Understand that your purpose is to praise and serve God. To this end the circumstance of your life is not important. Therefore don't desire and seek out health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honour rather than dishonour, or any other outcome. But rather accept and turn the reality toward God.
Examine each hour of your day to review your life in light of the above. Look within to find things that you want to correct. Ask God for His grace and strive through your day to improve these areas.
During each day:
Every time you find yourself failing, put your hand on your breast grieving. Do this even in the company of others.
At the end of the day, rate yourself
Compare your rating today against yesterday, to see whether you have improved or declined
At the end of each week, review yourself and compare against your rating the previous week.
It is only by ongoing honest appraisal of yourself that you can truly understand and master yourself.
© The White Swami 2009