Reflecting on the dilemma between the heart and the mind - Monika Singh Pundir

A dilemma is a situation which mainly occurs in everyone's life, especially in students' life. Recently it happened to me when I went to receive my report card. I checked my marks and noticed I wasn't getting what others expected. They thought I was very talented and would get excellent marks, but I needed help to make it up. At that time, my mind told me not to show up to anyone I had let down and to tear off my report card. But the weird thing was that at the same time, my heart told me not to think much about such things because, somewhere, it was my own fault for not studying and not doing well. 

When such a situation occurs, one should think more than once before taking any step so we don't regret it later.

Monika Singh Pundir
Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Reading The Art Of Focus by Gauranga Das, with Jugjiv Sir at the Sunday School

Honesty - Arav Agarwal

Honesty for me means being authentic and being who I am.

Whenever I feel that I should not tell the truth, I just ask myself, do I want to live peacefully or in fear. If we say a lie, we feel regret, and then our minds cannot live peacefully. Being honest has helped me get many opportunities for my growth because of my teachers, coaches, friends, and parents' trust and confidence in me. I also get a good feeling and calmness in my mind by being honest.

I have listened to many stories on honesty since my childhood and many parents' experiences where being honest has helped them in life. Even my experience of being open and getting appreciation from my teachers and parents has made me more confident and courageous to always be truthful and honest in life.

So, we should always keep in mind that practising honesty will take us ahead in the future. By being honest, we are only being true to ourselves.

Name: Arav Agarwal
Grade: 5C
Billabong High International School, Thane