“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ―Buddha
Life is full of uncertainty. Nobody can predict what happens next. Most people are scared of uncertainty and worried about their future. They must understand that uncertainty is an integral part of life. They must embrace uncertainty to lead their life by realizing, adjusting and leading from the front. To embrace uncertainty, understand the ground realities, improve your attitude to reconcile with them, and build your competencies and capabilities accordingly.
Treat Uncertainty as a Friend, not a Foe
Treat uncertainty as a friend, not a foe. It is an exciting experience because we don’t know what happens next. Entrepreneurs, adventurers, and explorers thrive on uncertainty. It gives them energy and enthusiasm to rise high in life. It is like taking a risk. Remember, not to take a risk is also a risk. Life is worth living when it has challenges. Hence, take risks and enjoy the uncertainty to provide meaning to your life.
Happiness Lies within, not Outside
Ideally, any nation’s growth is measured by its economic development. However, the tiny remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is an exception where it first invented the idea of using happiness as a measure of good governance. It coined the ‘Gross National Happiness’ index thus becoming a trendsetter to other nations globally. Many nations are taking a leaf out of Bhutan to keep their people happy. Bhutanese are less materialistic and lead a contented life. They don’t get into the rat race in the name of development.
Previously companies emphasized the slogan of ‘customers first, employees second, and shareholders third’. But presently companies emphasize ‘employees first, customers second, and shareholders third’. In a similar spirit, a nation’s wellbeing must be measured by people’s happiness rather than by so-called economic development. Only when people are happy, they will be able to contribute their best and achieve economic progress. This new concept is worthy to be explored by other nations. What every nation ultimately wants is that its people must be happy. Hence, it is time nations followed this concept.
We will be able to live happily in this world when we think of each other as human beings first by emphasizing humanity rather than as Indians first, or Americans first. Albert Schweitzer once remarked, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Hence, learn to be happy in your life. Be happy with what you have. Happiness lies in your mind and heart, not in the external materialistic world. You carry nothing when you leave this world. Hence, enjoy every moment to lead a peaceful, happy and joyful life. Add value to you and the people around you.
Happiness in my Personal Life
In my personal life, I hardly cared for money although I still belong to a lower-middle-class family. I found most people who believe in making money. But I believe in living happily with my wife with a meager income and resources because I chose to live my life in this way. I am happy at heart because I share my knowledge with the world and I am taking care of my family. I always think of sharing my knowledge free with the world to build a knowledge society. I work very hard from morning to night to share my knowledge free, not to earn money. It landed me into so many financial troubles but I am still happy because I am making a difference. I don’t believe in getting into the rat race. I live for eternity, not today.
Enlightened Leadership
We are living in an imperfect world. Instead of striving to achieve a perfect world, let us strive to achieve an amazing world where people look for similarities, not differences.
To change others, you must change yourself first. To understand others, you must understand yourself first. The world is going to be more complex than what it is today. Embrace uncertainty by building the right attitude. Enjoy every moment of your life by balancing your personal, professional and social life. Don’t leave any room for regrets in your life.
Emphasize Spiritual Education
Spiritual education doesn’t mean people must forget earning money and take to spiritual life forever. It is to take care of family and responsibilities by catering a part of human life on spiritual values. It makes them lead a balanced life with less emphasis on materialism. It helps people understand the importance of family, and to be responsible for family and society. It helps them provide meaning to their life.
Spiritualism is the need of the world today. There are conflicts globally based on religion, region, nation, ethnicity and race. People are becoming intolerant globally. They must be imparted with spiritual education. It builds amity and goodwill in people. It eliminates anger and hatred. It irons out parochialism and paves the way for broadmindedness. It opens the minds of others. It eliminates the ego and promotes empathy. In fact, the ego is the root of most problems in the world. When people empathize, they forget their ego. Hence, emphasize spiritual education to bring entire humankind into one platform to achieve peace and happiness.
Health First, Education Second, and Wealth Third
As you need food to grow physically, you need spiritual food to grow spiritually. Spiritual diet is mostly related to mental diet, unlike physical diet. It is the way you improve your thoughts and ideas in a spiritual world. With growing intolerance and challenges globally, you must wed spiritualism to live with peace and tranquility and help others live with peace and fraternity.
People often give wrong priorities leading to several challenges. They must learn to balance their personal, professional and social life to provide meaning to their lives. In my personal life, I emphasize health first, education second, and wealth third. Only when you are healthy you will be able to acquire education. When you have both health and education, you can acquire wealth easily.
Note: This article is an adapted excerpt from my award-winning book, “See the Light in You: Acquire Spiritual Powers to Achieve Mindfulness, Wellness, Happiness, and Success” URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949003132
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