THE VIRUS IS MUTATING, BUT SO CAN WE

We have been hearing news about the mutant strains of the novel corona virus… things like: “As the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has swept across the world, killing more than 1.5 million people over the past year, it has mutated into different major groups, or strains, as it adapted to its human hosts.” – From the Economic Times, Dec 10, 2020¹

This one is just an example, but there have been many such reports since the last several months, in medical journals, our regular newspapers and also across social media.

So I have a question…CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS VIRUS???

The virus is ADAPTING… so why can’t we???

It is teaching us that Mutating and Adapting is what makes it survive longer… so let’s use that very analogy in this New Normal, to not just survive, but thrive!!!

According to science, “If a mutation has a positive effect on the fitness of the offspring, it is called an adaptation. Thus, all mutations that affect the fitness of future generations are agents of evolution.” ²

We have been evolving as human beings from time immemorial, so this pandemic isn’t going to stop us from evolving further.

Let’s remember a stark truth: “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger!”
This quote is attributed to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who in 1888, first stated, “Out of life’s school of war—what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.” This accurately portrays the picture of resilience and affirmation for overcoming adversity.³

So, in simple words, we HAVE to keep adapting and adjusting to the situations around us.

A few questions we may have to answer are DO I WANT TO? HOW? WHEN? Keep reading…

Figuring out WHETHER YOU WANT TO is the first step:

Adapting is not easy, it takes tremendous effort. But what gives strength to that effort is WILL. Where there’s a will, there’s a way; however narrow that way, but it’s still a way. So you’ll have to decide whether you WANT to adjust. There are people who complain and crib about the difficulties in their life, but sometimes when offered help to get better, they come up with dozens of excuses. In such cases, it’s evident that they don’t really want to change, but the complaining and cribbing possibly fulfils their need for attention.
So if you truly WANT to move ahead, adapt, change and make things better, that brings us to the next question…How…

Understanding the HOW:

This is the next main question that can actually solve all our problems.
One way to begin, is by connecting with people who have been through what you’re going through. Support groups are a major assistance with HOW to adapt, step by step. But this is only possible if you actually communicate your issues, not stay silent. Talk to people you trust, or read about the success stories of others, if you are not sure who to trust. There are scores of written material, songs, prayers, videos and therapists too who can help you in your specific situation.
But remember, one person’s formula may not work for you. You’ll have to do a bit of trial till you come to a solution that suits you perfectly. No one can really tell you HOW to adjust and adapt in YOUR situation. Each person has to decide for himself or herself, HOW to do so, as each one’s reality is personal and unique… It takes persistence, so DON’T give up easily, try another way… and another… and another, till you succeed.

Figuring out the WHEN:

Whether you choose to change or adjust right at the beginning when things just begin to become noticeably tougher, or whether you wait till later when things have worsened, all again depend on your unique situation. But it’s better not to put off till TOMORROW something that can be done TODAY. Remember, if we keep postponing tasks, tomorrow never comes… and suddenly you realize it’s too late. Then regret brings it’s own set of problems.

During this last year, ever since the pandemic began, there have been those of us who have experienced horrifying illnesses, lost jobs, lost family members and friends, been reduced to poverty, been abused, and this dismal list goes on…

But there are also those of us who have thrived, built new businesses or linkages, developed new relationships, flourished using their new found talents, made time to do things they loved, and that list of achievements goes on too.

And I have personal examples of close friends, family… and myself too, who have been through BOTH the above lists… meaning, those of us who have had dismal experiences, but CHOSE NOT to let that bring us down. These persons chose to overcome whatever difficulties, by taking some path or the other, to overcome those issues…and tried their best to COPE.

They have ADAPTED. You can too…

Sometimes, it may mean starting out on a whole new career, connecting with new people, shifting residence, maybe even a shift to a simpler lifestyle, or moving on after a period of grief.

But however hard some things may feel currently, it’s important to remember that they’re just a phase of life… tough times never last, tough people do.

So choose to change, in whatever way possible to help yourself… it could be eat better, think positively, follow safety protocols, try a new career or whatever it takes to get you on the road to success.

And remember what I said at the beginning… If the virus can adapt, so can WE

Do leave your comments in the box below, especially if you’ve found this helpful and have identified ways of coping that have helped you, and that others could benefit from.

Also read my other related articles…

STAYING POSITIVE DURING A LOCKDOWN https://rhondachologist.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/staying-positive-during-a-lockdown/
O2: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES https://rhondachologist.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/o2-overcoming-obstacles/
DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND YOU’LL LOVE WHAT YOU DO https://rhondachologist.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/do-what-you-love-and-youll-love-what-you-do/

References:

STAYING POSITIVE DURING A LOCKDOWN

The COVID-19 situation has brought in a new set of experiences. One major life change for most of us is staying home. Some still managed initially, but then further extensions of the lockdown, have played havoc in some families.

Each home and family is different and there is no single formula that will work to keep us happy. But ONE thing that is commonly usable is the power to think positively.

All of us have this power to think positively.

But you’ll say, “Why are SOME people still so negative then, if ALL have the power?”

The difference is that some CHOOSE to exercise this power and some don’t. It’s as simple as that!!!

In everything in life we have a choice, irrespective of the position we are in. We have a choice to listen to someone or not; we have a choice to read this article or not; we have a choice to search for some benefit even from a hard-earned life’s lesson, however bad it may seem currently.

And mind you, this is NOT as difficult as some may feel. It is a pretty simple rule:

Whatever happens, ask yourself a simple question “What’s something that I can learn through this?” or “How can this be good for me / my family?” or any such similar question… and most importantly, after asking, SEARCH for the ANSWER.

You see, no one can GIVE you this answer… it has to be found by YOU, only then will you believe it, and only then, will it make you feel good.

Similarly, you can’t find the positives for your family members too, you can only guide them toward thinking positively, as I’m guiding you now.

You may have experienced someone telling you that something is good for you, and if you didn’t feel it for yourself, your response to them would be just “Yeah, right” with a smirk… that was because it was their perception, not yours.

What I’m trying to say here is, for positive thinking to have a good effect on you, you have to OWN IT. It HAS to be YOUR own thoughts or it won’t make you feel good.

There was a time several years ago, that my purse got stolen while I was shopping, it hassled me a lot until I managed to get home. Then when I realized there was nothing that I could do about it, and it wasn’t coming back to me, I just chose to change my thoughts… I started saying “Maybe the thief needed the money more than I did”… and gradually I began to feel it was alright.

You see, we may have NO CONTROL over some things that happen to us… but we HAVE CONTROL of our thoughts.
We can choose to put a little effort and turn bad thoughts into good thoughts.

Let me explain it in another simple way:
Even if you don’t wear specs, you can still imagine this…. a small exercise…
Imagine you’re looking through dark glasses… what’s the result? Everything looks dark.

Now imagine you’re looking thru blue glasses… what’s the result? Everything looks bluish. You’ll probably feel you’re surrounded by Smurfs and if you look in the mirror, you’re one too. 😊

Now imagine you’re looking thru pink glasses… what’s the result? Everything looks pinkish.

THIS is where you get the proverb “Looking through Rose – Coloured glasses”, as everything seems nice and rosy.

You’ve surely got the drift by now…
Look through “Positive Lenses”.
We can choose to wear the bright positive lenses rather than the dark negative lenses when looking at things that we go through, thereby actually SEEING the good.

We can use some examples from our everyday lives…
Instead of saying “I’m stuck at home” try saying “I’m safe as I have a home”.
Instead of saying “I’m so bored at home, got nothing to do” try saying “I’ve got this time to do things I’ve never had the time to do before”.
Instead of saying “Working from home is so time consuming, I’m working the whole day now” try saying “I’m safe indoors as I don’t have to commute to work daily” and also “I’m grateful that I’m employed”.

Try a few more right now as a small exercise… things you’ve been saying lately that brought you down… and try modifying them positively.

The main effect of this whole new way of thinking is that you’ll be a happier person… and this tends to have a domino effect on people around you. Even after this Lockdown, when you go back to your regular schedules, this habit of thinking positively will bring in joys a hundredfold.

Finally, if you’re a beginner at this and if you’re just beginning to actually focus on the positive, initially this may seem artificial or kind of fake, but believe me, if you start doing it regularly (it will initially need a bit of effort), it will gradually become a HABIT.

IGNORE those who make fun of you initially… gradually they’ll see the happy person you’ve become and will follow in your footsteps (even though they may not admit it)😊

Reading more on this topic may help you. The internet has loads of ideas to boost positive thinking.

(See another of my posts that may help you pass your time effectively during this time: “DO WHAT YOU LOVE and YOU’LL LOVE WHAT YOU DO“ at https://rhondachologist.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/do-what-you-love-and-youll-love-what-you-do/ ).

Image Courtesy: Photo by Binti Malu on Pexels.com

O2: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Rhondachologist O2 Pic

“Just as O₂ (Oxygen) is essential to Exist…

Another O₂ (OVERCOMING OBSTACLES) is essential to live life to the fullest!”

We often hear the saying “Life is not a bed of roses”, but we do get a chance to make our own on bed that we lie on. How we do that is the key question and the answer is actually very simple… it lies in our positivity.

There are those who still have a smile on their face in spite of tremendous difficulties they are facing; and there are still others, who give up in the face of even minor complications. The best way to help the latter, is to introduce them to individuals from different walks of life, who have encountered markedly different hurdles and experiences in their lives, but have overcome them and made a success of themselves against all odds. Hence my expression in the beginning of this article –

“Just as O₂(Oxygen) is essential to Exist; another O₂ (OVERCOMING OBSTACLES) is essential to live life to the fullest!”

As a college lecturer, I have the opportunity and the privilege of bringing to reality such possibilities… and I grab such opportunities (of course, thanks to my Principals, past and present, as well as my team of colleagues, who trust my instincts and support these endeavours). So several years ago, on 21^st September 2011 and then once again recently, on 7^th March 2020, I had invited to my college, individuals who have not just survived major hurdles in life but have come out triumphant and are today living not just normal, but positively progressive lives. I asked them to tell us their life stories… their honest, open stories of pain, rejection, failure, of pushing through and finally achieving success. They were:

A young woman who was disfigured when acid was flung on her when she was just in her early 20’s. Burnt beyond recognition and 16 reconstructive surgeries later, we considered her the model of ‘Inner Beauty’ as she now worked untiringly for those rejected by society, just because they look different!
A young college student who had overcome ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when barely out of Class 10. When she should have been out enjoying college life, she was in and out of the hospital with chemotherapy as her constant companion to fight the 5 kg tumour that invaded her ovary. And she was just in Class 12, when she had battled it and emerged victorious!
A young woman who was born without legs and walks with artificial limbs having bendable knee joints to help her be more mobile and independent. She shared that as a child, she had often wondered whether she’d live a normal life. “Normal” in her dictionary meant “falling in love, getting married and having a kid”! She spoke very honestly about being rejected by eligible bachelors who met her personally after talking on phone or online. But after meeting her and realizing her physical situation, they politely preferred “just being friends”. In spite of numerous difficulties, she has accomplished ALL she ever set her mind to! She’s is now married, has a son and works in a Bank, a job procured by her own merit, not through the handicapped quota. In fact she brought her husband along too, who shared his experience and perspectives.
A woman who was the victim of a major train accident. She fell out of an over-crowded train one morning during the peak hours, but held on for her life. She was then dragged by the running train for some distance before the train was made to stop. The right half of her body was terribly mutilated; but after multiple surgeries and grafting, she resumed her job as an advocate… and again travels by train! She is Government Certified as 64% disabled. Her sense of humour intact, she had positively quipped, “Oh, I can now travel in the special handicapped compartment, not like you all in the crowded compartment!”
A young woman who has married a man with Hearing and Speech Impairment. They communicate through Sign Language and they have a child with Cerebral Palsy. No disability, but rather, all different abilities were so beautifully expressed here. Her husband also, through Sign Language, shared his perspectives that she interpreted for us.
An entrepreneur in the garment industry who has managed to build her business from the scratch. She’s a Muslim who has married a Christian and that in itself presented several hurdles that she has overcome successfully.

This session was meant to motivate young people today, to persevere in spite of various obstacles that they may encounter. The students and staff of the college were extremely bowled over by all the speakers. They didn’t seem to want to leave after the session and crowded around each speaker to learn and absorb more, as the speakers spoke honestly and openly. They touched the hearts of the audience with their stories of perseverance in spite of numerous hurdles, both physically and emotionally.

Yes, both these sessions were a resounding success, but why have I now decided to write about them? Because of the valuable take-home message! We often look at people who have overcome such life-wrenching experiences in awe, simultaneously thinking “I’d never have been able to overcome that”. But THAT is where we are wrong… and we may sometimes need help in changing our thinking.

If or when we are ACTUALLY IN such situations, WE TOO may be able to overcome them like these have done. We just have to “think’ and “believe” that we can. That’s the first step.

What we THINK has an impact on how we FEEL and that has an impact on what we consequently DO or DON’T do. For instance if I observe a physically handicapped person dancing gracefully and effortlessly, and if my first thought is “Wow, that’s amazing… even having all my limbs I can’t dance that well”, then THAT thought gives me a feeling of inadequacy, and I may not even TRY to dance. What we may fail to understand is that the physically handicapped person is probably NOW dancing gracefully and effortlessly, but has reached such perfection after numerous failures, setbacks and maybe also rejection. But ONE thing that person had, was the WILL to believe that if I keep trying hard enough, I WILL achieve it.

In a way then, the life stories of individuals who have encountered markedly different hurdles and experiences in their lives, but have overcome them and made a success of themselves against all odds (as stated in the beginning of this article), helps us, as we can then identify with their pain, suffering and initial failures. Now we start thinking, “Let me try once more….” This new THOUGHT makes us FEEL energized, and therefore motivated to try and we now DO what we need to do, to succeed. This formula works for the most simple of tasks like “Putting off the Snooze Button and getting out of bed in the morning” to a major one like “Winning the Olympics”. 😊

Thought ⇒ Feeling(Emotion) ⇒ Behaviour

So based on this formula, if we want to specifically do something that we initially consider impossible, we have to now work at changing our THOUGHTS to more positive, motivating and success-focused thoughts. This is actually easier said than done, and requires effort, will power and a strong belief in oneself. For some of us, spirituality also works tremendously, at this time.

At this point I’ll also mention that you may get “advice” or even “discouraging comments” from maybe “well-meaning” people around you, which you have to choose to either take or politely ignore. There is no formula for THIS, as it depends on your relationship with each of these persons. So you have to DISCERN through experience, what to use and what to “chuck out of the window”.

If you now focus on your positive thoughts, you’ll FEEL an aura of happiness, hope, positivity or encouragement surging through your veins. This is the moment you have to ACT. When you now move ahead with a feeling of confidence, you can overcome any obstacle in your path, either gradually or immediately and achieve what you’ve set out to do.

Theoretically, all this I’m referring to, has its basis in the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in 1955, or Cognitive- Behavior Therapy (CBT), pioneered by Dr. Aaron Beck in the 1960’s, and also in concepts like Positive Psychology, Positive Self-Talk, Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Optimism, etc.

(You’ll also find a mention of these concepts in one of my earlier articles: “LABELS STICK; PEEL THEM OFF“)

In summary, when we are faced with either minor or major setbacks in everyday life, we can choose to move ahead and overcome them, and then later look back with a sense of achievement and say “I did it”. And when we DO, it’s time, not to just bask in that glory, but to then “Tell our Story” so that others can now feel motivated too. That’s how we can do our little bit in making this world a better place to live in.

Acknowledgements:

I have a heart full of gratitude for the persons I have mention in my article above (in alphabetical order) Abigail, Francisca, Jeanelle, Kinjal, Shahista and others; as well as each of their families. They have honestly and courageously shared their life stories to help others. Stay Blessed my dear friends, you are Motivational Speakers now. 😊

LETTING GO: Parenting Teens and Young Adults

Remember the well-loved musical film Sound of Music, and one of the classic songs in it… “16 going on 17…”?

Let’s go through the lyrics of that song, for a moment…

[Verse 1: Rolf, the boy]
You wait little girl on an empty stage
For fate to turn the light on
Your life little girl is an empty page
That men will want to write on (…to write on…)
You are sixteen going on seventeen
Baby, it’s time to think
Better beware be canny and careful
Baby, you’re on the brink
You are sixteen going on seventeen
Fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and roues and cads
Will offer you food and wine
Totally unprepared are you
To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you
Of things beyond your ken
You need someone older and wiser
Telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen
I’ll take care of you

[Verse 2: Liesl, the girl]
I am sixteen going on seventeen
I know that I’m naïve
Fellows I meet may tell me I’m sweet
And willingly I believe
I am sixteen going on seventeen
Innocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies
What do I know of those?
Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things beyond my ken
I need someone older and wiser
Telling me what to do
You are seventeen going on eighteen
I’ll, depend, on you!

If you are the parent of a teenager, and you quietly ponder on those words, you’ll find a message in them.

A 16 year old girl is admitting to her 17 year old boyfriend, that she’s naive, innocent, and likely to get carried away by flattery, and more so, she’s clearly indicating to him, her NEED for someone to protect her through this time: “I need someone older and wiser, telling me what to do…I’ll depend on you.”

Now a parent will be thinking: “THAT is exactly what WE are here for, the PARENTS – the older, wiser adults, ready to look after and advise the youngsters who depend on us… and when I am around, WHY does she NOT admit this need to me… and why does she want it from a boy barely a year older???” or “She’s still my little girl…what does she know of this big bad world???”

The 17 year old boy confidently states:

“You need someone older and wiser
Telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen
I’ll take care of you”.

Now HIS parents may not think he’s ready for such responsibility… and probably admonish him to focus on his studies or career or whatever else will make him a responsible adult.

But have you ever realised that even though that song was part of Tinseltown, those words have loads of truth in them… as in, when given responsibility and no one else but themselves to handle it, youth develop skills and endurance to fulfil life’s demands. But WE have to believe in them for that!!!

Somehow our “once-little” children, now seem to need peers and mentors rather than parents for advice. It is definitely a hard-to-digest fact especially for parents who not so long ago, were loved unconditionally by these admiring off-spring.

Let’s not however get carried away by age here… each youngster is different. Some may show emotional maturity at 14 or 15, while others may seem childish even at 21. So some definitely need more monitoring from parents than others, and here is where your parental instincts come in… listen to that inner voice that tells you what’s good for YOUR child, irrespective of their age.

Now with THAT caution clearly stated, it is the need to be “independent from parents” that is the focus here. In fact THIS dependence or independence does not suddenly pop up in adolescence, but rather is nurtured by different parenting styles.

There are parents who have encouraged independence even in their preschooler, while some may have unwittingly developed dependence by doing even “simple tasks” for their children, believing that they were supporting or helping.

The “letting go” can begin early in life, by allowing our children:

to make simple choices or decisions (within reasonable boundaries);
to bear the consequences of their wrong decisions;
to go through difficult times (like strict teachers, unreasonable rules, failure in exams and competitions) without running to protect them, thereby helping them to build endurance and resilience.

All these above and more, are skills that a good parent develops over the years, always maintaining a safe distance to facilitate independence but also constantly communicating that they are there, for guidance and support, IF need be.

Parents in this way benefit doubly:

1) By raising children who can be self-sufficient; as well as,

2) The parents have time to spend for themselves, thereby avoiding burn out.

These parents will have time to build their own careers, or tend to their OWN needs and those of their spouse, thereby also facilitating a happier marriage and finally a healthy family upbringing, as children are constantly WATCHING and LEARNING how marriage and family works.

Finally, as parents of teens and young adults, it’s important to stay non-judgemental… if you want them to keep communicating to you, even if what they are telling you shocks you (however fast your heart may be beating for your child inside that chest… DON’T show it on your face).

This is what makes teens and young adults prefer other mentors or their own peers… because their parents judge them, start labelling them, compare their OWN younger days, blame their friends and start giving advice… or sometimes, even ground them. So what’s the best way they avoid the lectures and punishment…? “Don’t tell the parents!!!”

You get the drift?

Remember, as they grow through the teen years towards adulthood, the longer you hold on to them, or try to control them, the greater will be the rebelliousness.

Actually, this Letting Go, is an age-old idea I’m discussing here, that has age-old proof in varying fields from nursery rhymes to physics…

The writer of the Little Bo-Peep rhyme, knew what he was saying when he rhymed:

“Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep. And doesn’t know where to find them.

Leave them alone and they will come home wagging their tails behind them.”

And Isaac Newton sure knew what he was saying when he stated his third law of motion, that “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”.

Of course, all this is much easier said than done, and I have made my own share of parenting mistakes that I’ve learnt from.

Three things become important at this juncture…. Three A’s:

Awareness of what constitutes Letting Go (whatever you have read above or additional material you may read)
Analysing what we are doing RIGHT and WRONG as parents…
Action which involves continuing what’s right, and changing what’s wrong !!!

As parents, you have to believe that through your words and actions, you have helped build their value system from childhood as they grew up. And if you feel what they are currently choosing is contradicting THOSE values, then gently encourage them to think about the consequences THEY themselves will have to face for their choices…and as difficult as it may be, LET THEM bear the consequences for their decisions even NOW… just as you did when they were younger. Believe me, it’s a tough learning experience, but who said life was easy… when the going gets tough, the tough get going!!!

Gradually, letting go then becomes not so difficult anymore… it’s just a stepping stone into adulthood for our children, and for us parents, it gives us time to do all those things we wanted to but didn’t have time for when we had children to look after.

Go ahead, enjoy and celebrate the different stages of parenting as they come! 😃

Acknowledgements: I’m tremendously grateful to my friends from different walks of life (in alphabetical order): Christabelle D’Souza, Jonathan Fernandes, Fr.Melroy, Merlyn Concessio, O’Neil, Payal Maheshwari, Priya (educators, fathers and mothers of young children, teens and young adults) some of who gave me ideas, and some, who initially read my article and shared their perceptions and insights, which I used to make this message more applicable.

References:

Images Courtesy:

THE AWARENESS OF INTUITION

Intuition

The inner voice, gut feeling, sixth sense, vibes, instinct, having a hunch or an inkling … it may be called by many names… but our intuition is an important natural “cautioner” or “warning” especially when interacting with some unknown person or situation.

Little children are encouraged to use this intuition, when we label it as discomfort while teaching them about the “Good Touch – Bad Touch”.

When women travel in crowded places, it helps them navigate where to stand and where not to.

When we’re making important choices and decisions too such intuition may emerge.

But here is where we have to be AWARE…

Is this “inner voice” ALWAYS the natural intuition? Actually I cannot give you an answer to THAT question… it is YOU yourself who is the best judge of THAT. I can only give you possibilities to think about.

This “inner voice” as we call it can be triggered by:

God speaking to us (based on our religious or spiritual beliefs).
Our own sense of right and wrong, meaning our moral conscience.
A memory of a past experience and the emotions related with that experience.
The shred of memory of a movie or video we had seen, that is embedded somewhere in our mind.
The vague memory of a dream we once had.
Instructions we have got from significant people in our lives…like parents, teachers, etc.
Many more possibilities…!!!

Now, what is MOST important to be AWARE of, is that each of the above are NOT always a separate entity, but very often “feeding” each other in such a way, that at some point it becomes difficult to isolate the effect one has had on the other.

For instance, a parent admonishing us for something may emerge in a dream and then affects the way we make decisions during that day.

Another example: I love eating chocolate and often crave it after a meal… then there’s a clash of thoughts:

“It’s not good for my health”

but…

“Don’t we believe that we naturally crave or desire what we nutritionally need?”

and then the conflict…

“Which of the above thoughts should my behavior follow?”

This is the point becoming aware of my thinking… I may then give in to my craving as I “intuitively” believe I love chocolate so much since my body needs it.😋

But someone else judging me at this stage would say I gave in to my greed.😉

Does this example put across the personal and subjective concept of this inner voice?

What I am trying to say is that we may often rationalize or find reasons for our behavior, and use our “intuition and instinct” to satisfy ourselves, either intellectually (e.g. in decision making), socially (e.g. in relationships), nutritionally (e.g. in our choice of foods) or even physiologically (e.g. in satisfying our basic needs like sleep or sex).

And the truth be known, actual intuition cannot provide a rationale or reason… it’s just “I don’t know WHY, but I feel this strongly…” Does this ring a bell?

So my whole point of this article is to bring to our AWARENESS , where our ideas are coming from, to spare us later regret, as often we realize too late, that our intuition was right all along, but we made wrong decisions based on our reasoning and intellectualization.

However, before I end, I’d like to make it clear that BOTH intuition and rational cognition are important in our choices and decision making. Sometimes it may be the former we have to focus on; sometimes, the latter; and sometimes we need to strike a balance between the two. Hence being AWARE of each is then priceless.

Thank you for patiently reading…

Now, what made you sit through my commentary?

Was it an intuition that this article is going to help you somewhere? 😃

Jigsaw mind

Images courtesy: https://pixabay.com

OF GUYS AND DOLLS

A little boy is discouraged and ridiculed if he wants to cuddle a doll.

His family fears, what will it look like… people will laugh at him… and so he’s given cars, trains and even a toy gun instead.

As a Dad, was he ever encouraged to play with a doll? Yes….with his own little baby!

But how would that Dad learn to look after his own baby? Just by accident?

The Mommy was however allowed to practice a lot when she was a little girl, by playing house.

And now, since the New Daddy has never really learnt HOW to look after a baby, he loves his wife and baby, but just hugs and kisses them both and then says he has to return to work. THAT statement gets him glares from the New Mom as well as from the Grandma who’s come to help. And now he’s helpless… “But what do I stay back and do…I don’t know” he stammers.

Was this dad ever encouraged to play house, serve tea and look after a baby doll? Apparently, Never!

And now he is expected to stay home and help out… What a confusing society we live in!

If adult men are looked at appreciatively when they tenderly carry their babies, and help their wives with the washing and cooking…then why is a young boy ridiculed for his tenderness?

Aren’t we then living out hypocrisy in this society of ours…

Look at the further implications…

How will that little boy learn to touch a girl tenderly? If he is stopped from a tender age himself?
And then as a man, we curse him when he touches a girl aggressively through rape or wife battering… but was he given a chance to learn how to treat a girl?

These ways of bringing up our sons are crucial to them learning how to treat a girl as they grow older…
We have to celebrate the differences between the genders. Yes! There ARE differences… and I’m not just referring to anatomical differences.
Males and females are psychologically and socially also different; in fact the best word to use is, they are complementary. Their abilities, strengths and needs complement each other, and both need the other instinctively, however much you may be encouraged to think otherwise.

Yes, society tells us to think equally, give equal importance to both…and all that IS necessary.

But in the process of promoting equality, let’s not lose track of the fact that humans are Androgynous, meaning we have both masculine and feminine traits. There are universally-accepted Masculine traits (like being brave, adventurous, independent, competitive, etc) as well as Feminine traits (like being nurturant, gentle, sensitive, emotional, etc) in both males and females, in varying proportions.
And we have to therefore take EACH person as an individual, with their own special mental and psychological framework… much like each one is a special recipe, with their own proportions of special ingredients.
This would mean, we should stop stereotyping boys and girls or men and women and look at each as a separate individual. Celebrate each one’s strengths and abilities and doing this will make them better people.
So if a little fellow wants to cuddle a doll, let him do so… did you ever realize, he’s probably just imitating the love his Dad shows to him, by cuddling him?

Finally, there are a whole lot of benefits that can be derived from boys playing with dolls, just as all children benefit from playing with all toys:

Cognitive Development – E.g., he can learn problem solving strategies like what will daddy do to stop baby crying if mommy is out.

Social and Emotional Development – E.g., he can balance gender roles, being sensitive as well as emotionally strong; also being responsible, following instructions and giving instructions to the doll.

Speech and Language Development – E.g., he can constantly learn new words while talking to the dolls and while “being” the doll and talking back.

Gross Motor Skill Development – E.g., his larger muscles can get strengthened by pushing a pram, or dancing with the doll, etc.

Fine Motor Skill Development – E.g., his finger movements can be developed while dressing the doll by putting on a bonnet, buttoning up clothes, lacing up shoes, etc.

At some point, we’ll realize how lucky the little girls were as they weren’t stopped from playing with cars, trains, bow and arrows as much as the baby boys were stopped from playing with “girly’ toys. Let’s stop our little fellows from being deprived anymore!

Interestingly, when looking for images and photos that I could use for this article, when I deliberately searched using the words “child playing with doll”, in the first 100, I got roughly 16 pictures of boys playing with dolls, hence majority were girls; and all 16 of the boy images had either Western Caucasians and a few African-Americans. I preferred using pictures of Indian children for this, but found no Indians there.

Then I deliberately searched using the words “Indian child playing with doll”, only 3 in the first 100 were boys (There were a few American-Indian girls too). This doesn’t imply that young Indian boys don’t play with dolls, but it definitely shows that even if they DO, their families aren’t proudly clicking pics and uploading them.

So I finally used pictures that I borrowed from my close friend, of her nephew, who they have been allowing to play with all toys, including dolls since he was born.

For additional reading on benefits of playing with dolls, there are several links on the internet.

A few for starters are:

https://nspt4kids.com/parenting/developmental-skills-while-playing-with-dolls/

http://childventures.ca/blog/2014/12/benefits-playing-dolls/

http://mamaot.com/why-kids-should-play-with-baby-dolls-yes-even-boys/

https://wehavekids.com/parenting/How-Toys-Impact-Childrens-Development

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Kamini Rege (of her nephew, Parth)

“DO WHAT YOU LOVE and YOU’LL LOVE WHAT YOU DO”

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Let’s think about this:

How often when you were a kid at school, did you love to play games or sing songs, but were frustrated when the Maths or History teacher entered the class?

How often, as a parent, have you wondered, “Hey, this child of mine is so bright, why does he fare so badly at studies?” or “She picks up such complicated dance-steps she watches on TV; and the words of songs she hears just once, but her studies….well, that’s another story!”

How often have you found yourself saying things like: My work schedules are crazy, no specific time to eat; my job is so stressful, it’s making me ill; I’m longing for my retirement day.

If you’re nodding your head right now to even one of the above statements, the key questions here are, “How can we make a shift from this unhappiness to happiness?” or “How can we make a shift from this illness to wellness?”

This question brings to mind poem most of us must have read as children, called ‘Leisure’ by William Henry Davies¹ . It begins with:

“What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare…”

…and ends with…

“…A poor life this is, if full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.”

Leisure has an enormous role to play in enhancing health and wellbeing. Today’s opportunities for leisure however, should not be confused with visiting a mall or going on an expensive holiday. Such forms of leisure sometimes increase stress levels on account of the expenses incurred or post-holiday work backlog! True leisure should leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed to take on new responsibilities effectively… and that in itself, would promote sustainability in health and well being.

So if we try to answer the initial question “How can we make a shift from this illness to wellness?” we’ll find that it’s no surprise that the answer lies in a simple truth: “Do what makes you happy”. In fact, it is often believed that what makes you happy makes you healthy. But WHAT is happiness actually? Just getting what we want? Or getting what we need? At some point, when we begin to focus on what actually brings us that feeling of content, we’ll find that it is doing what WE want to, not because it is expected by the society we live in.
Lets’ take hobbies for instance. Why do they make us happy, while a day at work may NOT? That’s probably because we’re doing what we have to when we work and doing what we love to when we play.
Isn’t it possible to merge the two?

This thought has implications for three sets of people:
1) for adolescents and young adults in choosing careers;
2) for those in their middle ages, who realistically cannot change careers at this stage;
3) for those who have retired or are retiring soon and don’t know what to do now.

So read on….there’s hope for ALL groups…

Not so long ago, theories which originally believed that Intelligence is a single concept were rejected and Intelligence was proved to be a multi-dimensional concept. In 1983, Howard Gardner², a professor of education at Harvard University, proposed the term ‘Multiple Intelligences’ that focused on different intelligences (note the plural) that a human possesses.

Howard Gardner formulated a list of eight intelligences:^3,4

Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself rhetorically or poetically; and language as a means to remember information. Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence.

Logical-mathematical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. In Gardner’s words, it entails the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.

Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one’s whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements. Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity as related.

Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas. Photographers, designers, architects are among those that Gardner sees as having high spatial intelligence.

Interpersonal intelligence is concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others. Educators, salespeople, religious and political leaders and counsellors all need a well-developed interpersonal intelligence.

Intrapersonal intelligence entails the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one’s feelings, fears and motivations. In Howard Gardner’s view it involves having an effective working model of ourselves, and to be able to use such information to regulate our lives.

Naturalist intelligence enables human beings to recognize, categorize and draw upon certain features of the environment. Those with naturalist intelligence may have a strong affinity to the outside world or to specific plants and/or animals. It has been speculated that naturalistic intelligence was undoubtedly the one that aided our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors in identifying which flora and fauna were edible and which were not.⁵

Dr. Gardner admits that our education, profession and culture focus most of their attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence.⁶ We tend to respect and admire highly articulate or logical people and don’t pay equal attention to individuals who are gifted in other intelligences: the artists, naturalists, dancers, entrepreneurs and others who enrich the world we live in⁷. In fact, there are some who have sadly left behind the talents and skills they possessed as children and youth, in order to earn a good pay packet.

A popular saying goes “All Work and No Play….?” ….makes Jack a Dull Boy….makes Jenny a Dull Girl? We’ve heard these words over and over so many times, that we can recite the other half in our sleep! But have we ever stopped to think, “What is WORK? What is PLAY?” and can the two ever harmonize? My point is, when it’s time for the vacations, we’ll take a break from WORK (at school, college or office) and will now take a shot at PLAY, through family outings, picnics, hobby classes, activity clubs, etc. After months of hard work, we need the rest and recreation…but hey, let’s stop and think? Why do we so desperately wait for these vacations? Are we too over-worked? We live just one life, are we cramming too much into it? We don’t have many more lifetimes to attempt change later, nor is it worth to realize at retirement: “Where has my life gone; what did I spend it doing?”

Look at it this way – if you suddenly get the news that you’ve got just a month to live, what will you do during this month? Would you:

(a) catch up on things you’ve always wanted to do but somehow never found the time for?

(b) continue in the same way, since you’re already doing what you love most?

If you answered ‘yes’ to (b), wonderful!

But if you answered ‘yes’ to (a), then start NOW…. do things you’ve always wanted to do (not just what you’re SUPPOSED to do to earn well!) Figure out where your own Multiple Intelligences lie, based on what you do best, even if you’re not paid for it.

Take out that dusty, rusty guitar; or that old basket ball; or that canvas and paint box…..focus on the emotions you feel as you hold them in your hand…that is what LIFE is all about. “Do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!” said Confucius, the Chinese philosopher⁸. Of course, we can’t afford to leave behind our well-paying jobs and well-earned lifestyles, but we CAN find a way to BLEND the two. Where there’s a WILL, there’s a way! When we make a little time for what we love to do, we’ll find that the joy we originally got only from vacation time, is now here to stay!! We’ll find that we have put all our intelligences to use and that we have actualized all our potential.

At retirement, we’ll look back and say, “I didn’t just exist, I have LIVED!!”

References:

http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/william-henry-davies.html
Gardner, Howard (1983; 1993) Frames of Mind: The theory of multiple intelligences, New York: Basic Books.
http://tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html
Smith, Mark K. (2002, 2008) ‘Howard Gardner and multiple intelligences’,the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/mobi/howard-gardner-multiple-intelligences-and-education.
http://thesecondprinciple.com/optimal-learning/naturalistic-intelligence/
Gardner, Howard (1999) Intelligence Reframed. Multiple intelligences for the 21st century, New York: Basic Books.
Gardner, Howard (1999) The Disciplined Mind: Beyond Facts And Standardized Tests, The K-12 Education That Every Child Deserves, New York: Simon and Schuster (and New York: Penguin Putnam).
http://www.tenmillionclicksforpeace.org/index.php/category/empowerment/financial-success

SINGING IN HARMONY and LIVING IN HARMONY

Building Harmony in a Choir full of Different Personalities

Just as there’s MORE beauty in harmony than in unison, similarly we could use the SAME analogy to get along with the different personalities in any group like a choir, for instance.
If everyone thought and behaved in the same way there would be UNISON… it sounds good, no doubt, but not challenging, not creative, not dynamic and growth producing…. it’s just mediocre.
But HARMONY is always held in higher esteem than unison…why? Because it sounds not just good, but BETTER, and it is definitely challenging, creative, dynamic and growth producing.
But how is harmony produced?

Harmony is produced from different musical notes that work in coordination with one another.
For instance, in a ‘C Scale’, the ‘C’ chord sounds nice, but a song NEEDS more chords to blend in beautifully. At one point of time maybe a ‘B’ will want to come in…

But it’s NOT part of the ‘C-E-G’ harmony, so it will be told to stay out…

But if the ‘B’ decides to bend back a little (to compromise), and to become a ‘Bb’, we’ll get a new beautiful chord called the ‘C7’ made up of ‘C-E-G-Bb’, and THAT would lead and guide us to the new totally different ‘F’ chord so harmoniously.
But then is it always the duty of the minority to bend and compromise?

Not really…

If we NOW want to bring in our creativity and let the ‘B’ have its way, then sometimes…. just SOMETIMES, we may choose to play a new different sound, the ‘C Major 7th’ (C-E-G-B)
AND there are times…. that this newness and difference brings out a beauty in itself.
So it is with the different personalities in a choir…or in ANY group for that matter… the blending in, and allowing our differences to strengthen us rather than weaken us.
The best example I can give is of the BEATLES music…most of their songs don’t have just the regular ‘C, G7, F’ chords…. But rather a ‘C6’ , an ‘A7’, a ‘G7sus4’ … and as a result of this ALLOWING of different notes, their music sounds richer and is the most coveted for over 40 years now.
So in conclusion, if we are not just tolerant but accepting of the differences in each others’ personalities in a choir or any other group, we’ll grow as a closer family and produce richer harmony.
I rest my keys….oops…I mean, I rest my case. 😊

I’m passionate about Psychology, whether it is Social Psychology, Positive Psychology or Developmental Psychology… and I’m equally passionate about Music, whether it is singing, playing my guitar or dancing…. and this is the basis for the thoughts that I’ve penned above.

LABELS STICK: PEEL THEM OFF!

Overcoming Labels that were stuck on you…

It is impossible to re-write our past, but looking backward often helps us understand WHY we behave in a specific way at present.

Looking BACK however, is ONLY necessary if it helps us DEAL with whatever we currently can. Otherwise it is a sheer waste of time and a grossly depressive act. When we were younger, there were probably people who told us we weren’t fit for something or couldn’t achieve something we coveted.

Did we BELIEVE what they said? Do we STILL believe those words?

If you have strived and proven those discouraging people wrong, good for you!

But if you still believe you CAN’T because of what you were told, then it’s time to create a new self image by identifying things you love doing and always wanted to do but were worried about what those OTHERS may think.

(See another of my posts that may help you do that: “DO WHAT YOU LOVE and YOU’LL LOVE WHAT YOU DO “)

Look at it THIS way… For how long are you going to worry about those others?

They have done their deeds and moved on. But if YOU hold onto those deeds, you’re allowing it to hurt yourself. The best way to stop allowing it to take effect is, ‘don’t accept a label when it’s stuck on you.’

Sometimes it may be someone in authority, or someone you have to show respect to, but rather than take it because of their power, it’s better in the long run if you develop the habit of politely asserting yourself. It’s important to learn to be assertive and tactful in responding to such persons, and not reacting aggressively or fighting back.

There’s something called Self Fulfilling Prophecies….these are things people have said about us, that have actually come true…. A self-fulfilling prophecy is a belief that comes true because we are acting as if it is already true¹. The concept was used by the American sociologist Robert Merton as early as 1948².

For instance, someone may have said to a student, you’re going to flunk ‘cause you’re hardly studying. So what happens…? The student decides what’s the use of studying, it’s too difficult and I’m going to flunk anyway…and hence he actually doesn’t study and fails. That failure then positively reinforces him into believing that he indeed cannot pass… and ‘Lo, behold…’, before long, you have a drop out!

But HOW? It’s because HE made it come true by BELIEVING what was said and not even trying beyond that. Hence what was prophetically stated actually got fulfilled by the student himself…so the term “Self-Fulfilling Prophecy”.

Sad, but true.

So now, brace yourself for the GOOD NEWS…

If we’ve established that a person’s BELIEVING he’ll fail, makes him fail… then the REVERSE is also possible! If we believe that we CAN, then we CAN!

To develop this, we have to CHANGE our way of thinking, and although that is easier said than done, it’s definitely NOT impossible.

Depending on the depth of one’s past negative experiences, overcoming one’s faulty thinking may require professional help and therapy or can be self-taught, if the negativity is minimal.

If therapy is required, the best tried-and-tested methods are Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by Dr. Albert Ellis³ in 1955, or Cognitive- Behavior Therapy (CBT), pioneered by Dr. Aaron Beck⁴ in the 1960’s. Of course, a therapist that you visit could also have his/her own eclectic approach that has proven successful. The key, is to attend this therapy seriously.

On the other hand, individuals with a strong morale can read up sources on Positive Psychology, Positive Self-Talk, Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence and Optimism to help themselves.

Of course, one more thing worth focusing on for just a little moment is the REASON that person stuck that label on you. Often they themselves are victims of their own set of negative past experiences, or are over-protective of you, on account of some past inadequacies; but whatever their reason, you HAVE to forgive them in your heart. It is this FORGIVENESS and UNDERSTANDING of their motives, which will set you free.

So go ahead fearlessly, identify those incriminating labels, “un-stick” them with the elixir of SELF-BELIEF and then prove them wrong by doing the ONE thing that you probably didn’t do earlier….TRY!

References:

Figuring out WHETHER YOU WANT TO is the first step:

Understanding the HOW:

Figuring out the WHEN:

Do leave your comments in the box below, especially if you’ve found this helpful and have identified ways of coping that have helped you, and that others could benefit from.Also read my other related articles…

Do leave your comments in the box below, especially if you’ve found this helpful and have identified ways of coping that have helped you, and that others could benefit from.

Also read my other related articles…