Art has been an integral part of my life. from pulsating my perception towards life to amplifying my vibration to sync with the rhythm of the cosmos, art took my understanding of life to new realms. Writing is not something that I am blessed with, rather I would consider it as a conscious choice to use it as a medium to express my complex thoughts. Until the culmination of my schooling, I grew up as a taciturn (reserved or uncommunicative) which made me accumulate a lot to express out to situations that are apathetic towards me. Speaking about the brighter side of the tunnel is one such transformative moment that occurred in my life which I intend to express now.
Disclaimer: "Please note that this blog is solely intended for informational and personal expression purposes, and not for any commercial use or gain."
This blog explores ancient philosophical techniques to empower individuals in overcoming fear and hesitation, guiding them towards their entrepreneurial aspirations and financial empowerment, fostering resilience, self-discovery, and a balanced approach to decision-making, ultimately enhancing personal growth and fulfilment. It addresses the limitations of procrastination, self-doubt, and indecision that hinder individuals from pursuing their dreams with confidence and purpose.
If the subject matter of this blog resonates with your interests, I kindly suggest considering it for your reading pleasure. However, if it doesn't align with your preferences, feel free to skip it and focus your valuable time on other endeavours. With that said, let's delve into the content without further delay.
[June 2013, Class 9th E-Techno, Narayana High School, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India]
Each student in my class was assigned the task of speaking on stage about their favourite movie, as assigned by our teacher. In a class of 18 girls and 6 boys, As an introvert and taciturn back in those days, I was petrified to imagine myself standing on stage and speaking about a movie. To this day, I can still recollect the amount of fear in aspects like Public Speaking Anxiety, Judgment Concerns, Potential Embarrassment, Rejection Worries, Forgetting, Being the Center of Attention Discomfort, Inadequacy Doubts, Peer Comparison, Physical Symptoms Anxiety, Failure Concerns, was running in every nerve of mine. Perhaps back in those days, I was just a kid 14 years old.
Upon a few students, when it was finally my turn to speak out, at the moment I felt I needed to do something tricky to manage myself, I imagined myself in an Alter-ego embodying traits hidden from the public persona). I related to the character of Kitai from the film "After Earth" (Spoiler Alert: In a future where humanity abandons Earth, a father and son navigate its perilous terrain, facing evolved threats and their inner demons to survive and reconnect.). In the climax of "After Earth," Kitai faces his greatest fears and confronts the Ursa, a fearsome creature that hunts humans by sensing their fear. Similarly, I saw myself in Kitai's journey as I faced my fears and doubts leading up to the elocution. Much like Kitai, I had to confront my anxieties head-on, battling against feelings of inadequacy, fear of judgment, and the pressure to perform. Just as Kitai had to own his fear to defeat the Ursa, I had to take ownership of my situation and find the courage to step onto the stage despite my apprehensions.
Through Kitai's inspiration, I realized that fear is not something to be overcome passively, but rather something to be acknowledged and faced directly. Like Kitai, I had to channel my inner strength and determination to overcome the obstacles in my path. By drawing parallels between Kitai's journey and my own, I found the motivation to push through my fears and give my best performance on stage. In doing so, I not only conquered my anxieties but also gained a sense of empowerment and resilience that has stayed with me since.
At that moment, I realised, the stage that scared me was below my feet when I stood on it. I realized that fears, procrastination, and limiting beliefs were merely obstacles standing in the way of my goals. I understood that giving up on my goals because of these obstacles would only reinforce my fears and perpetuate a cycle of self-doubt. Since then I decided that if anything comes between me and my goals, it has only to be destiny not fear or self-doubt.
Since then, no matter the thousands of times, I recollect that moment, I have shared about that personal moment of mine, only once. During an orientation class for my undergraduate, I shared this with my fellow brothers in my department to boost their confidence. At that moment I understood that "Empowering others creates a ripple of limitless potential and abundance". The reason for writing this blog after two years of my break from writing is only because of my observational insights that a lot of people around me go through the same limiting beliefs, fear, and self-doubt, that is stopping them from becoming the strongest version of themselves.
Let's embark on a Knowledge Odyssey to transform your thought process and overcome procrastination in starting your business/ working for your passion/ or doing that one thing which you know shall add meaning to your existence yet you have been delaying for some incomprehensible reason. This journey involves self-discovery, exploration, and the acquisition of knowledge to break through fear and equip yourself with the mindset needed for your journey towards financial freedom.
In the hour of darkness, I often evaluate myself with the below-mentioned ancient techniques that will help me to identify the root causes and show me the path to overcome the situational challenges, I am sharing this secret formula of success with you to build of community of success that supports each other with empathy.
Step 1: Building Strength with Stoic Reflection:
Method: Imagine the worst things that could happen to remove fear. Focus on how problems don't last forever.
Did You Know? Ancient Greek and Roman thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius followed Stoicism. They found comfort and courage when dealing with tough times.
Wow Moment: Experience a shift from fear to strength. Develop a mindset that sees challenges as opportunities for growth.
Step 2: Talking with Fear - Asking Big Questions:
Trick: Use smart questions to find out more about yourself.
Did You Know? Socrates, a smart guy from Greece, used questions to help people figure out their thoughts.
Wow Moment: Feel yourself change like Socrates did. Ask strong questions, and you'll find the courage you need.
Step 3: Going with the Flow - Easy Testing:
Trick: Try things without pushing too hard. Let your ideas grow naturally.
Did You Know? A cool idea from Chinese thinking called Wu Wei says to go with the flow of life. Famous thinkers like Laozi loved this idea.
Wow Moment: Watch how your actions become easy like they're part of a natural dance. Testing your ideas becomes a breeze.
Step 4: Finding the Right Balance - Smart Risks:
Trick: Find the middle ground between playing it too safe and being too risky.
Did You Know? Aristotle, a smart guy from Greece, talked about the Golden Mean to balance things out and be a good person.
Wow Moment: See yourself become like Aristotle, finding the perfect balance between taking risks and staying safe. It's all about keeping things just right.
Step 5: Epicurean Ataraxia - Tranquil Pursuit of Values:
Trick: Cultivating a tranquil state of mind through mindfulness and the pursuit of intrinsic values.
Did You Know? Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher, emphasized the pursuit of pleasure and tranquillity, with Ataraxia as a state of undisturbed peace of mind.
Wow Moment: Experience an Epicurean metamorphosis, transcending anxiety and finding joy in values, resulting in a profound sense of tranquillity.
After completing this journey of learning, see yourself as the best version of yourself. You'll have a mix of strength from Stoicism, wisdom from Socrates, ease from Taoism, balance from Aristotle, and peace from Epicurus. People will notice your knowledge, calmness, and determination, making you stand out as a leader prepared for your path with a special mindset inspired by ancient teachings.
Important Note: Though this blog is coming out from my website after 2 long years, this blog is just the tip of the ice burg about the plethora of growth hacks that I want to share with you through my upcoming blogs and newsletters, which I collected from the limitless conversations with the established individuals across 100s of industries. This blog is not for any commercial gain. If you find the content meaningful share it with your friends post a comment about your thoughts and subscribe to my blog.
Don't chase your dreams, hunt your goals.
--with love, DSP.
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