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Tiny Tips to Meaningful Life

P. A. Joseph P. A. Joseph
06 Feb 2023
We live in a growing technological age, and its materials and impact are growing rapidly. It is extremely difficult to catch up with the scenario.

For an active life there can be so many tips. Some of the tips look very tiny but by living these, life becomes great and meaningful.

We live in a growing technological age, and its materials and impact are growing rapidly. It is extremely difficult to catch up with the scenario. We see technology has overtaken the whole work with its varying dimensions and operational tactics. The change is so fast that some times we are not aware what have been disappearing and what have dawned in its place. 

Machine and machinery presence have changed the scenario. What is done manually with a lot of time is taken over by machine. Fast expansion of digital system has made living very fast. With mobile in my hand I can have access to many areas. Banking, transfer of money, booking tickets, health examining, weather forecasting, planning of yearly programmes, all these are done fast and easily. During the last two years of covid pandemic, when the educational institutions were not functioning, on line classes solved the problem. 

Similarly, many business offices and administrative departments began to function on line. We see that the digital technology is the greatest boon of the day. It appears, “no U-turn” is possible. That means those who are not caught up in the milieu and race will cease to function, or become zombie-like existence.

Humans by culture (may not be by nature) are ritualistic in multiple areas, like social life, family, life celebrations, religion, politics, etc.  There had/has been patterns of behavior system, proto calls, customs, etc. but these are dying out to a great extent. As for example, we see SMS/WhatsApp have taken the place of personal visit, get together, etc. This reduces personal contacts and the related values. Here humans become less human. Family relations, friendship contacts, etc. diminish and tension swells. In general, stress and suspense between the old generation and the new ones appear. 

In this context it may be good that I practice resilience. While in the sea, if I try to defeat one by one wave, I will surely end up in the far-flung sea; Hence, it would be wiser for me not to involve in tensed situations and come away! Similarly, emotions are like waves, we cannot altogether defeat them; we have only partial control over them. It is true of any emotion. 

Further, when we cannot overcome certain reactions, we can get adjusted to the same. We cannot control our parents/seniors. But we can learn to get adjusted with their ways, not because they are correct but because we grow wiser. In the case of Alzheimer patients, the caretaker needs training and not the patient. Sometimes, we try to stick to old practices, to routines. This is an escapism. In routine there is no initiative, no creativity, it is only parroting and xeroxing. I will do well to feed my brain with up-to-date information which will keep the brain vibrant and active. The relevant “social market” has much to offer me. Enough to keep me busy! The objective of a virtuous person is to reach a state of tranquility: the absence of negative forces such as anxiety, fear, shame, vanity, anger, despair, and revenge, and the cultivation of positive values and feelings such as happiness, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, compassion, self-control, willingness to change, love, serenity, and gratitude.
 

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