The Race: Is it real?
Or are we simply enslaved by our inferiority complex?
The Introspection
Have I gone greedy with life lately?
Am I chasing a wild goose in a rabbit’s hide?
What sense of competition am I currently experiencing?
Am I moving too slowly, or is my environment moving way too fast?
Why is a sense of accomplishment lacking in me these days?
What kindled the Introspection?
I used to be happy when I finished a weekly deadline early, feel proud when I won a badminton game against a tough opponent, and be over the moon when my minor suggestions were accepted at work.
All of a sudden, a lot has changed.
Many of my peers got promoted, got new jobs, moved abroad, and got into some of the most prestigious universities around the world, all in the span of the last 2 years. Suddenly, life’s not the same for me anymore.
All of my once-proud mountains of triumphs now appear to be mere pebbles. At least they are not as worthy as they used to be. Nothing that I do is pleasing me the way it used to.
What’s the realization?
In retrospect, I realized one thing: I might not reach the same peaks that my peers climbed, and I might not even reach the foothills of those mountain ranges, but I am an important person in the place where I am now. We are all the essence of what we do, no matter where we do it.
During the same two-year period, I stood by my family to support it through all that it has been through, I took a small step up on the job front for myself, and I did many other things that aren't noteworthy.
At the end of the day, while the mountains are a sight to behold, it is the pebbles in your aquarium that matter and that you are content to own.
How do you get out of this?
There are four main things to check when you are doing anything:
- Do you love doing it? : This is the most important aspect while doing anything. Only when you enjoy doing things, you will feel each of your milestones as an achievement.
- Is it worth your time and effort? : None of your passions will pay your bills until it reaches the right audience. At the same time, even the smallest of talents when catered to the right audience can reap rewards.
- Are you pushing yourself out of your comfort zone?: If you want to be deeply involved with your work, you should keep exploring while pursuing your passion; someone who learns consistently can do this effortlessly.
- Is it burning you out? : While pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is important, it should not be burning you out. Taking an occasional break is very crucial for your work to stay fresh and innovative.
The bottom line, as quoted in my own words, is
“Self-content is also a yardstick for success, and one of the most important ones”
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