Not surprisingly many young people today are finding it hard to make their own way in this world. I included. We are told to go to college, settle on a practical career, make money, work hard, rise to the top, buy a house, and have babies. That’s all fine and dandy until you ask yourself, who am I?
In this whirlwind of expected, all the magical unexpected gets lost. The time for discovering ones values, desires and goals gets eaten away by societal pressures. Yet, you go along with it, all in order to appease that uneasy feeling in your stomach.
But you know what, that uneasy feeling reminds you that you are alive. It reminds you that you have more control over your choices than you thought you did, and it reminds you of how important it is to live an authentic life. That uneasy feeling, it’s important. And eventually, it goes away, and your authentic-self shines through.
Whether you want to study astrology, create videos, travel the world, teach yourself a new skill, DO IT.
I know that you do not need one more person telling you how to live your life, however, it is important more now than ever, that you do what you always wanted to do.
Now, I am not telling you to abandon your responsibilities, or that going to college and choosing a practical career is wrong (heck, I’m doing both!), but it is important that we supplement our lives with self-guided education.
Self-guided education, to me, is the act of doing things that enrich our lives in ways that school, work and society could not. Participating in self-guided education could be to learn a new skill you have always wanted to learn, reading non-fiction books on topics that you are passionate about, traveling, meditating, practicing yoga, making a creative journal, or volunteering. It is about stepping outside of the rigid structure of everyday life to help you reach your personal goals so that you find who you are, and grow along the way.
In this whirlwind of expected, all the magical unexpected gets lost. The time for discovering ones values, desires and goals gets eaten away by societal pressures. Yet, you go along with it, all in order to appease that uneasy feeling in your stomach.
But you know what, that uneasy feeling reminds you that you are alive. It reminds you that you have more control over your choices than you thought you did, and it reminds you of how important it is to live an authentic life. That uneasy feeling, it’s important. And eventually, it goes away, and your authentic-self shines through.
Whether you want to study astrology, create videos, travel the world, teach yourself a new skill, DO IT.
I know that you do not need one more person telling you how to live your life, however, it is important more now than ever, that you do what you always wanted to do.
Now, I am not telling you to abandon your responsibilities, or that going to college and choosing a practical career is wrong (heck, I’m doing both!), but it is important that we supplement our lives with self-guided education.
Self-guided education, to me, is the act of doing things that enrich our lives in ways that school, work and society could not. Participating in self-guided education could be to learn a new skill you have always wanted to learn, reading non-fiction books on topics that you are passionate about, traveling, meditating, practicing yoga, making a creative journal, or volunteering. It is about stepping outside of the rigid structure of everyday life to help you reach your personal goals so that you find who you are, and grow along the way.
I was lucky enough to have asked Arun Ghandi, the grandson of the late Ghandi, a question when he visited my college in February. I was nervous, and unable to articulate myself properly, but the gist of my question was, how do we as students, in the rigid frame of education, gain more control over our learning and add authenticity to your lives?
He said it can be accomplished through self-guided education. Arun added that we do not stop learning when our formal education ends. Life he said is where we do most of our learning, and it is important to always be thirsty for knowledge. He continued saying that it is imperative that I read, and travel often, and do what I love each and every day to grow as a human being. Education he also said, is not limited to the classroom, but it is up to me to step outside of those walls.
I urge you to do the same. Take that yoga class, learn to knit, read articles about anything and everything that adds meaning to your life. Fearlessly add some “self-help” books to your shopping cart, listen to podcasts, meditate. The list is endless, but remember, your time isn’t.
Put down your textbook, walk out of that classroom, and really do your homework.
Love and peace <3
I urge you to do the same. Take that yoga class, learn to knit, read articles about anything and everything that adds meaning to your life. Fearlessly add some “self-help” books to your shopping cart, listen to podcasts, meditate. The list is endless, but remember, your time isn’t.
Put down your textbook, walk out of that classroom, and really do your homework.
Love and peace <3