Growing Beyond The Syllabus In Life

Growing Beyond The Syllabus In Life

Ever wake up, look at your life, and feel like you are just following the instructions on a cooking recipe? Not going to lie but I have felt this many times. But, there is nothing wrong with that. We are humans, bound to get bored.

That’s what we call the ‘Life Syllabus’. And guess what? It’s time to toss that old recipe out the window! On that note, I wish we never had a school which introduced us to the word syllabus and society as our tutor.

 

Understanding the ‘Life Syllabus’

This life syllabus, just like our grandmother’s secret pickle recipe, has been passed down from generation to generation. The steps seem simple: get a good education, secure a good job, and strive for a picket-fenced house. But what happens when we want to cook up something different in life?

Take Keyura, my college-mate for instance, an accomplished ex-banker, living a ‘successful’ life by societal standards. But peel back the surface and you find an unfulfilled soul dreaming of dancing, singing and deep desire to get back to corporate life. What’s her secret recipe, you ask? It’s simple – she couldn’t venture beyond the ‘life syllabus’ due to some circumstances. Now, that’s food for thought.

Every time we have a small conversation, I always try to uplift her to pursue it, because that out of syllabus thing makes her happy. But if the syllabus isn’t fulfilling us, what can we do? This leads us to a concept that’s as surprising as it is liberating: unlearning.

 

The Power of Unlearning

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school,” Albert Einstein once said. Well, Mr. Einstein was onto something.

I imagined myself standing in the library where the shelves are filled with books titled ‘Traditions,’ ‘Norms,’ ‘Rules.’ I have read these books cover to cover. They are familiar, comfortable. But what if I venture into the unexplored aisles? Pick up a book that challenges me, makes me question my preconceived notions? That’s unlearning. The courage to reach for the unfamiliar book. It’s called ‘unlearning’.

Unlearning creates room for possibilities, room for us to redefine success on our terms. Now, that’s a liberating thought, right? The art of unlearning, in essence, is about personal growth. It’s about growing beyond the ‘Life Syllabus’, beyond inherited maps.

In an age where information is abundant, the ability to unlearn and relearn is perhaps the most vital skill for the future. Unlearning is more than a trend; it’s a lifelong process that equips us with the resilience and agility needed in an ever-changing world. Think about it and let me know before I cover the next chapter of mastering uncertainties of life.

 

Mastering Life’s Uncertainties

Let’s get real – life is unpredictable. And hey, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The real fun begins when the script ends. Because let’s face it, life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. I am the kind of person who loves to pre-plan things and when it doesn’t go as planned…. Do you even want me to explain it? You have already guessed the extent of disappointment.

You can predict weather but not people. That’s life – an unplanned party. It’s about rolling with the punches and learning to dance in the rain. It’s about enjoying the roller-coaster ride, even if it means screaming your lungs out at times. I have recently started to do scary things so you know where it is coming from.

Sure, the unknown is scary. It feels like standing at the edge of a cliff, not knowing what’s below. But remember, the best views come after the hardest climbs, as they always said.

Mistakes will be made, and plans will go haywire. But guess what? That’s where the best lessons are learned.

So, the next time you are handed a ‘surprise test’ by life, smile back. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being brave enough to question, to explore, to grow. You will need tools for building your own life syllabus, right? Let’s explore it.

 

Tools for Building Your Own Life Syllabus

So, how do you craft this unique life syllabus? It’s really simple. Start with a fresh page and fill it with a growth mindset, value experiences over trophies, and be as resilient as a weed growing through the cracks of a sidewalk. I have had enough failures in my life. Maybe a 2000 word blog would fall short to share it all but here’s cheers to the every fresh page that I started off with.

We are not building a rocket ship here! Instead, we are chiseling out our unique path, one where we are not just surviving, but truly living. As Bruce Lee said, “Be like water, my friend.” On the contrary, excess water causes floods. Which means we have to see to the challenges of living life outside the syllabus.

 

Challenges of Living Outside the Syllabus

No, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Expect storms. Expect people to question your new path. You might even question yourself at times. But remember, the tallest trees face the strongest winds.

The secret ingredient to living beyond the syllabus is authenticity. I haven’t run away from whatever questions people had about my life, career or whatsoever. We must be well aware of the fact that to whom we are answerable.

So, buckle up, be you, and remember, it’s okay to take the scenic route sometimes.

 

Conclusion: Life Beyond the Syllabus

In the great classroom of life, there is no final exam, no syllabus, and certainly no grading curve. Growing beyond the syllabus isn’t a luxury; it’s the core curriculum. We unlearn old lessons, scribble in the margins, and sometimes even toss the textbook out the window. It’s through this continuous process of revising, rewriting, and rediscovering that we truly learn to live.

So, don’t just stick to the syllabus; venture into the elective subjects of curiosity, empathy, and resilience. After all, life’s most valuable lessons won’t be found on a standardized test but in the uncharted territories of the heart and mind. Consider it extra credit in the course of becoming your best self. Class dismissed!