THE HARDBOILED CYNIC

 

An all-time favourite number of many music lovers expressing the universal  pithy words  :
कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे
लोगो का काम है कहना !
signifies  that we have to accept other people's unwanted critical views and opinions ! Very few of us have that dextrous ability to let it go as Kishore Kumar belts out the  next line
छोड़ो बेकार की बातों को.....
as a consequence of which many are adversely affected and become diffident .
Is it necessary for others to talk in a disparaged manner trying to point out one's shortcomings /flaws and demeaning them ! Why are we so judgemental ? We have no right to judge others because of what they look like or believe in .
Well many will argue that they are veracious beings and it is their candid opinions that they express whether the other likes it or not , whether one is hurt , offended or discouraged .Some such toxic people cause more harm than good by their honest criticism. The naked truth is that one can never hope to find any change in them for they are immersed in self glorification !
        However,  what we can do is to make a conscious effort to ignore them and their harsh judgements .It is not easy as it causes hurt that leads to harbouring a grudge for such humans. But what we need to bring to mind is that such people deserve compassion as they are enmeshed in their own complexes.
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about !
This is what we need to remind ourselves.
As we trudge along life's journey either we judge or we have been judged .Several of us do not have cognizance of this empirical fact.
A  natural  human failing that most of us are instinctively  prone to is that whenever we are in the company of friends  our immediate tendency is to discuss others  and their lives , mannerisms , their physical attributes etc mostly in a condescending manner. Only if we consciously negate this tendency and try to be more compassionate and accepting it would expand our minds and definitely elevate our inner being .Negativity and gossip tends to constrict our otherwise joyful core being .
We need to realise that as human beings we are all sailing in the same boat...no one is perfect . All of us have  several shortcomings and weaknesses which some awakened souls attempt to control and mitigate to a certain extent .
         Moreover one who knows oneself is never disturbed by what others think of him / her. So it is all important to know ourselves , our own capabilities,  our forte   also our own failings and foibles and have a balanced opinion about ourselves  as well as be confident about ourselves .
What others opine about us is their business and cannot be bridled.
         Therefore we need not accept , argue or feel humiliated by others' thinking but conscientiously try to just Let Go !
Our core being is like the vast blue sky untainted and unaffected . If only  we are able to shed our angst and repose in ourselves we will be at peace ...that state can be achieved through meditation alone .
And then we can consciously  refrain from turning into HARD-BOILED CYNICS or bear the brunt of their cynicism !