Still water & Failure

I read a simple and sweet story about nature, action and success, and am sharing the same.

A school boy failed in his exams, and his so called friends mocked at him and this left the boy with a deep sense of failure. He went into depression, gave up studies and did not eat properly. His parents explained to him that, failing in an exam is not failure of life. But the child was so gripped with negativity that he left his house and went to commit suicide. On his way towards the suicidal point, the child heard some voices and stopped to see that in a school there were some students and the teacher was explaining something. He just paused with a nostalgic feeling and then heard the teacher give a lifetime lesson to the students. The teacher said- do you know why river water does not get dirty? Because, it keeps flowing. Aren’t there hurdles in its path? There are, yet it keeps flowing, from a waterfall into a river, from a river into a sea, from a sea into an ocean. Similarly, life should keep going; meaning, despite failures and hurdles, one must not stop moving and putting in effort. Don’t fear obstacles, they are sure to come in some or the other form. If we stop moving, life will start rottening like still water which accumulates all the dirt that comes to it.

After listening to this, the boy got his lost inspiration and moved back to his house. He did not look back. On growing up, the boy became national hero of Vietnam. His name was Ho Chi Minh.

Moral of the story:

• Not the biggest of failures can label us as a failure in life.
• Getting up after falling down, and then moving again is life.

So, let's live life kingsize.

 Do leave your comments.

Faith in goodness

Quite often when someone who is not so close to me, goes out of his way to help me out without any apparent self interest, I find it difficult to believe and keep wondering that why in today’s rush life would someone put in any effort to help a stranger that too without any self- interest. But then I try to bring my wicked mind back to track, say sorry to God for doubting HIS make, that too for being good to me. Is’nt it sad that, when someone does something good without interest, instead of appreciating, we start doubting the other person’s intentions?
Then, I remind myself that God sends HIS messengers in the form of these people to help us out when we are on the right track. When we lose faith in the goodness of HIS creation, we are just mistrusting HIM and giving HIM pain.   

I further remind myself that even if there are 90 forces pulling us down, there still are 10 of them trying to push us up, and their synergetic effect is much more than that of the 90 negative forces.

If we have been cheated badly, it does not mean that loyalty does not exist; if someone has broken our trust it does not mean we shall not trust anyone anymore.

If negative forces were stronger, would’nt this world just come to an end?

This can never happen, because it has been planned and created by the most dexterous creator. Every event, positive or negative is a result of HIS plan for us, and is for our own benefit. So, have faith in goodness and HIS Godliness and move on. HIS most beautiful plans are yet to unfold:)

Remember to leave your comments.

Stress & Happiness

There are times when we come under immense pressure, and as a result there is a high build up of stress. And then we come under the influence of negative factors like -hopelessness, despair, frustration, anger, anguish etc. Let’s look at some of the reasons for this:    

• Repeated failures
• Exhaustion by putting in efforts without a ray of hope
• Unending delay in getting results/ desired outcome
• Too much work with impractical deadlines
• Too little work, all the time to brood 
• Lot of multitasking 
• Health issues 
• Strain in relationships 
• Unexpected and contrary outcome 

 How to handle such a situation?

[I] Short term remedies-Take measures to come out of the negative influence immediately so that you don’t go into clutches of negativity-

a) Remember that this will also pass 

b) Talk to a true friend/ confidante 

c) Take an immediate break if possible – watch a comic movie, programme 

d) Spend time close to nature 

e) Cleanse your eyes and pent up emotions if that works well for you:) 

f) Go for a walk, game

  

[II] Permanent cure 

An example that I remember here is- if you are sitting on a chair and there’s a pin in the chair hurting you, what will you do? Remove the pin? If you are not able to remove it, then? Then you’ll get up and sit on another chair. How do we relate this with stress?

If you can control the cause of stress, do it. But, if you cannot control the cause of stress, learn to control your response to it, this will always be in your control. How? Read on.

  

1. Identify the cause of stress—true cause is not the unexpected outcome or outrageous behaviour of some person; the true cause is our expectation from and deep attachment with the result or the person.

2. Look within- Once you’ve established that it was your own deep desire which led to disappointment, you’ll realise that the solution is with your own self. No extrinsic factor can control you unless you lose control.

3. Strengthen yourself-

a. Be determined not to give in to negative influences

b. Have a regular physical activity-game, walk, yoga, gym

c. Meditation- it charges up every cell of the body and helps a lot in mind control

d. Pursue a hobby, something you always wanted to do but could not find time for

e. Read something positive, motivating and energising

f. Remember that there is a divine planning behind everything, HE has HIS own plans for you

g. Help someone in need, it’ll boost your spirits amazingly and the positive charges between that person and you shall do a lot of good

h. Pray-it works like nothing else

i. Remember that we exist for a larger picture

j. Promise yourself to be happy in all situations. Read my earlier post on happiness & hurdles

 

Remember to leave your comments here, send your suggestions.

 

Ethics with the unethical

Dirty politics, the feeling of being used and misused by people for their benefit etc. are common in a work place (to some extent even in personal relationships). There are street smart people who know how to use every situation to their advantage and move ahead, while there are others who are sincere and dedicated, simple and honest- they are the ones who have problems in moving ahead and become a prey in the hands of vultures.

How does one handle such people? Should one hold on to one’s principles with people who have no principles? I am trying to answer these questions with the help of an example from the epic Mahabharat.

During the battle of Mahabharat, when Arjun comes across Karna (one of the opponents), one of the wheels of Karna’s chariot falls and he falls down and so do his weapons. He requests Arjun not to attack him since he was empty handed. Arjun, being a kshatriya holding on to his principles relented and started waiting for Karna to come back with his weapons. Lord Krishna who was the charioteer & friend philosopher and guide of Arjuna asked him to attack Karna immediately. When Arjuna showed his disagreement on attacking an unweaponed opponent, Krishna reminded him of how Arjun’s son Abhimanyu was killed with deceit and Draupadi was humiliated in public. Krishna said don’t apply principles with people who have no principles.

 The above can thus be applied as follows:

• When you are right, don’t be scared of anything/ anyone 
• Don’t take your opponents on face value 
• Don’t share your strategies with others unless they are directly involved 
• Don’t think about ethics with people who have no ethics when your objective is right

I wish to share 4 Fs told by Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba -
Follow your master (your inner voice)
Face the devil
Fight till the end and
Finish the game

Do send your feedback/ leave your comments.
HAPPY JANAMASHTMI:)