Rock Bottom and your own Wisdom

Hitting rock bottom, and emerging out of that teaches a person life lessons that nothing else can. Reading about the rock bottoms of others (generally in autobiographies), can provide insight, raise awareness, and be a source of motivation that a person can use.?

Reflecting on your own rock bottoms can be an inspiration you might be looking for right now, if you are looking for drive, motivation, energy, taking action, taking charge of situations, etc.?

Here are some that I encountered, and whenever I need motivation, I have to remind myself about them.

1) As a child, we as a family hit rock bottom when all of a sudden, I had to leave home (Kashmir), with my dad, mother, and my sister. With zero bank balance, as my dad had invested every penny in our new home, I saw my dad and mom emerge as family leaders, as they ensured that my sister and I got the best of education, environment, love, and care while growing up. Some years were tough for them initially, but they didn't even show on their faces, as they had to show us that everything is ok.?

This was a family rock bottom that shaped my life. Resilience and optimism were installed for life.

I learned from my dad and mom that situations can be disastrous, but managing and coming out of them gracefully is a choice, which defines you.?

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2) I hit another rock bottom in my early 20s, an emotional rock bottom, when after college I could not manage the transition in my life, and eventually ended my 3.5 years of romantic relationship. I was depressed for a few years, and it took me some years to come out of that rock bottom, but it taught me many life lessons.?

Life transitions can be tough (new job/new city/new country/new x/new y/etc.), but can be dealt with by being patient, being vulnerable, being flexible, being understanding, not acting hastily, proper communication, being easy with self and others.?

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3) I hit another rock bottom, when 911 happened in the US (I was a graduate student in the US at that time), after the economy was in shambles, and I graduated after a year in 2003.?

With limited career options, and with no visa clarity in the US around that time, I was suffering emotionally, physically, and financially. I did odd jobs for some time to survive, but I took some time to accept the situation, and rather than sticking around with no decent career option, decided to come back home (India), and start all over again.?

After coming back home, I had a very fulfilling corporate career in Cyber Security and made lifetime friends and mentors.?

Lessons learned. Some decisions are tough to make, but they have to be taken, and eventually, things will work out. Take time to reassess your situation, what is in your control, and what is not, and see what can be done to manage it.

Tough decisions can be scary in the beginning, but after the initial fear is a success.?A person can always adapt, reinvent, and start.?

Reflections:

?*What are some of your rock bottoms??

*What have you learned from them, reflect now, if you have never done that.

*See what is applicable to you in your context of yours which is a challenge at the moment.

The wisdom to handle situations is already there with you.?The power to handle, change, and rise is within you.?