Challenging conventional thinking...

The cost of tolerance

In life, we’re taught to be tolerant.

It’s almost as if the more tolerant you are, the kinder you come across, and hence the better you are as a human being. 

But being tolerant can come at a cost, often in the form of a lack of boundaries in relationships that result in frustration and conflict. 

There’s another area where being excessively tolerant can backfire- our own lives. 

If you think about it, the quality of our lives comes down to what we’re willing to tolerate. 

A bad relationship? Poor finances? An unhealthy work culture? It’s all to do with the current tolerance level in every one of those areas. 

When I took this inventory of my own life, I was taken aback by all that I’d been tolerating. 

You’re free to try out this exercise for yourself by rating your current minimum standard across key areas of your life- health, wealth, relationships, contribution, spiritualty etc.

When you’ve had this reality check, it may be time to raise your bar and create a new minimum standard. 

As the mystics would say, the universe doesn’t give you what you want. It gives what you’re ready for.

Changing the world, one thought at a time

The mind is a double-edged sword.

It can be our greatest ally or the greatest enemy depending on how we tame it.

The costs of an untamed mind can be pretty heavy. Not just on ourselves but even the world around us….

Consider this:
The mind carries a bunch of beliefs…

When some of these unhealthy beliefs remain unquestioned, they become rigid…

Rigidity in beliefs turns into stereotypes…

Stereotypes turn into prejudice…

Prejudice forms biases and hate…

Hate turns into violence…

Enough said.

There’s only one way out of this mess:

Question existing beliefs, especially the ones that carry judgment.

Changing the world can start with something as seemingly insignificant as changing how we think….

Bet you didn’t see that one coming.

Therapy for free

When dealing with life’s blues, nothing feels more comforting than talking things through with someone.

And while therapy still carries some stigma to some extent, there are parts of the world that have been doing this naturally and have cracked the code to overcoming adversity.

Trevor Noah has spoken about how African cultures have been doing this for generations. These communities have a system of consulting the elderly for any worries and problems.

Unlike us, who rather pay an arm and a leg to a stranger because dare any acquaintance get a hint of our troubles! these folks in the village have no qualms about sharing their fears…

Not only do they lighten their load but they also receive profound life advice for absolutely no cost.

Whether it’s a therapist or a trusted loved one, sharing thoughts and feelings out loud can solve half the problem.

As long as we’re willing to embrace vulnerability and let our much-protected guard down.

In case you missed me last week..

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