There is a mindset, which a significant part of mankind is addicted to, consciously or unconsciously. It has very little to do with academic background, financial status, culture or circumstances. It is like a brain fog affecting large numbers. A social conditioning.

This is a mindset where one is happy to barter one’s path for safety and a good life. It manifests essentially as a lifelong pursuit of money and rewards. Acquisitions, speed and exertion become compelling signs of a successful lifestyle. The quantum varies case to case, the mindset is similar.

But the soul yearns for something deeper. We find our own ways to fill the gap. We read books, see movies and listen to people who chose their own path. Super heroes, and their unique super powers, capture our imagination. Personal branding becomes the differentiator. Annual vacations offer us chance to take a break from the daily routine and re-connect with oneself.

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong in aspiring for more, creating wealth or stretching.

This is about putting the horse before the cart, where it is meant to be.

This is about seeing the big picture and asking, what is my life all about.

This is about knowing:

Who am I.
What do I wish to express.
In what way do I make a difference.

And acting on it.

If you think these are wimpish kind of questions or they are at best, luxuries that you cannot afford to spend time on, you could do well to check on your assumptions.

The truth is, your true path that defines you, is meant only for you and best known to you. It is not about setting goals, plans and milestones or about waiting for the right time or even transiting from Life A to Life B. Rather it is a realization of who you are and being so. It is internal. Can you be fulfilled and progress without reflecting on these questions. The best part is once you choose to walk your path, the path itself shows the way. Internal orientation glides into external orientation.

Know yourself. Get your direction right. Speed will follow.

Or else, you might find yourself in a place which gives you no joy, despite being in the fast lane and having made the necessary sacrifices.

Lines to ponder upon …

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it”… Maya Angelou

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction”… F. Schumacher

The top 5 regrets of the dying:
I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse who spent several years caring for patients during the last few weeks of their lives. This is what they shared with her.