virgin islands scene

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.
-- W. Somerset Maugham
 

 

Monday, November 18, 2002

Beyond concern for self

When you put all your efforts into defending, promoting and advancing only your own self, what have you really achieved? The victory is hollow, meaningless and will not last, if it even can be considered a victory in the first place.

Either you can be focused and absorbed and centered on yourself, or you can achieve truly great things. There is no way to do both. For self absorption is nothing other than a blocking out of all the other more positive and more magnificent possibilities. When it’s all about you, it’s all very small and limited.

Yet when the concerns of the self fall away, an astounding amount of positive, productive energy is set free. To the extent that you can look and live beyond yourself, many great things are possible.

Go beyond yourself, and worry is replaced by compassion and caring, fear is supplanted by confidence, despair is overwhelmed by love. Live beyond the concerns of self, and be astounded at how many limitations are simply no longer there.

— Ralph Marston

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Copyright ©2002 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.