THE 'BREAKING NEWS' ONLY BREAKS







What is happening in Kashmir concerns me… The menace of terrorism concerns me… The attack on our soldiers in Uri and the consequent surgical strike by the Indian Army on terror camps across the Line of Control really concerns me…

But, then, how much can I do about these events?

Well, as an Indian, I can’t be indifferent and insensitive to matters concerning my county… I must read and listen to the news… I must wonder… feel anxious… fear and worry when times are bad… feel elated and jubilant when times are good…

But, then, if I keep focusing on this area – which Stephen Covey famously called our ‘Circle of Concern’ - the Circle which is not within our immediate and direct control - Yes, what happens if we focus too much on such events and calamities (negative energy) is: we become more and more reactive people… and our Circle of Concern expands, while tour ‘Circle of our Influence’ – which contains those events and activities within our immediate and direct control – shrinks.

Yes, it does.

Too much of this ‘Breaking News’ only breaks… And those obsessive and aggressive debates on TV only makes us highly reactive and prejudiced individuals…

Too much of bombardment on Social Media - unchecked, unauthentic and rumor-driven – only makes us a dumb generation of people…

The Circle of Influence is where our energies should be concentrated… These are the activities and events over which we have direct and immediate control. The more we focus on this positive energy, this Circle expands and the Circle of our Concern shrinks… Yes, it makes us ‘Proactive’ people…

Not a rocket science or some heavy philosophy this is. This is a simple lesson… That, the more we concentrate on the events and activities within our direct control, it is better for everybody, including our nation…

If at all our nation needs anything, at this juncture, it is our ‘responsible responses’ to what is happening on our border…

Maybe, a few minutes spent on our knees, with our eyes closed and heads bowed down…

Amen.


GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Stephen R. Covey/Development Partnership


Comments

Unknown said…
Totally agree with you Jerry uncle!
October 2, 2016 at 1:46 AM
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