How many times have
you heard the phrase ‘United we stand, divided we fall’? I am sure it must
have been innumerable times, too difficult to keep a count. Unity, togetherness,
community, group are some of the terms that define this feeling of standing
strong as a team. What is impossible as a single person struggling to make ends
meet is transformed into somewhat possible feat when we all come together? It
does not make the task any simpler, but it does strengthen the overall experience
with doses of moral support, peace, energy and trust. When ‘I’ is replaced with
‘We’, and ‘you’ is replaced with ‘us’, there is some magic that follows. And
though it is just replacement of one pronoun with another, it is still
influential at the output stage.
Though we know about
the strength of unity, it is not something we think about daily. In the usual
routine of our expected responsibilities, we seldom reflect on what and how
things affect us for the better or worse. In that case how did I land up on ‘We’
for the next letter in series? The answer to this lies behind certain lessons
of writing.
When I started framing articles and posts, I realized the power
of tone and point of view. If I replaced the point of view from a second person
‘you’ to first person ‘we’, it changed the overall effect. When we address people with some
important aspects using ‘you’ as the central player, it seems more
instructional and less of value-added practical inspiration. It is only when we
communicate with them as ‘We’, it makes us a part too. Rather than preaching,
such an approach makes us a student of the learning process to do good things
together.
'We' is truly the strongest word in our vocabulary
because it stands to be together in everything. When we undergo an experience
together, we do that as a part and not as a lone participant. Whether we pass
or fail influences our decisions, choices and efforts as a team. It empowers us
to be more accommodating. Though it is just a short word with two letters, ‘We’
actually separates ‘selfishness’ from ‘selflessness’. It does not mean, we
should lose our identity to follow a group blindly. Our eternal happiness,
peace and joy stems from our own efforts, but it relates to our existence as
individuals in a society. When ‘I’ is lowered and ‘We’ is increased, we come
closer to the joy of sharing.
‘We’ binds us into
a close-knitted clan. There is some essence in knowing that we are together.
Think about any significant task in your life. The moment we realize that we
share our life with our loved ones around, we are no longer scared. Whether
their presence eases our efforts is not known, but it does affect our approach.
When we know we are surrounded by support, everything seems easier. At the end,
it is still ‘I’ who does the work, but ‘we’ pumps that much-needed support.
Standing alone drives us to doubts, worries, fear and tensions. Though it does
not make us any weaker in our efforts, it just manages to distract our focus.
The thought that ‘I’ am alone makes one weak for no particular reason in sight.
Replace this ‘I’ with ‘We’ and everything changes. The word ‘We’ is actually
empowering, just by itself.
We all make
mistakes, we all succeed, we fail, we laugh, we complain, we worry, we cry, we feel sad, we are overjoyed, and
we feel just the same as the person next to us. As human as we can get, there
are same set of worries, priorities, responsibilities and dreams in our hearts.
This unity brings us together. The thought that we are in this together drives
us to work every single day. Sure, there are competitions and struggles. At some
point, we are forced to think about ourselves to convert our dreams into
reality. But, all of this can still happen while we walk together towards the
goal. There is no need to sacrifice everything and walk in isolation. If you
distance away from people, you are only making it difficult for yourself. Each one
of us can hold hands and walk together as a team, yet experience a unique sense
of satisfaction. Our joy magnifies when ‘We’ share it with those around. And the
power of choosing ‘we’ over ‘I’ makes the difference.
So, when can we say
that ‘We’ does turn powerful?
1.
When surrounded by uncertain circumstances – We all
struggle with unexpected situations. Though we hope for the best- at some
point, we must leave the rest. During such troubled times, when nothing seems
to work, there is comfort in the fact that we still have people with us.
Outcome and hopes may seem to cease, but the moral support of being surrounded
with loved ones still continues.
2.
When we ascend the ladder of life- We all have
to go from one stage to the next. As we do so with friends in the same boat, it
seems so joyous to think, feel and work alike. Our priorities do differ, but while
united by the same kind of fears, worries and hopes, these put us into a single
group. Thinking about the future feels overwhelming, but when the same thoughts
are mixed with laughter and jokes with friends - it seems scary, yet exciting.
Much before we realize, ‘we’ move from school to college, career to passion,
marriage to parenthood, and homeowners to retirement. Being together does not
lower the pricing of real estate or deliver happy kids in the lap
automatically, it simple eases the thoughts with a powerful ‘We are in this
together!’
3.
When we know what is good for us, but can’t do
it ourselves- We all know the benefits of good diet, exercise, good manners and
habits. We know waking on time and going back to bed on time is the solution for
numerous troubles. These and many such beneficial factors escape your system if
you feel you are doing it ‘alone’. Doubts take the place of advantages, when we
favor it over the positive differences. But, only when we push each other as a
team, it is easier to reach the target and see it for ourselves. Motivation and
inspiration works, when ‘We’ are in sight.
4.
When being alone is just scary and confusing– Imagine
you walk into a place where there is no one around. No matter how strong you
are or whatever combination of superhuman powers you possess, it will still seem
weird, confusing and scary minute after minute. We may not communicate with
people, but still the fact that they are around makes the difference. It calms
our senses to know we are a team of humans, though we are not working or
playing as one. For this thought to make sense, think about the number of times
you enter into unknown roads with no cars, people or vehicles around. It does
make you question your route, before struggling to find the way out. We all
complain of crowd and people, but the truth is we need it at some point or the
other.
5.
When it easier to share the blame- Think about
your mischievous actions in school. Though we may have done deliberate mistakes
and naughty acts just to draw the fun of being kids, wasn’t it easier to act as
a team than going solo? The fun of taking the blame as a team puts us at a
lower risk. As the consequences are divided among all the members equally,
there is more fun in this benefit of doubt.
Such is the power of this strong word ‘We’.
No sooner do we arrange ourselves into groups, everything is easy, exciting,
joyous and fun-filled. The habit of placing ‘We’ above ‘I’ makes us more accommodating,
selfless, caring and affectionate. It transforms us into social beings when we
regard everyone as equals.
Feel the magic of this shortest, strongest word as
much as possible because -‘We’ were, are and will be together in this maze
called ‘Life’.
Thank you :)
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