I will Be the Master of My Emotions

Anonymous

The tides advance; the tides recede. Winter goes and summer comes. Summer wanes1and the cold increases. The sun rises;the sun sets. The moon waxes; the moon wanes. The birds arrive; the birds depart. Flowers bloom; flowers fade2. Seeds are sown; harvests are reaped. All nature is a circle of moods and I am a part of nature and so, like the tides, my moods will rise; my moods will fall.

It is one of nature's tricks, little understood, that each day I awaken with moods that have changed from yesterday. Yesterday's joy will become today's sadness; yet today's sadness will grow into tomorrow's joy. Inside me is a wheel, constantly turning from sadness to joy, from exultation3to depression, from happiness to melancholy. Like the flowers, today's full bloom of joy will fade and withers into despondency, yet I will remember that as today's dead flower carries the seed of tomorrow's bloom, so too, does today's sadness carry the seed of tomorrow's joy.

And how will I master these emotions so that each day will be productive? For unless my mood is right the day will be a failure4. Trees and plants depend on the weather to flourish but I make my own weather, yet I transport it with me.

And how will I master my emotions so that every day is a happy day, and a productive one? I will learn this secret of the ages: Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts. Each day, when I awaken, I will follow this plan of battle before I am captured by the forces of sadness, self-pity and failure—

If I feel depressed I will sing.

If I feel sad I will laugh.

If I feel ill I will double my labor.

If I feel fear I will plunge5ahead.

If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.

If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.

If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.

If I feel incompetent I will remember past success.

If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.

Henceforth, I will know that only those with inferior ability can always be at their best, and I am not inferior. There will be days when I must constantly struggle against forces which would tear me down. Those such as despair and sadness are simple to recognize but there are others which approach with a smile and the hand of friendship and they can also destroy me. Against them, too, I must never relinquish control—

If I become overconfident I will recall my failures.

If I overindulge I will think of past hungers.

If I feel complacency I will remember my competition.

If I enjoy moments of greatness I will remember moments of shame.

If I feel all-powerful I will try to stop the wind.

If I attain great wealth I will remember one unfed mouth.

If I become overly proud I will remember a moment of weakness.

If I feel my skill is unmatched I will look at the stars.

Henceforth, I will recognize and identify the mystery of moods in all mankind, and in me. From this moment I am prepared to control whatever personality awakes in me each day. I will master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I will control my destiny. I will become the master of myself. I will become great.

热词天地

1.wane[weɪn] vi．衰落；（月）亏，缺；结束；变暗淡

2.fade[feɪd] vi．褪去，失去光泽；逐渐消逝；凋谢，衰老

3.exultation [ˌegzʌl'teɪʃn] n．得意；欢欣

4.failure ['feɪljə(r)] n．失败，不及格；缺乏，不足

5.plunge[plʌndʒ] vt．用力插入；使陷入 vi．跳入；全心投入；突降，俯冲