A prevalent approach towards achievement and success in the modern world is through the cultivation of ambition, enthusiasm, positive thinking and a “can do” attitude. While these qualities are indisputably keys to becoming successful, left alone, they could also lead to unrealistic expectations and a one-sided approach to achieving one’s goals. Taken to an extreme, they can fuel over-inflated ambitions and cause us to neglect other aspects of life and ultimately inhibit one’s capacity to learn, to grow and … to be happy. In this workshop, we will explore the eight attitudes offered to us by the ancient Chinese sages for dealing with challenges and achieving success in any aspect of life. A broader question of finding the balance between philosophical and pragmatic aspects of life will also be explored.
