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Dealing with boredom – Part 2

Come back to the question: ‘What is my need/value/principle that I seek to serve by having a bigger house?’

You may get an answer:

Your answer could be: ‘I can then make my family happy; I will have more space’

To please family or having your personal freedom is a value that’s important for you. On the day you are unmotivated, you could connect to your value, and that would make the job purposeful. Now you have taken responsibility for your job. Earlier it was a pain to go to work; now it’s to please your family, and you could please your family in many ways- like taking them out for a dinner or spending some time with your kids. To nourish yourself through your values, you don’t need a bigger house right now; you could go to a park and find some space even as you work on getting a bigger house.

It’s our conscious connection to values that helps us move forward during our dull moments. After the 2007 world cup debacle, the Indian team was severely criticized in the media. Sachin Tendulkar was distraught and planned to retire from cricket. His brother however encouraged him to keep playing. His approach was simple; what’s your value: To contribute to the game of cricket, and win the world cup for your country. As Sachin came back to his value, he found his motivation to play. Eventually four years later he helped his team lift the world cup. 

Coping with different emotions

Often setbacks throw us off course, and we could even slip to depression if we are not anchored on a purpose. Without a purpose, we focus on pleasure or happiness which is a fleeting experience. One moment we are happy, the next a different emotion fills us, soon to be replaced by another one.

During my stay at England I would go on long walks by the countryside, and would sometimes experience heat, cold, rain, and dark clouds, all in a ninety minute walk. Similarly our mind is capable of experiencing different strong emotions, all in one day. To rise beyond feelings is the only way to stay focussed in life; the best things in life anyways make us sweaty. And if we connect to a purpose beyond ourselves, we’d never be bored. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s inspiring quote says it better: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

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1 Comment

  • Raju Narayanan
    Posted June 5, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    So true prabhu I really enjoyed your speech in Perth Iskcon

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