What we think throughout the day determines what our day will be like. Behind our thoughts are our emotions and behind those are the attitudes we have created during the journey of life. The quality of our thoughts and the vibrations they create have an impact on our state of mind, physical health, relationships and the success of our tasks.
Success is not just a destination to be reached at some point of time in future. It is having the right state of mind whereby we can add value to whatever task we are involved in, we are open to learning, new ways of thinking and remain stable regardless of the outcome of our efforts. How we do what we are doing is what matters.
When we have the right attitude, failure does not put us down, rather we recognise that our efforts are not leading in the right direction and we need to change track. Learning in this manner, adding to our skills and incorporating values in our life, our way of thinking and behaviour, are the little successes that contribute to success in our tasks.
Listening is an important part of this journey. The more we listen, the more we can learn. Listening is seeking to understand the other person before we seek to be understood. When we recognise the fact that other people have ideas different from ours and those have worked for them, we are able to appreciate their point of view and learn that there may be more than one way of doing something. Differences of opinion can exist between people, but when there is respect for others’ ideas, rela-tionships remain healthy and we remain open to learning.
In this process of learning, it also helps to leave the past behind, including painful memories and old ways of seeing people and situations. This can liberate us from sorrow, fear and anger and help to refresh and heal unhappy relationships.
Tolerance and flexibility are two other qualities that keep us stable and progressing in the face of challenges. Both these qualities are rooted in silence. When we take out time for introspection and meditation, we are able to create the inner space, a powerful environment within that keeps us calm and enables us to adjust to the ups and downs of life.
This ability to face challenges prudently, take sensible decisions and then stand by them, in turn, strengthens our relationships and fosters cooperation in a team when others recognise that our ap-proach is grounded in values.
B.K. Deepa is a Rajyoga teacher based in Mumbai.
The ability to face challenges prudently, take sensible decisions and then stand by them, in turn, strengthens our relationships and fosters cooperation in a team when others recognise that our approach is grounded in values.