Your wishing cannot change the Life you have

Nothing can prevent what is to happen.

The other day, at a bookstore, I chanced upon what was once my favorite book – Numerology by Harish Johari. Back then, I taught myself some basics about this science. I would keep the book handy, as a ready reckoner, and always refer to it before I took important decisions. So, the name of my erstwhile Firm (that went bankrupt: read more here, Fall Like A Rose Petal) and of all the Programs we offered were derived from a numerology guide I followed. I concluded, through trial, error, perception and fear, that numbers or names adding up to 4 or 8 were “unlucky” for me. So I did not take decisions or sign cheques on dates that added up to a 4 or 8. I avoided hiring or working with people whose names added up to a 4 or 8. I had convinced myself to believe that I must get the best “energies” to work for us. After all, I reasoned, success is all about attracting the right energies.

And then, despite my best intent, efforts, and in some cases, despite adequate “precautions”, we made a couple of strategic mistakes (which followed an ethical stance we took as entrepreneurs) that ended up running our Firm to the ground. Worse, we pushed ourselves into a big, deep, dark hole of debt and, 10 years on, we are still struggling to extricate ourselves out of it. To be sure, we went bankrupt and turned insolvent in end-2007, a situation that still menacingly holds us in its grip.

This phase led me to my most significant learning about Life. No amount of astrological perspective, numerology, Vaastu, Feng Shui, business planning, hedging risks, insuring or whatever, no amount of forecasting, preparing, planning or protecting, none of these can prevent what is to happen. Life will happen, no matter what, the way it wants to happen. Which is, what has to happen will happen – and you have to endure, go through, face, whatever comes your way. Your wishing cannot change the Life you have.

When I reflect upon this learning, I realize that Life has always been this way. There’s nothing about Life that has changed. Through stumbling, struggling, falling, believing, fearing, imagining, unlearning, relearning, re-believing, reimagining and eventually learning to face Life for what it is, I believe I have changed. I have evolved. I have awakened spiritually. My inner awareness now tells me that no matter what I want, or what I do, it is – and will be – what it is. So, the simplest, non-suffering, way to live Life is to accept what is and keep moving on.

When I set back Harish Johari’s book on the store-shelf the other day, I was brimming with joy from within. It was a typical bicycle-riding-beginner’s-look-ma-no-hands moment for me! I was delirious with delight that I didn’t need any crutch to lean on, that I don’t need any prophesies, I don’t need any reassurances; I was free! I realize now that you are happiest, despite the circumstances, when you accept yourself for the way you are and for your Life for the way it is.