SUCCESS TRAP






“Dear God, if Success is a trap, then, please give me the wisdom not to walk into it!”

The night before last, my wife and I were watching the TLC (Travel and Living Channel) on TV. They were showing the living style of Shah Rukh Khan. When we were watching the kind of lifestyle – the mansions in Mumbai and Dubai – with all the swanky opulence in them… I knew the reason why the world calls him ‘King Khan’ – the ‘Badshah’!

It was surreal, to say the least… Well, every pin and plane of that opulence, this self-made actor deserves. They are his sweat and toil… They are his achievements – the fruits of his Success. Hence, he has every right to relish them with his dear ones.

I am not challenging this fact.

But, as I was watching the glitter and glamor that went along King Khan’s luxury, I was wondering:

“Is so much really needed to be happy in life?”

“Can you retain this life-style lifelong?”

“Is it possible for you to deal with it without suffering, deep within, a sense of fear of losing it all, one day?”

“How do you deal with the nagging thought that you cannot be on top – a ‘Super Star’ – for ever…The thought that you are aging…The thought that the fanfare is going to die out, soon?”

“In order to maintain such luxury, don’t you need to constantly put yourself under high pressure… constantly run, struggle, insure, maintain, guard, spend, earn, spend, earn, and spend?”


A decent house, some decent clothes, some decent comforts… with a lovely family, good education, good health, a zestful approach to your future… a regret-less heart… some loving friends and neighbors, some fine values… a few God-given talents, your rock-solid faith in yourself and in the benevolent Universe…



I was wondering… 

“Is this not the greatest luxury in life? 

Is this not the greatest wealth?”



I was wondering, “If it is so, then, why does my heart want more and more and more? Why is this hunger to become a King like Shah Rukh Khan?

So, that night, I went to bed saying this small prayer:

“Dear God, if Success is a trap, please give me the wisdom not to walk into it. Amen.”

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Bhushan Thakkar








Comments

Harsha Dasani said…
A lot of it is only an illusion, really. Nice post. Harsha
January 30, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Arvind Mali said…
Touching prayer!!! Arvind
January 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Anonymous said…
An amazing peep into the illusive world of success!!!
- Shuba
January 30, 2013 at 5:25 PM
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