Sadness creeps up on us from time to time. It’s a feeling of a bit of emptiness within for what has happened. And we feel it even when it hasn’t happened to us. It’s our deeper connection with the world.
It could be a brilliant young actor who ends his life. People displaced and jobless. Undernourished children. Destruction of the environment. Elderly people without help at home. A beautiful city losing its charm falling prey to faulty development. Or a loved one going through hardship and pain.
Sadness comes from our compassion. If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t be sad.
It comes from a humanness in us. If we were egoistic and competitive, we would be indifferent and even rejoice in somebody else’s misery, not feel their pain.
It comes from love. To see something we hold dear and cherish, going through difficulties.
It comes from our sense of justice. Our deep desire to see fairness.
And when we realise that our sadness is triggered by something positive and powerful in us, it helps us turn our sadness to empathy. And our empathy to a purpose. And the purpose to a passion to do something about the situation.
Like an educator who saw the plight of community children, adopted seven government schools, trained over five hundred women in the community to becoming world class teachers and has built a model of excellence in education. Or the engineer, moved by the fact that children had been deprived their right to play, went on to set up over four hundred play centres, returning joy, development and right to play to over fifty thousand children every day. Or the nun who cared for the destitute and dying in the slums, turning her concern into Saintly actions.
Sadness moves us. But let it also move the power in us to make a difference. Let our sadness not be the cause for sorrow, but a trigger for change. And when we feel sad, let us remind ourselves, there’s someone out there who we need to reach out to, and fill their life with happiness
I totally endorse this last statement “let sadness not be a cause for sorrow but a trigger for change” this if only everyone realised the diff .Taking action is the best antidote to any pain
Very well put, and you yourself have been an example to others, with your tireless efforts of bringing about change.
As usual a superb reflection Vivek!
Especially pointing out that sadness comes out of compassion and humaneness in us!
Would be obliged if you could share your thoughts on sadness which arises out of broken relationships in families and between friends.
This helps us see that sadness is not something to run away from but to see it comes from your care and compassion. It is up to you to act. Often, when the issues that make you sad are far too big to address and you feel too small for the task, you feel like giving up. Then, you lapse into becoming sad and negative person. Instead if you take even a baby step to bring about a change, you will find the the ocean of helplessnesss disappear and you get a surge of energy.
Very well put Ravi. A positive step is like a ray of light which is powerful enough to dispel darkness, no matter how deep the darkness be.
So well said Vivek🙏
A great new perspective for me in today’s blog. While I immediately see now that the source of sadness is care and compassion- if it’s for others, I tend to become more angry, agitated and judgemental; but sadness is felt most acutely when I feel sorry for myself due to what others or events have inflicted on me. This too is out of caring for oneself. The antidote for that is the same – what positive action can I take with respect to the cause. The energy lost and negativity in sadness transforms into meaningful action and positivity.
Thanks for the perspective Sunilbhai – anger is also a form of care for oneself. Very well articulated.
Well expressed!
My sadness has always propelled me forward, to new beginnings!
Wonderfully expressed
True Sunil hi. Often I’ve got angry and scolded, especially family members for something ‘stupid’ they have done and hurt themselves. I suppose even that comes from a space of love. Otherwise we would be indifferent. That’s just when we we need to cultivate expression of compassion from the same space of love. And, I don’t think loving oneself (not self-love) is wrong. If you are compassionate to yourself and also unselfish, you feel for the others as well.
Superb as usual.
Sadness also makes you reach out to people like a soothing balm.
Sadness makes people poets & artists. Each one has their own way of expression.