A Mantra for Sucess = Writing to Run + Running to Write

There are two kinds of unsuccessful people in this world — the garrulous, and the reticent. Just like every dichotomy ever listed, these two have one thing in common — they have little success in finding success.

One way or another, every single one of us is unsuccessful to a certain degree. Think about the last time you tasted success in everything you set out to do. More often than not, there’s always that one item you failed to strike off the list. And if you find success too soon, maybe you didn't aim high enough. And so you failed in finding more success relative to your potential. Only when you acknowledge and embrace failure, do you find success lurking around the corner, waiting to embrace you.

But what if you’ve been programmed to believe you’re the best of the best, destined for glory, unassailable; only to ‘draw’ a reality check during the prime of your life. When one has been brought up in a plastered bubble with a straitjacket ‘correlation implies causation’ mindset, all is well as long as the plaster remains secure. As soon the bubble bursts open, you’re thrust into the real world, and that is when Murphy’s Law becomes emblematic of your existence.

Suddenly, the learning curve appears steeper than the slope of the Himalayas. Success at every step, which had become second nature; now seems hard to come by. Soon, the possibility of failure — which hasn’t been tasted yet — begins to loom large. One searches the world wide web and the web wide world for anything and everything that could give you the motivational succour, and yet the wisdom remains elusive. And when you repeatedly fail in your attempt to find the guiding shoulder, you are at your most vulnerable.

You begin seeking the approbation of others, and forget to seek your own. Your very definition of success changes overnight: the dreams and aspirations of the yesteryears play second fiddle, financial success becomes the prime objective. Nothing against anyone who finds motivation in obtaining riches. But an accumulation of wealth at the expense of your very identity and purpose in this world, is like a deal with the devil It's like sipping an elixir of life that takes more than it gives.

The dilemma continues to gnaw at me. The author within me wishes for all the riches the world has to offer and what my talent could possibly bring me. But it is only when I stop thinking about the dollar, do I write stories that come through for me. My characters smile at me, and play along as I write their destinies. Makes me feel like a demigod; all-powerful, exhilarated, inspired.

But the truth is, writing is an immensely draining investment, both temporally and financially. It’s like heading to your favourite bar to sip your staple lager. You’re aware of what too many pints could do to you, and yet you partake in the binge-fest, ready to face whatever lies on the other side of sobriety. You could end up making a fool of yourself, get into a quarrel, or pass out on the couch of an absolute stranger. All of which seem like very plausible scenarios.

OR

You could end up meeting your future best buddy, employer or even the love of your life. The odds of that happening are as high as my (future) book hitting the bestseller list. But even the most remote odds of success are reason enough for writers like myself never to give up hope. It is our raison d'écrire.

My tribe of writers; we combat deterrence — both internal and external, to find success. Many a time our thoughts dawdle on the negative, and the fear of failing never allows us to tread to the other side — the unknown. But we keep fighting. And that's what I tell every disparaged writer I come across.

"Whether it turns out to be an abyss of darkness or a river of dreams, you’ll never know until you take that leap of faith. Who knows — you might just make it to the bestseller list, but even if you don’t, you have already succeeded in sharing your gift with the world."

If motivation comes really hard to you (like it does to me), start thinking of ways you can spill success from one activity to another. I used this concept to become a dedicated runner, which in turn, has helped me become a more consistent writer. Allow me to explain:

If you can jog a few hundred metres, then a mile is within sight; and if you can run a 5K, you can sure as hell run a 10. And that’s what I did. And then a 12. A few fatigued days later, I made a habit out of running: I vowed to run at least 5 kilometres whenever I’d hit the local park. When it started to get too mechanical, I set myself a bigger goal: to bring my average lap time below 5:30 minutes and reduce my overall running time by at least 4 minutes. In a little over a month and a half, I was able to clock 5K five minutes faster- from 31:06 to 26:05!! Interestingly, the day after I clocked my best ever 5K, I ran a 6K in 31:05.

I had two reasons to feel jubilant. Well, firstly because I used to be one of those guys who would dread running a single lap: I’d find all the excuses in the world not to. And whenever I did find the grit, the endless panting and sweating would put me off. I knew I needed an attitude adjustment or else I was going to fail over and over again. My life changed when I decided to take the first in a series of baby steps to get to the level where I am today.

While the first reason was apparent, the second hit me quite late. Whenever I exit the lush joggers park in the evening, a sense of cosmic quietude permeates my body, staying with me long after my run. The post-run 'window of zen' helped me make sense of every single valuable thought that occurred to me throughout the day, in an almost robotic, yet conscious manner. The joy and rush of endorphins received by running faster, better and stronger had caused a positive spillover effect on my entire life — reading, eating, and most importantly WRITING!!

Writing is now my excuse to run, it is my raison de courir.

Each time I hit a mini-milestone in the park, I know that the writer within me would be desperate to equal or even top his road-running rival. The mantra should work for anybody:

Find any two endeavours/hobbies that drive you the most; pit them against each other, raise the bar, challenge the slacker, enjoy the enhanced results.

Keep <Enter endeavour 1>, keep <Enter endeavour 2>.