47. Worry

Worry is the twin sister of guilt. To worry is to use up the present moment being obsessed with the future. Like guilt, worry can be used to manipulate people. This is a favourite tactic of politicians when they want to get their own way. Bullies use it as a tactic too. Worry manufactures anxiety. 99.99% of the things we worry about never happen. Great thinkers, leaders inventors are not worriers. If you worry, it steals your time and immobilises you in the present with fearful thoughts about the future. Do not waste even 1 second worrying. If you assign a €1.00 value to a second of your life, then 1 day is equivalent to €84,000. Don't waste even 1 second - you might be glad of it some day. Worry will never prevent a tragedy, only sensible precautions will do that. Train and prepare for the worst case scenario then you will have everything covered.

The only value to worries is that they can motivate you to take action regarding the issue - if you're worried about exams then get busy studying !

46. Guilt

Guilt is not learning from the past. It is allowing yourself to be immobilised in the the present by something that took place in the past. The fruits of guilt are :
1. Immobilising panic
2. Sleeplessness
3. Fear
4. Introversion
5. Shame
6. Loss of Self-esteem
7. Lack of Initiative

There are more negative effects associated with guilt such as long-term psychiatric damage, but it is rnough to know for now that it is to be avoided as much as possible.

Guilt is a favourite weapon of the weak, used to manipulate others. Being a victim of guilt-manipulation leads to the abandonment of your inner voice in favour of the wishes of the manipulator. Avoid this trap.

45. Seeing Beneath the Surface

Always look for the Peace, Love, Harmony and Perfection that is always present everywhere. Seek it out rather than the hostility ugliness and hatefulness that is often more apparent but is always transient. You do this by looking beneath the surface of things to see into the essence. See the unity of all beings rather than their differences.