VEL700: Assignment-4

Non-reactive self-development is said to have occurred when there isnt an intentional attempt by the
person to inspect and improve himself. In general, one would believe non-reactive self development
to be preferable over its opposite where the individual is aware of the process because non-reactive
ensures the naturalness of the behaviour without it being affected or mannered in any sort of way.
Going through this course was a brilliant example of this process through the tasks which inevitably
led to introspection and self-appraisal. There were quite a few specific moments throughout which
would come under this and Id like to elaborate some of them:

The Book Reading Assignment:

The book I chose was For One more Day by Mitch Albom. I am very much aware of the fact
that I have a rather turbulent relationship with my parents and even though I had started to
ameliorate and make amends before I read the book, the book encouraged me to do so even
more. I cant remember the last time I had a verbal spat with either of my parents and such
spats used to be a regular occurrence just a few months back. It goes without saying that this
change is a very welcome one and I hope to continue this.

Setting my priorities right:

Through the many anonymous tasks done in the classroom sessions, the major delusion that
was cleared was the supreme importance of money/materialistic stuff in life. It was clear that
when asked, most of us dreamt of getting placed with a great pay and use the money for
fulfilling materialistic needs but as we did more tasks, we realised that each one of us wanted
something else on a subconscious level. Something that was far from being materialistic,
something that one could achieve by just being generous and being around dear ones. And
this wasnt a part of the course. According to me, such feelings had started to develop ever
since most of us left home for IIT. Long-term separation from parents and family planted the
seeds of these feelings and Prof. Ravi is very right to assume that this process had started
even before we got enrolled in the course.
The Definition of Success:
I wont be wrong in assuming that when told to imagine success, most of us would inevitably
think of being surrounded with wealth and all the luxury it entails as the primary requirement
of being considered successful. As the course passed, my mind steadily, but surely, started to
question this image. What good is all the money in the world to a man who isnt on good
terms with his family? Again, as stated in the above point, even this realisation had started to
occur way before the course started but it didnt have a concrete shape. The course helped in
giving it a solid, palpable shape.