HR SIDE OF BUSINESS

Frustrated Human Beings- Spirituality is the Solution

*The Cost of Success*

This morning, of the 31st of July 2019, the dead body of celebrated entrepreneur and tech investor, VG Siddhartha, was found in Netravati River in Karnataka. VG Siddhartha had all the check boxes that have been described for one to be successful in life and business.

And yet, in his words, he failed. Some are blaming the business environment, some the tax authorities and others have their own theories. However, what cannot be ignored is that this seemingly massively successful man had a storm stirring behind his calm demeanor.

-         Post No. One (LinkedIn)

I have been reflecting of the complete chaos surrounding the CCD & V G Siddharth. This is unfortunate and a tragedy- personal & systemic. But it also highlights something I have been writing and tweeting about for some time now - loneliness & depression. Mental Health is one of the biggest scourges of our times. From academic establishments to workplaces, from Board Rooms to bedrooms, the indifference & inability to read and handle it is shocking. How can no one pick the depression so precarious? Let such apathy end.

-         Post No. Two (LinkedIn)

These are two representative responses. Many more on Face book, Whats Up are making rounds, bring the issue of frustration, depression, mental health at the forefront.

Stress in Engineering parlance is defined as Load divided by area. The load here may be work pressure, deadlines, family and health issues, financial EMIs, business competition, loneliness and so on. Area is simply the mind (and hence the body) which tries to bear and sustain this load. If the numerator increases beyond the capacity of denominator then resultant is extreme reactions such as suicide.

Major sources of stress-

• -          Environment (Bombards us with demands to adjust).
• -         Stressors (demands of time and attention, loss and all others listed above)
• -         Physiological (Illness, accidents, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, sleep disturbances)
• -         Thoughts (interpretation of everything above)

These sources may be single/multiple, real/imaginary, past/present/future.

Human beings have nervous system which performs concrete functions which are observable, quantifiable, measurable and demonstratable. Mind has abstract functions which are experienced but cannot be measured. This is hardware and software of human body.

Functions of mind-

• Thinking
• Feeling / Emotions
• Behavior / Actions
• Intelligence
• Motivation
• Perception
• Memory
• Judgment / Decision – making
• Conscience
• Consciousness

Mind portals

• Integrated functioning
• All functions express / manifest through :
• Thinking, feelings/emotions, behavior/actions

Hence focus of stress management on thinking, feelings and behavior.

Manifestation of stress-

• Thoughts
• Rapid, intense, persistent, pervasive and can disturb interpersonal relations.
• Emotions
• Intense, Negative, Anxiety, Anger, depression, guilt.
• Behavior
• Aggressive, Submissive, Passive, Assertive

Therefore, Stress is seen in the Body, manifests in work and is visible through relations.    

Adaptive responses to emotions-

• Fight (Anger)
• Flight (Fear)
• Fright( Helplessness / depression)

In human history, when we look at sociocultural evolution we realize that, biological evolution is slower than pace of social, Psychological & cultural changes. Hence slowly these have changed to psychosocial threats.  Sociocultural evolution changes nature of threats. The threats have changed to: status, position, personal projection, self-image …….

These are not necessarily threats to survival and therefore do not require an urgent response based on instincts. But now are converted into F/F/F.   Initially these were “helpful” responses, but over a period of time have become inappropriate / not – helpful, even “harmful”.

Let us realize there is no standard way to manage stress. Each one of us needs to evolve his / her own ‘package” which calls for experimentation & efforts.  The package needs to be dynamic reflecting requirements of the life stage and has to be healthy & constructive. Time & patience required to let package show results. Openness to change the contents of package & reexamine them periodically is important as there is NO Perfect / Best method!

Hence for managing stress, human programming needs changes. The evolution is slow, gradual but permanent. We have a lot of stress management modules, number of trainers. Largely they propagate Yog, Pranayam, and Meditation as the quick-fix solutions forgetting that these are basically tools and techniques to calm down the mind and modify the rate of internal responses.

Spirituality has a solution. Our saints have focused on changes in mental makeup. Rather than hour long rituals (which can be at times religious) like Sankirtan, Japa, Satsang and thereafter normal life events, we can work on ourselves internally and continuously. Accept things, situations, and people as they are and then respond.

Let’s not forget-

“People are disturbed not by things but by the views they take of them.”

Those defeated on battle field can regain their position and overcome setback, but those defeated on mental ground can never win and comeback. This probably happened with V. G. Siddarth.

                                                                                                                         Dr. N. H. DESHPANDE