There’s a certain trend our generation is
subjected to in terms of hustle, growth and
what we’re doing with our lives.
It comes as no shock that one then starts
thinking in terms of certain milestones & achievements
while ignoring the other facets of life.
There’s also an unspoken sense of failure
and stigma one feels subjected to when they
want to slow down, take a break or even rest.
Today’s article is on how it’s absolutely
normal, fine and above all forms a part of
the process to rest and by neglecting rest
and our well-being we’re doing such a huge
disservice to ourselves.
Let me introduce two key players in that aspect:
Our society & the advent of social media.
For most of us, our society is capitalistic
in nature & therefore it values us based on
our productivity in terms of the manpower
& service we can provide.
Now, I’m not here to debate whether capitalism
is good or bad.
I can, in the most naive sense, list down
the pros & cons of capitalism but this article
is not about that.
It’s about accepting and understanding that
it’s okay to take a break, slow down or
even rest.
Now the second key player.
The advent of social media seems to have spiked
our focus with numbers of varying kind – likes
& engagement.
But there’s another.
Age.
We so often than not compare ourselves to
our peers and see what the other is up to.
And it’s quite human to do that as well.
We’re constantly comparing our ups and downs
to theirs.
But here’s the catch, given the isolated
atmosphere of social media, devoid of any
actual interaction or conversation, we’re
not exactly doing that.
We’re comparing our ups and downs to their
projected ups.
Whether that’s intentional or not is on
a per individual basis but projected for sure.
The good life.
Now you have to understand that no one does
this to put somebody else down.
It doesn’t come from a bad place.
Let’s follow the train of logic.
Everyone wants to be happy.
So they do what makes them happy, in turn
they use social media to showcase the good
moments, which most people are presumably
doing.
Others being exposed to that, in turn, start
salvaging any or all good moments for social
media, in turn, starting a vicious cycle which
started off rather innocently.
I want to try and break that cycle but I’m
going to fail for sure.
Compared to me the system is cosmic.
I cannot expect to change the entire system.
However, if I’m able to nudge a few in the
right direction, that’ll be enough.
Now this is something I’m coining, and I’m
not sure if it’s been coined before with
some other terminology –
Consciously Active.
Now, we’ve all been in that place where
we’re like -
“Oh, how naive was I to think of that in
that way.”
We think of our several past selves and wonder
how we’ve changed.
I think the 11th Doctor summed it the best
when he said that we all change, when you
think about it.
We’re all different people all through our
lives and that’s okay, that’s good, you
gotta keep moving so long as we remember all
the people that you used to be.
And we’re usually changing in phases.
Some phases are short, some are long, some
are mild while some are strong but phases
nonetheless.
Think of all the phases you’ve had.
Now think of all the phases that are yet to
come.
Change is inevitable & most of the time incomprehensible.
My point is that you have time, even if you
waste a few of your phases, you will have
more.
Things just take time.
I was supposed to list down examples of people
who’ve attained success quite “late”
in their lives.
But the point is that we’ll always have
examples of such.
It’s not that they’ve taken time and been
“late” to it, it’s just that it’s
taken time.
I can understand how that can be confusing
but that’s just the way that it is.
Things just take time.
If you’re late too work for a week, it’s
okay.
If you take longer than your peers to learn
a new instrument or a skill, it’s okay.
If you take a month off from gym, it’s okay.
Just like you won’t become fit by going
to the gym that one day, you won’t become
unfit by missing a couple of sessions as well.
To be honest, in fitness you actually grow
while resting.
So that just speaks volumes even if I don’t.
My point is that things take time, and that’s
okay.
I know it’s easier said than done, but I
guess it has to be said before it’s done
sometimes.
I make this in the attempt and hope that you
focus on your health, family and you.
Most of us are not our job titles.
We’re a lot more than that.
You’re not just some banker, manager, photographer,
chef.
You’re someone’s brother, you’re someone’s
sister, you’re someone’s shoulder to cry
on, you’re someone’s mentor for their
college project, you’re someone’s ear
when they need someone to just listen to them.
You’re so much more.
Maybe explore that facet of your life with
the same vigour that you devote to work.
I hope this provides you a moment of peace
and quiet in an otherwise chaotic world.
I hope you understand that resting, slowing
down or even taking a break is a part of what
makes us human.
