LET ME LIVE A DAY IN YOUR LIFE



   

 

In life, another person’s problems are, always, another person’s problems!


To understand other peoples’ problems, we have to place ourselves in their situations. We have to empathize with them.


In our daily life, most of our conflicts arise due to this lack of empathy… our inability to place ourselves in others’ situations…


We only wish others to understand our situations… We only wish others to empathize with us.


“Seek first to understand; then to be understood.” In his path-breaking book, ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, Stephen R. Covey has placed empathy as the fifth important habit for effective living. According to the author, this habit is the key for good communication, and, therefore, the remedy for our daily conflicts arising out of misunderstandings.


All our reactions come from lack of empathy. Period.  Our impatience is rampant at our own homes… with our own people. And, it is so because that’s where we all take others for granted…


We fail to recognize their contributions…


We fail to recognize the difference they make to our lives…


We fail to acknowledge it, fail to thank enough…


On the contrary, our impatience only makes the situation worse… Our reactions strain the communication… and, rob the joy of good relationship.


Yes, it happens so rampantly…


It happens in our so-called fast life…


And, it happens where, in deed, it shouldn’t… Where patience and empathy are most needed.


Every time, I think about what Mr. Covey has counseled, I am left only speechless. Just imagine this: If I seek first to understand another person, and do it very, very sincerely, is there a need to be understood?


I really feel, there isn’t any need to be understood…


The habit of seeking to understand another person doesn’t easily come to us. But, then, it is there as one of the most proactive acts which we can do for our own well-being. Tough, yes, But, worth inculcating…


A win-win habit as Mr. Covey loves to call it…


The Idea ads make most of us smile… even cry. Here is my favorite:


 


 



“Just live one day of my life and you will understand my situation!”

 


Well, why one day, a moment may, in deed, do…

 


“Let me make tea for you, now.”


“You relax, dear; I will make it for both of us!”


 


GERALD D’CUNHA


Pic.: Malabika Ganguly

Comments

Mishra Raghav said…
Simple idea! Great idea! Loved the post. Mishra
June 5, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Anonymous said…
Keep inspiring sir.
- Himesh
June 5, 2013 at 7:36 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUTHU KODI KAWARI HADA

Image
Pic.; Ashwin Mohta M y Hindi was always bad. It still is. One reason for this was, that they introduced Hindi for us only in 6 th standard. Or, was it in 8 th ? I don’t remember… I only remember struggling to write and read… leave alone speak! But, I loved Hindi movies, and, strangely, I could understand the dialogues and the lyrics of the songs… I used to sing those songs (of course when no one was around me!) as if I was the lyricist… One of the songs was a very funny one. ‘Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada’. It was from Mehmood’s super-hit comedy – ‘Do Phool’. I was a 15-year-old high-school boy when I had heard that song (not watched the movie). I could grasp the meaning of two words – ‘Muthu Kodi’… which meant ‘Give kiss’… But, what ‘Kawari Hada’ meant, I have no clue till date! It was just like ‘Why this kolaveri di’... Yes, why ask? Simply enjoy the beats… And, the beats are great… The rest... Who cares? Really! So, whatever bit of Hi
Read more

"HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS NOT A FAIRY-TALE... IT IS A CHOICE"

Image
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone… It has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” – Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Lathe of Heaven T welve years ago, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married, the world began to hail the couple as ‘Brangelina’. It became a fashion for couples around us to call themselves so… Norbert and Teresa renamed them as ‘Noresa’…  Amol and Vishaka baptized their relationship as ‘Amoshka’… and, Salman and Nargis became ‘Salgis’! I and my wife, too, got tempted to re-christian our matrimonial relationship as ‘Germa’... That is, Gerald and Anima, to be precise! B efore I proceed any further, let me make it very clear, here… that, I have no business to judge on the break-up of Brad Pitt and Angelina’ Jolie’s marriage. I have no inclination to go into why, how, what when etc behind it… The couple ‘chose’ to split. And, it’s their choice… Only they know how good or bad… how joyful or painful that
Read more

SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND

Image
“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How does it matter
Read more
THE WILD, WAYSIDE FLOWERS
There is, always, something extra-ordinary in the wild, wayside flowers...