Next Step

Long back I was attending a course on mountaineering & trekking. We (me & my course mates) used to read books on the subject matter, discuss theories & techniques, attend lectures & demonstrations and share experiences of great names in mountaineering.

Towards the end of the course, we were taken out for a small expedition to a nearby peak of mountain. In the final leg of the expedition, we were taking periodic rest during the climb to the peak. We were exhausted, disturbed & frustrated due to fatigue. As per the customs of the course, during the rest period, students used to ask questions from the instructors. Few people asked questions like, 'what technique and strategy to be used for the final summit?', 'How to plan it? etc. They seemed a bit confused and throwing arguments and counter argument.

The accompanying instructor, an old & calm man smiled and told us, 'I feel, you people are quarreling on the trivial issues. You have learned many methods & techniques on mountaineering. Now let me tell you and demonstrate the final tip for using this knowledge/experience.' He got up on his feet and said, 'Don't bother much about the theory part of it. Mountaineering is not as difficult as it appears in the theory. Let me give a demonstration of this. He will then stand up in a comfortable posture on his place and tell us while taking the steps, "lift your left/right leg (the one which is trailing behind) and just put it ahead". After that he will say," the next step is to lift your right/left leg and now and put it forward on the ground/hill. That's all. Isn't it very simple?

I feel the same simple but great principle apply to life also. In this modern information age we get confused with theories, concepts, techniques etc. Engulfed in the heap of information, there is one thing on which we stop taking action. And that is the next pending issue right in front of us. Rather than analyzing too much that will paralyses us, it is simple to act, act, act.. and act. Knowledge will come to us in case by way of experience & thoughts. We have several body parts and mind is just one of these. Let us use this instrument in a holistic way. Rather than your chain of thought becoming a barrier in your act, let it support to the extent possible.

So what's your next step?