Responding to Restlessness
A
familiar sense of ennui settled like a blanket over my heavy heart as I pulled
into the parking lot. The work blues were easing their way in again, smirking
at having found a ready victim in my already downcast state of mind. A cold
gust of wind sent a shiver through me and the bleak sunshine delivered but
little warmth to pull me out of the doldrums.
The
now mundane routine ostensibly assumed a life of its own as my mind wandered
beyond the robotic regime. The "beep" of my i-card against the reader
marked my entry, making me feel rather like a component in an assembly line.
The "ping" of the elevator was a momentary distraction in my
languorous reverie as my feet mechanically found their way in.
Meanwhile,
my eyes assimilated a fading i-card hanging off the belt of a tall gentleman;
its barely visible employee id signifying that its owner had easily served more
than a decade at the company. The intelligent sharp eyes of the wearer were
fitted with a pair of rimless glasses, complementing his lanky frame, attired
smartly in formals, complete with a tie. His salt-and-pepper hair and matching
moustache were the perfect adjunct. He walked out of the elevator with a
definite sense of purpose – confidence in his gait, clutching a cup of tea in
one hand and carrying years of experience in the other, while I was left trying
to visualise myself 10 years down the line. It was obvious he had his agenda
for the day planned out and was taking it head on; I was shying in the shadows,
mulling over how to pull through my agonizingly bland routine.
To say that another year has flown past would be a slight understatement. The time to bid adieu to 2015 arrived sooner than anticipated. A single day viewed in silo seems to just drag on, but collectively, in retrospect, one tends to feel that Time should be charged with a speeding ticket! Paradoxical, isn’t it?!
The
commencement of a new year usually witnesses people throwing themselves into
celebratory fervour. For me, there is no better time for personal reflection.
As I don the introspective hat, quiet contemplation indicates a restlessness
simmering within the realms of my subconscious. The gentleman in my story
seemed perfectly comfortable with his chalked-out daily routine. I am clearly
not. Monotony is something I detest. A driver for one might well be an
inhibitor for another; after all, what might fuel one may act as a dampener for
another!
Morose
thoughts, these. But, for most people around me, I’ve observed a gap between
where they are and where they would like to be; between who they are and who
they imagine themselves to be. It is this chasm between the person we actually
see in the mirror and the reflection that we want to see that is perhaps the
root of this restiveness within. The triggers
are unique and individualistic. Some are aware of it; others are not. Some
choose to respond to them; others shut them out and plod on.
A
close peek into the lives of successful people often reveals an underlying
restlessness beneath the calm, composed demeanour - an indefatigable urge to
constantly push their boundaries. This points to a constructive, calculated
response to one’s restlessness that ensures a sustained 3600 growth
on the professional and personal fronts!
Coming
back to the hour glass trickling sand, aren’t New Year Resolutions too a way of
responding to your restlessness and heralding a small change in your lifestyle?
Revamping your thought processes and reinventing your personality? Your
subconscious playing instigator to your conscious decision towards personal
improvement?
The
phenomenon is universal. I’m curious to know what makes you restless. How do
you respond to this? Does your mind too
ride the tide of exultation before it wallows amongst the splintered shell that
the wave has thrown forth?
Do
share your thoughts here…
Wishing
you a spectacular 2016!
I envision myself as an entrepreneur few years down the line, I think it's the entrepreneur's paranoia which makes him/her restless. I feel restless every single day. How i respond to this is, i stack all my learning and experiences in the memory lane and fetch them whenever i need them. I respond to my restlessness in organized manner.
ReplyDeleteI feel, being restless it like blood flowing through your body, if you aren't restless then you should think whether you're truly alive?
Oh my God, Nisha you write so well,you will be a great Novelist soon.Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteKudos girl. Yuur descriptions are palpable. You make one feel the energies or the lack of them. This is easily fiction- writing material. Chew on it. Maybe you should begin writing a story.
ReplyDeleteProud of you.
May the best of the dictionary visit your vocab and mould you into a sensitive author.
Always the best for you.
Loves
According to Maslow's need of hierarchy, one individual is restless throughout even if he satisfies his multiple needs. this restlessness keeps him motivated. restlessness is a symbol of life in you. I would also like to cite the example of some personalities like Narendra Modi, Barack Obama and Shahrukh Khan who have publicly confessed about their restlessness. In fact all of them sleep for a minimal 4 hours a day. What does it conclude? Its actually their restlessness to make tomorrow better than today. So the bottom line is be restless and rest less. With this article you have reinstated the Entrepreneurial Restlessness boiling in you. All the best !
ReplyDeleteThe depth and inspired writing in this blog is provocative and subconsciously gets the mind to contemplate ... I would say that in itself speaks highly of what a talented writer you are... beautifully written. Hats off to you Nisha!
ReplyDeleteVery well written, Nisha ! I think it's human nature to gone through this tide/cycle.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen animated movie called "Inside Out" ? :) They have shown very interesting stuff about human emotions and individual personalities...