When I was a student, I walked through my life with just a goal of passing my exams and scoring good marks. I have always gone with the flow wherever it took me. As a student, I used to think that this approach was good, but now that I am working as a teacher, I realise that even though I get by the day and complete all the tasks given to me, I don’t actually feel like I am progressing or going somewhere. I feel very stagnant even though I have completed three years here.
If, perhaps I even consider changing my route, I don’t know what it would be. I feel like I should have something in mind so I know what step to take next. I don’t know if I want to even continue with Linguistics or maybe gradually shift to music, which used to be my goal when I was very little. I’ve just been walking blindly since forever, and it feels like I’m empty. I have no opinions about a lot of things, even where it is required of me to have one.
I want to know, Alokda, is it necessary to have a certain goal in mind for how one wants to go through one’s life, or should one not have it at all? Would that also even be the right question to ask? I don’t know. I feel very lost. Please help me.
It is very important to have a goal. Without a goal, our life moves by the drift of waves, which is what is meant by going by the flow. It means letting life carry us unthinkingly to whatsoever direction it carries us. But human beings must choose consciously and this is only possible if they have a goal towards which they should move. In fact, the quality of our life depends upon our goal.
The goal is embedded in our inmost heart. It is the original programming of the Divine in us. It helps tremendously to become conscious of this. Our temperament and innate interests give us hints about it. If you enjoy music and have a natural interest in it, then to go deep and high through music may well be a wonderful thing to pursue. But it shouldn’t be just a passing interest. One has to learn to hold on to, pursue in earnest, be dedicated and sincere in whatever one is doing, literally turn it into a worship to get the best and the most through the pursuit, whatever it may be.
I may add that what most people call as a goal is not a goal but some kind of a desire or an ambition. Goal is something that springs from the heart and when it emerges, then one is finished. There are no further questions to ask or answer. Until that happens, we should take up an activity that makes the highest and best use of our temperament as well as our faculties and capacities.
Affectionately
Alok Da
