Jyoti was born with a divine aura. Her mother would call her, ‘the star of my house!’ Jyoti greeted me with a smiling face when I visited her. Her nimble fingers were busy typing on the keyboard.

She created a beautiful presentation for her science class. The pictures, she included, were perfect and the matter coincided with the visuals. I asked her how she could find such beautiful images, as net surfing is time consuming. She displayed a diary in no time and said that in her schedule, she has allotted one hour weekly, to write down the names of important sites for help.

She looked at a huge clock on the wall, picked up a bottle of medicine, poured it in a cup and gave it to her grandfather. Her mother would return as she had been working in a multinational company. The responsibility of the household was on her shoulders after school.

She would give instructions to the cook, supervise dinner, and return to complete her homework. I inquired as to how she led such a stressful life.

She said that she can either murmur dejectedly because she has housework to accomplish or feel honoured because the Lord has provided shelter for her mind, body, and soul.

She picked up a glass of water and replied, “The absolute weight of the glass does not matter. It depends on how long somebody holds it.” She continued, “Stress and worries are like a glass of water. Think about them a bit longer and they began to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralysed-incapable of doing anything.”

She advised that before we retire to bed, we must put our burdens down. We must not think about them. Rest, relax and imagine we are in a garden with blossoming flowers.

“Your body will rejuvenate and wake up next morning with extra energy. She explained, it was best to remain cool during stressful situations and search for a remedy.”

Jyoti told me that she began her day by praying to the Almighty, seeking His help. She also did several exercises along with meditation to control stress throughout the day.

She believed that success consists of going from failure to failure without the loss of enthusiasm. Thus, her day started with a positive attitude, as she completed her tasks systematically on priority basis.

She said that recreation is also an important aspect of life to avoid stress and lead a healthy life. Her concluding statement was, “All work and no play doesn’t just make Jill and Jack dull, it kills the potential of discovery, mastery, openness to change and flexibility, and it hinders innovation and invention.”