Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Do we complain about things in the beautiful house? Do we constantly curse the traffic while sitting in our car? Biggest question: Are we unhappy?
Ah! How many times we have heard our parents, friends, loved ones say this to us, especially when we are emotionally down or need to make a decision. And how many times we have seen ourselves responding, ‘it isn’t so easy!’ I think it is time to figure out why it isn’t easy and what can make it Easy.
Have we come across terms like ‘follow the instincts’, ‘gut feeling’, ‘feelings’? And similar terminologies? I have come to believe that it all means ‘follow your heart.’
But how does one get there? Let us explore, what happens when we do not follow ‘our instincts’.
– Unhappy: With or without any reason! This is the state one associates oneself with primarily
– Guilty: Either self-inflicted or easily being pushed into guilt by others
– Self-doubt: constantly questioning our choices and decisions
– Thankless: first reaction to any situation is complain. Gratitude is unheard of
– Victim mentality: always feel like life is unfair
– Regret: ‘I wish I had or hadn’t done this’ attitude
I believe these are the few emotions, which are our constant companions if we ‘DO NOT FOLLOW THE HEART”
We are currently in our choice of career, have the company of the love of our life, have purchased the house and car of our choice, and similar ‘bigger’ decisions in life.
Let us answer this now: Do we constantly crib about the work day with our colleagues? Do we argue over silly things with our spouse? Do we complain about things in the beautiful house? Do we constantly curse the traffic while sitting in our car? Biggest question: Are we unhappy?
If the answer seems to be yes for the above questions, then one needs to understand that following the heart does not end after making the ‘big decisions’ of life. It needs to penetrate into every breathe we take. For e.g.:
– Saying yes to yourself and no to others if you ‘feel’ so
– Not do things just because you are ‘expected’ to do it
– Choosing to get out of situations/habits without justifications for it
– Keeping yourself as a priority
The ‘Smaller Things’ do really matter!
I believe there are two primary voices within us:
– The mind: this voice is the result of what we absorb from our outer circumstances and people. It is trained, always has reasoning, follows a pattern.
– Heart: this voice is what comes from within us. Has the possibility to makes us sound weird to the ‘minds of others’.
The trick is identify both the voices and follow the one which stands true for us!
Believe, that the heart will always guide us to true happiness! I have been following a simple formula:
1. Listen to the heart? how to?
2. Be aware of the voice of the heart. how to?
3. Be in the present moment.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Till it becomes the way of life….
There are signs I have experienced over a period of time on what ‘following the heart’ could look like to others, as well as to one’s own self:
– Resistance: If our heart filled decision or a choice comes with resistance from the outside world and even from our own mind, it sure is a sign that we have begun listening to the heart.
– Unorthodox: Our ideas and thoughts start becoming unorthodox in comparison to our old-conventional-mind driven self, and is looked upon as ‘possibly crazy’, then yes, we have begun listening to the heart
– State of Happiness: If we start being happy, ‘even with changes around us, most people not in alignment with us and in all kinds of circumstances’, then, Oh My God, we only listen to our heart!
Disclaimer: These are my personal experiences, I would highly recommend collecting your own 😉
Rabindranath Tagore said, “It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.”
So I choose to simply follow the heart. Do you?
Published here first.
Image source: Pixabay
Human, Mental Health Advocate, Entrepreneur, Writer, Composter, Energy healer, Friend of Earth, Insta @nehajubinm, Twitter @nehamick read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
Please enter your email address