Push Me!
By Malini Misra Bhattacharya
Freelance Writer, Yogi and fitness enthusiast, Singer, Seeker of Life’s wisdom, Maker of fermented beverage and food.
Foreword by Venkat
The artist’s paint tubes come in limited quantities of different colors. Once used, one has to replenish with a fresh stock of it. While there is a limit to the quantity of the paint, there is no limit to the creations an artist can produce. That sums how life works. The science, technology, knowledge, models, theories each are a paint tube with their own defined limits. What one could possibly produce remains limitless. Exactly as an artist does with the tubes. Knowledge is a tool in our ‘artistic’ hands and not a published fence to define or create limits on ourselves. However, much like Farhan Akhtar, as Malini mentions, we at times, assume some limits and fear crossing it, without being forcibly pushed over. We have to be reminded on our true limitless nature to build the resilience to cross over things that seemingly hold us back.
Resilience is the most relevant and critical life skill for anyone – not just the young. Spirituality, and various philosophies on life at the core are intended to build the same resilience. Each person who lives through the tenets in them and experiences the inner transformation becomes a voice to inspire others. Malini’s succinct message is one of those voices, given in a simple and practical format. She brings easy and relatable examples to make her point. The eight ideas Malini presents bring the right ‘push’ to ‘jump with courage and try’ for a wide range of situations where one might limit oneself.
Reflect on your experiences and find the right one to guide you through!
Seeker of life’s deeper wisdom and truth. I try to follow the path of my intuition to connect with myself. I am a published freelance writer and have been a journalist in the past. I am a seeker of music and I love creating photography and content creation. I find solace in nature and look forward to a future full of creative possibilities.
My creative channel is on facebook and youtube. It’s called “The Kreative Process”.
Push Me!
We all remember the movie, ‘ZIndagi Na Milegi Dobaara‘, and the iconic scene, where Farhan Akhtar asks to be pushed off the plane to skydive into the blue vastness. He is not able to do it, unless he is physically pushed out of the plane. Many of us, find ourselves struggling in the dark as to why we are not able to take that step, why we are not able to jump, and today while I was sitting with my eyes closed, I had this ‘Eureka” moment, when I said to an invisible force, “Push me”.
Many a times we want to jump, but we want someone to push us. I want to speak a little about what and how can we assist ourselves to jump off into the unknown.
#1 Listen to your heart!
It’s not just a cliché, its actually true. When you listen to your heart you know the direction, you know where to go, you know exactly how to reach. But listening to the heart is not going to be an easy task. There is the mind, there is the body and there is your circumstance, everything maybe pointing us, at different directions. Then what do you do? Get confused and stay stuck and not move? Yes, this is the most common response of people who cannot take the next step. They tend to keep thinking in loops and never move from where they are. So, a close and intimate relationship with yourself is at the core of any jump, any major leap in your life. How you do that, is totally your call again. Stop looking for answers outside of you. Whether you choose to meditate everyday, or take a walk four days a week, splash colors on to big drawing books, dance, move, breath, it is all up to you. Tune in and listen to the body, and body will inform your heart, because isn’t the heart part of your body?
#2 Take it easy, its ok to let go
If you miss jumping in, for this trek, do not punish yourself and label yourself as lazy or indecisive. If you miss that bungee jumping trip, let it go. You chose to let it go, know that. You didn’t take the new route, that trek, that assignment that would give you the exposure you needed. Its ok, it’s just not the right time for you to go, to take that trip, take on new work, challenge yourself on a river rafting expedition. It’s a challenging time, and maybe you do not need a difficult trek right now. You need to be where you are. Whatever decision or choice you make just do not be harsh on yourself. You are doing your best already. The last thing you need is “You judging yourself”.
#3 Forgive yourself
Again, looks like I am in a big mood to flood you with clichés, but its true. It really is. Ask yourself, how long will you punish yourself for all the missed opportunities, relationships and people you let go? Just how long are you going to brood and languish in those thoughts of ‘what if’? how long is the question, you need to ask yourself right now, because time flies and before you know you are a bitter person with lot of anger towards the self, which in turn is projected on your loved ones. So, just forgive yourself.
#4 Chase the right things
Beyond the doings of right and wrong, there is a field, I will meet you there. As romantic and true as it sounds, people confuse this with there is no right and wrong in the world. I have seen most of us chasing things which give us short term satisfaction. We do not want to take the longer route, answer the deeper questions about existence, have difficult conversations about our shallow relationships, our wavering minds, our deep anguish about life. A lot of it has to do with instant gratification. This need to fulfill our superficial needs with things, with experiences that will last an evening and then you wake up the next morning with a spinning head and a vow never to drink again. But how did that help? Another party announcement and you are at it again. I am not saying, don’t drink or party; but do not make instant gratification an escape from your soul’s deeper longings.
#5 Think deeply and passionately
The world needs your passion and depth right now. The world needs to see and experience your care for it right now. Show the universe that you care. Organize a ‘sound bath’ ritual for your colleagues; organize a picnic to the nearest museum for your neighborhood kids. Take your grandparents to the aquarium or the planetarium. Show up for those childhood dreams you had. Record that song and post it on youtube, garner support for the dog park you want to build. Plant that banyan tree you always wanted to. Clean the pile of garbage across your street. Care about your surroundings, it’s a good start to do great things in your grand vision for yourself.
#6 Be open
What does it mean to remain open? Being open I think is a quality a person reflects when, he/she is in the receiving mode of life. When you are receptive to other humans, other living beings, you take suggestions, you listen attentively, you participate and engage with the world around you. Of course its not going to be hunky dory, there will be resistance from the world about who you are and want to be, but to be open is ability to open yourself to criticism if needed and if needed reflect on it, and really move ahead on your path with the wisdom shared by well wishers. When you are open you open up a whole world for yourself. You feel ‘you can’ do it. That everything is in your power, that you can manifest your deepest desires and ambitions into the world. That’s what happens when you align with people who will help you live your potential.
#7 Strike a balance
I know that you have many ideas, that you want to run in every direction you can. You wish that you could work on every idea you ever thought of, but think about it. Can you? Is it wise? Is it doable? If I were you, I would strive at striking a balance. If I love the sea and the mountains and want to be at both places at once, I would laugh at my childish wish and take it one at a time. I would put my greed at some rest, and book myself to a nearby hill first, once I have found my way to the nearby hill, I would enjoy the views, the fresh air, the ponds and steams created by rain and come back with my lungs full. I don’t mean to direct you how to think, All I am saying is, striking a balance in our wants and the desires to do it all at once is so important. No one can, no one could or will do it all at once, so take it one step at a time. Now that you got back to the plains, your home, plan your next visit to the sea. In the similar manner, how about approaching road blocks of your life. You can’t do it all at once.
#8 Slow down, enjoy the views; have a good time
So, while its good that you are searching for that sky diving instructor to push you into the sky, and jump off the plane, I would say, hold your horses. Breath a little, everything is happening for you; it will. Slow is the new super power; to hell with the class teacher who shamed you for being super slow. If you are slow, great. Use that skill; you are the blessed one. If you are not slow, and always the first to finish, I would say, check in with yourself. Are you anxious? Are you scared that someone will eat up what you deserved? If you are, do not worry; nature takes care of everyone of its creature. That’s the law of nature. You are not left behind by anyone.
Give yourself the credit that while you are looking to be pushed by someone external, you are also your own instructor. You are waiting for you. So while you push yourself, and be your own best friend, let me know how you did it and how you made friends with your own self. How you stopped looking for someone to come and push you! I shall be waiting to hear your story.
By Malini Misra Bhattacharya
Freelance Writer, Yogi and fitness enthusiast, Singer, Seeker of Life’s wisdom, Maker of fermented beverage and food.