Learning From Mythology: Don’t Fight Every Battle

Mythology enchants everyone and as a child, I was not an exception. Stories from “Ramayan” & “Mahabharat” attracted me like a million others in my childhood. Today when I read those stories again, it still gives direction to me and many others live. Each story is a lesson on leadership which is more relevant now. As a child Lord Hanuman was my favorite hero. His power, intelligence, tact, wit and righteous approach resolved most of the hurdles that arose during the course of Bhagwan Ram's journey. That is to say, Hanuman seems to embody the presence and application of mind that is essential to addressing and resolving issues so as to proceed with the task at hand. 

From many of his stories, crossing the sea to reach Lanka in search of Maa Sita is the most fascinating and motivating. Today I am listing three learning from the one incident where Hanuman Ji came across Sursa and how he overcame the obstacle using his presence of mind and agility.

1. Pick Your Fights

During the journey to cross the sea, Hanuman Ji meets Nag Mata Sursa. Sursa is intimidating, imposing, and bears a boon which ensures that if she stands in someone’s way, you cannot pass her unless she lets you. Lord Hanuman acknowledges her strength and requests her to allow him to pass and continue his search. Knowing the power of Lord Hanuman, it was easy and tempting for him to pick up and beat each opponent on the way but he did his best to avoid the fight by outsmarting her and continued his journey.

If that situation sounds familiar, you’re not alone.  If Hanuman is the embodiment of professional success, then Sursa is the embodiment of professional impediment. Every major issue that comes up in the course of your professional career is akin to Sursa, who erupts from the ocean to accost Hanuman. At first glance it seems insurmountable; but sometimes, when you display poise, you can easily find a way to prevent draining your energy and resources in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

We must understand, when physical strength is not helpful and thinking out of the box can help to reach the goal.

2. Keep the focus on THE GOAL

For lord Hanuman, it was easy and tempting to beat each opponent who came on his way. But he knew it well that the purpose of his journey was to reach Lanka at earliest. He recognized that the personal glory of being a winner at this stage was not important. He understood that it would lead to delays in achieving his GOAL. Lord Hanuman chooses not to battle the demon but instead uses his intellect to outmaneuver his obstacle.

While building a bridge between your current position and the island of success you aspire to reach, you have totally focused on the goal. One cannot afford to wander on anything else even for a small period. Developing these qualities is the very strategy you must seek to incorporate in your own life if you wish to advance in your career. It’s about knowing to work in a smart way keeping one eye on the final goal. By taking a leaf out of Hanuman’s problem-solving strategy, you might discover that even the most intimidating problems can be overcome by narrowing your focus to one’s goal.

Repeating the tested solutions may not always be useful resolving the new issues. One has to try lateral thinking.

3. Be Flexible and Act Fast

The pleadings of Hanuman Ji did not work and Sursa did not allow Hanuman Ji to continue his journey without entering her mouth. At this stage, Hanuman ji has to be tactful as the fight was not his goal. He accepted the challenge and adapted to it by expanding his size bigger than Sursa mouth. When Sursa kept opening his mouth bigger and bigger, at one time Lord Hanuman acted fast and surprised her. He rapidly shrunk his body, entered in Sursa mouth, and came out before Sursa could react and trap him. By this, he met the condition imposed and earned the respect of the opponent too.

In the real world, you must remember that many times the challenge posed by life cannot be solved by force only. One has to innovate in the face of an unexpected development and conserve your attention for where it is most required. By adapting to the problem you can always innovate and figure out a possible solution. By doing this, you can take charge of the issue at hand and overcome any other hurdles that may arise in the pursuit of your goals. All you need to do is refuse to be distracted by any challenge or obstacle in your path to realizing that goal. 

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