Mindfulness, Beyond Self

In the last few weeks, I have watched many people shop during the lockdown. They want everything or as much as they can get into their trolleys or baskets. Shelves in many supermarkets are empty because of Panic Buying.

We may pass it as a one-off event but is there something deeper? Do tough situations bring out the real character in oneself? How we behave & respond in these difficult and unprecedented times, tells a lot about the kind of people we truly are.

One of the buzzwords we hear lately is MINDFULNESS, which is generally referred to as the ability to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we’re doing, without being reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

But I believe that it is incomplete since it is limited to oneself. It does not include others. We need to be mindful of others as well. When we focus too much on our self, we only tend to get selfish and self-centred.

Most of the problems we face in this world are being aggressively mindful of one's need and want without realizing the pain and need for those around us. What good is one's success or achievement if it does not mean much to those around? While we should not let others dictate our lives, we cannot ignore the fact that if our lives do not create value for others then we are not truly valuable.

Truly mindful people are those who do nothing out of selfish ambition, rather, in humility valuing others oneself. Stop not looking to your interests and focus on what matters most, to people around.

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

This is not about making any sacrifice or being a saint. It's just learning to value people more than things. It's raising our thinking from mere existential boundaries to truly becoming the leader that we all can be…. Full of influence, helping build lives, creating value, breaking one’s barriers and above all realizing one's true worth, one that cannot be measured by money or power but by the impact we create because of whom we have become.