What gives you direction in life?
The text explores the factors that give direction and motivation in life, using nature and human experiences as analogies. It highlights the importance of strong motivation and willpower in achieving goals, comparing it to how plants grow towards gravity. Human emotions and aspirations shape personal journeys, often influenced by external forces like societal expectations and financial constraints. The narratives of individuals like Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill illustrate how overcoming challenges can lead to success. Ultimately, the text emphasizes the need for clear goals, careful planning, and resilience in the face of setbacks to maintain one’s focus and achieve aspirations.
Standing before a huge banyan tree, he was amazed to see its massive size. Its massive boroughs needed support. Nature has provided them with the intrinsic backing in the prop roots, which grow from the branches and penetrate the ground downward to become like supportive pillars. It is the way of Mother Nature to compensate for one thing with another. In human beings, it is a little different in a way that humans are social and seek mutual help and support in case they need it to chase their dreams with driving force.
The driving force is motivation. What motivates us and how intense it is, determines the direction and speed of the journey. Only a strong will supported by an equally strong motivation drives and gives direction. The essential thing is that both forces should be overpowering and exceed other forces. Additionally, direction also depends upon various other factors as well.
If a straight potted plant is laid parallel to the plane of the earth, a strange thing is observed. The shoot of the plant starts growing upward, taking a “L” turn. The plant first struggles to grow against gravity, and the apex of it starts growing in an upward direction. On the contrary, the root, when observed, shows a downward trend towards the gravitational pull. Yet another interesting thing is observed if the plant is slowly rotated so that it gets equal force everywhere. In that case, it keeps growing straight without bending anywhere.
The simple experiment described above shows how different forces affect organisms and their roles in shaping their future course of development vis-à-vis the environment and intrinsic forces. In terms of human beings, the analogy fits mutatis mutandis well.
Human beings are complex organisms so far as their brains are concerned. There are a plethora of emotions, sentiments, feelings, aspirations and desires. The feelings are like millions of ripples in a flowing stream, which emerge and subside. The feelings, emotions and aspirations are conditional, and it is difficult to frame them in a rule or two.
The development of human beings starts from their beginning in the mother’s womb. It is conceived first as a physical development, and it gradually changes to mental and emotional development. The latter occupies a central role in an individual’s life. It is emotions which shape the personality of an individual. The aspirations and ambitions are also a type of emotion which are subtle but play an important role in the future course of an individual’s journey.
The great scientist Albert Einstein says that “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”. The message is loud and clear. The aorta is the abilty. It is intrinsic that needs to be identified and honed. Einstein had to prove himself before becoming a great scientist. He was ranked below average in his school days and was back backbencher. Whether he was focused or not is insignificant. The point is, his interest in certain subjects was overpowering and exceeded other things.
People dream of many things since childhood. A child aspires for a particular goal, but it changes as the child grows. It is pertinent to see if he sticks to it in later part of life or his/her interest shited to some other things.
The future course of happenings are factor dependent. Various influence the future thoughts and aim. Some wanted to be an administrator but ended up in a field they never liked. Winston Churchil in his book “My Early Life” has interestingly described this ordeal. He writes:
“I had scarcely passed my twelfth birthday when I entered the inhospitable regions of examinations, through which for the next seven years I was destined to journey. These examinations were a great trial to me. The subjects dearest to the examiners were almost invariably those I fancied least. I would have liked to have been examined in history, poetry and writing essays. The examiners, on the other hand, were partial to Latin and mathematics. And their will prevailed. xxx I should have liked to be asked to say what I knew. They always tried to ask what I did not know. xxx This sort of treatment had only one result: I did not do well in examinations.”
Winston Churchill later became the British Prime Minister and was considered the best wartime Prime Minister. He had no dearth of resources, nor did he face financial constraints, but the ability was different, and with time, it showed.
The factors that affect goals and the course of the journey are varied. It can be personal calibre, interest or external but unavoidable factors. Yet, out of them all, the financial constraints and resulting pressure are more crucial. Someone who aspires to become a player and wants to achieve in sports does not get entry because of the high cost of the competitive sports world. One has to relinquish one’s aspiration and vie for something other than money for survival. Hence, fixing a goal and being productive in the field of choice becomes next to impossible.
In day-to-day life, we often meet people with different positions who were there not because of their choice but because of compulsions. They had no choice but to accept the place they were in. Most of the dissatisfied lots find themselves unfit like a screw which is either very tight or very loose; both conditions are not congenial. They have had no chance to fix their priorities and goals to focus on. In such a case, getting direction becomes irrelevant and meaningless.
Those who achieve the impossible are extraordinary persons of firm determination and commitment. Usually, such dignitaries are people who don’t have anything to lose. In most cases, people with fewer financial constraints are seen as successfully wading through difficult situations to achieve their desired goals. In their case, the direction and focused approach play a vital role.
Getting direction and being on the right track is sometimes a daunting task. The goal needs to be fixed with proper consideration and keeping every aspect in mind. It is followed by careful planning, considering impediments, and evaluating personal capacity. After this, there should be no looking back. A focused and hawk-eyed approach is then the only solution to achieve the goal.
While on the journey, the ride can be bumpy or rough. This sometimes deters a person. Repeated failures, rejections and ruthless criticism of family and societal pressure cause extensive pressure. It disheartens the person. In such a case, self-confidence and self-belief are the answer. If one is convinced about the honesty and genuineness of the goal and one’s capabilities, success is bound to come. It should not matter what others say because it is they who will pat their back and try to attach themselves in one way or the other if the person succeeds. The people’s criticism is phasic and according to their parochial perception. It shouldn’t be valued much. With a clear conscience, firm determination and hard work in the right direction are the ingredients that result in a delicious dish that gives nourishment and pleasure after it is prepared.
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