Nearly fifteen years ago, when a part of my job was to preview speakers for our annual conferences, I heard one of the original seven astronauts speak. I wish I could remember his name because his message is still with me.
He told of how in his younger days, back when he had just started up his career-ladder, he had a group of young pilots under him, a couple of whom were just the bane of his life. They were very good in class, in training, with others...they just ticked him off with every breath they took.
He finally was forced to go to his mentor for help...he was looking for ways to get those guys gone from his program, but his superior would have none of that. He was told that if he got shut of them, their replacements would be as trying, and more so, than the two he got rid of...guaranteed.
His mentor's suggestion: Find something you can sincerely respect in those two and concentrate on that alone. It will come to be that is the way you think of them...with respect.
I remember the neat feeling I got of identification, of validation if you will, for that is akin to the gift I was given, i.e., "find the gold in it," when I was up against my first Wall of Unacceptable.
I'm a believer that that is the secret to finding peace of mind...praise takes away our resistance which is the ego's pony to ride. When there is nothing to resist, our ego can find no purchase. Without purchase, our thoughts quiet. There it is...a quieted mind is a mind at peace.
Thank you.
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