What is worth Knowing?

What is worth knowing?

I wonder if we are asking the right questions to get right directions.

In the corporate world, some of us want to know how to persuade others to do an action and think in a certain way, we want management strategies to manage people better, we want to know how to inspire people, we want to know how to sell better, we want to know how to negotiate, we want to know how to climb the corporate ladder and much more. When I hear this, I am thinking how well rooted in personal experiences are these Wants? How well integrated into our lives are these Wants? How authentic are they?

'Authentic' means something that is coming from a space of an undisputed origin; something that is genuine. May be, learning germinates from a space of authenticity of ones thoughts, feeling and experiences.

Through my experience, I have seen, I own things when something is 'close' to me - my company, my job, my team and my work. Then, creating a space of ownership should be my immediate responsibility for myself. Ownership certainly brings about an authentic expression and a long lasting enthusiasm. Influencing skills, pro-activeness, building trust is more relevant and easier to achieve from this space. If authenticity is the first step, being authentic originates from knowing and being comfortable with oneself.

The more I ponder on this, the more I realise it starts with me and ends with me, the rest are details. Anything that does not take me towards me, may not be worth exploring. If I am Authentic, I question myself, I listen attentively, I tap my source of inspiration and stay focussed and charged through the day, be more pro-active and stay on top of things.

Authenticity is not easy to achieve over-night as we are programmed to be someone else, always competing and pushing ourselves to a brink of breakdown and in the process building some unrealistic expectations of ourselves and people around us.

To start the journey back home, what could be some of the more relevant questions that we could ask ourselves? The answer to which could set some authentic actions into motion. Life, then, could possibly become a personal expression of our Authentic Wants!

Knowledge is a burden if it robs you of innocence.

Knowledge is a burden if it is not integrated into your life.

Knowledge is a burden if it doesn't bring joy.

Knowledge is a burden if it gives you an idea that you are wise.

Knowledge is a burden if it doesn't set you free.

Knowledge is a burden if it makes you feel you are superior.

--- Ashtavakra Gita