Humans exert pressure, strain, nervousness, and anxiety on their minds by not being centered, contented and calm, says RAVI VALLURI.
There were two childhood friends. One was passionate about theatre and the other interested in pursuing the game of cricket. However their respective fathers remonstrated with the children over the futility of their pursuits. It was a case of thick books over bubbling talent. A typical middle class mentality one would argue!
The youngster interested in theatre meanwhile came into contact with an accomplished actor and director of Bollywood, during a theatre workshop in college. The seasoned actor was reputed for delivering high octane performances and electrified both stage and silver screen alike. His beginnings however were humble.
A boy next door from a small town in Punjab, he began his theatrical career during the Ram Lilas. His perceptive father goaded the illustrious son to hone skills at the Nation School of Drama, Delhi and later the FTII, Pune. This parental encouragement helped him cast away all apprehensions and fears.
Contrast this with the life of the amateur actor, who was noticed and selected for a play by the very same seasoned actor. The youngster was overwhelmed and his mother was joyous. But the celebratory mood turned somber as a disciplinarian father opined that theatre and cinema were not reputable professions, being the refuge of masqueraders and charlatans.
This youngster’s friend also unfortunately faced a similar unhappy experience. His stint at the cricket academy was short lived; almost akin to a tyro facing Courtney Walsh on a green pitch. The incensed father struck the name of his son from the rolls of the academy; instead he was laden with voluminous books to acquire information.
The stressed out minds of the youngsters ended up ruing their lost chances, spent their time day-dreaming and faced ignominy during examinations. In this zero sum game, the fathers and children were all caught up in the vortex of despair and stressed minds. Memory, intellect and perceptions which ought to act as a lighthouse of guidance, instead become major impediments in the progress of an individual, both at the physical and metaphysical levels.
“Being in control of your life and having reasonable expectations about your day to day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to live a happy, healthy and rewarding life,” writes Marilu Hennes.
Humans exert pressure, strain, nervousness, and anxiety on their minds by not being centered, contented and calm. In the process the wonderful faculty of superior intelligence and intellect do not get harnessed to its optimal potential.
The intellect is not razor sharp, as the human mind is besot by negative thoughts and clouded by unwarranted fears, feelings and emotions. The discriminatory power of the mind wanes and humans are not wakeful enough and aware to the assistance being offered.
Once a massive deluge struck a town and a man got marooned on top of his house as the water level rose alarmingly. A life boat came to his assistance, but the man did not accept the help provided expecting the water levels to recede.
He expected that he would then be in a position to retrieve his precious belongings. A little later another life boat arrived, but the recalcitrant mind refused to accept this reinforcement either, still hoping for sunny times in the near future. Meanwhile the water level reached the rooftop leaving him panic stricken, along with high anxiety and stress levels.
Finally salvation arrived as the army intervened by dispatching a chopper to rescue the trapped man. Yet the man did not budge hoping for a miracle to happen. That was not to be and alas he perished in the storm! At the gates of heaven he fought with God as to why was he not bailed out from the precarious state.
God answered that he had sent assistance in form of two life boats and a chopper, but the man refused to accept the help. The stubborn and stressed mind which not alert and wakeful enough ends up committing hara-kiri!
Why is the mind stressed? As we are unable to take rational decisions and keep postponing happiness, the human mind begins to get stressed. In order to achieve something utopian, an individual refuses to accept the grace which flows naturally from the Universe.
Further, the mind also becomes stressful by focusing on the negatives andnitty gritty problematic issues of everyday life; day –dreaming, hoping for a better and magnified careers which may not be suitable to the temperament or DNA of the pursuant.
Alternatively, the mind could be stressed out by the fear of failure and supposed ignominy associated with it. As a result humans do not take up challenges and opportunities beckoning. The mind is also anxious about purported loss of prestige, power, pelf and this invariably results in suppressed anger and despondency. Or it could be plain boredom with the environment.
During such tribulations, individuals could resort to drugs, alcohol, tobacco or anti-depressants with calamitous consequences. These are of no help as the mind is not being elevated from the abyss of fear or phobias.
What can help? Some of the techniques which can assist human minds to stop postponing happiness and remaining centered are pursuing physical activity, practicing yoga and pranayama, learning breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya, or altering the environment as these can provide clarity in thought process.
Perhaps even rebelling logically and putting across a certain point of view in a forthright manner could help. Had the youngsters not been clouded by fear, could have advocated their point of view before the overbearing fathers. But this requires courage, conviction and clarity of purpose.
“Reduce the stress levels in your life through relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and exercise. You’ll look and feel way better. However the mind needs to feel grateful and seize opportunities provided by not living in illusory conditions, but being wakeful, alert and better for it,” writes Suzanne Sommers.
