Generation "D"

We are in a generation of not just doers but doers of things that are aligned to external affirmations. We tend to focus on things that are glorified and talked about while overlooking the important stuff.

So what’s wrong in chasing dreams that you want or knowledge or possessions even? It ultimately leads to growth isn’t it? But there’s more to it, goals that are aligned to our inner self will give us the development that we truly need. What do we mean by goals aligned to our inner self? We set goals like, I want to get a certain job or read certain number of books or lose weight and so on. It is true that we must focus highly to get there. Meanwhile we tend to skip other vital things to reach those goals faster and so when we get there we are not that much excited after the sense of accomplishment fades away. For example, many of us might think making our bed in the morning is something that no one is going to know and applaud so why bother doing it. Instead read news on the phone after you wake up that might come handy when socializing. This kind of attitude trickles down on every level of ours. We overlook chores, planning to surprise our loved ones or friends and even listening to our own kids. Tell me how many of you look at your phone while replying to your 5 year old when she is excitingly showing off her art work? Or eat breakfast with a magazine or phone? We tend to look at today’s young-lings as not a very good listeners. But if we communicate to them with our heads buried into our so called work or news or stock market results, they get the message to do the same when we talk to them. I think there are many articles regarding how smartphones are deteriorating relationships. But I found that this is not just about smartphones, it is the core thinking of our society that doing, achieving something visible is great. So our priorities are in complete mess. We prioritize work over health and consuming intelligence over bonding. And that is the reason why many millionaires or people in power end up in discontent even after achieving so much. When we disconnect from our true self and try to chase happiness,we are never going to achieve that.

Now some of you might think that there is no symptom of problems in my life with my current way of living, so let me continue to chase external stimulation which is making me feel good and accomplished. But the truth is that you are not able to notice your symptoms even due to your blinkers and with your eyes fixed outward. The symptoms may be one of your friend stops calling or your child’s disappointment that shows on his face or a difference in your spouse’s behavior. We will have to pay attention to all that, for which we need to connect to the very present.

We all want to be in leadership positions, but seldom we know that the greatest leadership quality is not just knowledge but how we connect with people. And you can learn that by training your mind to live in the present, it could be through meditation or through activities that challenge you to stay present. Corporate team building events are now like biking, hiking and activities that forces people to build connection and to learn to live in the moment. Also children are greatest teachers of that, so take their invitation to play or the need to take care of them without a second thought. Now one might say that I am already tired of working two jobs, running errands and all that. Trust me, when you connect with people and to all the little things around you, your energy level goes up exponentially. You will do more when you don’t focus on doing. I wish this article makes you aware and bring consciousness to achieve things that makes you whole internally, which will in turn expand your growth. So go out and help your community, surprise your loved one, get messy with your little one with no worries of missing out on anything.

It would be tough initially, any transformation has to go through pain. Shedding our attachment with external belief systems is going to be rough. We might fall back here and there, but just be aware and reset to keep going. Because universe is so forgiving that you can always try again !

-Sophia S Antonysamy