Life is a Self-fulfilling Prophecy

If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.

The greatest limitations you will ever face will be those you place on yourself.

"A man's weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own and not another man's. They are brought about by himself and not by another; and they can only be altered by himself, never by another. His condition is also his own, and not another man's. His sufferings and his happiness are evolved from within.”

How often it is we find ourselves attempting to change someone else’s life. Usually it’s someone close to us --- someone we hold near and dear like a spouse, a child or a sibling. Our intentions are generally good and aimed at making life better for someone we care about.

But, oh, how next to impossible it is to control someone else’s life. And so painful!! That most of our suffering in relationships is tied to the failure of other people to meet our expectations; of them failing to do what we think is right for them (or that satisfies us).

I have been helping my 10-year-old, who will be in Primary 5 this year. My experience and knowledge suggests a path for her that I think best utilizes her talents and gifts. But it is not a path that she may want to pursue – and no amount of persuasion on my part might change that. It would be frustrating – and somewhat painful – for me to deal with that. As parents, we always want the best for our children – at least what we think is best.

However, as my child grows older -eventually I must allow my child to go down the path she will choose, with full knowledge that “her condition is her own, and not anyone else's.” And that ultimately “her sufferings and her happiness are evolved from within.” While I can offer her advice, my best help will be by becoming the best example I can be of.

We can directly measure our progress down our path by how detached we can become when the direction of another's life conflicts with what we think is best for them. When we can act with the assurance that they must follow their own path just as we must follow ours, we will have taken a great leap in our personal growth.

Should we have high expectations of those who are close to us? Absolutely!

“Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You may not get what you want, but in the long run you will get what you expect.” So how do we handle it when others don’t do as we’d like? “Love them for what they choose to be regardless of your opinion about what they should choose to be.”

Author: Unknown