April 30, 2014
Look at the picture below. One may not come across such a genuine, beautiful, cute smile with children who live under the most comfortable roof. If you notice here, the child’s legs, hands and the whole body is bound inside the plastic bag practically wrapped in the immense heat. Who knows since how long time he has been hanging/suffering around under that hand. Yet when the photographer took his picture, he flashed a delightful smile, which shows how beautiful his tender heart and mind would be (I came across this picture on the internet. Although it is a gross violation of human rights and we must condemn it, yet, a few thoughts came to my mind which I want to share with the readers).
Irrespective of such discomfort, how could this child manage such a broad smile as if he was not going through any pain? The only reason perhaps, I assume, is that this small child is not in a position to COMPARE himself with other children’s lifestyle and their comfort. Therefore, he is completely happy without any anxiety, so he smiles broadly.
The message I got form this picture is, one should not compare oneself with the more fortunate ones, their richness, their children’s academic achievements and talents. If so, perhaps every one of us may walk in the shadows of this Great Child's Smile without an iota of doubt. Gravely, nowadays we observe unhealthy competition in the areas wealth and academic carrier. Why to compare? It does not mean that if the parents are rich their children will have high or greater IQ, not necessarily. By spending lot of money, it does not mean parents will achieve the desired results. Therefore, parents should not compel their children into anything other than what the children would like to pursue, if not might it end up in miserable results. Further, Parent’s Power of Money should not be experimented with as it may torture their own children and take away their mental peace and daily happiness.
Absolute anxiety kills one's happiness absolutely. Although there are many factors for anxiety, here I take only one - ‘COMPARISION’. Should one compare with others or not? I sincerely welcome your thoughts.
Below given are some of the hypotheses on which you may shed some light:
1. If we look at the strengths of others, and compared them to our weaknesses, how we would size up? And will it make us feel good?
2. Should parents compel their children to study harder because their neighbors and their relative’s children have succeeded brilliantly?
3. Should a family compare with other families economically and their social life? What would be the gain?
4. Can an employee compare himself with his talented boss and walk in his footsteps? Is this concept right or wrong?
5. Should one compare his religion with other religions and ridicule? Can God accept those hateful prayers if they destroy other's faith and their holy places. At the end, can this individual's soul achieve its destiny that he dreamt life long for ?
6. It is election time now. Usually, why do various political parties do not compare with other parties as far as objectivity is concerned? What hinders them most and why?
If we measure up from above, the funny thing is, this is what most of us do at one time or another - and some of us do so pretty often. It’s a sure-fire recipe for a drop in self-confidence and smiles unlike this child.
Wise quotes on comparison
“Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you.”
“It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.”
“If you have ever noticed, it doesn’t matter how many people are on your side, cheering you on. If you can’t get on your own side, you never get past “go.”
“Never compare your journey with someone else’s. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you but your journey is your journey. It is not a competition.”
“Do not underestimate yourself by comparing yourself with others. It’s our differences that make us Unique and Beautiful”.
“Everyone is unique, beautiful & gifted … But most people never open their package but trying to open others package, killing their daily happiness”
“Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God”.
“Do not compare yourself with others in matter of wealth, position, education but rather you should look at people less fortunate than yourself. If you would like to compare, compare your knowledge, virtues who are better than to you to learn from them”.
“Every one of us like butterflies who do not see our own beautiful wings and colours but we compare with others as a result of gloomy tendency”.
“The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot.”
“The surest route to breeding jealousy is to compare. Since jealousy comes from feeling less than another, comparisons only fan the fires”.
“I have never tried to compare myself to anyone else” - Sachin Tendulkar
In each religion, thoughts have been shared about COMPARISON by Hindu Saints, Muslim Prophet, Sikh Guru’s. Respective readers may reproduce those sayings here while I recollect one from the Bible “ And Jesus called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, And said, Truly I say to you, unless you become like little children you can never enter the kingdom of heaven . Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matt 18:2-4
Finally, sceptics, wise and learned ones, why should most of us lead a frustrated life just being allowed to compare with others ? Why not we all lead a Happy Life like a Happy God’s Child without any anxiety and comparisons? Let our choice be our own, a Happy Choice.
Antony D'Souza Archives: