What's in it for me

We all move like a ping-pong ball between crises because "the man is under the times not the times are under the man". Between crises we have some peaceful periods to breath at ease and be happy. Then another crisis occur. It is not to despair as crisis means fighting, testing, exam, graduation or failure.

The crises are an expression of the huge love from God that allows us to advance: much the same as teachers put students in periods of teaching and learning then in exams for advancing to the next stage.

What I want to emphasize is that any people that wants big and real advancement in their life have to:

1. appreciate and support real values; meritocracy

2. make internal the good practices, the good and beautiful thoughts; fiercely fight against your own sins

3. be honest in everything, with everyone and especially with yourself

4. remember that nothing can be attained without a real sacrifice. Take example from Jesus Christ Our Saviour: He had first to descend through His passions and torments to Hell, then resurrected and climbed to Heavens to the right side of God. Take example from Manole, the famous church builder, who in order to build the most beautiful monastery in the world, he had to "bury alive" his beloved wife into the stone walls of the monastery. It is a figure of speech to emphasize the giving up of pleasures in order to reach his target.

5. saying Yes if it's yes, No if it's no. "What it's really good and true even the devil will acknowledge it" said once Father Trandafir (Tanda). Be 100% in present neither in the past nor in the future. Forging the present will heal your past and will brighten your future. Thoughts like "it would have been better if...", or "what if..." bear no fruits and are sterile.

Knowing the nature of the mind and the soul will make you understand that free imagination and meditation are bridges for devils to occupy your mind and your soul.

6. focus only on knowing and changing yourself to better: you have the keys of fulfilling, enriching your life. Center your life not on others but on you as you are responsible only for your reactions not for others' actions. “Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved.” This is perhaps the most famous quote of the great Russian saint, Seraphim of Sarov.

7. Do not shake hands (sign contracts, make promises) easily. If you shake hands it means you agree to reach a target, an objective. At that moment, Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life is present near you and the other person/s: "For where two or three have gathered together in My name (i.e. Truth), I am there in their midst." (Mathew 18:20).

8. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Mathew 6:33). Remember that God didn't said to us to follow success or to become a leader but to have good and right faith and assert it in front of all people and the heavens. He also said "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28) so it is our duty to be first fruitful then multiply not the reverse.

9. Jesus Christ answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. (John 3:27) Nothing good can be made only by forcing / maximizing your will or by stretching your muscles unless you are in state of grace (to be given from heaven). Otherwise we are like a dog in a leash.

10. You cannot escape from yourself wherever you flee. Do not move easily.

11. Not everything that looks bad is bad and not everything that looks good is good. There are many shades of gray in between. Beware from temptations from the right side as they are worse than the ones from the left side.

12. First give, next give, latter give... give continuously with your mind and soul very alert. And you will be given even more. For only God, the almighty and the most wealthy, gives to all... What do you have without receiving it? And if you received everything why do you say they are yours?

But who am I to give such advices? Actually they are not mine. Note that these "secret recipes" are quotes from the Maker of the Universe and from others that followed Him.

These are guiding principles to make right my actions and my life and I thought they are good enough to share them. If you think they have some value please appreciate and distribute them for helping other people, too. Please comment and add some other principles that guide your personal and business life.