Wishlist Wednesday number 3 ..

Was browsing through Preeti Shenoy's blog and found this contest. The prompt (The one thing that I wish everyone would learn is...) persuaded me to write a post on this long dead blog..

The one thing that i wish everyone would learn is "the way to figure out one's true calling/passion". 

Soon, I am going to be on the other side of 30 but I still don't have an identity? For, a man can't just be defined by a name, address or occupation. Tendulkar is defined by his passion for batting and Lata mangeshkar by her passion for singing. I wish everyone would learn the art of figuring out his/her sweet spot, enabling the person to live a meaningful life. 

I have tasted professional success, and have a healthy body, lovely friends and a family to die for. But, if i don't play Table Tenis i feel as if something is missing. I often experience "trance" while playing table tennis and boy what a feeling it is. It's meditative and i am always left wanting for more. I rise above the trivialities of success and failure, get rid of all the negative emotions: jealousy, anger, lust et al and feel so complete. I may not be the best TT player but i am the happiest guy when i play the game. 

I truly believe that once people figure out their true calling, world would be a better place to live. The negative emotions would take a back seat and people would be so full of joy. 

But right from childhood we are taught how to make a living and not how to make a life (i know its a cliched saying). Peer pressure and parental influence often pushes us into the rat race and most of us die being part of it. We start believing that having money and fame will make us successful and this success will bring joy. And, in pursuit of success we do things that make sense to our mind but don't touch our heart. We often become indifferent or start embracing negative emotions and lead a life that seems shallow. (A successful life might not seem shallow through the lens called society but we ourselves might not find it meaningful)

However, if we start following our heart, then every moment we will be doing something that makes us feel joyous. And this feeling of joy puts us on a path of excellence, enabling us to lead a meaningful life.