There was a little boy whose parents were very poor. On the birthday of their son, they could not afford to give him a present, so they wished to give him some pleasure to take the place of the present.
They asked their son, "What would you like to do on your birthday?"
The boy suddenly said that he would like to have permission to do exactly as he pleased, and not be punished for his doings. The parents foolishly agreed.

On his birthday, the boy found himself quite free to do as he pleased. He ate so much sugar at breakfast that he got sick. Then he climbed a huge tree, fell down and seriously hurt himself. He hunted a cat, caught it and got badly scratched. He also shouted too much so that his throat was hoarse. Finally, he ate so much unripe fruit that his stomach pained. His parents took him to the hospital for treatment.

The next day, he begged his parents never again to give him permission to do as he liked.

Source: Unknown

"There is a famous principle in life, that we have always to choose between the pleasant and the good. It is a continuous principle, whether it is for children or adults, it is the same. It is always pleasant to be idle, but it is not good to be idle. It is pleasant to eat, it is perhaps not good to eat. It is pleasant to play the fool, it is not good to do it. So always remember when you are faced with a choice …… which is pleasant, which is good. Decide what is good and do it. It is a very simple principle to follow."

P. Rajagopalachari, Love & Death, p. 8

Q: Think of examples from your life in the last week, when you have been put in the position to choose between doing what is good and what is pleasurable. What did you do?

Q: Why does choosing the pleasurable eventually always lead to problems?

Start keeping a diary. At the end of each day, write down the choices you made, and think about what you would change in future to strengthen your character by choosing what is good.

In Sahaj Marg, the Tenth Maxim says: "At bed time, feeling the Presence of God, repent for the wrongs committed. Beg forgiveness in a supplicant mood, resolving not to allow the repetition of the same."
This practice allows us to improve ourselves every day, without guilt, without shame, and with a positive attitude. Try it, and see if it makes a difference!

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.