The mind-bending weirdness of number‘zero’ is best described as ‘the absence of something is a thing, in and of itself”.

Unbelievably the laptop, Mac, microcomputer or any other device you’re reading this on right now runs on a binary. A string of zeros and ones! Without zero there is no calculus, no automation and no electronics. In fact sans zero much of the world around us would literally go belly-up.

Zero’s discovery is considered equivalent to us learning an ‘Alien’ or fictional language. During the night when we look up into the sky we see nothing but ‘oblivion’. From this nihility or zero, a scattering shower of electromagnetic radiation flows down to us right from the deep space. In the darkest emptiness I’d say there is always ‘something’ unspoiled and yet to be mapped out!

A true zero I think is perhaps the first hint of an absolute nothingness.

For most part people usually do not understand any of this. Zero is not innate to us. We invented it and quite wittingly have kept passing it on to the next generation. Above and beyond this incredible breakthrough, there’s something that’d surprise you more. Would you believe that even tiny bee brains can compute zero? Only humans though were capable of seizing zero’s worth and forge it into an impeccable tool for all time.

Just to tickle your fancy, if bumblebees can distinguish between ‘greater than and lesser than‘ quantities including zero, it should be enough to float your boat as well. You have the capabilities to cut the mustard and thrive. But nothing’s more fascinating than the fact that ‘zero’ has amazing the ability to spring surprises. It does so quite quickly when it comes to our choices and decisions affecting our lives.

Here’s how;

The ‘zero effect’: The strength of preference matters.

Like all of you, I also have had my share of problems and difficulties. I had always experienced relentless work-related stress till it was time to ’quit’. I tried meditation to start with – something that I had never thought about before. Maybe I didn’t feel the need or was not motivated enough to do it. I had though read books, blogs, and video shorts on techniques involved there. I was aware of the practice all the time but didn’t know when to do it. Work, personal projects, deadlines, and personal life- everything was taking its toll and weighed heavy. Yep! Grudgingly I had bowed myself to the misery of daily grind.

Working through late nights I had compromised my morning routine. I was practically pushing myself from early hours till late evening. Rushed brunches and bites would hastily find some space in between; no exercises of course! Even so, I felt stranded. I consoled myself that I will be more productive if I focused on my work more. I believed that things would turn for the better if I sacrificed my freedom a wee bit more.

Still…It simply wouldn’t work for me!

I was getting tired easily. I couldn’t focus and had barely any space for relaxation. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep and would keep thinking the whole night.

What’s wrong with me? Why am I failing? Why couldn’t I do well and earn the wings? Why am I not living a full life? How will I satisfy myself?

My brain wouldn’t quit buzzing the whole night until it would just go blank in the wee hours. I would sleep uneasy for couple of hours thereafter and wake up heavy headed and sluggish.

Then one fine morning something extraordinary happened;

It was 5:30 am of a wintry morning. Darkness was fading and the light was taking over. ‘Enough is enough’; I told myself. “I’d have to own everything, take responsibility and be answerable to none else but me”. I went for a jog, came back after 45 mins, took shower and got dressed. Then I sat down in a corner of my house in total silence. I closed my eyes and began to focus on my breath. I tried to trace back the origin of every thought. I wanted to find out why I was thinking the way I was. I will hear my mind spelling out every thought loud and clear- over and over again. I saw what an utter chaos it was. Was I was worried about every damn thing in the world? Isn’t there more to live for than drinks and nibbles? It was like I was in the middle of a battleground.

Distraught I opened my eyes…it was only for 5 minutes but weighed heavy like an hour. I felt good though. I guess I had taken the first step.

 It’s been 8 years since. I dare say that meditation didn’t solve any of my problems either then or later. In fact it felt irrelevant to anything I was experiencing. It would though help me to calm down and start afresh to think from quite a few perspectives.

Today, I’m having better sleep and focus my energy on things that matter most. The morning routine fares well and helps me aplenty. At 5 in the morning I wouldn’t find anybody on the roads. I feel free; I feel ahead. When I come back, I take a lazy shower. I ruminate a little over a cup of tea. Later, I stuff myself with a sumptuous breakfast. Then I sit quietly in the backyard and I feel I’ve conquered the world. I’m all pumped up now to butt my head into every challenge that comes my way during the day. I’m relentless to finish whatever I decide to do.

What more is there to ask for?

By mid-day when I think I’ve had enough, I would sit back and take a breather.

It is then I feel like a winner. I feel unstoppable!

You can add zero to any number to your successes

Sometimes we can’t get what we need. It‘s very disturbing when things don’t turn out well for us. Something we’ve been so certain of can fall flat very quickly and leave us wounded in the heart.

When in turmoil self-doubt takes over. Instinctively heart searching steps in; ‘Is that it? Have I had enough?’

To take charge of yourself quit worrying about every detail that torments you in your hard moments. Stop pushing yourself to the limit. It’s quite difficult to escape thoughts though. They keep us returning to the equivalent of “whys” and “whats” over and over again.

Start with a simple ‘No’ to any gloom around you if you want to defeat a terrible time. Prep yourself to deal with anything that life tosses at you and endure any success in your stride. By outsmarting the circumstances you’ll start to see everything from an alternate perspective and move ahead. So patch yourself …you’re amazing and life will go in the manner you’ve arranged it to.

Once you’ve arrived this far, stop briefly to adjust and manage your current moment. Your stunners from yesterday do not characterize you. You need to know where you’re coming from. Your incidents are only a faint impression of the life you’ve led so far. You’ve the ability to improve them.  Stressing over a little now will not hurt you and even save you from more heart breaks and backslides. 

Move the world on your fingertips: Why zero is so damn useful!

If you were to make choices that will affect your future, quit agonizing over every other thing . Steal the spotlight for yourself. Record it and play it over and over. You’ll gain from each slip-up or circumstance you’ve lived. What’s intense for now will make you resilient and strong enough to continue developing and face the unknown stoutly.

It will be easier to move ahead then. Soon it will be plain sailing all the way.

Honestly not everything occurs for an explanation; every ‘put-off’ is meant to end with a more meaningful ‘arrangement’. Moving away from being nearly non-existent to being very obvious, you tend to own endless quantities of ‘get-up’ and ‘go’.

I suppose not many would know exactly how good or bad the zero value is. Few will prefer not to react strongly to the choice with zero compared to a near-zero value.  But you can bet your bottom dollar on this. For a number representing nothing, zero surprisingly has a priceless importance in our lives. Without context, it’s of little interest or concern. But given the time, as a cathartic outcome of a decision;

It knows how to knock your socks off!