warikoo Wanderings
You can share this newsletter on WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn or view it on the web.
I have introduced a new section in the newsletter called "picture of the week", which is the last section in the email. Do remember to check it out :)
COURAGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY OF ALL
You know why?
Because it guarantees the other qualities.
You want to be honest?
It will require courage.
You want to be fearless?
It will require courage.
You want to have integrity?
It will require courage.
You want to be loyal?
It will require courage.
You want to be disciplined?
It will require courage.
But the question is - where does courage come from?
If it really is what solves for most other things, then all energy should be focused on building courage itself, no?
A lot of people suggest that courage gets built when people do not have any options.
Our best emerges when we have no choice, but to fight.
Our best emerges when we have pushed to our limits and have no way to escape.
It sounds lovely, isn't it?
Reminds us to superhero stories - and we imagine ourselves in that arena.
Faced with bad guys around us, and we rise to the occasion. When no one expects us to.
And we fight like a warrior we didn't know existed within ourselves.
How lovely!
BUT -
Intensely hard to build.
I don't want to be courageous only when I am surrounded by bad guys.
I want to be courageous EVERY waking moment of my life.
I want to make courage a part of my identity.
And if I have to do that, I need to build courage.
Through practice.
Through a process.
Here is what I think builds courage.
Choices!
Sorry, what?
Yeah - you heard me right.
Choices!
The EXACT opposite, of finding yourself with no choices.
You see - the human mind is perpetually scared.
Scared of failing, scared of being judged, scared of rejection, scared of misery.
And if we operate with that fear, we cannot expect to develop courage.
To develop courage, we have to rid ourselves of our fears.
And the best way to rid ourselves of our fears, is to have choices in life.
The day we have choices, we have the courage to face what we should face.
Because we now know, that even if we fail, we will survive!
We will have options.
10 CHALLENGES FOR YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL
On this week's podcast, I spoke about 10 challenges that you can pick up that could transform your life.
Reading, public speaking, waking up early. And more :)
Give it a listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, JioSaavn or Gaana.
BOOK I AM READING THIS WEEK
On the recommendation of a friend, I picked up
Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption and Vengeance in Today's China
Fascinating book. Such a gripping true-story of how business is done in China and the ramifications of being "too successful".
If you love real-life thrillers, this is a book to pick.
QUOTES TO SHARE
Passion, when devoid of action, is not passion. It is day dreaming!
(Share on Twitter)
Anyone who makes you believe that you are stuck and helpless, is your enemy.
That enemy could be you yourself!
(Share on Twitter)
Your feedback should help people win. Else it is just criticism.
(Share on Twitter)
Opportunities don't happen. You create them!
(Share on Twitter)
We continue to cling on to what we have. And are scared to let go.
Because we do not know how to get it again!
(Share on Twitter)
RESPONSES FOR LAST WEEK'S QUESTION
Last week, I asked you:
Do you like reading books?
- Yes, mostly fiction
- Yes, mostly non-fiction
- No, I read online
- I don't like reading anything
Here are the results:
Some observations:
- Consistently, only a few percentage of my subscribers do not read.
- Non-fiction consistently grows up, as fiction goes down, with age. Very interesting. Perhaps because life mein waise hi itna drama hai :))
- Reading online is not a significant share in any age band.
This means, my first book will have to be non-fiction! Hmmmm :)))
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION
I personally feel that the newsletter has gotten really long lately and I want to trim down a few portions. Hence this week's question. Please do respond, won't take more than 5 seconds.
Which section would you DELETE from this newsletter, if you were forced to delete one?
- The main topic section
- Podcast section
- Book I am reading this week
- Quotes
- Last week's responses
- This week's question
- Content I shared
- Picture of the week
Click here to let me know your answer (anonymously)
You can, of course, always write to me, by simply replying to this newsletter.
I love reading all your emails, even though I may not be able to reply to them all.
Yes! I READ ALL MY EMAILS. ALL OF THEM.
(Sardiyon mein paneer momos ki kasam!)
CONTENT I SHARED THIS WEEK
15 Online courses for a better career (YouTube)
Stock market fall - should you worry? (YouTube)
How most parents make it hard for kids (LinkedIn)
Where most of us love to go for vacation (LinkedIn)
3 Skills for your 20s (Reel)
3 Secrets to unlocking opportunities (Reel)
The ONLY thing you have is Time (IGTV)
Don't attach to an identity so early in life (IGTV)
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Once you hit 1 Million subscribers on YouTube, they send you a gold-plated play button. I put that up on my office wall this week. Here is the picture :)
You can share this newsletter on WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn or view it on the web.