DON’T FEEL JEALOUS…. FEEL MAGNANIMOUS!

24-February-2021

 * DON’T FEEL JEALOUS…. FEEL MAGNANIMOUS!*

 

God has taken great care and effort while creating each human being! HE has not just given us life, shape and identifiable features, HE has also put unseen properties inside us. Intellect, rational thinking, and various feelings are among them. The magical touch of the ‘Power Above’ makes a new born baby shudder at a cold breeze, or cry when hungry. Amazing, isn’t it?  

 

Emotions lie within each of us, some of these are very positive ( happiness, compassion, gratitude etc.)  while some are not so (hatred, envy, spite etc.).  A growing child can fumble and falter as he gets a hang of the novelty of emotions that crop up from within. It is at this stage that the adults nearby should make him understand which emotion is positive and which is not. The child might look confused, but please don’t give up…. as kids need help in understanding themselves. The adult should be patient, use many methods to make the minor realize what is going on within him. Sometimes, mere words will be of no use.… you need to give him examples or cite real-life situations to warn him against a negative emotions.

 

JEALOUSY is a feeling one gets when one is not happy with the progress or growth of a fellow being. You are envious, and feel strongly that he should fail, or that he should not reach UP the ladder! You feel upset about his recognition, you tend to find excuses for his progress etc. This can happen with anyone. However, we are all rational, so we can analyse and  conclude what is right and what is wrong. Thus, continuing to feel jealous of a classmate or a colleague or another person is not in the right spirit!

 

We are luckily living in a world in which each of us can use our potential to its highest capacity. Don’t feel jealous about X’s progress, instead, do a bit of  research…. find out what makes him excel in his field, how much hardwork and perseverance he puts in, how much commitment and resolve he has, and how passionate he is to use his caliber to the maximum. If you start thinking in these lines, you are already MAGNANIMOUS! 

You will soon introspect, and ask yourself similar questions. As you travel through such a path, you might identify your own faults and drawbacks, how you can alter your stand, how you can change your perspective to be happy in your own passionate field. These thoughts will mould you better. This is the baby-step towards not feeling jealous, but feeling complacent and happy for him instead!

 

Please understand that each individual is different. So stop comparing two people or discussing anyone with a negative intention. This does not mean one should not pay attention to someone else’s faults…. you should  be aware of the drawbacks,  yet choose a path that does not hinder your thoughts or your progress. The moment you choose to ignore, pay a deaf ear to negative thoughts or rumors and gossips, you will feel the vastness  of positivity in front of you!

 

Let 'Live And Let Live’ be your motto. When you see  X’s progress, his recognition and reward,  please applaud and let him know your appreciation and enjoyment. If you concentrate similarly and advance in your own field, you will surely get due name and recognition too. Be humble whenever you own this coveted  credit. Thus, if you concentrate on your  own progress instead of feeling jealous about someone else, your life will be peaceful, comfortable and contented. Good Luck!

© Shanta Ramakrishnan,  Mumbai

        24-February-2021

LISTEN TO YOUR INNER KNOCK !!

 18.02.2021

LISTEN TO YOUR INNER 'KNOCK' !!

What is a Knock? A noise? An indication of something ready to enter….? Taking permission? Maybe! What is the ‘knock’ referred here that you are advised to pay attention to? Here is the answer….

Everyone has a mind of his own. An intellect that can think and ponder, that can decide what is right and wrong, that can help you in making your choice. What makes you do all these actions? It is the urge, the support that draws you towards making a decision. How do you understand this ? By listening to your inner voice!

One sees many things, hears many sounds and all these have an impact in our mind. In addition, we have other concerns that take a priority.  Our first concern should be our LIFE, how we lead it, how we conduct ourselves, how close and bonded we are to our family, what future plans we have for us, what path we are going to take to get satisfaction personally and professionally. Not an easy verdict to take in a jiffy. As days progress, we tend to edit our decisions, make adjustments and alter our intentions slightly, to suit the situation. However, the final goal in life might remain the same.

 

We need to be alert about what is happening around us and how such events impact our life, our family, our goal. We see opportunities thrown our way by an unseen hand that can change our life totally for the better. This can come in the form of a sudden encounter with a friend, a casual  reference that we can use for our benefit, an advertisement that suits our qualification,  or even an offer that comes out of the blue!  

When this happens, you get a hunch that someone is taking the reign of life from your hands, albeit temporarily!  It is then, that you understand that the Power Above can work wonders, play a drama and steer you rightly, if you deserve it. This is the KNOCK that I was referring to earlier, the silent voice from within, the invisible movement that touches your head with a blessing. Look out for such signs and take up such choices thrown your way, as you continue sincerely towards being a successful human being. If you listen to these small SIGNS, NUDGES, KNOCKS, and analyse the same, they will prove encouraging for your progress towards your goal! Good luck and stay blessed!

© Shanta Ramakrishnan, Mumbai

IF YOU CARE, YOU SHOULD SHARE!!

 10.02.2021

 If you CARE,  you should SHARE!

Care is an emotion, it is an attitude, it is a feeling. When you feel for goodness of  something or somebody, it means you care for that item or that person. Care need not stop with people known to us, our near and dear ones. It can widen to a bigger horizon and encompass a larger audience, a huge number of recipients. How? You will know soon ☺

 

 If you know someone might be sick, and can do with some help and moral support, then SHARE a bit of your time with them. You can tell a prayer, maybe cook a dish for them, help them get medical assistance at home, get their medicines from shop …. ANY small bit of help goes a BIG way in such a situation.  Let them know you are there for them like a pillar, and psychologically, they will gain courage and confidence to face the turmoil in a better way.

 

Suppose you have a talent for an art and are good at it. You have got some extra personal experience of how you learnt it so well, SHARE that knowledge with others. Nowadays, with the digital media flourishing and entering each household, sharing is not a big task at all. Suppose you are good at cooking and you have a nice tried-and-tested recipe, SHARE in social media so others (even whom you do not know)  learn about it and enjoy. The fact that your sharing has reached out and benefited IS the reward you get, plus the happiness and goodwill of that recipient towards you is the unseen blessing that is sent your way.

 

SHARE any and all positive knowledge. If the knowledge is a coveted one, have an official 'Copyright' for the owner. You can also professionally 'patent' your creation and share the information with public who will benefit. Don’t keep your wisdom a secret, if it can educate others in a better way through it. Create a blog, write in a publication, share a video, do anything to reach out.

 

 This does not mean you are bragging about your knowledge. NO, not at all. The way you go about sharing shows how much you care for others in the society. It is proof of your intention for their betterment.

 

 In the current times, there are  several social groups. Eg. In our residential complex,  we have a  'GoGreen’  WhatsApp group. This group  has experts with green-fingers who have kitchen garden and who grow flowers and herbs, vegetables, and some, even fruits. Some make compost in their homes. These people are ready to teach  others whatever knowledge they have. Such SHARING happens as a result of their  CARING  for others. This can eventually result in many kitchen gardens and eco-friendly experiments. 

 

If you have read a nice book, and would like to encourage others to read the same,  share the title and a synopsis in a group that might enjoy the book with this information. Or, if you have mastered  a difficult  song …. ten share the audio with music lovers, someone in the group will learn the song from your sharing!

 

However, 'Share if you Care’  comes with a catch-line. You should share, not for praise or flattery. You should share because you want to see its  benefit on many, and expand the result multi-fold. That selfless attitude in caring as you share brings about goodness all around. So please  ‘Care for others and Share with others’! Good Luck!

© Shanta Ramakrishnan,  Mumbai

    10-February-2021

INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS!

 *INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS !! *

Life teaches you many lessons. There are many ways one learns. First from mom, from family – the older ones, then from teachers,  friends,  mentors, colleagues  and finally again from family - the younger ones.  J. Each time, it is the experience that makes your knowledge firm.

 

Relationship is the bond that you build with someone. When a bridge is built, it gives pathway to move to and fro…. from one end to the other AND back! Similarly, if you maintain a good relationship with someone, it can work to the advantage of both the parties. This association decides if the friendship or the bond stays strong and long…. or sours and fails.

 

It is not easy to understand a relationship, leave alone maintaining it strong at the drop of a hat. There are guidelines, ie. there are rules that one has to follow. If you ignore these,  you will surely regret and pay a BIG price!

To continue to keep up a friendship, both have to be sincere and honest. Humour and light-heartedness enrich this in course of time, and these friends understand each other properly and have a great rapport! Anytime, there can be a reason to have misunderstanding and quarrel.  However, if one thinks at length about what caused the confusion, discusses it frankly, with or without an intermediary, it will straighten the matter. It is very easy to break a good relationship by mere gossip, spreading  rumour and/or sly backbiting. These are not good qualities and surely not recommended for people who are aiming at a peaceful life.

Be honest and loyal, be clear in your thoughts without hurting anyone. If you find something amiss,  find out how it can be sorted out  without causing much damage. If you are wrong,  own it, and make amends. This is a great gesture in keeping the bond sturdy and strong. If each of you make an effort in maintaining relationships, it will be the best asset you would gain over the years.

Good Luck!

 

© Shanta Ramakrishnan,  Mumbai

03-February-2021