I study in class Xll. I’m frustrated and anxious due to the postponement of exams and family problems. Please help. How to keep my mind calm and have negative thoughts when I am surrounded by so much negativity? ~ Riddhi Deb, Kolkata
02 Jun, 2021 | 14:05Dear Riddhi,
No doubt the Covid-19 pandemic has devastated the entire world. A vast majority of the human population has been very badly affected. What is the way out? Should we keep worrying and get into anxiety, frustration, etc? No. Rather, it is time to come forward and take a lead role because you are young and are in a far more advantageous position compared to the older people. In your own family you must cheer up others with your positivity and enthusiasm. Please look at the world outside. Compared to millions of people you and your family are far better off. As far as exams are concerned, you are in the same position as others. Lakhs of students are suffering in the same way. You shouldn’t be anxious at all. Swami Vivekananda says that every one of us is blessed with infinite knowledge, power, glory, etc. You are the maker of your own destiny. The idle mind is devil’s workshop. Saturate your mind with powerful ideas of Swami Vivekananda. Please read these two books i.e. “Letters of Swami Vivekananda” and “Lectures from Colombo to Almora”. You will feel tremendously energized and enthused. Even a very small booklet “Thoughts of Power” contains very powerful messages of Swami Vivekananda. You must have already prepared well for your Board exams. So, you need not spend too much time on academics. Keep just revising. But, use this opportunity to saturate yourself with Swami Vivekananda’s powerful man-making and character-building messages. You should never entertain any negative idea. Rather, you should be an inspiration for others. Because you have too much of free time, why not try a new hobby or spend quite some time in strengthening your existing skill i.e. music, art, etc. You can also try your hand at cooking or helping your mother in household work. But, the main support and strength would come from the ideas of Swami Vivekananda.
Swami Shantatmananda, Head, Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi
