Month: Apr 2018

All of us get so tied up with habits and routine in life , that any change is always generally resisted. We have grown up doing things in a particular way that even a thought of doing it differently evokes a negative response from the brain. We have our comfort zones within which we usually want to live. It’s not just about doing a thing in a particular way but we get used to timings as also wanting to see things in a particular place and any change in that immediately sets in a negative motion.

Routine is in fact good, in a way, that it brings in discipline in life and if followed religiously ensures things are done at the given time in the prescribed way. Following a set routine creates less stress and gives us a feeling of safety . But is it good for growth…..personal and professional?

Boredom is likely to set in if we go on following a particular routine over and over again. If we do not think beyond routine and break away from our comfort  zones, it will be difficult to achieve anything extraordinaire. Here I would like to give the example of my daughter , a class 7th student than. One fine on her return from school , she announced that she was participating in the school athletics championship, for which she was required to go for practice every morning to school at 6 am. We as parents were not in favour of it but knowing our daughter very well , it was so difficult to get her out of bed daily even at 6.30 am to make her reach the school at 7.15 am just in time for morning assembly, we were sure she will give up after initial days of practice. But we were proven wrong and the child went for practice every single day for next two months and went on to become the best athlete of the school. She could do it as she had decided to break her routine and step out of her comfort zone ( in fact her bed at 5 am every morning) which would have certainly increased her stress levels also. So the success can b attributed to breaking the routine, increasing the stress level ( up to an acceptable level) and , offcourse dedicated practice, health condition and motivation .Similarly ,to achieve success in any field including increase in production a risk ahs to be taken to break the routine and increase the stress level.

Breaking the routine doesn’t mean doing something extra ordinary on the first day itself. One should keep attempting different things and different ways of doing things at small level to break the routine , may not be every day , but whenever opportunity comes. Development / nurturing of good creative hobbies also help in breaking the routine. Drawing , singing , painting , playing an instrument all help in keeping the mind active and fresh. Taking a break ,going on vacations also provide a break from routine but may not involve taking risks and certainly no increase in stress level. However, they provide a break from the monotonous routine and re-energise you to get back into routine once again with renewed energy.

We have to understand that how so ever we may try , life will not run as a routine. There will always be situation forcing us out of our routine. Deviations we take at regular intervals prepare us to face these situations , how so ever stressful they may be , with relative ease.

Stepping out of the comfort zone at regular intervals thus helps in following ways :-

–       To achieve something new or beyond routine.

–       Get our mind and body used to dealing with increased stress.

–       Help us in keeping the mind and body energised and creative.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did do,

So throw away he bowlines, sale away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sail,

Explore , dream ,discover”

Awesome must be one of the most ‘used’ word on the social network sites(SNS), specially by the young generation . Most prefer to spell it ion their own special way – Ossum , Awsum , Osm.( One of the best compliment one can expect on a post on a SNS is the word Awesome ). Unique must the next most used word to express compliments. It’s not the post but the person uploading it who actually deserves the compliment.

The most awesome and unique creation of God is actually the human being and no one and nothing else deserves to be called so. Every men / women is unique in his / her own way , having different traits, looks , abilities and whatever else one can think of . In short no two humans are born same. It is this uniqueness which actually makes every human awesome. But unfortunately majority of people refuse to accept this beautiful truth, perpetually underestimating their own capabilities.

Every child is born special, however this uniqueness gets suppressed within as one grows( Sort of a negative growth actually ). The fault lies with the Elders , Parents and teachers who knowingly / unknowingly make a constant endeavour to channelise the mind of the child to a particular way of life. Most of the elders want the child to be their own copy and follow their footsteps or at the most be a replica of someone , the elders think had achieved greatness. They forget that the path to greatness is laid by the ability and will to question the old. While learning history , culture and values may be good for the child but he should not be tutored to follow the books and traditions blindly. The main aim of education should be to encourage the child to questions . It’s questioning alone which will facilitate growth and help bring in positive change in society and the life style. New inventions, discoveries take place only because someone refused to accept the status quo. Individuals achieve greatness because they realised their uniqueness , polished it and achieved what they wanted to.

The majority of the children of varied age groups I have interacted with failed to identify any quality in them which made them special. A simple question – what makes you special ? went unanswered. It’s more disheartening to know that majority of children in 10th and 12^th class were not aware of their uniqueness , their passion. They were not very sure of why they had opted to follow a particular stream of education ( Medical . non-medical , humanities or commerce ) . Most had selected the subjects based on advice of their parents / teachers or peer pressure . Majority of the students end up acquiring / mastering skills which they never loved. Their own passion lies buried deep in the heart , taking a back seat. Such a child , in all probability will not achieve what he / she was capable of . Inspite of the skills acquired they may still grow with a sense of regret of not having followed their passion . Some of them are bold enough to make mid course corrections and change their professions in line with their passion.

Our education and evaluation system is such that passions get subdued in the rat race of passing exams after exams. It’s well understood that exams matter and history , geography , science, maths and commerce matter as well but what matters most is the passion , the flame burning in the heart of the child. This is the flame which will take him to his destination. No one has the right to put a curfew on the flame and sieze initiative from the child.

The right to select his / her future goal lies only with the child as he/ she is affected by it the most . The teachers , parents , elders and the entire education system should act as a facilitator and help the child in identifying his / her passion and following it. The child who follows and lives his / her passion will remain unique and happy in life . Every child is born unique and awesome, let him live that way.

The parents try to be over protective about their children and want them to be secure. They want to do for the kids what ever they can to ensure a secure life for them but in that bargain end up making them weak . Such kids normally are unable to take risks and break down easily when support is not there .They are not able to make decisions when it matters most. Over insurance doesn’t help the kids ion the long run , it makes them weak. Parents and teachers should act as guides and coach the child and not tutor him on everything. They should encourage him to make his own decisions.

Elders , generally the parents and teachers do not encourage the child to ask questions. It’s questioning which helps the child to understand things better , in right perspective. In our society , children in their growing years are expected to accept whatever is told to them by the elders , as the ultimate truth . Child is not allowed to dissent which is a very natural phenomenon when the mind doesn’t accept , at face value , what is seen or is being told. This is the main reason for most of our students lacking imagination and their being poor decision makers. Majority looks towards elders or others to make decisions for them. Nothing can be worse than this for the growth of mind. Earlier a child learns to disagree , to express dissent and to take decisions better it is for the growth .

Elders spoon feed the child , coming to his assistance the moment he is encountered by smallest of problem . A person who cannot handle pressure on his own can never succeed ion life. He will break down at the first obstacle. Freedom to make decisions empower the child with the ability to handle pressures. Ability to handle pressure will help him face any failure and overcome it.

We become what we become because of the choices we make in our life . Do not leave the power to make this choice in someone else’s hand. Listen to all but make your own decisions. Unfortunately most of people try to become what they think their parents or elders think they should become. This trend has to change and change fast.The student should be encouraged to realise his passion , his potential and acquire the skills which help in fueling and fulfilling the passion. The child will be happy and learn willingly. A happy and fulfilled person will be in a better position to give to the society than someone who has mastered skills that he never loved / liked.