We can little
Wisdom consists of peacefully accepting the fact that we can do very little and putting into action all our capacity for enthusiasm to perform as much as possible in that little.
We can very little. This insistence on our helplessness does not have to discourage anyone, quite the opposite. Discouragement comes from setting our sights on too high peaks; When we see that they are inaccessible, we become discouraged.
We, on the other hand, say: it is true that we can do little, and we accept that helplessness in advance; but to achieve that little we will put all our energies into play. Here there will be no disappointment or disillusion because there was no deception or illusion. Here is the secret of wisdom: putting all your passion into it but starting from reality.
Suppose that the highest ideal is reaching one hundred points. You must aspire to reach those hundred points, fight ardently to reach that summit. But man must know and accept in advance that most likely he will only reach seventy-five points, or forty-seven, or twenty-four, or maybe only five. You must accept these eventualities with peace, otherwise the awakening could be very bitter.
This is the concrete way to dissect an inexhaustible source of suffering: to know and calmly accept that your intelligence is more limited than your desire to succeed, that your possibilities for human perfection are relative, that your marital happiness or your professional success can fail, that You will not always be well accepted in society, not all your projects will come to fruition, you will not lack enemies, and not always because of you, your influence will be limited in your environment.
Accept all this in advance, and your energies will not burn uselessly, but will be available for the struggle of life and you will end up savoring the tranquility of the mind and the peace of the heart.
Taken from the book: “From Suffering to Peace” chapter II section: “We can very little” from Father Ignacio Larrañaga.