There are times we find ourselves shaken by a situation. We may have heard of, or seen others go through a similar situation, and yet we sometimes find ourselves vulnerable and shaken when we ourselves go through the same. When things are going well, we feel we will be able to handle ourselves, only to get surprised when we can’t. It would serve us well to take a step back and reflect on why we sometimes get shaken.
Someone may say something about us that we may not have expected, or even accepted about ourselves. Rather than reflecting if there is any merit in what was said, and giving a perspective to the situation, we get hurt, angry, and upset. Ego is like glass, even a small stone can shatter it. We get shaken by a fragile ego.
At heart, we long for peace and joy. We ourselves try and live a good life, being mindful of not harming others, in fact, we try and do things for others. But we forget not everyone may come from the same paradigm. We expect the world to be as good as we are, and when faced with negativity, aggression, and bad faith we get shaken.
We carry a deep need to be loved and appreciated. This often breeds a sub-conscious expectation in us from people for whom we do so much. When they tell us that we don’t do enough, rather than understanding what they are trying to say, we feel hurt and angry. We get shaken when our expectations are not met.
We know that life is uncertain and unpredictable, and yet we find ourselves overcome by situations. Our fear quickly surfaces, eclipsing our faith and knowledge that our ability to solve a problem is always bigger than the problem. When we react to an adverse situation rather than creating the space to draw on our strength and respond, we get shaken.
We live with unmanifest desires and tendencies. In the face of temptation, we forget our resolve and give in. We forget the cardinal rule that we cannot stop being mindful. Even the best batsman loses his wicket when he gets carried away and takes his eye off the ball. When we drop our awareness, we get shaken.
Things don’t always go the way we want. In spite of putting in our best, we sometimes find the going is hard, and in fact, see others moving ahead with relative ease. Life often throws stones in our placid life, causing ripples. It is not the ripples, but our insistence that everything should be as we desire, that agitates us. Non-acceptance shakes us.
Every tree knows that it has to face strong winds and storms. They may sway, but trees that have a strong foundation don’t get uprooted. When we realise what shakes us, we don’t need to try and control the storms that will come into our life. We need to just root ourselves within to become unshakeable.
(Picture-Canadian Rockies)
Very theoeritical explanation and fancy phrases. Practical situations differ and not only hurts but one is compelled to continue life with fear of such reoccurances. Solution are easily said than implemented.