Take a LEAP OF FAITH

                           Its not everyday that you have a conversation that makes you think about it after its over, especially considering who was on the other end. I had a lengthy conversation with a long time friend of mine. It’s been quite a while we have not talked to each other. Thanks to Whatsapp- we are all fooled into believe that we are in-touch every moment– What a MIRAGE??

             Our discussion started with something trivial he had to ask me about some purchase he was about to make. Very soon we moved on to matters relevant- about life, work, balance, family and other things.

              Right from the very beginning of the conversation, my friend had his issues about how competitive the working environment is; about how hard he is working. I was quite surprised to find how he works 24/7 (Yeah! That’s weekends included!). This is by no means to make ends meet, he is rather worried that if he doesn’t, some other colleague nearby might grab his patients. Many of you might be familiar with this scenario and we falsely assume that we are in control and things happen accordingly- living in the realms of our wishful thinking is quite satisfying, imaginative euphoria.

                 Working on a Sunday is quite alien to me from times I can remember, except for that once a month Sunday duty that you are stuck with no go. I would like to consider myself normal, the normalcy is defined and formulated by a world which imposes you work 6 days, take 1 day off, wash, rinse and repeat. Brutally honest- it works! most of us work for the weekend!

                       But all through the conversation it was very evident to me that he is stressed and confused as how to move ahead, so much worried about the future and its outcomes. He has opportunities knocking on his doors, but is worried/confused on getting on to a new venture, to take a new responsibility- worried to take that LEAP OF FAITH!

There are always those few questions that hang like a sword-

• What if I fail?
• What if this is a wrong decision?
• Will I be ridiculed if I fail?
• I am presently living in a safe and secure environment, is it worth taking the risk?

                 This is not an issue that he alone as a doctor, or rather as a person is facing. It is a common fact that many of us are living day to day. Living in the fear of tomorrow, living in insecurity, living in the PRISON OF SOME ONE ELSE’S IMPRESSION OF YOU. And is it worth it? I am sure most of you would agree that ITS NOT! It’s freaking NOT WORTH IT! Then why do we still do it? We are all worried to leave our comfort zone; at the same time quite humbly forgetting the fact that when we started none of this was there. This comfort zone that we are in, is something we created out of hard work, luck and sheer determination. So is it not that we have proved ourselves that we are capable of creating or achieving what we have today? Then why do we fear an unknown failure, or lose trust in ourselves that we will be able to do it better once again? All that we have is not won through a lottery ticket!

           Someone has rightly said- “Do not fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today .”

              I tried to advice him at the end of conversation that he is quite confused, stressed and need to have the drive to take a leap of faith. If there was a time to take a plunge it is not tomorrow or the next year- IT IS TODAY! IT’S NOW! That is when he raised his worries about me and if I am taking life too easily. If I am doing things right? Shit! Now that’s what hit me hard, for I fail horribly at all the insecurities and confusions that I fail to generate… I just don’t have it. I end the conversation as I enter my OPD, wishing him all the best to stay confused, and hope to find him still dropping further deep in this abyss next time I talk to him.

Meanwhile I myself,too ended up spending an hour thinking if all’s well with me…

I presume it’s not bad at all, but definitely better than being stressed, confused and insecure! I am probably still open to challenges, I might lose many, might win some, but I might still stay as happy as I am for Life’s too short to be wasted thinking playing safe. It’s just not worth for life to be summarized some day as – COULD HAVE, MIGHT HAVE, SHOULD HAVE!

No offense to my friend- I know he would love this read!

Cheers………..!