Perceptions form based on experiences, learning, and exposure to an environment outside our comfort zone. Many of them stick to the innermost part of the brain like Fevicol (Mazboot Jod Hai Tootega Nahi!). I presume, the probability of changing a perception is inversely proportional to age. Even if there is a change, the chances of becoming broadminded is very low compared to the opposite side of it. An example which most of you can relate to, considering any factor while making friends during school is oblivious. But as you get to college, factors like caste, political affiliation and favourite actor tend to influence in some cases. Recently many of my perceptions took a U-turn due to personal experiences and a realization that, I have to justify no one to think the way I have been recently. The content in my last article on self-help books was supposed to be part of this, but it deserved a lone article for itself. I am sure my roommates in the USA will be shocked knowing about my brain nerves taking a direction that they might not have dreamt of.
An argument in 2010 with one of my roommates when I slammed him for talking in favor of taking/paying bribes flashes when I think of my perception change towards bribes. I used to hate the actions related to bribes, whether it is taking or giving. My exposure to on-ground reality and my helplessness to fight the system while buying or selling plots and constructing a house made me change my opinion. Now I believe “anything is possible in India if you offer bribes”. You should never be ashamed to acknowledge that you paid a bribe.
An unwelcome suggestion, you have to work hard, by elders is ubiquitous in any part of the world. I am not sure if they are aware of the fact that nothing great can be achieved through working hard. Bill Gates never worked hard, Sachin Tendulkar never worked hard, they achieved what they have just because they enjoy doing that. They feel meditated, they find nirvana in creating the best operating system and in discovering new shots and practising them to play like no one else in the world. One has to work hard only if they are forced to do something they don’t like or if they don’t enjoy what they are destined or chose to do. Even in the case of students who found some kind of motivation to study, you don’t need to say “you have to study further hard”. They will achieve whatever they want by sustaining the motivation found in studying what they like.
As I mentioned in many of my previous articles, I am not inclined towards any political party. The fanatic in me is asleep as long as my commonsense is at work to understand political moves across the country. Understanding the foolishness behind spending INR 700 crores for a secretariat when government hospitals and schools are in ICU is common sense. Understanding the crookedness in kicking off CBI raids on some companies to handover airports to a company which recently saw a swoop in their stock value due to the disclosures by a foreign research organization, is common sense. I used to get aggravated about such things earlier, but that is not the case now. I realized, the relation between the change I am envisioning and citizens mindset is like that of Mercedes Benz and Maruti 800. I can still understand the bad motives behind a particular scheme or move but I stopped raising the flame of anger ignited due to that. This also led to my decision to stop watching the trash on TV called news channels.
Like many in this country, maybe in the world, I too used to pass judgements on other’s decisions related to career, education, relationships and habits. Why are they pursuing MBA after B.Com when they can opt for CA? Why did he/she start drinking alcohol? Yoga is better for him compared to badminton. I can come up with such a long list of opinions, questions and judgements passed by most of us. I abstained from doing such things. I am still against drinking alcohol or smoking but I am not very much bothered if someone I know does that. It is ultimately their life, they are the one who has to face the good and bad consequences of their decisions. I am not going to throw my opinion randomly if someone joins a software company after pursuing MBBS, because I have no clue about their situation and the rationale behind such a decision. All I hope and wish for is happiness and satisfaction in everyone’s life.
The world doesn’t end if you defy the odds or try something different. One of my friends has started cricket coaching at the age of 23. There is no purpose for that, the objective of the move is not to play for the state or the country. The decision was made just on the basis of how much happiness and satisfaction it can bring. I might go for Table Tennis coaching soon, the kids being trained there might throw some surprising looks at me, all I’ll do is giving a smile filled with a feeling “yes, I am here for coaching”. Like many, I used to consider the judgements passed for the decisions I take in my life. But now I believe “What Others Think of You is None of Your Business”. It doesn’t mean that I am going to do everything differently, it just means that I am least bothered about others’ opinion on the decisions I take for the sake of living my life to the fullest. As I mentioned, the world doesn’t end if you start studying at 50, the world doesn’t end if you alone go on a long vacation leaving everything beside, the world doesn’t end if you are not busy accumulating money without any purpose and the world doesn’t end if you are leading the life the way you want it to be. It is your life, live it the way you want! You might regret some decisions, just remember that no one is an exception when it comes to regrets. You should be fine as long as the consequences won’t let you lose the life in you.
