Mind Games

Decisions - neither simple to take nor simple to understand. Recent events have made me ponder about what goes into taking the decisions that we do. The smallest of decisions are thought over - either consciously or subconsciously! Most often we do what 'suits us the best'...but what does that mean?

Everyday decisions are not as rational; majority of the times these are spontaneous - governed by emotions and moods. By spontaneous, I don't say they are not thought over...However, spontaneous we may be, our little friend who resides in our head keeps an account of all that we read, write, see and analyzes it before we can blink an eye. He has the data ready all the time, he only presents it at the time we need to 'take a call.' Therefore, I say that the decisions taken even at the spur of the moment are pretty much thought over at a subconscious level.

The decisions which involve a trade-off or a large investment might seem a little more complicated than our everyday decisions. Many would say we weigh our options and choose what we feel is more beneficial. But I still feel the choices are emotional. At the outset, one will always justify ones decision by applying logic and make believe the importance of taking that decision. But I feel logic is what we use to convince ourselves of the rationality of our emotions. Right from our childhood we are conditioned to trust evidence rather than going by our gut feel. As we grow, we are expected to take a "well thought" decision instead of following our heart (emotions). Therefore, quantifying emotions or rationalizing them at the time of decision making is a defense mechanism that we use to pacify our super ego.

I met a few car buyers recently. Majority wanted to buy a vehicle for the comfort of bigger families. While the first criteria was the price, there was no compromising the original purpose. Some settled for smaller cars or cars of a lesser quality engine but higher comfort level that fit into the price bracket. In such cases, the price might seem to be the deciding factor...but it is true only at a superficial level. However, the key trigger in the purchase, when you dig down deeper you will realize, is the comfort of the family - a more emotional than rational call!

So how is this decision any different from our day to day decisions? Perhaps because there is a conscious effort to validate our emotions by evidence. I was once told by a very Senior Training Consultant that decisions are a result of fear. Advertisers don't sell products, they touch upon what consumers fear and the product sells itself. Boeing does not sell an airliner, it sells safety thousands of feet above the ground. Kelloggs does not sell healthy breakfast, it sells the fear of obesity. Olay does not sell creams to nourish your skin, it sells the fear of not being beautiful. For that matter, Thumbs up and Mountain dew do not sell adventure, they sell the thought of overcoming the fear of death!

Therefore I say, decisions are a function of our emotions!

Awesome Mausam

I was sulking all day, thanks to my dependence on my blackberry phone. The moment it gave up on me I sensed doom. The feeling of having to depend on an inanimate object is depressing but the feeling of not depending on it or abstaining from it is even worse. I was brooding over my non functioning phone while in the bus on my way back home when I thought of getting down at the nearest showroom and browsing through the phones available in market. ‘You never know, I might just need to buy a new one just in case this cannot be repaired!’

I followed my heart and spent time checking phones in the showroom. After a survey to my heart’s content, I stepped out of the shop into massive showers. There were no cars on the road and no people even. The closed shops were lined by human figures. Every corner, railing, platform, stall with a cover on top served as a refuge for 5-8 people.

I waited for a bit but the scene was so beautiful! It did seem a little scary initially but my instinct told me to give into this rage of Lord Varuna. Without thinking twice, I opened my umbrella and stepped onto the footpath, surrendering to the growling and roaring nature.

I felt a surge of excitement as I took the first step. The raindrops hit my umbrella and I feared they would tear it to pieces. I walked along the footpath. A jump in every step I took. The wet monsoons had managed to lift my spirits and rid me off the dampness within. The corners of my lips twitched and curved into a smile. Perhaps monsoons have that effect on you. The weather was cool, road empty and streets drowning into the accumulated water. Neither the water logged lanes nor the lightning intimidated me. I was on a different trip. I still fail to understand what infused so much excitement and happiness into a meaningless day but something had gone right, something inexplicable had happened. I had forgotten about my phone, my work and I was enjoying that moment. Carpe Diem!!!

I managed to cross the road after endless efforts of maneuvering through ankle deep water. Still not many cars on the road. The cacophony of Mahim had come to a rest. The usually crowded roads seemed lifeless. ‘How can roads which were abuzz a few minutes ago look deserted all of a sudden?’ But they sure were. A few empty cabs fleeted past, none willing to take on passengers. The drivers were perhaps rushing to the safety of their homes. It’s amazing how we think of our loved ones when in peril. It’s the ‘kya pata, kal ho na ho’ moment for each one of us!

After a few futile efforts, one cabbie agreed. The distance wasn’t much really. Once home I thought to myself, 'Hardships never fail to find you, but it is what you make of it. Our perceptions play a large part in what we make of what we have. The smaller joys of life are far more important, it is important to do what your hearts says! I stepped into the rains because I felt like doing it at that moment and walked that little distance, but it worked wonders for me. It allowed me to get drenched, wade through water logged streets, feel the rain drops on my face.I embraced it all willingly and in return I lived that moment fully! Concentrate on the smaller joys of life, the big ones will follow ;) Live the day my friend! and every day will become a happy memory'

Kala Ghoda

The otherwise aloof street comes alive when the Dark horse rises! The merriment is contagious. A glass pyramid awaits you at the entrance; but that is just the beginning!!! A never seen before, unusual and exciting scene stands before you as you enter the Kala Ghoda Fest!

It is a platform where creativity is unleashed....and at it's best. A yellow beetle, the filth eating bird - crow and a huge lantern made of plastic bottles spell out the theme of the fest - keep your city clean and pollution free. It is the most creative method of giving out a social message, I feel.

The street lights up as the sun sets. The undying enthusiasm of the performers, the tireless shoppers and mesmerized viewers make a great scene. Kala Ghoda is indeed a paradise for those who function with the right side of the brain.The art influences the shutterbugs to capture nuances of every artifact displayed , be it balloons, lampshades or the large black metal horse.

Every exhibit is an expression of human emotions so strong that they touch a chord within. Every art form is a cry for help - a personification of human misery caused by growing pollution and corruption.The fest mirrors feelings of a common man.

However, the fest retains its joyful charm in spite of sending out such an intense message. This equilibrium is maintained by street performers, puppet shows, the God of death, Yam and the God of love, Krishna posing with excited and amused shoppers.

I would say that the Kala Ghoda fest is a 3C experience - an experience of culture, creativity and cheer. Definitely, a must go!!!

A beautiful morning

The festive season has its own grace. I wonder what has been keeping me in high spirits for the last two weeks; is it the cool early morning breeze? Or my job? Or having people around? As I walked to the bus stop today to take my usual bus to work I thought to myself that though the year has come to an end, the festive mood hasn't. It is the smaller joys of life that I am concentrating on - a squirrel running up a tree, candles lit outside a church, whiff of fresh air and rays of sun penetrating through the clouds and making the road ahead look magical. Do festivals do this to you or is it just an aftertaste of a week well spent? I wonder.....

Religion, Spirituality and Mental Health

  ‘Most of what we take as being important is not material but they're vitally important to us.’  Our thoughts and notions build our perspective towards everything around us and our perspectives in turn determine our behavior. Beliefs have profound influence on health as well.

Religion came into being in order to structure beliefs of people and place them into an external power which they could depend on. Religious beliefs and practices always seemed to have tangible benefits. Having faith, believing that they will be punished for their sins and rewarded for their deeds by a power superior to them helped people rationalize their behavior. It helped form conscience - a sense of what is right, what is wrong and what is acceptable. Though religion, then, was associated with idolization, believing in deities, relating to Gods and spirits, worshiping temples, it brought a structure to the thoughts, beliefs and behaviors. The cults and idols allowed people to place their faith into something larger that is worshiped by many others similar to them.

The concept evolved over the years; however the underlying theme of finding solace remained the same. The method adopted was different. People with different temperaments chose to follow different ways to meet their goal of finding inner peace and tranquility. Spirituality, like religion, is commonly misconstrued as the search for absolute power. It focuses on finding meaning within oneself. If viewed objectively, the end goal of both the concepts is identical; both strive for mental resilience. While religion strives to do so by leaving it to divine intervention, spirituality intends to help individuals realize their potential. Therefore, concepts of religion, spirituality and mental health which seem to be mutually exclusive, in reality, are intertwined.

The path to attain mental peace differs as per choices of people and varies across different strata’s of the society. Commoners choose the conventional, religious approach whereas those with an intellectual bent of mind opt for the spiritual approach. The core belief of both these groups is that their preferred practices are means which will help them get through life.

Study of thoughts and behaviors in order to achieve mental soundness has been prevalent since ancient times. Mental health has also been an important aspect of teachings and epics and suggests how psychology has its roots in every religious concept across cultures. Research shows that after World War I, the clergy in conjunction with the church helped the emotional distressed by providing a number of major services relevant to both the care of the mentally ill and the promotion of mental health.

 The history of Indian spirituality is vast. The sermons in Bhagwat Gita, the central Hindu tenet, impart knowledge about thoughts, actions, behaviors and its consequences. It speaks about being truthful to ones abilities and realizing ones roles which is the crux of spirituality as well. It speaks about how emotions produce counter emotions, of feelings of belongingness.  The Vedas, Gita, Upanishads provide insight into personality types, causation of mental illnesses and their treatments. Vipassana introduces the concept of meditation which involves self exploration in order to refine ones way of life. Preksha Dhyan, a Jain adaptation of Vipassana, is a profound perception of the subtle innate phenomena of consciousness. Saint Ramdas’ Dasabodh and Manache Shlok talk about how human beings quest to understand them and achieve happiness is possible only through introspection. It can be seen that the science behind behavior, cognitive functioning and mental health has its roots in ancient transcripts and religious literature as well.

Spirituality and religious activity have been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. According to a study, older adults use prayer more than any other alternative therapy for health; 96% of study participants use prayer specifically to cope with stress. Prayers have thus been linked to better mental health, less depression, ability to cope, and generation of positive feelings. It wouldn’t be incorrect to assume that spiritual strategies could be used to form therapeutic interventions.

Hardships befall everyone. They cause a lot of discomfort and distress. The spiritual approach fosters hope and positive feelings and encourages people to tap, understand, and control their feelings of anxiety and dealing with their problems. An interesting phenomenon that catches attention here is how being connected with people around and something that is bigger than yourself can generate positive feelings, reduces apprehension and brings about psychological well-being. Subscribing to such groups create a sense of belonging which serves as a support system. People with identical goals or are like-minded tend to associate increasingly with each other. Therefore, a process of mutual reinforcement takes place. Groups are most therapeutic in dealing with emotional disturbances. They allow transference of thoughts creating an environment that is conducive to self exploration and understanding others perspectives.   

Spiritual groups, if constructed in an appropriate manner, can help individuals delve deeper into their subconscious to detect the causal factors of their emotional distress and provide opportunities for rehabilitation if required. Spiritual awareness can add a powerful and much-needed dimension whenever our human limits are reached.  Some psychologists have devised a Spiritually Augmented Cognitive Behavior Therapy (SCABT) which is a meaning based therapy. It helps in developing an overall consciousness.

Religion is made by man in order to depend, belong and trust and it is within oneself that one can find the support that one needs, the strength to face problems and the belief to be able to go on. Hope, faith and compassion seem to play a crucial role in overall healing and religion or spirituality can contribute heavily to holistic healing. We know ourselves the best and thus could be our own healers. Sound mental health is possible if people are made to realize the power and will that they hold which can counter any disturbances faced. It has been correctly said that “The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion”

Mark-Shit!

The sector that teaches organization and discipline has a rather disruptive infrastructure. Masters students of an esteemed university recently realized the worth and difficulties of education – how difficult can the education system be to be precise.

The office staff has time and again proven their incapability to assist students. I doubt if there has even been a single exam conducted without any confusion or last minute running around by the students. The university perhaps considers it their responsibility to train students on crisis management and enhancing their tension handling abilities by diligently setting anxiety provoking tasks for their students every year around exam time! It is an absolute mockery of education.

Misplacing examination forms, making students wait endlessly in queues for submitting forms on the day before or the day of examinations and impolite behavior instead of resolving doubts is commonplace. The university has raised its bar this time by printing incorrect mark sheets thereby failing many students studying Psychology – an error that can cost students their carrer!

Early this year, the university had set an incorrect question paper for the Clinical Psychology students leaving them with no choice but to attempt whatever they knew. Two questions out of six were not just from a part of the portion that was not there for that semester, but also from a completely different course. A harrowed group of students had even written to the university addressing the issue but as expected the plea fell on deaf ears.

On the D-day the excitement of psychology students drained away when they could not find their seat number in the grade sheet put up by the university on their website. After incessant calling, it was found that those not featuring on the list were marked as “failed” thereby sending students in frenzy. After a lot of cajoling and questioning by the students as well as the HOD, the university realized that they had failed to key in the correct marks for some while for others they had keyed in subjects of another course by mistake. Eventually, they decided to take action and sent a bunch of corrected mark sheets to the respective colleges in a week’s time.

Though it may seem like, but this story has not yet reached its happy ending. All is not well! Some heaved a sigh of relief on getting their mark sheets while some faced the nightmare for longer. The “efficient” university misplaced the ledger submitted by the HOD of Psychology of one of their branch. A few unfortunate students kept doing the rounds of the university to get what is rightfully theirs. The Constitution gave us the right to education, but forgot to mention that it is at the cost of your sanity!

What is beyond my understanding is the reckless behavior and worth of education in the minds of those running these universities and those working in the education sector. Do they realize that education is not just imparting knowledge but also has a formative effect on the mind and the character? Modeling such irresponsible behavior and callous attitude is sure to have a negative influence! It is high time universities stop taking students for granted and expend efforts at building a better future for their students.