Don't Worry, Be Happy

The purpose of our lives is to be happy

- Priya Ramesh Swaminathan

Neeta’s forehead creased with worry at the thought of her impending interview the next day. She hoped and prayed to fare well so that she could be selected for the job. She desperately needed the job. Her happy-go-lucky father had just left his job after a minor tiff with his boss. Her mother was very ill and needed hospitalisation.

“Don’t worry be happy, Neeta”, her father cheerfully advised her on seeing her distraught face. “Prepare well for your interview and then relax. Only worrying will lead you nowhere.”

For once, Neeta agreed with his point of view. She did just what he had advised. The next day, her interview went off like a dream and a week later, she had joined the firm!

Doesn’t this example illustrate the importance of relaxing, even while one is plagued by doubts and uncertainties (real or imaginary)?

No doubt, many of us worry incessantly about ourselves, our life and life of others as well. We let ourselves to be governed by ‘ifs and buts’ and harass ourselves as well as others with our tensions.

Stress of high-paced, uncertain, over-worked and over-ambitious life takes its toll on a person’s health by giving rise to hypertension, heart problems; psychosomatic disorders like depression, insanity; and change in behavioral patterns like increasing short-temperedness, increasing frustration, impatience and intolerance; even death. It makes us age faster before time.

Is there anything you could do to lessen your tension and achieve a sense of mental peace and wellbeing? Well there are lots actually.