I see a lot of people sunk in despondency for not achieving what they expected. The constant competition to move a step higher in the ladder is what we call success. Since the ladder has unending steps, the quest remains till eternity. And if you are not mindful of your surroundings and behaviour, this quest soon leads to things like anxiety, restlessness, fear of looking at other’s achievements, etc. I know this as I have been a prey of this ruthless predator many a times. Yet we need to be cautious and wary of this monster. It is great to be hardworking and aspiring to achieve the zenith of success, yet it is even important to be proud of yourself, and your struggles. Have patience and introspect routinely. Introspection may sometimes happen naturally , primarily if you do mindfulness exercises such as meditation. Other times we have to look outwards for introspection. As contradictory as the sentence may sound, it is equally correct too. One can find this calmness through books, sermons etc.
One can even find this introspection and sense of gratitude through looking at other’s lives. There are so many people who are trying extremely hard and yet achieve not even a percent of what most of the ones reading this article may have. For instance, on one particular day in Delhi as I was waiting at the bus stand for my bus to arrive, I saw hundreds of such people around me. Some were running towards shops where they serve as attendant, two children setting up their shoe polishing corner while ironically none of the two had any shoes on their own feet, and some women working as daily labourers wearing the orange jacket over their sweater and saree while keeping their head covered with “pallu”, excavating soil for the metro construction. There is no dearth of stories of hardships, struggles and dreams.
Here we may think that though true but not every human’s struggle is comparable to the other. This is correct as well as incorrect at the same time. Definitely someone who studied well and worked hard to acquire a white collar job cannot compare their life in terms of expectations with a person working hard to make ends meet. But every one works so that their life gets in a better shape than what it is currently. Education gives means, but the dream to live a good life is what everyone sees.
So don’t be so hard on yourself. There are millions of people wishing to have even a cinch of what you have. Keep working hard. Keep dreaming. Don’t compromise on your goals but do it with care and love for yourself.
तू ज़िन्दा है तो ज़िन्दगी की जीत में यकीन कर,
अगर कहीं है स्वर्ग तो उतार ला ज़मीन पर!हमारे कारवां का मंज़िलों को इन्तज़ार है,
यह आंधियों, ये बिजलियों की, पीठ पर सवार है,
जिधर पड़ेंगे ये क़दम बनेगी एक नई डगर
अगर कहीं है स्वर्ग तो उतार ला ज़मीन पर!तू ज़िन्दा है
शंकर शैलेंद्र
Aali Pant 