The age of 35 marks a critical milestone in life. Before 35, people are usually in their prime youth, a time for learning, accumulating experiences, and continuous experimentation. After 35, life gradually matures, and we need to seriously consider everything, whether it's the burdens of life or the gifts of fate. As Yang Jiang said, "Choose the right path, not the easy one, to truly find yourself."
Today, I'd
like to share three powerful rules of life, hoping to inspire you.
Harness the "Ripple Effect"
There's a
profound story I once heard. A man, feeling unsuccessful, went to seek advice from
a master. The master took him to a lake and threw a stone in. "What do you
see?" asked the master. "I see ripples," replied the man. The
master continued, "Where do those ripples come from?" "They're
caused by the stone you just threw," the man answered. The master smiled
and said, "Now try to stop those ripples." The man tried to
interfere, but his attempt only caused more ripples, leaving him puzzled. The
master cheerfully said, "Life is like that lake. Every step you take might
not seem significant at first, but silently shapes your future path."
After 35, we should understand that true strength isn't just about moving
forward with perseverance but also looking forward. Strong individuals realize
that every step taken today lays the foundation for the future.
Cultivate "Story Thinking"
After 35,
meticulously tend to every small aspect of the present. Although the gains may
seem meagre each time, each step accumulates and eventually builds a strong
force. Cultivate "story thinking." A popular view on the internet
says, "The most important ability a person can possess isn't mastering
technology or marketing but telling a story." Life isn't a monotonous
single-lane road; it's a series of vivid, ever-changing scenes. Wise
individuals adeptly use the "power of storytelling": they transform
dull problems into lively and captivating stories, making tedious truths
engaging. When communication becomes swift and clear, the problems at hand
naturally become more manageable.
I have heard
an educative story. A mother noticed her child always peeking at the answers
while doing homework. She repeatedly advised the child, "You must think on
your own, homework has significance for testing and improvement..."
Predictably, the child didn't listen and the behaviour even worsened. Later,
she changed her strategy and decided to first tell the child a story: There was
an archer who went to the archer's country to find a highly respected teacher
to improve his archery skills. He crossed forests, scaled mountains, and found
many arrows perfectly hitting the bulls eye on a tree. Eventually, he met the
king, who didn't seem to possess remarkable skills. He asked, "How do you
manage to hit the bulls eye with every arrow?" The king smiled and
replied, "Anyone can do it. Shoot an arrow first, then draw a bulls eye
around it." After hearing this story, the mother looked at the child and
said, "Practice is the same. There's no progress in having all the answers
correct." The child laughed, then willingly handed the answers to the
mother. Logical reasoning might not be easy to persuade, but stories can give
people rational insights.
Creating a "Moat"
I once heard
an intriguing metaphor: If you liken a person to a castle, there must be a deep
and steep moat surrounding it. This moat represents a person's core, ensuring
an area of undisturbed refuge, even in the face of external threats. After 35,
various pressures come in abundance. Without unique strengths, it's challenging
to stand out in life's intense competition. But nothing can defeat someone with
a strong core. The strength of one's core determines how smooth the future will
be. Life is filled with uncertainties. The only thing we can do is not let
today become tomorrow's regret. The best way to create the future is to start
now and constantly improve oneself. Establish your moat to better confront the
unknown future. After 35, life enters its second half. It's not noble to be
better than others; true nobility lies in transcending one's past self.
Managing well is a summary of the first half of life and a foundation for
future life. May both you and I adhere to these three rules of the strong,
crafting an ideal life in life's most crucial period.
Read Also:
Happiness in Life is More Important than Anything Else
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