Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Be a role model

Each one of us is good at giving advice. We tell our children to be obedient, have pleasing manners, be disciplined etc. We tell our juniors at work to be punctual, focused, over-achieve etc. We tell our spouses to be balanced, mature, cool etc. We tell our neighbours to be friendly, helpful etc. Our expectations from others always borders on perfection.

Ever wondered what the expectations of others are? They expect us to be perfect too. At the very minimum, they expect us to practice what we preach and "walk the talk". It would seem too far fetched if we demonstrate some behaviour and expect a contrary behaviour from others. For example, if we were to be short tempered ourselves, how can we expect our children, spouse or neighbour to be any different?

If we strive for perfection ourselves, without worrying about others, we might soon end up becoming a role model for others. People might start looking up at us and emulating us. We might create the change that we wish to see merely by adopting it in ourselves. What greater achievement can there be when we have conquered ourselves and, in the process, unleashing a wave of change around us?

The world, that we perceive, is merely a reflection of ourselves. If we are filled with positive thoughts and emotions, we will see a wonderful world around us. Every moment will become a moment of joy and every person an angel from heaven. All we need to do is to adjust our lens and improve ourselves.

Be a role model in your circle of influence. Embrace a life of values.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

'Adjust our lens and improve ourselves' very well said..
We should be more of an inspiration to others and should be able to influence people in a positive light.Life is all about on what we can give and not what we can get..

Regards
Tyaagi

Anya said...

So so true .....
I´m a role model
and you ??
hahaha..

Keki said...

Good note Vish.

In the first place one shd not expect. Attachment, desire, expectation & distinction [likes dislikes] brings in raag & dwesh. Just Accept HIS will & don't expect. If you want a place in the sun [Perfection], you hv got to... expect a few blisters. Of all the changes we can embrace, the most significant and far reaching are the inward changes.

Everyone wants to transform, but nobody wants to change. Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing. Our survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.

G M S Bhat said...

Be the change you want to see in others. What you give, you get. What you do, gets done to you. With people, it may be a good idea to allow them to blossom by treating them as if they were already what you want them to be (particularly for leaders)

Pramoda Meduri said...

One shall concentrate on his positives more than on negatives to be excelling in his own arena.. what's ur take on this?

Ex: Sachin concentrated on his main strength batting and left the captiance whr he was relativey weaker.. and has become the role model..

Rakesh Vanamali said...

very well written, as always!

I guess before we commit to be role models to others, it is important that we are role models to ourselves!

Vishwanath Seshadri said...

Thanks for your comments everyone. I normally prefer not to comment on my own blow but here I will make an exception as a question has been raised by Pramoda.

Sachin, to my mind, is a role model for displaying character. He is modest, unassuming, always smiling, passionate to perform etc. This blog, as you all know, is focussed on values, character building and morals.

His choice of focus on the area of his talent does not make him a role model in the context of this blog. From a team context or from the context of productivity / effectiveness, Sachin could be a role model because of the choices he made.

To add a line to address Rakesh's point - when we focus on inculcating values, we automatically qualify as a role model for ourselves as well as others around us.

cheers