Enduring Hardships with Grace: Calmness without Contention, Achievement without Arrogance
In this world, gains and losses, successes and failures, are all common occurrences, and the most important thing in life is whether one can remain indifferent, humble, and spontaneous. Then, truly being able to endure hardships without complaint, to be calm without contention, and to achieve without arrogance. “Xiao Chuang You Ji” states: “Maintain tranquility to cultivate the Dao, remain humble to nurture virtue, discard anger to nurture character, and cultivate resilience to nurture vitality.” In one’s remaining years, we must learn to let go of unimportant people and to overlook things that are beyond our control. In short, letting oneself become more relaxed, more at ease, and also being able to walk through life more calmly, living out one’s true nature.
Enduring Hardships Without Complaint
It can be said that a person can only truly grow when facing difficulties or by utilizing those difficulties.
As Wang Yangming said, only through trials and tribulations can one truly achieve self-realization. Clearly, those who end up living increasingly unsuccessful and mediocre lives do so because, when faced with adversity, they either choose to escape or to complain. “Xunzi” states: “Those who know themselves do not blame others; those who understand fate do not blame heaven; those who blame others are destitute; those who blame heaven have no ambition.” If complaining were effective, then in this world, there would be no weak or defeated individuals. Unfortunately, complaining is like an abyss; the more you stare at it, the more it absorbs your energy and depletes your strength. Furthermore, the longer you complain, the harder it is to free yourself, and you may even be consumed by it. The negative power of complaining is like a whirlpool; once you fall in, it’s very difficult to climb out. Life is full of people who complain, so in life, there are also many failures. This is not to belittle those who fail, but to tell everyone a truth: those who are accustomed to complaining are destined to live poorly. Instead of complaining, it’s better to learn to restrain oneself and to focus time and energy on understanding the essence of things, continually pondering and seeking. In this way, you can find the key to the problem and achieve personal growth through your calm, sober, and transformative actions.
Being Calm Without Contention
The key to a person’s maturity is their ability to remain patient and calm, never being contentious or eager to win.
Indeed, you must understand this reality: in this world, no one can remain 18 years old forever, but there will always be someone who is 18. Once you realize this truth, you will find that there are always people beyond people, and situations beyond situations, an eternal and unchanging truth. If you can remember this and approach all aspects of life with an ordinary and reverent heart, then your state of mind will certainly be calm, harmonious, and smooth. In real life, you will not compete or contend with others, but instead learn to overlook, accept, and understand everything. “Proverbs Union” states: “Those who constantly strive to be first will surely be crowded out; those who constantly strive to win will surely be thwarted.” Life is always unpredictable, and human nature is always inscrutable. However, no matter what, we can discover certain rules and logic within it. For example, the more you contend and strive, the more likely you are to offend others, and the more likely those around you will undermine you. The simple truth is, if you make life difficult for others, they will also make it difficult for you. This is reality. “Tao Te Ching” states: “He who does not contend, there is no one in the world who can contend with him.” Clearly, as a person’s inner peace and tranquility grow, they become less willing to argue with others and less inclined to quibble. After all, entangling with petty individuals only harms oneself, arguing with unpleasant individuals only injures oneself, and engaging with malicious individuals only damages oneself. It’s better to learn to remain clear-headed, calm, and to promptly cut ties with wrong people and matters. In this way, trouble will not find its way to you, and your life can be lived more tranquilly, smoothly, and healthily.
Achieving Without Arrogance
Ultimately, as people age, they will realize that being cautious and avoiding arrogance allows them to appreciate the clear and bright aspects of life.
Only by achieving without arrogance can one truly experience the boundless expanse of life. Letting oneself become increasingly humble, low-key, and hoping to live each day with a sense of steadfastness and groundedness. “The Analects” states: “The noble-minded are calm and do not boast; the petty-minded boast and are not calm.” As a person reaches a certain age, they will feel that refraining from arrogance and impetuosity allows them to appreciate the clear and bright aspects of life. Only by achieving without arrogance can one truly experience the boundless expanse of life. Letting oneself become increasingly relaxed, clear-minded, and more amiable in experiencing the present, and reaping the happy moments of life that belong to oneself.
