Best Way to Encounter Tough Times

What is the best way to handle rough patches in life that all of us face every now-and-then? A positive mindset and prayer is the most helpful tool to navigate through such times. However, when you are in the midst of a crisis, it is natural that you may not believe that it may work. It may feel like too simplistic an approach to be useful in handling your complex problems. You may have plenty of doubts and questions about how this positive approach can help in the kind of tough time you are facing. Do give it a try and see for yourself. Here is a compilation of answers to many common questions in the form of a FAQ, that may help you get started. After going through these, if it seems helpful, take time to read more about it. (There is a lot of material on the topic in this blog, and a lot more available on the web). You should also spend time with people with positive thinking, and you will find that gradually, most of your troubles will melt away.


Q. Why is life so complicated?
A. Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Otherwise it becomes complicated.

Q. Why am I unhappy?
A. You may be unhappy because worrying has become your habit, even though you may have a lot to feel happy about.

Q. Why do good people suffer?
A. Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but they don't suffer. With that experience, their life becomes better, not bitter.

Q. You mean to say such experience is useful?
A. Yes. In every way, experience is a good teacher. It gives test first and the lessons, later.

Q. How can I help when due to overwhelming problems, I do not know where I am heading?
A. If you look outside, you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides the way.

Q. What can I do about failures that hurt me so much?
A. Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.

Q. How can I feel motivated in tough times?
A. Always look at how far you have come, rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessings, not what you are missing.

Q. Why does this misery happen to me only? Why me?
A. When we suffer, we generally ask, "Why me?". When we prosper, we rarely ask this question.

Q. How can I get the best out of life?
A. Face your past without regret, handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Q. I can't find time for prayers. Life has become so hectic.
A. Activity gets you busy. But productivity sets you free. Try to be more productive in whatever you do. 

Q. Sometimes, I feel my prayers are not answered. How can I still feel positive?
A. There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop fear. Life is a wonderful journey, not a problem. Life is wonderful if you approach it in a positive way.

More questions? Do send them through comments on this post and I will attempt to answer them.

Take Time to Appreciate People

Very often, most of us get so busy in the hustle-bustle of every-day life that we do not find time to appreciate people around us and tell them how much they mean to us. A little positive feedback from us can mean a lot to our friends and family.

If you also fall in this category, this beautiful story is a must read.

One day the maths teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list.

Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students named Sumit was killed in Kargil war and the teacher went to attend his funeral. She had never attended funeral of a serviceman before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The place was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk. The teacher was the last one to bless. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Sumit's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded, 'yes.' Then he said, 'Sumit talked about you a lot.'

After the funeral, most of Sumit's former classmates were there. Sumit's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Sumit when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.'

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Sumit's classmates had said about him.

'Thank you so much for doing that,' Sumit's mother said. 'As you can see, Sumit treasured it.'

All of Sumit's former classmates started to gather around. Arjun smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.'

Prithwiraj's wife said, ' Prithwiraj asked me to put his in our wedding album.'

'I have mine too,' Rashmi said. 'It's in my diary'

Then Deepali, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Deepali said and without batting an eyelash, she continued, 'I think we all saved our lists'

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Sumit and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are good, and they are special and important to you. Tell them, before it is too late.

Stop Worrying about the Missing Goat

Are you unhappy because you feel a lack of satisfaction in spite of having everything in life? We all tend to have such feelings at one time or another. I came across this beautiful story recently that illustrates how to deal with it effectively.

It all started one lazy Sunday afternoon in a small town. Two school-going friends had a crazy idea. They rounded up three goats from the neighborhood and painted the number 1, 2 and 4 on their sides. That night they let the goats loose inside their school building.

The next morning, when the authorities entered the school, they could smell something was wrong. They soon saw goat droppings on the stairs and near the entrance and realized that some goats had entered the building. A search was immediately launched and very soon, the three goats were found. But the authorities were worried, where was goat no. 3?

They spent the rest of the day looking for goat no.3.

Gradually there was panic and frustration. The school declared classes off for the students for the rest of the day. The teachers, helpers, guards, canteen staffs, boys were all busy looking for the goat no. 3, which, of course, was never found.

Simply because it did not exist.

When we have everything and still feel a lack of satisfaction, we are actually looking for the elusive, missing, non-existent goat no.3. Whatever be the reason of our dissatisfaction - relationship, job, materialistic achievement, money, etc., an absence of something becomes more important for us than the presence of many other things, just like the story above.

So, remind yourself to stop worrying about goat no.3 and start enjoying a wholesome, fulfilling life today.