Arjuna’s Arrow and our relationship with the skills we have

There is a story I came across recently that comes in towards the end of the Mahabharata. It's about an incident when Arjuna's arrow fails to hit its mark and the lesson that it signifies. The greatest archer of them all, facing failure. And the inference at that point is so profound it takes a lot of reflection to soak in and understand the gravity of its meaning.

It infers that we are all containers for the skills we possess. We don't own them! We facilitate their propagation. We enable the skill to find its way by flowing through us but never claim ownership over it.

Another way to look at it is that we are just storage if we don't propagate or facilitate. If we encourage its flow, we are one with the skill till it flows from us to the world. What matters is how we perceive the skills, voices, and feelings to flip the script on our perceptions. To understand that all these skills are tools for us to grow with but never ego drivers to claim as our own. Understanding that distinction is to hold our ego accountable and find our potential indeed.

So, the next time you find yourself claiming ownership over a skill you excel at, remind yourself that you are just a facilitator, not an owner of the craft. You must help it achieve its optimum result, and it in turn is allowing you to latch on for the ride.

Weekly recommendations

A list of things I consumed this week. From an unlikely and fascinating chat between Ryan Holiday & GaryVee , The intriguing Stream Labs story, a classic TED talk by Hrishikesh Hirway and an episode of the Varun Duggi show where I talk about how a lack of confidence can actually be a recipe for success.