Something to think about

I read this earlier on my news feed and had to share:


When The Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most, he said “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”


Something for al of us to think about - and keep in mind, even if taking action is not immediately possible.

For my readers

I don't usually repost stuff. But here's something worthwhile.

[Original Source]

On Optimism

I have come to realize that optimism, although is a general trait, does not work for all areas of our life.

That is, if I'm optimistic about one thing (say my professional life), I may be pessimistic about another (perhaps my personal life), or be apathetic towards it.

If one is an optimistic person, it's a great thing - but it is important to realize the areas of your life you are optimistic about and those you are pessimistic about. And make an effort to change the latter areas to the former.

Mostly we just lack success, or are anxious about, only one area of life. We are pretty much rich in most other aspects.

For those who are not optimistic people, perhaps figure out that one area of life that you are optimistic about, and apply it to the other areas of life.

If you believe that you are destitute in more than one aspect, perhaps its time to reconsider your perspective of life.

The thing about enjoying the moment

Enjoying the moment is a hard thing to do - mostly because of the fear of uncertainty of the future, and the dream-like nature of the past. We either think back, or think forward - but to think in the moment is a feat rewarded by its own self.

What I have realized though, is that one of the best ways to be in the moment, and enjoy it, is by not secretly wishing you were somewhere else. Physically, mentally or both.

Here is a great place to be, and here is great. Because the problems of here may not be "there", but the problems of there may not be here.

Each place where you can be, mentally (your past, present, future) or physically (home, office, another town, another country), has it's own advantages and disadvantages - to truly enjoy the moment, you have to overlook the disadvantages.

What we really, truly want always comes true, mostly because we make it come true, and it's true in the case of wanting to be somewhere else too. Eventually you can be there, but for now, right here right now is great.

Hope you are all great

TRB

@trbetala

For those who watch (or listen to) the news

I'm not a big fan of watching the news on TV or listening to it on the radio. I'd rather "go to" the news than have it "come to" me.

The news channels want to keep you glued to the TV or the radio by amplifying your fear. They want their TRPs and their advertising revenues, and I can't blame them - that is their end goal.

Additionally, they have one thing to do - report news. And when there is nothing to report, they can't do much but repeat the "biggest" news story over and over again.

I speak not only about the recent blasts but in general. This creates and/or amplifies your fear - and keeps you going back. It's a vicious circle.

I would suggest that you go to the news than have it come to you - watch it to keep updated, but don't keep yourself glued - because really, it only keeps your fear unchecked.

Even if you feel the need to keep updated every minute - keep it on mute (can't do this with the radio) because the people who speak will influence and magnify your anger.

You're better off keeping in touch with the news every now and then.

Thoughts?

TRB
@trbetala

Update: What I mean by going to news, is reading it via e-newspapers and news blogs. Much easier, and lets you reflect on the news instead of telling you how to feel about it.

The blasts yesterday in Mumbai

It is impossible to not write about the blasts yesterday. Every news channel - newspapers and TV channel - had a repeat video of what happened.


It is even more impossible to believe Mumbai's reaction to it. We are hurt. We are appalled and mostly angry. Why does this happen? Have the people done something to deserve it? No.


What can you say to the terrorists? Im not sure.


All i know is that the Spirit of Mumbai is alive. And we come together like ever we do in such situations. Once again, however, we have proved that nothing can stop us. 


As I came to work today, I saw people pouring out of the railway stations in hundreds. I saw their spirit - the spirit of the day. The belief that nothing can stop us. 


All I can say is, Forgive them, Mumbai, for they don't know what they're doing. They're ignorant. They're silly and they're children. Don't waste your energy talking about it, when you see an opportunity to do something about it, grab it by the neck.


Forgive their sins, and do what's right - but do not forget: 


When the time comes, we are together - and we always will be. 


Peace & Love Mumbai,
TRB
@trbetala


PS. My condolences to those who were affected by this, and I still sincerely hope that you can find a reason in your heart to believe that a world is a good place.

Luck favors a good mood: A hypothesis

I came upon a sudden idea yesterday that I want to share will all of you. I have a hypothesis that seems more plausible than not, and it's about the correlation luck and good mood.


If one is in a good mood, one is more open and accepting to try new things, and thus meets new people and gets introduced to new concepts and ideas. 


When the mind is open to such experiences, things happen as if my mystery - you may meet the "one", whether it's an idea, a partner or a lover - just by saying yes. And you don't say yes when you're in a bad mood.


When you're in a good mood, people also like you and would like to do things for you.


When you say yes, luck happens. It may just be about experiencing enough things and meeting enough people to make what you really want come true. 


It's just a hypothesis, of course - but I believe it!


TRB
@trbetala

Wisdom is patience and knowledge

I don’t do a lot of personal posts, as I’ve mentioned earlier. But all my posts on this blog are inspired truly. If I’ve learnt something, I put it on here – and I learn something everyday, so I get to post often.

I have also been very impatient lately with a few of my friends – who have their own unique way of explaining things. I say unique because it truly is, their perspective, their way of looking at things, and their “dreams are real if you want them to be attitude”.

I may not completely understand all they are saying, or I may. I may want to do things quicker – but I tend to not have the patience as they explain their ideas thoroughly. I know that I must have that patience.

Additionally, I wouldn’t want someone cutting me off.

Im still learning, and I’m far from wise. Most importantly, I apologize for being rude, or hastening people in articulating their ideas. I am truly fascinated by a lot of people who I rush, it’s just my nature to do not simply talk much.

But that’s about to change. Thank you for this lesson. I write this mainly for Pratik Jain.

I want to leave you all with this quote by Lao Tzu: “The universe does not rush, but it accomplishes everything it set out to”.

TRB
@trbetala

On living for appreciation

All work is a craft, if the creator believes it to be so. We all do things in our own unique way and give it a different touch – When we do something well, and are noticed for it, we get a pat on the back or an appreciation.
This is good. It improves our morale and motivates us to do better.


I do believe however that it’s not all about appreciation – for you may do your job, art, craft extremely well, and not get noticed for it. Or you may be noticed at first, and then the fame dies away.

This  does not mean that your work isn’t good enough – it’s just a question of if you believe you’re doing well. Constant appreciation is not necessary to do something great – the inherent idea of creating something great is enough.

TRB
@trbetala

The handicap of options

In talking with a few friends yesterday, I realized how limiting options are. Yest they are important to make the best possible decision, but they handicap us in two ways

1. We either spend too much time thinking about the best option, evaluating each one and wondering what the outcome will be, or

2. We end up fearful on what would happen or what would have happened if we chose a different option. This also stops us from doing anything at all.

Choice is not always good - but inevitably we have many options these days - try going to your local grocery store to choose a bread.

When we have to make a decision, we must think about it and make the decision, not letting the handicap of choice handicap us with fear too.


--TRB
Twitter : @trbetala

To be or not to be

** Editor's note: this is a guest post by Saroj Javeri, who I'm trying to convince to write her own blog! This is a post she wrote for mine. **

We often think of being better human beings but seldom put that thought into practice. I was climbing up a footbridge at a crowded station & was trying to dodge a blind man stumbling up the steps with a stick. A lady coming down the steps took his hand & led him up. My conscience struck me right then. She left him at the bridge, because she had to catch a train. Thinking I’d redeem myself, I decided to help the man.

He gladly took my outstretched hand & asked me to drop him to the west side at the exit. Then he started talking conversationally about how he made a living by making cane furniture, how he was heading home & was out of ration to feed his family. I immediately made up my mind to buy him food. To my surprise, he asked me if I could help him financially. 

I told him I’d buy him food; to that he said he couldn’t carry it home because he was blind. Instinct told me he may not have been blind at all. Nevertheless, I give him 50; he asked how much it was & asked for 100 more. I got disgusted, took a rick, only to see him hobbling towards a seedy bar & restaurant at the corner of the street.

Here’s why I ask, to be or not to be compassionate toward complete strangers in such a messed up world?

To answer the question, I would help a stranger but never in cash, no matter what & only if my instinct supports me that I won't get into trouble doing so!

The one you can't live with

Quite often we fall in love with someone who becomes such an intrinsic part of our lives. Sometimes they leave us, sometimes they don't.

In the former case, given enough time, one can overcome the missing of that person. Mostly, even if not completely. Generally to find a partial replacement is the answer - letting someone take that place which is void.

In the latter case, when people don't leave us, and our love is eternal in this life - what much else can one ask for? While reading listverse I came across a word that describe truly real love - Ya'aburnee, which cannot be translated into another word - but it means "you bury me, for I couldn't live without you".

How truly moving.

Without moving too much into a tangent, I want to say that a void is a void - but if one experiences a loss, they must be open enough to let someone else fill that void, for otherwise, sulking is the only option.

I hope all love lasts forever, even if it's not the same love.

The thing is my love

The thing is my love,

I cant hold my own,

When I see you by chance,

I realize who I am now.

Fond of the feeling when

My heart skips a beat.

When I see you I see,

What it means to be me,

If I am who I am,

You must be an angel.

I sleep in my throne

In the palace you reside.

PS. been a while since I wrote any poetry. One can never write enough about love. If you've missed some of my older poetry, here are the links: The Old Man and Play Along

Acting upon fear

Recent experiences have made me believe that when we are fearful of/for something, the best thing we can do is nothing. 

By acting on fear, we magnify the fear and it increases. By not acting upon it, it passes away - as everything invariably does.

The only pre-requirement to be able to not act on your fears is to have trust that things will work our brilliantly. 

What to expect from yourself

Whether or not we expect anything from the world, I believe that its very important that we set expectations for ourselves. Expectations to perform, expectations to behave and expectations to just be human.


To expect from the world without setting expectations from oneself, is hypocrisy. To not expect from the world and expecting the best from oneself, is wisdom.


Of all things, when we set certain expectations that govern our being, our life is one of quality - we strive to at least meet our expectations. Without them - our life is one of an aimless wanderer. 


Nothing wrong with that though - if you expect to be an aimless wanderer.


TRB
@trbetala

Not getting what we want

It's quite a fortunate thing for us that life doesn't work the way we want it to. We often know what we want, but very seldom know what we need. That's the hallmark of humanity.

When life works on its own terms, it gives us not what we want, but what we need. I have come to believe that this is very true. I would take any day from life what I need, rather than what I want - because in retrospect, we are always happier that life worked out the way it did.

TRB
@trbetala

Beauty is in the eye of the...

If you don't like metal music, does that mean metal music is bad? Similarly, if you don't like a certain piece of art, does that mean that it's not artistic?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thus, what you see and judge something to be, is your perception of it. In the rhetoric cases above, metal music and that piece of art itself isn't bad.

It's that you don't like it.

Everybody has perception, but it is the knowledge of other perceptions, i.e., knowing that there are many ways of looking at one thing, that makes someone truly wise.

TRB
@trbetala

Better in comparison

I recently had an interesting experience concering the respect for people.

I realized that in an effort to prove to others that we are better than them, we quite often forget that we may be hurting them.

We wouldn't of course, have such a problem if the only people we wanted to prove our goodness and greatness to was ourselves.

That said, there are two ways to make oneself feel better in comparison - by putting or pushing others down, or by lifting oneself up.

The former is formidable; and by lifting ourself up, we also give others a chance to help us and themselves.

Trb @trbetala

Thought

There are so many things to get mad and angry about. So many things to be sad about.

The only one reason to be happy, is the want to be happy itself.

You can decide.

TRB @trbetala