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Thousands thronged to see
him. Day after day they sought him out, the fee charged was of no consequence.
He was a must for all. Harry was an instant success, yet he was a dismal
failure.
Our star was the focus of attention at one of the greatest introspective
plays of the '40s, 'The Iceman Cometh,' by Eugene O'Neill. Harry's wife
had died twenty years previously. Since that time he had never stepped
outof his house. Oh yes, he had planned that proposed walk down the
road, unfortunately that walk never materialized. You see one day he
would have 'a back playing up' another day, 'bad weather' then 'caught
cold', in fact there was an impressive array of excuses he could turn
to. The audience watched in uncontrollable mirth as Harry, afflicted
by Tomorrowitis, sunk deeper and deeper into his grave of failure. Tomorrowitis
is a psychological disease in which we postpone all our 'activities'
to another day. But predominantly that day never arrives.
Tomorrowitis was the cause of Harry's blocking
his own highway to a happy and fruitful life.
Do you suffer from Tomorrowitis? If you find
yourself saying:
I'll find time tomorrow
Sure I want to do it, but
My hands are full at the moment
I am waiting for inspiration
First, I have to make a detailed plan, budget,
etc
and other similar things
These are all symptoms of a crippling disease called Tomorrowitis -
the ghost that will forever haunt you. But don't worry! Unlike terminal
cancer, Tomorrowitis can be cured with 100% success. This wonder drug
cure is already in your hands. It is upto you to use it.
FIRST,
we have to introspect. Sit down and think honestly along these guidelines:
Why haven't I started this project?
Am I scared of failing?
Do I really want this, if not why am I doing
it?
What will others think?
Why haven't I taken that long proposed foreign
holiday?
Remember, you must be TOTALLY honest with yourself.
Only you will know the outcome of this investigation. No one else will
know, so there is no need for embarrassment. Thread by thread untangle
this knot, that has denied you your personal success.
Now that you have dragged out into the open
all your 'reasons' for procrastination, we can broadly classify them
into two groups:
(1) Fear of failure.
(2) Lack of interest.
You will now have realized that the previously
once insurmountable 'problems and fears' you faced have now rapidly
diminished in size and have lost their awareness.
SECONDLY,
begin the job in hand, this is the key to success. I can guarantee that
Mozart, Bach, Wagner, etc., didn't wait for inspiration to walk into
their heads, they galloped to inspiration. Day after day they sat down
to the job of composing. The sheer effort they put, sparked off that
genius latent within them. You can also spark off that hidden genius
in yourself whether you want to compose music or make a kitchen wall
unit.
To succeed you need motivation.
Do you want to pass those exams or don't you?
Do you want promotion or don't you?
Do you want to live a happier life or don't
you?
If you really want these things and much more,
what is there stopping you? Go right ahead and do it. School children
are often heard saying, "Finders keepers, losers weepers".
This rhyme applies to every one. For success we have only to search
and endeavor, those who don't ultimately end up weeping.
Take the example of Master Haeng Ung Lee. When
Lee was a boy growing up in Korea in relative poverty he had no concept
of business or the martial arts. After World War II he started judo
- but failed, boxing met with a similar result. Finally he tried Tae
Kwan do, an activity that combines physical fitness, self-defense and
internal discipline. Soon, Lee founded a martial arts school, but it
was a failure. Some then suggested that he should go to America. Lee
took up the challenge but after six months found himself back in Korea
due to a faulty visa. Lee didn't give up, despite the fact that he lost
all his friends. Fighting hard, Lee regained his visa and once again
travelled to the U.S.A. He opened a martial arts school in Omaha. Working
intensely, Lee slowly expanded his school. Now he has over 250 schools
and needless to say money is pouring in like water over Niagara. But
more importantly, Lee, the former pauper boy of Korea, is getting satisfaction
from his being able to help thousands of other people lead a more fruitful
and healthy life.
So far we have discussed how you can become
aware of the habit, for that's what Tomorrowitis really is, a deadly
habit. This habit has now to be got rid of.
The logical steps in escaping from any habit
are:
(1) to become aware of it,
(2) replace it with a desirable habit. How?
Well you virtually have to break the habit of Tomorrowitis.
One way is to force yourself to do everything.
Go and see that friend now, write that postcard now, fix that drainpipe
now,
remember, Now.
Don't be concerned if you can't finish everything.
To finish is not your present goal. You should be concerned only with
starting. Finishing will automatically come later, but starting is the
magic formula.
If Dr. Livingstone could replace the spear for
a Bible in darkest Africa, I'm sure you can replace a bad habit for
a good one. If Mahatma Gandhi could slowly memorise the entire Bhagwad
Gita during his daily morning brush rituals, I'm sure you can start
a big task on a regular basis, bit by bit. After a few weeks you will
feel as if a dragging weight has been removed from your shoulders. You
will be free, a liberty you probably haven't enjoyed for a long, long
time.
You are now on your way to success in your chosen
field.
Sadhu
Shantipriyadas
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