Fearlessness...

Witnessed the recent pre-quarters of FIFA World Cup between England and Germany. Was thrilled by the manner of German victory. If one word characterised their performance, then it was fearless!

If there is something magnetic about the youth, then it is the willingness to be bold, fearlessness, freedom from dogmas and readiness to try things without worrying about failures. There is a certain certainty about being able to bounce back from defeats and reverses and conviction in one's ability to fight it out in a determined way. Exactly the opposite was England's attitude - both in attack and defense - utter dubiousness and complete lack of conviction. It was almost apparent that they were fearful of defeat!

Now, I may be a bit biased about Germany, more so because they came into this fixture as underdogs. But, I know in my heart that I am not far from truth in the above conclusion.

But, that is just an example of what fearlessness can bring to an individual and a team. In cricket, it is said that as one ages, one becomes a better batsman as he understands what he can/cannot do. I beg to differ. I think more than anything, one becomes an average player as one ages since he doesn't want to try harder! The hunger has already given way to 'adjustment' with the 'as is' situation - forced out of conviction that one cannot transcend what one has perceived to be personal limitation in terms of skill and also the fact that it might be too late to learn and try newer things. So, I believe that one becomes a better survivor and economiser. But, not necessarily a better batsman.

Similarly, in life, one becomes a better manager of his/her own destiny and living conditions. But, not necessarily a better human being. We all (or most of us!) are guilty of weaving a comfort zone around us. A sort of cocoon of limitations beyond which we hardly have the courage to venture. We will venture and test the air outside the cocoon only when we are forced by some calamity or personal problem. And even that effort will be just enough to regain the comfort of another cocoon and immediately, we are ready to abandon the few courageous breaths in fresh and free air.

It takes courage to not use the beaten path and to go and walk in tall wild grass right next to the pathway taken by millions and billions before you. You are more capable of it when you are young and have not yet found your heart's calling.

How about you have a heart's calling and you keep yourself alive to possibilities outside that calling. You love your cocoon, but there are other cocoons you want to experiment too and experience! You will have to cross  the threshold of your comfort in your own cocoon. You will have to learn to become fearless, and fly to weave a new one.

What that means in real life is, we should not be content with what we have learnt and learn more. That is what life is all about. That is what our scriptures tell us: go ahead and find the truth for yourself! The Vedas tell us this. They give us fundamentals and exhort us to be courageous and explore. Every time we stop at something, we must make sure that this pause is only temporary.

Every time we find a cocoon, the threshold to climb out of the comfort offered by it will be higher than the previous one and it will progressively only get higher. Just like in a computer game! Once you cross a level, the next levels are going to be progressively tougher. What carries you through those levels is your conviction in your own ability to break those thresholds. And this conviction probably comes from our fearlessness towards the game and its challenges. But, it also comes from the known fact that not much is at stake here.

Also in life, the progressive thresholds will always get tougher. But, it is important that we develop the conviction within ourselves to venture out of our cocoon and breathe fresher air every time we feel comfortable. It is imperative that we regenerate our will to learn more and know more. That is the essence of youth, the essence of life and indeed the essence of the great Vedas which exhort us to become better human beings. What is it then that will help us become fearless and bring conviction to each endeavour of ours?... That probably is the true holy grail ...