Know Your Shortcomings

Know Your Shortcomings He was in his old age, but he had not married because he was in search of an ideal spouse. People asked him, “Throughout your life, you did not meet anyone who would become an ideal life partner?” He replied, “I happened to meet a woman who was ideal but the problem was that she too was in search of an ideal husband. And, unfortunately, by her standards I was not the ideal one.” Generally people are expert at pointing out others’ inadequacies, and that is why they are unable to live with anyone. If a person recognizes his own inadequacy he will realize that he too is standing at the same place where he finds others standing. The acknowledgement of one's own shortcomings develops humbleness and amiability. Contrary to this, if he can see only the inadequacy of others, he will become proud and arrogant, and it will become difficult for him to live with anyone. The study of psychology tells us that all qualities cannot be found in a single individual. Each one of us has distinctive qualities. If a person has some good quality, he will also have some other qualities which stem from his original quality. For example, if a man is brave, he will also be resolute. If he is a gentleman, he will accordingly be humble. If he is sensitive, he will become angry sooner than others. If he is intelligent he will have a critical attitude. If he is of a practical bent—more so than others—he will be lacking in mental acuity, and so on. This being so, the best option is to ignore the weaker side of a particular person and concentrate on his brighter, stronger side, if we want to benefit from his abilities. This is the only way we can tap into another’s qualities.