1 Question that’s worth a thought

One of my good friends Gina (name changed) is fond of buying the most expensive things. Dresses from Armani, Shoes from Gucci, Rolls Royce… Her latest possession is an exclusive LV bag worth 25,000 QAR

I casually asked her.. So now you must be really happy!!

I don’t know what trigger it pulled … but her eyes got full, gradually tears started rolling down her pink cheeks. I was embarrassed. When I slowly dared to look into her eyes, I could see a black hollow sac. We had a deep conversation then. Influenced by Dr Susan’s work on emotional agility.. finally when Gina calmed down, I asked Gina .. ‘What is it that would make your life worthwhile?’

She promised to journal her thought when she was back home. Next day she showed me what she had written down. I asked her to read it out and when she did that.. I could see the light, the hope in her eyes which her 25,000 QAR bag could not bring.

This got me to believe even more what the Indian monk, Gopal Prabhu said in his TED talk– “If you want to know how rich you are then count all those things that money cannot buy”

On my way home I kept thinking about the Indian monk and what happened with Gina when she started equating money to happiness and success and asked myself the same question ” What is it that has made my life worthwhile?” and started working backwards ..

–       My most peaceful moments was on my inward journey on a yoga mat on the open green grounds at Isha Yoga centre, India

–       Most joyous moments are with my crazy and close family minus devices J, we missed flights together, almost boarded the wrong flights, have countless difference of opinions, fight over board games, laugh out together

–       Most fun moments are with friends with whom I can be absolutely myself even asking them to remind me their birthdays J

–       Most fulfilling moments are when I touch somebody’s life in some small way and I see a sense of gratitude in their eyes

–       Most memorable moments are from the 1 bed room rented apartment in the suburbs of Mumbai where I grew up. All the families from the 12 apartments stayed as 1 big family. My elder son literally grew up in everyone else house than ours J

–       Most profound learning’s were outside the classrooms J; from the days when I struggled; Life lessons at Isha; some of the learning’s from the local trains of Mumbai  are richer than the management lessons I got from the top notch MBA.

I have to admit during my formative years, I secretly admired, even envied those rich guys who wore the best dresses, best cosmetics, drove the best cars, had plush houses in South Mumbai because of the money they had and we could not afford all those.

Today I think differently. Money is just one component that occupies my platter of life. Money is not wealth. I remind myself each day “What is it that makes my life worthwhile”. The answers that I get from my inner self makes me feel grateful and rich. They help me live each day to the fullest.

Like Gina most of us spend our entire lives upgrading… similar to the Software updates which most of us never understand why? If they are to fix the bugs or add more JYet we say ‘Yes’ and proceed!! Our Life upgrades include upgrading the things that we think we have to have. Upgrading from a one bedroom apartment to a villa; Upgrading from a bike to a BMW; Upgrading from economy to business class; Upgrading from homely get togethers to discotheques; Upgrading from facials to botox J

We do this because everybody is doing this and we don’t want to be left behind. Slowly we fall into the herd mentality trap. I guess it starts because historically we are made to believe that money is success. So we start making money and more money and even more.. not only for us but also for our children, our grand children, our great grand children.. J. Ultimately our brain gets hard wired to think that money is success and the solution to all problems.

While money is important, do we get rich with money? Are we more happy with more money? It depends on our “Why”. According to Dr Susan David, an award-winning renowned Psychologist, faculty of Harvard Medical School and expert on emotions, happiness, and achievement says understanding our “Why” will help us live our most successful life. In her book – emotional agility, she writes on how to transform the way we live by understanding what makes life worthwhile; that happiness is not a goal but a by product of an amazing journey of life.

Don’t you want an amazing life that you would be proud of one day when you look back?

If yes, then the Call to Actionis to Write down your “Why?”

This is the Art of doing

1. Relax – Sit in a chair, keep the back straight, watch yourself breathe. If you get distracted, no problem. Just pull yourself back to your breath.
2. Navigate your inner world and ask your inner voice “What is it that will make my life worthwhile?”
3. Write the answer down and reflect on it

Understanding those answers bring more meaning to life. It helps me; Whenever I felt like I was stuck at crossroads and could not figure out which road to take, looking at the answers helped me bounce back.

I hope it will work for you too

“The purpose of life is the life of purpose” by Robin S. Sharma  (‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ fame)
Let me know if you logged your “Why”

Until Next,

Keep Smiling..