WHAT AM I ENTITLED FOR?






What we ‘have’ – our achievements, success, wealth, health, name, fame… everything that we have in life… is only ‘given’ to us…

Yes, just as a gift…

What we have… is our privilege… a blessing… a grace!

Even if we have worked extremely hard to achieve what we ‘have’ in life, it is still only that: a blessing, a gift, a privilege.

We need to stretch our two open-and-empty hands towards the heavens and pray:

“Our Father in Heaven… give us our daily bread!”

And, if we go down on our knees and do that… it is still better!

There are these two expressions:

“I deserve” and “I am entitled for”.

While the first expression is incredibly empowering one… the second one is equally imprisoning one!

A deep feeling of deserving something in life is fundamental to our healthy self-esteem and a life of healthy well-being. This feeling stems from our innate trust in ourselves and the Universe… It is not a feeling of arrogance… In stead, it is humility in action… without which, it is not possible for us to experience the fruits of our efforts. Yes, to enjoy our success, we should feel ‘deserving’…

It can come from a deep prayerful attitude… the attitude of gratitude, yes.

On the other hand, the feeling - “I am entitled for” – is detrimental to our healthy self-esteem and a life of healthy well-being. This feeling stems from our lack of trust in ourselves and in the Universe… It is a feeling of arrogance… devoid of reverence and humility… and, as long as we think that we are ‘entitled’ for the fruits of our efforts, and worse, when we think so without putting enough efforts, we are unable to truly experience the blessings in life… Yes, to experience the blessings in life, we should let go the mindset – “I am entitled for”.

And, this, too, can come from a deep prayerful attitude alone… the attitude of gratitude, yes.  

Blame and grumbling are the offspring of the mindset – “I am entitled for”…

Bitterness and worry, too…

Envy, too…

Fear and insecurity, too…


Every privilege is only ‘given’ unto us… 

and, the early we understand this, 

the better for us…


That, too, can only be a privilege… a boon!


GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic. Raj Dhage Wai







Comments

Ninad R. said…
Attitude of gratitude alone can ensure inner joy; well written article. Thanks. Ninad
December 27, 2012 at 12:12 PM
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