This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
On how world events can provide a new perspective on life
We live in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented society where we follow our daily routines day in and day out, which makes it easy for us to get lost in the midst of it and lose sight of the essential things in life. We focus on the next achievement, such as the next promotion, the next car or the next vacation. We are buried so deep in the pursuit of the next goal that we forget to take a moment to breathe in and reflect on what we are already blessed with.
Gratitude has become a rare character trait these days. It is an attribute we should all strive to cultivate and practice on a daily basis because if we think about it, there is plentiful to be thankful for.
Last week, I realized that I lost perspective on life and that I became ungrateful amidst the day-to-day routine. I was so fixated on what I didn’t possess and aimed to attain that I completely forgot about what I already have. This realization gradually started sneaking up on me when I started reading more about current global affairs.
I have finally made it my habit to scan the newspapers online every morning before proceeding with any other tasks (very important in my field of work, PR). This has led me to become more appreciative of my life because I see what’s happening beyond my safe, comfortable and secure bubble.
I now see the tragedies, horrors and injustice people are facing in other parts of the world. I’m exposed to the stories of people who are trapped in their countries in the middle of the war, having to fight for survival, people who are denied an education due to poverty, people who lose their children due to starvation, and people who work under inhumane working conditions that we can’t even fathom.
I’ll stop here because the list goes on and on. In summary, a large percentage of the human population is stripped of their basic human rights of food, water, safety, education and shelter. The exact things most of us take for granted. It is partially embedded in our nature to incessantly strive for more, but sometimes, we just have to take a step back and remind ourselves that we are blessed for what we have.
One way we can practice gratitude is to stop comparing our lives to those above us because there will always be people who have more; instead, we should compare our lives to those below us because that number is far bigger. I know, these practices are easier said than done. It definitely takes time change your way of thinking. But the very first step is realizing it.
