Life essentially consists of certain ways and means within our control and certain happenings and circumstances beyond our control. By acting on those within our control we can strive for leading a peaceful life. A spiritual and philosophical mindset would add fillip to our efforts.
Here are some steps to lead a peaceful life:
Do not compare yourself with others: Your life is your own. Your likes and dislikes, tastes, expectations and standards are your own. Your neighbor or your colleague need not be a bench mark for you to compare yourself or compete with. Their level of education, financial status, social status or spending pattern need not be yours. If at all you have to compare, compare yourself with those who are less privileged than you; those whose lives are more peaceful and less complicated than yours.
Do not aspire to make other’s dream your reality: Your father’s unfulfilled dream of becoming a doctor need not be your dream. Your mother’s dream of becoming a successful dancer need not be yours – unless and until, you, on your own uninfluenced self-judgment think the same way.
Have a clear cut self judgment about your true capabilities, strengths and limitations: You might possess excellent Cricket playing skills within your local league. But it need not mean you are competent enough to play for the national team. Compare yourself with better players and make a sincere judgment: ‘Do I really play or am I capable of playing to that level? Do I have the physical, psychological and financial resources to make myself fit enough to come up to that level? Above all, is such a yearning worth the effort?’Sheer positive thinking alone will not do wonders. In the scheme of nature, all are not endowed with same set of skills and resources. If you are capable of judging yourself correctly, you will be endowed with the peace of mind – by not pursuing on something beyond your reach.
Live within your means: This is a time-tested age-old wisdom which is unfortunately forgotten in today’s Credit Card culture. What you buy using Credit Card should be payable IN FULL by you when the bill arrives from the Credit Card firm. If you get lured by the “Minimum Amount due Now”, it paves the way for accumulation of debt and consequently loss of peace sooner or later. If the object of desire can be purchased by you only through Installment by utilizing the “Minimum Pay out Money”, DO NOT SUCCUMB to the temptation of purchase. By bringing in this self-control, you may lose short-term pleasures, but you will enjoy long term peace.
