Of truth and falsehood
November 2022
Of Truth and Falsehood
Dear Reader,
A few days ago, I saw a video of a former superstar wishing ill upon a photographer who had stumbled while taking her pictures. The internet went into a tizzy criticising her attitude and how celebrities who are ‘role models’ should display civility while dealing with ordinary people.
Vis-à-vis this incident, through this page, I want to talk about human psychology. We lose respect for those who become smitten by us and chase us in the hope of getting our attention, whereas we are magnetised by those who pay attention to themselves and focus on their success and growth. The disdain that celebrities show towards ‘lesser mortals’ who hero-worship them and spend money on them, points towards a larger issue. That each one of us is meant to look for the hero in our own self. We are supposed to chisel our character and skills, plug our shortcomings, and build our strengths, rather than idolise celluloid stars.
I remember sitting face-to-face with three Bollywood celebrities in a closed space some 10 years ago. I was wrapped in my own world and did not have the strength to go starry-eyed looking at them. Within a short time, all three struck up a conversation with me and wanted to know more about me. Since I was reluctant to divulge much about myself, they sought the help of others to know who I was. This was a very telling experience.
Celebrity tantrums also point towards our misplaced values. The ones who are always by our side, supporting us and being there for us in our hour of need, are the ones who actually deserve our undivided time, attention, and adoration. But generally, we get to see the opposite, reflecting the strong hold of maya on us.
Lastly, since it’s the nature of human beings to look for leaders, shouldn’t we use our discretion before choosing to follow someone? A leader must be recognised by their high values, unassailable character, contribution to society, and the lives they have touched and transformed for the better, through their actions. But since they motivate us to grow from within, they are not much sought after.
The November issue of Life Positive carries a cornucopia of articles for you to enjoy and savour. One which I recommend particularly is Face-to-Face with God. Lovers of God would die for an experience such as this.
- Editor