Why Transformation is more important than you think?

Most of us care about others.

I guess that’s what makes us human. In order to grow together as a society and as a community, we need to care. 

But what supersedes caring, is acting on it. And in order to act you need the intent. The intent to transform, the intent to question the status quo, and the intent to identify challenges and incorporating them in our response. 

For some of us, it is this intent that drives a transformation which then evolves into an untiring commitment to service – the very foundations of our individual and collective actions.

One such person who has upped the ante by getting the work done at ground zero is Sonu Sood.

Known mostly for essaying negative characters on screen, Sonu Sood has carried off showcasing savage and rebellious characters with finesse. But he has proved that he in fact has more layers to portray when it comes to life off screen.

Tables turned when this reel life quintessential negative character won millions of hearts with his humanitarian and philanthropic activities a year back.

An ambassador of hope, he definitely does his homework. With his eyes constantly on the problem, Sonu has shown time and again that all it takes to serve is the intent to serve.

I get why charitable organisations bring in celebrities as their face. That’s because people can relate to those who inspire. Sonu Sood however, didn’t wait for someone to take him on board. He simply understood what was needed to be done, and people joined him. It must take a lot to remove ‘celeb glasses’ and put aside the script of your next movie, and try to think beyond your own lifestyle. He was willing to do all that – and more. And in that way he is unique among his peers. It was his decision to connect with the people and help him. And so he did.

Earlier on in the pandemic, there were talks of the virus being a “great equalizer” – that it was infecting people in both rich and poor countries, from prime ministers to factory workers and the homeless. But that narrative has now crumbled, and countries with higher vulnerabilities seem to be suffering the most. 

India in the last couple of weeks has proved to be the perfect breeding ground for the virus. Health system is overwhelmed, people have lost their trust in authorities, and economic collapse means more people losing their jobs and homes. Global shocks such as this do not hit everyone equally.

We often sell ourselves short - sometimes even subconsciously. Even if we consider ourselves to be a fairly confident and self-assured individual, it’s all too easy to sell yourself short without even realising it. 

But, I think it’s time to challenge that fallback behavior. It’s time to pull our shoulders back, pick up our chin, and present ourselves as capable as everyone else. 

The first step in solving a problem is recognising it. Transformation is not a “quick fix”. It’s a deliberate and consistent practice till the time we realise that this is who we want to be.