Life is Worth a Call

September 10, 2019

A year ago, this portal had published an article I had written on World Suicide Prevention Day. Since then a lot has happened; and I believe sharing some thoughts are in order.

At the outset, I must say that it is horrifying to see some people glorifying the suicide of a friend. It’s an ideology you must desist from spreading with all your strength. It is life that needs to be held in high esteem; not death. When you glorify and justify someone’s suicide, you become morally responsible for encouraging others to follow.

Calls on Suicide Lifeline, based in Mangaluru, have increased manifold. That’s good news because those people are now armed with tools to cope with emotional struggles. Tragically, we are still seeing an increase in people ending their lives.

So, what’s going on? Based on my cumulative experience of interacting with more than 30 individuals with suicidal tendencies, over the last 16 years, this is what I would like to say:

It does not matter who you are; it does not matter how much you have or you don’t; it does not matter how intelligent you are or you are not; every human being must go through troughs in his or her life. As human beings we are vulnerable, and we will all one day or another experience something that goes against our idea of happiness, or our dreams. There is too much going on out there and we could just as easily get caught in the maelstrom, or we could make a mistake. I know people who find it very difficult to even comprehend that something “like that” could happen to them. The fact is it can! We are vulnerable simply because we are human. After a string of being on top of his class for many years, a student ended his life because he came second that particular year.

A failure in exams or anything is not a failure in life; it is not even a reflection of who you are. It is merely a setback. Just recently I met a girl who was very distraught that she had not done well in her entrance exams. She kept calling herself a failure. Everything seemed to be crumbling around her. Sometimes all that is required is to shift one’s perspective, so I asked her to explain how something like that constitutes a failure and if it was an accurate assessment given her abilities. I further asked her if the appropriate word was ‘setback’ or ‘failure’. She began to see things clearly. Does this mean that a few months or a year would be lost? Sure! But, why are we so hard pressed to do something within a certain time line? At the age of 80 perhaps; but, not when you are just 18! She laughed at the end of our session. She was free again to pursue her dreams.

There are parents who seem to be oblivious of the suicides that are taking place among kids. I don’t know if they are living in some different world; or, they think that their children are made of a different set of emotions; or, they are very confident that their children can handle any amount of pressure. I meet kids whose parents fall in one of these brackets.

Your children’s degrees, their careers and their money will mean nothing to them when a storm hits them. What helps them handle adverse situations is how full or empty their emotional and spiritual tanks are.

Nobody plans for a failure and, therefore, it feels awful when things don’t go our way. But, why should anything be weighed in terms of success or failure; victory or loss? Why not just look at it as an experience?

NO ONE is worthless. This is again a perception. A diamond, with all its glitter, may bask in its own glory; but, the humble stones and bricks are what go into the edifices of beautiful monuments and buildings. The butterfly may be a creature of pure beauty; but in terms of sheer worth, the dung beetle is on par. The fact is: we are all special in some way. The problem is not so much whether we are worth something or not; the problem is we look at others and think we are nothing. The waves that we see crashing the coastlines start off as tiny ripples miles away at sea. The mighty sequoia grows to a height of 300 feet, but its DNA is embedded in a seed the size of a grain of rice. Again, if you think you are worth nothing; it is your perception. Now imagine the seed of the sequoia saying, ”I am nothing; so, put me in the fire.” Its potential would never be known. For human beings, our potential is limitless! In some way, little or big, we are worth something to someone; or, at least we can be.

Human beings are the only creatures endowed with rational thinking and amazingly we, too, start off as a tiny cell. Then, of course, we have our emotions. The Bhagavad Gita has this to say, which is quite compelling and at first may be difficult to understand, “Inner peace is beyond defeat and victory.” Notice, it ropes in victory as well. There’s great wisdom to take from this short line. It’s easy to get carried away into thinking that victory (read success, money, wealth, fame, pleasure) comes automatically packaged with peace. If that was truly the case, people with all of the fame, wealth and success would not
experience emptiness. If the poor are known to commit suicide; so are the rich and the famous. The latter committing suicide always begs the question ‘why’ with all poignancy. Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” There is meaning to our lives and we are made for a purpose. Unexamined, it can lead to dreadful emptiness.

Emotions can obscure or even block our rational thinking and it leads us to a whole set of false perceptions. A young graduate, who had completed his engineering studies and was on the way to a job, became suicidal after his girl friend had left him for someone else. He was willing to throw it all away – his mother’s sacrifice, his degree, his job, and his very life with all the talents he was blessed with. Only he could not see any of it at that time and that’s what happens when we are emotionally charged.

Broadly, we get to see two reactions when something like that happens. Either the person will sink low; or he might not care too much about it. What we have is an activating event (the girl leaving) and emotions (ranging from initial sadness to suicidal thoughts in some cases). But, is the event the cause of our emotions? The event is the trigger, but there is something else going on. Nurture plays a big role. What emotions we experience depend on our thoughts at the time - which go right past us.

What we perceive at the time may not be true at all. For example, in the case of this young graduate, he told me he could not live without that girl; and that he would never find another girl. But, is our perception always aligned with reality? The reality is that he had always ‘lived’ before the girl entered his life. And never before he had imagined that he would have a girl friend; and, yet, he did have one. So, to say that another girl would not fall in love with him was his perception. It was more like a decision on his part to not have any one else. Lastly, I asked him if he would be happy living with someone who did not want him. Fortunately, he understood what I was saying. He was over it in the following weeks. This was some 12 years ago. Presently, he has two children from another woman he ‘bumped’ into and fell in love with.

Think endless possibilities when a crisis strikes. It is always possible that God has a different plan for you. If you think you should have known better, then this can be true only if you are an omniscient being. If you think your life is doomed – again, this can only be true if you are an omniscient being. Since we are not, it is best to allow the experience to seep in for a while and then take what we learn from it and move on.

Emotions are powerful and they are very much a part of what makes us human. But, they can also cause havoc as we have seen or experienced. But, here’s the thing: It helps to observe our thoughts at the time. Our thoughts are the filter that influences our emotions and actions.

To illustrate, let’s say, your spouse says something rude to you. If your thoughts go something like… who the hell does he/she think he/she is; he/she has no right to treat me like this. Your emotions will be along the lines of anger, hurt, and even resentment. It is easy to guess what action such emotions can lead to. But, if your thoughts go something along these lines… may be he/she has a lot to deal with; perhaps he/she is not well today; perhaps I have been a jerk, then your feelings will be those of sympathy and even love. All you lose is a little ego, but in return you gain a lot more!

We may never be able to change certain situations; but it is in our power to change the way we react to it. Having said that, it is normal to feel hurt, but not so to live in that hurt; it is normal to get angry, but not so to live in bitterness; it is normal to get upset about something, but not so to live in it. It takes time, effort and practice to bring about positive changes. Does it mean that one day we will be perfect? It does not matter. What is important is to live consciously - to be aware of reality - and how it affects our lives. It is not about changing someone, or changing a situation, it is about changing ME. It helps to remember that if I want to win, so does the other person. And, what’s wrong if someone strikes gold?

The Book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” The same Book repeats it by saying, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Sometimes when things don’t go our way, we want it fixed immediately. Some things cannot be fixed in a jiffy. It’s just the way it is.

I told a girl of 8th Standard, who had become suicidal, that she is made in God’s image; and it did not matter how the world treated her after she had erred in judgment and everyone around her turned it into a catastrophe. I told her one thing was a guarantee: that if she looked forward to living and put all her efforts into it, time will heal everything. And the very people who are taunting her will one day grow tired of it. And time did just that. She kept in touch with me. Yes, it hurts when someone hurls an insult; but, the one who hurls it has issues to deal with. She is studying psychology and one day wants to become a counselor. Now I find that really uplifting and I hold that very dear to my heart.

In summary:

- If you think you have made a mistake, be assured you will make many in your lifetime. It means nothing, except we are human.
- Setbacks don’t turn you into a failure. If anything, they are known to turn people into great success stories. It is really up to you.
- Emotions are what make us human. Don’t hesitate to express them; particularly the feelings of hurt, sadness and so on. Feelings are temporary. Tomorrow you could feel different. Just give it some time. You owe it to yourself.
- Practice mindfulness as this will help you bring your thoughts under control as you become more and more aware of yourself.
- Learn to differentiate between perception and reality.
- Loneliness is a state we put ourselves into. We think we are unlikeable, not so good looking, thin, fat, too tall or too short and so on. If you can only see people better than you at everything; then, you are not looking hard enough. I am not saying that we should spend our lives trying to find someone less ‘beautiful’ than us so that we can feel better; but there are all sorts of people around us. Cricketers tall and short have created history. It’s in the mind, but there is also hard work behind it!

Our wealth, our poverty, our sexuality, our profession, our academic achievements, our religion, our house, our car, is not what defines us. In the end none of this matters; in the end – at the core – we are human and that is what defines us. We are children of God, made to love and serve Him through the people He sends in our lives from time to time. Try reaching out to others and see how it, in turn, gives you a sense of fulfillment. There is only so much psychotherapists can do; in the end you need to lift yourself up. Your God-given will determines your outcome.

We are a sum of many things. To make one thing everything can lead to a lot of heartache. If the pursuit of money or power or fame or pleasure, becomes the sole objective of your life; then you are bound to miss out on the many aspects of life that makes life wholesome – your spouse, your children, your friends, your hobbies, your health, your spiritual quotient, your emotional well being and so on.

It is never the end. That’s a false perception. Suicide Lifeline has helped hundreds of people so far and each day they receive several calls. If you feel like it’s the end, or even if you are just feeling down, call the helpline on 0824-2983444. Suicide Lifeline is based in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.

You may be going through a crushing moment, but you don’t have to walk it alone. It always helps to speak to someone. But, for any reason you don’t want to share it with someone you know, call Suicide Lifeline. There is always an eager volunteer who is willing to walk with you. Every word that you say remains confidential and so does your identity.

It does not matter which part of the world you are in. If a volunteer at Suicide Lifeline does not speak your language, he/she will find someone who does. If you need ongoing counseling, they will direct you accordingly. If you cannot afford a counselor, they will try to find someone who does it out of charity. Trust me when I say this: one call is all it takes. All you risk by calling Suicide Lifeline is potentially a reason to live. Now that’s a risk worth taking!

Life is a better option – with all its ups and downs. These experiences shape our lives. If you have never had a bad day in your entire life, your life can be summed up as boring. You will never ever be able to enjoy your good days because you have nothing to compare them with. A person who has never experienced a headache will never know what a blessing it is to not have one! It’s just the way it is!

Life is worth living and a life is worth saving. You are worth something to someone; that’s why you were created. Don’t let your emotions fool you into thinking that you are not worth anything. There is tremendous potential in every human being; and history is replete with great and wonderful stories. Look at the blind who have made it in life; the people without hands and legs who have made it. If they can, so can you.

Brush off those false perceptions and wake up to reality. If you can’t do it alone, seek help because we are not omnipotent beings. There is no shame in it.

If a seed can sprout and grow into a giant sequoia; then what must be our worth! After all we are made in God’s image; we are His crown creation.

May God bless us all.

Oliver Sutari Archives:

By Oliver Sutari
~ Spiritual Counsellor
~ Motivational Speaker
~ Freelance Writer
~ Governing Council Member, St Mary’s College, Shirva, Karnataka
~ Counsellor, Prison Ministry India

Email: oliversutari@gmail.com
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Comment on this article

  • Sonal, Bangalore

    Fri, Sep 20 2019

    Very thought provoking article . Indeed no one is worthless, each one is uniquely blessed and gifted by God. Gods plan for man are best when we bow to him in humility he will exalt us. Thank you for such a beautiful piece of writing sir.

  • Francis X V Passanha, Manipal.

    Wed, Sep 18 2019

    A well thought of article. Indeed human beings are a bundle of emotions. Understanding our emotions is the essence of living. Control over our emotions defines how we encounter the challenges of life. Understanding our emotions and channeling and leveraging them can define our moments of success and failure. Giving in to our emotions, we risk forfeiting the pleasure of enjoying our life. Our
    Creator, created us to enjoy our life in its fullness, with its ups and down. It is the downs which makes life worth living. The down gives new dimension to life and reinforces the strength to meet the challenges of life. A well researched article, and thought provoking to the ones who feel hopeless in life.
    Oliver, with this article you have given a boost to the unfortunates brethren with suicidal thoughts, and made them look at life with a new perceptive, which they are blind to. Certainly life is worth a call. Regards

  • H. A Dsouza, Damoh

    Thu, Sep 12 2019

    JESUS said Iam the way truth and Life.
    A good article encourage people to Shun evil thoughts

  • Philo Ferns, canada

    Tue, Sep 10 2019

    Brilliant article.. There is need for a movement to properly teach/counsel especially for children at an young age in matters of self-esteem, confidence, courage etc. Women can be a great part of this movement. Catholicwomenworldwide.com share your views and can be a part of this movement . We welcome writers to use this platform to write on subjects that are very important to children and families .
    If different resources are made available, like religious institutions/associations besides suicide helplines ,it would go a long way in prevention. It has reached an epidemic proportion and need to confront from all angles
    William

  • Mohan Prabhu, Mangalore (Kankanady)/Ottawa, Canada

    Tue, Sep 10 2019

    A very thoughtful article especially one hears of suicides for flimsy reasons such as failure in exams or failure in love (which is a bit more sserious), but there are cases where marriages breakdown because neither spouse wants to give in or compromise. Especially when this happens in old age. One of the spouses may feel he or she has lived long enough and does not want to continue - after all what does another two or three years matter, they feel; sooner or later everyone has to go.

  • Dan M, Dubai / Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 10 2019

    One can contact as guided above or the life line.

    It is also worthwhile to have in mind what are the additional causes and options available.

    Holy Bible says in John 10:10 - The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness.


    Who is the thief or Satan - One's own thoughts of lust, pride, hatred, anger, envy, stubbornness, jealousy... One use or act on them for temporary satisfaction or gain and then looses peace, falls into depression, hopelessness, in anxieties and sometimes acts further to destroy self or others. Instead of leaving the situation in God's hand, saying or thinking, Thy will be done in most of the cases one does his own will and falls into trouble.

    How to overcome,

    Temptations come naturally but self control in thoughts, acts deeds very much required.

    Regarding,

    Freedom Vs Slavery (heaven and hell) in the eyes of God


    Love, joy, peace, self-control, patience, gentleness, kindness, humility, godliness, holiness, charity, justice, mercy, heaven, freedom... comes from God.

    Lust, pride, anger, envy, hatred, jealousy, selfishness, greed, gluttony, addictions, attachments, Terror, destroying good, injustice, harassment, hell, slavery... comes from evil.

    Also,

    Faith, hope, trust and unity for good... comes from God.

    Fear, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, lack of trust, disunity... comes from evil.

    It is that simple for every man and woman to choose either heaven or hell.

    To overcome any evil or negativity,

    One need to self check their thoughts and correct oneself.

    Or simply continuously love the thoughts as and when they come to surrender those negative thoughts to God, as God is Love, to gradually overcome them. All four mysteries Rosary available online is a powerful remedy specially against hopelessness, depression and anxieties to be prayed from the heart, also Quality retreat centers such as Divine retreat center Potta are available.

  • Prakash, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 10 2019

    Some depressed people are very hard nuts to crack !!
    Even amongst their family and friends they behave and appear normal. For such people secret helpline with anonymity could be very helpful.

  • ABDUL AZIZ, INDIA

    Tue, Sep 10 2019

    Its good topic to make people around the globe to understand the importance of life , we live only one time in this world , and later its iternal abode . I am being muslim thought by Allah Almighty through our beloved prophet Muhammed peace be upon him, in holy Quran, the Quran is for whole mankind to read and undertand the meaning, its not only for Muslims, in enough if someone read and understand will avoid all suicide mentality sure, and people will not take extreme step of commiting suicide


Leave a Comment

Title: Life is Worth a Call



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.