Before You Become Who You Are

Spiritual practice begins with respecting your "unaccomplished" self.

Over a century ago, Nietzsche predicted the spiritual dilemma of our time: as the external world grows ever more powerful, human awareness diminishes. The pressure is immense and inescapable.

Where can we find the panacea?

Nietzsche said: Begin by respecting your unaccomplished self, and become a strong inner self.

1. Know your place: Only by respecting yourself can you possess the power to change everything.

Why do people feel lonely? It's because they don't know how to love themselves. We should give love and compassion to others and constantly examine ourselves with a magnifying glass, but we must never belittle ourselves—otherwise, we will only bind our thoughts and actions.

Everything begins with respecting yourself, with respecting your unaccomplished, utterly unsuccessful self.

2. Respecting yourself is the key to change.

Never belittle yourself; otherwise, you will only bind your thoughts and actions. Everything begins with respecting yourself, respecting your unaccomplished, utterly unsuccessful self. Only by knowing how to respect yourself will you refrain from wrongdoing and actions that invite contempt.

By changing your lifestyle, you can get closer to your ideals and become a role model for others. You can also significantly expand your potential and gain the strength to achieve your goals. Only by respecting yourself can you live a more fulfilling life.

3. Let joy reside in your heart: The higher your spiritual level, the more joy you can find in the smallest things.

You can never have too much joy; living happily is the most important thing. If you can earnestly appreciate the small things, you will discover that life is full of joy. Joy can make you forget your worries and reduce your dislike and hatred for others.

Laugh heartily and enjoy every moment with your whole being. Don't be shy; express your good mood as frankly as a child.

4. Embrace your finite life: Choose a life not controlled by desires.

Without starting, there is no progress; without knowing how to let go, there is no advancement. Only by breaking free from stale thinking can you be reborn; only by understanding how to plan your life can you truly savor it.

We will experience many things in our lives, and these experiences can determine the length of our lives. Because time is limited, we must seize the opportunities before us and choose a life not controlled by desires. Leave the sighs and groans to the actors!

5. Free your mind: Pleasure and unpleasantness both arise from thought.

Whether you do nothing and lazily spend the day, or bravely take on challenges and put in effort, every attitude is writing your own history. Discard the trivial, try to control your emotions, and your spirit and heart will be free.

6. Cherish friendship: Cherish the relationships that help you grow.

Always be honest with your friends. Have courage when facing enemies. Be tolerant of the defeated. Always treat others with courtesy. If you always associate with people of similar ability, thinking yourself superior, you will only waste your precious time. Communicate more with people who have achieved success through their own efforts, and you will better understand what you should be doing now.

7. Find your place in the world: Don't be led by the nose by external forces.

There's no need to please everyone; have your own principles in life. Learn not to be bothered by trivial matters, and not to be misled by the judgments of the majority. True detachment from the world means not being led by emotional fluctuations, remaining unaffected by emotions, and thus mastering the steering wheel of life.

8. Learn to understand human nature: Find your support in life.

What people crave is overwhelming charisma. When competing with others, win with the composure of a winner, leaving your opponent with a satisfied and approving victory. Truly intelligent people also know how to conceal their brilliance. Those who appear foolish but are wise are more charming and more likely to gain help from others, far more advantageous than those who only know how to be clever.

9. Don't reflect on yourself when you're exhausted.

Perhaps you reflect on yourself after work or at the end of the day. Doing so will make you notice your own and others' shortcomings, be angry at your own incompetence, and resent others, only making you feel more depressed.

Why is this? Because you're not calmly reflecting on yourself; you're just physically and mentally exhausted. Reflecting when you're exhausted will only trap you in depression. Therefore, when you're tired, you shouldn't reflect or dwell on the past, much less write in a diary.

When you're engrossed in something or in a good mood, it's impossible to reflect or dwell on the past. When you feel useless or hate others, it indicates physical and mental exhaustion, and that's when you should rest.

10. Learn to love: Love fosters growth, bringing you closer to perfection.

Love isn't about filling the gaps between two people, nor is it about forcing one party to compromise. True love is about embracing each other's differences. If you forget how to love, you can no longer love yourself, and life will end.

When you fall in love with someone, you'll strive to correct your shortcomings before they notice. Love fosters growth, bringing you closer to a perfect God.

When you forget how to love, you forget what's truly worthy of love within yourself, and you can no longer love yourself.

Therefore, learn to love. True love is about harmony between mind and body; love the other person for who they truly are.

11. Embrace wisdom: Learn to empower yourself and become truly original.

Learning allows us to rediscover love and beauty, giving us new perspectives. Even if what you're learning now seems useless, it may be the foundation for a better life.

By humbling ourselves, we can see more and broader, discovering the unique and different aspects of things that others overlook.

Don't be pessimistic because you lack natural talents. If you feel you have no talent, learn one.

Thank you for reading!