DATED – 22nd August 2016
I had once heard a wonderful saying – “The only thing that is constant is – CHANGE.” To elaborate further, it meant that everything in life would be changing. There will never be a point where you will cease from the need of changing. To add another quote – “Anything that doesn’t change, dies.” Until we are alive, we must keep upgrading, changing and adapting.
I am sure all of us keep changing as per the situations and experiences in life. But the big question remains – is the change TEMPORARY or PERMANENT? Look back at your life – were there some promises / resolutions you made (to yourself and others)? Did you keep them? Or did you slip the moment there was a little inconvenience? Let’s see if you can relate to these –
- You decided to quit smoking. Until you had a pressure situation where you thought you couldn’t think until you smoked a cigarette.
- You decided to wear a helmet when one of your close friends passed away in a road accident. Do you still wear it even when you have to ride on a bike for 100 metres?
- On 31st December, you bought new shoes and tracksuit and committed to start exercising every single day. I really wish each one of you still use those shoes and tracksuit!
- You decided you will never get angry on your kids irrespective of situations at office. Are your kids fortunate enough to have you as a living example of this?
- You announced to the world, ‘From today onwards, I will take great care of my parents. I will never allow them to cry.’ Hopefully it was not to impress people, but you actually meant it; irrespective of their childlike behaviour.
- You accepted the challenge on Facebook for posting pictures with your spouse for seven days if you loved them. True love will be when you love them even when they make mistakes and do not do things as per your thinking.
- When you were about to be fired from your organisation, you pleaded to the HR manager to give you another chance. Are you still living up to the trust shown on you?
- You got jaundice because you ate unhealthy food outside. You declared that you will no longer eat outside food. Have you managed to keep your taste buds at bay since you were fit again?
- You narrowly missed having an accident while talking on the cellphone while driving your car. Did the incident teach you a lesson or are you waiting for a bigger tragedy?
- You are happiest, chirpiest, enthusiastic and flowing in love on your birthday. Can we see this side of you more often than not?
All of us change. But most of us don’t make that change a permanent change. We change until it is convenient. The moment it starts posing questions and challenges, we seem to give up. The creative mind finds enough excuses for our huge inabilities and lack of courage. Within a matter of a few days, we go back to our earlier routine caring a damn about the resolution made.
Vis-à-vis my life –
Fortunately, I have become that kind of a person who believes in permanent change or no change. I do not enjoy changing temporarily and then going back. For that matter it is better not to change. Temporary change is a big NO-NO for me.
The litmus paper test is – what do the people speak about you when you are not there. Do they say – ‘If he/she has said it, they will do it come what may.’ Or do they say, ‘He/ She keeps saying. Don’t take it seriously. Nothing will happen. Everything will come back to square one.’
I can’t come to a conclusion for you on this. You have to – for yourself. Decide on what kind of change you want to be – Permanent or Temporary?
