gray.matter.forethoughts

“Many people on this planet worry about going to hell, but this is not much use. There is no need to be afraid. While we remain on the earth worrying about hell, about death, about all the things that could go wrong, we will have lots of anxiety, and we will never find joy and happiness. If you are truly afraid of hell, you need to live your life with some purpose, especially through helping others.” “So,” the Dalai Lama finally said,“I prefer to go to hell than to heaven. I can solve more problems in hell. I can help more people there.”

"I don’t know too many people who like to feel unimportant. As a matter of fact, when we communicate in a manner that tells the other person they are important, and they don’t necessarily expect that, our credibility will go that much higher as a result. We are defying their expectation, in a positive way. When we make people feel important, we build credibility across the board, regardless of status, power or position."

"Grit is a somewhat old-fashioned term, resurrected from a previous century. But it is enjoying a remarkable renaissance these days. Why? Because it seems as if we are getting soft. Grit is about sweat, not swagger. Character, not charisma. Grit has been equated more with methodical stick-to-itiveness and survival than any secret ingredient to success. Which is too bad, because for so many, grit is the secret to success. Grit is the result of a hard-fought struggle, a willingness to take risks, a strong sense of determination, working relentlessly toward a goal, taking challenges in stride, and having the passion and perseverance to accomplish difficult things, even if you are wallowing in the most difficult circumstances."