To ‘be’: An artform of its own

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we all are perpetually running after - or running away from - something or the other. We are running after money, success, fame, degrees, familial life, and luxuries, to name just a few. Albeit nothing wrong in doing so, in that pursuit, we are also running away from our feelings, idiosyncracies, relationships, and divine duties, among so many others.

In today’s world of instant gratification, it is difficult for us to just ‘be’: we feel the compulsion to order food at a touch of a finger; to pay the bills on time; to click a Gazillion pictures of the (almost gone-cold) pizza whilst our old friend waits.

You are guilty of it, and so am I. We all are.

Let us take a moment to zoom out of the picture; look at life without the magnifying lens.

Can everyday life be made much more joyous and enjoyable if we allow ourselves to just ‘be’?

I opine - yes, it is.

After all:

Living in a myriad is not the linchpin of life - it is with what attitude that we approach it that separates the amateurs from the pros.

No amount of accolades, accomplishments, awards or status can give an individual a positive outlook towards life if we do not cultivate it within ourselves.

So, what defines a good attitude, you ask? I feel a good attitude is cultivated when:

• You take life as it comes—Life is all about ups and downs, a testament to the infamous Chinese philosophy of yin and yang (i.e. the presence of opposite but interconnected, mutually perpetuating forces). A dichotomy - or duality - of this sort is the very essence of life, and must be spent in slow but eventual acceptance, instead of in lamentation. This is a sign of a good attitude, and hey, hold that thought - nobody said it was going to be easy!
• You act in full awareness—It is often said never to act in haste, lest you regret your actions later. Another sign of a good attitude is that you act in full understanding of right and wrong for yourself, and for others. In times of conflict, you act for the greater good, even if it does seem very painful at the moment. You do not fall prey to Hyperbolic Discounting, and at the inevitable times that you do, you break away the inertia to get back on your feet - come hook or crook - building a calm and composed mind. In the context of ancient Vedic philosophy, this concept is nothing but karma.
• You believe that work is workship—In times of adversity, it is but natural that we turn towards work for solace. However, an inherent understanding that this too shall pass, is a guiding beacon that we lean onto, when nothing else seems right. When we work towards our true calling or life purpose, we are performing what is none other than our dharma, the cosmic inner wisdom guiding us through the many trials and tribulations of life.

Before you start contemplating, this is surely not an exhaustive list. We all possess different attributes of a good attitude, and there is, most definitely, no one-size-fits-all approach for the entire universe.

It is a futile endeavour to try to have it all, simply because there is nothing like all.

Nonetheless, if we develop an inherent ability to traverse through life and allow ourselves to just ‘be’ once in a while, success and happiness is not too far away.

After all—it is the smallest of things that make the most difference.

Let us all clink our glasses to the art of ‘being’! :)