Occasionally we may feel that it is a waste of time and energy to act with integrity, compassion, and concern for all. Especially when our efforts don’t seem appreciated. When rejected, we may be reluctant to try again even though everything in our souls cries out for us to move forward.
Mother Teresa, who certainly lived a life that is an example for all of us, put the following version of “Paradoxical Commandments” by Kent M. Keith up on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta. Perhaps she also felt let down at times.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
BUILD ANYWAY.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have,
And you’ll get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY.
A version of 8 of the 10 “Paradoxical Commandments” by Kent M. Keith written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s children’s home in Calcutta.
Keep moving toward your goals with integrity and compassion. When confronted with resistance, smile and do it anyway.
Affirmation for the Week:
“I will act, think, and “be” with no expectations in return, and there I will find peace and contentment.”
Have a doing and giving week!
Mary Rau-Foster
these remind me of the paradoxical commandments, copyrighted by kent keith in 1968.
the following comes from paradoxicalcommandments.com.
“For more than thirty years, the Paradoxical Commandments have circled the globe. They have been put on walls and refrigerator doors, featured in speeches and articles, preached from pulpits, and shared extensively on the web. They have been used by business leaders, military commanders, government officials, religious leaders, university presidents, social workers, teachers, rock stars, parents, coaches, and students. Mother Teresa thought the Paradoxical Commandments were important enough to put up on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta.”
NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM, THEY ARE DIFFICULT- BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE- TO DO!