Today I was given some very discouraging advice or an opinion to which I do not agree. The gist of it was the following:
"You should only do what you are required to do for the job, do not create or do anything extra, why? You will just cause people to talk about you. You are not getting paid at a higher wage rate, why should you do extra?"
I responded in a calm manner agreeing to what he was saying just to create peace in the environment but later started to think about this. My thoughts reminded me of what I learned from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's wisdom from one of the courses in their Art of Living Program with the wisdom to "Not be a football of other people's opinions". I reminded myself that this was his opinion, and that I can choose to not be a football of his opinion.
I agreed outwardly (Remembering Dr. Wayne Dyer's teachings about the importance of being kind instead of being right by agreeing with the person instead of arguing with them - it helps create calm and peace), but in my mind I am reminded of the wisdom in Napoleon Hill's teachings in his book titled Think and Grow Rich where he reminds us of the importance of doing more than what one is paid for, in other words to go the Extra Mile. This is counter to what he is thinking.
In addition, I am reminded of Earl Nightingale's wisdom and Bob Proctor's wisdom encouraging us to increase our service, in terms of quantity and quality and doing so in a positive attitude. So, to conclude, I don't agree with the opinion expressed by my colleague and wish him well. I wish dearly that kids out there are strong enough to resist the peer pressure of some members of their group that are discouraging others of their efforts to use their brain, gifts and talents to help make things better, I wish you the strength to not conform, dear ones.