BitsNPieces

I am reluctant to mark this goal as ‘Done’, and yet, maybe I need to focus on something else now. How I (think) did it:

Item 1. Courage to change the things I can: I think this is simplest. Usually you know what you CAN change. The difficult thing is to take the first step… and then other steps follow, and so do the consequences. I have taken pretty radical decisions once in a few years in my life. For example, change my country, change my profession twice, go for a PhD, marry someone the society and my parents did not approve of.
It has made my life very interesting and enriching and I found the ‘consequences’ were really not that bad!
The first step—for me courage is not the absence of fear. I am more afraid of failing in my own eyes than in those of others. Yes, I have lacked courage a few times. Those times do not make me proud and serve as a constant reminder to never do it again.

Item 2. Serenity to accept things I cannot change: This was a little difficult for me, being an idealist. I am also an optimist and I think I am also practical: If I spend my time and energy on things I cannot change, I take it away from things that I CAN change. It is a huge waste and generates negative energy. For example, discussions on ‘the company/ boss is bad’, ‘government is bad’, etc.
Once in a while I see someone using this as an excuse to not focus on things they CAN change, thereby avoiding the ‘trouble’ of making changes and facing the consequences, sweet as well as bitter. That is lying to yourself… but then for how long?
I try to acknowledge the problems and work around them instead. I achieved a lot by doing this: lots of things to show and lots of positive energy from inside.

To tie step 1 and 2: Do not rock the boat unless you are in control of the boat. Else you are the one that falls overboard. But once you are in control, change the direction as you will, else you will reach someone else’s destination!

Step 3. The wisdom to know the difference: I am still struggling with this one. Once in a while I come across a situation where I see that now I am in control, but the years of not-being-in-control make me think in traditional ways. I use my wife and my friends to wake me up once in a while from this zombie-behavior. Sometimes books help too, and sometimes blogs like these help.

I know I will always keep a watchful eye on these three. Just as I try to keep a watchful eye on my pride turning to ego…sooo slippery.
All the best to you, my friend!