Foster an “IDP” culture and alleviate “stress” in LIFE

Most of us go through phases in life –in the multiple facets of life : be it studies, career, family, society and so on – where there is so much time filled and enervating action; but, despite all this, there is a sense of void. And this sense of void turns into frustration and anger, to the point that, despite being happy and successful on the outside – with all the needs of life, our minds are desolate and forlorn.

This is not so much for the lack on any action, but more owing to the lack of an inner desire…. A purposeful direction, led from deep in the heart, and a self inquiry into what-is-it-we-want-to-do to be “happy, satisfied, and contended”.

Owing to societal and peer pressures, most of our lives are in a sense spent in doing the motions – being on the run to climb that corporate ladder, make that so much more money, to buy that fabulous villa, to buy that expensive sedan and what not….but with very little realization that the lack of an inner sense of purpose and direction as to what we need REALLY do.

A lack of purpose and not being driven from the heart is the primary cause for the now infamous word ‘stress’…..  And the extent to which stress has occupied our mind spaces all over are mind boggling.. all over the place, day in and day out you read about stress, see stress, hear stress… and in the process imagine more stress than that actually could be in you! And what is obnoxious is the new trend that has set in – adolescent stress, stress in youngsters and kids alike… Looks like we are consciously increasing the usage of the word, by debating again and again on the cause-effect; we should, and must alleviate the usage of the word, and its cause.

Mapping our goals, and building them into our individual development plans, working to achieve them, is one way that we could build a culture of alleviating stress.  At the outset, this may seem to be making a loud prophesy, but the fact remains that creating and individual development plan at each stage of life, only fosters a positive mindset, and creates focus that is unruffled by what happens around in the external environment.

Each one of us should work on our own Individual Development plan, that clearly articulates what changes we need to seek and make in us, be in behavioral, the kind of work we do, the kind of social impact we make, the kind of growth we intend to see year on year in our career, family and life. The link this has to bust and alleviate stress is THIS – to articulate and write down clearly a plan of this kind, will take a lot of thinking and re-thinking on what we ought to do, and ought not to do. It also will naturally bring out ways of honing our innate capabilities, as the more you want to do and achieve, you also would see what the heart leads to.

Hitches in making plans for our self can be overcome by candid discussions with a confidante we would have – this could be a spouse, a teacher, a colleague, or anyone who will know some of what we are, and at times, we would need to understand our strengths from others too!

Such a well written IDP will build in it and qualify/quantity all milestones, work-in-progress, with timelines, and even state the tangible/intangible contributions we ought to make at home, to spouse and kids, at the workplace, to the organization and to the society at large.

While the broad plan will be sacrosanct for us personally, reviews would help us make the relevant and needy course correction.  The plan should also be robust, dynamic, and potent that it will essentially serve as a tool to bring out the best in each one of us.

Following such a course of action will primarily ensure that we are left un-hassled by the rush of everyday life, and an urge to follow our own plan will make us immune from a whole lot of external environment issues and how we react to situations. For any external stimuli, good or otherwise, the response will be centered on how we are governed by the plan we have.

For ourselves apart, we should also foster the culture of having IDP’s amongst family, colleagues and anyone who is in our scheme of life.

So, are you ready with your individual development plan?!