Anything
worth having requires hard work, whether it’s our mind’s spiritual union with
God, our relationships, or our accomplishments. The game of life itself would
be no fun if we didn’t have to challenge ourselves to exercise our minds and
overcome maya. One of the most rewarding things that requires hard work is
overcoming fears. I’ve been reflecting a lot about the process of discomfort
that is involved when we overcome a fear.
I am
now just two weeks from being in my last year of studies. When I started off
this adventure, it was the uncomfortable process of learning how to live alone
and manage the house that has now given me lots of hilarious stories like
setting my roti on fire. At work obviously I do things daily that challenge me,
from dealing with an angry patient to sitting with the dying, or suturing a face; but I
think it’s different to be in a structured learning environment versus free-style learning in life. The greatest
depth of my learning since I’ve been in medical school has definitely been
outside of school, in my personal and spiritual growth. I am thankful for Waheguru
for sending me people in my life who challenged me, inspired me, and reminded
me that temporary discomfort is necessary to overcome fears and weaknesses. I have pushed myself very hard so that I could grow. This was only possible with the support of having people who were understanding that it takes time and practice to learn and master
anything in life. The first time we do something is never easy or comfortable,
but practice makes it so much better and easier next time. I think
one of the biggest of these personal growths was learning how to put down all
my walls, so that I could learn how to trust in the vulnerability of sharing my
feelings and life experiences. It was uncomfortable and difficult,
but really the one thing that set the stage for me to be able to deeply accept and
love myself in order to reach a realm of spiritual depth I didn’t know existed. That
was a feeling of freedom that I don’t think can ever be reversed because I
don’t remember now what it felt like to not love this much or feel this free.
Fear
gets in the way of our relationship with ourselves and ultimately, I think our
relationship with God. We are letting something in maya control us and limit us
from being able to enjoy life fully- fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of whatever. I think there is an amazing thing that happens when we learn that
even if whatever you feared came true, you would still be okay with God by your
side. Guru Ji tells us “O mind, meeting with the True One, fear departs” (Ang 18 SGG Ji), and “You are my Protector everywhere; why should I feel any fear or
anxiety?” (Ang 103). So the ultimate way in which we tackle our fears is our
connection to God. It allows us to see that our other fears aren’t real: “He
alone is fear-free, within whom the Lord abides, and who is delighted day and
night with His immaculate Name” (1041). There are people who disliked Guru Nanak
and even threw rocks at him. Guru Ji travelled on 5 Udaasis in uncertain
conditions of not knowing when he would eat and sleep. Yet through all these situations,
there was just trust and faith in God that kept him fearless and living in
bliss. I think it's worth it for all of us to both simultaneously examine how our fears are holding us back and working on our relationship with Waheguru so that we become fearless.
Congratulation on completing your classroom portion of medical school(4years).
ReplyDeleteWell done. May God bless you
clerkship /residency program starts.
Thanks,but i'm not quite done yet! I still have a year of medical school left but the hardest is over. Clerkship is actually part of medical school (year 3 and 4). It gets confused with residency for some reason :)
DeleteSorry to confuse. You have done well. I know Indian, U.K and U.S medical system and Canada seems to be the HARDEST of ALL. I know a LOT of Indian-Pakistanis etc who couldn't get into med school here have gone to the U.K, U.S or even India, came back to do their residency here and are now working in hospitals. I don't know how that is fair?
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