Beware of slipping into stagnation, stay curious
During my tenure as a school counsellor spanning six years, I was often faced with a dilemma. I would be tempted to stay in my comfort zone, within the four walls of the counselling office. But then, my role to be effective as a counsellor, and the consequential feeling of professional accomplishment would get compromised. If I made any effort, or took an initiative, for instance of holding a teachers’ seminar, raising awareness for mental health services available in school, or undergoing a training, that would mean brainstorming, hard work, and risking disappointment. It was always challenging to pick between the two.
Prodded by family and encouraged by senior staff members, I would sometimes choose the latter. Tired of the slow progress, or disheartened by the criticism, I would sometimes choose the former, but only to return to the latter, later; and, thankfully so.
As I look back, I marvel at the words: Opportunity doesn’t knock twice at the door. And I also marvel at how sometimes we must indeed build/open the door ourselves and create/seek the opportunity. It’s difficult. It will seem unfair. But, to slip into stagnation can bring pain even worse than that, albeit later. It’s like the rust on the iron, slowly creeps in, stealthily deadens. We must, must, must, beware of that.
For one, we can always be alert towards areas that need work. That could be at the personal, family, societal, office or any level. The alertness will automatically translate into ideas overtime. My father, an ophthalmologist, pointed out at the breakfast table one day that inter-medicinal reactions need to be studied and researched more. It’s a potential field with high scope for exploration.
A friend, who is a teacher by profession, was searching for reading material on the different types of quotients (intelligence quotient, emotional quotient, social quotient and adversity quotient) to broaden her knowledge base. It’s quite on the lines of seek and you will find.
Acknowledge. The massive leaps made by mankind in every sphere need acknowledgement. We have come a far way, and we have still to go a long unending way. This fact can’t be overstated. And to be cognizant of the same will help in deciding the future course.
Third, the show must go on. Roadblocks, failure, hardships, one has to gear up for everything. Success has no shortcuts, they say. Accept help. Once we start on our unique journey, there will be guidance, help and light from unexpected quarters, in never-before witnessed ways. Welcome that gracefully. For instance, an effective leader will delegate, and avoid micro-managing the delegated work; thus, honing the specialties of people under him/ her and also accepting their help simultaneously. However, people have a right to (and sometimes, they even struggle to) say no to our request(s) for assistance. Never take it to heart.
Lastly, don’t forget to take breaks. Even our smartest gadgets need charging. Identify your potentially rejuvenating activities and do indulge. We all know that all work and no play would make Jack a dull boy. So, recently, at my workplace, I was assigned a duty that was not the usually allotted tasks for me. I’ll take the liberty of saying that it sucked the blood out of me. But as we wrapped up the files for the much-awaited final despatch as a team, the forthcoming mid-week holiday suddenly seemed a lot more worthwhile, and the flowers suddenly appeared brighter and more colourful. I wouldn’t allow myself to remain devoid of these highs, would you? I wouldn’t accept becoming a ‘kuen ka mendak’ (a frog in the well); please consider because you wouldn’t, either.
EVEN OUR SMARTEST GADGETS NEED CHARGING. IDENTIFY YOUR POTENTIALLY REJUVENATING ACTIVITIES AND DO INDULGE