My father once asked someone what I was like as a child. “When he was young, he was a dull boy. But now he has become a genius!”
I am still the same person I always was, but my father had come to a conclusion just by looking at my school mark card. This gave me great pleasure. But that’s why so many young people today live in such an intense state of frustration: We measure them solely by their scores. Different types of intelligences exist in the world. But with two billion children worldwide, we do not have the time or resources to properly nurture them. The result is that students are treated as assembly-line industrial products. It’s no surprise that nearly half of college students in this country today report clinically significant anxiety levels.
A student recently asked me what kind of ‘mind-set’ he needed for his board exams. The mind was never meant to be ‘set’. It is meant to be dynamic, fluid and open. When young people are encouraged to believe that a certificate is their highest aspiration, it leads to mediocrity.
The disarray between qualifications and certification is recent. There is a possibility of change in the situation very soon. Already, employers everywhere want real skills, not decorative degrees. Therefore, now is the time for students to hone their talent and enhance their potential instead of just focusing on board exams and marks. n 1996, I applied for a US tourist visa and was told that the consul general wanted to meet with me. After we talked for a while, she said, “If you want to teach yoga in America, you need a certificate. Do you have one?”
I replied, “If I had asked for a certificate from my guru, perhaps he would have shown me the way out. Since he did not, no – I have no certificate.”
She laughed and gave me an O1 visa (a non-immigrant work permit for individuals with outstanding abilities) instead of a tourist visa. I mention this because simply branding certificates will soon become outdated.
Your abilities will open doors for the future.
It’s also important to remember that education doesn’t mean aspiring to be someone else. Many people forget the time, energy and hard work that goes into it and try to become Sachin Tendulkar overnight. Even if you get there, someone new can come in and raise the bar even higher. Sort out the basics first. Choose ability over convenience, satisfaction over ease. Don’t aspire to emulate someone else’s lifestyle, wealth, or achievements, or aim to surpass them. Focus on exploring and strengthening your skills.
Man considers himself the most intelligent creature on this planet. But if your intelligence harms your well-being, no degree is of any use. Yoga is the science of developing your physical and mental strength so that it works for you, not against you.
Enhance your skills.
No previous generation had the opportunities available today. Make the most of them. Start some basic yoga exercises. Enhance your skills. Most importantly, create balance. Life is a process. This was never intended. Learn to handle the process intelligently and, above all, joyfully.
Remember success requires courage and ability, not comparison and competition. Be the best you can be; don’t settle for being as good as someone else. Stop looking for a wonderful world. Make it a wonderful world wherever you are.
Disclaimer
The views expressed above are the author’s own.
