ALTER

‘Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’ – Albert Einstein

 

If we keep on doing the same things, taking the same actions and thinking the same thoughts, guess what we are going to get? The same results that we been getting! Wherever we are right now in our life is the direct result of the actions and thoughts that we have been taking.

 

When we look around, what do we see? If we like what we see; if we see an organized, clean space; if we feel strong and confident; then we been taking positive actions and thinking positive, strong thoughts.

 

If on the other hand we are unhappy with the way we have shaped up or we feel low about the situation that surrounds us, then obviously we have to introspect on our approach and alter our actions.

 

We must take responsibility and own the fact that the results we see are because of the choices we made. We must not pose as a victim of outside circumstances. To alter the results, we must choose every desirable change in thinking and actions.

 

If what we think and do, makes us falter

New results need our approach to alter!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Dignity

 Yesterday, at the Samraat Vykhanmala lecture series, IAS officer, Daulat Hawaldar spoke on the value of money in human life. He used a quote by German philosopher, Immanuel Kant:

 ‘In the kingdom of ends, everything has a price or a dignity. What has a price can be replaced by something else as its equivalent; what on the other hand is raised above all price and therefore admits of no equivalent has a dignity.’

 

Money may seem to buy many things but it cannot buy dignity. On the other hand, dignity, even in poverty, can overcome hurdles. Money is the transient treasure but dignity is the consistent intrinsic value.

 

Kant went on to say ‘What is related to general human inclinations and needs has a market price; but that which constitutes the condition under which alone something can be an end in itself with an inner worth, is dignity.’

It is pertinent to note the true value of dignity is in its connection to joyfulness. While lack of money may bring situations of misery, these can be offset by the asset of dignity. Conversely, surplus of wealth does not guarantee escape from misery.

in the quest for joy, focus on dignity…

it is more vital than money as priority!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Rainbow

 The rainbow is my favourite analogy during Independence Day functions. A ray of sunlight passes through a raindrop and breaks into a spectrum of seven colours. A rainbow is formed as the seven diverse colours are in the alignment arc. If they were to branch off into various directions, the rainbow would not take shape.

This analogy has a deeper dimension as we celebrate our country’s Independence Day. We are a nation of diversity of variety. Languages, customs, attire, beliefs, cuisine, looks… everything is as wide-ranging as it can be. The dissimilarities are obvious and oft result into differences.

Never mind the differences, we must choose to align ourselves to the real spectrum of the diversity of India. To paraphrase Voltaire, we may disagree but not become disagreeable. We may argue but we must not allow the argument to widen the rift.

So often, so many of us mistakenly insist on uniformity for alignment. But diversity is stifled by uniformity as the rainbow would lose its essence if the seven colours were to turn into a single hue.

 

Acceptance and respect for different dimensions of ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, physical abilities, ideas, beliefs and ideologies will celebrate the diversity of our country… and create a colourful rainbow of citizens who relate to each other!

Seven colours align together for a rainbow to emerge
Would a rainbow ever form, if they chose to diverge?

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

MONDAY MUSE is now into the 19^th year, written since the first Monday of 2004, by Goa based Experiential Corporate Coach, Pravin K. Sabnis. Send your feedback to 8698672080 or 9422640141 or unlearning.unlimited@gmail.com

MondayMuse of 8 Aug 2022: Stranger

She and Vaman Sardesai were the Underground Voice that fought for Goa's Liberation. They started an underground radio to end press censorship in Portuguese colonised Goa.

During Goa’s liberation movement, they ran an underground radio service called 'Voz de Liberdade' in Portuguese, ‘Goenche Sadvonecho Awaz’ in Konkani and 'Voice of Freedom' in English. The broadcasts started in 1955 from the jungles of Amboli bordering Goa.

Post liberation, her initiatives led to the setting up of major Institutions like Women's Cooperative Bank, Home Science College and more. But despite Libia Lobo Sardessai's proactive presence she is a stranger to most of us.

This is all the more strange as her story is in school books, she features in news and articles. But like many other worthy personalities, she is a stranger for many people.

This is the tragedy of our Country. We lose sight of real heroes and worship idols of clay. We are influenced by fast changing screens of social media. Our connection is tangential and retention is momentary. Our lives are hurried and harried with no time to look, learn and understand.

We do not fail the great personalities like Libia who keep doing their work. We fail ourselves as we lose opportunity to be inspired by these personalities. They are not the strangers. It is we who are becoming strangers to our own realities of the past, present & future.

Look, listen & learn; let time truly unfurl

Don't become a stranger to the world

- Pravin K. Sabnis

MONDAY MUSE is now into the 19th year, written since the first Monday of 2004, by Goa based Experiential Corporate Coach, Pravin K. Sabnis. Send your feedback to 8698672080 or 9422640141 or unlearning.unlimited@gmail.com

Wait

A Chinese bamboo tree takes five years to grow. It has to be watered and fertilized in the ground where it has been planted every day. It doesn't break through the ground for five years. After five years, once it breaks through the ground, it will grow 80 feet tall in five weeks!

 

Now imagine a scenario where the person who plants the seed calls it quits before the fifth year. It is natural for frustration to creep in when no transformation is evident for four years. The agony is in direct proportion to the intensity of effort.

 

But it would be tragic to miss out on the deserving glory of the 80 feet shoot. So often we quit just when positive results to our proactive efforts are just round the corner. It is not enough to take initiative and follow up with sincere actions. We must learn to wait.

 

To be better at getting a deserving consequence we must inculcate the attitude of patience and perseverance. The outcome may be delayed but it is worth the wait when the end-result more than makes up for the delay.

learn to be patient in every waiting game
script of bamboo & success is the same!

- Pravin K. Sabnis