Sometimes, many of us may have felt winds against us. No one is reaching out to us, and no one wants to help us either. Neither are we able to call for assistance nor are we able to understand the dilemma ourselves. In the midst of seemingly muddy waters, one is blind to the settlement and the environment of peace and comfort, finding it very hard to be calm and serene. This curtain of misunderstanding and confusion draws a narrative of hopelessness and behaviour of utmost silliness. It is at this point when one deviates from the truth and takes a path that he/she is not supposed to. The paradox of taking oneself off from delusional comforts in a miserable situation for the sake of achieving closeness to the All Knowing is the real test. No one is unaware of the fact that what we see is not always the truth; there are subtle delicacies and hidden mechanisms by which this whole game plan unfolds.
Man has been sent on earth to examine his use of logic and caliber for the sake of pleasing his Creator. This test can be in the form of either trial and tribulations or wealth and abundance (though the connotations for the same are different in different faiths). So, if some hard circumstances are faced by a man, it should not be considered a punishment or bad omen but an opportunity to purify the soul and seek closeness towards the Almighty, and remain content that our Hereafter will be far better than this world. This refreshes our belief that creation must not supersede the Creator. Any doubt about the same is devil’s job, and who knows better how to burn the whole house with a small spark than him?
The first and foremost step in dealing with and managing the situation is acceptance. The capacity to accept the situation is like an antidote that initiates a chain reaction, alleviating discomfort and unforeseen pain. Blaming others and veiling our mistakes and mischief is betraying oneself and thus aggravating the situation and alleviating it. This not only confuses one but also gets our thought process foggy in such situations. Further, acceptance does one more thing: it clears the way forward and filters out the realms that are unnecessary. Only when this step is complete and foolproof can we then visualize and implement the anti-strategies against turbulence. The level of acceptance is indeed a variable of external factors and the severity of the turbulence.
Acceptance bears different connotations of different shades of thought. Accepting the inability to manage the situation is one thing, but accepting that some predispositions are out of our control is another. The two complement each other. This sense of humility towards the might of nature is of the utmost importance. When this feeling is there, the anti-strategies are imminent. Whether we have to go against the tide in order to bring it to a mere splash or let it go until it loses its potential to make us kneel down, going both ways requires pre-calculations and analysis, because leaving the strategy midway is both a loss of initial effort and discouragement regarding any future endeavour. It should be avoided as far as possible.
A time-consuming and deliberate initiative in trying times may seem to question our sanity rather than take a toll on us, but the experience is like a jewel in the dark, and the pain and pangs while going through it are worth it. The darkness of night is itself a sure sign of morning bliss. No cold night has been ever-long. When the opening of the cave is seen, the pale and strange hopelessness instantly reverts to joy and strange ecstasy, which is never experienced in achieving success without deserving hard work. We are often misled by the delusion of shortcuts and easy ways. There is no gain without pain. And the gain without pain is cheap and short-lived. It also makes us forget our true potential.
All done, one should then remain calm and observe the progress of the conditions and richness of experience. Each set a benchmark of our mettle and a guide for us as well as others to tread the path with absolute markers. Man has been sent on earth not to live life according to his taste and comfort (and that, too, without any accountability for his evil doings) but was bestowed with logic to analyze, understand and then choose between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. The Almighty has and will always be most benevolent despite our mischief and highhandedness in worldly affairs. It has been reminded to humanity many times and also illustrated in the utmost comprehensive manner. Indeed, we are at a loss if we traverse the perimeter of evil illusion.
(Author is a teacher. Feedback: [email protected])
