A Leap of Faith

  © Shambhavi Pant

 "With roots secured in the mud  

A stem that grows through water   

And a flower that lies pristinely above." 

We've all heard and read that life ain't a bed of roses, yet deep inside our hearts, many of us aspire to a life that lacks hurdles. Life isn't meant to be a singular uphill journey but is one with crests and troughs. Numerous researches indicate that as human beings, we are innately wired to seek pleasure.  And why should we be surprised when apes are traced to be our anthropological ancestors. Though I majored in Sociology, cognition and brain functioning have always been of interest to me. Under modern civilisation, we seek to fulfil higher order needs much beyond food, sex and shelter as the Psychologist Abraham Maslow contends. Therefore, we tend to chase "highs" through our work, activities and relationships. Those who do innovate, create or work upon things or ideas fight against the natural tendency to relax or just be. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs paradigm, their physiological, safety, love & belonging and ego/esteem needs stand fulfilled and they are somewhere near the apex of the pyramid in the quest to self-actualization.

In this roller coaster ride called life, we will inevitably face certain "lows" at some point in time.  Failures, disappointments - being diagnosed with cancer or a chronic disease, losing a parent or loved one, failing to crack a competitive exam, crashing stock market, not landing a university of one's choice, not being promoted, a romantic rejection, being practically broke, not being able to attend one's favourite concert and the list is practically endless. In situations like these, we must make a conscious effort on our part to not break under trying circumstances and constantly seek inspiration from outside or within. Often the tough and challenging times carve the best out of us, not to forget that diamonds develop only when excessive heat and pressure fuse together in Earth's mantle. Also, rejections and disappointments must not become roadblocks to our dreams and aspirations. I fondly recall my childhood days in Jaipur where my mother used to pen a quote she liked once every few days, on a whiteboard facing my bed and one of them has managed to stay with me till date.

 “Shoot for the moon. 

Even if you miss,
      you'll land among the stars."     

Norman Vincent Peale

 Some of us perceive failures as major bottlenecks and unnecessarily get bogged down by past mistakes. But, problems no matter how minuscule or gigantic will crop up in life some time or the other. As we sail through life, we commit mistakes and it is but normal as long as we are learning from them and gradually moving forward. Often, opportunities knock our door but can be perceived by us as problems as they often come with demands to break our current habits. In reality, what we may refer to as "challenges" today are perceived as opportunities by us in the near future. Trying circumstances bring out our true brilliance and polish our character. We must strive to accomplish at least one or two tasks each day that fill us with happiness no matter how busy we get. There are enough options for everyone - working out, swimming, cooking, curling up to a book, watering plants, yoga, meditation, listening to a podcast, taking up a new sport, a walk in the park, hair spa,  manicure, poetry etc. It is fulfilling to follow your hobbies and cultivate a few if you have none. 

"Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit."
                                                                                         Napoleon Hill

Most trailblazers in different walks of life have their fair share of problems to grapple with, just like anyone else. Probably what sets the outliers apart from the mediocre is the ability to constantly fight their inner demons, without losing hope. They stay at the top of their game driven by their drive to excel and simultaneous efforts, undeterred by obstacles.

I believe nature is one of the greatest gifts of God to humankind, not just for the nourishment of our bodies but also of the soul. No matter how stressful a day you've had, a brief walk in the park undoes the damage that often we carry out on ourselves or is done to us at our workplace. The above photograph of blooming lotus flowers was captured by me on a morning stroll in Lodhi Gardens. Some of us are like lotus flowers in a pond, who choose to blossom even within the murky water. For this reason, the lotus flower is considered to be a symbol of purity and awakening in oriental spiritual traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism.

“Water surrounds the lotus flower,  

but does not wet its petals."     

 Gautama Buddha

We, too have the power to rise above everything that goes against us, to radiate our energies into the world. It only requires us to change for the better, to embody a passion for our work and cultivate resilience to stay rooted in the accomplishment of our purpose. This is definitely not as easy as it sounds, but more like a relentless task, psychologically as well as in terms of action in the here and now. A relentless pursuit for self-mastery and trying to outshine oneself is certainly not everyone's cup of tea. I truly believe that we ultimately become sprouts out of thoughts and activities that we engage with for the most part of our days. Days add up to become weeks, weeks add up to become months and subsequently, years. I appreciate how Robin Sharma, a global leadership guru puts it as "All change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end. Everything you now find easy you first found difficult. When you feel like surrendering, continue. Triumph loves the relentless."

"Better keep yourself clean and bright;
you are the window through which you must see the world."   

  George Bernard Shaw

We, millennials, I believe, have set sky-high ambitions and aspire to be a cut above the rest. No matter how distant our goal may seem, if we dial in the correct behaviour and mindset, it eases the process. Working on our mindset is definitely important because our attitude shapes our reality, no wonder they say half battles are fought in the mind. If we cannot visualize ourselves where we want to reach then it only becomes difficult to reach the desired destination. Irrespective of where we might be presently situated in our life, we can enhance our life chances if we perceive a world of possibilities, rather than one of problems. At the same time, we must always keep a handful of people that truly care about our well-being and happiness in close proximity, especially in times of distress. Success and joy only multiply when shared with those who have stood by you through thick and thin - the unconditional love of parents, the accommodative spouse, the friend who would go out of her way for you.

In the age of two-minute noodles, one night stands and same-day deliveries, tenacity and diligence become all the more rewarding. In the end, whether we choose to swim or sink is a product of our own volition and not a plain outcome of circumstances alone. Life is a gift, celebrate it each day and embrace all challenges it throws with a leap of faith. A leap of faith is all it takes.

"Be an edifice and not the structure,  the structure can fall, but the edifice remains."  

  Ayn Rand