Don’t Look to Others; Look to Yourself (by SGI President Ikeda)

When we look back on our own lives, we often realize that it is those times we spent fighting hard for what we believed in, even if they were filled with pain & hardship, those were the most exciting & fulfilling times in our lives. Those days of struggle are most precious than fame, wealth or anything else. That is why it is important to be determined to triumph over all our troubles. We must each create our personal treasure through our own efforts.
The way to accomplish that is to set your own goals and keep up your efforts to reach them. Those who persevere will win. There is no reason to be unduly influenced by temporary success or failure, or to resent others for their success.
It is important to stay unaffected by the praise & criticism, to stay steadfast when buffeted by the raging waves of jealousy around you. Look down on these things from a higher plane, and use them to make yourself a stronger person.
Don’t look to others; look to yourself. If you make yours a meaningful life, of which you can say with calm objectivity, “It was good. It was full of triumph,” then you have lived a glorious life. The person with such a strong character is a happy person.