When I was a kid, I didn’t really enjoy school. I felt burdened with the subjects, homework, and all the expectations of me. I thought once school is done, I’ll be free.
But in my 11th and 12th, I pursued something else— cracking the competitive exams and getting into a good college. I worked towards that singular goal. Getting a seat at a prestigious institute meant everything as it guaranteed a well-paying job and a secure career. I got into BITS, Pilani and I felt I had finally done it.
But the elation quickly evaporated, and I soon found myself drowned in the coursework and assignments. And a sense of worry about maintaining a good CGPA, a metric that would assure placement at a reputed, well-paying company. Later, I did end up at a great company, but by then, I already wanted to get into the IAS. In the next few years, I worked towards it and believed that once I get in, I will not have any problems whatsoever.
I finally succeeded in getting into the IAS and just before going to LBSNAA I thought, this is it. It was going to be the best phase of my life. In fact, it was a great time at the academy, but it was not without any worries. I injured my right knee, and I couldn’t walk properly in all of my Foundation Course. “This knee injury is stopping me from truly enjoying my time here,” I used to tell myself.
You get the point. In all these instances, I thought that freedom and happiness are found in the next rung of the ladder. “Damn, if only I can get this, I will be truly free forever.”
But my experience so far has taught me that it doesn’t work that way. We work towards a goal, thinking that it’s the perfect solution to all our problems. But once you cross a milestone, it quickly becomes the new normal. Your original issues and worries will be replaced by a different set of issues and worries.
What we believe to be true
What is actually true
Taken from the book: The Happiness Equation
Don’t assume that the next shiny new gadget or a pay rise or promotion will solve all the problems forever. In fact, the joy we get in achieving something is rarely in the act of finishing that task.
Think of the happiest moments of your life. Eating a super-delicious meal. A fun day out with friends. Watching a beautiful movie. Reading a fabulous book. The joy in them was never about finishing or ticking them off the list. It was in relishing it. In the words and sentences of a book, in the tiny little delicious tastes of the meal, in the little jokes and banter with friends. When you are playing a game, if we are constantly worried about the scoreboard, we will not win the match. And certainly, we will not enjoy the game. What’s the point of playing if we don’t enjoy it?
To have a goal is essential, but to think that achieving it provides lasting happiness or meaning or identity is faulty thinking. We will always have problems and issues to solve. Ask yourself, would you want a life with nothing on your to-do list? I don’t think so.
We must always try to aspire, learn and grow. But we must also choose to find joy and happiness in the present moment and not postpone it until we reach an imaginary milestone. The joy is always in the journey. While climbing towards the summit is important, sometimes we must remind ourselves to look around and enjoy the beautiful view!
Reading this book has changed my perspective of life. I must say You are one of the few IAS officer who is leaving no stone unturned to motivate aspirants right from the beginning.
I eagerly wait for your write ups sir like daily newspapers.
Sir, I was eagerly waiting for your articles. Since you have told that you would post article fortnightly, I checked it out every day at least thrice a day. Please keep writing it . You are the true speaker about preparation, otherwise ,there are many who claim a lot of false things -: right from the age to last stage of preparation. You will remain in my heart sir forever. It is your hard work only that deserves such comments.
Absolutely. Wherever we are in life , we shouldn’t treat it as a transitory period.
The fact of life , rare people understand it , you are true observer
✓✓✓✓✓✓aman
Sir.I would Also Suggest Heartfulness
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I am big fan of you sir,your journey towards IAS is very inspiring sir….
Yes I am also big fan of anudeep sir
True. Allmost everyone of us think about the result but forget to enjoy the journey . After reading this post we can remind ourself that the true happiness lies in enjoying both journey and result.
Thanks for such thought changing article
This is the real crux of the life. Life has limited minute and every minute is important be it in any time. Each word of you realize the importance of happiness . I do remember one instance , in a motivation lecture at HPCL Pune, the speaker asked me , what is your goal of life , I replied “Happiness” . He told sir you are not required to be seated here. The ultimate meaning of life is happiness and it does not depends on the amount of money, material things, place etc… The friends are true happiness to me and I enjoy every bit of life. Thank you sir for enlightening on the touchy issue ..
Wish you more happiness in life ..
Sqn Ldr Aman Choudhary
Enjoying the journey is not so easy when destiny tries it’s best to toss you away from the destination. But well, great words sir??
Great story sir I learn lot of life hacks from ur storys even though I watched those technique in video but none of them inspired me ur life line stories gave me so much sense to me to follow in life. Keep posting ur blog I’m always waiting for ur blog sir
Thank you ?
Thank you sir for wonderful article…We are fortunate to have you as additional collector..Your way of solving local issues is superb sir..I admire u each day sir
Thanks Sir, please continue your writting for us .
Sir life is so complicated we think when we got that goal we happy but we move next phase and we think when I got it also I was happy human expectations are never end.
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That’s why in which phase or situation we are enjoy that journey.
Thank you very much dear sir for your efforts which is dragging people towards their goal and adding smiles on the face.
~ Love from Odisha
Really nice sir.
That’s a high level hypocrisy
When you achieve something you start losing its value and think happiness is somewhere else..
Why don’t people be true that it’s the way life works and we are surrounded by fallacies and it works like that only.
It’s like the most millionaires who works there ass off and build the great empires and then say happiness is not that. Really disappointing.. why don’t they donate everything and try to be happy then..
Happiness is really vague and Subjective and keep struggling in life is actual long term happiness
It could be an entire different scenario if you haven’t cracked this exam then the formula of happiness will be getting food to the children’s plate and that too by struggling daily. .
Pushing yourself everyday when you don’t even wish to work..
Accepting the failure and struggling to move on
This is life actually and it’s not be happy scenario always..
When you are playing a game, if we are constantly worried about the scoreboard, we will not win the match.
Getting motivated whenever I reading your words. I can say that you are a true man with true words… You have had a great experience in practical life.
WISH YOU LOVE AND HAPPINESS❤️
Sir you never fail to inspire us through your words ..All your thoughts , your words are so powerful ..and that reflects in your works …Seriously Sir we miss out little joys in search of an imaginary world with imaginary success in future ..To be happy in future also we need to be happy at the present ❤
Your posts are like morning booster …gives positive vibes through out the time ..I always awaits your posts Sir to get motivation…But actually what you gives us is not only motivation but bits of your experiences ..Thank you Sir from the bottom of my heart …keep on inspiring us like this …Lots of love and respect from West Bengal ….Hope will be able to meet you some day sir … Stay safe and Stay happy??
Great Article!
But the equation of “What we believe to be true” is the only equation that proceeds, something like:
“Great Work–Big Success–Be Happy”–Great Work–Big Success–Be Happy–Great Work–Big Success–“Be Happy–Great Work–Big Success”–Be Happy–Great Work–Big Success
It is the way you interpret life.
There are different type of people with different thinking and so the first equation which proceeds can be interpreted in different forms by different people.
Thank you for sharing most valuable information..
Yes it’s true ” Experience the Every Moment In Life Happily “.
After reading this post i realised how i use to feel same since my childhood….it is just like awakening blog post sir!!! Thank you!
Thank you sir for reminding us about value of journey and need to enjoy it. it is important not just to UPSC aspirants but to millions out there. please keep writing to inspire us.
Yes for me also school is a burden but when I was reading it I was gradually remembering those beautiful moments and yes challenges are many it’s not that after achieving a goal we are all set. I have myself realised when I improved my English accent , then I started worrying about vocabulary.
Beautiful lines and truth of life # live life as a peacock feather# jai shree krishna ?
You are a gem of a person sir… Its soothing to listen to your words sir… No words… just loads of respect…
Your ability to narrate simplest of ur experiences in such a manner is phenomenal. I enjoy reading all your write ups. Truly simplicity is the utmost sophistication.
I eagerly wait for your article sir .
It is always inspiring. I try to apply your thoughts in my life .i was a student of hindi medium but after reading your article about book writing. I develope ambition to write an article for the hindu .thank you sir .
Chandra kant sharma
Nursing officer
Aiims bathinda
Sir these Writing Makes us Hopeful towards tommorrow. Keep writing them and Triumph in every field you enter. God bless??
“The joy is always in the journey because destination actualy gives the satisfaction”
My friends are asking me “what is the secret behind your vocabulary ?”. I said Anudeep sir’s blog!
IAM always feel cherished while reading your articles sir.IAM a big fan of you sir.truly always inspiring with your words.with lots of love from karimnagar
It can be a merely comment for you sir, but trust me your blogs has left really good impact on my way of thinking and I can assure that it will be helpful in my life further also even after clearing IAS exams. ??
Such a positive article and much needed at this point of time ,Sir:) keep inspiring us.
Just wanted to know is it a rumour or a fact that you worked for Software Giant-Google