Pratima Shah

  I've been thinking about a line from the Galatians lately: "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." A simple sentence but when I look around honestly this is the scenario everywhere. Envy always shows up without knocking. Whenever one hears news like- someone got a promotion/she moved to her new house/he posted family pics post vacation- there is a tiny flicker before you congratulate the person with the words “happy for you”. Neither do we ever pay heed to that flicker because we feel that we have moved on. But we have not. According to Socrates envy is “the ulcer of the soul,". Envy harms you terribly because it is not a fight with someone/others but it’s like a wound at which you keep picking at yourself. The other party is not even aware of what is happening and you are the only one who is bleeding and suffering. Looking at the personal angle, envy shows up in dumb ways. Say for example- when you compare your marriage to a frien...

  A phrase that frequently appears on social media is: "One of the greatest cheat codes in life is to never get offended." At first, this sounds like sensible advice. Learning not to be affected by every criticism, negative comment, or disagreement can help people maintain their peace of mind and avoid unnecessary conflict. However, there is a risk in taking this message too far. The idea of having a "thick skin" is sometimes confused with tolerating poor treatment, suppressing emotions, or remaining silent in situations that genuinely require a response. Being resilient should not mean accepting behavior that undermines your wellbeing or self-respect. This distinction becomes particularly important in workplace environments where office politics, favoritism, passive-aggressive behavior, and interpersonal tensions can influence day-to-day experiences. What Does It Really Mean to Be Thick-Skinned? Having a thick skin does not mean ignoring disrespect, accep...