A dear friend of mine and I were navigating through a transaction, and I said to him jokingly that this seems never-ending – as we deal with one thing, another one crops up. He smiled and said something profound that not only gave me perspective, but has also stayed as a guiding principle. He said that in Punjabi, there is a saying – ‘Ik muthi chukk le, te dooji tayar’ (Lift one handful and keep the other ready); as soon as you deal with one problem, be prepared for the next.

Where there is an ocean, there will be waves; where there is a road, there will be bends; where there is life, there will be challenges. Reflecting on the fact that challenges are nothing more than a string of experiences that define our journey, it not only helps us cope better, but it also helps us to be light-hearted in the heaviest situations.

These experiences come for a purpose – guiding our external direction and also developing our inner growth. When we see the hidden reason behind what otherwise seems like a problem, we develop gratitude and resilience, knowing that this is but a stepping stone for a better future.

Over time, we start recognising and appreciating the cause-effect relationships in life. Often, what we are going through may well be a result of our own earlier action catching up with us. Remembering this builds awareness and responsibility, to be mindful and measured, knowing that we hold the precious future in our own hands.

In the midst of our challenges, our thinking often gets clouded, and we forget the fundamental principle of life – our ability to solve a problem is always bigger than the problem. As challenges sort themselves out, we start building faith and optimism that there exists a way out; we just need to find it.

In school, we were regularly tested to help us improve and develop. School days may be over, but the school of life will continue testing us for our own good. The only way we can enjoy our journey and smile through challenges is if we are ever ready, ever aware, and ever balanced, ready to face the next, and always remind ourselves of the simple yet powerful thought – ‘Ik muthi chukk le, te dooji tayar.’

(Pic – Monachil, Granada – Spain)