In the final analysis

To take control of our lives and lead them according to how we think they should be led, we need to assess our self-worth

BY SAROJA SRINIVASAN

Every day we do some things that are important and meaningful, but also many things we would consider trivial and meaningless. How do we decide what is trivial? The meaninglessness of many actions is not necessarily static or fixed forever. Many actions that we consider trivial turn out to be the beginning of something far more influential than we could have ever imagined. Think of something that is very important in your life now, like where you are living or the career you are pursuing. When and where was the seed for this culmination planted? Perhaps it was in a trivial conversation somewhere in an unlikely place, or a word or statement made by a passerby. Who knows?

There are many things in life we discount as a mere coincidence. But when these things are looked at more closely, there is a pattern or regularity that the mind misses which only surfaces if we make a conscious effort to see it. It is the same with the way we think. We are so used to thinking in a certain way, as society inadvertently conditions us to do, that we have allowed our own unique way to see the world to be completely overshadowed. often say, “What would others think?” as a reason to continue doing what they are doing, even though it is against their own wishes. These “others’ are rarely attending to your wellbeing or even if they do, they may not know the full circumstance of how your decision was made. In the final analysis what people remember after one has gone is how content and happy the person was, not just what they had achieved monetarily or materially.

Yet, in the final analysis, it is our own self-worth and the way we see ourselves that gives meaning to what we do. We are so conditioned to how others see and evaluate us, that we are not even aware of what we would like our life to be.

Despite their materialistic preoccupation, most people secretly admire those who are fulfilled and content in their own way. There is a saying that gets repeated, though quite often somewhat inappropriately. People

It is self-doubt that creates this uncertainty about the present and future. What we need to do is to stop and reflect periodically on what we want to do with our life. Of course, this requires time and a strong will to accept what we have and what we can do with what is given to us. Quite often this time for reflection appears after moments of misfortune, or when our expectations are thwarted. Sadly, it also tends to be brief and if one does not grab the momentary opportunity that this brief reflection presents and pursue it to bring about the change we would like, life will go on in a monotonous, predictable fashion within the confines of one’s own comfort zone. Yes, it will be comfortable but alas, the sense of meaninglessness will continue.