Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.
- Albert Camus
Is there any relation between the number of those tearjerkers you watch on TV and your mental state? A recent study has found that unhappy people watch much more television than happy people. Those who are unhappy watch up to 30% more television than happy people, John Robinson and Steven Martin of the University of Maryland discovered. The American researchers formed their conclusions after analyzing the social habits of 30,000 people between 1975 and 2006.
Another study says that emotionally needy individuals are at greater risk of recurring depression. Myriam Mongrain, who is associate professor of psychology in York University, Canada; studied graduate students with a history of depression, rating their levels of emotional dependence. She again interviewed the participants 20 months later to check recurrence of a major depression. Her findings in the study "Healthy and unhealthy dependence: Implications for major depression’’ show that emotionally needy individuals have much greater risk of relapse.
Suffering panic attacks every time in a chaotic situation or having an obsession to do something repeatedly, like pulling out strands of hair while concentrating on work are again mild forms of mental illness - which is set to become the number one health risk in India by 2010, according to a recent report on mental health by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). According to the report, morbidity on account of mental illness is all set to take over from cardiovascular diseases as the number one health risk in India in the next two years. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) further says that over 20 million Indians suffer from serious mental ailments and 50 million more from milder forms.
Thus, a shocking 70 million people suffer from mental ailments with growing number of studies highlighting that mental illness may become the biggest health risk by 2010. The striking element in all the three research studies is it shows how vulnerable human mind has become in dealing with various forms of emotional ailments. This clearly identifies the lack of our ability to deal with depressive and demoralizing tendencies caused by the environment we live in.
We fancy racing through our lives without pausing to consider who we really are or what we want to be, satisfy ourselves with breadth rather than depth and choose quick reactions over considered reflection. We use words like obsessed, crazed and overwhelmed not to describe insanity, to characterize our everyday lives. Feeling starved for time forever, we assume that we have no choice but to cram as much as possible into every day. But managing time efficiently is no guarantee that we always bring sufficient energy to whatever we are doing. Keeping ourselves energized for the long work schedules we maintain requires more than just time management. We need to guard ourselves from frequent and precipitous energy level drops and the struggle to stay focused. Our tendency to constantly race against time and the limited human energy which we expend, more than we can; leads to great stress and ultimately causes distress. It is indeed effective management of our internal energies to wade through our ever squeezing schedules, which is the need of hour.
So how do we ensure that we bring our complete energy to every task done throughout the day? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we can maintain stillness even in chaotic situation and think about how to get out of the chaos rather than bother about the How’s and why’s that led to situation? How valuable would it be to bring more positive energy and passion to the workplace and impact those we lead with that positive energy? Would it affect our workplace relationships with one another, and the quality of work we all do? There is a good chance that the answer is a Big YES! But is there a silver bullet for this? Not obvious.
The first step is to realize who are we to know what bothers us. Once we know our true form; we realize that we possess certain innate qualities within ourselves. We also realize that some of the qualities which are currently possessed by us are not ours by nature but have acquired them over a period of time. It is because of these acquired qualities we turn to external solutions to resolve the problems whose root cause is within us. Then we also need to realize the importance of our original qualities within us and try to develop them through certain fundamental changes. In addition to developing these changes we also need to understand how to sustain and integrate them in our lifestyle. This process is often called self transformation. The process of self transformation is effective only when necessary changes are brought in lifestyle through a natural change management process. This also needs a paradigm shift in our thinking and our attitude.
The shift is needed to understand how to achieve this seemingly herculean task and through a methodology so simple that it can be easily integrated into our lifestyle. My experience with is Raja yoga meditation it helps us achieve this with its unique three step framework of Self Realization, Self Transformation and Self Actualization. With Self realization we first understand what we are and more importantly what we are not. We also become aware of the root causes and effects of physical, mental and emotional disorders and how to effectively tackle them by developing few self management skills.
Just to recall a story about a man who was selling balloons at a fair in a tribal village. He had balloons of different colors. To attract the attention of people, he would release a gas filled balloon into the air. When children saw the balloon go up, they would jump with joy and rushed to buy one. The Balloon man was busy in attracting his little customers, when he felt someone pulling his shirt. He turned around and saw a boy asking him, "If you release a black balloon, would that also fly high?"
For a moment the balloon man was taken aback – why is this little boy asking such a question? His eyes fell on the dark skin of the body, and in a flicker of moment, the balloon man realized the matter!
With lot of affection, he moved his hand on the head of the little boy and replied gently, "Son, it is not the color of the balloon; it is what’s inside it that makes it go up!"
In the same way through self transformation when we fill ourselves with enlightenment of self realization we begin to experience that we are more valuable and capable than what we usually think of ourselves. We also rid ourselves with various shades of negativity which we unknowingly fill ourselves with. In due course of this process we become emotionally mature and strong that we are able cope with external stressors and manage the ecosystem around us, effectively eliminating the need to fall back on some temporary recourse.
To ensure that change management sustains for a long time the self actualization step in Raja Yoga helps to keep us motivated and keen on few specific and long term goals. The change transforms four energy centers of a human being namely spiritual, mental, emotional and physical
There are number of studies to quote the benefits of meditation or related techniques. My own experience of over a decade being part of this process and seeing others going through this determined and willing process of self transformation; I have come across people who have successfully handled Repressed Memories, depression, panic attacks and went ahead enjoying their lives. Another interesting observation I have made is people have more self confidence and optimism when dealing with crisis situation which by itself is a huge gift to any individual undergoing challenging times.
To relate the importance of positive attitude and the need to shed negative attitudes, let’s take the general tendency of a human being to complain. Right now the world economic problems have created a license for everyone to complain. The UK is grappling with the highest unemployment for 11 years and in the United States, for 14 years. People around the world are losing their homes, their jobs and their medical insurance. It is very bleak but does complaining or venting make you feel better? Statistics show that it does not. According to the Gallup Organization complaining costs the US economy between $250 to $300 Billion every year. In fact in US 90% of doctor visits are stress related and the #1 cause of office stress is coworkers and their complaining (Centers for Disease Control and Truejobs.com). Complaining is associated with: decreased life span, increased risk for heart attacks and stroke, fewer friends, less energy and less success. This shows our initial observation that most of us are ill equipped to face and manage our emotions; especially in crisis situations, which if mismanaged can turn into disaster.
Thus it is evident, even organizations would significantly benefit from people with better self management skills and a positive outlook towards life which stems from better self understanding. Much of the lifestyle related health risks can also be avoided by having the accurate knowledge of self and our role in this world. This whole world would be a lot better place to live with all the self aware enlightened people in it.
It is a common practice to make resolutions and To-Do lists for the New Year. Let’s do something different in 2009; by creating a Not-To-Do list. The first thing we will not do is, to engage our energy and emotions into negative and waste. This one practice will save us enormous energy to lead our lives with great effectiveness and enthusiasm. May the New Year bring Peace Love and Happiness to All!
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