Air Mata Mutiara

Pada suatu hari seekor anak kerang di dasar laut mengadu dan mengeluh pada ibunya sebab sebutir pasir tajam memasuki tubuhnya yang merah dan lembik.

"Anakku," kata sang ibu sambil bercucuran air mata, "Tuhan tidak memberikan pada kita, bangsa kerang, sebuah tangan pun, sehingga ibu tak dapat menolongmu."

Si ibu terdiam, sejenak, "Aku tahu bahawa itu sakit anakku. Tetapi terimalah itu sebagai takdir alam. Kuatkan hatimu. Jangan terlalu lincah lagi. Kerahkan semangatmu melawan rasa ngilu dan perit yang menggigit. Balutlah pasir itu dengan getah perutmu. Hanya itu yang mampu kau lakukan", kata ibunya dengan sendu dan lembut.

Anak kerang pun melakukan nasihat bondanya. Ada hasilnya, tetapi rasa sakit terkadang masih terasa. Kadang di tengah kesakitannya, ia meragukan nasihat ibunya. Dengan air mata ia bertahan, bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Tetapi tanpa disadarinya sebutir mutiara mulai terbentuk dalam dagingnya. Makin lama makin halus. Rasa sakit pun makin berkurang. Dan semakin lama mutiaranya semakin besar. Rasa sakit menjadi terasa lebih wajar.

Akhirnya sesudah sekian tahun, sebutir mutiara besar, kukuh berkilat, dan berharga mahal pun terbentuk dengan sempurna. Penderitaannya berubah menjadi mutiara; air matanya berubah menjadi sangat berharga. Dirinya kini, sebagai hasil derita bertahun-tahun, lebih berharga daripada sejuta kerang lain yang cuma disantap orang sebagai kerang rebus di pinggir jalan.

  

Cerita di atas adalah sebuah paradigma yg menjelaskan bahwa penderitaan adalah lorong transendental untuk menjadikan "kerang biasa" menjadi "kerang luar biasa". Kerana itu dapat dipertegaskan bahawa kekecewaan dan penderitaan dapat mengubah "orang biasa" menjadi "orang luar biasa".

Banyak orang yang mundur saat berada di lorong transendental tersebut, kerana mereka tidak tahan dengan cubaan yang mereka alami. Ada dua pilihan sebenarnya yang dapat mereka pilih: menjadi `kerang biasa' yang disantap orang atau menjadi `kerang yang menghasilkan mutiara'. Sayangnya, lebih banyak orang yang mengambil pilihan pertama, sehingga tidak mengherankan bila jumlah orang yang berjaya lebih sedikit dari orang yang `biasa-biasa saja'.

Mungkin saat ini kita sedang mengalami penolakan, kekecewaan, patah hati, atau terluka kerana orang-orang di sekitar kamu cubalah utk tetap tersenyum dan tetap berjalan di lorong tersebut, dan sambil katakan di dalam hatimu..

"Airmataku diperhitungkan Tuhan dan penderitaanku ini akan mengubah diriku menjadi mutiara."

Kisah Sebuah Jam

Alkisah, seorang pembuat jam tangan berkata kepada jam yang sedang dibuatnya. "Hai jam, apakah kamu sanggup untuk berdetik paling tidak 31,104,000 kali selama setahun?"

"Ha?," kata jam terperanjat, "Mana sanggup saya?"

"Bagaimana kalau 86,400 kali dalam sehari?" tanya si pembuat jam.

"Lapan puluh enam ribu empat ratus kali? Dengan jarum yang ramping-ramping seperti ini?" jawab jam penuh keraguan.

"Bagaimana kalau 3,600 kali dalam satu jam?" cadang si pembuat jam.

"Dalam satu jam harus berdetik 3,600 kali? Banyak sekali itu" tetap saja jam ragu-ragu dengan kemampuan dirinya.

Tukang jam dengan penuh kesabaran kemudian berkata lagi kepada si jam. "Kalau begitu, sanggupkah kamu berdetik satu kali setiap detik?"

"Oh, kalau begitu, aku sanggup!" kata jam dengan penuh semangat.

Maka, setelah selesai dibuat, jam itu berdetik satu kali setiap detik. Tanpa terasa, detik demi detik terus berlalu dan jam itu sungguh luar biasa kerana ternyata selama satu tahun penuh dia telah berdetik tanpa henti. Dan itu bererti ia telah berdetik sebanyak 31,104,000 kali.

Ada kalanya kita ragu-ragu dengan segala tugas pekerjaan yang begitu terasa berat. Namun sebenarnya kalau kita sudah menjalankannya, kita ternyata mampu. Bahkan yang kita anggap mustahil untuk dilakukan sekalipun.

Cermin Diri Hiasi Diri

Pesan seorang Doktor yang selalu mengingatkan saya tentang realiti hidup …

Seringkali impian terbesar kita dapat ditemukan dalam ketakutan terbesar kita. Semakin kita merasa bijak harusnya membuat kita semakin menyedari bahwa ada banyak hal yang belum kita ketahui dalam hidup ini.

Kejayaan atau kegagalan kita dalam pencapaian biasanya berkaitan dengan kemampuan membina hubungan antara sesama kita. Kebanyakan orang berjaya kerana mereka menetapkan hati untuk itu. Investasi yang terbaik adalah investasi pada diri kita sendiri berupa pengetahuan dan skill.

Jabatan yang tinggi tanpa disertai Attitude (sikap & karakter) yang baik, akan menghancurkan kehidupan seseorang sampai titik yg paling rendah. Salah satu musuh kemajuan diri kita adalah Comfort Zone.

Nikmati hal-hal kecil dalam hidup ini, kerana mungkin suatu hari kita baru menyedari itu adalah hal besar. Untuk mampu meraih pencapaian yang lebih besar dari sekarang, kita perlu memperbesar kapasiti diri kita. Beberapa orang hidup dalam penjara yang membatasi dirinya namun bukan penjara besi melainkan penjara pikirannya sendiri.

Kemampuan mengerti atau memahami orang lain adalah salah satu kunci sukses dalam menjalin hubungan. Ucapkan dalam doa kita setiap hari bahwa saya perlu Engkau Tuhan dalam seluruh aspek hidup saya. Apabila kita memiliki kebesaran hati maka kita tidak akan mudah marah, kecewa dan tersinggung.

Kejayaan dalam hidup tidak datang degan sendirinya, kita yang harus pergi meraihnya. Pastikan diri kita dikenal sebagai sumber solusi bukan sumber masalah. Jangan biarkan kemajuan diri kita dihalangi oleh kebiasaan-kebiasaan buruk.

Upgrade terus kualiti diri kita, agar kita senantiasa memiliki nilai tambah. Di dalam diri kita sudah diberikan Tuhan kemampuan yang sangat hebat untuk kita gunakan secara maksima. Komitmen dan konsistensi ke sasaran yang tepat akan membuahkan hasil.

Nyatakan hari ini bahawa "Tuhan aku perlu tuntunan-Mu senantiasa dlm seluruh aktivitiku hari ini."

Seandainya saja kita selalu benar-benar berpikir sebelum bertindak pasti penyesalan jarang terjadi. Jika kita selalu menantikan kondisi yang sempurna maka kita tidak akan pernah melakukan apapun. Orang yang rendah hati akan belajar lebih banyak berbanding orang yang arogan.

Sukses bukanlah final, gagal bukanlah fatal; dan keberanian untuk melanjutkan adalah hal yang paling utama. Tidak masalah bagaimana lambatnya Anda berjalan. Yang penting Anda tidak berhenti. Dua puluh tahun dari sekarang, Anda akan lebih kecewa terhadap hal-hal yang tidak Anda lakukan, daripada hal-hal yang telah Anda lakukan.

Kebanyakan orang berjaya bukan kerana mereka menetapkan hati untuk itu. Ketika rintangan meningkat, anda mampu mengubah arah menuju sasaran anda, tapi jangan mengubah keputusan anda untuk mencapainya.

Kejayaan tidak diukur dari posisi yang telah dicapai seseorang dalam hidupnya, tapi dari rintangan yang berjaya dilaluinya ketika mereka berusaha mencapai kejayaan. Perubahan adalah hukum kehidupan. Dan orang yang hanya melihat ke masa lalu atau masa sekarang pasti akan melewatkan masa depan.

Masalah adalah kesempatan bagi Anda untuk melakukan yang terbaik dalam kehidupan. Jangan biarkan kekecewaan hari kemarin mengalihkan impian hari esok. Kualiti hidup seseorang berkadar terus dengan komitmen mereka terhadap kesempurnaan, terlepas dari apapun bidang yang mereka pilih.

Keinginan adalah kunci dari motivasi, tapi ketetapan hati dan komitmen yang akan membawa Anda mencapai sukses. Anda harus bangun setiap pagi dengan tekad untuk sukses, bila Anda ingin tidur dengan penuh kepuasan.

Rahsia sukses adalah konsisten terhadap tujuan Anda setiap harinya. Harga untuk sukses adalah kerja keras, dedikasi, dan ketetapan hati bahwa kita telah memberikan yang terbaik untuk pekerjaan kita. Perbedaan antara "Yang Tidak Mungkin" dan "Yang Mungkin" terletak di dalam tekad seseorang.

Jagalah diri Anda agar selalu bersih dan terang; Anda adalah jendela, dimana melaluinya-lah, Anda akan melihat dunia.

Story about Time

Once a wise man was asked a question: “What is Time?”

He answered; “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.”

The one who asked the question was disappointed; “That’s it?”

“Well,” the wise man said, “ then listen to this story.”

There was one Today which wanted to become Always.

Yesterday told her; “I also wanted that when I was you.”

“Did you ask Always how she does that? - inquired Today.

“I asked.” answered Yesterday.

“And?” questioned Today

“By changing, was her answer, by becoming Tomorrow from Today.” answered Yesterday

“But that means, Today thought, that Always does not belong to herself. She is always someone else! It means that something is making her do that. But what?” asked Today

Yesterday suggested; Maybe it’s Time?

A Big Mirror

A long time ago there lived a great shah. He ordered to build a beautiful palace which had many wonderful things in it. Among other curiosities in the palace there was a hall, where all the walls, the sealing, the door and even the floor were made of mirror.

The mirrors were so clear and smooth that visitors didn’t understand at once that there was a mirror in front of them – so accurately the mirrors would reflect the objects. Moreover, the walls of this hall were made in a way that they created an extraordinary increased echo.

Once, a dog ran into the hall and froze in surprise in the middle of the hall, a whole pack of dogs surrounded him from all sides, from above and below. Just in case, the dog bared his teeth- and all the reflections responded to him in the same way.

Frightened, the dog frantically barked – the echo imitated the bark and increased it many times. The dog barked even harder – and the echo was keeping up. The dog tossed from one side to another, biting the air- his reflections also tossed around snapping their teeth.

In the morning, the guards found the miserable dog, lifeless and surrounded by a million reflections of lifeless dogs. There was nobody in the hall that would make any harm to the dog. The dog died by fighting his own reflections.

The world doesn't bring good and evil on its own. Everything that is happening around us is the reflection of our own thoughts, feelings, wishes and actions. World – is a Big Mirror.

Choice and Consequence

Five wise men got lost in the forest.

The first one said, I will go left – my intuition tells me that.

The second one said; I will go right – there is a reason why right comes from the word rightness.

The third one said; I will go back – we came from there, it means I will go out from the forest.

The fourth one said; I will go straight – we should move forward, the forest will end and something new will open.

The fifth said; You are all wrong. There is a better solution. Wait for me.

He found the tallest tree and climbed into it. While he was climbing everyone else scattered towards their own sides. From above he saw where they should go to leave the forest faster. Now he could even see in what order the other wise men will reach the end of the forest. 

He climbed higher and saw the shortest way. He understood the problem and found the best solution! He knew that he did everything right. And the others were wrong. They were stubborn and they didn't listen to him. He was the real Wise Man!

But he was wrong.

Everyone was right. The one who went left, found himself in the thicket. He had to starve and fight with wild animals. But he learned how to survive in the forest; he became a part of the forest and could teach others the same.

The one, who went right, met thieves. They took everything from him and made him steal with them. But after some time, he had woken up something in those thieves that they have forgotten – humanity and compassion. The remorse was so strong in some of them, that after his death they also became the wise men.

The one who went back, made a pathway through the forest, which soon became a road for those who wanted to walk in the forest without being afraid of getting lost.

The one who went straight, became a pioneer. He visited the places where no one else was and opened wonderful new possibilities for people, amazing healing plants and magnificent animals.

The one who climbed into the tree, became a specialist of finding short ways. People turned to him when they wanted to find the fastest way to deal with their problems, even if it didn't lead to any development. This is how the five wise men reached their destiny.

The Scar

A long time ago there was a boy. He was smart, talented and handsome. However, he was very selfish and his temper was so difficult, that nobody wanted to be friends with him. Often he got angry and said various hurtful things to people around him.

The boy‘s parents very concerned about his bad temper. They considered what they could do and one day the father had an idea. He called his son and gave him a hammer and a bag of nails. The father said: „Every time you get angry, take a nail and drive into that old fence as hard as you can.“

The fence was very tough and the hammer was heavy, nevertheless the boy was so furious that during the very first day he has driven 37 nails.

Day after day, week after week, the number of nails was gradually decreasing. After some time, the boy started to understand that holding his temper is easier that driving nails into the fence.

One day the boy didn't need hammer and nails anymore as he learned to hold his temper perfectly. So he came to his father and told about his achievement. Now every time, when you hold your temper all day long, pull out one nail“.

Much time has passed. At last the boy could be proud of himself as all the nails were gone. When he came to his father and told about this, he offered to come and take a careful look at the fence.

“You did a good job, my son, though pay your attention to the holes that left from the nails. The fence will never be the same. The same happens when your say hurtful things to people, as your words leave scars in their hearts like those holes in the fence. 

Remember, we need to treat everyone with love and respect, because it doesn't matter, that you say you are sorry, the scars will not disappear.

I Wish You Enough

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter’s departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said: “I love you and I wish you enough.”

The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.” They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?” “Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking but why is this forever good-bye?”

“I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral,” she said. When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, “I wish you enough.” May I ask what that means?”

She began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

“When we said ‘I wish you enough’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them”. Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.”

She then began to cry and walked away.

Nurture Relationships … As they say ... It takes a minute to find a special person ~ An hour to appreciate them ~ A day to love them ~ And then an entire life to forget them ...

I wish you enough.

The Power of Concentration

The powers of the mind are like the rays of the sun. When they are concentrated, they illumine.

When I was a child, I saw how a magnifying glass could burn a piece of paper, when the rays of the sun were focused through it on one point. The fire could only be ignited, when the sun's rays were concentrated on a small point. When the magnifying glass was moved too far away, or too close to the paper, the rays were not focused enough, and nothing happened.

This experience, describes vividly, how the power of concentration works. It is a skill, which enables you to fix your attention on one single thought or subject, while at the same time excluding from your awareness everything else.

The power of concentration manifests as focused attention and as a one pointed mind.

When you focus your mind, you conserve your energies and do not dissipate them on irrelevant thoughts or activities. This is why, developing concentration is vital for anyone aspiring to be more efficient and take charge of his or her life. This skill is vital for every kind of success. Without it, your efforts get scattered, but with it, you can accomplish great things.

Concentration has many uses and benefits. It assists in studying, enables faster comprehension, improves the memory, helps in focusing on a task, job or goal, and therefore, achieving them more easily and efficiently. It is a powerful tool for the efficient use of creative visualization, and it also helps in developing psychic powers.

When this ability is strong, the mind obeys you more readily and does not engage in futile, negative thoughts or worries. This ability plays an important role in meditation, gaining mental mastery, and attaining peace of mind.

Without it, the mind just jumps restlessly from one thought to another, not allowing you to meditate properly.

Do you now realize why it is very important and worthwhile to develop and improve the ability to concentrate?

To develop this power you need to train and exercise it. Forget all your excuses about not having the time or being too busy. Do not say that the circumstances are not appropriate, or that you cannot find a quiet place to exercise. With a little planning, desire and motivation, you can always find the time to exercise each day, no matter how busy you are.

Gurindam Jiwa untuk 'Better.Brighter.'

Jika anda pernah mengikuti program Better.Brighter anjuran Pusat Pembangunan Kepimpinan TNB (TNB Leadership Development Center) atau secara ringkas disebut orang sebagai LDC, apa kata anda renungi pesanan dalam lagu berikut ...

Moga-moga kita mampu terus menyumbang dan bekerjasama bagi membina masa depan kita yang lebih Better.Brighter! Ameen.