Slow to speak, quick to listen

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.-------------------------------------Proverbs of Solomon


Sri Easwaran muses: In the interest of good health, in the interest of a long
life, in the interest of loving relationships, it is
essential to learn how to deal with our anger creatively and
constructively. If we do not, in time it will no longer be
isolated outbursts of anger; we will become the victims of
an unending stream of rage, seething just below the surface
of life, with which no human being can cope.

 Through meditation and the mantram every one of us can learn
to reduce the speed of our thinking, and install a reliable
speedometer in our mind. Then, whenever the speed of
thinking goes over, say, fifty-five, one of those recorded
voices will automatically whisper, ?Be careful. You may
not be able to keep your car on the road.?  

Positive thoughts travel slowly, leisurely. The slow mind is
clear, kind, and efficient; in the beautiful phrase of the
Bible, it is "slow to wrath". Patience means
thoughts puttering along like Sunday drivers, taking the
trouble to notice the needs of people around.

 I remind my listeners at the Secrets to Home Health Success that servant leadership involves being slow to speak and quick to listen.
This is a reminder which never goes out of style or timeliness.

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