Feeling alone logged into the Zoom call.
‘What’s up Rahul,’ said Rinku_Topper.
‘No one does anything for me,’ said Rahul. ‘Or cares for me or supports me.’
‘Why do you think that?’ asked Rakesh.
‘Because everyone’s only bothered about themselves bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘Even I should bother about myself. Be selfish.’
‘You should definitely care about yourself first,’ said Rakesh. ‘But that bit about others not supporting you may not be true.’
‘Well, people have helped,’ said Rahul. ‘But not enough. I always struggle alone.’
‘Aha, the ‘not enough’ syndrome,’ said Rakesh. ‘When someone gives, we judge — enough or not — instead of accepting it gracefully. We focus on what’s not there and that energy expands and consumes us. Rahul, to get you out of your hole, let’s first see what you have and if it’s ‘enough’.’
‘How?’ he asked.
‘By doing a gratitude exercise,’ said Rakesh. ‘Take a paper and a pen. Write your name in the middle and then write the names of all the people who helped you and how. How many are there?’
‘Ten…fifteen’ said Rahul.
‘Get started,’ said Rakesh. ‘Parents, siblings, ancestors, relatives, friends, teachers, doctors, colleagues, coaches, employers, helpers, those who shared an encouraging word, a gift, a smile, an idea, an inspiration, drivers… leave no one out. What else?’
‘We could add all our possessions, gadgets,’ said Rinku_Topper. ‘Institutions we studied in, organisations, stores, service providers, utilities, government services…’
‘Whoa,’ said Rahul. ‘Why should I thank institutions, service providers and government? I’m paying them right?’
‘We are,’ said Rakesh. ‘But when we imagine life without them we understand how much we take them for granted. Hundreds of people support us to provide us a good life. None of us make it alone.’
‘Wow,’ said Rinku_Topper in awe. ‘That way, the whole world’s supporting us,’
‘‘We can either embrace it and feel supported or reject it and feel alienated,’ said Rakesh. ‘By being grateful for what we have, we focus on the treasure we have and expand it. In fact, by being grateful for people who have ‘done enough’, we can even change our relationship with them — and get even more.’
‘Thanks bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘That’s a lot to be grateful for. I’m not feeling alone anymore.’
PRO TIP: When you’re grateful for what you have, it expands. When you’re not grateful for what you have, it diminishes.