Sometimes, there is this feeling that we are not progressing in life.
But then again, I think, why is this feeling in the head, first of all?
Where did that creep in from?
Finally, after some empty staring into nothingness, and pondering, I felt almost close enough to satisfaction when this particular clarity set in: that from childhood, in school to be precise, there is this concept of studying in class 1, 2, 3, 4, so on, then write the final exam for the year, and move on.
We are updated, upgraded, moved into the next class and then sit in on its respective exam, and move up.
Like as if we are now clearing up a level in a video game and moving on to the next level.
Clearing up!
That’s why this mindset of “clearing up a level” sticks forever to the mind… it’s how every child is framed and designed to lead the life.
It’s how a college life is designed too. It’s how all the professional level exams are designed. It’s how even some workplaces function – work for few years towards the promotion, rinse, and repeat.
Not denying that all the professional level exams have their own rightful purpose to gauge one’s knowledge, understanding, and expertise before operating on someone, or helping file taxes, or flying a machine that has people’s lives at stake. Nevertheless, this mindset, when wrongly assumed to be the way how our lives are designed at large and if subsequently applied as our everyday compass to navigate our lives – it gets quite dangerous.
Crime, deception, disappointment, loneliness, depression, cast out feeling, nothingness – all creep in – because the world favors only winners.
Only the people who say ‘what’s next?’.
Only the people who moved on to the next level often gets remembered. There are billions of random regular guys out here in the world who gets ignored. There is nothing unique, except they are some random unique number for statistical population counts.
Life is not about clearing up levels, I guess.
It’s all about learning, loving, living, and failing in all of those three areas and then trying all over again.
To pass in life, we need to fail. We need to consecutively fail at many things. There is no such thing as success in life – it’s just the way of life.
But failure, it changes one’s mindset. Failing is the actual “clearing up”!
So, one could start anew, fresh. Success often gets with it a companion called “ego” – and a baggage – called “keeping up with it” or “living up to it” to eventually go for the next success. To maintain that image.
But failure has no baggage, no requests. It shouldn’t be seen as ’empty’, but conceived and perceived as ‘void’, where all that creation happens. Where value is born.
If adding up more trophies, more accolades, more certificates, more friends, more wealth is defined to be the success in this worldly life – then the natural losing and deduction of things, people, material things from our lives is how our lives are designed.
In the end, only one question remains – what did we do with our lives? It doesn’t have to be world-changing. Or leaving a dent in the universe.
Even if a child giggled because of you, consider your presence as “priceless”.
Nobody’s assurance is needed to feel your worth. Your heart knows it. That’s all it needs, that’s all it matters.
Failing is the new clearing up to move to the next level, not the success.
Try again. Fail again. But fail better.
“to become whole, first let yourself be broken!” – Lao-Tzu
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