Introspection

Every once in a while, we ought to hit the pause button in life, take a step back and think about how things are going for us. I am doing just that by writing this piece. This is a way of clearing my mind and trying to express my philosophical views.

We are likely to be most busy during our twenties and thirties. Time will fly by. This period in our lifetime is arguably the most productive, in my opinion. During this period of life, for most of us, there is a certain amount of time, money, and energy on our side. There might be only a few who are lucky to have enough of all the three resources but, I believe that having a decent combination of two out of three resources is sufficient to get us going to where we can to be.

It is easy to get caught up in work or studies. The weekdays can become a mundane, cyclic process of work, eat and sleep. Stop to think whether you find this fulfilling. Without a sense of fulfillment, no one should spend their best years by working on something or for someone they don't like. Neither should it be spent on studying just for a degree and not knowledge. More often than not, people get forced into such positions due to personal situations. When you are in such a position you have a choice. You can continue doing the same things or you can change. Change not drastically but logically, which is step by step. This is when you make good use of time. Time to think about what to do next, time to plan on how to do it and time to save money in order to actually do it.

Money is not everything but it is definitely powerful. If you are fortunate to have enough of it, you ought to make good use of it. If you are not, you have probably learned the value of it. Eventually, when you do save a useful chunk of it, think how it could be best used. Investing, learning a new skill, experiencing an adventure or perhaps starting a venture is much better than just spending your money on the latest iPhone. I don't mean to say materialistic possessions are wrong. Everyone has a longing for them and I am no exception. But we shouldn't be driven by them. After all, they don't last very long. We ought to aim for something more long-term, something more rewarding. 

Combine both time and money with energy and you're unstoppable! Energy might be a slightly broad term in this context. By energy, I don't mean just physical and mental capacity but also enthusiasm and passion. Find something that actually makes you get off the couch. Maybe something that you could change for the better, or perhaps something that fills you with pride. In simpler words, something worth living for! That is a quest worth pursuing. When you find it, that is when your energy will surface. No matter how constrained we are, there is always some energy we can use, right? So if its always there, why not capitalize when it is abundant in our youth? 

It is not often that we can see a clear picture of where we are going or exactly where we want to be. But with some help and informed decisions, we can start moving in a direction that might get us there. This is where we start using these "resources" that I have been talking about. This is pretty much what I have done so far it has led me to Sweden to study my Masters.  

Once you get this kind of exposure, there are a lot of experiences, perspectives, and ideas that you grasp. The impressions that you absorb will change the way you see the world or at least broaden your perspective. This will spark a few realizations and as a result, you might have to redefine your course or make appropriate changes within yourself to stay on the right course.

This is the frame of mind I am in right now and I feel this introspection is crucial. I see it as a checkpoint to question myself whether I am doing everything right. If not, what could I change? What am I missing out on?

All of this so that, when its "time", I can lay back, smile and think "Yeah, that was quite a life!"