The Art of Not Giving Up

1. The Moving Tree

Once there was a little tree that looked around and saw the other, bigger trees.

“They all look taller than me,” thought the little tree to himself.

He thought it was the soil’s fault. So he lifted up his roots and moved over to the part of the garden which he thought had better soil.

A few weeks later the little tree looked up again. The other trees were growing and he was still no bigger.

He blamed the lack of sunlight and moved to a sunnier spot.

Time and again, the little tree found reasons for his not growing. He moved from point to point, always picking up his roots. Always moving. Always searching for the right soil, water, fertiliser, sunshine and other more favourable conditions.

And he stayed stunted.

The other trees stayed in one place and built strong roots. Their barks grew solid. Their branches soared.

And the little tree stayed little.

Moral: Stay where you are. Learn what you need to. Move upward. Not sideward.

“Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there.” - Josh Billings

2. The Common Thread that Binds Geniuses

The late Irving Stone wrote biographies of men such as Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Sigmund Freud, and Charles Darwin. Stone was once asked if he had found a common thread that runs through the lives of exceptional people. He said:

“They are beaten over the head, knocked down, vilified, and for years they get nowhere. But every time they’re knocked down they stand up. You cannot destroy these people….”

3. The Story of Ravana

Ravana - the 10 Headed Demon. How did he win the power of invincibility?

The ancient Indian epic Ramayana tells us the story of the rise of the demon Ravana. After his initial training, Ravana set out to please the creator of the universe - Lord Brahma.

He meditated for several years. The power of his silent meditation was such that even the gods grew afraid. They tried to interrupt his chanting of Brahma’s name. Agni, the fire god, surrounded Ravana with hot flames in the middle of summer. Indra lashed him with killing rains. But even the harshest of nature could not move Ravana from his place and purpose.

In time, Lord Brahma appeared to Ravana and the ambitious demon demanded invincibility. His wish was granted.

The Impossible Demon Mentality

Ravana was one of the wiser rakshasas (demons). But Hindu mythology tells many tales of demons who have dominated the world. They are hateful and obsessed with vengence. They fume over egos and nurture enemities. They set out to conquer the world to make their point.

Demons have never really been known for their tact or intelligence. In fact, the one prominent reason for demonkind’s frequent downfall has been their adamant opposition to sense and reason.

They are not particularly deserving of power and responsibility. Often, they are far from virtuous. Even when it comes to serving their fellow mortal races, they leave a lot to be desired. Are they devoted then? So devoted to God that their wishes can not go unnoticed? Sometimes yes, but more often than not, demons have nothing more on their minds than their goal.

How then, do they do it? How does a dumb, angry, unreasonable brute get to a point where men and gods with vastly superior resources bow to his will?

Determination. Sheer bullheaded refusal to accept defeat. Ignorance of supposedly impossible things.

Demons don’t know when to quit. Their sheer adamancy gets them what they want. And for all that’s made of their lacks, they understand one thing that escapes mortals and immortals alike. If you know what you want and stay focused on it, even the gods can’t refuse you your dream.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
- Calvin Coolidge (Former US President)

The above post is written by the prolific writer Vijayendra Mohanty.

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Comment by chetthaker

2008-05-22 15:50:52

Thanks for the Moving Tree. It’s very true and personally it has worked for me having worked for the same company for almost 13 years. Many people say you should change companies around every 5 years but why? If your career is progressing well and you are happy where you are it’s better to grow where you are that trying to get ahead by changing around all the time. My 2 paise’s worth

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Comment by Vijayendra Mohanty

2008-05-24 20:36:21

Thanks chetthaker!

The thing is to do what gives you joy (almost a cliche these days). If staying on and growing does it for you, then that’s what you should do. If seeking what gives you joy is your thing, then by all means do that too.

We miss the point when we say one or the other is the solution. This post was about the value of sticking to your purpose. A seeker may lose patience and give in to the temptation of a permanent job too.

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Comment by Britt Malka

2008-05-22 18:17:16

I carry my roots with me and move very much. It’s been many years (12) since I quit my dayjob. Since then I’ve been living different places in Denmark and different places in France. But that’s the way I like it, and that’s the way I accomplish the most, but not having moss growing on me.

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Comment by Ankesh Kothari

2008-05-22 18:38:35

Hi Britt,

Thanks for making a good point. Although the above post is not written by me, let me answer your comment.

I think the moving tree story’s moral is symbolic in nature. It has nothing against traveling and living in different locations. (I personally am a big fan of PT (perpetual traveler) lifestyle.)

It has to do with not finishing things. Not persevering.

And getting distracted by what others are doing.

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Comment by Cameron Schaefer

2008-05-24 20:01:16

You tackle a very important point in the story of the moving tree. Our generation more than any before has been told from childhood that each of us has the opportunity to change the world, that we are special and can do amazing things.

I’m not necessarily disagreeing with this preposition, but I believe it has had a dangerous side effect. Many young adults put forth sub-par effort in their current jobs because they believe that it’s just a small holding pattern until their “true calling,” when they will rise up and change the world. They miss thousands of opportunities to excel each day as they gaze ahead to their “one moment in time.” It’s as my friend Glenn says, “shooting the moon, but missing the stars.”

Thus, just like the tree they jump from job to job in a desperate effort to construct the perfect world-changing environment rather than realizing that true change takes place in the small details in life…small decisions made well over a long period of time. They never grow the roots required to become a big tree.

Great post!

-Cameron

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Comment by Vijayendra Mohanty

2008-05-24 20:39:13

Hi Cameron!

As Ankesh said above, it is about sticking, and sticking hard. Those who look for that ‘one true calling’ need to discover it through hard mistakes.

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Comment by Tomi

2008-06-01 06:20:50

I suppose the post could be seen as a warning as well…

Like Britt (above) I think I’ll move a lot when I’m older.

I think I’ll interpret in a way that you can’t fully experience something till you stick with it.

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Comment by Vijayendra Mohanty

2008-06-01 23:40:09

Everything here is yours to interpret. I know seasoned professionals who take months-long breaks to just travel and regain their perspective on life. Good luck!

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Comment by Anupam

2008-06-02 13:12:21

Certainly !

Watching others and trying to be one of them is no good unless they inspire you to be someone who inhibits divine virtues.
We are taught to look at the downtrodden when we try to get monetary gains but look for the more intelligent people than yourself, when you aim at achieving knowledge and wisdom.
I think I have made myself clear.

However, contradicting the above statement, if we content ourselves with what we have, we rather stay than try to progress.

We must be intelligent in a way that we know what we should adopt from others and what we should not, because unless and until we do not adapt and adopt, we tend to stay at the same point from where we began.

Isn’t it?

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Comment by Vijayendra Mohanty

2008-06-02 13:38:16

Of course.

A great part of the stick-to-it theory involves sticking to the right thing.

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Comment by Anupam

2008-06-04 21:48:52

Who decides what is right and what is not?

Is it the society which considered Sati as a rightful practice and continues to perform similar practices even today be it in the urban or remote sections of the society in one or the other form?
Or Is it our mind that says something else and does another. It teaches us to work towards success using logics and practical tacts, no matter how much pain that brings to the people related?
Or Is it our heart, that does not allow us to go on and progress because we emote and bend to sacrifice our own happiness for someone who takes us for granted?
Indeed this heart is always caught up in an unending dilemma.
Or Is it our holy book, that considers woman and animal as equal and advocate to treat them equally?

A theft is a justified act for a thief who steals to feed his widowed mother but wrong for the family being robbed, which has no one to look after.

Who decides what is wrong and what is not?
The God, who never replies back directly and we misinterpret his words?

Who will decide, I ask…?

(Comments wont nest below this level)

Comment by Ankesh Kothari

2008-06-07 12:52:36

Thanks Anupam for that rant and taking the comments to another tangent.

The mighty in the society decide what is right and what is wrong for the society. Just as parents decide what is wrong and what is right for their small kid.

But each person has his own internal radar too.

“The Sailor cannot see the North, but knows the Needle can.” - Emily Dickinson

You have to trust your needle - your instincts. You need to follow your own internal needle and not buck under peer pressure.

Do You have the guts and the tenacity to stick to your principles and follow your instincts even if they go against the thread of your place of work / society / religion?

 

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Comment by Locjan

2008-06-30 03:08:03

i like the moving tree. if you see on the night effect it would be scare people

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