Skip to main content
I like it classic. I like it fun, fab and romantic. Adjectives? Yes, from the grammar geek’s point of view. What I am trying to drive home here, is how we like to qualify stuff. I didn’t quite understand when my professor said “We judge continually. Sometimes we’re so busy judging, that we arrive at deductions and conclusions, while barely taking note of what’s actually happening.” It’s like being on a fast ride – too much has gone by unnoticed while you are busy qualifying things, putting a label on each.
We’re continually called upon to assess, to give an opinion and it soon becomes a habit. And face it - it is one job less if you’ve already put a label on somebody or something. Therefore, you’re in a hurry to label, and libel, if necessary.
No, let’s not talk about people who ask for opinions about something but do not actually want to hear what’s wrong with it. Leaping into the realm of insecurity and realism is a no-no for now, when I am myself slipping into causticity and despondency.
“A problem defined is a problem half-solved” – right, we’ve heard that before. Sure, go ahead and define a problem. Put it in 0s and 1s. And when you're doing that, spare a thought for the dozens of shades of gray that you have brushed off. Nothing wrong with calling a spade a spade. But life does not play it in black and white. In times when nothing is what it seems and people are constantly second-guessing their own and others' opinions, how much can one afford to miss??

“If you judge people, you have no right to love them”. Not for the love of companionship, or even survival but for the sake of being and living, today and tomorrow, give it a rest. This is not an appeal, nor a homily.
It’s not easy to go about not-judging. I am so used to forming opinions, I can’t help it now. I cringe, reel, react and retaliate. I ought to rather take in impressions and leave it at that.
Invariably, I cling to an opinion after I have it made and Time has to shake me up to make me take a hard look. And before I know, it is one hell of a cycle. To travel is good. To reinvent oneself a few times in life is good. Perhaps for the same reason that it shakes you up.
Travel relaxes some people. Strange! I guess that’s because it lets them escape into the unknown. I scarcely see why. I suppose the insecure will never appreciate the joys of exploring the unknown. But then, one has to grow, in terms of soul-strength and make up for the paucity of knowledge. Observe and receive, like a child does. Good sense and faith are as safe as daddy’s arms – perhaps only in an ideal world. But learn, without judging. Learn, even while quirking an eyebrow.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

buying something - a perspective from an NRI's marketer

Indians are lovers of beauty and utility. To them, a high-involvement purchase decision is not only one that uses logic but channels emotion as well. A good purchase is one that continues to give joy while delivering functionality for the consideration put in. Conditioning of several generations, mainly governed by household economy, has been drilled into the Indian consumer. To claim a share of the taxpayer’s wallet, the value provided by a product is paramount. Indians famously seek to ‘repair and reuse’ as opposed to ‘use and throw’. The Indian diaspora largely remains true to this idea while mulling over a purchase. They seek to gain lasting value. The fillip of value lies in an item reminiscent of the motherland – one that smacks of the flavours, tastes, and the colourful heritage that India signifies. Uniquely Indian items – and they are many – have historical, religious, or nostalgic significance for non-resident Indians. Linking a product’s features and benefits to
Post a Comment
Read more

Sales people get annoying as does sales talk - here's how to steer clear of verbal pitfalls

My scenario: Seller: software maker (on-rolls sales agent making the pitch) Buyer: a digital marketing company looking to buy software to collect feedback from its employees on HR policy, workplace conditions, etc. Annoying things a salesperson says When needs match with offerings, sales happen with vim and vigor. An astute salesperson analyses prospects well before making them an offer. He/she thinks of the needs of the customer from the big-picture point of view and recommends products that meet them to the fullest extent. Finding out these needs and framing them to suit a product’s utility calls for a fluid visualisation ability and tact. A sales agent needs to discuss the expectations of the customer as part of ‘needs analysis’. In the interaction with a prospect, the best impression a salesperson can give off is one of honesty and knowledgeability. At every stage, a seller has to be an active listener and a quick thinker. They have to ask all the right questions
Post a Comment
Read more

Reacting to wellness stimulus

Meditating has been a roadblock in my path to well-being. Or at least that’s what I think but I met some useful advice today: meditation is not about keeping the mind from wandering, but letting it finish its wanderings and come back to the present, awareness of the physical state – breath most importantly, so much so, that it burns itself out of aimless buzz, for a time at least. This is why they say meditate for at least 20 minutes, at least once a day. Doing this lets the mind run out of steam for the time as far as distractions are concerned. Once the clump of noisy thoughts is dealt with, what remains is, surprise surprise, a clear mind to deploy at the tasks of the day. And goodness knows we have distractions. These distractions are closely linked to our insecurities. Is it Facebook notifications that I can’t keep from checking out – why am I so concerned with what people might be saying of me? Long term goal: learn to offer a wide berth to others’ opinions of me. Is
Post a Comment
Read more