I don't see things from a worm's perspective but a bird's

Manisha Koirala once proclaimed with clarity of vision: “I don't see things from a worm's perspective but a bird's perspective. I smile at problems.” These words, though simple in form, carry within them the wisdom of centuries. For what she reveals is a philosophy of life that rejects fear and despair, choosing instead to rise above difficulties, to see them not as crushing burdens but as fleeting obstacles upon the vast landscape of existence. To adopt the bird’s perspective is to rise into the skies of understanding, to perceive the whole picture, and to meet life’s challenges with calm and courage.

The ancients, too, knew the difference between the worm and the bird. The worm, crawling upon the earth, sees only what lies immediately before it: the clod of soil, the looming stone, the shadow of danger. It is imprisoned by its nearness to the ground. The bird, however, soars above, seeing valleys, rivers, and mountains all at once. Where the worm sees disaster, the bird sees a path around it. Thus, when Koirala declares that she smiles at problems, she reminds us that perspective is the true source of strength. The problem does not change, but how we look at it changes everything.

History gives us a striking example in the story of Nelson Mandela. For twenty-seven years he was confined within prison walls, facing injustice and hardship. From the worm’s perspective, his life was ruined, his cause defeated. But Mandela chose the bird’s perspective. He lifted his vision beyond the walls and into the horizon of freedom. When released, he did not descend into bitterness but smiled at the problems of rebuilding a divided nation. His perspective transformed suffering into strength, and his smile became a weapon more powerful than chains or guns.

There is a deeper wisdom here: to smile at problems is not to deny their weight, but to declare that they shall not break the spirit. A smile in the face of adversity is the warrior’s shield. It disarms fear, unsettles the enemy, and restores courage to the weary heart. Many think strength lies in grim determination alone, but the ancients knew that joy amid hardship is a force of its own, a fire that keeps the soul alive while others fade into despair.

Koirala herself has faced profound struggles, including battles with illness. Yet in her words, we see not complaint but transcendence. To her, problems are not prisons but teachers, not curses but challenges to be smiled upon and overcome. This echoes the teaching of the Buddha, who taught that suffering is inevitable but one’s relationship to it determines liberation. By smiling, one loosens the grip of fear and opens the door to peace.

The lesson for us all is clear: when difficulties come, do not lower your gaze like the worm, imprisoned by immediacy. Lift your eyes like the bird, see the broader view, and recognize that every obstacle is but a moment in a larger journey. And when the weight feels too heavy, remember the power of the smile. It is not weakness, but defiance; not foolishness, but wisdom. For to smile is to remind yourself and the world that your spirit is unconquerable.

So, my children, embrace the bird’s perspective in your own lives. Rise above the dust of despair, do not be consumed by the smallness of troubles, but see their place in the vast horizon of your destiny. And when storms gather, when stones block your path, when shadows fall upon you—smile at problems. For in that smile lies the promise of victory, the song of resilience, and the timeless wisdom of those who soared before you.