PEACE OF MIND

 

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

12/XII/2024

 

In today’s times, our minds are restless, wavering, and uncertain, sometimes ambiguous. Mind is not thinking but over thinking and constantly conjecturing, sometimes agitated, restless and nervous. Most of the time it gets disturbed and disconcerted. Reasons, most of us know but refuse to accept.

 

The way to find peace of mind for oneself was discovered by me recently. The struggle was on to somehow understand the nuances of this fluctuating mind. Why does it get worked up at things which are beyond one’s control? Why do I have to react, if there is something which I can do nothing about?

 

Money is one big factor. No one knows how much he needs or what amount will suffice. ‘More’ is what we desire. How to earn it? By hook or by crook, fair means or otherwise, by investing, or working for it beyond your own limits and limitations, the list is never ending. Contentment was the key.

 

Health is another peace buster. We do not have a healthy lifestyle. We don’t listen to doctors advice and prescriptions, let's admit this too. We become ‘self medication’ experts, thanks to the information freely available on the net. Bad health means metal stress & fatigue.

 

The only one at peace is the ‘dhotiwala’. He has your and my money to play with. He can twist and turn things and can manipulate the system to his convenience and create rifts. We the people become their puppets after electing them. We lose our peace of mind.

 

Media is the biggest ‘peace destroyer’. They can run a story repeatedly, depending on who owns that channel. They can frustrate you with bombardment of toxic ideas, which they need to germinate in your peace-loving mind. Blood pressure rises on listening to all false propaganda. Just watch one debate on any channel and you will understand.

 

Social media is another thing which can shatter your peace. One video or message can suck you into a fight which never existed. There is an industry dedicated to doing so and we fall prey. Irony is that well read intellectuals get enmeshed in spreading canards which are then fed to vitiate the system. The ultimate sufferer is our mind.

 

Every other country, including India is embroiled with internal and external conflicts. Wars are on, directly, indirectly, by proxies, through terrorist organisations etc all over the world. World peace is at stake. We the people of the world are at stake. Who is responsible and how will all this culminate till peace prevails all over, is killing the peace of mind. Imagine those who are suffering the wrath of such conflicts.

 

Now that one has listed out a few, one needs to find solutions to be at peace.

 

First thing I did was to stop reading newspapers. They only carry advertisements. News gets sidelined and we land up collecting ‘raddi’. The second thing was to exit from all social media groups which were turning toxic. Best friends started hurting and abusing each other. Their point of view was the only view. It was time to exit such a company. Mind you, one has missed nothing but only gained peace of mind.

 

When religion takes over friendships, it means, it is the end of peaceful coexistence. The final destination is to be ‘dust’, then there is no need to pick up a verbal duel, which is the only thing left today. Saffron, green or white doesn’t matter but the wheel of progress does, needs to be understood.

 

It happened that since the second week of November. We were involved in functions and weddings. One thing which went silent was the TV. There was no time to watch the idiot box which was only dishing out noise and no news. I missed live sports though.

 

We went out of station for a week and there the TV didn’t work. A forced and welcome separation from nonsense. On return our TV went kaput. Good that it took fifteen days to get repaired. It was only yesterday that I came to know that Maharashtra had elections. Who won or lost makes no difference to me?

 

By the way, even in family get togethers today, bonhomie is lacking. Relatives and friends are discussed in a derogatory manner and shown in poor light. In family discussion we are doing ‘teen ki tehra’ or slagging, rather mudslinging, which I detest and refuse to be part of anymore. Very unfortunate but true.

 

I find peace in music, silence, gardening, writing my blogs, engaging with people with open minds and above all staying away from all kinds of negativity, especially people.

 

My peace is in my control and what is not in my control should not bother me. Do you agree? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

 JAI HIND 

©® NOEL ELLIS