We visited the Parmarth Niketan Ashram and met with Pujya Swami. One of the things he talked about is how easily each of us can be thrown off balance in our daily lives. We are in a joyful space and, suddenly, with one phone call with bad news our countenance is completely reversed. He said that when someone asks him how he is, he says “Super!” and means it.

While this may seem superficial at first, we spent time afterwards discussing and mining these concepts. What he was really saying was that I always have choice over my internal state of mind, no matter what comes my way in a day.

I thought about how easily I am thrown by unexpected news, a disappointment, or harsh words and realized that I often abdicate my choice, acting as if an external circumstance gives me the right to irresponsibly express my upset. It is not that I shouldn’t have a responsible feeling when receiving bad news—genuine sadness, hurt or pain is expected and okay. But, I don’t have to feel sorry for myself, be a victim, or make other people pay with a “bad mood.”

From now on, I am going to focus on being “Super” in every circumstance, even when things aren’t working the way I’d like them to. Perhaps what the swami had to teach us wasn’t so simple after all.