How to tame your demons. And become the master of your thoughts

– How are you, my friend? Very happy to meet you! Much time has passed since last time I saw your dad, 15 years or even more! – said Iwas. – Are you busy now, my friend?

– Today I’m totally free, – answered Farooq. – I decided to go for a walk through the town during my day-off.

– Then, please, spend this day with me, of course, if you don’t mind. For this meeting I will put off all my business, just need to deliver a message to the servants.

Pulled the servants aside, Iwas started to assign tasks. At that moment Farooq noticed that although he was a man with good income by standards of his town, even the servants of his father’s friend were dressed better than our character, much less Iwas himself.

Having ended with the orders, Iwas came to Farooq and took his arm:

– So, my friend, let’s go somewhere private, where we well be able to drink tea and have a talk in relaxed manner.

Farooq smiled friendly and said that he knew such place nearby.

They came to the tea house, where they could have rest and talk to each other. At the entrance they were welcomed by the friendly host, who, seeing their desire to come in, opened his tent.

– Dear host! – called him Iwas. – Give us the best place where we can have a relaxed talk and treat ourselves with your tasty fruit tea.

– With pleasure, – answered the host and walked them inside the tent.

The tent, located in the town center, was designed for thirty guests and divided into rooms for 3—4 men each. Inside it was covered with magnificent carpets, each room had black-out curtains. Even when the weather was pretty hot, there was pleasantly cool because of the well-arranged ventilation and thick carpets, fixed on the braced and rigid frame and served a purpose of walls. Also the location of the tent helped to preserve coolness – it was in the shade of four mighty trees, hiding it from the glaring May sun. It was a fabulous place, where people came to take rest, drink delicious tea with different desserts and have sincere talks. Because of carpets, absorbing sounds, comfort and privacy were kept even in the tent full of guests. That’s why this place was the favorite tea house of the relaxed talks fans.

No sooner did guests sit, the servant came into the room with a teapot of the famous flavorful tea, the smell of which fill the air in the room, and a bowl of delicious desserts.

– Hmm… What an amazing smell, – said Iwas, settling on soft pillows, lying to the right from the small table.

The servant served tea cups and went out. Iwas, taking a sip, tried to enjoy the taste and relax. Looking at him, Farooq also started to calm down unintentionally and enjoy the smell and taste of the tea.

– Sometimes people can affect each other a lot, – said Farooq after noticing his unconscious imitation of Iwas.

– You are absolutely right, my friend, and this is one of the rules of success, – smiled Iwas. – If you are surrounded by successful people, you and you’ll become more successful; if by active ones, you’ll become more active. And vice versa: If there is people around you, who always complain about the life, very soon you’ll start to notice injustice of life too.

There is a nice expression about that: “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail”. Same here, when you are with positive people, you start to think in a good way and vice versa.

– Interesting expression, – said Farooq out loud and became lost in thoughts.

They took one more sip of the nice tea and after a pause, Iwas asked his companion:

– How are you, my friend? What do you do for living? Tell me what happened during those years I haven’t seen you and your father. 15 years intervened, you were a just a boy back then.

– Yes, I was only 20, – said Farooq thoughtfully. – I have been building houses, since I started to help my father to the present day. At that time father designed projects and build foundations and I built walls. Now I do everything on my own, sometimes hire assistants for major projects. Everything goes kind of perfect, and I have a lot of assignments in advance, but I don’t want to be a mason, it’s more my parents’ wish than mine.

Iwas gave a knowing toss of the head. Farooq continued:

– At first it seemed interesting, but then it turned into a daily routine and just habit. Even great assignments with high salary don’t bring me joy anymore… And so I have lived till today without any joy and projects of life. It seemed, that I would live the rest of my life in such a manner… But something has happened today.

Having told about the strange dream, Farooq continued:

– This dream made to t a wonder a new angle on my life. I even took a day-off to go for a walk and think everything through. And, what a wonder, I met you straight away!

The father’s friend laughed gently and asked Farooq with a gesture to continue. The character, encouraged, spoke again.

– But I still don’t know what to do and where to start: I have a dream, but don’t have powers to fulfill it. Usually I come home late. Rest, sometimes meet friends, and so day by day, year by year. And you’re saying that you are happy at your respectable age, full of energy, bear your age very well, and moreover you’re rich. On top of all, you travel a lot and learn different languages! I would like to learn that.

– Yes, at my 70 I’m so pleased with my life, knowledge and wisdom, so full of energy that I would not have traded it in for youth. I heard that your parents died…

Sad pause hung in the air for some time.

– But this is life, – continued Iwas. – And you can’t escape from it. I take a philosophical approach to it, I believe that life doesn’t end up in this world, our souls will be carried to another reality – and these thoughts help me to be curious about death!

– What an interesting philosophy, – said Farooq thoughtfully.

DAY EVALUATION

Having thought a little during the pause, the father’s friend said:

– I believe that all events are connected and not accidental. “When the student is ready, the mentor will appear soon”. I agree to try my hand at teaching you: it will be unusual, but, I’m sure, invaluable experience.

Turning to the companion and looking into his eyes with determination, Iwas said:

– Farooq, I’m ready to become your mentor. But on conditions that you will devote your time to our learning, because we don’t have much time, but, on the contrary, there is a lot of information, you need to learn.

Not waiting for the end of his companion’s speech, Farooq, being not able to keep his temper in check, said loud and clear:

– I agree.

– Okay, but it’s enough for today, my dear friend. I need a couple of days to settle some issues and one day to prepare for our study. Thus, we will meet at the same place at the same time in 3 days. And here is your first task: every evening do an exercise called “Day evaluation”.

The goal of this exercise is to put your day and your emotions, both positive and negative, into perspective. And not only to put into perspective, but to understand, what has caused them.

Now make an evaluation of this day with 2 questions: what did you like from today and what did not. Write down the answers.

The first question helps to focus on the positive aspects of the day and to find out what brings you joy and inspiration. The second one is dedicated to your weaknesses, that you need to improve.

At the beginning you can write down only one thing for each question. The secret of healthy habits training is to make them simple: as a result, one gets an impression that developing them is much easier than wrestling with your conscience. It is a good strategy for getting into any new habit. With the growth and learning strategy the amount of things will be increasing, but the time, spent on the exercise, will de decreasing. So, are you ready?

– Yes, I want to make evaluation of this amazing day as soon as I can! – said Farooq.

– Well, then I’m going to say you goodbye. I still have some business for today, and you start your exercise. See you in 3 days at the same time!

Having said goodbye, Farooq started the exercise.

So, what did I like from this day?

– The decision to change his life.

– The meeting with Iwas, who has become his mentor.

– The first task, with which he copes easily and with pleasure.