Bruno's Web Tip

Bruno Gideon is a regular columnist for the SCCC website. Bruno will share some of his wisdom with our readers by giving useful tips for everyday life and practical advice for today’s entrepreneurs.

Bruno will also love to hear back from our readers by e-mail.

 

 

 

Is It Really That Important?

Someone has angered and upset you and now you are in a power struggle to win the point. The fight goes on and on and I can hear you saying: “I won’t allow this!” and “He can’t do that to me” and “I’ll get even with him!

Stop right here and ask yourself some questions: “Is this really worth fighting for?” and “Haven’t I already invested too much time in this?” and “Is it really that important?” Then ask yourself the most important question of all: “Could it be that my ego is the real problem here, keeping this going well beyond its “best before” date?”

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal
with the intent of throwing it at someone
else; you are the one who gets burned.
—Buddha

When our ego gets involved, we sometimes stop seeing things clearly. We make mountains out of molehills and a melodrama of revenge plays out in our mind. The ego has an inborn tendency to grow at high-speed and if we don’t watch it carefully, it will become inflated and eventually hurt us.

Yes, many situations are unjust and the world should know we are not at fault. But since nobody really wins in the end anyway, how about taking a different path by simply walking away from the situation, waiting until the anger has calmed down and then try to learn from the incident?

And there is something much more important. However heavy the situation is, we should never forget to think about these issues: doesn’t the sun still come up every morning? Are the birds still singing and don’t we have family and friends who love us. And shouldn’t we enjoy those gifts, instead of living with poison?

Thinking along these lines can be a liberating experience.