If you have a talent, 

and you share it with others,

 

it’s fair for you to expect 

to receive at least some attention. 

Otherwise...what's the use of sharing?

                               If you feel that the meaning of 

                               many things you had known 

                               does not ring as convincing as before, 

                               why do you think it happened?

                       When you are willing to carry out 

                        a project efficiently - and you do -

                         your best capabilities get enhanced.

                                 If you start asking questions, 

                                   you may gat comforting

                                       inspiring answers.

Branches bend when the wind blows. 

Rubber-bands stretch when you pull them. 

Why can't you be as flexible as they are?

                           When you approve of yourself, 

                          you are aware of your potential; 

                           you don't blame yourself but 

                     endeavor to learn from your mistakes.

              If you decide to find a deeper reason

                      for unexplained dissatisfaction, 

                              check out the possibility of just 

                                      making an adjustment in your life.

                                Do you sometimes feel

 

                     like a pawn that is guided 

                        by an invisible hand, 

                according to a mysterious logic?

If you attempt to behave

 

            in a way that is not according

 

                        to your character, you will probably fail.

                                What really matters is to be

 

                                 aware of when your ‘role’ 

                               is to be either ‘mouth’ or ‘ear’.

There are plenty of people 

               who are happy and satisfied 

                         with their 'un-examined' lives.

                                                  Are you one of them?   

                        You can only know for sure what you are,

                                   and what is happening 

                                    in this very instant, 

                                          but no more.

Carefully putting one foot in front of the other, 

moment by moment,

you will see what is there, 

in front of your eyes

- a perception that you often miss 

because your gaze wanders somewhere else.

If you persist in walking 

on the path of old beliefs and habits, 

you may end up in a rut, thus 

preventing yourself from experiencing something 

that might be interesting, amusing, exciting.

                        If you try to be more open-minded, 

                        you can see 'criticism' from others 

                        as a way to improve your character 

                        and your ways. 

Detecting the right way to deal with disappointment is not easy 

because you are prey to contrasting feelings: 

fear/acceptance, rage/surrender, forgiveness/retaliation/release. 

Nevertheless, the first step should always be a pause. 

Your True Reaction

In spite of knowing that you should not have expectations of others, you still do. You know that people have the right to behave according to their judgment, yet you judge their actions according to your convictions.  Think of a person close to you who recently acted in a way that you disliked. They didn't give you the attention you expected; maybe the tone of their voice seemed to imply something else; maybe they asked a question that you didn't want to hear. What was your ‘true’ reaction - not what you showed the world? Could you totally accept what you didn't like without a bit of resentment and/or blame? Of course you didn’t! No-one does. It's only natural. No-one (including you) is that perfect!

(from "Sorry, No Flowers. Seeds Only."