THE KINGDOM WITHIN

IF Abraham Lincoln could educate himself with no more than a dozen books and serve a country to be remembered forever; if a deaf, dumb and blind Helen Keller could not only live life positively but uplift all those disabled at birth; if a Nelson Mandela could languish in a jail for 26 years and become the President of South Africa with a majority of Blacks and a minority of Whites, there is nothing that is impossible in this world if man is able to break out of his self-imposed prison of limitations. The Talmud, the Jewish scriptures, says “We look at things not as they are; we look at things as we are.”

Whatever you do to create a more positive environment will benefit not just others but us too.” Appreciating self-worth and importance and being accountable to oneself and acting in a responsible manner within the limited time available in life can miraculously transform darkness into light; mystery into discovery; work into worship; and an ass into an asset.

Stephen Covey, author of ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ writes, “My parents were constantly affirming me in everything I did. Late at night, I would wake up and hear my mother talking over my bed saying: You can do, anything you want.”

What it adds upto, is that your capability and confidence is raised several notches higher. Voltaire said: “By appreciating, we make excellence in others our own property.”

Like a robber grabbing a bag in the bazaar, you can appropriate to yourself the best of things lying around if only you can identify them and deserve them. Art Buchwald, Syndicated Columnist, once told a taxi driver, “Thank you for the ride. You did a superb job.” The driver was stunned and replied, “Are you eccentric, mad or insane? No one says such words to me.”

That night, the driver went home, hugged his wife and children and said, “I discovered something rare in this city. You know what? It is Love. I want to share it with you.”

If only people loved each other, this world would be a Heaven.