Desiderata

"This is what I want in my

life"
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace
there may be in silence.

"Stop talking to fill the silence and listen to your own inner
voice."

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all

persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Everyone
is walking their own path with their own struggles and could
really use your good thoughts."

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

"Loud and noisy persons are almost always trying to get you to
pay attention to them instead of the voice of your own heart. TV
and the internet are full of these people, it is OK to let them go."
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

"You are already you and nobody is going to be any better at

being you than you are. And it is OK to let other people to be who
they are."

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

"Much of the fun in life is the journey, not just the destination. If
you don’t enjoy the journey, you are wasting most of your life."

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real

possession in the changing fortunes of time.

"Pick something you like to do and learn more about it, and let
everyone else do the same."

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of

trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons
strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

"Individually, people are pretty good. Many of them think they

have to act some other way at work, they don’t have to, but they
think they do. In their hearts, most people are kind and good. Pay
attention to that part of them."
Be yourself.

"Don’t pretend to be somebody you aren’t. It doesn’t work well,

never lasts, and is always a waste of time. But understand that
who you are how you think is going to change over the course of
your lifetime."

Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in

the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the
grass.

"The greatest commandment is love. It is all that counts, and if

you concentrate on loving others, you will find your own life filled
with love in return."

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the

things of youth.

"It is OK to grow up, your view on things changes, and it’s really
a lot of fun, no matter what the commercials try to tell you about
wanting to stay a child."

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do

not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of
fatigue and loneliness.
"Real spirituality is always about love and light. If a spiritual
practice or religion teaches anything different than that –
especially if they are teaching you to be afraid – that teaching is
wrong, and its time for you to let go of your attachment to it."

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

"That inner voice that talks to you, you have control over, and
when you let it say nice things to you, your life becomes more
beautiful."

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no
doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

"You are not a mistake, you are not a sinner, and everything you
are is God. Everything. You are not cut off from God, he doesn’t
think you are bad and every day He is sending you signs and
symbols of how much He loves you."

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life
keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken
dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
"Its OK, the part that counts most is your heart. Think good
thoughts, do good things, and allow others to do the same for
you. Your perception of life will change tremendously, much for
the better."

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

"Let yourself be happy. Your life will be so much better when you
are."

Max Ehrmann, "Desiderata"

Desiderata
by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they
too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing
fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as
perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself
with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle
with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with
your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive
to be happy.