The very intention of the title is to ascertain the fact that an assault, be it of any kind, proves fatal if it affects the mind i.e., the inner- self. The word “rape” has become an oft- heard and repeated term. Earlier, the very aversion to this word restricted people from using it in public. But today, it has been reduced to the status of everyday crimes like petty thefts or burglary. But still “rape” persists to be one of the most brutal and inhuman crimes to be done to anybody.

Therefore, it looks quite appropriate to make use of this term and take it to another level to represent the crimes against the minds. To demean and diminish the power of the minds is a serious form of mental rape in itself. The current generation is often ridiculed for their liberal thoughts, open- mindedness and impromptu actions. It is true to an extent that his generation is more reckless and disturbed than the older generations. Also, the degree of tolerance has rendered an uneven graph when it comes to this so called “new generation.” At the same time, this generation is comprised of people with great energy at varying levels and their actions can prove productive if this energy is channeled in the right way.

Before severe indictments are made on this generation, one must remember the fact that they live in a transition age and a century shift, where changes in different aspects of the society have become a recurring scenario. They stand as prime witnesses and experiences the pros and cons of such changes. Such a state of being arouses feelings of internal conflicts, perplexity, anguish and the inability to cope with the resulting variations. Various recent movements and revolutions in different arenas- ranging from something very individualistic like, marriage to something like the LGBT and Feminist movements which concerns a larger section of the society- can trigger the rerouting of set thoughts and beliefs in an altogether different direction.

Hence, this generation finds it difficult to identify themselves with the ways of their preceding generation, nor are they able to fully accept the new ways. At this point, a gentle guidance in the right direction helps them to use their vigor to build a powerful and responsible society. Unfortunately, under different circumstances, they are being reprimanded, neglected and to an extent insulted, which in turn makes them aggressive and intolerant. Therefore, this de- powering attitude towards the present generation can only weaken their minds and make them feel deprived of the encouragement and upliftment that they ought to have received. The struggle that the current generation takes in order to succeed in their quest to establish their identity and leave a significant mark of their dignified lives on earth, is quite something and it has to be taken in to consideration, especially by their precursories.

We quite often say that it’s good to leave certain things unsaid and unknown. We like to cherish that element of surprise that may or may not come our way. Uncertainty is a kind of force that can either push us forward with eagerness or trod us down with anxiety. Even when people say that they like it if they didn’t know their next phase in life; they sure does hope that it turns out good and well. As human beings, we all have that moments of uncertainty at some point or the other. The question of importance is whether you take it as a thrilling adventure or as a sore blow on the head?

Right from the day we are born, pangs of uncertainty makes things seem to go wild and uncanny. Our lives may seem peaceful and simple from an outsider’s perspective. But is it really so? People are in fact volcanoes. Though they remain dormant outside, there is a whole lot of bubbling and burning lava, all ready to burst out within the inner self of every individual. The reason for this feeling of anxiety is the precariousness of what the future might have in store for us.

Here, the term ‘future’ demands a close scrutiny. It does not always mean the ultimate futuristic goal that every person sets for his/ her life. In this context, it is a lot more connected to the immediate future of a person which has proved to be far more complex than the latter. This is because the immediate future of a person concerns mostly with the abstract and sudden emotions rather than the materialistic and concrete aim that we hope to attain. For instance, many a times, a recent fight with one’s friend, parents or any other person for that matter can seriously affect the thoughts and feelings of a person on a much larger scale than it was expected. Same is the case when one is waiting for a particular moment to happen in their lives.

Uncertainty in these cases are capable of doing a lot more internal damage as it ranges over a person’s current situation and is highly concentrated with a myriad of emotions and pressure. In such instances, all that you can afford to do is to stay positive even if you are charring away inside. You can always seek help from your well- wishers and also find solace in books, movies, music or anything that can lighten your mood. As a power booster, it would be quite quirky and a lot more fun to take every uncertain period of our lives as a thrilling adventure. It can help us take a step forward by placing ourselves as our favourite characters (fictional/ real) bound to do heroic deeds at any given odds. This might seem pretty lame, but it does work because the world of imagination knows no limits. It has no elements of uncertainty in it and picturing ourselves capable of tackling every ounce of uncertain hurdles can help us do that in real life. Therefore, uncertainty is not always synonymous with the phrase ‘the fear of the unknown,’ but also a source that can ignite the level of patience and perseverance if we put a little effort to face it in the zenith of our optimism. Hence, uncertainty is indeed a forced bliss; a bliss to the way we conduct life.

“Push yourself harder”, they said. “You are running out of time. It’s now or never.”

….And you did. They pushed you. You pushed yourself. The time you reached the finishing line- that very moment came with an epiphany, a wake up call that it was in fact the end.

Quoting the famous quirky line by the ICE director, Virusahasra Buddhe, from the movie 3 Idiots, “Life is a race…”, I would like for all the readers of this blog to take a moment and think of what your own selves are expecting from you. Like how the infamous “Virus” from the movie talks and tries to prepare his students for the race which they were about to embark as engineering students, we people in our day-to- day lives come across such instances in which we are taught to eliminate our opponents and race towards a set goal. Now, who in fact set these goals is altogether another question to address.

Once born we are pushed towards achieving everything that the people around us expect us to. Why cant we just take a break to catch our breath? What is this rush? What is this uncontrollable need in people to please their fellow beings? I am fully aware that throwing a bunch of these rhetorical questions is not going to make much of a difference. But, hey, to make anything happen, ‘change’ must take its primary form as thoughts, which is exactly why the very intention of this write-up is to urge people to think of what they are doing wrong.

Life is to be lived. One really don’t have to compress one’s interests, passions and activities into three- fourths of their life span and then spend the last one- fourth in regret and misery. If only people could realize that all they have is one life!! That life is a pretty long and interesting one if you spread out your doings, making it happen in your own way.

Yes, you are being pushed. They are pushing you.

But “they” don’t always have to decide everything for you.’ “They” are just fleeting encounters. “They” pass you every now and then. Have the courage to turn back 180 degrees and tell them that you need to rest, that this is not what you want to do with your life and most importantly that it is ‘your own life’.

The adjective ‘overconfident’, as we all are aware of, does not really give us a good vibe. People usually despise a person with that kind of a “I’m too smart for this world” attitude. Well, channeling thoughts in a different direction culminated in an epiphany when I realized that overconfidence is pretty much the only factor that guides us in our life. The adjective presented itself to me in a whole another guise as the motivator behind the way people regardless of their standing in the society, lead their lives.

Think about it! We as children, are taught from almost all our early sources of enlightenment to set our life goal and work for it, when all that we know is that we, God forbid, may not live the very next second of our lives. We are too confident to aspire for a job, fall in love, make promises, spend money on luxuries, etc that are aimed at shaping a better future for ourselves. Its quite funny when we realize that this entity called ‘future’, hangs dangerously in mid- air. So seriously, how can you afford to live a peaceful life unless you’ve got a little bit of this “screw destiny, I’m going to make it” thing going on?!

This blog is titled ‘Overconfident Mortals’ with the objective of driving home the idea of how paradoxical the lives of human beings are. We, being mortals are in a way never expected to over reckon, except when its about the only certain thing in our lives- death. It’s there, at this moment that one realizes the amount of zeal and confidence packed into a single individual that keeps him/ her breathing even when the odds stand in opposition. And so in the words of Lord Alfred Tennyson, “To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield” is in fact a motto that human beings have taken in consciously or not. Now you see, being overconfident in its best and positive way, is not so bad. Surprisingly, it’s life affirming!!!

Well, Hello guys. Its a customary saying that what consumes your mind, controls your life. Thoughts are like fertile seeds rolled up with emotions, rationality, senses and most importantly its something that you cultivate in your own lands of imagination and creativity. This blog will be an open platform for a recitation of the ‘rhythms of thoughts’ that surprisingly requires no rhyme schemes or metric standards. Stay tuned …

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.