EASIER SAID THAN DONE

Hello,

I have been writing a lot about positive attitude towards life even when facing difficult circumstances.

Positive attitude requires a lot of guts and it is easier said than done.

Several times in my life I have gone through phases akin to depression. I am sure I was good enough to hide this fact from the rest of the world as I still carry the reputation of having a 'devil may care' attitude.

This is absolutely incorrect as I hurt easily. I also have a tendency of giving up when the situation becomes too hot and also have the bad habit of running the knife over the nose to spite the face.

When I analyze the difficult phases in my life I realize that I did manage to get through them because of my interpretation of the situation. This interpretation and my conclusion on its impact on my future was hardly positive.

In most occasions I considered myself in what is called 'Back against the wall' or 'down in the dumps'. It was a situation where I have felt lost (both metamorphically and physically). This I believe is a very negative way of looking at things. But this attitude did give the desired focus and strength at those times.

When I have found myself cornered due to unexpected attacks from unlikely sources or when I have dug a hole for myself due to inappropriate action I have found a way back by clawing at the thought that it can not be worse.

Some people say that this desire to clutch on to the opportunity, the tiny ray of sunshine, is a sign of having a positive attitude.

But to be honest it was a Hobson's choice. It was not cultivated and forced upon, it was the only choice I had, except of course the idea of suicide, which was too frightening for me to contemplate.

It is more like a prey turning around to attack the predator when it finds itself in the corner.

Therefore could it be possible that being negative without pushing the self destruct button is also a way to combat your crisis.

Would love to get a feedback on my thoughts.

Best regards,

Manoj

EASIER SAID THAN DONE

Hello,

What is easier? Having a 'Positive Outlook' or becoming 'Negative'?

Having a 'Positive Outlook' is not easy.

We have conferences 'Under Water' in Maldives, on the 'Mount Everest' in Nepal, 'Carbon Emission' conference in Copenhagen and '2012' in the movie theatres.

What does it predict? Doom with a capital 'D'. Can we be positive in such circumstances?

We have rapes on page 3 of every newspaper. We have murders, robberies, break-ins and terrorist attacks on every page of the newspaper. We have Fathers imprisoning and raping daughters and Man eating human flesh.

What does it tell us? The World is full of shit, Can we be positive in such cicumstances?

We have a world class footballer, Thiery Henry, accepting that he used his hand to score a football goal against the plucky Irishmen. We have FIFA claiming that several matches have been rigged. We have the smiling Marion Jones being stripped of her Gold medal for drug abuse and second placed Katerina Thanou not getting the Gold because of her tainted history. Finally we have Tiger Woods getting clubbed by his wife for being too friendly with club managers amongst others.

What message do we get? Even the relatively clean world of sports is getting corrupted beyond repair. Can we be positive in such circumstances?

I do not talk about the corruption riddled Financial markets. A mere mention of that and the Earth start resembling Hell.

So what it is it that still keeps people sane, makes Man help Man and keeps the world moving. Yes, being positive is not easy and therefore only a minor percentage of people are sane. Yes, being positive is not easy and therefore only a minor percentage will trust the neighbor. But the energy that arises out of their positive thoughts is so strong that it makes us forget the burden we are loaded with.

Being Positive is not easy but that is the only path.

Be Positive. Be the Legend.

Best regards,

Manoj

EASIER SAID THAN DONE

Hello,

I have been concentrating on being honest even for the most minute and insignificant issue and have faltered and stumbled a number of times.

I can justify my telling small white lies with the most logical reasons but I know that even the best reasons can not convert the lie into truth.

For example, in the morning today, a colleague asked me if I would like to have coffee. I wanted to real badly but I said no.

WHY? Why did I lie?

She is a nice middle aged Lebanese woman who frequently uses my help to get her office work done. She is helpful and helped me get my Driving Licence (this is a really big deal in Kuwait) and we give each other stuff (mainly exchanging Indian and Arabic sweets) when we return from vacations.

When we get breakfast or coffee we invite each other. My colleague makes sure that I reciprocate everytime she spends on such issues and will wait for my invitation and expenditure before inviting me again. I also make sure that the balance of expenses does not go askew.

Spending on a coffee and sandwich is not a big deal but the problem is that this lady then tom-toms about the fact and makes it appear as if she is the only one spending. Although I am sure she does this just to enhance her own image of being free with money and generous, her attitude makes other feel that I am always looking for a free meal.

I am somehow touchy about this and I have therefore decided that I will accept any food/drink invitation from her.

It is fine till here but I do not want to hurt her as we share a good relationship otherwise and therefore I have to be tactful when I decline her invitations.

So i lie.

I lied today and then felt bad about it. Such a small thing and I have to lie about it.

Following the path of speaking the truth is easier said than done.

Best regards,

Manoj