Wise People Should Not Strive for These Four Things
Author: Insightful Azure
Who can renounce fame and fortune, freely roaming in the virtual realm.
In life, we inevitably encounter things that upset us and cause us misfortune.
Not everything is worth our painstaking efforts and struggles for supremacy.
Truly intelligent people understand the pros and cons, knowing which things are worth spending time and energy on, and which are simply not.
Life is like a journey of cultivation, some things truly don't need to be overly concerned about.
As the saying goes: 'Not striving, not competing – this does not mean I am inferior to you.'
Smart people all understand four things they shouldn't strive for:
01
Don't strive for face
In life, there are 'three bowls of noodles' that are essential: face, reputation, and status.
We often try to appear respectable, inevitably compromising and even pretending to be stronger than we are.
Remember the small skit 'Having Matters to Say' which reveals the insincere pretenses and the suffering of family members.
A friend couldn't get a train ticket home for the New Year, he didn't sleep for a whole night, transporting his bedding to queue up to buy tickets for others.
A colleague borrowed money from him, even though he couldn't afford it, he still went to great lengths to gather the money for him.
The more someone strives for face, the more lacking they are in substance.
In 'Striving for Face is Better than Relying on Substance,' there's a saying:
'A person doesn't necessarily have substance, but if they have substance, they will certainly have face.'
Ordinary people strive for their own face; successful people understand how to create face for others and enrich their own substance.
We often can sacrifice our dignity to be humiliated, rather than admitting our own shortcomings, we should always be prepared to take a big loss before we have face.
For face, some people do things they are completely incapable of, and some people are willing to borrow and owe to create a grand appearance, doing countless foolish things of fearing face and living in shame.
Although this temporarily preserved face, due to the emptiness in their hearts, they lacked real strength, ultimately harming their substance.
True face comes from the ability and strength that lies within; it's built up through consistent efforts to establish a good reputation.
Instead of focusing on face, it's better to enrich ourselves with substance.
Without striving, without arrogance, a calm and relaxed heart, living simply, is truly a respectable way to live.
02
Don't argue
Kai Kang Ye once told a story in 'High Emotional Intelligence, That's How to Speak.'
In the company, a young man with a high education, high intelligence, and high ability was appreciated by the boss.
However, he had a habit of arguing.
Every time there was a meeting, if someone had any objection to his project, he would immediately blush and shout, arguing fiercely, and he wouldn't concede even if he was wrong.
Over time, everyone avoided him, and no one dared to offer him reasonable suggestions regarding his projects, leading to frequent mistakes and eventually losing the boss's favor.
Sometimes, the momentary satisfaction of arguing is just a superficial victory, leading to a brief feeling of pleasure, but exposing their bad character.
Truly insightful people don't argue over trivial matters.
Truly capable people don't argue with anyone, because they wouldn't waste their time arguing with anyone.
03
Don't seek fame
'When striving for fame and fortune, how can it ever end? Early mornings and late nights, freedom denied.'
As a young man, his family was extremely poor, but he was intelligent and diligent in his studies.
Some pampered young masters envied his talent and falsely accused him of stealing.
Soon, he proved his innocence with facts, and from then on, he resolutely determined to pass the imperial examinations.
Without striving for fame, he established a long-term goal, and time would give him the answer; those who are patient and wise would be respected, while those who are hasty would be humiliated.
Water doesn't compete with everything; it appears weak and without bones, but it is resilient and can accommodate, therefore it is profound and vast.
Having read a passage: 'A truly insightful person never thinks they are right, only cares about their own feelings, and impulsively or arrogantly intervenes in front of others, blindly taking the lead or showing off their arrogance!'
His cultivation would tell him what is appropriate to do and not do, striving for success is not striving for a lifetime, bravery is appropriate, and excessive bravery is nothing more than being disrespectful of others.
The deeper the understanding, the quieter the person.
03
'To be a towering tree, don't compete with grass.'
As a young man, he was extremely poor, but he was intelligent and diligent in his studies.
Some pampered young masters envied his talent and falsely accused him of stealing.
Soon, he proved his innocence with facts, and from then on, he resolutely determined to pass the imperial examinations.
Without striving for fame, he established a long-term goal, and time would give him the answer; those who are patient and wise would be respected, while those who are hasty would be humiliated.
Water doesn't compete with everything; it appears weak and without bones, but it is resilient and can accommodate, therefore it is profound and vast.
Having read a passage: 'A truly insightful person never thinks they are right, only cares about their own feelings, and impulsively or arrogantly intervenes in front of others, blindly taking the lead or showing off their arrogance!'
As a young man, he was extremely poor, but he was intelligent and diligent in his studies.
Some pampered young masters envied his talent and falsely accused him of stealing.
Soon, he proved his innocence with facts, and from then on, he resolutely determined to pass the imperial examinations.
Without striving for fame, he established a long-term goal, and time would give him the answer; those who are patient and wise would be respected, while those who are hasty would be humiliated.
Water doesn't compete with everything; it appears weak and without bones, but it is resilient and can accommodate, therefore it is profound and vast.
1991
04
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