‘If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!’

This excerpt taken from the poem, ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling has always been a source of inspiration, one upon which one can sharpen their wits and self reflect upon the outlook on life. Why are we humans not ever content with anything? Often, this feeling of dissatisfaction is confused with that of ambition, the former being consuming whereas the latter can be harnessed to achieve the best of one’s capability.

Often have I wondered as to whether not being content is a good thing or not, it demands a lot of mental and physical effort on an individual’s part. However, the analogy of the psychology of human beings makes me come to the conclusion that both phases of life are important in order to lead a fulfilling life.

During the initial years, just when are virtues are being bestowed upon us and when are muscles are developing, is the time to be ambitious and lay down the paths upon which one wants to tread. It is during these years that adhering to the self-made policies will shape up one’s character and will play a great role in determining the way in which one’s life will pan out. I do not mean to say that one should sit and slog through the hours constantly studying away, rather, focusing on the minute aspects that differentiate human beings, like kindness, forgiveness, helpfulness and so forth, are the areas that one should develop.

As the wheels of time roll by, we grow older, both physically and mentally, this being a stage when a sense of satisfaction creeps in. It is during this phase of life that the seeds of values that we have sown will flourish and a momentary pause can be taken to analyse our lives in hindsight. If during then can we be satisfied with our lives, will we be able to say that we have ‘LIVED’ our lives.

In this world of uncertainties and variables, the only thing we can control is ourselves and the way in which we lead our lives and there may be a possibility that our so-called ‘fate’ is predetermined and that nothing can change its course, but until it is proven, let us assume that we have the ability to affect our lives and of those around us. So let us renounce the ills of being selfish and jealous and try adopting a lifestyle that can create positive stimuli within people around us.