Chapter 35 Always keep an empty cup mentality

The more humble a person is, the more he will see himself as ignorant, so he will enrich himself more consciously. On the contrary, people who think they are very knowledgeable often become the butt of jokes because they are unwilling to learn new things. Knowledge, so it is easier to make a fool of yourself in public. A philosopher said: "How big the universe is, how small the human heart is, but the human heart can hold the universe!" This is the mentality of "the heart is bigger than the sky". In ancient Japan, a person with profound Buddhist attainments heard that there was a respectable old Zen master in a certain temple, so he went to visit.When the apprentice of the old Zen master received him, he was arrogant and thought: I am a person with profound knowledge in Buddhism, who are you?Later, the old Zen master received him very respectfully and made tea for him.When pouring water, the cup was already full, but the old Zen master kept pouring it.He puzzled and asked: "Master, why is the cup full and I still have to pour it in?" The master said, "Yes, since it is full, why do you still pour it in?"

The meaning of the Zen master is, since you are already very knowledgeable, why do you still come to me for advice?This is the origin of the "empty cup mentality". Its symbolic meaning is that the premise of doing things is to have a good attitude first.If you want to learn more, first imagine yourself as "an empty glass" instead of being complacent. After pouring out all the water, you can absorb more things. Don't think about what you know, but remember that you don't know anything.If everyone wants to respond to the changes of the times and the environment, they must adapt to the needs.And adapting to changes requires us to have an empty cup mentality.

The so-called "empty cup mentality" is to have a mentality of returning to zero, to have a determination to start everything from scratch, to "clear" your past successful experience or outdated knowledge to yourself, and imagine yourself as a An "empty cup", to reorganize the knowledge and abilities you have at any time, means never being complacent, always learning, always maintaining physical and mental vitality, always giving yourself a brand new self, constantly accepting and renewing, so that The road of life is getting wider and wider.I have heard such a story:

One night, when a group of herdsmen were about to set up camp for a rest, they were suddenly enveloped by a strong light.They knew God was coming.With eager anticipation, they wait for an important message from heaven. Finally, the voice of God spoke: "Collect pebbles as best you can. Put them in your saddlebags. Travel another day, and tomorrow night you will be happy and regretful." When he left, the herdsmen were disappointed. with anger.What they look forward to is the revelation of great cosmic truths that will enable them to thereby create wealth, health, or other worldly ends.But instead they were commanded to do this lowly and meaningless task.But anyway, the light of the visit made them each gather some pebbles and put them in their saddlebags, though they didn't feel much about doing it.

They walked another day, and when night came and set up camp they found that every pebble in their saddlebags had been turned to a diamond.They were overjoyed at getting the diamonds and regretting not collecting more pebbles. So we say, in life and work, try to collect the pebbles of knowledge and skills that prepare you for success, try to cultivate an "empty cup mentality", and you can look forward to a future full of diamonds. So, how to achieve an empty cup mentality?The premise of doing things is to have a good attitude first. If you want to learn more knowledge and improve your professional ability, you must first imagine yourself as "an empty cup" instead of being complacent and complacent.

(1) Empty cup mentality should be a fighting spirit of constantly challenging yourself and never being satisfied. You need to reorganize your own knowledge and abilities at any time, clear outdated ones, and leave room for the entry of new knowledge and new abilities. , to ensure that their knowledge and abilities are always up to date. (2) The empty cup mentality is the constant sublation and denial of the self. It is already difficult for human beings to know themselves, but it is even more difficult to constantly deny themselves.Self-denial requires broad-mindedness, honesty, courage, and a true empty-cup mentality.

(3) Empty cup mentality is to forget success, learn to change, be vigilant and vigilant when receiving criticism, and even more vigilant and vigilant when receiving praise.In the face of flowers and applause, see the gap; in the face of difficulties and setbacks, do not lose confidence.