As a dedicated software engineer clocking in at least 10 hours a day, coupled with managing my household chores, I found myself yearning for a fulfilling escape from the monotony of daily life. However, I decided to take a different route — one that led me to conquer boredom and find fulfilment.
My day-to-day routine involves not only the demands of a challenging job but also the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, and maintaining my living space. Despite the apparent time crunch, I’ve managed to eliminate distractions by staying off social media platforms and messaging apps. This decision has gifted me an additional 3 to 4 hours of valuable free time every day.
So, how do I spend this newfound time? I immerse myself in the realms of knowledge & self-discovery. I read books covering diverse topics such as software engineering, spirituality, history, personal finance, and entrepreneurship. This intentional choice to feed my mind with enriching content has become a cornerstone of my daily routine that has helped me achieve several personal feat helping me head towards FIRE in an accelerated manner.
However, my ultimate sanctuary from boredom lies in the practice of meditation. Initially, it wasn’t an easy feat — my mind resisted the stillness, bombarding me with thoughts from the past, present, and future. Undeterred, I persisted and established a routine, asserting to my mind, “You are my advisor, but I am your boss!”
After six months of consistent meditation, my mind is now under control. I can sit for 48 minutes straight in front of my beloved Deity, chanting His holy name. During these moments, I allow thoughts and feelings that burden my heart to dissipate. I experience fleeting moments of enlightenment, gaining insights into my awareness, consciousness, and the true nature of our reality.
This journey has instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude for life’s blessings, fostering a desire to contribute meaningfully to the world. I’ve learned to let go of endless desires and pains, regrets, unfulfilled expectations and I find fulfilment in simple gratitude. Post-meditation, I am infused with positivity, love for everyone, expectation from no one, an ambition to make a positive impact, an appreciation for everything & everyone and an abstract understanding of life & existence.
Meditation has equipped me with the power to tolerate and analyse life’s challenges. I no longer succumb to agitation when things don’t go my way or when life poses a difficult or unpleasant situation; instead, I approach issues with a practical mindset.
I was surprised to see my calm & composed response to the unfortunate accident involving Friday, my car, last year end. I can clearly recall my nature from the past where such an incident would have been a major catastrophe for me.
Thus, whenever boredom threatens to creep in, I turn to meditation, emerging wiser and more centered from within.
श्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु |