Welcoming Life

Reading it appears is the Best habit one can inculcate. Though, I am not an avid reader, but do not mind going through few pages to relax. Recently I heard about “The Secret” which talks about “Law of Attraction” and power of positive thoughts. I tried it and could not read it beyond 20 pages in the first trial (boredom loves me it seemsJ). Then something happened, which I do not even remember, and that somehow compelled me to pick up the book again. I read with perseverance, pages after pages (however, only apprx. 60 this timeJ) intellectuals talking about how it can change your life and all. And to my surprise it made sense, and it sounded interesting (if only you could remove the reiterations). This (reiteration) is the reason I do not like Books, and also most of them talk in circle. Anyways, “The Secret” says – continuously think about something that you want and it will come to you. Sounds like magic, but it is not that easy, yet there is a message. The message is – if you are PASSIONATE about something, you will surely think a lot about it, and since you think a lot about it, you will gradually do things to make it come true. Now that sounds logical.

Then I picked another book, this time “The 3 Mistakes of My Life” (you would have observed I pick up Bestsellers when they are not Bestsellers anymoreJ). More than the book, the author’s talent amazes me. He is an IITian and IIM-A graduate who is giving best of the authors a run for their money. Think of it, it’s like you are from a Vernacular medium and later in your life you become an English Prof., and that too a bloody damn good professor. I don’t know what he would have written if only he had chosen that vocation.

Anyways, the book is compelling and makes a good reading. This book also talks about Passion. However, I strongly believe Chetan should change his themes now. All the books that he has written have similar underlying theme.

Then there is this Book called “It’s Not About The Bike-My Journey Back To Life” by Lance Armstrong. Where he spoke about how his Passion for Cycling made him 2 times Olympic Champion and 5 Times Winner of “Tour de France”, and he happens to be a Cancer survivor. All this compelled me to think about what makes someone so successful? Is it only Passion? And the answer undoubtedly is “Only Passion”. Take any example; Michael Schumacher, Sergei Bubka, Sachin Tendulkar and beyond sports; Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Narayana Murthy, Richard Branson, Dhirubhai Ambani, Laxmi Mittal, Amitabh Bachchan…How did they achieve this feat? Hours of Practice (u can call it homework), incessant desire to Excel, concentrated Efforts, Patience to see the Results, sleepless nights…the list is long.

The question is what is so great about leaving “A Mark” behind? Not everyone wants to do so. There has to be something more than Passion for Work. In my opinion more than just the Passion for what you do, it is Passion for Life. Otherwise how else would you get up every morning with the determination to make it better? Life changes every moment, circumstances change, your ambition, dreams, lifestyle, thinking, and friends and of course the job changes with time. And since so many things are destined to be different next morning, you ought to have some underlying motive to make it better.

The end objective could be anything; making more money, getting more fame, enjoying the luxuries, impressing others…but the driving force, it seems, is one’s Passion or Love for Life. That’s why people like Swami Vivekanand, Gautam Buddha, Sir Issac Newton, Aristotle, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Vasco Da Gama, Jesus Christ, Leonardo Da Vinci, Acharya Rajneesh (Osho) are still known as the Masters of their field. The motives must have been different but I am sure what drove them was Love for Life.

Ignite the Love, Enjoy the Life!!