Why this post?

Today, life seems like it's a rat race. Everyone is trying to get ahead of the curve. Honestly, so was I. Growing up in a competitive environment, there was always a constant need to be the best. However, a recent turn of events has enabled me to think differently. I have come to realize that life is a journey, not a race. It's not about who achieves the best; it's about how you get there. I have come to realize that the best way to get ahead of the curve is to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Here are some things I wish I had known earlier, as it would have changed the way I perceived the world and impacted my actions:

Goals

Establishing Goals

Peer pressure is a huge part of life. It's a constant feeling of being told to do something, and then being told to do something else.

One moment you are working on your academics, and the next, you are maxing out reps in the gym. As someone who is widely influenced by the activities of people around me, I have come to realize that this is a huge part of life.

I always had this feeling that I could achieve whatever I wanted if I put my mind to it, and it's true, not just for me but for anybody out there. The thing is, you can't be the best at everything.

I don't think I could be a successful rocket scientist or a social media influencer, for that matter. That's where setting clearly defined and measurable goals comes into play.

Take time to regularly introspect on your goals, your progress, and if you still enjoy doing whatever you're doing, then you're doing it right. For example, when I started pursuing my Graduate degree, I made a choice of learning Java (a programming language), not because it was a central part of the curriculum but also because almost everyone else was coding in Java. I neglected Python (which was always my go-to language).

However, after I started working, I had an opportunity to work with Python codebases among other things. It dawned on me that I was always comfortable with Python, not that I was poor at Java, but I was certainly more productive with Python. I started practicing coding problems from scratch in Python, though I had already completed an ample number of problems in Java.

Takeaway: Don't jump to instant conclusions and make decisions based on what others do. To each their own. Find out what you're good at or at least what you'll feel comfortable, passionate, and satisfied doing. Introspection is key!

Realistic Goals and Consistency

As mentioned earlier, I'm someone who desires to be a master of as many trades as possible. Reality is, you can be a Jack of all trades but only a master of a few.

Hence, it's vital to determine what floats your boat and what you're willing to sacrifice as early as possible. It's never too late to make changes, be it lateral shifts or more radical ones. But starting early gives you an advantage since your mind and body have more time to accustom to your learnings.

Remember, you can't learn everything at once. You have to learn things in a systematic manner. Start small but aim big. Be consistent with whatever you do. Consistency is key; I cannot stress this enough. Be it swimming or programming, weightlifting or eating healthy, I found out that once you start being consistent with something, you'll be able to grasp it better and soon be good at it.

Takeaway: To quote Bruce Lee - "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." Be consistent with whatever you do, and you'll master it.

Making the Most Out of Life

As important as it is to lead a productive life full of accolades and accomplishments, it's also important to have fun doing so. At the end, you would want to remember a journey filled with joyous moments, moments with excitement, thrill, and experiences.

Imagine you had the ability to visualize any particular point of your life. When you revisit your memories, would you want to see yourself in misery, merely trying to survive, or would you want to see experiences that you want to revisit and relive?

Have loads of fun with everything you do! Never settle and stop. At the same time, remember to be human. Display empathy and attempt to help others grow too. Find your wolf pack, like-minded people who have similar goals in life, and work with them.

Become the person your younger self would want to look up to.

Don't lose yourself in the way. Be someone who is able to make an impact in the lives of others, not just yourself. Try to be someone who will be remembered for posterity. Now, I'm not telling you to chase clout 😉 rather be someone who will be revered for their contributions to society, be it scientific advancements or philanthropy.

Steer away from negativity. As satisfying as it is to argue with someone and engage in conflicts, it's just a waste of time. There are still times where I would prefer using fists to solve problems than words since being reasonable is underrated these days. However, something I've learned is Violence is never a solution.

Now, I'm not telling you to be like Gandhi - "If someone slaps you on one side of your face, turn the other one to him." That's not pragmatic today. Stand up for yourself and for the people around you. However, solve problems with your brain as often as you can.

Conflict resolution is always more valuable than violence. Nobody wants war except the people who profit from it, and the ones who participate in it are never the ones who profit from it!

One doesn't have the right to request for peace when he doesn't have the power to fight. - Quote from the movie "Aravinda Sametha"

The right to peace can only be appreciated when there is also the power to protect oneself in case of conflict. If someone lacks the ability to defend themselves, then the concept of peace may be perceived as unattainable or meaningless.

Information is wealth, time is gold. Remember to question whatever you're being fed; otherwise, you're just another sheep being indoctrinated into someone's larger plan. 🐑

Appreciate the truth and seek it.

Figure 1: "Baaa" goes the sheep 😁

Be a torch bearer.

There's this idea that the way humans think changes every 30 years. Some may call it a trend, some a fashion, and some an era. The common man calls it "generation". But in every generation you wil find very few people who will promote new thinking. These people are known as torch bearers.

In my opinion, torch bearers are responsible for the evolution of mankind. If not for them, we would still be Neanderthals, or worse.

As ASAP Rocky says: Create, explore, expand and conquer..

On Death and the end

The mere thought of death can be frightening and can feel suffocating. Though I was never afraid of the idea of death, I remember this interview with Keanu Reeves, where he is questioned, 'What happens when we die?'. He responded, after a moment of thought, "I know that the ones who love us will miss us." That hit me like an oncoming truck. The idea of not being able to do what you love and not being able to communicate with those who are dear to you is certainly abysmal. However, it is what it is. That's why it's important to make the most of your life. Be the best version of yourself, but don't compare yourself with others. Don't let the end of your life be a disappointment. To keep it simple, as the singers Nico and Vinz sang:

"Even when the day comes... be ready when the day comes...Even when the sky comes falling down"

Make sure you cherish every moment, appreciate well-wishers, and make the most out of it.

Cheers!

Figure 2: Let's go!

On Life

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