Motivation and inspiration can come from anywhere. Whenever I cross a significant milestone in my life, I go back to a memory which inspired me to move on and still to date gives me the superpower to charge ahead.
I must have been all of 14 years old when I went with my parents to the famous Tirupathi Balaji temple in South India, located on top of a scenic mountain. Although a proper road takes you up right till the temple, we decided to walk up the steps from the foothills as a mark of our devotion to the pious deity. At first, I was energetic and then after sprinting up halfway my energy started to run out and I sat on the stairs huffing and puffing.
A kind old man came up to me and showed me a signboard which said “If you are tired, look back at how far up you have come. The way ahead will look easier”. Since then, I have always looked back during all my journeys and moved forward till I reached my destination.
This is my 90th article in my column ‘Destination Mindset’ in this esteemed publication and I am 14, all over again looking back at the many steps I have climbed. I thought it’s only right at this stage to look at all the stairs we have climbed so far. Each article is based on my life’s experiences. So please dear reader sit with me and let’s look back.
Is mindset a journey or a destination?
To understand the depth of this question lets again understand the real meaning of the word ‘Mindset’. Our learning starts with our first cry when we are born in this world. We learn to talk, to crawl, to walk and then to run. Then there are the layers of experiences that shape us and make us into what we are. Mindset is literally how ‘our mind is set’! Our mindset results in our attitude and behaviour. Do you know that our upbringing, our school, our college and even the geography we belong to, all contribute to shaping our mindset? There are many kinds of mindsets. This is my 90th article and I still find that there are many more mindsets left to write about. Mindset is not a destination, it’s a journey of churn and change which alters with age, time, circumstances and maturity.
Can we change our mindset?
The brain is just mindboggling. A human being is blessed with the capability to adapt and change. Have you heard mothers telling their children “You have bad
habits. You need to change them”? Our mindset drives these habits and we can change them very quickly and consciously. The world most of us were born into was a different world. So much has changed especially over the past decade. Remember, when its summer you cannot wear woollens. Nor can you wear summer wear in the harsh winter. This very thought trigger is the essence of change. Riding the wave of change to your advantage is the wise way in life to survive and succeed. Swimming in the sea is different to paragliding. So why not different mindsets for different situations and challenges?
What’s the recipe for successful mindset transformation?
One word of warning though. Evolving to a new mindset is not an easy task. It needs a lot of tenacity and commitment. Imagine that you have been driving for the past decade in India where its left-hand drive and you are asked to soar down the roads of Dubai where its right-hand drive. Its mission impossible till you change your driving mindset! Also, mindset transformation comes with deep analysis and a ruthless SWOT of yourself. You essentially cannot completely rewire yourself but can navigate using your own natural wiring to better and more effective mindsets. But, more of that in my next article!
“Life is a progress, and not a station.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
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