With the passage of time, situations confronting people are becoming increasingly complicated. In a world more interconnected than ever before, events in one part of the globe can send out ripples that create complex chains of cause and effect. Moreover, as societies become more diverse and interconnected, managing cultural differences, societal expectations, and norms becomes more challenging. Added to this are fragmentation and polarisation on political lines. These factors give rise to uncertainty, anxiety, and fear in the minds of people. Wisdom lies in maintaining a positive attitude and learning from every experience. This helps us to not only cope with different situations but also progress in life. Factories turn coarse and messy raw material into beautiful products: can we not do the same by turning our experiences into learning opportunities and picking a lesson from every situation?
A fundamental practice for this is to have good wishes for all – to wish them well, cooperate with them, and help them learn and grow. This is possible only when we feed the mind with positive and elevated thoughts. The input received by the mind conditions our mental environment and shapes our feelings and attitude. If the mind is habituated to waste and negative thinking, then our outlook will be of the same quality and we will respond to people and circumstances in like manner. Being positive will come neither naturally nor easily to us – it will take conscious effort and even then, there might be some doubt or cynicism about it.
Another prerequisite is to have a strong sense of self-worth. Our self-image shapes the point of view from which we relate to the world around us. If I see myself as weak, I will be hesitant, fearful, and lacking confidence. Or, if I see only the problems in my life and have drawn the conclusion that I am destined to be miserable, I can never be happy, such is my fate, then such thoughts will reinforce my misery. On the other hand, if I count my blessings and believe that I can and should contribute to the world in some way, be of use, and help others, then how will I approach people and problems? Compassion, cooperation, a sense of responsibility will come easily to me. These qualities will inform my attitude and behaviour. The better my self-image, the greater the breadth of my understanding and acceptance. It is not about seeing myself as a billionaire or a president, but a qualitatively elevated view of the self as someone who can be a source of strength and support for others – a giver.
To have such a self-image, I have to be careful not to harbour ill feelings, the faults of others, or slander in my mind, because these toxins will harm me more than anyone else, robbing me of peace of mind, happiness, and self-respect. I also need not be upset by anyone’s animosity towards me. Positive thoughts and feelings are always more powerful, and as long as I keep my heart and mind clean and strong, others’ jealousy or animus can do me no harm. In fact, my genuine good wishes will, over time, change their feelings. Moreover, this inner cleanliness will bring me invaluable rewards in the form of peace, contentment, and joy.
B.K. Surya is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
