Staying Cool

there is only one way to survive, and that is by not letting oneself be inwardly affected by one’s outward situation; by suppressing one’s emotions and keeping one’s feelings under control. Only then will one be able to maintain one’s inward cool. One will not be able to survive life’s crises if one lets one’s inward condition become as highly charged as one’s outward situation. But if one does indeed remain inwardly calm and composed, one will be able to survive the heat of the external circumstances, and safely reach one’s destination. If hate and anger are directed against one from the outside, one must not let such feelings penetrate to one’s inner being; instead one should cultivate feelings of forgiveness in one’s own heart. If the whole world wishes one evil, one should still only have good feelings for others. There is no other way of succeeding in life. If one adopts the same feelings as one’s outside environment, the challenges of life are sure to become more than one can bear.