Most people today face pressures that did not exist, or were lighter, a few decades ago. The list of burdens the average person carries for a large part of his or her life is long. For those who support a family, the burdens multiply, and they weigh heavier on people living in difficult circumstances. If one is poor or unemployed, survival can become a daily struggle.
Conditions in the places we live in can have a big impact on our lives. Political or economic upheaval, natural calamities and armed conflict can dramatically alter one’s circumstances and turn a life of comfort into one of misery. On a more personal level, a death or illness in the family, a lawsuit, a failure or downturn in business, or sudden joblessness can put one under a lot of pressure.
Is it possible to remain light in such situations?
It depends on how we approach our situation. If we keep worrying about the problem, blame ourselves or others, curse our bad luck, rue our past decisions, go on thinking about how things might have turned out if we had acted differently, or become depressed, it is not going to help.
Thinking repeatedly about the problem magnifies it; it is like digging oneself into a deeper hole. If we understand that worry or fear will not help, we will save time and energy. Instead, we can focus on finding a solution, and various possibilities will come to our mind, and gradually a path leading out of the troubles will emerge. This gives one hope and the impetus to make practical efforts.
On the other hand, if one becomes despondent, one will not only sink into further trouble but also cause distress to others.
Even when our options are limited, keeping a positive frame of mind helps us live through hard times relatively easily. We need to be careful not to let difficulties overwhelm us and push us into an abyss of self-pity, cynicism or hopelessness. Just as good times do not last forever, bad times too come to an end, and if we keep our eyes and ears open, we would be able to recognise an opportunity when it arrives.
We only need look at those who are less fortunate than us and see how they accept their circumstances and get on with life. As the oft quoted proverb says: “I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” The idea is not to resign oneself to the situation, but to remember that it is possible to cope with any circumstance.
Our attitudes and thoughts create our reality, and if we entertain thoughts of failure and despair, we invite more of the same. If we remain positive instead, with the faith that things will eventually turn out better, then life will present us with new possibilities.
To be able to retain such a frame of mind when the chips are down, one can cultivate a positive attitude, which enables one to see the silver lining around every cloud. One can also learn from a loss or failure. When we dispassionately consider our state of affairs, we may sometimes hit upon a different way of doing things, or a way to turn our predicament to our advantage.
Some spiritual knowledge also helps us orient ourselves when we are tossed around by life’s storms. Most of us are aware of Newton’s third law, which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law applies to everything, including human actions; we get what we give, and reap what we sow. When we remember this, we begin to stop blaming others for what we are going through, and start to take responsibility for our actions.
It is not money, talent, or cleverness that bring us lasting security, success and happiness. These fruits can be harvested only if we have sown the seeds of pure intentions and actions. If the seed is good, the fruit cannot be otherwise. Sometimes the fruit may take time to appear and ripen, but as with nature, it will come at the right time, full of goodness.
In testing times, we can remember this truth and go on sowing good seeds: we can be content and secure in the knowledge that our future will be better. Goodness, when it is invested, whether in the form of truth, happiness, simplicity, or love, brings big returns.
B.K. Atam Prakash is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
If we understand that worry or fear will not help, we will save time and energy. Instead, we can focus on finding a solution, and various possibilities will come to our mind, and gradually a path leading out of the troubles will emerge.