When we start to keep our minds clean, the world will become a happier place.

By: B.K. Shivani  
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/2026/07/03/e-paper-today-delhi-04-july-2026/  
Dated: July 4th, 2026

Most of us feel that our lives have become easier and more comfortable than before. That should have made us happier. But if someone were to ask us if we wanted to be happier, we would say yes. Why? Is there any problem in our life? Has some tragedy occurred?” The answer would most probably be no. Then why are we still seeking happiness?

In earlier times, our material circumstances were not so comfortable, but we were happier. Now our circumstances are easier, but we have become emotionally unstable. The fact that our lives have become more comfortable does not by itself make us happy. The mind can be happy only when our thoughts are of the right kind.

Anyone who has suffered a broken bone knows that after you have not used an arm or a leg for a month or two, it takes at least a month to regain strength. Whatever is not used, starts losing its strength.

The same has happened to us. As our lives became easier, we stopped adjusting. We said, “Why should I adjust? I have everything.” As we acquired wealth and resources, we gradually stopped adjusting. That did not increase our happiness. Instead, mental illnesses have increased. Just as an unused arm becomes weak and susceptible to pain, our inner strength has decreased and emotional pain has increased. Due to this, minor issues seem huge, we cannot forgive others for small mistakes, and we get upset over trifles.

We say, “Why should I be the one to speak first?” In other words, our ego has increased, which has further depleted our inner strength.

Illnesses have also increased — not just in the body, but also in relationships, which are marred by conflicts. So, we have come to call our world a world of sorrow, or Kaliyug. But who created Kaliyug? Anyone who carries lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego, jealousy, hatred, or anxiety within them is creating Kaliyug.

We created this world. Some of us might say, “I did not create the whole world.” But how is a world created? Take the example of a building. There may be many apartments in it. All apartments may have the same furniture, curtains, layout, and look the same. But does every home feel the same? No.

Why not? Because the feeling of a home is not created by the house. It is created by the state of mind of the people living in it. Whether a home is heaven or hell does not depend on its size or beauty. It depends on the values and character of those living there.

Materially, our world may have become very advanced, and we now have so many facilities. But spiritually, our values have declined. Outwardly we were building heaven, but inwardly we have created hell.

If there is anxiety in our mind, an atmosphere of anxiety will spread throughout our home. If there is anger in the mind, an atmosphere of anger will spread. If we are criticising someone in our thoughts, that atmosphere too will spread. Then we say, “The energy in our house feels heavy.”

We like clean homes, clean clothes, clean cars, and clean bodies. The day we take responsibility for keeping our minds clean, this world of ours will start becoming a happy place.

But before we begin to clean our minds, we must stop dirtying them. What stains the mind? One big factor is comparison: “What are they up to…”, “How did they do better than me…”, “How come they achieved that…”.

Every soul is different, on a unique journey. I cannot compare my journey with someone else’s. Even twins do not have identical journeys. Therefore, let us learn from others and take inspiration from them, but never think we are greater or lesser than them. Weak thoughts reduce the soul’s power and leave stains, while elevated thoughts remove the stains and increase the soul’s power.

In addition to comparing, we also seek validation from others. When the soul does not know itself and does not work on improving itself, it constantly seeks praise from others. If we feel good only when someone praises us, it means our hand is stretched out to receive — we depend on others to know our worth. The more we look to others for validation, the weaker we become.

Just as a child wants something from the neighbour’s house because they have forgotten what they have at home, the soul seeks appreciation from others because it has forgotten what it already is.

The soul needs to remember: I am pure, I am peaceful, I am powerful.

B.K. Shivani is a well-known motivational speaker and Rajyoga teacher.