MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - EPISODE 293
23rd December 2024
Give Up Giving-Up
WISHING ALL READERS MERRY CHRISTMAS
We have seen the importance of perseverance (lack of despondency) exhibited by Hanuman and lauded by Valmiki in Valmiki Ramayan.
#PerseveranceInViduraNeeti
Similar view is expressed by Vidura in Vidura Neeti. Vidura Neeti is the collection of sermons given by Vidura to Dhridharashtra when he sought the advice of Vidura on handling the increasing rift between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
“Anirvedaha shriyo moolam laabhasyacha shubhasyacha!
Mahaan bhavat anirvinnaha sukham cha aanantyam ashnute!!” Vidura Neeti 44
Perseverance is the root of prosperity, of gain, and of what is beneficial. One who pursues a mission with perseverance (and without giving it up in vexation) will enjoy eternal happiness.
All work pursued with perseverance will result in success and happiness (even if there are interim failures)
Not only Hanuman, but even Lord Ram had to deal with failures, and he succeeded eventually because he tried very hard on his difficulties. Lord Ram had to try twice before he could eliminate Vali. Demonstrated lots of endurance before he could defeat Ravan. Pandavas had to endure innumerable difficulties before winning back their kingdom,
Bhagiratha did arduous penance for thousands of years only to realize that he is propitiating the wrong God who did not have the power to bring Ganga to the earth. He did not give up in frustration. He meditated on Lord Shiva for one more year and succeeded eventually.
Sometimes, we wonder why God is giving us so many difficulties and why cannot all our efforts end in great success. Hard earned success will be more permanent and brings more joy. There is no fun scoring goals all alone when there is not a single opponent. You will end up getting bored. Success is only when you score against a tough opponent, skilled defenders and goalkeeper.
We have been created as intelligent human beings to keep moving forward. ‘Giving Up HOPE and staying stagnant is a disservice to our creators.
Give Up Giving-Up
All successful people encountered failures before they could achieve success. If Thomas Edison had got dejected on his failures, we would still be living in darkness. If Henry Ford had given up on failures, we would still be riding on horseback. If Alexander Graham Bell had given in to the clutches of failure, we would still have been sending messages through pigeons. Steve Jobs had to fight through the ignominy of getting sacked from the company he built, Apple Inc.
Failure is a part of life. There are very few people who coast through unscathed, but even then, they are bound to come across a situation at some point that challenges them. Failing is an awful feeling. It’s natural to want to avoid that, but the only way to avoid failure is to never try anything. When you approach failure with perseverance, it’s easier to see it as a learning experience. Trying again – even when it’s risky – becomes another opportunity for growth.
I thought that my voyage had come to its end at the last limit of my power, that the path before me was closed, that provisions were exhausted, and the time come to take shelter in a silent obscurity, but I find that thy will knows no end in me, and when old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart, and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders. Gitanjali, Rabindranath Tagore
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again
“If there is no struggles, there is no progress.” This famous quote was stated by Frederick Douglas. He was an African-american abolitionist, civil rights leader, and social reformer who was born into slavery and faced many hardships in his life but eventually he overcame his difficulties and became a very famous colored man in a world full of slavery
________________________________________ Conceived, compiled and posted as a weekly newsletter #MondayMusings in LinkedIn by Jaganathan T (www.authorjaganathan.com)