Our expectations from life are
so full of contradictions! Our nature is so dichotomous! Our habits are so
uneven. At times, we want life to be full of adventure, replete with pleasant
surprises, catching us unawares like a cute child hidden behind a curtain who
startles us by suddenly jumping in front of us. At other times, we want our
lives to be as predictable and certain as day following night and seasons
changing in the same rhythm over the course of its immortal existence. These
inherent contradictions in our expectations create a tug of war between the
contradictory expectations of our heart that are at daggers with each other all
the time.
In the backdrop of certain and
static patterns of life, why do we chase uncertainty? The fact of birth and death is certain! The
fact of ageing is certain! The fact of the cycle of gain and loss; joy and
sorrow, success and failure, are nothing but the most unchangeable and
predictable parameters of existence. Does that make us chase uncertainty? Is it
because there is too much of certainty in the larger schemes of thing? Is it
because we subconsciously feel that destiny or providence has given us a fixed
frame of reference and we have little choice but to act and behave and choose
within that frame of reference. Is this the reason why in certain corner of our
heart we constantly endeavour to break ourselves free of this presumably
monotonous existence? Is the charm and
craving for uncertainty and adventure nothing but a subconscious revolt against
providence? Is it an attempt to break ourselves loose from the clutches of
cyclic patterns of our existence? Do we chase uncertainty in the vain attempt
of giving a new interpretation to the predictable patterns of the universe? Why
do we seek entertainment? Why do we love to travel? Why do we like reading
books, watching movies, seeing plays that are full of twists and turns? Why do
we leave a well-paying job at regular interval and take up new job which
becomes equally monotonous after a point of time? Why do we seek new relationships?
Why do we yearn for thrill and passion in our romantic relationships as against
peace and certainty? This is for the simple reason that human soul feels like a
caged bird that is forced to flutter within the four corners of its caged
existence. We end up reducing human life to an endless attempt at escaping this
supposedly caged existence. In our attempt at chasing uncertainty, we more
often than not fail to discover the true meaning of our existence. We fail to
delve into the deeper beings and discover the truth behind our existence. We try breaking the imaginary circle of
certainty and end up getting entrenched in the circle of illusions and
disappointment. The ceaseless pursuit of uncertainty leads to the spinning of
the web of sorrow.
On the other hand, more often
than not, when things become unpredictable and uncertain, we crave and yearn
for predictability and certainty. When the ceaseless cycle of hard
circumstances assumes the dimension of a monstrous wave and whirls us back and
forth against the pain of rock; all that we care for, all that we want like a
lost child is the predictable and certain circumstances that has the effect of
the peace and comfort of the bosom of
mother! Why do we search our future in the stars? Why do we chase astrologers?
Why do we read a person’s star sign either prior to or after meeting that
person? Many a times, we like to be with the same set of people socially and
professionally; we continue with the same job for years together, we follow the
same transport route year after year, we follow the same routine, watch the
same sitcoms, wear similar costumes without really experimenting with the
latest fashion, celebrate the same occasions, visit the same holiday
destination and end up behaving like a still water body which ends up rotting
over the course of time. We fear change
and we consequently avoid uncertainty and adventure and we end up becoming our
sworn enemy and our certain and boring existence haunts us every waking moment
of our life!
Why do we oscillate between
clinging on to certainty and uncertainty?
Is it the consequence of the failure of human nature to accept what life
offers or is it the outcome of the tumultuous nature of our expectations? In
the process of giving our own interpretation to the life’s experiences; are we
missing the larger picture? Are we failing to understand the lessons that the
cyclic nature of certainty and uncertainty has to offer by interpreting it from
our frame of reference and clinging on to it to our larger disadvantage?
Are there any certain answers
to the above question? Do we seek any certain answers to it? If you do have any answers, do share your
thoughts!
