“DO. THE. WORK. EVERY DAY, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO DO. EVERY DAY. CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE, PUSH PAST THE APATHY AND LAZINESS AND FEAR. OTHERWISE, THE NEXT DAY YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TWO THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO DO, THEN THREE AND FOUR AND FIVE, AND PRETTY SOON, YOU CAN’T EVEN GET BACK TO THE FIRST THING. AND THEN ALL YOU CAN DO IS BEAT YOURSELF UP FOR THE MESS YOU’VE CREATED, AND NOW YOU’VE GOT A MENTAL BARRIER TO GO ALONG WITH THE PHYSICAL BARRIERS.”
When you learn to embrace your fears and accept them with open arms, that's when the magic begins! Life can cajole our strength in the face of challenges; knocking every single shield of hope, courage, and optimism, lifting a blindfold in our direction and truth is the biggest advocacy we need in those thirsty times; truth in the light of encouragement to boost our vibe and as a firm reminder. There are times we just need to hear some encouraging words like, “that it will be okay”, “we are not alone”, “we are in control even when we are sinking in turmoil”. Those assuring words ushers in beats of motivation to guide and direct us through the challenging and hard times.
I used to be afraid of going to the movie theaters alone. Not that I was nervous for my physical safety, but I feared that sitting in the theater as a party of one, I would get awkward side-glances (you know the ones) from fellow moviegoers or somehow enjoy the experience less. So I avoided it. At all costs. Until, for the umpteenth time, I had missed a movie I’d really wanted to see because I couldn’t find someone to go with me. I was tired of missing out on opportunities.
My happiness and fulfilment when it comes to blogging relies mostly on two things: how proud I am of the work I’m creating and sharing, and my perspective. When I start to lose perspective and shift into a mindset that isn’t healthy or productive, I can really struggle to maintain my focus along the way.
I met a friend at the airport last month and we got to talking. We had met after some years and while catching up, he mentioned, “You know Aishwarya, I have started focusing more and more on myself as I grow older. Earlier I used to think that it is a selfish thing to do, but now I know that it is only by focusing on my own self that I can focus on the important things of life – my family, my work, and all the things I hold dear!”
