境由心造

Situation Is Affected by Mind

罗兰

By Luo Lan

一个人的处境是苦是乐常是主观的。

It's often subjective whether one's situation feels bitter or sweet.

有人安于某种生活，有人不能。因此能安于自己目前处境的不妨就如此生活下去，不能的只好努力另找出路。你无法断言哪里才是成功的，也无法肯定当自己到达了某一点之后，会不会快乐。

Some can be content with a certain life, while others cannot. So you might as well live as ever if you're satisfied with your current situation; otherwise, you have to strive for another way out. You can neither tell where you'll succeed nor make sure whether you'll be happy when you attain a certain point.

有些人永远不会感到满足，他的快乐只建立在不断地追求与争取的过程之中，因此他的目标不断地向远处推移。这种人的快乐可能少，但成就可能大。

Some will never feel satisfied, whose happiness is only built on ceaseless pursuits and struggles, so he keeps aiming at a farther goal. Such a person may enjoy less happiness but perhaps make greater achievements.

苦乐全凭自己判断。有人认为学历不重要，他就不会因无学历而苦恼。有人认为一定要有学历，他才觉得快乐和心安，因此他只好去追求学历。这和客观环境并不一定有直接关系，正如一个不爱珠宝的女人，即使置身在极其重视虚荣的环境，也无伤她的自尊。因为贫富贵贱各人有不同的标准与定义。拥有万卷图书的穷书生，并不想去和百万富翁交换钻石或股票。满足于田园生活的人也并不艳羡任何学者的荣誉头衔，或高官厚禄。

Whether it's bitter or sweet totally depends on one's own judgment. If one does not value academic credentials, he will not feel upset without them. If one thinks he can't be happy or restful without academic credentials, he has to pursue them. Sometimes it's not directly related to the objective environment, just like a woman without interest in jewelry, her self-esteem will not be hurt even if she stays in an environment where vanity is overvalued. Because different people have different standards and definitions for the poor, the rich, the noble and the humble, a poor scholar will not exchange his ten thousand books with a millionaire's diamond or stock; a person, who is content with his pastoral life, will not admire any scholar's honored titles or high official positions.

你的爱好就是你的方向，你的兴趣就是你的资本，你的性情就是你的命运。各人有各人理想的乐园，有自己所乐于安享的花花世界。

Your hobby guides you, your interest enriches you, and your disposition determines your fate. Each one has his ideal paradise and colorful world where he enjoys himself.

朝自己所乐于追求的方向去追求，就是你一生的道路。不必抱怨环境，也无须艳羡别人。

Pursue what you would like to pursue, and that'll make your whole life. You need not complain on the environment nor envy others.

译于2005年6月17日。