Read: Anyway,The Paradoxical Commandments

The most recent book that I have read was "Anyway, The Paradoxical Commandments" by Kent M. Keith. I was drawn to this book as I had came across the commandments quite some time ago through one of my good friends, RL.

In this book, the author himself shared how he was moved when the Paradoxical Commandments that he had written years ago had travelled around the world and back to him. In this book, he shared the philosophy and the stories behind each of the commandments. I thought that this book was a simple yet profound read.


Each commandment, I personally feel, is visionary in itself. I suppose at the end of the day, finding personal meaning through our actions and thoughts will help each of us grow as a person. To me, I think that the paradoxical commandments encouraged us to move beyond our fears and doubts, to simply do what is meaningful. At the end of the day, regardless of the outcome, we will know that we have lived a meaningful life.

My project would be to internalise the paradoxical commandments and live them out in my own life. I ask for guidance, constant encouragement and inspirations as I work on this project.

Here's presenting the Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith. He wrote this when he was nineteen, a sophomore at Harvard. They were part of a booklet that he wrote for the high school student leaders titled "The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council" which was published by the Harvard Student Agencies in 1968. Alright, enough of the history, here's the Paradoxical Commandments:

"People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.

Love them anyway.



If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.



If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.



The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.



Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.



The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.



What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.



People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.



Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you've got anyway.



- Dr Kent M. Keith."

*****
Anyway, The Paradoxical Commandment
Kent M. Keith
Berkley Publishing Group


Also see: http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com