Be receptive towards new ideas and thoughts. Unlearning and re-learning are inevitable in your quest for success, says Achin Bhattacharyya.
Life is an unpredictable journey. What’s in your backpack?
The basic objective of a structured, collective learning environment at school, is not only to study the topics in the syllabus but also to gather some universally applicable skills.
Skills that will help you sail smoothly through the journey of life - which is basically an open-book test with an infinite syllabus.
As an individual, we are only as good as our key learnings and principles in life.
These either come to us from our own experiences, or from others who have been through the various seasons of life.
It might be interesting to focus on some key life skills that one should aspire to.
1. #BreakToBuild
Meaning: Always be ready to unlearn
'Intelligence is what we learn, wisdom is what we unlearn' -- JR Rim.
In today's age rigidity is synonymous with illiteracy.
Obsolescence is inevitable if you are not willing to look at new thoughts and ideas with an open, receptive and flexible mind.
Always remember that decision making is more about 'What is right' and not 'Who is right.'
Change is, really, the only constant. So instead of resisting it, try to embrace it if you see value in it.
An inquisitive mind with childlike curiosity is a lifelong asset.
All said and done, education ultimately is an immersive process of self-learning.
All other stakeholders -- parents, teachers, friends or the society at large -- act as facilitators.
You are the master of your own destiny and you will only go as far, or as near, as you wish to.
Remember that a glass filled to the brim, or a full hard disk, can only take more when you are ready to forego a part of its content. The same is the case with the human mind.
Be receptive towards new ideas and thoughts.
Unlearning and re-learning are inevitable in your quest for success.
2. #MeTime
Meaning: Spend time with yourself
Most people in this world seem to forget one important point.
The answers which you seek to the all-important questions in life lie within you.
It is very important to sometimes take a pause, and think -- reflect on issues that you face, the various alternatives that you have, along with the pros and cons of each of them.
It is practically not feasible to always make the right decisions. What is far more important is a sound implementation which will make those decisions correct.
That, of course, does not mean that you don't plan ahead.
My grandfather, a nonagenarian now, had spearheaded some of the most important engineering projects in his heyday.
He often tells me that 90 per cent of the project is accomplished on the drawing board, so please spend time in planning to enrich your strategy.
Also enrich yourself as a person, reading good books, spending time with your grandparents or elderly senior citizens to benefit from their experiences, meditation, helping those in need, taking care of your pet or a simple activity like watering plants.
These can really help you with knowing yourself better.
Trust me, it is very important to know what makes you happy as most people in this mad rush do not even know what they are after and whether it is at all worth the chase.
3. #LifeIsAJourney
Meaning: Enjoy the journey and do not get stressed about the destination.
Once you have a sound strategy in place and you know what you exactly want, the next step is to develop a knack for objectivity and honest hard work.
Always remember that you are as good as anybody if not better.
Passionate and focussed hard work can lead to any achievement that you honestly aspire to.
What is most important is that you learn to not only work hard with integrity and self-belief but also learn to enjoy the journey.
In the process, each day of your life becomes pleasurable.
4. #KeepYourCool
Meaning: Never lose your composure -- words and conduct are irreversible
Always remember that the more balanced and confident you are, better will be the quality of your decisions.
It really takes a lot of time to build a reputation or a relationship that can be damaged by one loose, hurtful comment.
Hence when you feel agitated with someone or something, take a deep breath, go for a walk and come back with renewed optimism and patience.
It's very easy to lose the plot, but always remember that nothing is lost till you lose it, as you can always live to fight it out another day.
5. #HealthIsWealth
Meaning: Learn to take care of your health
Health is the single most important factor without which everything else that you earn in life -- be it in terms of wealth, knowledge or relationships -- is futile.
Irrespective of however busy you get in life, never ignore your health.
Exercise or engage in any physical activity, even if it is only brisk walking at least for half an hour every day, which would lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Taking care of your health in the early stages of your life will pay rich dividends in the later part by prolonging your active years and reducing your dependency on others.
Only a healthy body can host an active and productive mind, so let us go ahead and stay fit to win the world.
6. #Empathy
Meaning: It's not all about you.
It's very important that you learn to care and share.
It will go a long way in building a support system around you, which will prove to be your best investment in the days to come.
If you are able to look at things from the other persons perspective; if you speak less and listen more with empathy; if you can strike a chord with people from various walks of life and if you practice a certain degree of fairness in your conduct, you will be appreciated by one and all.
7. #YOLO
Meaning: Invest in yourself -- education is a much wider concept and is not confined to your textbooks.
During one of my recent holidays at a European beach, I saw a serious-looking techie cheering his girlfriend from the shore while the lady went surfing with her friends.
After a brief conversation, I encouraged him to go ahead and jump into the water and unwind, but he was scared as he did not know swimming.
As the day went on, I also noticed that he was not into any outdoor sports.
This techie, evidently intelligent, was socially awkward and visibly uncomfortable during an informal dinner with his potential clients and business associates.
He seemed rather bright but looked like someone who has always been too preoccupied with his textbooks and couldn't find the time to look out of the classroom window at the larger canvas of life.
It is very important that you gather skills which will improve your body language and social confidence.
Hit the gym, learn swimming, pick up a foreign language, develop some good hobbies that you enjoy.
Do not merely pass your days.
Live them to the fullest as the spring of adolescence will never come back.
Image -- a still from Student of the Year 2 -- published for representational purposes only.
Achin Bhattacharyya is founder and CEO, Notebook
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