Asia is the kind of place where there is sometimes opportunity after opportunity. I sat down at a new client this week, and reviewed with my boss all the things on my radar. He said, “This week, only this one Prash, only this one!” He was very clear in his mind. You could see how much he had also been prioritising it. He said, the rest will take care of itself. I went away and internalised what he said, and with all other commitments being cancelled, began to absorb myself on the one priority. After a few days, vehemently positive feedback emerged on how much the situation was beginning to improve, and quickly. I almost put myself under undue pressure to do as much as I could to focus on what he asked me to focus on. I could have got away with less. Slowly, time emerged, and due to such a positive beginning, it was expected of me that I would check in on the other opportunities.
When I came back home this evening, as a result of the intense first
week, the flat was, shall we say, not as organised as it usually is, and should
be. I had come back from the Temple, and was in a somewhat peaceful frame of
mind. As I had set out on the way home, I was mentally preparing myself for the
various bits of housework that needed to be done. For me housework keeps you
conscious, it keeps you aware. I don’t regard it a burden, I regard it as something
that keeps me in check in many ways. Opening the door to the apartment, I knew
what I would find, and had a vague idea how I would go about approaching each
bit. However, for some reason, even though expecting it, it overwhelmed me. Sometimes
even though prepared for a situation, we are still overwhelmed when it happens.
What mentality serves us well at that point?
As my mind went into overdrive, I thought, what do I do first? Putting
the clothes into the washing machine? Sweeping? Putting clothes into the
cupboard? The washing up? The bathroom? All were in an equally bad state. I thought,
No, I will first see to the alter where I keep various devotional paraphernalia,
I will try to serve the Lord. This is the main goal of life. Then I will do everything
else. With this focus, I lit an incense stick, and dimmed the lights to create
a devotional atmosphere. Immediately after doing this, there was no confusion,
dilemma, etc over what to do next. It all fell into place like clockwork, and
most interestingly, it was enjoyable, it was satisfying.
It is said in the great ancient Indian text, the spotless Purana, the
Srimad Bhagawatam, that “One who knows Krishna (God), knows everything else.”
It was so revealing comparing these two situations. Did the author mean that if
you understand Krishna then you will be able to sit a micro-physics paper and
get everything right? Or did the author mean that once you know the real
priority in life, then everything else becomes understood relative to this? I
would say likely the latter. The power of focus and prioritisation is relevant
at every stage of our life. If we understand the universal principle of
prioritisation, we will be very effective from the kitchen sink, to the
boardroom. 