All Glory to God.

I am grateful to be alive. And called to write this book.

I am not very religious but deeply spiritual; I recognise how small and
insignificant I am in the grand tapestry of the universe.

Life can be created and predicted, yet also cruelly unpredictable.

And the biggest (and most humbling) lesson I’ve learnt in 30 years is
that full control is a myth. We are conditioned to conquer, to crave,
celebrate and cultivate control.

And while self-efficacy is important, it is best married with surrender;
a bowing before a higher power or grand design.

After all, we find fulfilment both in raising our hands in victory and
clasping our hands in prayer.

This has been a core theme in my life, where I swing between both
extremes, face severe consequences, and try to recalibrate that balance.

<Preface>

It may not be as extreme as I am, but I suspect many of us feel the same
dilemma, too, in a rapidly paced society where ‘What’s next?’ is the most
shared thought.

How do we then find that balance? Between control and surrender,
between conquering and connecting, between hustle and health? This book
will illustrate and aim to explore this.

Another core theme of this book is a slightly different yet overlapping
balance.

We often dichotomise and label things as “good” or bad”. Yet,
polarities are a root cause of attachment and resultant suffering. I’d like to
illustrate and present an alternative – an acceptance and alchemy: thesis
and antithesis lead to synthesis, an enduring balance between the two.

It is through my pain that my purpose evolved; through the demons, I
rediscovered angels; through looking straight into the eyes of the Devil, I
found the essence of God.

And it is through the dark chamber of Insanity, that Radical Kindness
came to light.