Yes, I can understand that life, to use the cliche, is not a bed of roses. Every day you meet with life's quota of disappointments and frustration in small or big measure. These often sap your energy and zest for living. They seem to dry you out of existence.

However, remember that you are never masters of our fate. Were you born into a particular family or community or a country out of choice? No, you got there by default.

When you were an infant in your mother's arms, did you tell her what you wanted to drink or eat? It is only when you grow, and your ego gets crystallized, that you begin to have problems. Your ego tells you what you want, forget what you need, and you go after it. Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you manage to get what you want, sometimes you scheme to get what you want but most of the times there are others who scheme better than you.

The secret to happiness lies in letting go. Let go of yourself. Give yourself a break. Forgive yourself for not achieving. And also, remember that the most important person to you is yourself. Do not bother about what others think of you. They have better things to think about, themselves!

So when you meet with failure or disappointment, thank God that you are alive and that you still have opportunities to hit it big in this wide world. Naked you came. Your nudity is your venture capital in this business of life. So why bother when you lose something for the time being.

In fact, to be happy, you need nothing more than a full meal a day, a shelter from sun or rain, a nice book to read, a piece of good music and of course, a caring heart. Do you think that you will not be able to get these?

If you have forgotten, think of Christ's prayer to make you happy: give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our debts...

You have to decide whether you are going to be happy or not. You can find hundreds of reasons for not being happy, but do you know, you do not need a reason to be happy. It is your nature. So relax, let go, celebrate life, forgive, forget, there are more amazing things in life than a good job, a bungalow and membership to some elite club.

Yourself

ganeshan ramachandran