What is something you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?
The content reflects on a man’s introspective conversation with his inner self during a serene monsoon morning walk. He grapples with his past decisions, realising that dwelling on them is futile and counterproductive. The voice of his inner consciousness emphasises the importance of self-awareness, faith, and understanding life’s challenges. The narrative encourages a shift in perspective, highlighting the need to focus on the present rather than the past. It underscores that dreams and ambitions should be pursued with dedication, while acknowledging that failures are part of growth. The essence lies in steady effort, self-confidence, and a positive mindset.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The article reflects on a man’s introspective walk during monsoon, exploring themes of self-awareness and the futility of dwelling on past decisions.
- His inner consciousness reminds him to focus on the present and pursue dreams with dedication, while acknowledging that failures contribute to growth.
- The narrative emphasises the importance of faith, critical evaluation, and recognising the present moment as the key to personal progress.
- Ultimately, it advocates for steady effort and self-confidence, while highlighting that past experiences, whether good or bad, shape one’s future.
- The essence of the article lies in working towards one’s goals without being hindered by negativity, embodying a positive mindset.
Monsoon morning
Like always, the morning was pleasant and cool. The much-awaited monsoon had arrived, bringing much-needed respite from the sultry, warm and humid season of summer. The thick patches of clouds were roaming lazily, making the sky overcast. Cool easterlies and an occasional spell of atomised drizzle added a layer of romanticism.
Serene stillness and the voice
To avoid people and to fully enjoy serenity in the verdurous ambience, he took a less frequented promenade. It passed through thick bamboo clumps, which formed a canopy. Walking slowly in the stillness, listening to the shrill acoustic of stridulating crickets was an enchanting experience. “What an ambience!” He muttered. “Yes, indeed,” pat came a reply. Startled, he momentarily stumbled and looked around. There was none. As he was musing about the voice, a hearty laugh came to him. Finding none, he moved forward, but as he took a stride, he clearly heard a familiar voice which was very much like his own voice, but coming from others. It appeared as if someone was walking along with him. Apparently, there was none, except the bamboo trees, green understories and a few crawling insects.
Conversation and the present
There was a momentary lull. After a few moments’ silence, the voice said, “I am your clone, but you can’t see me.” There was a pause again, but soon thereafter, the voice continued in a low whisper, “Both of us are consubstantial. You may call me inner consciousness in your parlance. I know you are thinking about the present right now,” the voice seemed smiling. Thinking that the invisible voice might be inaudible to the outside world, he whispered as if soliloquising. He started talking to the invisible voice.
Topic of deliberation including present
The voice assured him that he could talk on any topic of his choice, including the present, as the voice knew what he wanted to speak about. His mind was full of thoughts. After spending more than seven decades of life, ample things had accumulated which could benefit someone of two decades old. Thinking that the voice which claimed to be his own inner consciousness must be of his age, he muttered, “Had I given a chance, I might do things better than I did in my youth.” A giggle and the voice said heartily, “One can’t undo one’s past. You have to bear the brunt of the wrong decisions you took,” giving a pause, the voice continued, “Do you know about your faults, if you consider them as ‘faults’”. The voice kept silent as if waiting for his answer.
Maverick
He was pensive, lifted his eyes to the sky. The clouds were still drifting. Speaking slowly, as if dreaming, he said, “My life was like a maverick, nothing planned, nor pre-decided. It was because I was not an intelligent guy. Like the stray patches of the cloud, I swayed with the winds of the situation.” After a brief stop, he continued, “I could have done better”.
Present not Bygones
“Did you do wrong?” the voice asked, and without waiting for the answer, said, ” Stop cursing yourself. You were not at fault. Your deeds and actions were in keeping with the conditions of the time. Whatever has been done is now a thing of the past. Please do not flog the dead horse, it is futile and infructuous, gives you nothing but pain and agony.” The voice concluded. He was listening to the contents of the voice with attention and realised that excessive negative musings about the past are regressive. The pain and suffering were a phase that passed, and he was now in a comparatively more comfortable position. His present moments are better. After so many hard times, he was leading an easy life, free from excessive worries about the future.
Faith is important
The voice of his inner self was soothing. It was saying, “Faith is an important and powerful tool in the fight against adversities. It must be held firmly. Faith in oneself allows one to know about the strengths and weaknesses of a person.” The voice paused after speaking, waited for a moment or two, and then continued, “Knowing about oneself, one can dispassionately evaluate oneself.” The voice finished its sentence. He nodded in affirmation and recalled his superstitious bent of mind and unfounded belief in God, thinking that he would let him pass the examinations even though his papers did not go well.
Perspective changed
The dreamy illusion about god shattered after he could not clear his board examination. After his unsuccessful attempt, he felt that he had to help himself. No one would help, even god. As he grew old, his perspective on it changed.
Not a problem solver
God is not always there to solve our problems. Humans have restricted Him to the role of a problem solver. The moment the problem is solved, God vanishes from the mind only to come back when a new impediment is encountered. Ridiculously, after the problem is solved, the pervicacious humans grandiloquently pat their backs and boast about their “Success” and “Achievement”.
The essence
God is like a wisp of fragrant mist emitting from an incense stick, which refreshes the mind and soul; an entity that resides within each one of us. Let us enjoy the bliss of His company, not for mere parochial gains, but for an eternal company of a magnanimous force who is always around. Let us not restrict and try to bind Him in our selfish strings? He is omnipotent and omnipresent. The importance lies in freeing oneself from petty desires and being in the blissful company of the Supreme Soul.
Critical evaluation
Time taught him to see things critically. He now knows that things are not always the same as they appear on their face. What appears stark reality, at times, comes out as false and fabricated. As a young man at twenty, he had a fire within and viewed things with a skewed outlook. Most of the time, it gave a unilateral and most often incorrect perspective of things or incidents. Learning to critically evaluate things after musing on every possible aspect before concluding is the mantra of a seasoned decision. Experience taught him to remain balanced.
Present is important
Evidently, the past is no more except for its reality. It is gone forever, not to come back again. Overthinking about past mishaps and faulty judgements can only give a self-demeaning feeling, which adversely affects future prospects that are solely dependent upon the present. What one has is the present moment, not before, not after. The present is precious. It is like a thirsty individual who immediately needs water. One can’t wait for the future, nor can one look at the past. It is why in Geeta, Lord Krishna lays great emphasis on right deed at the right time and in the right direction. He explains it to Arjuna, his friend, amidst the thick of war and encourages him to take up the weapon and perform his rightful duty. (The Economic Times Panache)
Utilising present to prepare
It is important not to let go of the dreams and aims. Before jumping into the swimming pool, first understand the intricacies, gain in-depth knowledge about the techniques and prepare oneself wholeheartedly for the task. Even after adequate preparation, failure may arrive, but it must not come as a shock. Defeat or failure is an intrinsic part of life. The best way would be to cogitate the whole thing, dispassionately evaluate things and try to figure out the causes of failure. Removing the flaws and trying with regained vigour will lead to success. The crux is steady work without getting panicked.
The only mantra is working in the right direction without being affected by the negativity around, with firm resolve and self-confidence. God shall be on the side of a hard worker. So be it.
Some more interesting reads:
-END-
Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
Leave a Reply