Overcoming Failures

 

OVERCOMING FAILURES

A magnificent tree at the park succumbed to the wrath of Nature – heavy rains! Despite having strong roots , it could not sustain its boughs. The severed branches had to be chopped off and what survived was the huge trunk of the tree standing tall despite - the destruction. Walkers, joggers and other passers by looked at the tree with compassion. They felt sorry for the state it had been. “How beautiful! it was and look at its state  now! “ they exclaimed. 

A few days had passed by and soon new life began to grow on the tree . Tiny branches emerged on the trunk. It was heartening to see new life, a new beginning! Everybody watched in astonishment, as they had assumed that the tree would just remain an artefact in the Park. They also admired the new beauty and applauded nature for its ability to re-bounce from destruction. 

LIFE LESSON

Many times in life, no matter how strong we are and how sincerely we adopt the values we have been raised with: we all go through dark moments. Moments which will crush us, break us, those which question our existence and beliefs. One may feel helpless, may not find solutions to emerge from the situation, receive backlash or judgment that the mess we are in is our responsibility or a consequence of our actions. But one forgets that the difficulties in life occur to help us evolve as individuals, to strengthen our belief in ourselves, to redirect us to the right path. Tough times also show us the true nature of people around us. Who wishes well and who is happy to see us in hell -True faces unmasked!

Adversities are part of life and humankind needs to rise and shine like the phoenix, come what may! Learning to survive amidst difficulties and difficult people is the biggest challenge of life- tolerance and patience being the key! The purpose of life is to live it well and not be bogged down by circumstances. Tough times do not last but tough people do! The simplest way to remain calm amidst crisis is being thankful for all that life has given us- the Good as well as the Bad. Every experience is meant to mould us into the person we are meant to be.

Bhagwan Shri Krishna says  the following to Arjuna :-

Bg. 2.14

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः ।

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥ १४ ॥

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya

śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ

āgamāpāyino ’nityās

tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

Translation

O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

_Written by Saraswathi M V