Isn’t it ironic that we want “roses to bloom” in our lives, yet we strive to avoid the process of blooming because it is associated with accepting life’s challenges?
It seems to me that the purpose of human life is to grow. When I reflect on the moments or phases in which I have grown, I see them as times that tested me to overcome what I felt were my limitations; whether it was starting my own business venture with a lot of doubts in my abilities or moments of extreme anger in which I consciously decided not to identify with the anger. These phases had a common factor that we call “challenge”, something that is woven into the very structure of the Universe itself!
Challenges invoke the poetry of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar in me. This celebrated poet laureate beautifully encapsulates the Mahabharata in his work titled Rashmi Rathi. In the third chapter, he describes how twelve years of exile, filled with difficult trials, strengthened the Pandavas and prepared them for the upcoming battle. In a humble attempt to understand the depth of their experiences, I find solace in Dinkar’s words. In order to share my own inspiration, I translated a few verses below, knowing that my English may not convey the original poetry and subtle allusions. Therefore, I apologize in advance to the reader.
Dinkar invokes virtues such as courage, determination, and self-belief, as he believes that challenges give us the opportunity to harness and sharpen our virtues and rise to our true potential.
Tried and purified like gold in the fire,
With more courage and shine.
Here, years of exile are described as intense trials that lead to the discovery and strengthening of virtues that the Pandavas were not previously aware of. But such trials are not limited to the Pandavas alone. Don’t we all go through them every day? For some, it starts with ignoring the alarm clock, for others, it’s the unwillingness to give up pastries they know they should avoid. Our battles occur in moments of fear, discomfort, unwillingness, irritability, insecurity, including Monday blues. Morning, which torments many of us. And every time we struggle with fear, in that moment, it seems, we are faced with the greatest battle in our lives.
In such moments, it is first necessary to identify the real battles and recognize the vulnerabilities that become obstacles to becoming a better self. After that comes the need for conscious acceptance and fulfillment of the commitment to achieving a better self. For example, when we do not adhere to our New Year’s resolutions, the challenge is not only in failure but also in falling into the trap of guilt.
Dinkarji goes a step further by saying that the brave do not allow temptations to stop them.
The brave are not affected at all,
Nor do they lose patience at any moment,
Accepting obstacles,
They forge a path through the thorns.
Once these battles are recognized, it is time to be brave and courageous, to move forward and decide to fight in the battle no matter how many times we have made mistakes because true victory lies in unwavering perseverance in the fight against weakness. you, what does it mean to affirm the identity of a warrior. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the process, not the result. With persistence and patience, sooner or later we will overcome our weaknesses and defeat the enemy.
They confront everything that comes their way,
They are persistent in their efforts,
To eradicate the cause of trouble,
To conquer the root of misery.
But who is the enemy? Giving in to weakness is the enemy.
When inner voices demand relaxation, comfort, intimacy, desire for success and security, it is difficult to discern what is good and right for us, and what is just another obstacle. Through continuous observation and introspection, we purify ourselves; it is a process through which we struggle and learn to overcome our fears, the need for comfort, and our false limitations.
Gardens and forests are not the same,
Time of rest and time of war are not the same.
Rain, hurricane, and blazing sun
Are just ways of expressing courage.
What exactly happens in that process? We could refer to what tradition They call it alchemy. We shape our identity and discover our hidden strengths and virtues that we may not have been aware of, and what were once insurmountable challenges dissolve and disappear in the process.
When a person applies their strength,
Even a stone vaporizes like water.
In moments of doubt, the blanket of ignorance hides our virtues and strengths from our consciousness. We freeze and feel helpless in facing difficulties. Challenges appear larger than life, redirecting our focus to our fears instead of our inner strength.
Brilliant and clear qualities
Lie hidden within a person.
How tragic that we actually do not know our own strengths! So, we refrain from challenges out of fear of failing. Ultimately, however, in order to meet our strengths, we must be willing to ignite the candle within ourselves because:
He who does not light a candle,
Does not receive light.
The symbolism of the candle here refers to the importance of experiencing inner validation, which is necessary for full personal development. Embracing challenges and striving for progress. Without it, we miss the opportunity to get to know ourselves better. From moment to moment, from day to day, as we try to shed light on the true causes of our doubts and fears, we fuel the fire within ourselves and grow in wisdom.
If we want to ride through nature, let us bloom like flowers and become part of the energy and life that manifest all around us. In doing so, accepting difficulties and challenges becomes an obvious choice. This way, we will always see difficulties and challenges as opportunities. I leave these lines as a call to action:
Who becomes the master of the earth?
Who subdues kingdoms?
Who bathes in unimaginable glory?
Who establishes the path of Truth?
The one who does not rest,
They gain glory by facing challenges.