January 24, 2008

Choice - The ultimate fate decider

Choice - one of the most important things in life. Just how many things are decided by the choices that we make? Lets leave the first 12-15 years, but after that, there are always those critical moments when we have to make decisions that may have long lasting or sometimes ever lasting effects on our life.

I made a decision to not to pursue biology after 10th, but I had never knew what impact it will have on my life. I just followed the tradition in my family. Similarly, I gave up on a chance to join architecture degree inspite of good marks!!!

My point is, just how does one make a choice and not rue it later, when we have so little insight into what the implications of our choice will be. Okay, one might say that such authority to choose the right direction or right job can come from experience, but what about certain other things in life, of which we have little experience.

Recently, I was traveling outside India (to the west) for the first time. I had read a lot about the kind of people (especially NRIs) i might meet and talk to. But, what perception I had in my mind about the society here (in general) and what i experienced (in person) was quite different. Now, how does one choose, how to react when such people (about whom we have some prejudice) do not offer to help, or friendship OR when they offer help or friendship? Based on realms of stuff that we have read or based on the personal experience?

The choice that one would make in such situation will again have lasting effects. Okay, one might again say, that this types of choices too can be arrived at with experience. Which brings me to the final question.........how does one choose whom to love and whom to worship?

Here, atleast in India, experience cannot be the correct input to make the choice. Most of our actions, beliefs and perceptions are based on what has been told to us. Which such background, what a person remembers is what went wrong and which things did not work out. Which make him decide - what not to do in life. But "what not to do" is not the only thing that should affect our choices!!!

I believe, every person inherently has a level of conviction in everything that he believes, does or does not do. That conviction may evolve over a period of time and finally help a person make decisions that he will not rue.

The most important point is that from early stages of life, we should not try to be idealistic (good boys, school/college rankers, etc), but one must open up to all the possibilities in world. Shed the inhibitions. Appreciate the diversity that rules our surrounding, assimilate the events happening around us. And this I believe will open the flood gates to understand not only what one should not do, but also what one can and should do in life.

Armed with this knowledge, an individual will be able to make choices that will be truly his, and not dictated only by what he has been shown, told or what he has heard.

Keep your eyes, mind and heart open.....let the beauty of nature, the essence of diversity flow into our soul and the natural course of time make up your mind - what you want in life, what you want to do, what you don't want to do. Make the correct choices and live happily ever after.......

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