Stay Curious

When you fail to impress

Stay curious.

__

If someone doesn't like the way you talk, where you are from, or the way you dress

Stay curious.

__

When you struggle for words

Stay curious.

__

When you read about, hear about, or experience, things which are surprising, uncomfortable, or unheard 

Stay curious.

__

For everything that takes place at home, in your community, on the national or international stage, at work, or at school

Stay curious.

__

When things change, and go against the expected systems and rules

Stay curious.

__

When health issues persist, in spite of everything you do

Stay curious.

__

When people do something, you would never do

Stay curious.

__

When your efforts do not pay off, or bear sufficient fruit

Stay curious.

__

When you find that you are the odd one out, in an idea, argument, or dispute

Stay curious.

__

When everyone wants you to listen to them, but no one wants to hear what you have to say

Stay curious.

__

When people try to cajole you into thinking their way

Stay curious.

__

When insults and hurtful names are leveled at you

Stay curious.

__

When you are accused of hating family, community, faith, or country, because of thinking the way you do

Stay curious.

__

Because, it's true, my friend

It's true,

In many circumstances in life,

almost in any circumstance in life,

the smartest thing to do,

amidst all the confusion,

all the cynicism,

and all the conflicting thoughts, and ideas that are presented to you,

the smartest, (and the most gracious, I dare say) thing to do

is for you

...to stay curious.

__

Stay curious, my friend.

Stay curious.

Can you provide some examples of people who are passionate individuals, and explain why they are passionate about what they are involved in?

Elon Musk and Mark Cuban are tech entrepreneurs, who are passionate about whatever they are involved in.

As to why they are passionate, it is my belief they see the puzzles that still remain to be solved, and the possibility of solving those puzzles excites them, and engages them.

We are all puzzle solvers, in one way or another.

And if we look at problems as puzzles to be solved, rather than things that frustrate us, or devastate us, we will have a better way of dealing with those problems…

Minoo Jha

 · 5y

What should you expect from your life?

Hi, You asked, What are some things that are expected in life? Problems are to be expected in life. How you handle your problems is key to living a good life. Here’s my advice… See problems as puzzles to be solved. Don't see problems as something to ignore. Nor should you see problems as something to complain about, moan and groan about, or to throw money, emotional energy, angst and sleepless nights, fretting and fuming at. If you want to live a better life, start seeing all problems as puzzles to be solved, rather than monsters over which you have no control. Learn to ask questions. Learn to seek solutions. Learn to put on your thinking hat, and tackle the problem. Don't let it grow and become a bigger problem. You should do this, even if you find the problem embarrassing. Don't suffer in private, because you can't risk someone knowing you have a problem. Don't let the problem get worse and worse in secret. Don't let a small problem grow into a giant problem. Get help as soon as you can. Find out who can help you. Find out what steps you can take. Find out how others have overcome the problem. You can be too private for your own good. When I first got depressed, I decided to stay quiet about it. I didn't want to risk my image. Everyone thought I was a person who had it all. I didn't want to blow this image. I wanted keep my image intact. It was such that my image mattered more than the truth. My image mattered more than my suffering. My image mattered more than the reality of my life. The reality was I was not myself emotionally. I was waking up every morning and bursting into tears. But I didn't want anyone to know that. I couldn't bear the idea. All I cared about was “my image”. My image was that of a “successful advertising consultant who had it all - money, success, a happy marriage.” On the whisper circuit, I was rumored to be "the best paid advertising copywriter in the city". I desperately wanted to keep the image going. Even at the risk of becoming more and more of a basket case. I kept my depression secret for months. I hoped it would just vanish. It had mysteriously come on. I hoped it would just as mysteriously go away. Except…it didn't. I finally picked up the courage to speak up and tell someone. One that day, as usual I got up in the morning and burst into tears. But on this day, I called a friend and told her. I said, "……(her name), I don't know what is happening. Every morning I wake up and start crying." She said, "It's a clinical depression, Minoo. I had it some years ago". "I will give you the name and phone number of a psychiatrist," she added. I shuddered at the words "psychiatrist". There are some problems no one likes to admit to - a financial problem, an addiction problem, a hoarding problem, an embarrassing cosmetic problem, a weight problem, sexually related illnesses, a marital problem. A mental health problem is in that category. It is hard to admit to. But I was relieved after I spoke up. The very first person I talked to had been through what I was going through, and was able to point me in the direction of a solution. You know how my depression story turned out. I covered it in a post I wrote a few posts ago on my blog, and in my post If Life Is So Good, Why Do I Feel So Sad? I was successfully able to resolve it and get past it. How can anything be solved if you keep it under wraps? Whatever the problem, you have a better chance if you seek help and look for solutions. You should look at every problem in your life as a puzzle to be solved. By seeking answers and solutions, ideas will come to you, and you will discover things you can try. So here’s what you do when problems arise in your life… You would be wise not to ignore it. You would be wise not to minimize it. You would be wise not to let it whirl around and around in your head, without doing anything about it. Even if you are uncomfortable - you need to talk about it, and get some inputs and strategies. Find someone and share your problem with them. The worst that will happen is they will say they can't help – because they don't have any expertise or resources in that area. But they may point you to people and resources that can be of help to you. You may need professional help, like I did. So take out a piece of paper. First thing you should do is write down what your problem is. Then make a list of the things you can do about it. Make a list of people you can talk to, and other ways to get information. And after you have talked to people, and done your research, pick a solution and start putting it to work. If the first solution doesn't work, try another. If that doesn't work, try another. This is how, sooner or later, you will make strides towards resolving your problem. Even problems you have had for years and years. A friend of mine told me what inspired her to become so interested in, and inspired by, nutrition. She had eczema as a child. Her parents had taken her to doctor after doctor, and they had tried treatment after treatment. Nothing worked. When she was in her early twenties, she decided to radically change her diet. She started eating raw foods instead of processed foods. Her eczema went away. Her eczema had been a constant companion all of her childhood and teenage years, but she was able to find a solution in her 20s. So even if a problem has been a constant companion all your life - you know my advice… See it as a puzzle to be solved. So, in conclusion, problems are to be expected in life, but if you see them as puzzles to be solved, rather than something to moan and groan about, you will be a victor rather than a victim, a hero rather than a drama king or drama queen.

Another example are those who like to create, or those who want to achieve a higher level of a skill they enjoy.  

From crochet to cooking, from cricut to calligraphy, from craft beer to concerts, and a whole lot more, those who like to create are passionate about creating.

From bridge to piano, from gym activities to all kinds of sports, those who want to achieve a higher level of a skill they enjoy, are passionate in their pursuit of that.

They are passionate, because they have a vision of what they want to create, and are eager to see their creation take form. Or they are passionate, because a higher level of skill, involves applying more thinking, and more understanding, and more technique.

A third example of those who are passionate, are those involved in activism.

The reason they are passionate, is because the goal is too important, not to be passionate about.

The end of human or animal suffering, or injustice, is at stake.

A better world is at stake.

Example would be Abraham Lincoln, who was passionate about ending slavery.

Example would be Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was passionate about US women being allowed to vote.

Example would be Mahatma Gandhi, who was passionate about India’s independence.

Example would be Martin Luther King, a leader in the American Civil Rights movement.

Example would be Nelson Mandela, a leader in South Africa’s civil and human rights movement.

An example from our times, would be Ralph Nader, passionate about reducing car accident injuries and fatalities.

Another example from our times, would be Pete Singer, a leader in both human and animal rights, and in the relief of human and animal suffering.

We need all 3 types of people.

The ones who want to make a better world through technology.

The ones who like to create, and delight and awe us with their creations, or with their performance.

And the ones who understand that human and animal suffering is often caused by oppression and neglect, and callousness, and injustice, and ignorance, and poor regulations, which are outside the realm of being solved by technology, and can only be addressed through education, and activism, and political and social change, and everyday people doing their bit to reduce that suffering.

Among them, are everyday people, I am proud to know.

Such as a friend in India, who is passionate about ensuring that fire safety is designed into as many structures in India, as possible, having suffered a family tragedy due to fire safety regulations being ignored.

And friends who are passionate about addressing the callousness and neglect of stray dogs in India, and who give of themselves passionately to this cause.

What are the things you care about, and how can you bring more passion to them?

I will leave you with that question today.