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Shamim Ansary:
Professional Jealousy

I found an interesting article on it. This article is by Robert Genn, a painter of international repute who runs an art listing site called The Painters Keys. He says....

"There are all kinds of envy--at art schools, with the artist next door, even sharing the same studio. One woman wrote to say that the envy she felt for her friend’s paper tole drove her to stop working in the medium.
I’ve noticed a few things about the condition. The envied person is often perceived as having an unfair advantage. If not checked, envy can last a lifetime. It can destroy. Some artists develop systems to avoid falling into it. Some act as if other artists hardly exist. They only pay attention to their own private direction. They don’t join clubs, attend other’s openings, visits galleries. They only expose themselves on their own terms and in what they think is their best light to those who can be trusted to adore or become customers."

"In my opinion the best antidote to overcome envy is to look at the big picture. All of us are in competition with all others. Life’s a jungle. Survival of the fittest is a basic principle. It’s easy to be intimidated in small worlds when we are willing to remain in them. Be philosophic. Read more. Smell the daisies. Think outside the box.
Mild jealousy and covetousness are actually a route to improved capabilities. It’s called creative envy. It’s part of aspiring. The pressure can be channeled to new skills that take artists to a higher level, both economically and as evolved beings. There’s always something left to give. The camp of artistic altruism is full of brotherhood and sisterhood. It’s a cool place."

"The journey is the most important thing to me ....For years I kept most of my paintings under wraps….except for commissioned work for private and public clients, everything else was hidden away….painting was my private pleasure….last year I was persuaded to bring them out of hiding, so I decided it was time to part with them, and I started to sell to people who appreciate my style of work .. I can honestly say that I do not have an ounce of jealousy about anyone’s success…success means so many different things…for me it’s the feeling of pleasure I get when I’ve completed a painting…..I love painting for it’s own sake and I have developed my own style and method of working which I find very satisfying…I teach my methods to a group of painters every month, and have done so for many years….that’s not to say I don’t rejoice when I’ve sold…I would not be human if I didn’t, but for me the important part was the process of painting itself…the sales are just the icing on the cake."

*Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth. Each of us has something to give that no one else has.
 

shibli:
The jealous reactions of one person to the success of a friend

Jealousy is one of the human weaknesses which is very common. It is very doubtful if animals have got jealousy; they may not for they don't have the feeling as we, humans, have.

Let us suppose that two friends start on a similar mission. But after sometime one returns successful and wins the Kudos. The other is a miserable failure and so is crestfallen. When the latter meets the former glowing with recent success, he is jealous and would not freely talk or even would not have the mind to congratulate the other. He keeps himself morose and tries to avoid company. He doesn't even enjoy the old jokes. He avoids to speak of the other's success and does not like others speaking of it.

He may even go to the extent of thinking that the friend has kept certain things that led to his success a secret from him. That means he suspects of the fidelity or sincerity of the friend. He may sometimes openly say that the friend has let him down because of his selfishness. He would slight the success saying that it was only chance that made his friend successful. As a friend, while it is natural to expect of him to celebrate the success and to lead the party, he would avoid it and whenever there is such an occasion he would quietly hang at the back.

He would assume that he is being neglected because his friend has been successful and may even voice it out. He would go on saying now that the friend has been successful and he doesn't care for him like the old days. What need has he for him now ? He would even go to the extent of thinking imaginary contributions he has made for the success of the other. If it had not been for him, his friend would not have been successful.

This is all because this fellow cannot reach the same height as the other fellow. If the other one is as enlightened and outgoing he can easily make up; otherwise the jealousy may lead to a permanent rift. This sort of jealousy is more common among women folk than men folk.
          


crestfallen         disappointed and sad because of having failed unexpectedly in something
          
fidelity         honest or lasting support, or loyalty
          
rift         a serious disagreement which separates two people who have been friends

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shibli:
The need for keeping one's temper under control

Temper can be defined as the mental vibrations in consonance with the external events which touch our senses. The reaction may be calm and quiet or violent. When one is subject to sudden conclusions of mental reactions to externals he is said to be temperamental. In such cases reason which helps one to keep poise is either absent or fails to help the subject.

Temper is a matter of training. It is the domestic environment that is responsible for the development of temper in children. The child may be pampered and wants to have his will and when he is not satisfied he flies into tempers. There is much more so in the case of a child who is lonely and who has no brothers and sisters; or again the child may be petted by all those around him he may become a spoiled child subject to tempers. This is how man grows to be temperamental.

To keep up one's temper requires a lot of insight into things. Simply because certain things happen in certain ways not to the liking of the subject, it is no reason why one should fly into a temper. There are innumerable occasions when things go wrong in spite of perhaps careful preparation and so on. To quote an instance, one may be in a hurry to open a lock; in spite of the key being there it takes some time before the lock is opened. In between, the person may lose his temper. Very often we find people standing in a queue getting bored and so losing their temper. Unless one applies his reason calmly to know why certain things are happening the way they do, he is likely to lose his temper. When we say 'he' it includes 'she' also. Of course she is more subject to tempers than he. Those who are in the higher rungs of society appear to be more subject to temper than those at the lowest rung. It may be because the former assumes that things should be as they please simply because they command. One very common instance would suffice to bring home the point. One is in a hurry to dress and to go and attend a function or meeting. At the last minute he takes out a shirt from the cabinet and finds out to his chagrin either the shirt has been torn by the washerman or the buttons are missing. He could have avoided the problem had he but given thought to it before.

When one loses one's temper it leads to many undesirable consequences. One is easily upset, with the blood circulation going quicker using angry words and offending others. In extreme cases it leads to a nervous breakdown and it may be sometime before the subject comes to the normal self. Such a person may lose friends, lose the sympathy and cooperation of servants. He may upset the peace and calm at home. He may prove a poor executive and in the mart he may create enemies. A man of temper is prone to commit crimes.

Then how to control oneself and keep up the mental poise ? This requires training in introspection. No use of fretting and fuming over spilt milk. Reason should dictate how to avoid it the next time the unexpected does happen, then there is no meaning in losing one's temper. In routine affairs, with regular planning, things may be made to move smoothly without jolt or hitch; everything in its proper place and everything in its proper time. If one were to follow this there may be few occasions for losing one's temper.

One should develop his faculty of reasoning; then he could easily keep his temper under control. It is also a matter of philosophy as in the case of stoics. There is a classical case of temper under control. In the Battle of Philippines, Brutus and Cassius quarreled and Brutus called Cassius names. That was quite unusual of Brutus. Cassius himself felt that it had come to that extent. Then some friends nearby whispered into the cars of Cassius that Portia, the dear wife of Brutus had been dead. Any one other than Brutus would have burst into tears, torn his hair and so on' but he never did any such thing. When Cassius heard it he could only say 'sorry.'

By keeping one's temper under control one saves a nervous breakdown. His friends and relatives would like him. He is saved from wrong judgment which he arrives at when he loses his temper.

A man who can keep his temper is a sweet person. He is happy and makes others happy. He illumines the company where he is found. He will never be subject to a nervous breakdown So let us learn to keep our temper under control.
          
innumerable         too many to be counted
          
chagrin         disappointment or anger, especially when caused by a failure or mistake
          
introspection         examination of and attention to your own ideas, thoughts and feelings

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shibli:
Five things I love the most

This world is full of many wonderful and lovely things. Human beings are trying to utilize the maximum resources of his intellect for finding out various types of inventions and discoveries and thus endeavoring to make the things more lovely and worth enjoying. The process of beautifying the world is a continuous process. There is no end to it. Since there are many beautiful and lovely things, it becomes very difficult to pick and choose. Somehow, with great care, I have selected five things I would like to adopt in my future life.

Firstly, I love nature. I am fed up of this artificial and momentary pleasure which we derive from the city. I would like to settle down in some villages where I would be able to enjoy nature. Nature can be a true friend and guide for man. Wordsworth, the great lover of Nature, has also acknowledged this fact in his poems. I am very anxious to go and enjoy the scenery of steep hills; greenery of the own valleys, cool breeze and other natural things. There I would find people who will be quite different in nature from the city dwellers. Their motto of life is "simple living and spiritual thoughts" Thus I will have the privilege of coming in contact with simple and straight forward people.

Secondly, I would like to take up teaching as my career (have already taken). I am deeply pained to find illiteracy in my country. For the successful functioning of Democracy, it is essential that we reduce illiteracy to the minimum. I want every young man and woman to get educated. There is a dire need for spreading education to every nook and corner of the country. I hope that by selecting this profession, I would be serving my country in the most appropriate way.

Thirdly, I am a keen and voracious reader. Reading fictions and non fictions is my favorite pastime. Reading widens the door of knowledge. They give us an insight into this world. Sometimes we are able to resolve many difficult problems by reading. We are able to chalk out many schemes which can be useful in our day-to-day life.

Fourthly, I love my country. I can forego anything just for the honor of my country. If somebody were to ask me to go to a foreign land and serve there, and get a handsome salary I will be the first to bluntly refuse this offer. I am very fond of the way of life, food and sunshine of my country. If I were to go to a foreign country for employment, I would not be doing justice to my Motherland.

The last but not the least, I love my home sweet home, The saying "East or West, home is the best" is correct. I live in a small house which does not contain all the modem amenities, but still it is not less than a paradise. I have been to my friend's houses where I find ultra modern decorations and lavish furnishing. I do not like this type of artificial life or home.

The selected items above are the five things which I hold dearest to my heart and are the very essence of my being.
 
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shibli:
Are scientific inventions making us happier ?

One of the most popular questions which is often asked is: "Are scientific inventions making us happier ?"

Science today has given us such comforts as were unimaginable years ago. Today we switch on the radio and listen to music, We have electricity, telephones, televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, air-conditioning plants and a host of other gadgets. All these things have made the life of man very easy and comfortable. The flush-lavatories, shower-baths, electric fans, cinemas, cars, trams and "planes" are among other scientific inventions which have increased the ease and happiness of, mankind.

Science has made traveling easy and efficient. The world has become small for us. But those exciting adventures and romances which traveling gave us in the past have all disappeared. Modem traveling is a dull business.

People who live in big cities like New York or London have benefited in some ways and lost in many other ways. The city people do not have any leisure. Their life is so busy and mechanical that they do not have any time "to stand and stare" as well as to see and appreciate the beauties of nature. Their lives have become artificial, devoid of charm and delight.

Modern age is an age of science. As science is advancing it is at the same time thwarting our civilization. In the world of science, the words love, emotion and sentiments are quite foreign. So what is the use of science to man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul ? Spiritualism is on the wane while materialism is on the increase. Philosophy, culture and love are rapidly fading from the surface of the earth because of the advancement of science.

On the destructive side, science has invented weapons which are dreadful and disastrous. The invention of U-boats, Rockets, Atom Bombs, Hydrogen Bombs and other harmful nuclear devices have increased the chances of human destruction. Thus, if these weapons of science are misused. they would spell disaster for entire mankind. This is the peak of scientific civilization.

Thus the opinion generally remains divided on the above subject. No one can claim that science is beneficial or a complete curse. While a scientist makes inventions, a politician misuses them. Mainly, it is this wrong application of scientific inventions by the politician which has brought humanity to a bad state. In this respect science has dehumanized us. Nowadays we have better drugs and surgical instruments but men are becoming weak constitutionally. What an irony of fate it is ? Today, we have a sensitive 'heart', a sensitive 'lung' and a sensitive liver' due to fast speed, smoky atmosphere and dusty roads. Thus science, while it makes mankind happy by its latest achievements, also makes it unhappy when it shows its destructive power. But, broadly speaking, science can be used for happiness but the mad mind of the man and particularly of the politician misusing the discoveries of science, makes us unhappy.

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