Prayer brings peace of mind

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If you have studied in a convent, you would have noticed a chapel near the school premises and must have also entered it. “When I was in school, I always went into the chapel to pray for help especially during the exams,’’ says Narayani Basu a former student of Holy Child Auxilium School. “A prayer takes a matter of seconds to utter, but its influence on our mind, heart and perception can be permanent,’’ said student counsellor Pravin Kumar. Saying one’s prayer is not an act of passivity. It alters us. Praying for strength and courage to tackle the problems that lie ahead or for that matter praying for others likes our parents and friends can put us on the path of healing our world and ourselves. “Every morning is the start of a new day when you can look at things afresh. It is good to start your day by uttering your prayer as it helps you introspect and help you leave your worries behind,’’ says Kumar. Adds Basu, “We have a prayer room at home and whenever I feel stressed, I go in there and talk about my troubles. It’s almost like sharing things with someone and you certainly come out feeling lighter.’’ It’s important to have an anchor in life, so that you are not tossed about as you walk down life’s long journey. And even if you aren’t the type that would like to sit through fervent chanting or long pujas, you will find that a short prayer can give you the courage to confront even the most difficult or stressful day. A problem shared is a problem solved. Talking about your worries in a quiet place—be it in a prayer room, chapel, under a tree or in a temple—helps you bring the problem out into the open so that it no longer simmers inside you. Talking also helps in solving the difficulty. You suddenly begin to see things in clearer perspective. So next time before you race out of the door, take a moment to ‘talk’ about your hopes and fears for the new day. As the great poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”