Keep calm, conquer all

It is believed that the ability to remain
calm even under pressure is a character trait that most of us lack.
However, neuroscience has recently revealed that it is not an inborn
trait, but a skill that anybody can learn.

Whether you agree with
the neuroscientists or believe the conventional wisdom, the fact
remains that it is hard to find people with this quality.

I was
totally stunned when I met our new neighbour who had an unmatched sense
of humour and eye-catching zeal. Never has he failed to amuse me; how
could one be so relaxed in today’s world of tension?

I always
believed that very few people have the ability to remain cool in times
of despair, and they can be found in the top echelons of the society.

But
here I had someone in our midst. Even though he could have the world’s
problems on his shoulders, he always had a smile on his face.

I tried it once and to my surprise, smiling while facing a problem actually benefited my case.

Being
happy brings about positivity in us and enhances our capacity to work.
Making a face while compiling a difficult job would not benefit us, so
why not try the other way round?

One of the many things that I
have learnt from this charismatic person is the ability to calm oneself
when there is no hope left. After losing everything, one can start from
the beginning as there is nothing left to lose.

I have learnt
that when all the doors are closed upon us, we should wait for a few
more seconds. There are times when we miss the best opportunities in our
life due to lack of patience.



(Published in The Gulf Today on May 14, 2016)