精选文章翻译作品：什么才叫「做自已」？

• 2021-05-06
• 网站管理员
• 翻译文案服务

接受矛盾
Accept contradictions
 
在厘清自己的价值观的时候，难免会看到一些看起来很矛盾的地方，不需要觉得讶异，也不用困窘。比如我们想努力赚钱的同时，往往却同时强调物质不重要。
When clarifying our values, we often find areas of incongruity. For example, perhaps we love to make money, but also believe that material objects are unimportant. We needn’t feel surprised or embarrassed at these contradictions, however.
 
因为我们的价值观，是一锅什么都有的综合八宝粥，其中包括文化、信仰、家庭、教育、喜欢的歌词、和对人生路上激励你前进的人的记忆，所以当然会出现各种相互抵触的价值观。真正要紧的是，我们要不断正视、反思这些矛盾，就像龟毛的师傅在挑茶叶一样，挑出别人加诸在我们身上的，只留下自己真正认同的。
The reason is that our value system is like a cooking pot into which all types of ingredients have been placed: cultural, religious, familial, educational, favorite songs, memory of those who previously inspired us, etc. With so much in the “pot,” it is easy to see why there would areas of incongruity. What is important is that we honestly look and reflect on such contradictions. Think of it as a tea artisan choosing tea leaves: pick out what has been imposed on us by others, and leave behind what resonates with us.
 
停止比较  Stop Comparisons
 
不断跟自己或别人竞争的人，就是把自己当成一匹赛马的人。
A person that constantly competes with himself or others is someone that sees himself as a racehorse.
 
比赛的唯一结果，就是输。无论赢了多少次，竞赛型运动员最后的下场就是输。没有任何人能够无止境的赢下去。这只是无可避免的结果。
To race means to lose. It doesn’t matter how many times he or she might win, losing is part and parcel of being competitive athlete. No one that can win endlessly. That is an unavoidable truth. 
 
因为你是人，不是赛马。所以请停止跟别人比较。停止过度关注别人的IG，停止羨慕别人的生活，也不要想着要去推翻别人的光辉形象，那只会让你失去朋友和尊重，变成网络酸民，觉得自己可耻，让你无法面对自己。
You are a person and not a racehorse, so please stop competing with others. Stop paying so much attention to other people’s Instagram photos. Stop being envious of the lives of others. And stop trying to beat others at their own game. This will just lose you friends and respect. You will find yourself becoming an internet troll. You will feel ashamed and have trouble facing yourself.
 
接受生活的起落  Accept life’s vicissitudes
 
我的家在波士顿外的一个小岛上，面对着海边，每天都会看到两次潮起潮落。对我来说，这是一个很重要的提醒：连如此宽广的海洋，每天都有起起落落，人有高潮低潮，每天有心情高低，运气有好有坏，只要还在做真正的自己，那又有什么关系呢？不需要试图辩解，也不需要与人争论。
My home is located on a small island outside of Boston. Facing the sea, every day I see the tide come in and out. For me, it is an important reminder that if something as large as the ocean has ups and downs, why should we be surprised that our lives or emotions also have ups and downs. Furthermore, as long as we are committed to being true to ourselves, then what do these ups and downs really matter? Remember, there is no need to justify ourselves to others or argue with them.
 
只有「改变」是恒定的。我们不可避免地要随着时间改变自己，也会被时间改变。接受起落，就像接受潮起潮落一样，只去改变能改变的事，但是不需要白费力气试图去改变不能改变的事。
Change is the only constant. We cannot avoid changing or being changed as time passes. Accepting life’s vicissitudes is like accepting the changing tides. Only look to change the things that can be changed. There is no reason to waste energy trying to change things that cannot.
 
文章摘自天下杂志
Excerpt from Commonwealth Magazine