Skip to main content

Progressive Compromises....!

The great Tamil writer  சுஜாதா(Sujatha) once wrote that our lives are one of Progressive Compromises of unfulfilled wishes and wants.

When we are born, Sigmund Freud said ,that we are born with Id, Ego and Alterego-the three states of our subconscious existence and the interplay between these three manifests in our personality and reflect in our behavioural traits.

Eric Berne wrote a famous book "Games People Play:The Psychology of Human Relationships" where he described how Child,Adult and Parent ego states play and he described it in terms Transactional Analysis for interpreting all the social interactions.He also went on to say that people also play mind games with hidden motives,desires etc. and described such negative behaviours in terms of the ego states dominating the individuals.

For solving the life's problems Thomas Harris wrote a practical guide "I'm Ok, You are OK" by doing  the Transactional Analysis of the behavioural pattern of individuals.This is based on the Johari Window concept developed by Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham where the four  quadrants are fit in the understanding of the relationship with themselves and with others:" I'm not Ok, you are not OK', I'm not ok,you are OK", "I'm OK, you are not OK", "I'm OK, You are OK".

So all these stalwarts have explained what is happening in our daily interactions but none of them have looked at what it means to individuals in the long term for themselves or for the society at large.

However, even if somebody is in the quadrant of I'm OK, You are OK, with the right blend of Adult, Parent and Child egos , then with aging there can be "progressive compromises" and that is what writer Sujatha alludes to.

He goes on to explain that in his twenties he wanted to play guitar and buy a piece of Moon. But over a period of time his ambitions mellowed down and finally when he reached the 70s in age , even passing urine daily morning without any complication,according to him, became an achievement in one's life. May sound funny but it outlines a question as to what is the purpose of one's life. is it only Progressive Compromises or something more? We can feel within ourselves that there can be or should be something more to life.

Many philosophers have pondered over this question and in India all the Masters and Spiritual Gurus have categorically told that the surrendering of the self to Bhagawan is the ultimate purpose of life. But the means advocated is like what 15th century Gujarati poet Narsinh Mehta sung:" vaiṣṇava jana to tene kahiye 
                                                                                                 je pīḍa parāyī jāṇe re,"
                                                                                          (Call those people Vaishnav who
                                                                                                 Feel the pain of others,)
So helping those in pain and misery is the means by which one surrenders himself  to Bhagawan.

Is there any better way of explaining the purpose of Life!!May be, but in all humility, I want to say ,I don't know.





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hanuman and Ganesha!

  The two major loved deities of the Hindu pantheon are Hanuman and Ganesha. Let us dwell into the concepts and significance of these two dieties. Ganesha, the son of Parvati and Shiv, is worshipped first before starting any new job or work. Even if you want to start writing or reading , you invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha who goes under various names- Ganapathi, Vigneshwar, Vinayak, and  Pillayar in Tamilnadu. Ganesha Gayathri, Pancharatnam are some of the important Ganesha mantras and hymns. Adi Ganesha idol is in a Temple near Tiruvarur in Tamilnadu with a human face.The mythological story says that Shiv slew His head and then fixed the head of the animal that He saw first after this beheading of His son. Ganesha after that with the elephant head is worshipped as the wisdom god by Hindus. Why only Hindus. He is worshipped in Indonesia where He finds Himself in their currency notes. He is considered the destroyer of evil in Japan. In Mexico, Ganesha idols were said to h...

Indian Economic Momentum is likely to remain on track next 3 to 6 months!

The dashboard on Indian Economic Momentum presents key indicators that highlight the current economic landscape based on Lead and Lag indicators: - **Consumer Price Index (CPI)**: There has been a recent uptick to 3.4% in March 2026. - **Trade Data**: The trade deficit has narrowed to $21 billion in March, although projections indicate a potential widening due to oil volatility. - **GST Collections**: A significant milestone has been reached with gross revenue of ₹2.0 lakh crore. - **PMI (Manufacturing & Services)**: Recent moderation has been observed, influenced by Middle East geopolitics and the ongoing repercussions of the Ukraine war on Russian oil. - **IIP & Core Industry**: Trends in industrial production growth are being tracked. These indicators collectively provide a comprehensive view of the economic momentum in India.

How to prepare for the consequences of Iran war

  The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us valuable lessons about resilience in business. One key takeaway is the importance of conserving cash and other resources that may become scarce during challenging times. Businesses must prioritize financial prudence to sustain operations and navigate uncertainties effectively. This approach not only helps in weathering immediate crises but also positions organizations for long-term stability and growth. Reflecting on these lessons can guide future strategies and enhance preparedness for any unforeseen events.