Happiness lies in doing what you want to do and taking pride in what you do

Following is a write up in its early stages written by my brother Saurabh Mehndiratta, on the notion of pride and its importnace in our lives. Enjoy the read !

Pride

Pride is what keeps us going, pride in self, pride in what you are, pride in the choices you have made, pride in one’s actions, pride on the patch chosen despite of the difficulties or tribulations faced is what differentiates between what we are and what we can be.

If we look around and see the multitude of faces, we can almost differentiate and find out that the most happy persons, really happy ones and not the ones who are just faking it by saying that I have two flats, two cars, great job et al.........you can make out that the real happy are those who take pride in their lives. Pride in the way they live, pride in what they do. That emotion which makes the blood flow faster through the veins, which make you feel that one is alive, one is full of life.

Can one find pride by dancing at 65th floor of the most popular night club in the city where if not all but many people are almost out of senses and want to try drugs, if the law permits it? Do we find pride in getting 30% increment when the average increment in the organization was 20%? Can one find pride in wearing Girogi Armani shirt when everyone wears Pierre Cardin? Can one find pride in winning meeting the sales targets?

If not always, but most of the times one can find pleasure in all of the above but not Pride. One can find temporary happiness but not Pride, one can feel as a winner transiently but not feel Pride.........pride is beyond pleasure, pride is not transient, pride gives us the reason to live and not merely exist.

Pride is doing something which remains when everything else does not, pride is in doing something which adds value not only to you but to your dear ones and society at large. Pride is in not in money but what the change money can bring about, Pride is not in a promotion but how you got it – based on what you contributed and not pleasing your boss or playing your cards well. Pride is in living a life with your head high and not taking shit from anyone without getting personal. Pride is in defining your values and living by them. Pride is in living a first hand life and not a life of a second hander. Pride is in living life on your own terms- whatever they may be and not deviating from it. Pride is in ability to face yourself in front of the mirror and not feeling ashamed of your existence. Pride is in making the most of it.

Make the most of your lives.

Pride is the Reason to live. Pride, above all else.