Episode 10: “Conquer Complacency”

05-Apr-2007 02:32, Canon Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, 9.0, 65.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 160

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In our quest to achieve enduring superlative success, we often find that at times we don’t really feel motivated to do our best. Many times, we simply feel that we would be better off living a sedentary lifestyle. The reason behind this deceptive sense of satisfaction is complacency. Many times, we feel contented and satisfied despite under-performing in a given situation. This essentially happens owing to the fact that we are completely unaware of our true capabilities. Hence complacency in a way truly keeps us from realizing our true potential. How can we overcome it? How can we ensure enduring superlative success? How can we conquer complacency? Listen to the following audio snippet to find the answers.

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Emotional Quotient

As you well know that our spiritual quotient is ultimately drawn from our physical quotient and our emotional quotient. In the last chapter, we discussed in brief about the physical quotient and the ways in which we can enhance the quality of our lives to ensure that we remain pro-active as long as we live. In this chapter, we are essentially going to elaborate on our emotional quotient. What does emotional quotient mean? How is it so instrumental in determining our rate of success on the spiritual path? How can we improve our emotional quotient? The answers lie herein.

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It is often observed that many people value their emotions first and foremost in their lives. Many people literally feel that their emotions truly make them human; and that the journey of life is made more endearing and more enjoyable through emotions. While the fact remains that our emotions essentially connect us to our human side, they are at the same time the source of all our weaknesses. When we inherently make any decision based on our emotions, we often see that it leads us to ultimate misery and regret. The reason as to why this happens is based in the fact that our emotions always cloud our discerning intellect. When we are emotionally charged we cannot make dispassionate judgments of different situations. Often we go into any situation with a pre-conceived notion that is drawn from our emotions. Thus when the situation demands a specific solution from us, we are unable to provide a good one.

Emotions always result in multiple entanglements. Our emotions that essentially spur from our mind are always entrenched in duality. We can never get a consistent response from an emotional person. He is always bound to be meandering aimlessly as his emotion dictate. Thus, the person who is inherently emotional in nature can hardly survive the journey of life.

So at this point one may ask as to how one can truly live his life. Is he supposed to ignore all his emotions and live life like a machine? Is he supposed to become heartless and unresponsive to other people’s emotions? Well the answer is divided on that account. When it comes to your own case, always keep in mind, that your emotions must never dictate your actions. It is easier said than done. One has to always be aware of his feelings and his underlying thoughts to discern whether his emotions are truly directing the course of his actions. One needs to be perpetually aware and self-introspective in nature. But in doing so, the seeker has to ensure that he cannot turn into a ruthless and emotionally depraved individual. Often it so happens that when our own emotions are not regarded, we tend to hurt other people’s feelings. This must never be the case, or you would always be at the receiving end of other’s hatred.

What the seeker has to indeed accomplish is to strike a perfect balance between sensitivity and sensibility. He must be considerate enough to understand the emotional turbulences that take place in those around him and yet he must be stoic enough to be able to take his decision based on the dispassionate analysis of the situation. Upon doing so, he ultimately realize that his decisions pay out great dividends in the future.

Emotions are but momentary impulses of our troubled minds. To ignore them would indeed be dangerous; and to comply with them would indeed be foolish. What we have to accomplish is a wholesome approach to life, where our emotional receptivity towards others is high and yet we ourselves remain dispassionate enough to make the right choice and seamlessly progress in the path that leads towards our ultimate salvation.

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