Keep your face to the sun

‘Keep your face to the sun and you cannot see a shadow’. These imperishable words are attributed to Helen Keller, who lost her vision and hearing when she was 19 months old. They prove, as few other things can, that given the will, every human being can gain the ability
to overcome adversities and never
lose hope.

Life is full of adversities, both small and big. Just one moment to stare at the new arrival in the store can make you late and invite the wrath of your superiors. The late arrival of your maid can load you with unexpected chores.  An unexpected traffic snarl can make you arrive late at the office. Similar such happenings can bring on frustration and anger.  Inevitably the angry mood lasts and is passed on to others. It darkens the day and ruins it. Indeed worse can ensue with quarrels, accidents or death.

The good news is that we can give up the anger and sorrow and retain a calm outlook. We can choose to control our emotions and decide to face misfortune with calm and composure. In other words, we choose not to react but to respond. This is a free choice. No one can ever take this blessing away from us. We can choose to be depressed or afraid, but just as easily be happy and confident.

Of course, this is not as easy as it sounds. The remedy lies exploring our emotions and finding out how important the issue is. The questions to ask are, ‘Have I hurt or harmed anyone?, Have I denied justice?’. If the answer is ‘no’, there is no need for anxiety. All challenges in life can be met by learning to keep the mind calm instead of despairing.  Note that between thought and action there is a small space. During this time, we can practice to be kind and compassionate. We need to keep in mind that often, the other could be having troubles and worries of his own! It happens very often in this unpredictable world of ours. The repeated practice of this attitude makes it second nature to us. Though we are human, this outlook can light up the world and make it a better place to live in!