Then there is the poison of avarice. Financial gain seems to be the one
end and aim of many ambitious men. They struggle day after day and year
after year in the whirlpool of perverted enthusiasm, looking
continuously for wealth and still more wealth. But there is something
more in life than money. Health, for instance, is worth a thousand
times, and self-respect should be rated a million times, more than
money. Do not allow a struggle of this sort to enslave you. Do not
allow pursuits of any sort to interfere with the development and
maintenance of those powers that indicate superior manhood and
womanhood. It is also well to avoid the complaining and critical spirit.
You will find frequent references in the Good Book to what might be
termed the thankful spirit. It commands us to be thankful for what we
have received. And whether or not the tenets of theology appeal to you,
the thought presented is of the greatest value. If you can be thrilled
each day with gladness because of the remembrance of pleasures that you
have enjoyed the previous day the mental influence will be invaluable.
Being thankful for what you have received does not necessarily indicate
that you should not strive for more and better things. Dissatisfaction
or discontent is not always necessary to spur one on to added powers and
responsibilities. Avoid the complaining spirit, which will add gloom and
despair to your life, no matter what may be your environment. Be
thankful for the favors and opportunities that may have come to you, be
they large or small, and your mental attitude in this respect will
represent a potent health-building influence.
Envy is another evil it will be well to avoid, largely because it is
inspired by selfish attributes. Do not envy others the joy of
possessions that may be theirs. Happiness, after all, is worth but
little if it comes unearned. Life's greatest pleasures are
secured only through intelligent and diligent efforts. They come as
the results of hard work. A man who inherits great wealth secures little
or no benefit from it. It adds but little to his pleasure in life, for
the greatest possible happiness comes from the pursuit rather than the
attainment of an object. More happiness comes from the pursuit of
wealth or pleasure than from its actual attainment. Let the attainment
of truth be your aim. Truth is magnificent. It is tremendously
weighted with power. Whatever your ambitions or hopes in life may be,
seek for the truth. In some cases the road that leads to this goal may
be devious and hard to follow. Dangers of all sorts may beset you, as
you struggle along the rugged pathway that leads to truth, but the
rewards will amply repay you for every effort.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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