Tolerance Level

We often notice that children (at least up to the age of 5), are unable to feign illness. And they continue to ignore the fatigue till they are unable to withstand it, and become too feeble to even walk! They are yet to grasp the concept of tolerance. Otherwise, they would not be stretching the elders around to their ‘limits’ by nagging with repetition of their questions, queries and doubts! We lose patience, and at times, disappoint them or even sadden them with outbursts of our impatience. And then consoling them seems futile.

As adults, we play with ‘tolerance’ levels. Even those global certifications which are proudly displayed along with brand names are mere indications of narrow tolerance levels of imperfections in quality.

When it comes to personal tolerance levels (physical-fatigue, mental-fatigue, and emotional-fatigue….. Oh! It seems to painfully remind us of the need to ‘maintain’ the awareness about need to distinguish them on an on-going basis!), we feel fuzzy. These individual levels are never static. The calibration and even its ‘standards’ varies due to our perception about our shifting priorities, situational support etc. That is why, in large organizations, the team leader is supposed to performing ‘excellently’, when the spirits of the team are ‘maintained’ at peak levels due to the efforts of that leader!

The problem with tolerance levels becomes too pronounced only when we mix it up with our ability to withstand something. Good weightlifters decide to ‘give it up’ even when the ‘lift’ causes some discomfort. The next level of ‘jerk’ might cause fatal injuries to muscles, etc. And, there is a bonus too. When we try to effectively maintain a watch over our tolerance levels, we invariably end up pushing up our levels too! And it does tell upon our productivity, alertness, receptivity, etc!

(Spiritual practices unfold these subtle aspects and even subtler levels of inner/deeper tolerance areas into newer dimensions! But that is entirely a different story, not relevant here)

Somebody seems to have asked, perhaps in all innocence, about becoming famous with ‘tolernts’! That is what prompted me to look within and see what it means. I would eagerly await to know, at least, if my views meet your tolerance levels!

Psn(4th September, 2010)

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100903193530AAq6kqb

I am famous with my tolernts?

My answer:
Then,
please take care to clearly distinguish the tolerance-lists from withstand-list. If we are unable to withstand, something that we erroneously 'think' that we might tolerate, we might break down, and sometimes irreparably!