I recently came across a quote: “Your own value is determined not by what you are, but by what you are able to make of yourself”. It went on to state that a bar of iron costs Rs. 250, made into a horse shoe its worth is Rs.1000, made into needles its worth is Rs.10000, made into a watch spring its worth is Rs.100, 000 and so on. This set me thinking about how many of us really analyze ourselves and realize our true potential? In this ever changing world, when what we have learnt yesterday becomes outdated tomorrow, how do we keep up with the wheels of change. The value system which we so cherished, is becoming obsolete, for we are able to realize its true worth only when we seem to be losing it. This is again an example of us being 'out of touch' in the real world. So when the question crops up whether I am being too harsh on myself, on the society? Am I always looking at today's world as an empty half cup? I think so.
So how do I change this? The first step is to acknowledge that we are indeed missing the brighter side. The oft repeated statement, 'it is very easy for you to advice, because you are not the one under stress', becomes so clichéd that we wonder if it is true. Needless to say there is light at the end of the tunnel so let us start looking at the light instead. Here I would like to narrate a true life incident: My friend working with a reputed financial services company, joined as an executive, worked her heart and soul out, trained the new recruits, was way too harsh with them, so that they could be perfect and keep up the standard of the company. But the only drawback with her was she was loud and outspoken, she would raise her voice against her juniors, in front of the entire office staff and humiliate them. She did not realize the pain that she was causing to the people around her, for once out of the office, she would take these same people out for lunch/dinner and enjoy with them. When the time for promotions came, she was sidelined and her juniors whom she had mentored had been promoted. Understandably, she was heartbroken, but she could not quit because of her loyalty to the organization she worked for (it was her first job), her love for the job and a penchant to stay afloat irrespective of the repercussions. The interactions with problematic customers had made her tough to withstand any insult heaped upon her. Contrary to our expectations that she would quit, she continued working, with the same passion. However, she was advised to change her ways if she wanted to see any growth in her career. The time for the next promotion came but she was not promoted even then, due to certain changed company policies. Again we thought that she would quit and she did not, she continued working. We used to be disheartened and would be tense during appraisal time and think of the worst happening to us because there were some who would call her a loser. But her perseverance paid off because she realized her mistake and also showcased her true potential in a changed milder manner and she was promoted. Today she is in a very senior position with the same organization.
The incident brought to light a simple fact that what happens to others need not necessarily happen to us. Our true worth is not judged by what others perceive but by what we truly are, how we adapt to change and recognizing the mental strength that we possess. Her strength was to show her loyalty in adverse conditions too. Everyone has a unique strength, a unique characteristic which sets them apart. It is in us to realise what it is and work towards improving this ability and achieve mastery over our mind. Our mind is our mentor and what we think is what we do. Rene Descartes said 'I think, therefore I am.' It is our thoughts which steer the path for our future and which teaches us the invaluable lessons from the experiences of our past.
We should train our mind to be optimistic, and work towards thinking positive thoughts even though it is very difficult to achieve this in the beginning. But slowly as we focus our thought process on being positive, we will realize that we are able to overcome not only the day-to-day problems, but we are also able to accomplish a balanced approach to the major issues that crop up during the course of our life, be it in the work place or at home. This optimism is often contagious and is transferred to the people around us thereby a chain reaction is initiated which will have an action-reaction effect, in the sense, that when we are surrounded by positive people it becomes easier for us to think and act positive.
Hope, faith, and perseverance are the keys to a successful life and all these can be attained only by looking at the half empty cup, not as a space which is empty but as a space which needs to be filled. Hence it is important to realize that the cup is indeed half empty and one should strive towards filling it, rather than lament that it is empty. In fact it is a boon in disguise that it is empty, so that we can use it as a showcase of our talents. Hence we should realize our uniqueness, identify our dream and yearn to build it into a reality. If each one of us, is able to help another person to realize his/her dream too, along the way, imagine what a beautiful place this earth would be, for if we are given a dream, we are also given the potential to fulfill the dream. “The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it. The only thing that shatters dreams is compromise” stated Richard Bach in 'The Bridge Across Forever'. So with whatever time that is left for us in this world, let us dream, live, let live, enjoy, enlighten and leave the world a better place.
I fervently follow the dictum that whatever happens to me happens for the best. The essence of this truth is found in all religions. I never see the cup as half empty or half full, I just see the cup and think what I can fill it with which will make me enjoy and cherish all those moments that I will spend in thinking, planning, filling and consuming the fruits of all my labor in achieving a full cup. I then rejoice and toast to my success and start once again with an empty cup and fill it up with my dreams.
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