Excellence is not an act, but a habit s1 t2 `2 f: m9 W- j" T1 ~# m6 Q4 j" E S
9 G7 u" V6 o5 U! _, C
Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny,” the maxim goes. u3 g; m& _7 P8 v) y7 {# V) H# N
5 s) Z! n1 p! \& a: V5 ^( E1 d
人的品德基本上是由习惯组成的。 俗语说；思想决定行动，行动决定习惯，习惯决定品德，品德决定命运。& f+ ?1 D# s9 Z
, t. x- B( u# g$ ~7 i 6 e% M) ^" U& b% ZHabits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness or ineffectiveness.' f4 }: y, r+ t! L
0 Y; Y: s+ N, i
, O, q* v# h M8 U" X习惯对我们的生活有绝大的影响，因为它们是一贯的。 在不知不觉中， 经年累月影响着我们的品德，暴露出我们的本性，左右着我们的成败。 & k$ k, Q) ^4 r1 o7 i% ^
; j g$ X, Q$ ^" }0 Z' j9 }As Horace Mann, the great educator, once said, “habits are like a cable. We weave a strand of it every day and soon it cannot be broken.” I personally do not agree with the last part of his expression. I know habits can be learned and unlearned. But is also know it isn’t a quick fix. It involves a process and a tremendous commitment.
Those of us who watched the lunar voyage of Apollo 11 were transfixed as we saw the first men walk on the moon and return to earth. But to get there, those astronauts literally had to break out of the tremendous gravity pull of the earth. More energy was spent in the first few minutes of lift-off, in the first few miles of travel, than was used over the next several days to travel half a million miles.
Habits, too, have tremendous gravity pull- more than most people realize or would admit. Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as procrastination, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness involves more than a little willpower and a few minor changes in our lives. “Lift off” takes a tremendous effort, but once we break out of the gravity pull, our freedom takes on a whole new dimension.
Looking back at my younger years, I am sometimes amazed at how life has turned out. Nothing is exactly what I had originally planned for. The only thing that stays the same is who I am, my values, and my interests. If I could go back in time and hang out with my younger self for a day, here's what I would tell her.
1. Everything happens for a reason.% {. k, i% I4 n, w7 W7 D& C
一切事情都有原因。
Without mistakes and failure, you would never have learned. Without pain, you would never have grown. Once you understand this，you will know that everything comes in to serve a purpose. So don't stress or think that life is unfair, because everything happens for a reason. And only time will tell what it will teach us.
, v3 t/ n* Q- l! f2 O3 K+ t
2. Focus on one thing at a time. You can have it all but not all at once.1 h+ E& i7 |9 F6 l {) S" y N- k
一次只关注一件事。你将会拥有一切，但不能一次就全部实现。
It is not surprising that many of us are doing too many things at once. We need to make ends meet. But if you are working three jobs at a time, it is not likely that you will succeed at any of them. You have to keep your eyes on the big picture. You have to ask yourself what exactly do you want to achieve for the next 10 years? Focus on one thing at a time. Achieve your goals one by one.
3. You can plan ahead, but your plan will definitelychange when the time comes.
你可以提前计划，但计划没有变化快。
You can plan ahead because sometimes planning ahead can give you a clearer direction of where you want to go. However, plans will almost always change, so be prepared!
Don't worry too much about a decision you have to make. Just do what feels right. You know what you want. You might consult other people. But deep down, you know what you want. Do what makes you happy. Because at the end of the day, even if you follow logic, you will want to quit and follow your heart.
5. It's okay to be unsureabout your purpose in life.
生活目标不明确也没关系。
You might be graduating or have hit a turning point with your career. You might feel a bit lost and unsure of where to go. It's okay. Go out there and try as many different things as you can. Don't ever feel like you're wasting your time. Enjoy the journey. Don't rush. Every little path will lead you somewhere. And looking back, you will be able to connect the dots. It will all make sense.
Don't worry if you feel like it's hard to make new friends. Just be yourself and be as open as you can. It might take a while until you find new best friends and a mate for life, but when you do, you will know it. It's not hard work. So, just do your thing and be yourself.
7. Take of leap of faith in yourself.$ {$ p- |1 g: |8 t& E% R
提高自信。
You've got nothing to lose but everything to gain. If you fail, you'll become smarter; If you succeed, you'll gain even more self-confidence and the emotional and financial rewards. See life as a progressive journey. And you'll most certainly achieve anything you set your mind to.
收藏
喜欢
踩
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
千斤顶
照妖镜
