When Doing Nothing is Better Than Doing Something - Part 2
We continue our look at when doing nothing is better than doing nothing. Last time we considered those times when it's better to say nothing. Here's Fr. Hagspiel's advice about those times when it's better to think nothing.
These, of course, apply to all aspects of our daily activities, be we'll focus on applying this discipline to our work.
Think Nothing
1. No matter how suspicious the circumstances appear, if it is not your business, avert your mind and refrain from passing judgment even mentally.
At work, stick to the business at hand. If you do - all the time - you'll have no occasions for nosing into the business of others.
2. If you hear the faults of others discussed, don’t let the poison soak into your mind. It may be all pure gossip without foundation. For your part think nothing.
People aren't perfect; they have faults. Guess what? You do too; we all do. Rather than focus on the faults of others, acknowledge your own. Then get to work on them, with God's grace. He wants us all to be perfect, despite our faults. He'll show us the way to whittle away at them, over time. That should occupy your time and attention, rather than the faults of others.
3. When you have done a good action, do not let your mind rest on it. Think nothing of it.
So you did something good today: Bravo! What? You want a medal? C'mon. Get on with the next thing on your plate.
4. When others praise you, laugh it off. Think nothing of the praise.
Love praise? Who doesn't? But what of it? Will it pay your bills, get you that promotion, bring more than a few milliseconds of good "feelings"? Likely not. So get busy.
5. When others betray your confidence and perhaps get you into trouble – think nothing.
Defend yourself when appropriate, of course. But that doesn't take a lot of thinking, does it? Don't dwell on betrayals. Judas betrayed Our Lord. Join the club. And it's a rather exclusive club, don't you think? Once you join the club, take Fr. Hagspiel's advice: Think nothing.
6. When so-called friends on whom you have lavished kindness desert you – think nothing.
Yes, "friends" will desert you at times. Maybe they weren't friends after all. But even if they were - and that's painful if it happens - who knows why they did it? Besides, you're in that exclusive club again, no? Remember Our Lord in the Garden? What did all His friends do?
7. When you are despised, cast aside as worthless, ignored, shelved after the devoted labor of a lifetime, remember your Lord and Master was sold for thirty pieces of silver…Think of that and of naught else. Who are you that you should be prized more?
The tough phrase here: "shelved after the devoted labor of a lifetime." Many retirees feel kind of "cast aside" and some literally die within a few years - if not months - of their retirement. Even if you're not retired, many businesses make it clear that they prefer younger workers (even though they could likely benefit from those who have a wealth of experience). Besides work-related issues, in a culture where the wisdom of our elders counts for virtually nothing some people feel cast aside simply because they're old. And, of course, there's always that "empty nest" when the kids have all moved out: Some of us roosters might tend to melancholy or even feeling "useless" when we don't have a full roost to rule.
In any case, whether it's being literally cast aside, feeling like you're cast aside, or any of the other six circumstances noted, you'd do well to put any and all thoughts about any of these aside, or, as Father Hagspiel says it: Think nothing.
More next time...
These, of course, apply to all aspects of our daily activities, be we'll focus on applying this discipline to our work.
Think Nothing
1. No matter how suspicious the circumstances appear, if it is not your business, avert your mind and refrain from passing judgment even mentally.
At work, stick to the business at hand. If you do - all the time - you'll have no occasions for nosing into the business of others.
2. If you hear the faults of others discussed, don’t let the poison soak into your mind. It may be all pure gossip without foundation. For your part think nothing.
People aren't perfect; they have faults. Guess what? You do too; we all do. Rather than focus on the faults of others, acknowledge your own. Then get to work on them, with God's grace. He wants us all to be perfect, despite our faults. He'll show us the way to whittle away at them, over time. That should occupy your time and attention, rather than the faults of others.
3. When you have done a good action, do not let your mind rest on it. Think nothing of it.
So you did something good today: Bravo! What? You want a medal? C'mon. Get on with the next thing on your plate.
4. When others praise you, laugh it off. Think nothing of the praise.
Love praise? Who doesn't? But what of it? Will it pay your bills, get you that promotion, bring more than a few milliseconds of good "feelings"? Likely not. So get busy.
5. When others betray your confidence and perhaps get you into trouble – think nothing.
Defend yourself when appropriate, of course. But that doesn't take a lot of thinking, does it? Don't dwell on betrayals. Judas betrayed Our Lord. Join the club. And it's a rather exclusive club, don't you think? Once you join the club, take Fr. Hagspiel's advice: Think nothing.
6. When so-called friends on whom you have lavished kindness desert you – think nothing.
Yes, "friends" will desert you at times. Maybe they weren't friends after all. But even if they were - and that's painful if it happens - who knows why they did it? Besides, you're in that exclusive club again, no? Remember Our Lord in the Garden? What did all His friends do?
7. When you are despised, cast aside as worthless, ignored, shelved after the devoted labor of a lifetime, remember your Lord and Master was sold for thirty pieces of silver…Think of that and of naught else. Who are you that you should be prized more?
The tough phrase here: "shelved after the devoted labor of a lifetime." Many retirees feel kind of "cast aside" and some literally die within a few years - if not months - of their retirement. Even if you're not retired, many businesses make it clear that they prefer younger workers (even though they could likely benefit from those who have a wealth of experience). Besides work-related issues, in a culture where the wisdom of our elders counts for virtually nothing some people feel cast aside simply because they're old. And, of course, there's always that "empty nest" when the kids have all moved out: Some of us roosters might tend to melancholy or even feeling "useless" when we don't have a full roost to rule.
In any case, whether it's being literally cast aside, feeling like you're cast aside, or any of the other six circumstances noted, you'd do well to put any and all thoughts about any of these aside, or, as Father Hagspiel says it: Think nothing.
More next time...
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