Djokovic is one of my favorite tennis players. His autobiography introduced me to the above-mentioned exotic, unusual Czech proverb: “When luck is smiling upon you, put stones in your shoes.” This phrase challenges conventional norms and it deeply resonates with me. It appeals to my sensibility. Of seeking discomfort as a pathway to personal and spiritual growth.

A few weeks back, I decided to run for two hours around a 400-meter race track. It wasn’t easy. My mind resisted, filling my head with a non-stop chatter. In my work with young students, I often encourage them to challenge themselves with the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer, of course, is one bite at a time. I tried to follow my own advice. I decided to run five rounds in a clockwise direction and the next five rounds the other way. And for every round, I counted the number of times I was breathing out. It might sound crazy but that’s where I connect life to the deceptively simple wisdom of the Czech proverb, put stones in your shoes.

Life is uncertain, unpredictable and inherently uncomfortable. On top of that we are wired to avoid all unpleasantness. With this background, how can we prepare for the curve balls that life is bound to throw at us from time to time. This is where seeking discomfort intentionally becomes transformative. For me, it echoes the teaching of Buddhism where all sensations – pleasant and unpleasant – are seen as transient waves. The individual is encouraged to observe all life experiences with a nonchalance. It doesn’t mean apathy but a form of detachment.

Almost all cultures have ideas around taking life as it is. It’s not nihilism or fatalism. Buddhism talks of Annica, impermanence which means that nothing is permanent and everything is changing. Taoism talks of wu-wei, aligning with nature and flowing with the life forces. In western philosophy, it is seen in stoicism. By forcing us to recognise the limited nature of our existence (and almost insignificant part), we can learn a few key lessons. It forces us to be present at every given moment and give our entire being for every action that we take.

In some strange ways, running has allowed me to appreciate the simple joys of life. I am forced to confront my own laziness, my desire to seek stimulation. The simple linear motion of one foot after another for minutes, hours challenges me to put all my might behind every step, every breath. This constant jostling between my mind and my body makes me hyper alive. For a few fleeting moments, I am in touch with myself.

So, on a new year evening, I am not wishing you inane platitudes of success, joy, happiness. I wish you yourself would put a few stones in your shoes. I wish you would go out and voluntarily seek discomfort and learning and growth. I wish you would challenge yourself and in that process make 2025 a year where all 12 months, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 seconds matter. And, you need to do that for yourself, not to make the world a better place!