Extremists are people whose way of thinking is different from a general status quo. Most of the time it is contrary to the existing line of accepted notions.
There are phases in such lives when nothing seems to matter. No words, no abhorrence, no negligence and no wounds stop them from doing what they want to do. And there are times when nothing stops them from doing absolutely nothing.
These are two extremes of the 'same' pole.
I think, it takes lesser time to cross over
from one extreme to another than to move from somewhere around the middle to
the top. Stories of absolute louts, college dropouts making it big in life are not uncommon. These people exist at the extremes of the pole.
For the ones who are at the center of the pole, the price they have
to pay for, either the joy of achieving something or completely failing, over overcoming inertia is way too
large; something that does not fit into their cloister of mediocrity.
They live by the rules, always accepted, always 'correct', always safe!
The scenario is quite different for the extremists; they
walk a really tight rope; a foot here and a hand there and they are already in
the midst of a free fall.
First, they are the subject of intense scrutiny.
A foot wrong and they are martyrs. Second, they are victims of an ongoing
battle with self for something called ‘Perfectionism’ which is more of a necessity than a choice. It is probably more of a necessary evil(?) as it goes hand in hand with being an extremist.
Perfection in the way of thinking, in the way of living and most importantly perfection in being themselves (A big task! The ones who have tried will know). The obsession of being
the best and different from the milieu always comes at a
price. For if they achieve a goal it is ‘their’ ‘God given gift’; their intelligence that carried them through. Imagine a scenario of a total failure;
fight the world, build a dream, work your ass off, always walk a tight rope and
lose your balance just short of the destination (Alas!). But that came as part of the package you chose when you decide to be on the sides than in the middle.
In adherence to the tried, tested and up till now
trusted modes of living lies the secret of their success. The mistake that most
people make in times of failure is a sudden shift of
focus.For once, they get pulled into their own cloister of mediocrity. Self respect becomes narcissism; the ideals of living now seem ‘Utopian’
and the philosophy of ‘Hope never dies’ changes to nihilism. This shift of
direction from self help to sadism, probably delays the success does not steal
it because success, I think, is bred at birth. It is inculcated in your system,
in your subconscious without your conscious knowledge of it. Analogically, someone who is accustomed (destined) to live on the extremes would find it too difficult to exist in a monochromatic life.
At this life defining moment in your life, your clairvoyance,
conscience, senses and thoughts converge to create a deadly combination called
motivation(more of an obsession) to push you towards a goal; you were born to achieve.
Sadism for self becomes masochism of the society, narcissism becomes opprobrium and utopianism breeds values; already imbibed in
your subconscious. It is just that you should be opportune enough to realize an
opportunity; a circumstance at the earliest ; even if you are late, you are
destined to reach your destination; if not then, then sometime later. The point is to hang in there with your structure intact.
Now, what's the point in trying when success as I say 'is bred at birth'?
You do not know whether it was bred at 'your' birth!
