The world of Tzu Chi Jan-Feb 2022 (Vol.139)

46 2022 • 02 Serene Reflection Question & Answer By Dharma Master Cheng Yen How do I form an aspiration that benefits my career and family? Everyone has aspirations, but many people are merely in pursuit of fame, fortune and status. Such desires can never be satisfied and only lead to a sense of emptiness. If we pursue, instead, a goal of benefitting society, the aspirations we make will truly benefit both others and ourselves. Our aspirations reflect our hopes. Once we have determined a direction in life, all we need to do is advance towards our goal step by step, according to our affinities and capabilities. Do not fear being unable to reach your goal, fear only being unwilling to take the first step. One Tzu Chi volunteer, who was the general manager of a large company, said, “Business is about competition, and the unavoidable pressure often troubles me. How should I deal with this? When you are only focused on your career, naturally you will experience stress. On the other hand, look at our Tzu Chi volunteers. Even though their missions are very hard work, they are joyous in their hearts. The difference is whether thoughts of gains and losses are involved. When you hope to gain, you are afraid to lose. This would not be a problem if you applied the same attitude of volunteering to your career. It is hard to avoid competition in your job, but if you see it as a duty and perform the best you can, then the competition will become a force that pushes you upward. A woman brought her husband to meet Master. She said that her husband worried about the current economic downturn and did not know how to deal with this challenge. The current economic hardship impacts the entire economy, not just a few people. We need patience and perseverance to overcome this difficulty. However severe the storm is, it will eventually pass. It is the same for everything. This economic downturn will also pass, so we must face it with perseverance. When the economy recovers, so will your business.