There is nothing more magical in this world than time. Time balances everything in the world, and time heals the human heart. Time teaches successful people how to strengthen their self-cultivation and improve their behavior. They have discovered the secret of practices that only take 3 minutes.
There are some practices that if you do them for only 3 minutes each time, you will find that what you say or do or how you treat people will improve amazingly. Your aura will be stronger, your mind will be clearer, and you will become more successful.
Follow these practices that only take 3 minutes to become more successful
Think for 3 minutes before you speak
As the saying goes: “Words spoken are like water spilled.” Spoken words cannot be taken back. Speaking is an art. One sentence can make people laugh; another can make people angry or offended. Some people say things casually with words like stray bullets that can cause harm to people even if they don’t mean to.
The Wang Clan of Langya was one of the most prominent families in Chinese history. Their family motto was “Be slow in your speech and kind in your heart.” Wang Ji, the founder of the Wang Clan, survived all kinds of difficulties in the dangerous officialdom by adhering to being slow in his speech. He started as a minor official and eventually became an important court official.
The old saying goes: “Still water runs deep and slow, and noble people are slow in speech.” Before you speak, you must think clearly and carefully about the consequences of your words to yourself and others. Think about what you should say when you have to say something.
It is better to say less rather than too much. Speak slowly, not quickly. Don’t say harsh words if you can say something with soft words. Watch your tongue, and you will win.
Calm down for 3 minutes when you are angry
It is inevitable to encounter some troubles in life. Learn to control your emotions. When people are angry, they become impulsive. What they say and do at this time will hurt others and themselves.
Before Wang Yangming, the Governor of today’s Jiangxi Province in China, pacified the King of Ning’s Rebellion in 1519, many veteran generals were disobedient. They often surrounded the barracks to hurl abuses and make trouble. However, Wang Yangming sat in his tent and remained unperturbed.
When his subordinates asked him why he was not angry, he said: “How can there be no biased emotions such as anger in the human heart? You’ll go too far if you can’t control yourself and become angry.”
The best way to control anger is to calm down. Instead of regretting it later, let yourself calm down for 3 minutes and wait for your emotions to ease before deciding.
Daily, you can deliberately refine yourself and learn to control your emotions when upset. As time goes by, you’ll be able to see things less radically. If you learn to deal with things calmly, you may find that the things you couldn’t figure out are not worth getting angry about.
Be 3 minutes earlier for an appointment
In everything you do, you have to be prepared. Being prepared is the only way to succeed; being unprepared is usually the reason for failure. Once you get into the habit of being late, you will be the one to lose in the end.
When Zhang Liang, the famous Chinese martial genius in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), was in Xiapi, he met a knowledgeable old man. The old man told Zhang Liang, “Come and meet me on the bridge in the morning five days from now.” Zhang Liang hurriedly agreed. Five days later, the old man had come earlier when he went to the bridge on time.
When the old man saw Zhang Liang, he rebuked him, saying, “How dare you be late for your appointment with an elder? Come to see me again in five days!” After that, the old man left without looking back. After another five days, Zhang Liang heard the rooster crowing and rushed to the appointment.
This time he came earlier than the old man, and the old man nodded in satisfaction when he saw that Zhang Liang had come so early. He took out a book on the art of war and gave it to Zhang Liang, who studied it carefully and eventually became a famous military strategist.
Being three minutes early for everything is a way of showing respect to others. It leaves a good impression on people and shows them your sincerity. Such a person will be welcomed wherever he goes.
Being 3 minutes ahead is also a way of taking responsibility for yourself. Allow yourself buffer time so you don’t have to scramble and lose your head. You’ll be able to cope with any unexpected situation.
Reflect for 3 minutes before complaining
One of the weaknesses of human nature is the habit of finding faults with others, but not with themselves.
Zhou Chu was a gangster when he was young. However, he labeled himself chivalrous and righteous and was determined to rid his village of the “three evils.”
The villagers told him two of the three evils were the tiger in the mountains and the dragon in the sea. Before he finished listening, Zhou Chu went to the mountain to shoot the tiger and to the sea to kill the dragon and did not return home for three days.
The villagers thought that Zhou Chu had died and celebrated with each other. Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu realized that he was the third evil. After that, he repented his wrongdoings, gave up his evil deeds and followed good examples, and eventually became a famous general of his generation.
When you interact with others, learn to see the world with one eye and examine yourself with the other. Being critical of others will only make you look inferior.
If you have time to complain about others, you can improve by improving yourself. When you encounter a problem, you should first look for the cause in yourself. Instead of blaming others, face and try to solve the problem; every failure is an opportunity to grow.
Time flies, and ordinary days can be accumulated into a fulfilling life. Life may seem trivial, but the meaning of life doesn’t depend on material things, but on the state of your mind. Whether life is sad or happy, with ups or downs, the important thing is to cultivate your heart.
Life is cultivation. May you use the 3-minute practices in your long life journey and live an extraordinary life.
