Find your Yajnavalkya moment

Dear Aditya,

The other day, I found myself thinking about magic, not the kind from fairytales or that involves wands and hats, but the kind that quietly sneaks into our lives. You know, the magic that happens when you find joy in the smallest of things, a stray giggle during a serious meeting, the smell of freshly brewed chai, or even the satisfaction of finishing a particularly challenging task.

It reminds me of an old story from ancient India about a sorcerer named Yajnavalkya, known for his mastery over elements and his profound wisdom. One day, while traversing a dense forest, he came across a village in despair. The villagers told him of a peculiar tree that had begun to wither and darken the entire forest around it. Despite its haunting appearance, this tree was said to have magical properties.

Intrigued, Yajnavalkya ventured towards the tree. As he examined it closely, he noticed a small sprout struggling to grow amidst the dried leaves and twisted roots. With just a simple gesture, he drew water from a nearby stream to nourish the sprout, murmuring a few ancient words of encouragement. As he tended to the tree's youngest bud, it began to bloom, and slowly, the entire tree regained its former brilliance. The villagers stood in awe, not realizing that sometimes, all it took was a touch of attention to awaken dormant magic.

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about the power of small wins. He describes how celebrating minor accomplishments can create a positive feedback loop that propels us forward. Think of it like stoking a fire; each small twig or puff of air makes it burn a little brighter.

In the initial years of my career, I remember being part of a project team that felt like we were just stuck in a swamp. One day, out of sheer frustration, I suggested we do something wild: we gathered in the courtyard for a short game of gilli-danda. For a few minutes, we were not just a group of stressed-out professionals, we were kids again, laughing, playing, and letting go. When we returned to the drawing board, the breakthrough happened almost effortlessly.

This has stayed with me through the years. Every time I feel we are stuck, my brain wants to do something wild! Ask the students I have mentored over the years, from hitchhiking with strangers to taking a cold bath in the middle of the street to surviving a day only on bartered goods, we've done it all.

Here's to finding magic in everyday things, may we all find our dormant sprouts, one small win at a time.

In fratitude,
adi