How impermanence can enhance our ability to enjoy things in the present moment
Back story
I joined Velotio is 2017. Velotio was still in its primary growth stages then, with me only the 36th addition.
I was assigned to a project in its early stages, right in the midst of their software restructuring phase and grappling with a challenging client. The CEO of the company overseeing the project, based in the USA, was personally collaborating with me.
Faced with ambitious requirements and goals, I found myself immediately thrust into a high-pressure situation, tasked with delivering results.
This meant constant emails, chat pings and getting on random adhoc calls with the CEO - when he needed them. My work hours stretched beyond capacity.
Difficult and complex work still has solutions, but there hardly is a solution for difficult people. He was a hardwired person, needing things to be done in a specific way. Despite my attempts to approach our disagreements logically, this was followed by an escalation email soon after.
My manager was observing the work closely, and had no concerns with how I had been running the things. He came to me and informed that there has been an escalation from the client, and that he will manage this at his end. No pressure.
Shifting gears
A few months later, the CEO then hired a product manager at his end. This PM became like an ozone layer, absorbing all the heat from the CEO himself and not letting it distract me from my work.
His vibrant personality and professionalism injected a newfound enjoyment into my work, granting me a sense of empowerment in my decisions and contributions.
When my manager inquired about my workload shortly afterward, I expressed how the dynamics had shifted positively.
However, his response was precise: "Enjoy while it lasts!" accompanied by a pat on the back.
I was confused and to be honest a little disappointed by the short response.
With the chaotic work history described above, I had anticipated a more elaborate reaction from him.
“Cmon, be a tad bit enthusiastic for me”, I couldn't help but wonder.
Returning to my desk, I resumed my tasks, yet his words lingered in my mind, leaving me puzzled.
Enlightenment
Our lives ebb and flow, and I found myself navigating turbulent waters on a personal level.
Amidst these challenges, fleeting moments of perfection brought me brief glimpses of joy and tranquility. Yet, as swiftly as they arrived, they dissipated, leaving me grappling once again with worries and anxieties.
Perhaps I was grasping too tightly, hoping for these moments to endure indefinitely, to preserve their happiness.
It was then that I confronted the stark reality of impermanence – nothing remains the same forever. Good, bad or even ugly, every situation changes.
On a particularly mundane day marked by sudden shifts, it is then that I came to understand the profound wisdom behind my manager's earlier advice: "Enjoy while it lasts."
Those words echoed in my mind with newfound clarity, resonating as I finally connected with the sentiment.
Regardless of our efforts, all good things must inevitably reach their conclusion. Rather than upsetting ourselves over the fleeting nature of these moments, why not focus on being fully present in them?
Embracing each moment wholeheartedly allows us to derive maximum joy from it.
Equally important is the ability to gracefully transition when these moments come to an end, accepting the natural flow of life.
The concept of impermanence
I am currently reading the book “The power of now” by Eckhart Tolle. This book's premise is on the importance of embracing the present moment and steering clear of the pitfalls of dwelling on the past or worrying excessively about the future.
Some excerpts from the book around the concept of impermanence:
“All conditions (and situations) are highly unstable and in a constant flux, or, impermanence is a characteristic of every condition, every situation you will ever encounter in your life.
It will change, disappear, or no longer satisfy you.”
“Nothing lasts in the dimension of good or bad. It either changes, or it may undergo a polarity shift. The same condition that was good yesterday or last year has suddenly or gradually turned into bad. The prosperity of today becomes the consumerism of tomorrow.“
My manager is quite a philosophical person himself. Perhaps by encouraging me to relish the positive work dynamics while they lasted, he was subtly highlighting the impermanent nature of our circumstances.
Parting thoughts
I've come to understand that my resistance to changing situations, my desire to cling to familiar comforts even as they shift, only has led to frustration and anguish.
Through my limited exposure to philosophy and my personal journey, I've recognized the inevitability of change – in people, in circumstances, in perspectives.
The closer we come to releasing our grip on the past and the future, the closer we come to experiencing grace, ease, and lightness in life.
Life unfolds in its own remarkable ways, often surprising us with advice or insights that have the power to transform our existence forever.
Just as I once struggled to resonate with my manager's response, I urge you to be patient with yourself and with life in general. Give time its due course.
Until then? Hold on, savour the moment, and "enjoy while things last!" because that is only real control we have on our time.
Thank you for reading. If you liked this one, you can sign-up to my website to get the updates on my new blogs in your inbox. It's FREE, and it would make me happy!
Really Nice! Expected terbulances and unexpected happyness makes the life a lot easier !
Nice one! Nothing is Permanent!!