Hurdle

For many years, a farmer had to plough around a large rock in his field. He would curse the rock, every time he damaged his plough on it. Though he tried to be better at avoiding the rock, he ended up breaking yet another plough. Remembering all the trouble the hurdle had caused him through the years, he finally decided to do something about it. 

When he put the crowbar under the rock, he was surprised to discover that it was only about six inches thick and that he could break it up easily with a sledgehammer. As he was carting the pieces away he also carried the smile of realisation of how easy it would have been to get rid of that hurdle sooner… if he had only tried!

We know of how the stream defeats the rock with its persistence… how the drop hollows the rock with constant falling... how the stone cutter with determined chiselling gives shape to huge rocks. But, perseverance would never happen if one did not choose to try. And the reality is that most hurdles in our route may not be as big or as tough as we imagine them to be. But we would only know when we try! 

Most of the time, the hurdles in our path seem larger just because we dread the bigger obstacles. But, those who are seized by the passion, to overcome every obstacle, find that not all rocks in their course are overwhelming. Somebody who shirks from preliminary effort would find the simplest of tasks to seem overpowering. It is said well that ‘never give up until you try’…

The hurdle in our way may not be what it appears
Let’s BE BETTER at overcoming premature failure fears…

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Resourcefulness

Before the interview, the candidates were shown a salient audio visual about the organisation’s vision, mission and systems. Next came the announcement, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, the interview shall commence after a 30 minute recess. Till then, please have some soup.’ Everyone began to queue up at the serving table. Even those, who did not want the soup, chose not to be part of a slight.

The atmosphere was one of discipline… no pushes and shoves… smiles flashed around… everyone knew they were being watched and hence the best behaviour was out on display. Bowls were lifted with grace… prompt ‘thank-you’ uttered as the waiter poured the soup… Each moved ahead gracefully towards the awaiting additives… chilly sauce, vinegar, pepper, salt, etc.

The assessment was complete! Everyone who added without tasting and checking out whether the soup actually required add-ons were in hot soup as far as the interview was concerned 

Interviews are conducted to assess competencies and attitude. And in recent times, innovative situations are created to assess the reflexes and responses to find out who is better than the rest. The above case is an excellent example of testing attitude and approach to available resources. In the quest to assess who is better, the ones who fall aside are the ones who use resources without considering whether they are needed.

So often, so many of us use resources in an irresponsible and indiscriminate manner. We use resources less from the perspective of an assessed need and more from the mechanical habit of going through motions without thinking. To BE BETTER than the rest, we must ensure that our behaviour is based on situational thinking instead of perfunctory behaviour. Resourcefulness is a trait born out of conscious responsiveness that arises when the mechanical inclination is overcome.

Unlearn mechanical habits that land us in a mess...

To BE BETTER involve in responsive resourcefulness!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

SELF CENTEREDNESS

A young boy, while travelling in a bus, was horrified to find that the money in his pocket was missing. When the conductor came to collect his ticket fare, the lad burst into tears. The kind-hearted bus conductor consoled him, ‘Do not worry… I shall pay for your fare of eight rupees.’ However, on receiving the ticket, the boy cribbed, ‘what about my change? I lost a fifty rupee note!’

The glossary of antonyms lists ingratitude as the reverse of gratitude. It is described as ‘forgetfulness of or poor return for kindness received’. However, the above story reveals a worse fault than forgetfulness. It confirms that the opposite of gratitude is our own selfish attitude of expectations and demands on others around us.

We are so appropriated by our own self-centeredness that we fail to realise our self-absorbed thanklessness is making us insensitive to the value of gratitude. When we let our demands dominate our relationships, the result is ruinous. So often, we give up on relationships because we are unhappy with the time or the attention we receive.

Relationships centred on expectations suck our emotional strength and drain our personal resources. Sometimes even the strongest commitment can’t counterbalance the depletion that our friends or loved ones may feel if we treat them like this. In fact, insensitivity will diminish the relationship

Let’s learn to be thankful for what we receive in terms of helping hands, without insisting that the help be proportionate to our need. Let’s never measure the love and kindness that we get. We must look at what we receive, and not be seized by how much we receive. Self-centeredness needs to be eliminated for the true attitude of gratitude!

Insensitivity will strain and ruin the relationship…
BE BETTER at giving self-centeredness the skip!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Reflection

Every time when we look at ourselves in the mirror, what do we see as a reflection? Surely we see what we choose to see. If we see a glowing or a glum image it just reflects our dominant emotion at that time. It also reflects possibilities of positive transformations in our thoughts.

Surely what matters is not what is reflected but how we reflect on it! For instance, a bald person may go beyond acceptance of the situation to a confidence level that transforms it into a style statement. On the other hand, we notice the pathetic distress of those who cannot face a declining hairline. 

We need to reflect on ‘what is’ rather than ‘what is not’. It is all about reflecting on the outside reality with inner strength. And inner strength comes when we take ownership of our lives, of what we are and of what we have. But first, we must reflect by unlearning negative perceptions of what is good and what is bad. 

Transformations best happen inside out. Worries and fears disappear when we reflect on every situation with positive introspection. We need to be better at reflecting beyond the surface to connect to the beauty of the inner self. It is pertinent to note that when we change our outlook to our own predicament; we see the outer world too, in positive light. Positive thought (reflection) can overcome every mirrored perception (reflection).

Every mirrored perception needs thought reflection...
Let’s BE BETTER at boosting positive introspection!

- Pravin K. Sabnis