Stay Strong....

 

Stay Strong...

A beautiful lotus flower blooms in mud and water. A big tree stands tall, fighting through all weather conditions. Animals and birds survive, adapt, and find shelter even in the toughest situations. When nature itself shows such resilience, and we humans are created by the same Almighty, why do we struggle to stay strong during difficult phases of life?

Many times, this question arises in our minds, why can’t we stay strong all the time? The answer that comes instantly is that we, as humans, are blessed with the ability to think. But somewhere, we tend to overthink. Take an example of a bird raising its baby, it nurtures with warmth, teaches it to fly, and eventually lets it explore the world independently. The bird becomes a role model for its young one. But what do we humans do? We either become overprotective parents, doing everything for our children, or we become careless, doing too little. Either we are afraid to make them independent, or we unknowingly make them dependent on external support.

Recently, I was walking on Juhu Beach, and I saw a beautiful moment between a mother and her child. The child, around one year old, was playing in the sand while sitting on the mother’s lap. Suddenly, the child stood up and tried to walk. The mother’s face lit up with joy, you could clearly see she had been waiting for this moment. The child took a few steps, fell, got up again, and this cycle repeated three to four times. But the mother did not panic or rush to stop the child. Instead, she encouraged him, saying, “My baby is strong, see he can walk.” Her happiness and confidence were inspiring.

These emotions are experienced by almost every parent and grandparent. If we consider 100%, at least 98% of them encourage their child to be strong and take those first steps. Then why do we forget this lesson as we grow older? Why do we struggle to rise after falling in life? As adults, we are role models for our children. If we cannot fall, rise again, and show strength, how can we guide them? Just pause and reflect, am I right?

Recently, a lady around 50 years old visited our clinic for a hearing test. She was experiencing hearing loss and was also going through menopause, which had led to multiple health issues like diabetes, cholesterol imbalance, thyroid fluctuations, headaches, and other concerns. She was deeply frustrated and felt stuck, unable to find solutions. When I asked if she had shared her problems with her family, she expressed that there were already too many issues, financial stress, relationship challenges, and she felt nothing could be resolved.

I gently suggested that if she was not comfortable discussing it with her family, she should at least begin by writing everything down. Putting thoughts on paper helps in identifying the root cause of problems. I asked her to analyze one issue at a time and work towards solutions step by step. When I asked about her children, she said she had two kids pursuing higher education. I then asked, “Did you teach them when they were young?” She replied that despite financial struggles, she ensured they studied well. I smiled and said, “Then you must have taught them mathematics. And what does mathematics teach us? Every problem has a solution.” She paused, first in tears, and then she smiled. It was a moment of realization. Often, we already know the answers, but in the fast pace of life, we forget how to apply them. We simply flow without questioning.

Another inspiring example is of a mother who recently visited us with her premature baby. The child, now 16 months old, was born with a condition called atresia, meaning the ears were not fully developed, leading to hearing loss. The child required bone conduction hearing aids, and the suggested surgery was expensive. The father had met with an accident and was unable to walk properly, so the mother had taken up the responsibility of earning for the family. Despite all these challenges, she dedicates her weekly holiday to finding the best possible solution for her child. The way she manages her home, work, and responsibilities is truly remarkable. It proves that when we decide to stay strong, no situation is too difficult to handle.

Even in our scriptures, we find powerful examples. Lord Krishna, as a child, faced numerous life-threatening challenges sent by his uncle Kansa. Despite his young age, he stood strong against every obstacle. Not only did he defeat the evils, but he also showed compassion and forgiveness, guiding them toward the right path. Today, in the age of social media, we often follow others blindly and try to fit into patterns that may not suit us. But every individual has a unique strength and potential. The key is to recognize it, nurture it, and stand strong in our own journey.

Strength is not something we need to search for outside, it already exists within us. Life will always present situations where we may fall, feel lost, or overwhelmed. But just like that child on the beach, what matters is the courage to rise again. Just like the mother who believes in her child, we must learn to believe in ourselves. Let us stop overthinking, start understanding our inner strength, and take one step at a time. Because true resilience lies not in never falling, but in always rising stronger than before.