1. Law of Relationships - (6). The Law of Relationships at Different Ages - 4). 40's
1). Connections That Come to Test You in Your Forties
In your forties, you encounter more complex connections. Unlike the connections in your thirties that come to help you, the connections in your forties are not here to aid you. Instead, they are sent by the nature to test you on everything you have learned so far. These are "test connections" sent to see how well you handle being poked and prodded by others. For instance, the nature may send someone who betrays you to see if you still blame others and get angry when things go wrong. Through these tests, if you pass successfully, these connections will stay by your side, waiting patiently. If you treat these connections properly, they won’t leave because even they value their own relationships as well.
Nature tests how much you've grown by sending you these connections in 40's. These tests are not about handling situations that are already within your capabilities. Rather, they present challenges that are one step beyond your current level. The goal is to see how you handle things when they don’t go as planned. If you don’t handle these tests well, conflicts will arise, and these connections will leave you. However, if you manage them well, those who initially came to test you will remain in your life, waiting for you to succeed. And then, another test connection will come along. If you handle that well, this new connection will also stay by your side.
Managing these relationships well means not trying to take advantage of them but instead engaging in discussions to benefit them. It means not insisting on your own opinions but instead discussing things with humility. This is a test to see whether you treat others properly, without arrogance or disregard.
As these connections come to test you, one may suddenly ask you a deep, probing question. This is a moment when nature itself is testing you:
“How are you planning to live your life from now on?”
At that moment, you must speak truthfully about how you intend to live. This is a key test moment from nature, and your response reveals how much you have studied and learned. Whether you say, "I just want to live well with my family," or "I want to do good for society," reflects your level of preparedness. Depending on your answer, the second stage of testing will commence. This second test examines whether you are truly sincere in what you said, or if you were just showing off.
The second test comes in the form of an offer or proposal that shakes you to your core, especially targeting your weaknesses. For example, while you may have been able to adjust and navigate through relationships, this time, someone might present you with a tempting offer that is difficult to refuse, like giving you a pile of gold. In such cases, you may forget your previous statement about wanting to do good for society and instead make a choice driven by greed.
The tests of nature are never lenient; they are precise and relentless. During your forties, nature tests you without even a 1% margin of error. First, the nature observe whether you treat your connections well. If you pass this, they then see if you can resist temptation by presenting you with a golden opportunity. These interactions reveal whether you truly intend to do something meaningful for society or if you are simply seeking personal gain. They test whether your words are backed by genuine action or if they were just empty boasts.
If your commitment to societal values is sincere, they will test to see whether your actions align with your words. However, if you choose personal comfort, like grabbing a chunk of gold instead, you will fail the test. This reveals that your previous statements about wanting to serve society were just lies. It shows that your personal desires take priority, causing you to fail the test. Nature tests your abilities with perfect precision. If you fail the test, what was given to you will be taken away, leading to hardships. Nature’s tests are not like school exams. If you mislead people with false words and disrupt society, you will certainly fail these tests and face difficulties soon.
The same principles apply not just to individuals but also to organizations. When a company sets its founding philosophy on self-serving goals, it will not attract talented people. However, when a company embraces a public-minded philosophy, skilled individuals are drawn to it, which is why companies like Samsung, Amazon, Apple, and Tesla have grown into major corporations. Nature still watches these companies closely after they expand. If they begin to use their power and resources for personal reason, it means they forgot the first mind set which is public-minded philosophy, they will begin to decline. The first sign is that the talented individuals within the company will notice and start leaving. They came because they were drawn to a noble cause, but when that changes, they turn away. Only those willing to compromise will remain, and the company will be on a downward path.
2). How to Pass the Tests of Your Forties
The tests in your forties examine to what extent you are living a private life focused on yourself and your family only, versus how much you are willing to live a public life dedicated to society and humanity. Imagine the most personal self-centered approach as "-10" and the most public-minded approach as "+10." Your abilities are graded on this scale based on everything you have studied up to this point.
No matter how clever your calculations may be, you cannot deceive the nature. Nature sends connections to observe how you treat them, or it sends enticing offers that touch on your greed, continuously testing whether you genuinely intend to do something meaningful for the public good. At times, they may offer you a significant amount of money. However, this is only a facade; they are observing your reactions, not truly giving it to you. Through repeated testing, your true intentions will inevitably be revealed.
If you pass a minor test because the temptation was small, the nature will present an even bigger one. The third and final test will involve a situation so significant that it could completely change your life, to see if you remain unshaken. If you waver, it shows that your public-minded values are still weak. But if you pass even this test, nature will recognize that you are someone who will not be swayed even if given the world. After passing these tests, you will enter your fifties with the power to utilize all the resources available to you.
Passing the tests means that you have successfully managed the connections that came in your forties, establishing long-lasting bonds. If you cultivate these relationships well, nature will grant you additional strength in your endeavors.
In your forties, do not focus on accumulating personal wealth. In the end, there is no such thing as "yours." Even if the money in your bank account seems like something you earned, if you lack the wisdom to use that power correctly, it will just sit there, stagnant, without bringing you any real benefit. Eventually, if no one with the proper abilities appears, you will end up clutching onto it until you pass away, unable to utilize it. Nature entrusts resources to you for a specific role, not as your own property. If you gain wisdom and shift your perspective to live a public life, nature will provide everything you need. If you are truly dedicated to society, society will invest in you. If you genuinely wish to serve humanity, humanity will support you.
Think about what you can do for your neighbors. Consider how you can serve society. The important thing to understand is that no matter how much you wish to contribute to society, if you neglect your own growth, connections and environments that align with your goals will not come to you. Therefore, start by studying and improving yourself, then expand your focus outward—from helping yourself to aiding your neighbors, society, the nation, and ultimately, humanity.
Summary
Your forties are a time when all the skills and values you’ve built are tested. Nature sends challenging connections to see whether you pursue public good or are swayed by selfish desires. The first test examines how you treat connections; the second tests your ability to resist personal temptations. If you demonstrate sincerity and integrity, you will gain significant power and resources in your fifties. However, if you fail these tests due to greed, you will face difficulties. Ultimately, only those who genuinely pursue public ideals will be able to thrive with the support of nature and society.