There is something about travel—especially the kind that challenges you physically and mentally—that reveals the deepest truths about life. After six days of trekking through rugged landscapes, enduring exhaustion, and witnessing the grandeur of nature, I found myself reflecting on six profound realizations. Some are old truths rediscovered; others felt like whispers from the universe, meant just for me.

These six lessons are not just for the mountains—they are equally applicable to life and work. They remind us that growth, balance, and fulfilment come not from resisting life’s challenges but from embracing them fully.

1. Pain Leads to Gain; Gain Leads to Pain—Detach and Walk the Path

On the third day of my trek, my legs ached unbearably. Every step felt like a battle. But with each painful stride, I became stronger. By the sixth day, I had gained stamina, endurance, and a deeper sense of self.

This is life’s first truth: Pain leads to gain. Whether in work, relationships, or personal growth, struggle builds strength. Athletes push their limits to improve; entrepreneurs endure failures before finding success. Without pain, there is no progress.

Yet, once we achieve something—a promotion, financial success, or recognition—pain often follows. The burden of maintaining success, the fear of losing what was gained, and the weight of expectations can make us suffer.

So, what’s the solution? Detach.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

The wisest ones do not cling to pain or gain. They walk the path, embracing both without attachment.

2. Passion Breaks Rules; Rules Kill Passion—Balance Is the Key

Passion is fire—it burns bright, breaks barriers, and fuels greatness. Every artist, innovator, and leader who has left a mark on history has done so by breaking the conventional rules. Steve Jobs disrupted the tech world because he refused to follow existing norms. Beethoven defied musical traditions to create symphonies that still move us.

Yet, passion without structure burns out. Rules provide order and discipline, ensuring that passion doesn’t turn into recklessness. The greatest musicians master classical techniques before they compose masterpieces. Writers must learn grammar before crafting stories. Passion needs discipline to thrive.

The challenge is finding the balance. Only the mindful can walk this tightrope, knowing when to break the rules and when to follow them.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” – Pablo Picasso

3. Knowledge Comes from Seeing Differences; Wisdom Comes from Seeing Unity

At the beginning of my journey, I noticed how every mountain peak was unique, every path different. The more I observed, the more I learned—about terrain, weather, and survival.

This is knowledge: recognizing that all things are not the same. In life, knowledge allows us to differentiate good from bad, right from wrong, effective from ineffective.

But wisdom? Wisdom is seeing unity in all things.

By the end of my trek, I realized that despite their differences, all mountains are part of the same earth. Similarly, all people—despite race, religion, or nationality—share the same essence. The wise do not focus on division; they see the interconnectedness of all things.

“When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” – Buddha

To grow, we must move beyond knowledge and step into wisdom.

4. Everything Is Nothing; Nothing Is Everything—The Key to Happiness

One evening, standing at a high-altitude pass, I gazed at the vast sky, feeling small against the universe’s infinite expanse. At that moment, I understood: Everything we chase—money, power, recognition—is ultimately nothing.

And yet, in that nothingness, there is everything. The present moment, the breath in our lungs, the joy of existence—this is where true happiness lies.

The happiest people are not those who have the most but those who need the least. True fulfillment comes when we stop seeking happiness in external things and realize that we already have everything we need within us.

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates

5. No Two Parallel Taps Hear Each Other; No Two Parallel Tracks Meet—Flow and Float

During my journey, I saw two mountain streams flowing side by side, never merging, never colliding. It reminded me of how we often compare ourselves to others, forgetting that each of us has our own path.

Comparison is a thief of joy. Two birds flying in the same sky don’t compete; they simply soar. Two musicians playing different instruments don’t outshine each other; they create harmony. In life, the goal is not to outdo others but to flow in our own rhythm.

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen proverb

The secret to a fulfilling life is simple: Stop comparing. Just flow and float in your own pursuit.

6. Climbing Expands Vision; Digging Connects to Roots—Both Are Part of Living

As I climbed higher, my perspective widened—I could see farther, understand more. Climbing represents ambition, growth, and reaching for greater things.

But climbing alone is not enough. We must also dig—into our past, our roots, our foundations. Our history, values, and traditions ground us, giving us stability. A tree that only grows upward will collapse in the wind; it needs deep roots to stand tall.

The key to true living is to embrace both: soar high, but never lose touch with where you come from.

“A tree with strong roots laughs at the storm.” – Malay proverb

Final Thoughts: The Journey Never Ends

These six lessons are not just insights from a trek; they are reminders for all of us, wherever we are in life or work.

  • Embrace pain and gain, but do not cling to either.
  • Balance passion and discipline to achieve greatness.
  • Move beyond knowledge and seek wisdom.
  • Find happiness in simplicity.
  • Let go of comparison and follow your own path.
  • Aim high, but stay rooted.

The journey of life, like a trek, will test us. There will be steep climbs, sudden drops, and moments of exhaustion. But if we walk with awareness, we will see that every step, every hardship, and every lesson is part of something far greater.

And when we reach the summit—not of a mountain, but of understanding—we will look back and realize: The journey itself was the destination.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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