“It’s better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.”
You may have read this quote and many derivative formats, and it’s core message seems to be the same. Be yourself, and content on your own path rather than trying to imitate another and be somebody you are not.
But where did this quote originate?
Contentment is simple, yet so evasive. Success gurus always say – never be satisfied – always strive for more.
More money, more health, more to do in a day, more this, more that. Somehow being mediocre seems like a curse, a temporary state of anomaly in your quest for permanent perfectness.
And yet, as we go through our live, we realize more and more that these dreams of perfection are just that. No matter how much you exercise, you cannot look like Hrithik and Tiger, and no matter how much you earn there will always be someone who has more money than you. No matter how much you squeeze into a day, there will always be more work, and no matter how much you try to be perfect – there will always be someone who seemingly has a more perfect life than you.
We are built to compete – not complement. Our education system, our work culture – all built to teach us to become competitors vying for an ultimate prize – rather than celebrating our existence and all that comes with it.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥ ३५ ॥
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ
para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt
sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ
para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.
I don’t have to tell you which book this is from:) Take a guess…
See you tomorrow!