Learn to be Free, To be Joyous

May 1, 2004, 12.00am IST
Manish Maladkar.

Each day is a chance to invest in life; a chance to renew yourself. To shed yesterday’s skin.
To unburden yourself. To get rid of yesterday’s hurt. Be glad of life each day as it gives you a chance to work, love and play; to look at the sun. And then when the sun sets, don’t cry — the tears will make you miss the beauty of the stars.


Life moves on and if you don’t stop and look at the wonders already present in your life, you will miss life altogether.
Think of big thoughts but relish the small joys life offers you each day. Maybe it’s as simple as smiling at someone. For that could be the last day of life — for you or for her.


A small genuine act from you will cost you nothing but it could mean everything to somebody that day. Life is a succession of moments. Live each moment. Life has no romance without risk. Any action carries some amount of risk, may be less or more, but the element of risk is always present.

If there is no wind, row. Make things happen rather than let things happen. One can give nothing whatsoever without giving oneself, risking oneself. The most important thing in life is not what you get but what you give.

Once a preacher called at the home of a very poor family. When he came out, he found one son admiring his new car, so the preacher explained that he had received it as a gift from his brother.


Most lads would say, “I wish I had a brother like that.” But this one said, “Mister, I wish I could be a brother like that.”

If you are not enjoying this journey, for sure you won’t enjoy the destination. It will become a moment to dread, not a moment you can actually look forward to. It’s not what happens that determines our future, but what you do about what happens that counts.

Make the most of life. Earn all that you can, save all that you can, and give all that you can. Although greed comes from the desire to obtain something, it is not satis- fied by obtaining. The true antidote of greed is contentment. Take yourself less seriously.

Conquer the mind and you conquer the world. Looking back strains your neck muscles. Similarly, living in the past strains your life. Don’t dwell on the past, have faith in yourself and you will have faith in others. Fulfil your destiny. Remember, no one can make you unhappy without your consent.

The way you cope with life, is what makes the difference. Even peace of mind is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it. You have to reach out to other people. That will teach you to forgive people and also forgive yourself.


Forgiveness means letting go of the past. Compassion is about stepping outside yourself. A kind compassionate act is often it’s own reward. Live your life without complaining, just like the tree.

We cannot stop suffering in the world. But we can stop it in our mind, provided you know your mind, which is the source of negative thoughts. Only you can doctor your mind.
Your happiness is dependent on consistency. When you experience inconsistency you experience disappointments, resentments and self-pity, guilt and grief.


Learn to be free, learn to be joyous. Learn to let go if someone passes away, learn to forgive yourself and others. Once you are free, the fear of death will trouble you no longer.