Faith or Fatalism...

Faith or Fatalism...where is the fine line. Just had my eureka moment recently during a discussion with a very interesting and enigmatic lady  ...Nimisha Patel..here's to you for pointing me in the direction which shows the light at the end of the tunnel.

Fatalism is unfortunately what we as south asians have been bred with. In spite of a strong principle enunciated by all religions; which says that " we do our part and God does the rest" we have a tendency to accept bumps or occasional failures as ones destiny and never attempt to overcome it. I equate Fatalism to surrender with a negative overtone.

Faith is also surrender; but the kind that is accompanied with an amazing and blissful peace. Faith means aspire for the best or even better. Know that your conscience says that it is the right thing to do. Work hard towards achieving it. Leave no stone unturned from your part. Annnnd...then..only then...leave it to Him..... Know that your success WILL happen...wait for the when. Your faith should be strong enough to withstand the wait and not question it. It happens when we are ready for it; not when we believe we need it to happen. It does not mean that I feel I am entitled to something and will wait for God to bring it me; It means that I have worked towards this goal and have faith that God bring it to fruition.

It sounds simple...but is it a hard path to follow..ABSOLUTELY. I have started implementing it in little things...everyday things. It is not only a path to self discovery but also a path which I can easily articulate to my girls...

My daily motto has become There is no question of the IF; ...only WHEN

When do I say "No"..

Adapting to the changing times is a great thing...can someone always be in sync with the changing times ....when can one comfortably say ..I'm done trying to fit in...I am comfortable being who I am.

Why do I often feel that when I try to get comfortable doing the things I love doing and wanting to stay that way will make me miss out on things/experiences that may "supposedly"value add to my so called persona.

Why is it also that I feel guilty about pursuing my interests ?...Is it a burden that is carried by almost every working mom/wife

There is just so much stress around us in the daily tribulations of life. Where is the fine line...

What would I need to do to prioritize between what truly adds value to this stage of my life and that which I do to convince others that I too belong to the "in" crowd.

I believe the first step I should take would be to create a priority list. ( do tell me if I am wrong)..My step by step approach to this would be

Step 1: What are the things I love doing the most
Step 2: How frequently can I indulge in these activities
Step 3: What are my constraints into doing these activities
Step 4: Are these constraints insurmountable?
Step 5: What about me can I reinvent to to make this possible
Step 6: What all am I doing now that I feel compelled into doing
Step 7: What would happen if I stopped doing those ? Would anyone else be affected e.g kids..
Step 8: Pick one thing I would love to pursue and one that I would like to stop doing
Step 9: Go for it...

Looks simple but I bet it's going to be an uphill task....my first to do thing..join a book club..will update on how the other bit goes



 

Simplicity

Why  is it that the simplest solution is the last to come to mind ? Why is it that the most complex and convoluted solution seems to be the best fit for any problem. Is it because we think too much or because are not confident in those simple solutions ?

I believe it is because of many reasons (a) we think too much (b) simple solutions require more courage and less guile (c) and lastly simple solutions come to us when we unlearn many of lifes lessons and look back at them with a new and fresh perspective.

Is it any wonder that thinking simple is probably the most uphill task I have ever undertaken. My inspiration comes from conversations from my children and with other young 'uns. Ask them for a solution and they will give you the first thing that comes to their mind. A simple weighing of what's important and what's not. So much to learn...or maybe so much to "unlearn".