A mentally strong person always remains rooted in the present moment

Readers may recall that remarkable Sunday afternoon at Lords. The year was 1983 when India was defending a paltry 183 and Mohinder Amarnath ambled in and trapped Michael Holding, LBW. We won the World Cup -which was then known as the Prudential Cup - for the first time and Indian flags fluttered across the stadium and Indians in unison celebrated the victory.

This was a case of positive thinking by the Indian cricket team which metamorphosed in positive results.  Bertha Calloway writes, "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." Why are some people mentally strong and some not? What distinguishes a decisive person from a person who only frets and fumes and lives in the past? Mental strength and attitudes greatly depend on two important factors. These are extraversion and introversion. Now who are extraverts and introverts? Extraverts are normally opened, sociable and socially assertive, oriented towards the world outside. On the contrary introverts are withdrawn and more than often shy by nature. They normally tend to focus on themselves, on their own thoughts and feelings.  oted psychologists like Carl Jung elaborate this in depth by stating that humans have strains of both the attitudes - that is extraversion and introversion.

Invariably extraverted thinking leads to logical and objective thinking which at times can become dogmatic. Such individuals are creative by nature and seize opportunities. On the other hand, introverted thinking leads to reserved and undemonstrative thinking. So, on that salubrious Sunday when Lords (the Mecca of Cricket) was soaked in brilliant sunshine the Indian cricket team became extraverted and the West Indian cricket powerhouse turned into introverts.  Perhaps we can configure an equation mathematically in our minds. Mental strength = Positive Attitude + Extraversion Attitude-Introversion Personality. From a different space humans can become achievers in life and surmount problems, by living in the present. A couple lost their daughter in a tragic accident, yet through the powerful techniques imparted by Art of Living in the form of Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama, yoga, meditation, and seva/service were able to confront the problem and reconfigure their lives.

Another colleague lost his wife, but by attending various courses of Art of Living regained his mojo. He is not only attending courses but is continuously conducting courses and spreading waves of happiness. Yet another friend from the railways discovered that his daughter was suffering from life-threatening cancer. It was his surrender to the Master and following the techniques of Art of Living that transformed his life. Today he has quit railways and is running a software firm which is making path breaking advances.

All these people have one common strand. Their unflinching belief in Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and following the fundamental tenets of Sadhana, Satsang, practice of Sudarshan Kriya, being in knowledge and performing seva. This has brought sanity to their lives. There are innumerable such instances, where Gurudev has provided the necessary direction and devotees have followed the path. And they are all living in the present moment. A mentally strong person does not succumb to macabre thoughts. Such an individual maintains a positive disposition and controls emotions and not the other way round. Such individuals do not fall prey to stress easily, improve the quality of their lives and enhance their performance. But this the seeker can achieve through regular practice. They do not wallow in self-pity."Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality."

(The writer is the CEO of Chhattisgarh East Railway Ltd  and is a faculty of the Art of Living. Views are personal)