A positive existence
I wake up in the morning, thinking what I am looking forward to, today. That is how life works for me. Life is this huge fair ground, where everyday there is something to look forward to, something that one has not done before and is intrigued about. Something to repeat after a gap to relive the fun. You could well say, it is about pleasing oneself. Having targets, achieving them and pleasing the important being within me who is truly the only worthwhile goal in life. Much later I learnt this is the Sakshi bhava regarding oneself. One of the Upanishads unabashedly says, the only thing worth coveting in this world is the ‘self’. It could all very well sound very egoistic. But discovering oneself in relation to this world is important . Understanding the role of God and other humans in relation to self is important.Understanding one’s nature is important.
Once you begin that enquiry you are standing on positive ground. That having been taken care of , what do I do in my day to day life to feel positive? Quite a few things really!First thing is to have a few choice things to do and build a loose structure around it. You are likely to have some compulsory chores but definitely mix the things you enjoy doing most in that list.
Look at your pending plans, goals and take at least one step towards them however small, everyday. It will create a vacuum which will fill the rest of your day with enthusiasm.Take a look at a seed or plant you may have sown in your garden big or small, to check if it has shown it’s head above the soil, has it grown more!
Every sun rise and sun set is new. Just quieten your chattering mind around that time and contemplate on the beauty of it all. Fill your heart with gratitude. Good to be just alive.
Cook the dish you particularly like. Food is a great mood lifter…just like fresh flower fragrance is. Mogra, Tube rose, lily any of them …buy or cultivate in your pots or ground. Gardening itself is a wonderful therapy for a tired mind. Smell of the soil has a positive power on human mind.
Pursue a hobby everyday for sometime. My time with singing, reading the Gita is creative and peaceful…sacred to me. Something creative everyday boosts self confidence. It makes you feel good about yourself. My sister is a creative person. Her four year old grandchild leaves her with no time to pursue anything. Where is the time to be creative? Well, her creativity expresses itself in telling the most wonderful stories to her grand child . It improves her self worth too. My mother in law told stories from the Puranas like an expert. What impressed me were the interesting proverbs she came up with to spice up the narration!
Three things you must do to trigger the famous happy hormones in you. Google them and learn about them. To activate them, do something happy and thoughtful for somebody everyday. From the smallest kind word of gratitude, appreciation or a gift, everything counts.
Hug somebody??? Obviously not in these Corona days! Just hug them mentally…spend sometime sending them warm and loving thoughts. See the difference. It will work for them as well as you.
You will stop feeling empty inside.
Understand that people around you are facing as many problems, frustrations or health issues.In your prayer time add a prayer for those suffering. Pray that God gives them and you strength to manage life in these challenging times.
Do call people to have short conversations. Listen more and pay attention to what they are saying. Do not jump to react. Open up your heart and accept people the way they are. Do not judge.
Life is not perfect for anyone. Let it all go for your own good health.One positive thing I did today is to write this article.
Radha Janardhan
Thriruvananthapuram, Kerala
