Amrit and Sneha’s marriage was on rocky ground. Their once-happy relationship had dwindled over time. With built-up of negativity over time, their relationship had been marred by constant bickering and deep-seated prejudice towards each other’s families.
One evening, as they sat in silence after yet another argument, Sneha decided to take a walk outside to breathe in fresh air and clear her head. Lost in thought, she wandered into a nearby park, where she stumbled upon a group of children playing.
Surprisingly, their innocuous carefree laughter and playful antics mesmerized her. She couldn’t help but marvel at their innocence and purity of heart. As she watched the children, Sneha found herself smiling for the first time in days. That smile lifted a very heavy load she had been carrying in her heart. The relief was indeed big.
Suddenly, a question dawned on her—what is the secret of their simple joy? Do they not have problems? Yes, they do have, but they do not carry that with themselves. A deep realization set in. Our ‘problems’ are not the real issue, she realized. The real problem lies in how we carry them and how we choose to respond to them.
With newfound clarity, Sneha walked back home determined to implement her revelation in right earnest. Amrit was pleasantly surprised by her refreshing behaviour. He noticed that she was no longer sulking and toxic. Every passing day, Amrit saw a new and refreshed Sneha. Amrit felt better and better, the heaviness he carried all the time started to lift from his heart. Things started to change fast.
One day, Sneha talked about her revelation at the park. Amrit was moved by it. Determined to salvage their marriage, they decided to consistently apply this principle of conscious choice to their relationship.
The next time a disagreement arose, instead of reacting impulsively, Amrit and Sneha paused to take a deep breath. They reminded themselves of their commitment to respond with understanding and empathy.
When Amrit criticized Sneha’s family, she resisted the urge to snap back in anger. Instead, she calmly explained why they were important to her, sharing fond memories and cherished moments.
Similarly, when Sneha felt hurt by Amrit’s dismissive attitude, he made a conscious effort to listen to her concerns without judgment. He apologized sincerely and reassured her of his love and support.
Their initial application of this principle was like navigating through a stormy sea. At times, the waves of old habits threatened to pull them under, but they clung to each other with unwavering determination.
As days turned into weeks, Amrit and Sneha’s relationship began to transform before their very eyes. With each conscious choice to respond with love and empathy, the walls of prejudice and resentment crumbled away, replaced by a newfound sense of closeness and connection.
They started to appreciate each other’s differences, finding joy in the unique qualities that had initially drawn them together. Amrit learned to embrace Sneha’s family as his own, while Sneha appreciated Amrit’s efforts to understand and support her.
In the end, Amrit and Sneha realized that their ‘problems’
were not insurmountable obstacles but opportunities for growth and
understanding. By choosing to respond to each other with love and empathy, they
had not only saved their marriage but also strengthened it, proving that the
real power lies in the choices we make in how we treat one another.