117. Being Human

In every situation, ask yourself "What is the human way to handle this ?" If your solution is causing unnecessary distress then it is not the right answer. Remember too that whoever is under a man's power is also under his protection. This is the responsibility of power.

116. Delayed Gratification

Learn the value of "Later!" Delayed gratification means delaying one good in the present time for the sake of a greater good in the future. Learning to delay your gratification as a child means that you will not become a broken, chaotic adult who is the slave of advertisers, banks and credit card companies.This is one powerful building block in the structure of your life plan and goal setting skills. A good challenge for today for you is to find at least six more equally powerful blocks and put them together to build yourself a pillar of wisdom.

115. Your Life is up to You

You are responsible for how you lead your life. You must take responsibility for your behaviour,thoughts, speech and actions. You cannot talk your way out of situations into which you have behaved yourself. You are not responsible for those things that happen exeternally. Things very often happen through no fault of your own. There are plenty of people who will try to blame you for these. You need to be very clear about which of these things are and are not your responsibility. Keep refining your clarity. Be particularly careful of your speech. Your speech is hugely influential. If you say things to people they very often will act on your words. When speaking, you must first be very clear in your own mind what it is you want to convey. Then formulate it in such a way that there is no ambiguity. Make any important distinctions as clear as possible and explain them in a logical manner. Finally, watch and listen at least twice as much as you speak.

You will be deeply affected by the relationships in your life but you can never blame your problems on anyone else. If, for example you have a problem with the way someone is treating you, it has arisen because you have, in some way, taught that person to treat you in this way.

If you are to succeed, you will encounter many failures on the way. This can be discouraging if you allow it to be. It need not be. You can seek support from those around you. This is one thing but you must not allow yourself to rely on some overly responsible individual to bail you out time and again from spiritual, emotional, financial or relational difficulties. To do so would be extremely unhealthy.

114. On the Popularity of your Work

(Even) if nobody likes your work, you have to go on - for the sake of the work. - Gustav Holst.

113. On writing

Write something every day - even if it is rubbish. Simply take on the projects you love and then let them go. - Debbie Wiseman, Film composer

112. The Habit of Excellence

Excellence is a habit. Practice asking yourself always "How could I have done this better ?"

111. Prioritise Your Committments

Whatever else you do about your promises (snd you should strive to keep them all), the promises you make to yourself take ABSOLUTE precedence over those made to others. "This above all else, to thine own self be true for it follows as night the day that thou cannot then be false to any man." - William Shakespeare.