The world often operates on a dialectical relationship between gains and losses: the more one has, the more one might lose. Those with great wealth often have less time for leisure at home; those with striking beauty may dress more simply. People with excessive overthinking may have fewer opportunities for success; those with great achievements might not necessarily live long lives. The highly learned may be simple-minded, while those with deep scheming often lack inner peace. Those who work extremely hard may earn less than expected; those with immense power face greater challenges in maintaining integrity. Those with complex emotional lives often suffer from poor sleep, while those with many friends are less likely to face difficulties alone; those who laugh often may be less prone to illness. Look within yourself: what do you have in abundance, and what do you lack?
One should follow their true inner desires rather than living up to others' expectations. Many people are unhappy because they dwell on the beauty of the past, lament the misery of the present, and feel uncertain about the future. Through stumbling and falling, we grow up. Even if some things seem to require looking back, they are ultimately meant to be faced and completed moving forward. We can turn around to adjust our direction, but we should not constantly look back to blame ourselves. The right approach is to stride confidently toward the correct direction, rather than turning back to regret past mistakes.
Life cultivation focuses on the "Five Selfs": self-knowledge, self-confidence, self-awareness, self-reliance, and self-discipline. Life principles advocate the "Six Abstinences": abstain from arrogance, abstain from vices/poisons, abstain from laziness, abstain from worry, abstain from isolation, and abstain from blind conformity. Face life with a smile; face friends with sincerity; face failure with resilience; face success with humility; face loneliness with reading; face deception with reflection; face misfortune with resistance; face the weak with help; face the wicked with exposure; face illness with elimination; and face death with natural acceptance.
