As the apocalyptic dark clouds gather above one’s head, life offers two distinct directions – one that persuades us to confront our trials with a steadfast will and another that lures us into embracing the beautiful pleasure of escaping into the hallucinatory contentment.
CHOICES IN LIFE: EMBRACING CHALLENGES VS DODGING CHALLENGES
Life is a journey in which we often find ourselves stuck in a dilemma when life throws challenges at us, and we are pushed to make a choice. We can either choose to go down the road that is full of thorns but will gift us with adventurous experiences and solutions to problems, or we can choose the path of comfort, which will initially give us a boost of dopamine and provide us with a feeling of getting rid of a huge boulder but on the downside, the problem that we just ignored gets multiplied substantially and hits us in the face when we are least ready for it.
Real Stories: A Glimpse into inspiring battles
WINGS OF FIRE: DR. APJ ABDUL KALAM’S JOURNEY
Born in a financially struggling family in Rameswaram, a young boy named Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam brought happiness to his family. He was curious about everything. Technology and science made him question the concepts. He was a dreamer and a learner. As a child, Kalam was inquisitive; he had a keen interest in science.
Obstacles
His aspirations, however, faced the stark realities of his family’s financial condition. Kalam’s family was struggling, barely making ends meet. Life provided Kalam with two choices: live the same life as his parents, escape from reality, and keep tip-toeing through life. Or to work hard and change his destiny.
The easy path would have been to stay trapped in the family’s economic struggles and give up on his dreams. But Kalam had an unyielding spirit; his willpower made him embrace the challenge, and his unwavering determination fulfilled his dreams.
Deciding phase of his life
Kalam’s journey was not easy; he was already facing a lack of resources and opportunities. However, his perseverance eventually led him to the Madaras Institute of Technology, where he pursued a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. After getting done with his academics, Kalam joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and ever since then, he never looked back. Being in ISRO, Kalam led various missions where it was inevitable to face challenges, and again, Kalam was put into the testing zone where life challenged him to choose between giving up or running the nuclear tests as the director of Pokhran-II nuclear tests. Time and time again, Kalam displayed his never giving up mindset and, thus, became one of the best scientists in India.
Life as a President
In 2002, Kalam became the 11th President of India, a testament to his dedication to serving people and his promise to the betterment of the country. Throughout his life, Kalam remained a beacon of hope as he put his blood, sweat, and tears into the development of the country by contributing the majority of his life to the nation.
Abdul Kalam exemplified that embracing challenges can yield better outcomes in a longer time frame.
Dr. Kalam’s message
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s story serves as a powerful example of choosing to embrace hardships and challenges over seeking refuge against battles. His life teaches us that with an unwavering mind and a clear vision of the future, even the most brutal battles can triumph. One must be ready to embrace the challenges rather than trying to seek refuge in times of hardship.
EMBRACING PROBLEMS: CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN
The path to success requires unshakable willpower, discipline, and perseverance. A significant part of discipline is doing what your mind tells you not to do. Humans have a monkey mind. It keeps shifting your focus from one thing to the other, and it requires guts to make yourself aware of what is suitable for you and dedicate your life to that path. The right path is sure to have a lot of troubles, but that path will help you develop a strong mindset, and a strong mindset has a clear vision for life. Embracing the challenges is like conquering the inner demon and walking the steps necessary to find the light on the other side of the tunnel. The journey is darker than the beginning, but the result is more gratifying than one can fathom.
PITFALLS OF ESCAPISM
While ignoring the problem or turning your head against the problem might give a momentary pleasure, it never solves the underlying problem. It is like sweeping dust under the rug. Yes, the room might seem clean, but the mess still lingers. Escapism has become too common with the introduction of digital gadgets, as one now has many modes to distract themselves. People intentionally increase their time spent on distractions to turn a blind eye to the real problem. The rate of procrastination is increasing in the more youthful population as they are ignorant of the necessary steps to face difficulties and shape up in the face of adversity. This lack of wisdom, experience, and motivation eventually manifests as the individual running away from every little difficulty instead of embracing it and overcoming it. Escapism is the root cause of misunderstandings, miscommunications, and arguments.
CONCLUSION
Escapism is a way of mind to distract you from your path. On the other hand, Stoicism teaches us to stare down adversity and keep up our work no matter how hard the situation becomes. In moments of hardship, you should tell your brain that you are the master and the brain has to work according to you, not the opposite. They serve as the building blocks of mental health. It doesn’t happen overnight, it takes months and years to develop a strong mind, but it is never too late. Every difficult situation is an opportunity to practice EMBRACING CHALLENGES.
About Ritik Gurnani
The emotions portrayed above are taken from the diaries of Ritik Gurnani, an individual like any other, set on a journey to explore and uncover the mysteries of this life. Driven by a genuine desire of serving people and making connections, he found his calling as an Optometrist at Gurnani Chashma Ghar, located in Rajapur, Prayagraj. To contact him, or to ask any eye related queries, contact him at +91 8308288736.
Beyond the realm of enhancing vision, Ritik strives for a positive approach towards every kind of life experience. He has been striving for a life brimming with peace, and like everyone, he has his share of highs and lows but he has grown to be a little more rational than he used to be. Hardships have played a major role in shaping him up but he did not let those tough situations have the upper hand and continued to be humble and kind.
With each and every thought provoking experience, he takes some time out of his day to contemplate upon those experiences, what could he have done differently to have a better outcome. About the spiritual journey, it has been on & off for Ritik as he used to be too disappointed with bad experiences and tough situations while taking steps toward his spiritual growth. Currently, he is trying to make a settlement with life about being calm and present regardless of good or bad experiences.
About Storyofsouls
Leave your comments on how did you like this story. If you love it, share it to bring that change we wish to see in the world.
You can also share your inspiring story with us at replytosos@gmail.com. Story Of Souls is an initiative where we invite people to bring their stories to us. We want people to “write to heal.” ALL INDIA RADIO appreciates the idea of Story of Souls. An Online Platform where you can share your real-life stories. The impact of our stories has reached the UN and Harvard University. For some real-life stories, web series are also take form. You can also visit our Youtube channel. You can follow us on Facebook LinkedIn Instagram
Storyofsouls is glad to inform you that we are now a Google news-verified platform.
We are proud to inform you all that storyofsouls.com is the official TedX MotiJheel Kanpur Partner for their upcoming event.
