TRUE CHARACTER

Sometimes, you see people at less than their best. They lash out at others. They raise their voice and lose their temper. Later, they may apologize. They may tell you they have been under a lot of stress. They acted in such a way only because the tension got to them. That negative behavior wasn’t really them.

Is this true? Think about what happens when you squeeze a fruit? Why does juice come out? Because that’s what fruit contains. If the juice is sweet , it is because the fruit contains sweetness; if the juice is bitter, it is because the fruit contains bitterness.

The same idea applies to human beings. The pressure of life squeezes the “juice” out of people, so you can assess what is in someone’s heart by the kind of person he becomes when under pressure. Is he frustrated in dealing with setbacks? Then frustration is what he has within. Is he courageous in facing adversity? Then courage is what he has within. Whatever is inside…is what comes out.

The Tao Today

Use this insight to assess your true character. You can see yourself most clearly when things are not going so well. What kind of juice comes out of you when you are under pressure? Is it the bitter juice of anger, or the sweet juice of achievement?

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin