A month has passed since I came to Calicut and I am surprised by the keen eye and observance to all of the patterns and actions. I am taking it one day at a time and realize that’s manageable for me. I enjoy mentoring and glad that this path allows me to do just that. And recently discovered a new passion to teach product marketing to students around the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach and share my experiences - a blessing indeed.
And I get to read books every week and continue my learning. A student for life. A mentor for life. That’s where I want to be and what I want to do. Being mindful every moment and cherishing the time together with parents. This time will never come back. Everything can be clear once you put a lens to see what is most important now.
Two books peaked my interest and is guiding me into the next direction - Anitya: Impermanence (How to make the most of change and transform your life) and The Renaissance Soul (How to make your passions your life).
Impermanence
Here are a few insights from Gayathri Jayaraman in her book Anitya that I want to remember for life. The 4 noble truths of buddha - Dukkha (Suffering), Samudaya (the Cause), Nirodha (the Cessation), Magga (the Path)-in our lives and the mapping to the mountain, ocean, and sky was perfect.
Do I want to be the traveling cloud or the sky? I want to be the sky soaking in all the miracles and not let the current situation hold me down.
Experience the world through authentic connectedness. Every mentor conversation opens a new world around me and gives me a new perspective.
When we get from a space of undifferentiated interconnectedness, we harmonize with the energy of the world. I love the energy of the universe and can feel being in oneness with the source.
Equanimity - And we can navigate our change with equanimity and the expansiveness of the sky. To cope with change is to smoothen our passage through life.
Creative Indifference - I need to remind myself to be fluid on the path and be a part of the road less travelled with pure joy.
Renaissance soul
And guess what the book The Renaissance Soul had in store for me - a path to leap forward and gave me confidence that I am on the right track. Throughout the book, on every other page, all I could say is it’s me. No wonder why I enjoy my current adventure where I am not stuck with one endeavor as a full time, but loving the experience of trying a few different aspects of my energy as a mentor, author, explorer bringing the best in me.
I loved the examples of Ben Franklin and Mozart, renaissance souls who believed in what they enjoyed and didn’t let the environment restrict their creative flow. Now that’s pure inspiration - knowing that we don’t need to do just one job all our life and that each experience can shape the next adventure ahead in career and life.
Depending on where you are in your career, ask a fundamental question:
Are you happy and enjoying what you do today?
For me: GROW and personal OKRs, opened my eyes to a path for mentoring that I couldn’t have had the courage to do. I reimagined my lifestyle to one of essentialism and my career choices to make this my chosen path - my ikigai, my purpose in life - to bring the best in each other. It’s amazing how the universe conspires when you have laser focus and opportunities unfold in ways you can never imagine. Thank you!
What is your hidden gem, your true secret to success?
Find your path to happiness and joy within.
Define success on your own terms.
We can always find a million reasons not to follow our passion and feel the creativity stifle within. Once I let my creative energy to flow, I am who I am. I try to stop worrying about what others will think. This is so deeply ingrained, its hard to clear the cobwebs, but I am persistent.
A new beginning
This past month gave me a new appreciation to my emotions and reactions. 2 incidents helped me observe my true inner self and build self-awareness. I noticed when I had to get ready for an early morning train, I was getting anxious and felt rushed. In the past year, I have been careful to slow down and give myself the time so that anxiety wouldn’t build up. And when it did, I took a few deep breaths and comforted myself instead of breaking down in tears.
Recently, when I was helping decorate a community space and bringing some of my favorites with glow stars, butterflies and postcards. I might have gone overboard with all the joy and excitement. I got feedback in the afternoon that it was too crowded and it disturbed me and didn’t know how to best respond. I know it was in good intention but it didn’t help me and I shut down. Since I was the observer, I could watch the emotions like traveling clouds and by the evening, I was able to let it go. I did contemplate sharing my experience but I don’t think that would help anyone, so I want to let it pass like a traveling cloud.
Keeping in sync with these patterns have helped me stay in line with my intentions and embrace the change within. I am leaning into the expansiveness of the sky and learning to let my emotions float like traveling clouds, in hopes that I can be undisturbed and be a silent observer and listener to the miracles of life.
Healing comes in all shapes and forms and I am learning that I should give it all the time it needs. I was worried that it’s been 6 months since I left my full time job to pursue my passion. Now I am determined to not let expectations get the best of me and embrace the harmony and learn to dance to the symphony and rhythm of life.