Siddarth Shukla

Society pressures us to acquire vast knowledge, often without questioning its relevance or applicability to our lives. While certain areas like history, taxes, coding, laws, personal finance, car maintenance, survival skills, and social etiquette are undeniably important, much of what we learn remains unexamined. We rarely have the opportunity to view these subjects from our own perspective and verify their relevance to our personal reality.

From an early age, we attend school and university primarily to pass exams and advance to the next level. Few of us truly aim to learn and understand. Subconsciously, we absorb numerous teachings from family and societal institutions that impact our autonomy. To break free from these constraints, I recommend taking a year or some time off to travel to unconventional places. This experience allows us to encounter people with different mindsets, morals, and values, offering a fresh perspective. For those in developed countries, visiting a third-world country, and vice versa, can be particularly enlightening.

Most of us follow strict timelines set by our parents and society: high school, university, job, marriage, and children. This rigid path can leave us feeling lost, as if we are merely following a script. During transitional periods, rather than rushing forward, it is crucial to take time to reflect on what is truly important to you and what aligns with your nature. Stepping outside your status quo is challenging. It involves self-doubt, confusion, and the risk of disappointing peers and family. However, even after achieving conventional success—securing a high-paying job, buying an expensive car, attracting a desirable partner—we often find ourselves suffering psychologically, filled with fear of loss.

Both paths, adhering to or breaking from the status quo, are difficult. Yet, the former can lead to an unfulfilling life of conformity, while the latter, though challenging, offers a life of autonomy and satisfaction. True strength lies not in achieving something, but in relinquishing it. It is found in renunciation. Consider the high school valedictorian who foregoes university to start a venture, the successful man who chooses family over promiscuity, or the politician’s child who pursues humanitarian work outside politics. These individuals choose autonomy and meaningful lives over societal validation.

During transitions—high school to university, university to job, job to marriage, and marriage to parenthood—seek out and observe those who have chosen specific paths. Spend time with both married and single individuals to understand the relationships you desire. This exploration will challenge biases and help you understand yourself better. Avoid preconceived notions; your perspective on marriage or career may change.

In these periods, you catch glimpses of truth. Once employed, you may realize your university education did not prepare you adequately. In university, you may find high school was insufficient. Such realizations dismantle preconceived beliefs. Being close to those further along your desired path reveals your strengths and weaknesses, highlighting traits to develop or discard.

Luck often plays a role, placing you in situations that catalyze personal growth—a date that reveals new aspects of femininity, a job fair that clarifies market demands. During transitions, avoid overstimulating your senses with distractions. Spend time alone, travel, and observe yourself. New situations reveal what brings meaning to your life. Truth lies within, and different experiences make it apparent. By stepping aside from the status quo, you can discover a more fulfilling, autonomous life.