心态的平静是不能测量的。可是我能够确定的是，我珍惜拥有平静心态的分分秒秒。而每当我想到平静的心态也许正在不断地从身边悄悄溜走时，我就会感到焦虑。
■心灵小语
平静是我们每个人都想追求的心理状态，可是却总是难以实现，只有当我们将内心的所有担扰和疑虑全部放下时，才能真正感受到。
Pioneering Peace of Mind
Jeffrey Shaffer
Peace of mind is something I think about every day。 It’s great to have confidence when stepping out my front door that I will be able to move around the local environment1 without fear and return home safely。
But peace of mind depends on mutual2 trust from every citizen—that as we walk the streets and conduct our personal affairs we hold the same basic views and values about maintaining a civil society。
Every time a violent crime or terrorist act is perpetrated on unsuspecting victims； when a sniper starts shooting or a bomb explodes； our collective peace of mind is eroded； along with our willingness to trust all the unknown people with whom we share sidewalks； shopping malls； and other public spaces。
Safety precautions and technology may encourage peace of mind but they can’t substitute for it。 My neighborhood bank branch was robbed a few years ago。 Now thick plastic slabs protect every teller’s window and surveillance cameras monitor the lobby。 If I am gunned down while making a deposit3； the videotapes will probably help police apprehend the guilty party and bring him or her to swift justice； but that fact doesn’t make me sleep better at night。 I would rather have no security cameras and no robbers4 to worry about in my personal universe。
Forgive my wish fill thinking； but you don’t have to look far in this world to see how cultural creativity and dynamism evaporate when people are forced to devote most of their time and energy to self…defense。
We have spent more than 200 years trying to build a society that provides everyone with ongoing5 opportunities to enjoy life； liberty； and the pursuit of happiness； and it hasn’t been easy。 A 1915 book entitled A History of Travel in Anlerica by Seymour Dunbar described the harsh conditions facing early settlers who crossed the eastern mountain ranges and headed into the western wilderness。 It explained how the constant danger and anxiety affected their outlook and behavior。
Dunbar writes； “They walked with a soft and swinging stride； keeping themselves always well poised。 For no man ever knew whether his next move would be a leap to the right or to the left； a dive behind a log； a dash ahead or a rush backward over the path he had e。。。”
Peace of mind can’t be measured。 All I know for sure is that I appreciate every moment l have it。 And I am alarmed whenever I get the feeling it may be steadily slipping away。
多一点微笑
尼科尼？昆科
有一个大家耳熟能详的伊索寓言，说的是狮子和老鼠的故事。故事是这样的：一头狮子正在睡午觉，一只小老鼠不小心碰到了他的爪子，结果吵醒了他。狮子刚想张开血盆大口把老鼠吃掉，这时小老鼠喊了起来：“求求你，放了我吧。你不会想到，说不定有一天我会帮助你的。”当然，狮子听了觉得很好笑，小老鼠竟然会有帮助大狮子的想法！不过，那天，狮子善心大发，便放过了小老鼠。几天之后，那只狮子受困于网中。他费尽周折想挣脱束缚，然而绳子太结实了，他失望地咆哮着。在不远处，那只小老鼠听到狮子的吼叫，急忙跑了过来，用锋利的牙齿咬断了网绳，解救了狮子。这只小老鼠果真用自己的能力回报了狮子的恩情。
同情一个人是件很容易的事情。有时，简单地向别人微笑可能就是意义非凡的举动。例如，一个人不管在哪里，差不多都会遇到这样一种情况：在当地总会有受到排斥的人。当你下一次再看到这个人的时候，不要不加理睬便从他的旁边走过，而应停下来向他微笑，打个招呼，这样我们的世界就会截然不同。或者，也许你认识的这个人总是被人取笑、受人捉弄或受到侮辱。一不要跟着嘲弄的人群起哄，二不要只是站在旁边沉默不语，仅仅一个美好的同情之举就可以帮助这个不幸的人免受痛苦的折磨。这两个例子形象地说明了同情他人是多么简单的事情。
富有同情心能让每个人的生活更加多姿多彩。知道细心呵护并表达善意就能使一个人的生活更愉快。另外，如果一个人友善地对待别人，那么他自己的感觉也会好起来。 一个有同情心的人知道体谅人、关心人、热心助人，总之，自己就是一个满怀关爱的人。因此，拥有同情心本身也是一种回报。
同情是一条不可估量的重要的“人生法则”，每个人都应该遵循其规律。善良仅仅是一个简单的举动，结果每个受其感染的人生活得会更好，生活质量会更高。如果大家养成同情和善良的习惯，试想每个人会有多开心，多幸福啊。每个人都将知道他或她被关心着，所有人都能感受到自己在关心人、爱护人。想象一下，仅仅是因微笑这么简单的举动就会换来这样的快乐。
Taking the Time to Smile
Nicole Kuncl
There is an old aesop fable that tells the story of a lion and a mouse。 As the story goes； a mighty1 lion was enjoying a nap when a tiny mouse ran across his paw and wakened him。 The lion was just about to make a snack2 of the mouse when he cried； “Please let me go。 You never know； some day I might be able to help you。” Of course； the lion scoffed at the idea that a little mouse would ever be of any help to a great lion。 However； the lion was feeling benevolent that day； so he allowed the mouse to go。 A few days later； the lion was trapped in a net。 He pushed and struggled with all his might； but the ropes were too strong。 He roared with frustration3。 The tiny mouse； not too far away； heard the lion and ran to him。 With his sharp teeth； he gnawed through the ropes of the net and set the lion free。 The tiny mouse truly had been able to repay the kindness of the mighty lion。
Showing passion to another person can be very simple。 Sometimes； simply smiling at someone can be an incredibly powerful gesture。 For example； anywhere one goes there is almost always the guarantee that there will be someone there who is considered an outcast。 The next time one sees this person； instead of ignoring him and walking on by； taking a second to smile and offer a greeting would make a world of difference。 Or； perhaps there is someone one knows who is always teased； picked on and insulted。 Instead of joining in on the chorus of jeers； or merely remaining a silent bystander； a wonderful passionate gesture would be to stand up for the less fortunate person being tormented。 These examples both beautifully depict how easily one can show passion to another。
Being passionate can make everyone’s lives so much better。 Simply knowing that someone cares enough to show kindness makes one’s day seem brighter。 In addition； if one makes it a point to be kind to others； it makes him feel better about himself。 One who is passionate knows he is sympathetic； considerate； helpful； and in short； a caring human being。 Therefore； having passion is its own reward。
passion is such an incredibly important law of life that everyone should try to live by。 Kindness only takes a simple gesture； and results in a better quality of life for everyone who is touched by it。 If all people made it a practice to be passionate and kind； only think of how much happier everyone would be。 Everyone would know that he or she was cared about； and all people would be able to feel that they were caring； kind human beings。 Imagine； such happiness sparked by something as simple as taking the time to smile。
思想与目标（1）
詹姆斯？艾伦
智慧是思想与目标相结合的产物。大多数人任由他们的思想之舟在生命的海洋中“漂泊”。漫无目的是一种罪恶，这样的漂泊，对于那些想要摒弃灾难和毁灭的人来说，是不能再继续下去的。
那些在生命中缺乏中心目标的人，很容易被一些微小的烦恼、恐惧、麻烦和自卑所吞噬，这些都是软弱的暗示，都会因一些不可避免的失误（尽管方式各异）而导致失败、忧愁和损失，因为在这个崇尚力量的世界里，软弱是不可能再继续的。
一个人应该在自己的内心中孕育一个合理的目标，并准备去实现它，还应将其作为自己思想的中心。这个目标或许只是一种精神理想的外壳，又或是一种世俗的目标，这取决于他当时的自然状态。但无论是哪一种，他都将为自己设定的这个目标倾注全部精力。他应该将这个目标作为自己至高无上的责任，并完全投身于它的实现中去，决不允许自己的思想徘徊在过眼云烟般的迷恋、渴求与幻想之中。这是一条通往自制和思想集中的正途。即使他在实现目标的征途中不断跌倒（这是他克服软弱的必经之路），但是他的人格力量将会成为其成功的度量器，也为将来的力量与成功形成一个新的起点。
对于那些没有准备好伟大目标的人来说，应当将思想完全集中在每日任务的完成上，不管他们的任务看似是多么的无关紧要。只有通过这种方法，才能将思想结合、集中起来，决心和能力的作用才能得以发挥。如果做到了这些，就没有什么是不能实现的了。
……
一个人如果确定了目标，就应该在心中描绘出一条通往成功的直路，而不是左顾右盼。要摒弃所有的疑惑与恐惧，因为它们极具破坏性，会改变我们努力的方向，使之扭曲、失败、无益。疑虑和恐惧，它们是不会完成任何任务的，永远不会，它们只会导致失败。目标、精力和活力的能力，以及所有坚定的思想都会被疑虑和恐惧所干扰。
成功的愿望来自我们对自我学识的了解。疑虑与恐惧是我们最大的敌人，那些对其纵容而又不予以扼杀的人，相当于在他们前进的道路上自设了绊脚石。
战胜了疑虑与恐惧的人就等于战胜了失败。他的每一个想法都充满了力量，能勇敢地面对所有困难，并通过聪明才智去征服。他的目标被适时栽植，于是开花结果，而不会过早地死去。
思想勇敢地与目标相结合，就形成了创造力。明白这点的人就会随时为成为一个更高更强的人作准备，而不会成为一个思想左右摇摆、感觉时刻变化的人。能做到这一点的人就是一个有意识、有头脑的精神力量的主宰者。
■ 心灵小语
我们应该将目标植入我们的思想中，使思想与目标有机的结合，这才是成功的前提，力量的源泉。凡成功者，思想中必有坚定而明确的目标。他们把目标作为自己人生的航标，披荆斩棘，勇往直前，直达自己理想的彼岸。只有在目标的指引下，我们才能像上紧弦的发条、拉满弓的箭，展现出令人难以想象的意志和力量，才会更加朝气蓬勃，英勇无畏。拥有明确的目标，你才不会彷徨、踌躇，才会更加坚定成功的信念。
Thought and Purpose
James Allen
Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent acplishment。 With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to “drift” upon the ocean of life。 Aimlessness is a vice； and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe1 and destruction。
They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries； fears； troubles； and self…pitying； all of which are indications2 of weakness； which lead； just as surely as deliberately planned sins （though by a different route）； to failure； unhappiness； and loss； for weakness cannot persist in a power evolving universe。
思想与目标（2）
A man should conceive of a legitimate3 purpose in his heart； and set out to acplish it。 He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts。 It may take the form of a spiritual ideal； or it may be a worldly object； according to his nature at the time being； but whichever it is； he should steadily focus his thought…forces upon the object； which he has set before him。 He should make this purpose his supreme duty； and should devote himself to its attainment； not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral4 fancies； longings； and imaginings。 This is the royal road to self…control and true concentration of thought。 Even if he fails again and again to acplish his purpose （as he necessarily must until weakness is overe）； the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success； and this will form a new starting…point for future power and triumph。
Those who are not prepared for the apprehension5 of a great purpose should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty； no matter how insignificant their task may appear。 Only in this way can the thoughts be gathe