THE CAVE YOU FEAR TO ENTER

 



“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.”

 Japanese Proverb

 

Do we all have some regrets in life? Like “If only I had not done that.”… “If only I hadn’t taken that decision.”… “If only I hadn’t worked for that person.”… “If only I hadn’t married that person..”… “If only I hadn’t invested in that Stock.”… “If only I was employed and not self-employed.”…"If only I hadn’t trusted that person so much.”… “If only I did not live at that place.”… “If only… “If only…” “If only…”

Often, we are advised not to keep any regrets in life. Yes, that’s a sane advice. However, the reality is, that we do have many regrets in life. Not having any regrets means, that we haven’t lived at all… haven’t made any mistakes… haven’t taken any wrong decisions… haven’t had any bad relationships… haven’t burnt our hands… haven’t lost any money… haven’t come across any wrong people… haven’t eaten any junk food… haven’t ignored our health… etc. etc.  etc.…

And, if we haven’t ‘committed’ these mistakes (sins) along our growth, have we grown at all? Have we learnt any valuable lessons at all? If we haven’t, how can we make amends? How can we improve?

So, ‘having regrets’ and ‘holding on to our regrets’ are two different things. Regrets come in us, because we are humans endowed with the faculty of ‘reflection’, of ‘contemplation’ and making ‘fresh choices’. This faculty is a precious gift we are endowed with… Looking back is not only inevitable, it’s very, very necessary for our personal growth.

What is avoidable and unnecessary is using our regrets to justify our inefficiencies. That cripples our wings and shunts our growth… Makes us victims and losers in life…

That’s why we are advised, so forcefully, against ‘keeping regrets’ in life… To that extent, this advice makes a lot of sense. So, let’s not take it wrongly, that our path had been perfect all along.

The hindsight in life helps for the foresight, Sir… Looking back in life helps in looking ahead…

Do our regrets come from our Fear?

I think, they do...



Some days ago, one of my friends shared with me this beautiful poem by Kahlil Gibran:




What’s happened in the past has already happened… We cannot undo it now… We cannot reverse the clock… But, as Gibran says, what’s happened has happened only to lead us to where we truly belong - that vast unknown… the Ocean!

Everything happens for our good, and everyone comes in our lives to make life only good. When we get this wisdom, our Fears dissolve… Along with them, our ‘regrets’, too…

“The cave you fear to enter,” says Joseph Campbell, “holds the treasure you seek.”

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: 1. Nav Photography 2. James Wheeler /Pixels

 

Video: The Sidturbing Element


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