Glass Half Full

The ability to look at the brighter side of life is a gift. Many people get engulfed with what’s missing and forget to enjoy the abundance of life. Living with trust in life was innate to me. Being simplistic and innocent, it would not even strike me to be cautious. Many falls and bumps later, I tipped to the other side and became cynical, where I could only see the faults.

When I was fed up with myself, did I start to reflect and realise that I had lost sight of my ability to see goodness in everything.

Life is always fair — it gives us what we deserve, not what we wish for. When I stopped seeing goodness in myself and the world, my life was filled with agitation and my relationships had shrunk. We are born perfect. The big question is do we know it and harness our perfection or do we constantly try to fill an illusory gap.

Paralympics is an inspiring display of seeing life as glass half full rather than half empty. The medals are a tribute to our inner perfection by going beyond our perceived imperfections. I had the privilege of interviewing Paralympics Silver Medallist Deepa Malik and her daughter, Devika Malik. The sheer grit to prove to the world that they are not limited by their body, is a lesson for many. Winning many medals, they have become a beacon of hope.

At the Paralympics 2021, Indian athletes have set an unparalleled record of winning 19 medals — 5 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze, the highest ever in Indian history. Their optimism and self belief is remarkable. Each one of them has worked relentlessly by staying focused on following the process rather than getting attached to an outcome. Passionate to constantly learn and push boundaries, it is their commitment to excellence that has enabled them to come this far.

We often allow our circumstances to overwhelm us. Scarcity or abundance — what is your approach to life. Whatever we focus more on, grows — the power of how we perceive ourselves and the world rests with us. Change your lens, change your life.