Living with Purpose: 5 Practical Life Lessons
Practical life lessons pave the way for purposeful living
This article is inspired by a recent book I finished reading, “Life’s Amazing Secrets, “ by Gaur Gopal Das. He is one of the most beloved and widely followed monks of our times, and he holds the title of ‘The Ideal Young Spiritual Guru,’ conferred by the Indian Student Parliament at MIT Pune. The book is replete with valuable life lessons. Due to article length constraints, I will share five key points in this segment, with additional insights to be discussed in upcoming articles. Please click the link below for more information about the book and the author.
1. Personal Growth
To create a positive impact in society, begin by becoming a better version of yourself. This involves recognizing and improving your weaknesses, developing your strengths, and embracing qualities like honesty, humility, and integrity. Making a positive difference starts with self-improvement, truthfulness, and treating others with respect while remaining open to learning from them.
For instance, in my own experience, my son faced health issues, and at times, I got upset without fully understanding his condition. Later, I realized that my behavior was influencing him negatively. Once I understood his condition, I made an effort to show him love and support, and he responded with the same love. This example highlights how understanding and showing love can have a positive impact on others.
2. Emotional Support
When you're trying to comfort someone who is sad or going through a tough time, being supportive and empathetic is key. It's important to actively listen and offer support without judgment or negative comments. This approach not only creates a comforting environment for the person in distress but also helps you maintain your own emotional well-being.
I experienced this with a friend who was struggling with family issues. She shared how her family was avoiding her and not communicating with her. I realized the best thing I could do was to listen. I was concerned that giving advice without fully understanding the situation could potentially worsen her family issues. So, I just listened to her for over an hour. By the end of our conversation, she felt better because she had someone to talk to. This experience confirmed my understanding that being kind and listening without judgment when helping someone who's sad can be beneficial for both them and you.
3. Inner Happiness
We should make choices that make us truly happy and match our own values, not just to look good to others. Real success is feeling happy for ourselves, not just getting approval from people.
For example, a friend of mine shared her experiences with her husband. To the outside world, he appears very polite and kind, but at home, his behavior is quite different. He rarely appreciates her efforts and criticizes her, even in front of others. This situation illustrates the contrast between how people can appear in public and their private lives. It reminds us that real happiness and healthy relationships are based on more than external appearances. True fulfillment stems from authentic, supportive interactions, not just maintaining a certain image for others.
4. Common Aspirations
We all face challenges and have life dreams, whether personal, work-related or about self-improvement. These goals and aspirations motivate us throughout our life journey. Despite our unique paths, these shared experiences connect us as humans, making us feel like we're on our individual journeys yet still part of a shared human adventure.
For example, in my own family, my son couldn't attend school regularly due to his health issues, while in my friend's family, her children were actively taking classes to secure admission to a prestigious school. These differing experiences within our families reinforce the idea that each member may have unique challenges and aspirations, highlighting that we all share the common thread of navigating life's ups and downs together.
5. Positive Thinking
We have the ability to control our perspective on life's changes, whether they are positive or negative. It's about focusing on the positive aspects of even the most challenging situations. Our mindset and outlook significantly influence how we perceive and handle these changes, ultimately influencing our overall well-being.
In my writing journey, I've received a mix of comments, with most being positive and some negative. Despite not having a large readership, I continue to write because the few positive comments motivate me to write consistently. I understand how positive feedback can inspire us to continue, regardless of external factors.
To conclude, Gaur Gopal Das's book teaches us how to be better people and make the world a better place. We’ll keep exploring these valuable lessons from this book in my upcoming articles. Together, we can learn and grow to be better individuals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you for joining me on this journey of self-improvement and making the world a better place.
Your engagement till the end is truly appreciated. Until next time, stay well and keep learning.
