POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

A problem can be defined as ‘entering into an uncomfortable

zone due to physical or mental pain’. We are helpless with the physical
suffering but can substantially reduce the mental agony with positive
thinking. Financial loss, humiliation, dishonour in society, losing a
relationship, death of a companion etc are a few that cause mental distress.
The way we see the problem is the problem’ is an old proverb.

Surprisingly, people think and worry more about a

‘forthcoming’ problem rather than the effects of a present problem. For
example, suppose a fraudulent official suspects a raid followed by
prosecution by anticorruption department, he spends more sleepless nights
before its occurrence, but would accustom to sleep in the jail with less
anguish.

THREE FEATURES
There are three characteristics of a problem; denial, blame
and solution. We refuse to accept our fault to avoid the pain of subconscious
mind never realizing that the denial leads to more emotional trauma. In the
second stage, we try to blame others, circumstances, our weakness and even
God to build up a defence mechanism, Being assertive is a welcome sign but
if it is just to cover the feeling of pain, fear of being abandoned, rejected and
unloved, it becomes futile.

When we step into a problem-zone, the first step is to accept

it and then to analyse it.

A problem cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we

were at, when we created it. With a bird’s eye view and more emotional
awareness one can develop a positive attitude to fight it. Here is an
illustration wherein the author gives the best example of positive thinking.

“Dear Mom, I know you’re going to miss me, but someday

we will see each other again. Grandpa met me here and had shown me
around. When I told God that I wanted to write you a letter, he handed me a
paper and his personal pen. Tonight I am to sit with Him for supper. Oh, I
forgot to tell you. The cancer is all gone. I couldn’t stand that pain anymore
and God couldn’t see me hurt so much.

That’s when He sent the Angel of Mercy to come get me.

The Angel said I was a Special Delivery to the God. This letter is to tell you
that I am happy here, signed with Love from God & Me”.

Yandamoori Veerendranath
 HAPPINESS FUELS THE SPARK IN YOUR EYES

I happened to read an interesting speech of Chetan Bhagat for the new batch of students
at Symbiosis programme, Pune. Chetan is from IIM, Ahmedabad and known for his
books “One night @ the call centre” (“Hello” starring Salman Khan) and “Five Point
Someone What not to do at IIT” (“3 idiots” starring Aamir Khan). His books continue to
be in the list of best sellers, having sold more than one million copies.

“Don’t lose the spark in your eyes” says the author. The child has
millions and very simple reasons like a spider-man toy, a story from the mummy, a
creaky swing in the park are enough to illuminate their eyes. The gleaming starts six
months in advance as they countdown the days for cake-cutting on the their birthday

Unfortunately the spark recedes as our age grows up or when life

becomes routine, bored, aimless and bitter. It is comparable with Kareena Kapoor in the
second-half of the film “Jab We Met”.

Then how to save the spark? It is how you see the kaleidoscope of
your life. When you enter the college leaving the comfort of the home (or in some cases
discomfort), to become something, instead of being nervous and tested up with the
tingling in the stomach, the horrifying thought of ragging, teachers and new classmates,
be curious like a child getting ready to see an aquarium or a science exhibition for the
first time.

Lamp example.

What is the secret of the spark in a lamp’s flame? There are two
aspects, continuous fueling and guarding against storms. As a company gives you, car,
furnished house and huge pay package to make you comfortable to work more efficiently.
You should add fuel to your surrounding environment for better studies and healthy
habits. Fuel is not an external matter but an internal one.

For many coming from middle class families, financial freedom is

biggest achievement for many of us. Our success is identified mostly with money. But it
is not the end. If it is so, Ambani doesn’t go to work, Shah Rukh Khan won’t dance and
Steve Jobs would not work for a better I-phone, after selling Pixar for billions of dollars.

They all continue to do because their profession makes them happy.

Does your profession (education) give you happiness? That is the fuel for the spark in
your eyes.