,
To lose one’s soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
The present only is our own,
So live, love, toil with a will,
Place no faith in “Tomorrow,”
For the Clock may then be still.”
~ Robert H. Smith
Are you on the path to self realization? If so, what experience has led you to this journey? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Your experiences will help us all on this path to Self realization and Self Improvement.
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With Immense Love & Gratitude,
~Zeenat~
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Hi Zeenat, I know this is widely accepted, but I’m not sure I agree that self improvement is needed. I’m starting to feel that self improvement is folly and connected to our wounded ego and fearful minds. If our core spiritual nature and that of God is love, then why do we need to improve? Maybe the beat path is simply returning to love for all, self, others, nature and life itself. Surrendering to love seems to be my highest calling and purpose. blessings, Brad
Hi Zeenat
Self improvement has always been man’s endeavour otherwise he would have been still living in caves, wearing animal skins and a host of research bears a testimony to the fact that we are always trying to improve, whether it is our surrounding or ourselves. You are right, the irony is that we concentrate more on improving everything around us but ourselves!
I can’t agree more with George Bernard Shaw…even I would like to be what I couldn’t. I don’t think there would be antbody who would say that he has lived his life perfectly well. There is always a scope for improvement. Self realisation is not everybody’s cup of tea…it comes very late and in some cases it doesn’t come at all. I have seen some persons who refuse to improve, even after suffering. Their ego and arrogance doesn’t let them!
Thanks for the lovely poem, I liked that too.
Zeenat, I get it, more and more every day. And thank the Goddess that I have begun to be able to manifest the Sue I want to be, but haven’t been… Tonight I took a walk around this hospital floor, me and my IV pole, and my bags of blood and saline. I found a door to the outside, and stood in the night air and did some meditation and martial arts work.
I have been behaving lovingly, for the most part, and I’ll tell you, being in a hospital, and so much at the mercy of others’ schedules and rules (and food!) could have provoked some seriously pissed off and mean behavior from me. I don’t have to do that today. How liberating!
This is my path to self-realization, and I’m so grateful for it!
I appreciate you!
Love and light,
Sue
Beautiful thoughts Zeenat! I love your sentence, “Along with awareness must come flexibility and the burning desire to become a better person.” Just being aware or conscious helps us make better choices and changes. I think many people think we don’t have any say in this. They think we are who we are right now… We are able to evolve and transform ourselves and our lives into what we want. I hope many people read your article and take your lead, changing in the best was possible 😉
Thank YOU!
Such a beautiful post. I began on the path to liberation about 10 years ago and have rarely ever looked back! Flexibility and patience are big life lessons for me. Every day in every way I expand my awareness, love and success. Cheers!
The only constant thing in life is change.
Completely agreed with you ❤
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