Is This Your Life Too?

What I am about to share is an observation I have made over the past two decades of interacting with different people at different stages of their life.

I get to work closely with MDs, CEOs, CXOs, senior leadership as well as people in management roles across industries.

Many of these people know me when they were younger and met me while I was speaking at an IIT-Bombay or when they were studying at a B-School like Harvard Business School or London Business School or IIM.

They focused on their work, and excelled at it.

But once they enter their 30s or 40s or 50s, suddenly they start facing challenges which they never expected would come up.

They start facing challenges with their health. So many of them suffer from back aches because of sitting for long hours.

They suffer from stiff necks and a constant pain in their shoulders, because they have been typing for long hours.

They are unable to sleep well. They need to take pills for hypertension and anxiety.

I see them suffering from anger, they are constantly stressed, the smallest things tick them off.

They are like time bombings, waiting to explode.

All of this affects their ability to interact with their loved ones, with their family, with their friends, with their spouse, with their children, with their parents.

And then suddenly they ask, "Where did I go wrong?" "What do I do with my life?"

The thing is, work is beautiful. Karma Yoga is one of the most powerful ways to attain a higher state by doing your work with a meditative attitude.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi spoke about this with his research on how people experience bliss when they enter a state of "Flow".

A state where they forget everything else and enjoy the work they do completely, without caring about the result. It doesn't matter if they get a promotion, make money, attain power or become famous, they just love their work.

Krishna speaks about the same thing in the Gita. This is Karma Yoga.

But there is another aspect to life too. Life isn't just work. Work is very important, a beautiful part of life and a great way to express your inner potential. But not the only thing.

No matter what anyone tells you, life is more than work. You aren't a robot.

If all you do is work, you are living a robotic existence.

You might make more money, but what does more money mean if you don't have the things that truly matter?

If your knees are always aching, and you can't walk, and your back is hurting, how does it matter if you are in a Maybach? How does it matter if you have a mattress with memory foam and a bedroom that is 2000 sq ft, if you can't get sleep?

Or if you have a watch worth $200,000 but if your wife, husband or children don't speak with you? Because you never spent time with them.

Most people have been trained to live like rats. Rats chasing things that are meaningless.

More clothes, more cars, more homes, more money, more power, more promotions, more and more and more. But in that chase, you forget taking care of your own health, you forget connecting with your inner self, you forget experiencing love, joy, laughter, bliss.

It is time to bring back balance. Take a new look at your life.

Bring back laughter, bring back music, bring back dance, bring back love, bring back creativity. Stop living like a robot.

You will experience a new energy, a new creativity and your productivity will go up.

Instead of wasting hours surfing social media or news in the office, you will become more productive in the less time you have. You will make the most of you time at work and will be more focused and dedicated.

Your work becomes Karma Yoga. Your life becomes Bhakti Yoga. Your pursuit for knowledge becomes Gyana Yoga.

I am reminded of something the Air Force tells, "Poor maintenance is as good as murder."

A plane or helicopter which isn't well maintained will lead to a crash. So many people don't realise that if you don't take care of yourself, you are committing the worst type of murder.

You are suppressing your true inner self. Don't, you will regret it.

Bring back balance. Take the middle path.

You will experience bliss and make the most of this beautiful gift called life.

Yogesh Chabria

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