"The most important decision you’ll ever make is whether you decide to live in a Universe that is supportive and friendly or one that is hostile and unkind.” – Albert Einstein
Have you ever been in a situation that invoked a realisation that taught you a fundamental aspect about life you may have taken decades to truly grasp otherwise? I have, this morning actually when I saw the sun rising and night turning into day in a matter of minutes. The realisation? That time waits for no one, and regardless of how you feel, time will pass you by, therefore there being none to waste. Well Richard Pier, a college student from London, UK, also had a profound realisation while talking to three construction workers. What profound wisdom could three construction workers provide I hear you say? Let's find out! This is Richards story in his own words.
It was a rainy autumn afternoon and I was walking home as I finish college early on Thursdays. I felt like treating myself to a snack at Greggs so I walked towards the high street when I noticed some construction work taking place. Being the curious person I am, especially as I did not understand what they were building, I walked towards one of them to enquire. "Hello, what are you guys building here?", I asked one of the men. "Please boy, I am awfully busy, I do not have the time to discuss these things!", he exclaimed. It was apparent that he was in a bitter mood. But being the persistent person I am, I enquired and got him to talk. "I am cutting these wretched planks of wood in this terrible weather that has turned against me! And for all this work, all we get is a very low salary, tasteless cold sandwiches, cheap coffee and the worst tools I have ever come across. On top of that, my finger got caught between two planks of wood and it hurt like the devils bite! Get out of here boy, do not stay here in this hell hole!". I then realised he hated his job which made him deeply upset, and I could see this from the way he walked with his back hunched over and the lines of misery carved into his face. I then saw another man a few meters away who looked more approachable, I decided to ask him what was going on.
Although he was not too enthusiastic either, he did stop to explain in full detail. He said "we're constructing a building for the locals. Although inconvenient, the rain is expected for this time of year so we've prepared accordingly with waterproofs. The food could be better but I can't complain as it's free, along with the coffee which does save us money in all fairness. The tools we've been given for the job are not new but they are certified and do get the job done reasonably well. If you're interested in becoming a construction worker, it's not a bad job as the pay is enough to cover lifes expenses but I have got a few minor scrapes while on the job which is normal in this line of work. Anyways I better get back to the grind!" He seemed slightly more upbeat than the last person but he too seemed a tad miserable, lazy and reluctant to do what he was doing.
I was about to get on my way when I heard some singing. I looked to see who it was – it was a man, a member of the construction team. Using a giant hammer to break large pieces of stone, he was absolutely covered in sweat but had a smile so wide, I thought the sun had come out. "Nice weather isn't it?", he said. "I love rain, it really feels as though God is nurturing the planet and blessing us with his rain, love and happiness". I paused and then asked him what he was doing. "I am buildings Gods home, heaven here on earth, the highest duty one can perform in their life. On top of that, we get all the food we can eat and coffee we can drink, I feel really fortunate to have such an assignment handed to me. To add to the excitement, I also get paid generously for the terrific work I am doing! I am glad I could make an impact on the team as well, as a few days ago I injured my knee as I tripped on a wire but am glad it happened. It taught me a valuable lesson in organisation. I quickly learnt what went wrong and told my supervisor. He was impressed with my keen eye for learning and safety precautions were introduced that has now made work safer for the whole team going forward. I felt as if God taught me this lesson personally, as I got to learn something crucial in a safe environment, with only a few minor scrapes. Make sure you pay us a visit anytime young man, we'd love to have bright young talent like you working in the team! Our meeting today was not mere coincidence but destiny". I politely nodded and was on my way, still taken back by his happy, upbeat and enthusiastic nature; he had a real zest for life! I loved how he was standing tall and proud, like a schoolboy taking up an exciting challenge for the first time.
For the next couple of hours I was in a state of confusion. How can three people that are doing the same job have three completely different levels of happiness, joy and positivity? How could one be going through hell, and another be in heaven? They were only 20 meters apart, if that! And then it dawned on me, the only thing that was different was the way they thought about the job they were doing. The first man was actively seeking the negatives while the third man was focused on the vision, "creating Gods heaven on earth" he said.
"If you choose, you can be joyful every moment of your life. It's time you made your choice. Don't be dead serious about your life: it' just a play!" - Sadhguru
Well, if our energy, happiness, joy and well-being can be altered by a change in thought and attitude, why would we ever entertain thoughts of negativity, defeat and bitterness? Why should we allow life situations to dictate our quality of life? Life can get hard sometimes I admit, but this is no reason to create and dump toxicity into our precious minds.
"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." – Wayne Dyer
"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven." – John Milton
I felt foolish, I remembered all the times I put myself under unnecessary stress, pressure and worry for no reason at all. And although the lesson was clear, it made me realise how easy it was to fall into the trap of letting the small things get in the way of my happiness. I was really thankful that I had that conversation with those three gentlemen. It dawned on me how little outward conditions have an impact on us, and it is our perception that makes our reality. Perhaps the man I spoke to at the end was correct, maybe it was no accident or "destiny" that I came across them. I felt fortunate to have learnt this valuable lesson on a beautiful, rainy and colourful autumn afternoon. Whenever uneasiness creeps into my mind, I now react by refocusing my lens to reacquire the correct perspective. I have now come up with a ritual whereby I replace any negative thoughts with positive ones. Although old habits die hard, this at least instils an alternative perspective which is enough to keep my harsh judgements, conclusions and negativity at bay. I now tell all I come into contact with that our peace of mind, joy and happiness does not depend on what we have or do not have, what we are or are not, but solely our attitude towards life and life conditions. A big growth point for me has been to now view life problems as puzzles, and who doesn't like to solve a greater puzzle? The harder the puzzle the better in my opinion!
Two of my closest friends, Tom and Harry have been friends since our school days. Tom managed to build upon the business his father handed down to him and he has done superbly, I have not met anyone who is wealthier with a larger house, more beautiful family with the world's greatest foods and drinks always in their fridge. But I rarely see him smile or relax, even on Christmas day! Harry, on the other hand, has always just about made ends meet, but in his own words, he always says to me "nature never ceases to amaze me, I can stare at a leaf and get lost in its sheer beauty, delicacy and artistic master craftsmanship. With cotton candy sunsets, cold beers on a hot day with a friend and the diversity of plants, animals and people, sometimes I pinch myself to check if this is all real. Heaven, people say? How do you know we're not already here?"
Well done Richard! What an insightful realisation for such a young man to have. If a simple change in mental attitude from one of bitterness, negativity and victimhood to fight, fun and happiness can change the health, appearance and life quality of a person, why should you or I ever put up with these health consequences that stem from a negative attitude? Why not see the positives, enjoy every moment and live life with ease? I would even go as far as to say that this new attitude be ceased like your life depends on it, as in reality, it perhaps does. Below are two attachments to refer to when we require the correct perspective.
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." – Epictetus
"Our life is what our thoughts make it." – Marcus Aurelius
"A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinion of what happens." – Michel de Montaigne
Comments