Self discipline and fortitude

William Jackson of Birkenhead, a member of the British parliament, shows us how we can improve ourselves. His father, a surgeon, died leaving a family of eleven children.

William was the seventh son. While the father was alive, the elder sons had a good education. But after his death, the younger children had to fend for themselves. William, at eleven years of age, was taken out from school since there was nobody too pay for his education.  He had to work at the docks from six in the morning to nine at night. Later he was taken to the counting hose. Having some time for himself, he began to read every single line of all volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica. His studied at night. Later he put himself to a trade. He was diligent and he succeeded at it. After some years he had his own ships sailing on all the oceans of the world. Besides he had commercial relations with practically every country on the globe.

Do not let the hardships and problems rule over you. You should overcome them with courage and fortitude. You should have faith in your capabilities. Only then will you be able to achieve success in life.

Are you self discipline?

At times, in school, a certain work is tough or certain orders are difficult to obey. Still, do the work and carry out the orders and you will discipline yourself to your own advantage. What would happen in a garden if every plant grew as it liked? There would be too little to admire in it. Similarly in school you must be a plant in the hands of and under the direction of your superiors. They see your own good. Your parents, superiors and teachers cannot say yes to everything you want. You must train yourself to accept `yes’ or `no’ and to have your wishes opposed and controlled. You must learn to deny yourself certain things you like. Bear cheerfully the arrangements you do not like. It is sign of a mature person to settle differences and to reach a compromise.

Do you have enough self-control?

A boy with out self-control is just like a wild runway horse. Lack of self control leads us towards greater pitfalls: pride, impurity, anger, envy and laziness. Person without self-control becomes a slave to his mind and is liable to break every law. Such a person can be a danger to the state and to the society. You must learn to face opposition. The school will give you ample opportunities to test yourself and to measure your likes and dislikes. This will be helpful when in later life greater and more difficult situations will arise.

An ancient fable tells us about three merchants crossing a desert. One moonless night as they came to a dried up riverbed, they were startled by a voice in the darkness. It said ``
Pick up stones and then continue walking without stopping. In the morning, at daylight you will be both happy and sorry.’ They obeyed the orders. When the first rays of the sun burst in the East they looked into the bags and discovered that what they had picked up were not rocks, but precious stones. Then they understood the words: `at daylight you will be both happy and sorry,’ they were happy that they were rich but sorry that they had not picked up more. The same thing happens in our lives. We are happy for what good we have done. We are sorry for losing the chances that came our way.

Good deeds shall not go unrewarded: in heaven they all are written down so when life’s books are opened the good will receive a crown.