Who are the biggest influences in your life?

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The narrative illustrates Siddharth Gautam’s intrinsic compassion as he cares for a wounded swan, contrasting with his brother Dev Dutt’s desire for possession. The text explores the nature of influence, asserting that true influence arises from intrinsic qualities rather than external pressures, urging individuals to seek self-awareness amid societal demands.

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“What did you do? Why have you wounded it?” Siddharth Gautam almost screamed and painfully, looking at the fallen and wounded swan, scornfully asked his brother Dev Dutt.

Siddharth Gautam was wandering in a forest with his brother Dev Dutt when suddenly he shot an arrow and hunted down a swan. The swan fell wriggling. Siddharth ran to the wounded bird, and with utter compassion, he lifted it gently, washed its wound, and applied herbs. Careless about his compassion, Dev Dutt, his brother, started a commotion, laying his claim on the swan. Siddharth refused. The matter was presented to the emperor for justice, who decided the case in favour of Siddharth on the pretext that a saviour had the upper hand and right over the one who tried to kill the bird. Siddharth took care of the bird and left it to fly when the bird became healthy.

He was not influenced by anyone. Compassion, empathy, kindness and love for all were his intrinsic traits. It is expressed in so many ways. He felt pain when descried a senectitude, an ailing person, an ascetic and when he saw a funeral procession. His intrinsic qualities awakened. He questioned why there was pain and agony in the world. These things agitated him, and he wanted an answer. He left the luxury of the kingdom and chose a path of penance to search for the answer.

These and many more examples show that influence is not imposed from outside. Situations force a person to be influenced by someone or something. Influence is the power that affects a person or thing. A bar magnet, for instance, influences a magnetic compass when brought into its vicinity. An influencer must have more power than the person being influenced. It is like the flow of less concentrated fluid to a higher concentrated solution. Like a liquid in a vessel kept at a height tends to flow towards gravity, influence also tends to move from powerful to ordinary person.

Influence is a type of energy which travels and passes from one to another. Being influenced is not so good. It shows the weak mental strength. It must not be construed as an advocacy of stubbornness or audacity. It affects people variously. While on an all-India tour, Gandhi came across a woman trying to cover her dignity while bathing with a lone “Saari” she had. Gandhi offered his shroud to her but he was moved by the condition of that woman. The incident influenced him greatly, and he started wearing only hand-woven “Dhoti” and a shroud. Did Gandhi empathise with the woman, or was he influenced by her and her poverty? What do my readers think about it? Please share your thoughts and comment below in the comment box.

Influence can be of various types. Some of the commonly seen are described as follows:

• Social – It is an important form where society exert it’s influence on an individual. A family member feels influenced by other member of the family or it may be one’s friend or colleagues.
• Expert influence – An expert has the power to influence his followers. A scientist for example, having an indepth knowledge about a thing influences the masses. It is because his level if knowledge surpasses every other ordinary people.
• Legitimate influence – it is seen in offices or workplaces. A superior person holding authority will have more influential power. S/he can easily influence his/her subordinates.
• Referent – is a type of influence which occurs when one admires or respects someone. This happens when one likes the personal qualities of the personality.

Being influenced is a common phenomenon. Sometimes, it leads to very funny or piquant conditions. Mushrooming godmen or godwomen, preachers and so-called influencers testify that people are in search of instant relief. The gullible easily fall into a trap that sometimes leads them to a blind alley. In the current world, where people are seen in the rat race for materialistic possessions, they are fast losing their privacy, moments of spending time with their inner self and cosy solitude to focus on their positivity. This leads them to a negative feeling of being left out, resulting in adhering to spurious harmful elements. A strong will and positive approach with a pinch of prudence can save us from falling prey.

Societal pressure and compulsion to obey flimsy norms influence a person, sometimes negatively though. A sapient thought can enlighten us to cope with the influencing pressure, which otherwise turns harmful. The norms are necessary for the smooth running of society, but they need periodical evaluation and revision. Orthodox approach with a proclivity is regressive and poses difficulty.

Great souls and illustrious personalities are rare. They outshine and don’t need any promotion. Their selfless service and dedication make them outstanding. In the practical world, it is not possible to have an ideal person. It is why people have created icons as per their imagination. Searching for an ideal person or occurrence is a utopian thought. It is practical to change the self and the person with whom one is interacting, simultaneously to dovetail in a particular situation. The situation can be personal or public.

As has been said earlier, hoping for an absolute in our lives, especially when in a relationship, is futile. It is not possible as there are a myriad of people having different mindsets. Searching for an ideal person is like searching for a needle in a heap of hay. So, why waste time and lose a precious moment of happiness?

We sometimes meet some person, any instance or an abstract object with extraordinary brilliance and pavonine appearance. They attract because of their blazing presence or life-changing occurrence. They attract us and influence our minds and thoughts with the mesmerizing power of their deeds or happenings. It is where one feels influenced. It is, though, subjective and depends from person to person. Some feel the power while others do not. It is the majority which decides whether the chosen one is worth pursuing or not. It is, again, subjective.

It can be said that the influencing power is subjective and not absolute. People often question after a time gap. Yet, God and the Supreme Soul have been kept out of discussion and criticism. Human beings are, by and large, a sceptic. It is right and it should be so because pursuing anything or anyone blindfolded is unproductive and can lead to nowhere.

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