Step Back for EQ

I used to travel by the Intercity Express from Old Delhi Railway Station every time I went to my undergrad college in Patiala.

Whenever you go towards the railway station, you will inevitably pass by the Red Fort, which is one of the most iconic structures of the Old Delhi walled city.With its thick and high red sandstone walls, it served as the residence of Mughal Emperors.

If enemies wanted to capture a fort and claim victory in wars, they first had to find their way through walls that guarded the city.

The amateur warriors would try to take the wall down by directly ramming themselves against it. But this entire effort would result in a large number of casualties, mainly due to the attacks of the army that is inside the fort.

The skilled warriors, however, would never directly attack a walled city. Instead, they would form circles around it, which would prevent supplies from going in, and defenders from coming out.

What they clearly knew, is that now inside those walls are people who are trapped, afraid, and desperate. The walls are tough, but what they are actually enclosing is a weakness.

Remember: The most effective way to topple a wall, an organization, or an individual is from inside out. People collapse by themselves when they are at a loss for reasoning powers.

The anxiety that ruins exams, the FOMO that kills authenticity, and the quest for validation that clouds judgement - they all stem from within.

People say that iron cuts iron. The truth is - cold iron cuts hot iron. Those who can keep their calm will always emerge victorious over those who are in an emotional turmoil.

That's why the skilled warriors know - the actual venue for battle is not the periphery of the walled city; it is the mind of those who are trapped inside.

So what you really need to fear in life are not your exams, deadlines, or peers' opinions, but the games that these things play with your mind.

Step away from the present whirlpool of events and see how they might affect the grand scheme of things. Every now and then, zoom out and see the bigger picture.

Take a step back to pause and reflect on your internal reactions. This distanced thinking in life will contribute to your EQ like nothing else.