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Online since 1999

When to be careful, when to be confident

7/24/2022

7 Comments

 
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The worries and concerns we have in life are often caused by the incorrect application of our time and energies.

For example, we worry about others do, how they'll view us, and the decisions they will make that might negatively affect us.

While those are valid concerns, the relevant question we must ask ourselves is whether it's worth our time and energy to think about them.

The answer, if you think about it, is no. And here's why.

The obvious answer is we don't have control over what others do. We have influence but that's far from having control. And that's actually a good thing. Because we don't want anyone else to control us either. We might allow others to influence us through reason, but not control.

The less obvious answer is we should spend more time and energy on our own actions. They are absolutely things we can control. Complete control. And we can take those actions now. No need to worry about how, what, when.

Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of being proactive and take preventative measures. Whose responsibility is this? Ours. He understands we ourselves can make a positive impact on the future if we act in the present.

So even though Sun Tzu strives to create results favorable to us through the decisions of others, the basis of that calculus lies in our own early initial actions.

For instance, if we want another person to listen to us, and nobody is listening to each other, then we must take it upon ourselves to start listening even when nobody else is listening. Extend an olive branch. Taking the initiative and being an example won't always work, but we have a much better chance of success than doing nothing and letting things happen as is.

Therefore, we must ponder and be careful about how we approach matters and how our actions affect others. As for what other people do, we can be confident they will do what they do, problems and all, as it should be, not as we wish them to be. Fortunately, we don't need to wish and worry about what we ourselves will do, and what we are doing now. We have full control. So take it.
7 Comments
Boyd Bivens
7/24/2022 11:41:15 am

Your thoughts and words mirror my own. The words of SunTzu, Lao Tsu, and Buddha have shown me the path to contentment in my life.I have studied them for many, many years

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Thomas Huynh
7/24/2022 06:17:17 pm

What a personal Board of Directors it would be if three members were Sun Tzu, Lao Tzu, and Buddha!

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Jen
7/27/2022 06:10:42 am

So happy you are back. What a blessing!

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Thomas Huynh
7/28/2022 04:25:36 am

I’m so happy you’re here too Jen!

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Trey Davis
7/29/2022 05:29:28 am

Thomas, your post is so central to living in peace and tranquility.
Yes, attend only to my own business. I am not the arbiter of good living. It is simply silly and useless to wrap myself up in the problems and issues of others. I have enough misgivings and problems of my own to work on. It is foolish to think I can control what others think and do anyway. Why would I want to add that extra level of stress and angst to my life? Tend to the garden of my own mind. There is enough work to be done on myself that I should not have time to meddle in the affairs of others. Of course, this does not mean I abstain from helping others where they may need help. But be certain that I am truly helping as opposed to interfering.

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Vera Koehler
7/31/2022 01:11:36 am

When I saw an email from sonshi I was so happy and I feel so fortunate you still remember to send me an email it was so many years ago I signed up on your website and actually my son made me aware of the art of war and give me the book thank you

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John Lewis link
2/16/2023 08:20:41 am

Your thoughts and words mirror my own. The words of SunTzu, Lao Tsu, and Buddha have shown me the path to contentment in my life.I have studied them for many, many years

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    Thomas Cuong Huynh, founder of Sonshi

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