Over the years, I have picked up a crucial skill – observation. Infants observe their surroundings and learn from it. Be it people, things or experiences. As they grow into toddlers, the learning grows stronger. But as the child grows, observation seems to grow inversely proportional to learning. The power of words supersedes actions and gestures. However, the subconscious that grew up learning from observation is still alive somewhere within us. Add to it, gadgets, television, addictions, etc. And the nascent power of observation, and in turn the collective intelligence that our bodies have cultivated over a period of time, also known as the gut feeling, starts to take a back seat.

But it is this observation that is more important than the words we trust. It is our gut feeling that is always right. We have a choice, whether to let it grow or to surpress it. I have experienced benefits of that little voice in my head. As long as you can stay calm, obsevation is your natural tendency. But chaos and clutter hamper its growth. Ever been in a situation when you felt highly stressed out because you needed to make a decision where stakes were high? But your mind felt even more confused? Turns out, you had the answer. The only pre-condition was staying calm. As one lets this observation grow, the next step is the highest form of observation. One, where you are able to observe yourself – your thoughts and actions as though you were a third person. This kind of observation helps build awareness. This observation needs an even deeper state of calmness. Meditation can help it grow. As you start to observe your thoughts and actions, it becomes easier to undserstand yourself devoid of your identity or a set of boundaries and adjectives you may have associated with yourself.

The best part is, this observation helps to understand that we are all work in progress. That we are constantly changing and so is everyone else. And yet, somewhere in the subconscious, we have repeatedly conveyed to our brain what our identity is. The minute we understand how fluid this concept of identity is, we become free from the burden of acting as per our definition of the self. And life becomes an exploration. The will to embrace oneself with every change while constantly observing it like an outsider helps one bounce back quicker from failures. Because as an outsider you are not the failure. Failing is merely an event.

P.S. Observation is a great skill. We must cultivate it in order to blossom in the space of personal growth. And when one is content and calm on the inside, everything in the outer world runs with ease.