Though life is inherently anarchic in nature as it lacks an inbuilt blueprint to a sustainably endearing living, it’s a bittersweet experience worth cherishing. Courtesy to its anarchy, a fulfilling living isn’t easy an undertaking. Added to this are ultra materialistic tendencies, epic hypocrisy and duplicity that make a principled life guarded by enlightened conscious quite strenuous. It’s this anarchy that life for some is an eclectic and paradisiacal experience and for others a Tartarian scheme. An uncharted territory notwithstanding, the odyssey of life is a priceless present packed with bounties and beauties.
The question is: how should one walk on the life path to make it rewarding? There are four accounts I concluded from my grinding life over three decades. Firstly, abiding by the rules and ethos can make one’s life alluring. Though apparently simple, it’s the path least travelled today. Secondly, the same can be learnt by acting on the life stories and accounts of sages and philosophers who traversed bumpy roads and attained tranquillity. We are, nevertheless, too egoistic to seize lessons from stories of others. Thirdly, it’s through experiencing the grinding realities and failures that enable one to swiftly navigate the life. Of all, this is the most testing key to an alluring life. Though rewarding in the longer run, this uneven track is pursued by hardly a few. Finally, it is passively flowing without intervening life’s course and contour. Given our comfort loving inclinations, it’s the most tedious path today. This is akin to a thoughtless and effortless life built upon by majority on deviant tenets. Herd mentality and social slavery base the foundation of this thoroughfare.
As social animals, humankind engages in complex webs of social interplay. Given the complexities, it’s arduous to strike a symbiotic balance between oneself and the society. However, various deductions from social evolutionary journey and life experiences of others can help one navigate the social interplay peacefully and productively. These conclusions can serve the purpose.
Be good but don’t expect the same from others. Not all can see your real worth. Define your life yourself. Do not heed distracting and prejudicial talks about yourself. Doing so would devoid your mastery on your life. Moreover, never ever force anything: love, time, friendship, attention or conversation. Anything forced isn’t worth pursuing. Anything begged defies your self-esteem. Since respect and love are bilateral engagement, it’s better to distance from people who don’t respect you. Remember, no one or nothing in this temporal abode is inevitable. Not even those we think we won’t be able to live without. Therefore, never get yourself tied in unnecessary emotional attachments as people and goals are not always likely to come up to your expectations.
Seclusion is better than trading your conscience and principles. Seclusion isn’t social isolation. It’s the key to your self-actualisation. Moreover, it shields one’s mental health and self-esteem. Being social doesn’t always mean serving society. Sociality is also an exploitative tool these days. If you can’t do good to society, you can favour it by not doing bad to it. Not all do so. You can either be yourself or the world. Choose yourself. Those around won’t be happy with you in any case. They would mock if you fail, and be jealous if you succeed. Seriously take the caustic truth over the sweetly glazed duplicity and hypocrisy. Soft tune does not always mean pure intentions or integrity.
Fear not failures as they are a proof of your efforts. In this idle world it’s a privilege to fail. You would not fall down if you don’t dare to climb. Nothing is tasteless as being grounded for whole life. Holding on to what bothers you would keep on hurting you. It would keep your wounds bleeding and bruised. Be it past, people, an unaccomplished dream or an incident. One can’t change the ossified negativity radiating in the society, but one change oneself and one’s immediate circle. Smaller the social circle, happier the life. However, we shouldn’t be introvert at the cost of lending a helping hand to helpless and a voice to voiceless.
In short, abiding by the rules, learning from life stories and accepting the challenges would help make life a smooth sailing.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2022.
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