Finding the true essense of Success

Just a few days ago, I had the privilege to attend a Seminar conducted by an eminent speaker Mr.Praveen Narang. It was a very simple, direct and well structured discussion on Success, Right Attitude and what makes ordinary people stand out as extraordinary among other ordinary folks. The discussion in itself was very varied and there were many takeaways for everyone from the little expressions and illustrations exchanged at the session. However, the primary thing, inter alia, which I took home from the entire discourse was a further push to some of my strong convictions. Some notions which, till a while back, I deliberately had veiled under layers of societal or parental expectations or sometimes my own stumbling faith. Simply put, as my plain belief, which I now always attempt to disseminate through any media I am fortunate enough to access, that is to not stick to any rule-book of Life always and to make your own norms. My well professed yet often forgotten view to seek happiness, growth and contentment in life and not just monetary or professional targets. Or my unsaid wish to not become ‘a normal person’ if being normal entails aimlessly chasing after the eternally advancing finishing line of earning money and building a secure future.

 

During the seminar, Mr.Narang very rightly pointed out five pillars of success. He named them as Health, Mental Health, Spiritual Health, Financial Health and Social Health. Very effectively, he placed the well being of self over that of the bank balance. But prior to shedding light on this concept, he put up a very simple question before the attendants at the seminar. He asked “What is Success to you all?” I was rather confounded initially for elementary as the question was, answer to it was just as difficult. I half-mindlessly cobbled up a reply in my head only to not be blank if asked suddenly that success for me is excelling in whatever I do in my life. Confident of my answer, I even bothered to volunteer and say it out aloud later proudly. Many other participants came up with a wide spectrum of answers ranging from financial independence to fame, recognition and so on and so forth. However, to my astonishment, the answer to the question when revealed by the questioner was so obvious. Precisely said, he termed Success to be timely achievement of worthy goals. In other words, it only means that you recognize where your mind and heart lie, you identify your true potential, you set for yourself a worthy goal and you make sure that goal doesn’t elude you anyhow. That’s all about it. In this plain definition, I could see no role or relevance of wearing blinders and running a never-ending steeple race following some superficial targets which also are not set by us but someone else whom we gave the reins of our lives to. And those who don’t win the race drown in the deep sea of mediocrity for all their lives. The rather childish tale of the capabilities of a fish being judged by the way she climbs a tree sums it all up, I reckon.

 

Moreover, I can often be found preaching about following your heart, your passions and not stalking things you don’t want in your lives, actually. So, it makes it imperative for me to put across another idea woven with the same thread. The idea to recognize that passion which can lead us to the pinnacle of the mountain of our dreams. Obviously, the sooner we dig it out the better it is for us. But I add in the same breath, better late than never as well. We all can be the Boman Irani of Bollywood who began the second and real innings of his life in his 40’s. I don’t say we all are actors, writers, painters, singers, etc. But then who says we are all born academicians or great employees of some blood-sucking corporate? I really hope there comes a day when parents, before thrusting a pencil between tiny fingers of a kid, will hand him a paint brush, a ball or a racquet. There will be a day when parents, before striving to churn out a topper in their child, will provide a stage to his rhythmically swaying feet or carve out a beautiful melody from his muffled humming. Needless to say, the role of our schooling and grooming institutions is no less in turning this into a reality. Shekhar Kapur, the world-renowned film-maker, would have remained another Chartered Accountant, if he hadn’t dared to chase after his dreams. After all, at the end of the day, it’s just about finding your wings, fluttering them and taking the flight.

 

To conclude on a personal note, I won’t shy away from adding a small detail. During a session break, I walked up to Mr. Narang and discussed a few professional details, during the course of which, I ended up disclosing to him my penchant for writing. I confided in him my secret wish to sometime take up writing more seriously at a stage in my life, to which he simply smiled and said “you must, the country needs free-thinkers like you who wish to express themselves”. That one statement will indeed motivate me to never let my fire to write and express be put out. May be, a mere smile or a word of motivation is all it will take to expose many artists, writers or players out of ordinary people, like me and you.

 

By- Roopali Shekhawat