By Robert Clements
Being Still, and Being Positive…!
As I had planned to start the writing of my latest book this morning, my mind was initially feverish with plots and impressive beginnings for the first chapter. It was like hundreds of little characters jumping into my head stamping their feet, waving their hands and vying for attention, and believe you me, there was enough scope for me to think I would grow mad before the first chapter was finished.
But, then came a thought, “Be still Bob!”
I did, and in that stillness has come the beginnings of a book, and I’m enjoying the writing!
It’s a simple example but in the famous book Moby Dick, portraying the whaling industry of his time, the author teaches us something about the power of being calm and cool just before getting something done:
There is a turbulent scene in which a whaleboat sails across a frothing ocean in pursuit of the great white whale. The sailors are labouring to keep the vessel on course in a raging sea. They labour furiously as they concentrate on the task at hand.
But there is one man however, who does nothing. He doesn’t hold an oar; he doesn’t perspire; he doesn’t shout. He is languid – utterly relaxed, quiet and poised. This man is the harpooner, and his job is to patiently wait for the moment.
Then the author gives us this sentence: “To ensure the greatest efficiency in the dart, the harpooners of this world must jump to their feet out of idleness, and not out of toil!”
What a marvelous picture for effective living!
It’s like saying, ‘You want to earn more, be idle!’
Those who would live each day to the fullest must prepare for them from a state of idleness rather than toil. For many people this means a daily period of quiet and meditation to focus, plan or pray. Self- help expert Brian Tracy calls it an indispensable daily time of planning and preparation. He suggests that we devote a full hour to being alone every morning. That is when we set our daily priorities so that we, and not events, are in charge of our lives.
“I don’t have time for that!” Some people complain. “My life is simply too busy to add one more thing to it.”
But you will find that a regular period of idleness to chart the day’s course, still the mind, listen and prepare, actually creates more time than it takes. For we are most effective when we jump to our feet out of idleness and not out of panic.
I guess it works because the harpooner always got his whale and the keys on my laptop have started grumbling from overwork.
So if you’re planning to do something big and exciting, try being still before the kill!
Another thought I’d like to leave you with today is to be positive!
Quite often as a newspaper columnist I forget that instead of concentrating on the dim side of situations, to remind my readers, things are also bright and beautiful!
Yes, they are!
A famous writer was in his study room. He picked up his pen and started writing: ‘Last year, I had a surgery and my gall bladder was removed. I had to stay stuck to the bed due to this surgery for a long time. The same year I reached the age of 60 years and had to give up my favourite job. I had spent 30 years of my life in this publishing company.
The same year I experienced the sorrow of the death of my father.
And in the same year my son failed his medical exam because he had a car accident. He had to stay in bed at the hospital with the cast on for several days. The destruction of the car was another loss.’
At the end he wrote: ‘Alas! It was such a bad year!’
When the writer’s wife entered the room, she found her husband looking sad and lost in his thoughts. From behind his back she read what was written on the paper. She left the room silently and came back with another paper and placed it on side of her husband’s writing.
When the writer saw this paper, he found his name written on it with the following lines:
‘Last year I finally got rid of my gall bladder due to which I had spent years in pain….
I turned 60 with sound health and got retired from my job. Now I can utilize my time to write something better with more focus and peace…..
The same year my father, at the age of 95, without depending on anyone or without any critical condition met his Creator…..
The same year, God blessed my son with a new life. My car was destroyed but my son stayed alive without getting any disability!’
At the end she wrote:
‘This year was an immense blessing of God and it passed well!’
The writer was indeed happy and amazed at such beautiful and encouraging interpretation of the happenings in his life in that year!
It’s not just we writers who don’t see the good, its all of us. Sometimes I’m angry with the political situation, but as I look back despite Covid-19, I also saw a nation of over a billion people having leadership that tackled the pandemic situation well. It could have been a lot worse looking at the magnitude of the task, but India had men and women who rose to the occasion, and for that we are thankful.
Today, look back and maybe, put a brighter bulb to many a dismal situation we thought we went through the past year, and like the writer’s wife, realize, it’s not bad, ’tis good..!
Two thoughts, stillness and positivity..!
(The Author conducts a Writers and Speakers Course for schools, colleges and corporates. For more details call him on 9892572883 or send a message to [email protected])