This one is dedicated to my father and father-in-law, who btw, share the same birth date. What are the odds?! 😉
Fathers are very special indeed. They are the ones who just give, give and give more, never expecting anything in return. Not even an acknowledgement of the fact that you realise what they have gone through to make you what you are now. They are just happy by seeing you happy, they bask in the glory of your successes and encourage you in failures. They have the kindest hearts and always want the best for you.
There are many lessons worth sharing that I have learnt from my father and my father-in-law. Here are just a few of them.
Be Vigilant. This is my dad’s favourite and it has for sure helped me avoid many pit falls. Through the years he has narrated many stories of how people got into accidents, got mugged or even lost their mobile phones when they were simply unaware, or to frame it better were not careful enough; and how they could have avoided those situations just by being vigilant and attentive of their surroundings. This also implies to seizing the right opportunities, options, preempting problems and taking corrective measures well in advance.
Think Positive. In all situations in life, one thing that matters most is your thinking and attitude. Positive thinking infuses a lot of energy in your system. Energy one can use to accomplish tasks and goals. My father always taught me to think positively about even the worst situations and people. Somehow this has worked wonders in my life as by practicing this I have been able to see a complete change in these situations or people by exuberating positivism towards them. One of the good books that my father gave me was You Can Win. I find it useful to fill up my motivation whenever it goes low.
Be a part of the solution. Another important lesson that my dad probably gives to pretty much everyone around is to always think of solutions. He would quote the famous line “If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. Choose where you want to be.” Where most people just waste time dwelling deep into the problems so much so that eventually they lose hope, I have seen my father do a quick problem-analysis and then get into the problem-solving part. It’s almost as if the bad situations don’t bother him at all.
Believe in yourself. Be proud of who you are and have faith in your abilities. Each of us is a unique creation of God with our own gifts and abilities and we must believe in ourselves. Some of us are good at academics and some are good at arts. That doesn’t take way from the fact that each one is talented in his or her special way. Self-confidence is the best tool you can carry when you walk in to any situation in life. It is one of the most sought after qualities as well.
Deal with challenges. I have received many accolades for my ability to deal with difficult situations with ease when most people around me would just crumble. It’s in my genes. Dad always said in the face of a strong wind, bend down for a bit, let it pass, rise again and forge ahead. In most difficult situations, it is important to keep your cool, device solutions and move ahead. Also, while
facing challenging situations, it’s most important to give it your all continuously. Soon you will find that you are out of it. If you are facing a challenge at work, work harder. If you are facing a challenge in your personal life, give it more considerations. All challenges are conquerable. It’s just that some take more time.
Enjoy life and Let go of negative emotions. Work hard and party harder. After all, it’s true that ‘all work no fun’ makes all of us dull. Human life is worth exploring, travelling, and having a good time with whatever you enjoy the most. It’s also scientifically proved that spending 30 minutes each day in an activity that you enjoy helps in lowering your stress levels. Also, get rid of the emotional baggage. Life is too short to brood over stuff and harbour ill feelings. Each hour or minute that you spend in sadness is an hour of happiness that you take away from your life. ‘Let loose and let go’! Have fun.
Save before you spend. This one sounds like a Warren Buffet advice but has come many times from my father-in-law. It is a very useful one indeed. Saving or splurging is just a matter of habit. In order to make a beautiful tomorrow where you would enjoy all of what you wish too, you must inculcate a habit of saving. Start today if you haven’t started yet. Spend on all that you need and even on your wish lists, but after putting a 15-20% of your income aside each month. This will help you build on a investments and contingency funds, and you would only thank yourself for doing so when you need the money the most.
Treat others like you would like to be treated yourself. One of the many sought after qualities in both these gentlemen, is humility. I have seen them treat people with a lot of consideration and patience. Be it their bosses, subordinates, wives, kids, house help or a complete stranger. I have also noticed that most of the successful people and high ranking professionals are very humble. Imbibing the quality of humility does seem to take people a long way ahead in life.
Hope this post has added value. You are most welcome to share some of the lessons that you have learnt from your father.
Cheers!
0 Comments