AS the world turns, and new, previously unimaginable, events shape our lives and perspectives, our responses to those events mould our mindset. Can we allow for positivity in our lives, given the tragedies we see unfold in front of us? Globally, lies have become the new truth. We see this in Donald Trump’s daily tweets, in Benjamin Netanyahu’s complete disregard of international law or basic humanity, and the complicity of many Western governments regarding the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

In Pakistan, for many of us, our lack of power or control over the social, economic and political milieu can be debilitating. Alongside this, being told how or what we should think comes at a profound cost. This cost is often coated with guilt, for those lucky enough to live comfortable lives, and who still use their hearts. The critical question is how can we practise gratitude — for while being thankful is a first step, the test lies in our daily words and actions.

On a personal level, the objective of having a positive mindset and practising gratitude has been a long-term quest, sometimes being fulfilled but often succumbing to failure. I understand that the people of Pakistan are a giving people — we have one of the highest charitable giving rates in the world. But I find that while we give with one hand, we often take away with the other. By this I mean that while we practise charity through donations, the way we treat other humans, sentient beings and our environment is mostly........

© Dawn