Get a thorough understanding of oneself

悟透“自己”

In all one's lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is precisely oneself that one has the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself. It's likely that you think it wise for yourself to know your place and stay aloof from worldly wearing a mask of cowardice, behind which the flow of sap in your life will be retarded.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself and be a sober realist — aware of both one's strength and shortage. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you liken yourself to a towering tree or a blade of grass, whether you think you are a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own reason of existence. If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence. As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any adversity.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed. In time of anger, do yourself a favor by giving vent to it in a quiet place so that you won't be hurt by its flames; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep or taking some tonic. Show yourself loving concern about your health and daily life. Unless you know perfectly well when and how to do yourself a favor, you won't be confident and ready enough to resist the attack of illness.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full control of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor.

精美譯文：

人生在世，和自己相處最多，打交道最多，但是人最不了解的也恰恰是自己。當你一帆風順時，往往高估自己；不得志時，又往往低估自己。你可能認為安分守己、與世無爭是明智之舉，而實際上往往被怯懦的面具窒息了自己鮮活的生命。

徹悟自己，就是正確認識自己，做一個冷靜的現實主義者，既知道自己的優勢，也知道自己的不足。我們可以憧憬人生，但不要期望過高。因為在現實中，理想的實現總是會打折扣的。你可以勇敢地迎接挑戰，但是必須清楚自己努力的方向。

要徹悟自己就要欣賞自己。無論你是一棵參天大樹，還是一棵無名小草，無論想要成為一座高山，還是一塊石頭，你都是一種天然，都有自己存在的理由。只要你認真地欣賞自己，你就會擁有一個真正的自我，你才會擁有信心。一旦擁有了信心你就能戰勝任何災難。