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Game of Changes


One of the many paradoxes of human life is that people always tell you that the best way for changing the world is to change yourself.  They want you to change yourself.  They won’t ever change themselves.  Moreover, they will meddle with your life so much that you will have to change yourself in some ways at least: otherwise they won’t let you survive.

When I changed myself using a software
Actually, it’s not that people don’t want you to survive.  They are not really bothered about you at all.  They are bothered about themselves.  You are just a stumbling block in their way.  So they want you to change: move yourself from their way so that they can get on. 

Philosopher-writer Jean-Paul Sartre famously said that “Hell is other people.”  Our freedom is curtailed by other people, their demands.  Freedom is all about making choices.  Can I make choices without giving due regard to other people, their likes and dislikes, demands and proclivities...? 

Their likes and dislikes and so on are  the restrictions on my freedom. I don’t like those restrictions, obviously. The world becomes a less happy place for me, a sort of hell.  Hence I exhort the other people, “If you want to change the world (which you are converting into a hell for me), change yourself.”  Change your likes and dislikes so that they don’t impinge on my likes and dislikes so much.

It’s a nice game, in fact: the game of changes.




Comments

  1. DeepaliApril 27, 2016 at 8:50 AM

    Very well said...I remember talking abt change (in a different perspective though). An educated(?) friend of mine debated with me abt how only his efforts (towards a better environment and energy conservation) will change the world. I remember telling her, no dont change the world. Just change yourself. As you said, change your lkes and dislikes. The world will take care of itself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 27, 2016 at 8:54 AM

      Probably we are all victims of that mindset which makes demands on others!

      Delete
  2. Pranju chakrapaniApril 27, 2016 at 8:59 AM

    People love their own reasons for loving you, they don't bother to know the real you. And the worst is that their reasons for loving you keeps on changing until they are left with no reason whatsoever to love you.

    Your blogposts are really inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 27, 2016 at 9:17 AM

      If they love you without reasons, it's the best ☺

      There are some people at least who may be interested in the real you. Perhaps we don't even get the time to be just ourselves.

      Delete
  3. KalpanaApril 27, 2016 at 10:54 AM

    hahaha - so true! Beware of this advice - change yourself. My boss recently sat me down and suggested I change myself !!! That's something only my trusted yoga guru can tell me. Anyone who stands to benefit from my changing is clearly trying to mould me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 27, 2016 at 11:02 AM

      All those who showered that advice on me had much to gain by changing me 😁

      Delete

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