Tough times can bring out the best in us. We tap into our resilience and determination, doing the best we can to overcome adverse situations. Sometimes situations take longer than we expect, testing our patience and faith. Looking back, we feel we have grown and developed having gone through challenges. But there is another test we need to be mindful of – how we manage ourselves in good times.
Looking back, we realise that many mistakes we made were when we let our guard down. Prosperity can be a double-edged sword we need to handle with utmost care.
When things are going well for us, we can get overconfident. The streak of success can give us a false sense that nothing can go wrong from here, risking us become reckless. Reminding ourselves that life is cyclical and nothing remains the same forever can keep us grounded and focussed.
In prosperity, we run the risk of focussing so much on our enjoyment that we tend to let go of the very things that brought us to where we are. Hard work, focus, and determination can easily give way to indiscipline and indulgence. But like a good sportsman, we need to remind ourselves that the greater our achievements, the greater the importance of consistent self-application.
There are several who have contributed to our success. As we move on in life building new connections, which we must, we risk forgetting old relationships. The depth of our relationships should never be dependent on the heights of our success. Building bonds of love keeps us connected.
Our ego can get easily fuelled when things are going our way. A sense of superiority, being better than others and sometimes even shades of arrogance and disrespect can overcome us. We risk becoming dismissive, living in a false sense of self-importance. Our daily practice of giving gratitude and the humility that we have much to learn from others can keep us grounded. Constant awareness of our inner world can protect us from getting carried away in the outer world.
Life tests us in strange ways. Sometimes taking away from us and sometimes giving us much. Tough times build our character. And prosperity truly tests us.
(Picture-Off the island of Koh Chang)
Lovely reflective article in keeping us grounded.
Love the sportsman metaphor – greater the achievement, greater the need for consistent self-application, off setting the risk of never getting carried away in the illusion of infallibility. 🙏 Vivek, Thank You.
Thank you
Being grounded and humble are the best gifts one can teach your kids.
The rest will follow
Sometimes at the height of our success, when the curve is moving upwards, it’s good also to ask, “what next.” It helps to detach and visualize how ‘it looks like without me.’ Also others like to move in when things are going well. Why not let them!
Generally I tend to look at what next when the curve is dipping down! But there have been times when I stepped out at the peak, and when I look back, it’s the best thing I did. It opened new doors for me and for others.
Om Shanti!
Very well put Mohan, thanks for sharing!