Two things I love, racquet sports (now paddle sports too) and photography. These are two things that add a lot of meaning to my life.
As we prepare to face the daily volley of life's events, emotions, and challenges, do we react impulsively to everything that comes our way, or do we take a moment to decide where to focus our energy?
Sports: Predict, Pause, and Play
Picture this: You're on a badminton court. The shuttle zooms towards you. If you dash thoughtlessly and swing without strategy, chances are you'll either miss or make an ineffective shot. However, if you predict its trajectory, pause momentarily, and then execute your shot, you're likely to play a winning stroke.
The world of sports beautifully illustrates the importance of the pause in our lives. Just as a player doesn't blindly chase the shuttle, we shouldn't impulsively react to every situation or emotion. It's about understanding the situation, taking a moment to gauge it, and then making a calculated move.
Life Through the Photographer's Lens: Anticipate the Moment
If sports teach us the importance of the pause, photography underscores the value of anticipation. A good photographer doesn't simply click away, hoping to capture a stunning image. Instead, they observe, anticipate the perfect moment, and then, with precision, capture it.In life, this means not merely reacting to what's unfolding before us, but understanding and predicting patterns, waiting for the right moment to respond or make a move. It's about being in tune with our environment and our inner self and recognizing when the time is ripe.
Deciding What's Worth Your Energy
Whether you're rallying in a match or framing a shot through a camera's viewfinder, the principle remains: what you engage with is what you empower.If we engage impulsively with every emotion or situation, we end up exhausted and may miss out on what truly matters. But by practising the pause, we can decide which moments, feelings, or challenges are worth our energy. This not only helps us conserve energy but also ensures that we empower the right aspects of our lives.
Life, according to me, requires a blend of prediction, patience, and purpose. Like the badminton player awaiting the next shot, or the photographer predicting the bird's next move, we too must practise the pause, anticipate our next step, and engage with what truly empowers us.
Simple but not easy and maybe that is why these thoughts in the morning caught my fancy.
Practise the Pause.