The timeless profound poem "IF"

caliber

This poem is over 100 years old and yet is as fresh as todays newspaper in

its vital message for us to contemplate. It contains situational guidelines

for the game of life. It is filled with idealism but what matters is in the

striving to reach these goals, thus the title "IF" because in our imperfect

state striving is the best we can do.

All the books about self confidence, success, life balancing, personality

development are encapsulated within the thoughts this poem. It is a vision

of worthy life; how to play by the rules of human nature for success.

Some lessons

conviction

integrity

positive attitude

lessoning the negatives

will power

hope

self reliance

humble not too wise

transcending over ego

harm no one

greatest happiness- give much ask for nothing

Honorable - dignified

never arrogant

balanced

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposter's justthe same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Rudyard Kipling

I believe a whole book could be written based on these condensed words of wisdom.

I welcome your thoughts and expressions regarding this poem.

Caliber

David

changeling

Beautiful! I quite agree.

changeling

The timeless profound poem "IF"

caliber

caliber

AWAKE&WATCHING

llbh

changeling

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