Whatever the result, let spirit triumph by By Pulkit Sharma

Whatever the result, let spirit triumph by By Pulkit Sharma

Topic: Whatever the result, let spirit triumph

Writter:  Pulkit Sharma

Publish Date: 19 December 2017

Published on : The Times of India

Whatever the result, let spirit triumph

By Pulkit Sharma

Thorough self-introspection can help us understand whether there is really a big problem or we are simply overreacting to a minor discomfort. Often, due to a sense of exaggerated self-importance and low frustration tolerance, we wrongly assume that there is an emergency-like situation. It is desirable to set goals and achieve them, but we seem to have overstretched it. In order to live a meaningful and happy life, achieving everything is neither required nor healthy. When we slow down, we realise that there is abundant goodness in the universe capable of nourishing our being at every single moment.

Since antiquity, stress has been a constant companion of humanity. Stress is the physical, emotional and mental response of an individual to any challenging stimulus. It enables people to intensify their efforts so that they can survive and evolve. On the flip side, stress overwhelms us and triggers several physical and psychological disorders. Our ancestors had their own share of challenges, but our tribulation today, is at a staggering high. A noisy and polluted environment, fragile and distant relationships, workspaces that demand success at any cost, a society that is turning increasingly selfish and intolerant and a body that is perpetually fatigued – all these leave us with little resources to fight back.

While short-term stress enhances our performance, chronic stress depletes us. Research has demonstrated that when subjected to prolonged stress, the body loses its ability to regulate the inflammatory response. A high level of inflammation is a precursor to several metabolic, infectious, cardiovascular, joint, autoimmune, neurological, psychological and respiratory diseases. Amsterdam Centre for Drug Research has discovered that hormones released during prolonged stress can make a peaceful person turn violent. This could explain the recent high incidence of cases where normal people brutally victimise others.

If fantasies could be real, everyone might have wanted an inbuilt cut-off point at which they could instantly block out all stress. But, a constantly restless mind and an ego that cannot take defeat make sure that we keep worrying about all kinds of difficulties, including the significant, trivial and even imaginary ones. No wonder, most of us are suffering from chronic stress. For a majority, there is no escape from stressful circumstances. We can’t always shift cities, terminate relation-ships, resign from jobs, restrict social interaction and wait for ideal, stress-free conditions to come our way. But, we can change the way we perceive and deal with stress.

Recent research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that some people think that stress will help them grow, function better and develop immunity to negative physiological effects of stress. Others who believe that stress is harmful, display impaired mental and physiological functioning. Therefore, if we can alter our perception and consider stress as normal, adaptive and favourable, we will be healthier and function better.

Till the time ego exists, there can be little respite from stress. The best antidote for stress is to connect to the divine element within. According to Ramakrishna Paramhansa, through intense devotion, one realises Divinity within. When this happens, one feels like renouncing all activities and is not bothered by worldly yardsticks of success or failure. Then, one performs all the necessary duties, but surrenders the result to the Divine.

(The writer is a clinical psychologist)