Nature is what surrounds us and we are part of it. Of course, the remote control lies with none but the one sitting on the blue. Just look around and observe nature. Analyze how nature accomplishes the most astonishing phenomena effortlessly, because it is not in a hurry. From this analogy of nature, we can understand that everything is achievable, if we have enough patience. The reason that nature does not hurry is because there is no need to. A bud blooms into a flower at its own pace and no matter of how much you tug it or pull it; it will bloom on its own. There is no shortcut to growth and the growth at its proper time. In fact, by trying to push the bud into blooming faster, we might rather hamper its blooming or may obstruct it all together. So in trying to hurry up things, we may inadvertently become our own biggest obstacles. In the modern world, we fashionably speak how time is money and how it is the scarce resource. Yet another bad master in our society is competition. It promotes selfishness and egocentric behavior. Doesn’t it? Right from our childhood, our parents, teachers and society in general encourage us to compete. The better we compete, the more pats we receive. If we do not compete well, we are often neglected and those who are ahead in the competition get all the attention. Academics, sports and even extracurricular activities foster competition. Even when we grow up and start our work life, we see competitiveness being rewarded at every step. The mass media only adds fuel to the raging fire by glorifying only winners and toppers. The recent trend in this regard is the most cherished program on TV,  kaun banega crorepati. All such TV shows idolize the winner, placing him on a pedestal in front of millions of audiences. He gets all the money, adulation and media attention. With so much emphasis on winning, competitiveness has become a virtue and competition, a way of life. There is little to wonder then that we are becoming a selfish people. As a society we are unhappy, unsatisfied and possess low esteem because we laud winning so much. To be sure, competing in itself is not harmful. It is the attitude of, winning at any cost that encroaches our peace of mind and happiness. Competitiveness is harmful, if we fail to remain objective about it that is we need to understand that the efforts are in our control, the outcome is not. Competing with only winning in mind begets frustration, helplessness, anguish and is sure shot prescription for stress. Let this competition not imbibe selfishness and jealously in us so that we don’t mind placing our own needs, our desires above the needs or desires of others. Let us understand every time we cannot be winners. Winning and losing or just the external sign posts. In my opinion to live fulfilling lives, we must look inside us to understand if we are enjoying what we are doing. If we enjoy the process and are happy competing, we always win, regardless of the outcome of the competition. Let us enjoy the whole thrill in the game and not just the winning. Let us learn from Mother Nature not to be in a hurry and cause worry for ourselves as we are the temporary employs serving nature and can be called off anytime.
(Dr Mushtaq Chalkoo is Consultant Laproscopic and Minimal Access Surgeon, GMC Srinagar. Feedback at mushtaqchalkoo@rediffmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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