Capacity to Receive

It's a common observation that when faced with trials and tribulations, the same mind which asks ‘Why me?’ is not present when faced with success and joys. We do not take a moment to reflect in our triumphs why we are deserving of it. We naturally presume that it was bound to happen to us. Sometimes, we are so blinded by this prejudice, that we think it is our birthright to always be bestowed with success and happiness.Imagine when our friends shower us with gifts and compliments and we pause to ask ‘Why me?’, how much our lives would be filled with gratitude. Again, gratitude acts as a great catalyst to do more good in return. But we don’t reflect on life’s goodness in this manner. We feel entitled towards it.Imagine when we receive the long overdue promotion at work, or a recognition in our schools and colleges. If only for a moment we paused to ask ‘Why me?’, we would be able to reflect on our own hard work, the support system of family, friends, mentors and colleagues who made it possible. It would be a humbling experience. Of course, our own talent and sincere efforts led to this moment but was it only us who made it possible?.We are certainly quick to ask this question during moments of trouble. When the promotion is given to someone else, when we meet with an accident, when the exam paper is tough, when the date for a tour collides with another important family event, the list can go on. Our notion of what is a problem also varies with the stage of life we are in. Sometimes, something as mundane as facing a flat tire on the way to one’s office can make us question, ‘Why me?’This is when I mostly go back to this wonderful quote from Rabindranath Tagore, ‘Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.’There was a watch of a particular brand and style that I was eyeing for a long time. It was slightly above my budget and I was meticulously saving up to buy the same. However, when I had saved enough and a sale also came along, I realised it was sold out. I kept going back to the website and checking for months. No luck! I felt I was being denied something so simple yet very dear.Cut to a few weeks later, it was Rakshabandhan, and my brothers gifted me a similar watch. The joy was almost doubled. Rather than me splurging my savings, this was a souvenir to remember from the people I loved.

Capacity to Receive

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