Had an interesting conversation with family friends today.
This revolved around exploring what one is good at, and putting it out there for the world to see.
The processing power of computers, internet and social media have made it very easy for one to create, edit and post content across multiple formats to reach thousands, if not millions of potential viewers, at a click of a button.
The issue is not of lack of resources and methods, but rather, the excess of it. Many of us don’t begin, because we don’t know where to start.
And even if we manage to start, we tend to give up fast because we don’t see the results that we expect to see.
Here is where discipline and consistency come in. Something that I had written about a few months back, and reproduced below.
It’s not difficult to express yourself. Take that first step, and it will be the first of ten thousand. The first step is the most difficult, but the ten thousandth is the easiest. And the journey in between is the most fulfilling.
All the best!
It’s been around two years since I started writing everyday. I know for sure it crossed the two year mark this month, but when? That I don’t know since I didn’t make a note of when I started. More on that later.
In these two years, I’ve written every single day, and completed multiple series including the 21 day Sādhanā series (theory and exercises), All five books of the Panchatantra, The Vetāla Panchavimshati, a mini-series on the Tirukkural, and Navrātri – the Devi Mahātmayam series. Besides this, a lot more covered in the Yog Daily, some of which I have to categorize but don’t have the time as of now.
Now imagine if I had set out to get all this done today. As in – made a list of these topics and then mapped out how I would go about it. I don’t think I would have been able to get this done in this time frame, and surely not in the way that it is now. A lot of time would have gone into planning, a lot of deadlines would have been missed and a lot of excuses would have been found.
But today, as I look back – more than 700 days of writing and so much material – all was possible because of two factors – discipline and consistency.
Sometimes it helps to just get down to it, rather than spending time thinking about it.
And it is easy to start. Don’t pick a good day, or a good time, just start. As simple as that. And step two – once you start, don’t stop.
This method can be applied to anything really. Learning a new skill for instance. Starting your dream business is another. Any new project – the key is to start, and then make your way from there.
Discipline and consistency are enough to get you to put in your best efforts. Results will come, but don’t expect them. Just do your best:)
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ ४७ ॥
karmaṇy evādhikāras te
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Bhagavad Gita 2.47