Calling out to all those leaders who have achieved all their goals in life. Giving you a round of applause for making it to the top. What now?
You know how reporters ask a celebrity actor, “You’ve done all kinds of movies that have turned out to be blockbusters. What’s next on your list?”
Imagine a celebrity actor who has succeeded in playing all the kinds of roles he or she has ever wanted to play. It’s been five decades and now is asked by a reporter about what they plan to do next. What do you think would be their response? It could be anything like going on a long trip around the world, taking up a new hobby, or even doing nothing – just relaxing at their beach house in some foreign country.
But what if I told you that a journey ends for a new journey to begin? In life, we are taught to keep moving, and never stop. But moving till when and why do we need to keep moving? What is the purpose of this movement?
Albert Einstein’s famous quote about life being like riding a bicycle has a profound truth: to maintain balance and progress, we must keep moving forward.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”
~Albert Einstein
This concept, though often associated with striving for worldly achievements, extends far beyond material success. It’s about a continuous journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.
Einstein’s bicycle analogy highlights the importance of momentum and continuous progress in life. Just as a cyclist maintains balance by pedaling, we must keep moving forward to achieve awakening. So, this concept goes beyond achieving worldly success.
Joyce Meyers was once asked sometime around when she reached 80 years of age about when she would retire. She said she wants to continue doing what she does till she breathes her last. If there’s something you want to do till the very end because you know it’s something that piques your soul’s interest and touches a higher purpose, sparks your spiritual passion, it is your awakening.
Even the Heart Sutra in the Buddhist text echoes the sentiment of constant movement. Its mantra, “keep moving, keep moving’ or “Gone, Gone, Everyone Gone to The Other Shore, Awakening, Svaha.” Suggests that the ultimate goal of life is not merely achievement but enlightenment.
Swami Vivekananda’s call to action
Swami Vivekananda, a renowned spiritual leader, emphasized the importance of continuous effort and perseverance. His quote “Arise, Awake, and Stop not till the goal is reached,” urges us to strive relentlessly toward our ultimate goal.
While achieving life’s goals is undoubtedly significant, it’s not the end of the journey. True fulfillment lies in the pursuit of awakening. Even after attaining material success, we must continue to evolve and grow as individuals.
I once met a man who had achieved great success in his life. Yet, he felt a void and a sense of emptiness. When I shared the concept of continuous movement and the pursuit of awakening, he was intrigued. It was a revelation for him, and he began to explore new avenues of personal growth.
Life is a journey, not a destination. Even after reaching our goals, the journey continues. The true purpose of life lies in the pursuit of awakening and spiritual enlightenment. By embracing the concept of continuous movement and progress, we can find true fulfillment and meaning in our lives.
