Look at the Brighter Side.....

 Look at the Brighter Side.....

We have heard many times that we should look at the glass as half full rather than half empty. Music helps me focus better. Reading books makes me wiser. If you get up in the morning and start your day with positive affirmations, it helps you remain positive. There are so many things available to us, whether it is people, nature, our words, or our faith in God, that help us look at the brighter side of everything around us. Then where, as individuals, are we getting lost? Are we lost because we are not aware of certain things? Are we not thinking in the right direction? Have we become too dependent on technology? Are we lost in competition, jealousy, and comparison? Or are we simply going with the flow around us without understanding where it is taking us?

Many times when I travel by flight, I think about how this aviation system has existed for so many years. People have been travelling from one place to another for decades. Earlier there were fewer flights, but today thousands of flights connect people across cities, countries, and continents. Over the years, I have rarely heard of major mishaps, and when they do occur, they are often linked to human actions or circumstances beyond our control. Every day, millions of people travel by air for work, leisure, and family commitments. Yet this system continues to function because it is managed with discipline, responsibility, and accountability by a relatively small number of people and organizations.

In aviation, shortcuts cannot be taken because human lives are involved. Over the years, the flight system has become more comfortable and efficient, but its foundation remains strong because people continue to follow processes and standards. Sometimes I feel that we, as human beings, try to do too many things at once and move away from what we are truly best at. In our desire to earn money quickly, we often look for shortcuts. As technology advances rapidly, we are also running fast in our work, emotions, relationships, finances, and ambitions. Somewhere in this race, we begin to feel lost. There comes a stage when many of us no longer know what we really want to do or what we are genuinely capable of achieving.

If we all start concentrating on using our best potential in the areas where we are naturally good, many things will automatically fall into place. It is often said that communities are built through communication and connection. Everyone cannot be a doctor, musician, teacher, soldier, entrepreneur, or scientist. We all have different qualities to contribute. When we communicate, support each other, and share our strengths, we build a stronger community where everyone gets an opportunity to grow and thrive.

The best part is that over the years, every profession has evolved along with technology. A simple example is how smartphones, tablets, and digital tools have transformed education. Teaching today has become more accessible, interactive, and innovative. Technology has not replaced human abilities; instead, it has helped professionals improve their work and reach more people. Whether in healthcare, education, business, or communication, technology has opened doors that were unimaginable a few decades ago.

With startups becoming popular through social media, even homemade embroidery work, pickles, spices, and foods from different cultures are gaining recognition. Sitting at home in Mumbai, I can enjoy chole bhature from North India, matcha from Japan, chocolates from Spain, and cheese from Denmark. Today, one of the biggest revolutions is Artificial Intelligence. Tools such as ChatGPT are helping us learn, create, solve problems, and access information within seconds. What once took hours can now be done in minutes. Yet despite so much progress and innovation in every area of life, mental health issues are increasing on the other side. Why? Because while many things around us have changed, we have lost one important parameter of life, the ability to look at the brighter side of everything.

Recently, I met a young man who had just completed his Master's degree in Psychology with a specialization in mental health. He came to our clinic to inquire whether there was any vacancy for a psychologist. He had not yet started working professionally, and like many young professionals, he was looking for an opportunity to begin his journey. What impressed me most was his clarity of thought. His desire was to work with military personnel so that he could contribute in some way to those who serve our country. I asked him about his future plans. He smiled and said, "I don't know what my future will be, but I have decided that if I can change even one life through my profession, I will be the happiest person in the world."

His words stayed with me. His vision sounded very small, but his thought process was very clear. He understood that to achieve something meaningful, he needed to start somewhere. Today's young generation is smart, talented, and has tremendous exposure to opportunities. However, across the world, many young people are searching for focus, direction, and emotional security. Those who can guide and support them should do so. Given the right encouragement and opportunities, they can achieve wonders. More importantly, they can learn to believe in themselves and continue to see the brighter side of life. Positivity does not mean ignoring challenges; it means having the courage to move forward despite them. Perhaps the brighter side of life has always been there, we simply need to train ourselves to notice it.