State of Human Affairs

Gracing the front page of Indian newspapers, these days, is a sad story of the suicide (read more) of former Miss Mauritius and top supermodel from India. Apparently she committed suicide as she was severely depressed. She joins the list of high profile and apparently 'popular' people who have chosen to end their lives in the recent years.

Makes me wonder what are we doing as fellow human beings? I am sure she must have had countless, so called, friends and buddies. Being a former beauty queen would have guaranteed easy attention in life. Then why are we humans prone to depression and loneliness even though we are surrounded by people? Is the individual to be blamed or are the real culprit the 'friends'?

Its easy to imagine why an individual can be lonely, can feel alienated or depressed even though they might have countless friends and even be very popular. The fact lies that its not the quantity of friends or family you have, but rather the quality of the relations that ultimately matter. One good friend or family can mean more than a hundred or even a thousand 'friends', friends who only care to be with you when you are happy or rich. In our race to success, we often forget to nurture the most important relations in our lives. These relations ultimately make us feel loved, secure and provide us with light in times of utter darkness.

Whats even more saddening to note is that we as friends often overlook or even neglect a human in need, even though we know that we should have gone and lent a helping hand. Sometimes just having someone who can hear you out makes a world of difference. I am sure the friends of this former model must have noticed that something is amiss, but did nothing. Why did they not do something sooner? Why did they let this happen to someone they knew? Is this why we are on this planet? To neglect fellow humans, even when we know we can help? Since when has making someone happy or lifting their sorrows become a bad thing?

Why do we not treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves? Old saying but how many of us actually follow it in our daily lives? When was the last time you sincerely tried to help someone, even though you did not know them very well but knew they needed help? Why are we so wrapped up in our own problems, in our own life that we fail to notice the life of the people around us?

Humans are social in nature. They cannot exist alone. No problem should become so great that it should lead anyone to suicide. Often it just takes a kind and caring human soul to fix someones life. 

Be that soul.

Corruption of the Human Mind

The human mind is perhaps the most powerful force we have in our possession. We have not even grasped 5% of its potential. Yet see the advances we have made in the recent century! If this is possible with 5% of our brains, imagine what we can do with 20 or 50%? Seems mind boggling!

Equally mind boggling is the way in which we treat our own mind. Have you ever stopped to consider the kind of thoughts you think or more importantly, the kind of thoughts you 'allow' yourself to think? Have you ever consciously taken control over what enters and what leaves your mind?

The mind is like a muscle. Train it well and it will grow strong and become very powerful. Neglect it or abuse it and it will grow weak and timid. Like all experienced body builders will tell you, the quality of training is more important than the quantity of training, so is it with the human mind. Feed it well and it will foster and grow. Abuse it and it will falter and grow weak.

Are you the kind of person who allows your mind to think or behave however it wants? Does your mind get influenced easily by your surroundings, your environment or the people around you? Is your mind easily attracted to negative and cheap thoughts, no matter whether they are targeted to others or to yourself? If yes, then its time you start taking better care of your mind. 

Imagine this, you are driving your car and have to stop at a traffic signal. Your windows are rolled down and you are enjoying the breeze. Just then someone walks up and raises his bag of trash, with the intention of dumping it in your car through the window. What would you do? Would you allow him to do it or would you just sit by and then curse him once he is done? I bet you would stop him before he can dump his junk in your car! If that's true, then why not with your own mind? Is that not your most prized and trusted asset?

Why do you allow anyone to walk up to you and fill your mind with utter rubbish? Why don't we stop such corruptions in their tracks, much before they can even enter our minds? Why do we allow continuously allow people, situations, our environment and at many times even ourselves to corrupt our mind?

Next time you catch yourself corrupting your mind, check yourself. Get rid of the rubbish immediately and make sure it never enters again. One weed can soon overwhelm your beautiful garden, if not removed immediately. Before you know it, it will dominate your mind and your life in ways you would never have imagined or would want to.

Fill your mind with positive and growing thoughts. Nurture it with thoughts of progress in all aspects of your life. Learn to control your mind and not let your mind control you.

Think beautiful, live beautiful.