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Learning from Confucius: The need for daily self-analysis May 7, 2017

Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal development.
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By Dennis Mellersh

Rigorously learning a plan of personal development and self-improvement, no matter how thorough and profound it is, will not benefit us much if we aren’t honest in our self-appraisal.

If we are not truthful with ourselves, with our inner commitment, in terms of what we are doing outwardly, we are not on a path of growth.

This from Confucius:

“Master Tseng said:
‘Each day I ask three things of myself: Have I been trustworthy in all that I’ve done for other people? Have I stood by my word in dealing with friends? Have I practised all that I’ve been taught?’” (1)

(1) Confucius, the Analects, as translated in David Hinton’s book, The Four Chinese Classics, Counterpoint, Berkeley, California, 2013

Personal growth: Confucius – look within for the truth April 24, 2017

Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal growth.
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By Dennis Mellersh

As wisdom writers both ancient and modern have told us, if we want to engage in universal personal improvement, we should start with ourselves – it is the path to understanding others.

And let us not give advice to others until we have thoroughly examined ourselves and taken steps to correct our own personal shortcomings.

Confucius succinctly reminds of these truths in The Analects:

“A person’s faults are all of a piece. Recognizing your faults is a way of understanding humanity.”*

“Adept Kung was forever comparing and criticizing people. The master said, ‘To have time for such things, Kung must have already perfected himself completely. As for me, I am not so lucky.’” *

* Confucius, The Analects, translated by David Hinton in his book The Four Chinese Classics