Find your ‘State of Euphoria’

The day I got my first job in IT; I was in the state of total euphoria. I and my friends were selected together and we started to dance just outside the place where we got selected. I never left the place where I was back than for a long time and I was still in the state of euphoria. Until I found out that I have just been rotating around the same block and there are more ways to choose from, more paths, more opportunities and more aspirations. This made me realize that there is much more to do in life.

I decided that it is time and I should now choose. How do I make a choice which I will not regret few years down the line? What should be my decision? Should I consult someone or should it be my decision?

I remember a discussion with my father when I was about to choose my main subjects in school which will drive my professional carrier. I am glad I made the right decision back then. We were asked to fill in the form and drop them in school office before our next term starts. We had more than 50 days to think about this life changing decision. What I did was to play cricket all day with my friends and eat food that I still regret and fall asleep in front of the newly launched video game.

It was the last day of submissions and I had to take a decision now. I had no other option but to go to my dad for suggestion. I expected that I would have to hear a full lecture of an hour before he would help me because I wasted 50 days. Unlike what I thought he just said “Go and open all your mark sheets and find out which subject you are good at and which subject you are bad at.” I thought that is easy and so I said “So, I will choose whichever I am good at”. He smiled and said “That is the simple way. Once you find out the subject you are best at and the subject you are worst at think about whether you scored well because it was simple or because you were interested in it. Do you want your life to be simple at the beginning and challenging later or you want to challenge yourself now and make it simple later.”

That was a lot to take as a kid but I started to work on numbers first and I found out that subjects which I am not good at are not necessarily my least favourite. I choose to challenge myself with the subject I am interested in, irrespective of whether I am good at it or not.

Nearly after a decade I was in that place again, I geared up and brace myself. I knew what to do to make the change that will take me back to the ‘state of euphoria’. I didn’t waste my time in playing cricket this time, instead I planned and executed. I have learned my lesson in the past and so, I turned back and looked at my wonderful journey I had in my professional life and I made the decision. It was hard to move from a stable life but I was courageous enough to shake it to make better future.

One year back I decided to relocate from India to Australia. A new country, new people, new career, for new and better learning. I struggled and I remember everyday of struggle but I made it and today I am celebrating when I am reaching my first milestone in my new chosen life.

This situation comes in everyone’s professional life and I am just glad that I realised it at the right time and being with right people and place. The only way I thought was any choice I make should take me back to the state of euphoria and it did.

Are you in the state of euphoria or at least walking towards it? If not wake up and make a move before it is too late.