Basking Brooks

Hope and strength

“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.”
– Helen Keller

“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.”
– Bernard Williams

“Hope is being able to see that there is light
despite all of the darkness.”
– Desmond Tutu

Confusions and hurting feelings surround us all the time. Life never halts pelting stones right at us; it is up to us to either get beaten up and fall (or) evade them and move ahead.
Enough words have been uttered by many philosophers since time immemorial, about life not being a bed of roses.

It is not always sunshine and rainbows. In fact, every day is a survival test. No one on this huge planet is capable of escaping this. We face change in everything. Our daily routine might go for a toss. Nothing in life can go
as a pre-programmed executable file.

Since life is such a bizarre array of changes around every corner, what must be done by us to tackle it head on? How should we be equipped so that whenever life goes tough, we are in a manageable position to maneuver through the maze-like situations efficiently with a clear mental and conscience stability?

Humans have the ability to think and feel which marks them especially apart from other animal species.

There are two very powerful tools that can help a battling soul to rejuvenate and fight back with intense positivity and clarity.
Life is not a predefined notion, where everything goes as per plan. Plans get delayed or even canceled while we are busy preparing for the outcome.

The tool that helps our mind to not give up on such adverse situations in life is the wonderful ‘Hope’. Hope and confidence are not the same.
Confidence is something you have when you feel pretty sure about your present and the near future. Being hopeful means, even in times of crisis, you hold on to the positive rope and hang until the situation returns to a
subtly normal state.

Confidence is influenced by a variety of factors and they all or many are subjected to vulnerabilities, rendering confidence to be broken at extremities. Hope can be tested and if you have mastered it even when the time is not favorable, you have won. You strongly believe that everything is happening for a reason which for the time being is not disclosed to your eyes, and that everything needs to pass, because that’s how the Universe functions.

The beautiful rainbow must disappear after spending sometime illuminating the dull sky with bright colors and serving several spoons of happiness to our eyes and hearts. Similarly, the tornado that’s wreaking havoc to life and property on its path must eventually slow down and vanish.

Remember something forever. In this vast Universe, you are not the only one going through hard times. Many are in a worse state. Think about them and feel grateful. Also, accept that it is alright if you do not feel fine on a particular day.

Life’s just the way it is. No one has ever claimed to have decoded life.

Everyone’s life is a unique unplanned travel. Live it to get the most out of it.

The mere feeling of hope alone cannot help you traverse the battlefield you are faced with in the present. You might believe that everything will turn out all fine.

But, how to be fine at present where everything is real – the pain, the suffering, the grief, the anger, the fear, everything? You need strength.

Even when you are facing a real battle which may scare the very soul to be strong. Why? Because, you have to. You cannot afford to fall apart. You are born into this world and you have not died yet, meaning your purpose here is still unfinished. Trust your gut and push forward. You need not jump. Take small steps.
Do not worry about the world. It knows nothing. Yes! You’d eventually come to know of that. Take absolute care of yourself. Cry your heart out, if need be, but, don’t crumple. Hold your chin high. Do not give up or break down, because everyone else in this world may either lend a weak hand, some may pretend to lend a hand, some may stand at a safe distance and
feel, some may be even glad you are going down.

When you are strong, you know you are powerful enough to lift yourself up from any kind of situation. You’d start running on your track; you’d be mending your cracked heart and mind by yourself. You would have become
your own medicine. You would feel that you are enough. You would have become a lighthouse, you shed light on your path.

You are self-illuminating, self-guiding.
You may need a tight, warm hug (or) a shoulder once in a while, from the dear ones, but, it is in your hands to erect your fallen fort to upright standing position. No one can ever do that for you except you.

Also, do not forget one thing. Just because you feel sad or flustered because of a new trouble, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it would stay forever. Time never stops. Everything draws to an end, whether good or bad.

Never let anything or anyone ruin the peace of mind you possess.

Nothing in this world is worth enough for that sacrifice.