What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

---

The content reflects on the daily habits essential for improving one’s quality of life amidst a monotonous routine. It discusses the biological imperatives of living beings alongside the psychological and social challenges humans face, including loneliness, negative traits, and the allure of superficial spirituality. While many people chase success and power, often led by hollow personalities, it is argued that true strength lies in humility, openness, and introspection. The piece advocates for the importance of both physical and inner grooming, highlighting that genuine positivity requires consistent effort and commitment to self-improvement and reflection.

---

It was a normal morning. Like always, he woke up early in the morning. There was nothing new. It was a routine of sleeping late at night and waking up in the morning. He does his work as a routine because it is a necessity of life. He had to do it whether he liked it or not. Body functions can’t be ignored until a great exigency.

As a living organism, he breathes and takes food. Both these body requirements do their job of providing energy to his body for other functions, and surplus energy is conserved to make his body healthy and fresh. As a byproduct, the body produces harmful substances that need to be discarded. It is absolutely essential to throw them out of the body so that the body doesn’t get affected by the poisonous effects of the vicious waste materials. These activities are absolutely essential, and they have to be performed as and when tempted by the body system. Nothing new.

Every living organism does it; what is new in it? Like a blindfolded plodder, everyone is moving as if lugging something heavy on their shoulder. They are walking, running and dragging mechanically. Like a wind-up toy that moves mechanically, people chase frantically and dogmatically after one thing or another. It is ridiculous that most of them justify their action grandiloquently, putting up excuses.

Human beings are a strange mix of good and bad. In the natural world, it is as per the law of nature. Newton’s law states that every action has an opposite reaction in the same quantity and quantum of the action. It is a common observation that without negative and positive poles, an electric circuit is not finished. To balance a negative action, a positive action is bound to have its place.

Despite such a fanatic, mad rat race and dogmatic belief system, human beings are ailing with loneliness syndrome. They are suffering from various psychological and psychosomatic disorders. In search of peace and respite, they take shelter in godmen and fake spirituality.  There would be some who object to the word “fake spirituality”, but deep cogitation will reveal that it is nothing more than an illusion created by vested elements to capitalise on the innocent restlessness of people. It is clear from the fact that everyone defines spirituality in their own way, shadowed by the “preachings” of godmen, they follow.

People with dogma create a cage around themselves and treat others with disdain. They consider every other person a fool who does not fall in line with them. Behaving like a bigot, they have a mendacious feeling about what they believe is the ultimate truth. This buttresses their egoistic bent and their complex web of illusory superiority. It leads to condescending behaviour which doesn’t respect others’ sentiments and feelings. It is a strong negative trait which is the result of latent insecurity and fear of one’s incapability. They try to hush up their fear by garrulous boasting.

It has a humble and imperceptible start, but with time and receiving patronage, it gradually becomes engraved in the psyche as a part of their lives. In a sense, they become habituated to it. When in a position of power, such “hollow” persons often demean and unnecessarily harm their subordinates. Being in a subordinate position, the juniors have no choice but to swallow the bitter pill.

He recalled one of his bosses who appreciated sycophants. Selfish and slavish people would swarm around and try to appease him by their obsequious behaviour for petty gains. The boss used to carp and cavil at those who honestly worked hard and completed the task given to them in time. People of a negative disposition are not suitable for any assignment which requires leadership qualities and/or serving in an organisation catering to the public good.

The decision of people who are self-obsessed and self-absorbed would be overshadowed by personal whim and hence would not be proper. It is immaterial what their responsibility is and what their physical seniority is. They stay cut off from the ground reality. Like a person wet behind the ears, they will not manage to judge the actual situation, irrespective of their position.

Talking always about their “achievements” and their connections is their favourite pastime. They can talk on it ad nauseam. Considering it their birthright, they feel and claim as a matter of right everything good, popular and prestigious belongs to them. They ruthlessly annexe such a thing or person with them and try to take advantage.

The behavioural pattern of gaudy people sometimes becomes extremely monotonous and off track. The fast-paced life and cutthroat competition offer a congenial atmosphere for such people to rise up. Humble and honest behaviour is out of bounds for those who strongly believe that people on a lower pedestal are ordained to obey them and respect them. They believe and patronise stern behaviour as a tool to keep at bay “lesser mortals”.

The crowd swarming fake godmen comprises mainly people of dual personality. They try to be humble, but their behaviour speaks volumes about them. Hollow from inside, they try to portray the “best” side of their personality when in a congregation. What is needed most is openness and introspection. 

Decency and humbleness are positive traits, but ironically, these are taken as weaknesses of a person. It is rightly said that excess of everything is bad. A rough behaviour can be won by composed and polite behaviour. It has, nevertheless, a limitation. People with hollow personalities, or those who fear their weaknesses, often try to compensate for their inadequacies and fears of inadequacy.

A bold, strong and firm person is trustworthy. They are straightforward but polite and humble. Occasionally, they can be blunt but are kind-hearted and do not harm others. Distinctly different from self-obsessive persons, people of the former category are more dependable and prove to be long-lasting companions. Introspection is essential, but it also requires determination and resolve. It is rather impossible to introspect with a strong negative mindset. It will overshadow the whole process.

A stubborn and narcissistic approach leads to isolation. It is a slow but sure alienation from people and ultimately society. Human beings are social. They need society and people to survive. With long and persistent change, humans have learned their way of survival. It has to be kept in mind.

One can’t see one’s face until in front of a reflective surface. A mirror is needed. Likewise, to introspect, an honest image of oneself is required. It is obtained by openness. This is why openness in personality is needed to find the grey areas and to fix them. Engrossed thoughts about “I, me and myself” don’t lead to the path of self-correction. The human mind and psyche are like a flowing stream that has self-cleaning properties.

Outer grooming is essential to look fit and keep oneself agile and fine. Various morning routines including morning walk, light or brisk exercise, Yoga, et cetera are good for overall health. Inner cleansing and grooming, nonetheless, is equally necessary. At times, it is more important than outer grooming. It is demanding and requires persistent, strenuous efforts, for controlling the psyche is a daunting task. To stay positive, one has to be positive, not superficially but internally. This comes with hard work and consistent effort.

Though seems difficult, with practice, self-study and keeping positive things available online on https://amzn.to/4g28fHw positive energy can be attracted.

Can’t we give it a try? We should.

-END-