Do You Realize Your Value

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. "You fool," he shouted as he reached for his sword, "don't you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!" But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. "And do you realize," the master replied calmly, "that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?"

The above story tells us more than one thing.

1: Don't be afraid: Don't fear anyone. Fear never leads to productivity. It only leads to restriction. But that doesn't mean we have to show fearlessness everywhere. Be brave when it matters. Stand up and speak out against injustice. But,

2: Be tactful: Like the Zen master, show tact. Request something and you may get things that you may not have got if you had ordered for it. Inject humor (not satire) and you may be winning hearts even faster.

3: Never give others a chance to devalue you:Ever found yourself shouting against someone to stop shouting? Ever wasted time watching senseless soaps in the television? Then you will understand what I mean by not giving others a chance to devalue you.

Remember: You will be as much value to others as you have been to yourself.