Living Wisely Living Well | With Asha Nayaswami

Humor arises out of a sudden release of tension with the introduction of some unexpected incongruity. This release, if followed by an upward relaxation into the higher Self, may give a fleeting glimpse of soul-joy. Let this year’s “April Fool’s Day,” then, bring you upward release into the happiness of your inner being, and not draw you down into whirlpools of mockery and cynicism.

Counting to ten is a well-known technique for dissipating anger. You might carry this practice a step further: Visualize, with each number you count, a progressive expansion of awareness. Your perspective will thereby broaden incrementally, dissipating your anger, and changing your whole outlook—first to acceptance, then to empathetic understanding.

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Think of your life as dancing on air. In spirit, soar up on gossamer wings of pure joy. Brush lightly by every mountain peak of difficulty.

Don’t try to impress others with your cleverness. Win them, rather, by your sincerity.

Life asks of us many compromises. Make sure only that you adapt the compromises to your principles, and never your principles to any compromise.

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Never impose an idea on anyone. Offer it kindly, as a suggestion for his consideration. You’ll find him readier, then, to accept it.

When bargaining, seek benefits that are mutual. If you express yourself generously, the other person will usually, of his own accord, meet you halfway.

Try to understand points of view that are different from your own. The mind, like the body, must be stretched now and then to keep it limber, lest it ossify.

Today, treat as a friend some neighbor whom you scarcely know. Ask him what you might do to make the nearness of your residences more pleasing to him. By your good will, contradict the ancient dictum, “Your neighbor is your enemy; your neighbor’s neighbor is your friend.”

Try always to relate to what is, not to what you wish were so.