„Without postponing your own intentions.
This means we must stop postponing what we intend and need to do for ourselves. If it turns out that most of our time has been occupied with the affairs of others, this cannot be changed all at once. It may take a long period during which we gradually dismantle the habits of occupying ourselves with the affairs of others. And just when we think we have mastered our visible habits, we will discover others that we had not noticed until that moment.“

When we pursue a specific goal, many things constantly appear that try to pull us in different directions, distracting us and diverting our attention. We must repeatedly remind ourselves what goal we are following, and whenever we deviate from it, we must consciously exert our will in order to return to what we are doing.

Stopping our involvement in the affairs of others is not a lack of empathy, but a restoration of our own integrity. Without this restoration, every action directed outward becomes mostly an automatic reaction rather than a conscious choice.

To be continued. The publication of the remaining points follows.