What is Good? What is Bad? (Part II : Situations)

Last week's post started a discussion on what is good and bad relating to objects and people.

This week's post is a narration of What it is we categorise as Good or Bad in relation to situations?

Thumb Rule #2: ‘Everything is good or bad depending on the situations I am faced with now in comparison to situations faced in the past.’

Here is a short story to explain the 2nd Thumb Rule mentioned above:

Once a King traveled in a ship with a minister, few soldiers & civilians. In the middle of the ocean the ship was rocked by a storm. One of the soldiers started crying vehemently. He did not know how to swim & was very scared that he would drown.

The worried King called on his minister & said ‘It is the duty of every soldier to protect civilians. If a soldier cries in fear, this will spread panic amongst others on board. Do something to quieten this soldier”.

The minister called on 2 other soldiers & asked them to throw the crying soldier into the ocean. On being thrown into the splashing waves, the soldier started screaming even more. 

After a couple of minutes the minister asked his soldiers to bring up the crying soldier on the ship again.

On coming back into the safety of the boat, the crying soldier became absolutely quiet & sat in a corner like a mouse.

The King watched in amazement at the happenings & the resultant quiet. He called the minister & asked ‘Why is the soldier so quiet now?” The minister replied ‘Your Lordship, sitting on the safe deck of our ship, he is quiet because he knows, we can change his situation for the worst”.

This is how we respond to our current situations: Our responses depend on the situations faced with in the immediate past.

When we complain, God throws us into an ocean of deeper problems and then we complain more. God then brings us back to our original challenging situation & we suddenly become grateful for where we stand, because now we know ‘It can become much worse than this’!

Message for the week:

When the mind is comparing current situations to what was or what could have been, then there is compliant and non-acceptance for the way situations are presently.

When we bring ourselves to be grateful for all things we have, this takes our attention towards positivity, helps make constructive decisions and improves the quality of our lives. There is nothing wrong in wanting to improve a current situation; However, acceptance for the current situation(whether it is good or bad) ensures that we donot remain stuck in the same place and makes it easier for us to move on. 

If you are in an (supposedly) bad situation, know it can and will change.
If you are in a good situation, know it can get even better. Know you deserve the best.

This week:
Every night before going to sleep: Make a list of 5 things you are grateful for, count all the positive things you have now. 

Watch out this space next week for Thumb Rule #3 : What is Good? What is Bad?