For a while now, I have been trying to run after one particular thing in my life. Unfortunately, the more I try to chase it, the further away it goes from me. Wait. There is a pattern here, because this happens every time I go after something in my life. Is it normal? Rationally, it doesn’t make sense as to why even after giving my heart and soul to achieving something, does it still seems unachievable. Makes me wonder if that particular thing is really unattainable or my desperation towards it is what repels it away from me all the time?
To chase, or not to chase? That is the question.
We all like to believe that we’re in control of our lives; we take actions and give reactions to different situations. But lately I have come to believe that not taking much control of the flow of your life might work in your favour. Wonder how? Imagine a scenario where you are rowing a boat. You have a particular destination in your head and you’re very focused and rowing continuously in that direction. Albeit, you’re so obsessed with rowing the boat that you don’t realise you’re rowing against the heavy current of the water. No matter how much effort you put, you’re hardly going to move ahead.
Isn’t it a better option in that case to just stop for a while and see where the flow of the water is naturally taking you? What if it is pushing you towards a different spot? What if that spot is as beautiful as the destination you had in your mind? Since you’re naturally gravitating towards it, a little more effort from your end will just push you a lot faster towards your goal.
This incident is analogous to what happens in life.
Some people spend a lifetime chasing wrong goals. They work with extreme focus, but it doesn’t take them where they want to go
Mani Sivasubramanian
It is great to be focused and have your eyes fixed on your goal. But staring at one thing for too long makes your vision blurred. At such times it is best to lose that focus and look around what else life has in store for you. Maybe you’re already standing at something equally good, or even better. But there is no other way to see that unless you take your blinders off; unless you take off the pressure to reach at a particular place in life.
Don’t get me wrong. Not chasing things does not equate to not trying to reach for good things in life. No. Not chasing things does not equate to settling for less than what you deserve. No. Try all you must, offer your 500%, but don’t cling onto things that put you in a place of insecurity and do not give you peace of mind. Give your best, but don’t worry if you don’t get best in return. Most often what you’re chasing is already there in your life in some other form, you just fail to notice it.
When I stop chasing all the wrong things in life, all the good things start to fall into my lap.
Danny Castillo
So close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Let go of everything you’re holding onto. Then see what remains. What is holding onto you? Cherish those things.
-Sanketa Raut
Samay and Solace 