A recent article in the New Straits Times (April 6, 2011) makes interesting reading. It was written in plain English and lived up to the title ‘How to live a simple and peaceful life’. It pains me to see how people in middle class and upper income bracket travel miles and spend enormous effort, time and money seeking the ‘truth’ and yearning to live in peace through soothsayers and instructional leaders. As the teachers part with their wisdom, the followers must find solace and the solution to what they were yearning for. Do all attain what they set out for?
The belief system and value added interactions have benefited numerous followers, many who have imbibed that learnt during the interactions with sages and coaches, while many more continue to seek the ‘SOURCE’.
It is undeniable that among us there are many who need a ‘guru’ or a teacher. Socrates was a great teacher who instilled in his followers to enquire and question the facts of the ‘matter’. Socratic thinking is now advocated as a powerful means of nourishing the inquiring mind. Gautama Buddha left the comforts of palace life to enter years of learning about life far from that of the material world. He achieved Nirwana, the ultimate of but few!
In order to closely follow these great teachers is an arduous task in the present day. Getting detached from family and work is near impossible. The tasks ahead and the duties of the husband, son and daughter are enormous. Perhaps one could allocate a few hours for self improvement and instructional classes. Under these circumstances, the article above rang a bell. Hey, here is a compromise!
Try to make life as simple as possible! Imagine that one cannot complete all the tasks within a specified time without getting stressed. The boss won’t know about that, he just wants them done! So the advice is prioritizing and performing those that are relevant. Have a discussion with people at work or family members, depending on the list of tasks; if all the assigned jobs have to be done? Could the list of tasks be short listed? One will be surprised how little is missed when one drops 2 out of the original 6 tasks!
The day should be begin ‘yesterday’. Otherwise planning is not possible. When the day’s work is done, pondering over what needs to be done the next day allows for space and valuable time for you to reflect and review. Reviewing the list of tasks would permit cutting down redundancy.
Currently public hospitals in Malaysia have a surplus of house-doctors. If one was to audit what they do, one would be able to appreciate the amount of redundant documentation with little benefit to the care of the patient. In other institutes where there is a lack of delegation of work, the ‘mandor’ concept prevails. I continue to see this in commercial banks where there is a delay as some processes require a supervisor to go through the request. If we do less by reviewing the processes, more quality time is created.
Tasks and the job we are at need to be ‘savoured’ and enjoyed. If one gets up in the morning, moaning that he has to go to work, the going will be tough and trying. A positive attitude and being proud of the job are assets for good living. After graduating from medical school, nothing is enjoyable than to show one’s prowess at healing the sick. That is the job of a doctor or a nurse. That is what medical graduates worked for. So by accepting this unique responsibility and performing the tasks required of you, less stress is experienced. One would find joy in the encounters and the ‘lark’ within you will leap in excitement and good health.
Learning and re-learning the processes of the day contributes to making life simple and enjoyable. Being happy at what one is doing is likened to the endorphins released in the body by the obsessive road runner-it can be invigorating and addictive! Love yourself by loving what you do.
The ‘SOURCE’ one looks for can be in the very place where you are, whether it be at work or at home. Re-look at what is already there, at yourself and what you do!
SLingam
7th April, 2011
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