Stepping out of Autopilot

Arunima, the 20-year-old lady, was an Indian National level Volleyball player. In 2011, she boarded the train from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi to get a certificate amended.

Traveling alone, she was targeted by thugs on the train trying to snatch her gold chain. She resisted and was thrown off the train running at full speed. As she fell on the track, a train from the opposite direction blew her left leg off. She survived miraculously. Mangled and deep in pain, she lay on the way throughout the night and was only discovered by villagers the following day, who were kind enough to take her to the nearest hospital. Believe it or not, it was later found that 49 trains passed through in the 6 hours of that dreadful night while she was lying on the track.

Unfortunately, Arunima’s left leg had to be amputated to save her life. Four months later, still recovering from the trauma and lying in her hospital bed at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, she was trying to figure out what to do with her life. Since her accident, the events took political turns - some sections of media and political parties tried to portray the accident as a suicide attempt. The claim was proven wrong very soon; the stigma would remain attached.

Arunima could either live her life as a victim, getting others’ sympathy and pity or take up her disability as a challenge, drawing inspiration from it. Undaunted, she took a pledge lying in her hospital bed which was unthinkable. She decided to climb Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Arunima contacted Bachendri Pal (India’s first female Everest climber). She said, “Arunima, you made such a huge decision in this condition. Know that you have already conquered your inner Everest. Now you need to climb the mountain only to show the world what you are made of.”

On 21st May 2013, merely two years after the dreadful night, Arunima Sinha reached the summit of Mount Everest. Arunima drew her inspiration from her life-changing accident. Through the tragedy and trauma, Arunima started realizing her Purpose in life, which became her guiding force. The rest is history. Since then, she has climbed the highest peaks of all continents, including Antarctica.

Arunima is an inspiration to many, including me. She was unlucky. She was fated to encounter the treacherous night in her life, she became disabled for life. However, the same incident and deep introspection enabled her to realize the meaning of her life. She started living a Purposeful life - no longer on autopilot.

I am sure you are familiar with the autopilot in a long flight where the pilot releases the control to automation. Let me make a provocative presumption - many live in an ‘autopilot’ mode. We wake up, go through the motions of the day, do our work, do daily chores, etc., as if floating in a river and going with the flow. We do not have a powerful ‘why’ within us. We do not even think about why we exist. What is the meaning of our life?

Could you take a pause and reflect?

To what extent do you know the meaning and Purpose of your life? To what extent are you living your life on autopilot, like going with the flow floating in a river? Suppose you have already figured out ‘the meaning of your life’ or ‘why of your existence’; you may be part of only 5 to 10%. Congratulations.?

And, if you are part of the 90% who have yet to understand your life's purpose, no worries. Ask yourself if you can break the autopilot pattern and leave your comfort zone. Are you ready to discover your Purpose? If yes, you are already then started your journey. Self-realization is the foundation of self-leadership. Congratulations on your first step forward.?

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Disclaimer:?The views expressed in this article are my point of view and do not in any way represent that of the organization I work for.