Personal headlines

Every newspaper uses headlines. They serve to attract attention as well as summarise the news. They also succeed in investing the paper with an identity all its own. Rather interestingly, this is true of people as well. Headlines play an important role in everyday living, with each individual having a few of his own.

They convey to the world at large who he is, defining, as it were, his personality.
Our personal headlines can prove useful and lead us to success and happiness; unfortunately they can work to our disadvantage, too. This is because they are invisible. They exist in the mind and are composed of our thoughts, ideas and the opinion we have of ourselves and of others.

No wonder then that they influence our behaviour. Mostly they lie beneath the level of consciousness, exerting a power that is automatic. Many times we project ourselves as a certain type of person without even knowing it. It is important therefore to bear this in mind because no one wants to appear the person he really is not.

B, for example, believed she was a person of great wit and tried to be the life of every get-together. However she began indulging in acerbic witticisms. In time, far from gaining popularity, she lost it. People began avoiding her. It was a friend who pointed this out to her.

B was wise enough to realise her mistake. She became quieter, made an attempt to listen to others and used kindness instead of misplaced humour. Before long, she gained the recognition that she had really wanted and was accepted into the fold again.

The wrong headlines we project are of many kinds. One may indulge in ‘exaggeration’, be ‘over dramatic’ or always ‘busy’. Not even the great are immune to this failing, as illustrated by this story.

The Emperor Akbar was out hunting when it was time for namaz. As proof of his humility and devotion, he knelt down on the forest floor and began praying.

Suddenly a peasant woman came rushing in, tripped over him and fell. Picking herself up, she continued to run, without caring to apologise.

The king was furious, but did not want to interrupt his prayers. He had just finished them, when the woman reappeared. With her was her husband. Enraged, Akbar thundered, ‘How dare you bump against me and walk away without a word? I am your Emperor, woman!’

The woman, however, looked at him unperturbed. “Your Majesty,” she replied fearlessly, “I was looking for my husband who was lost in the forest and so had no eyes for anyone else. Your Majesty was praying to the Almighty who rules over the entire universe and yet you saw not Him but an unworthy woman like me!’

Akbar realised that he was far from humble and let the woman go with a smile. He later confided to his friends that a simple peasant woman had taught him to examine his thoughts and the true meaning of prayer.