Words of Wisdom from Ancient Scrolls
Scroll I
Today I begin a new Life
Today I shed my old skin which hath, too long, suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity.
Today I am born anew and my birthplace is a vineyard where there is fruit for all. Today I will pluck grapes of wisdom from the tallest and fullest vines in the vineyard, for these were planted by the wisest of people who have come before me, generation upon generation.
Today I will savor the the taste of grapes from these vines and verily I shall swallow the seed of success buried in each and new life will sprout within me.
Scroll II
I will greet this day with Love in my heart
For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. I will make love my greatest weapon and none can defend against its force. I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they may be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built up around their hearts and in its place I will build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.
How will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address them and say I love you. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, and echo in my voice; and their heart will be opened. If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone. Without it I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world.
Scroll III
I will persist until I succeed
The prizes of life are at the end of the journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goals. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies until I turn the corner. Henceforth, I will consider each day's effort as but one blow against a mighty oak. The first blow may not cause a tremor in the wood, nor the second or the third. Each blow, by itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence, yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble. Henceforth I will apply another ancient secret of those who excel; when others cease their work I will begin mine and plant the seeds for tomorrow's success. I will persist. I will win.
Scroll IV
I am natures greatest miracle
Since the beginning of time there has never been another with my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears: none that came before, none that live today, and none that can come tomorrow can walk and talk and move exactly like me. All men are my brothers yet I am different from each. I am a unique creature. Henceforth I will capitalize on this difference for it is an asset to be promoted to the fullest. I am rare, and there is value in all rarity; therefore I am valuable. I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth I will apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.
Scroll V
I will live this day as if it is my last
What will I do with this last precious day? First I will seal up the container of life so not one drop spills onto the sand. I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad? Can I call back yesterday and take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? No. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more. Will I think about tomorrow? No. It too lies buried; why would I throw now after maybe? Each day is to be cherished and I will greet the sunrise as a prisoner who has been freed. I have been given the gift of another day and each minute I will grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price.
The duties of today I shall fulfill today. Today I will lift up a friend in need for tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries. Today I will give myself in sacrifice and work; tomorrow I will have nothing to give, and there will be none to receive.
Scroll VI
I will be master of my emotions
The seasons come and go, the tide rises and ebbs, the sun rises and sets. All nature is a circle of moods and I am a part of nature and so like the tides my moods will rise and they will fall. Each day these emotions are renewed; like a wheel constantly changing. I will master my emotions with this ancient secret: Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts. I will master my moods through positive actions and I will control my destiny.
Scroll VII
I will laugh at the world
No living creature can laugh except man. Henceforth I will cultivate the habit of laughter. I will smile and my digestion will improve; I will chuckle and my burdens will be lightened; I will laugh and my life will be lengthened for this is the secret of long life and now it is mine. How can I laugh when confronted with man or deed which offends me so as to bring forth my tears or curses? Four words I will train myself to say: This too shall pass. With my laughter all things will be reduced to their proper size. Henceforth I will shed only tears of sweat, for those of sadness and remorse or frustration are of no value in the world whilst each smile can be exchanged for gold and each kind word, spoken from the heart, can build a castle.
Scroll VIII
I will multiply my value a hundredfold
I am liken to a grain of wheat which faces one of three futures. The wheat can be placed in a sack and fed to swine. Or it can be ground to flour and made into bread. Or it can be placed in the earth and allowed to grow until its golden head divides and produces a thousand grains from the one. There is one difference. The wheat cannot choose whether it is fed to swine or crushed and devoured by the will of others. No. I am like one who when placed in the ground will sprout, blossom and ripen. It is necessary to plant the grain in the darkness of my failures, despairs, ignorance and inabilities; yet with nurturing it will emerge to its destiny. I will announce my goals yet I will never proclaim my accomplishments. I may stumble, but I will rise without concern as all men stumble on their way. Only a worm is free from stumbling and I am not a worm. I am a man. And when it is done, I will do it again, and again and there will be astonishment and wonder at my greatness as the words of these ancient scrolls are fulfilled within me.
Scroll IX
I will act now
There has never been a map, no matter how perfect, that carried its owner over even one inch of ground. A violin can not make its beautiful music while trapped in its case. Action alone is the tinder that carries the man and makes the music. Action alone ignites my dreams, plans and goals. Let me act now even though my efforts may not always bring success; it is better to act now and fail than to take no action and be assured of failure. Happiness may not always be the fruit I pick but without action the fruit falls to the ground to rot and die. Past procrastination was born of fear and the secret to conquering that fear is to act without hesitation. Only action determines my value in the world and to multiply my value I will multiply my actions. I will act for now is all I have. Success will not wait, If I delay she will belong to another and lost to me forever. This is the time. This is the place. I am the man. I will act now.
Scroll X
I am not alone
All creatures that walk the earth, including man, possess the instinct to cry for help. Is it not incomprehensible in a world governed by natures' laws to give animals and man the instinct to cry out for help lest some great power should hear it and answer our cry? Are our cries not a form of prayer? Who is of so little faith that in a moment of pain has not called out to his God? Henceforth I shall pray, but only for guidance. I will not ask for material things for I am not calling to a servant. I will not ask for gold, only the will and guidance to obtain them through my efforts.
My conversation with God:
Lord, Without your help I will wander from the path of success.
I will not ask for gold, or goods or even opportunities equal to my ability; instead guide me so that I may acquire ability equal to my opportunities.
The lion and eagle hunt with tooth and claw. Teach me how to hunt with words and prosper with love so that I may be a lion among men and an eagle in the world.
Help me to remain humble, but hide not the prize that comes with victory.
Assign me tasks that others have failed, yet guide me to pick the seeds of success from the fallen fruit of failure.
Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals; yet help me live this day as if it were my last.
Guide me in my words that they may bear fruit, and silence me from the speech that will harm.
Give me the strength to try again and use the power of averages that it might be my time.
But all these things be only if thy will. I am a small and insignificant grape clutching the vine yet thou has made me unique from all the others. Verily there must be a special place for me. Guide me. Help me. Show me the way.
Let me become all you planned for me when my seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world.
Help this humble man. Guide me God.
Written from excerpts from "The Greatest Salesman in the World". Og Mandino. Copyright 1968, First Edition Fell, 2nd, Bantam 1974, 3rd Bantam 1985 .
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