“You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is sitting back and observing things with logic. True power is restraint. If words can control you, that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.” Warren Buffett, American Billionaire

The more I live the more I find that we all say things we don’t really mean – to offend or hurt other’s feelings. Minsan nabibigla lang tayo or minsan naman talaga ay gusto nating iparating ang ating damdamin.

But how to handle objections, rejections and even humiliations? Let’s learn from these giants of faith.

David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him talking with the soldiers. Eliab was angry with him and said, “What are you doing here, anyway? Who’s taking care of your little flock of sheep out in the desert? You spoiled brat! You came here just to watch the fighting, didn’t you?” 1 Samuel 17:28

This was the time when David was just asked by his father to bring food to his brothers. Pero galit na galit ang kuya ni David na si Eliab at minaliit pa nya si David na tagapag alaga lamang daw ng mga tupa. He was trying to say offending words but did what was David’s reaction? Did he retaliate?

No!

He did not mind Eliab at all. But rather he asked an objective question what will be winning prize. In 1 Samuel 17

David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine…? The response was: “To the man who kills Goliath, the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”

Even the King Saul told David how young he is and why it would be impossible for him to win the fight.

…But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

I remember what St Matthew said that sometimes our family members will hold us back.

A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Matthew 10:36

Do you see how good people who may have ‘good’ intentions for you will try to stop you from becoming God wants you to be? Sad to say there are times that those people who are very close to us will be overly protective that we miss our chances to achieve great things in life.

David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God. David added, “The LORD who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17

We all know that he cut-off Goliath’s head and the Philistines ran away in fear! Should David become reactive of the words he heard from Eliab and King Saul he could have missed his chance to become one of the greatest kings of Israel.

Warren Buffett is one of my favorite businessmen and he may even had many failures. It is the reason perhaps he said not to have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. If words can control you, that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.

We must sometimes ignore or forgive negativity being said to us. Even Jesus in the midst of his dying moment but being taunted and mocked by people said: “Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.”

A success cannot be considered a success if it is not harnessed through constant criticisms and setbacks.

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold…Proverbs 27:21

One time there was a time when Barthamaeus was shut up by the Disciples. But the more he was stopped, the more he kept shouting the name of Jesus who noticed Him.

When we learn the character of being tenacious and resilient, chasing God is the only way we can move Him.

Those hurting or mean words can hurt but you must allow it to pass or ignore it completely. Pag binato ka daw ng bato, gumawa ka ng hagdan upang matungtungan sa pag-abot ng iyong mga pangarap. It’s ok you heard them talking about and spreading fake news about you. Sometimes being silent is an answer to a fool. Let them see how God will lift you higher and better – the more they put you down, the more God picks you up.

Keep walking when dogs bark. Just like David, keep your eyes on the goal: the winning prize!