The sense of feeling important

As Human beings we have this immense need to feel important and to be given importance. In fact this need is greater than that of Money. Other species too exhibit this characteristic, but in them it is more of physical and territorial strength more than anything else. In humans, we need this importance more in the form of a Psychological craving. At office, at home everywhere we need to be seen as somebody great. Lets then understand this phenomenon in some detail.

I suppose as children, we are taught to respect and revere our parents as somebody bigger than ourselves. We begin by imitating the way they behave. And as our education progresses, we are shown various role models for us to follow. Internally, we are in awe of these idols for the adulation and respect that they get. Our school lives are full of episodes that express the need for praise and glory. The debate competition that we have won; or a sport that we have excelled in; or a first rank in the class – all these are illustrations of the psyche’s need to be appeased. By and By, as we pass on to adolescence, our character’s become pretty complex and consequentially the demand for importance takes on various hues. Jealousy, infatuation, intellectual superiority are some of the manifestations of this phase. Then as career starts rolling along, work related cravings set in and after marriage ego related issues between the Husband and the wife brings in a new dimension to an already complicated scenario.

According to me, the reason for the complexity of human existence is this need to feel important at all points in our lives. We crave for company so that we may exhibit our superiority. We can never accept the fact that we are unimportant. Recently, near my office I witnessed a classic example of this. For nearly twelve years an auto stand is functioning at the door step of my office. About two months ago due to the some complaints by the nearby residents they were asked to vacate the place and move to the other side of the road, which was thoroughly disliked by the auto drivers. To aggravate them further, the municipality demolished a fence that they were trying to build around a tree. I could see on their faces a rage that would come only when one is treated with disdain. Now to prove their importance they sought the allegiance of politico-social party and had the stand inaugurated with great fun fare. There was absolute glee on their faces, as they were trying to prove a point to the people who seemly haven’t given them their due respect. Well, at their level this was all that they could do. But isn’t it the same story in all facets of our life- The need to prove a point.

In a horrendous storm, the grass does not get uprooted. But the Bamboo tree will. The reason is simple. The grass will gracefully bend to allow the storm to pass away, but the Bamboo tree tries to prove a point. Streams don’t fight with the boulders that come its way. It meanders away slithely towards its final destination. We as Humans need to learn the art of doing that. Being important and decisive is not required in everything that we do. Our lives could be lot simpler if we could shed out sense of being important and start going with the flow of life. The cosmos has thought you important enough. That’s sufficient. We need not have to strive for it. Let us for a moment contemplate upon our position not in society but in the expanding vastness of this Universe. We are all privileged enough to be a part of this exotic cosmic dream. We just have to relax and let go. We all have a part to play, and it will be played immaterial of our efforts. This is not a fatalistic view of living. No. It is understanding the beauty of life and bowing down to it with reverence and humility. To know that the pulsating gene that’s makes me throb with life is the same stuff that enlivens everything in this Galaxy is a thought that makes me shudder and relieves me at once of any sense of self importance and I start perceiving life in a new light. My false sense of ego dissolves in this knowledge; and what’s left of me is a mere organism that participates seamlessly in the glorious ride of life.