The Art of Thinking Clearly – For Seafarers Who Seek Growth Beyond the Horizon

 🚢 The Art of Thinking Clearly – For Seafarers Who Seek Growth Beyond the Horizon ⚓

 

By Dattaram Walvankar | @ShipOpsInsights

Welcome aboard, #ShippingFraternity! 👋
Are you navigating calm waters in your career, or are you unknowingly anchored in mental traps that hold you back?

Let’s decode four powerful mind shifts inspired by “The Art of Thinking Clearly” to help you sail smarter — not harder. 🌟
This isn’t just about books. It’s about your growth. Your power. Your future.

 

🌟 1. Sunk Cost Fallacy – “Don’t Sail a Sinking Ship Just Because You Boarded It” 🛳️💸

 

 

What it means:
We often hold on to jobs, people, or decisions not because they’re right for us — but because we’ve already put in too much time, money, or effort.

🚧 Real-Life Shipping Examples:

• You’re with a shipping company that underpays and overworks — yet you stay because “Maine 2 saal laga diye hain.”
• You’re in a training program that feels outdated, but keep going just to justify the fees.
• Or… you sit through a boring ₹300 movie thinking, “Let’s not waste the money.”

These are emotional anchors. ⚓ But you can’t sail forward when you're tied to the past.

🧭 Mindset Shift:

Ask yourself daily:
“If I weren’t already in this situation, would I choose it today?”
If the answer is “No,” then it’s time to pivot. Don’t let past investments decide your future course.

💪 Action Steps:

• 🧹 Let go of one task, plan, or commitment you're only sticking to because of time/money already spent.
• 🗓️ Weekly:
• Monday: Review where you're stuck.
• Wednesday: Cut one drag anchor.
• Saturday: Reflect on the emotional weight you’re carrying — and release it.

📣 Comment below if you’ve ever stayed too long somewhere “just because” you started it.
💬 Like & Follow for more real, growth-driven insights.

#SunkCostFallacy #LetGoToGrow #MaritimeMindset #ShippingLife

 

😠 2. Jalan (Envy) & Irsha (Jealousy) – “Your Journey Isn’t a Race” ⚓🌱

What it means:
Jealousy (Irsha) can sometimes motivate. But envy (Jalan) destroys peace. When you constantly compare your journey with others, you surrender your happiness.

🌀 Common Situations at Sea & Shore:

• Your batchmate just became Chief Engineer. You feel behind.
• A friend’s Instagram shows a foreign trip. You question your choices.
• You hear someone’s salary — and suddenly your own achievements feel small.

Let’s be real — these thoughts happen. But holding onto them is like holding a burning rope. The more you grip, the more it hurts. 🔥

🧠 Science Says:

The brain processes envy using pain centers. Chronic comparison triggers stress, depression, even burnout. You’re sabotaging yourself… silently.

🌟 Wisdom from the Waves:

A ship doesn’t compete with another ship — it just follows its route. Your GPS is set to YOUR purpose. Trust it.

💪 Action Plan:

• 📔 Write: Who triggered envy today? Why?
• 🏆 Celebrate 3 small wins — like a great watchkeeping session or solving a tough task.
• 📵 Limit social media that fuels insecurity.

🗓️ Weekly:

• Tuesday: Genuinely compliment someone you envy.
• Thursday: Learn from others’ success without bitterness.
• Sunday: Ask: “Am I growing, regardless of where others are?”

📣 Drop a ❤️ if you’re choosing peace over poison.
💬 Like & Follow if this helped you look inward.

#NoMoreComparison #PeaceOverPoison #SeafarerWisdom #MaritimeLife

 

🪖 3. The Ego Trap – “Strong Sailors Admit Mistakes” 🧭💥

What it means:
Sometimes, it’s not about logic. It’s about ego. We stick with bad decisions — not because they’re right, but because we don’t want to look wrong.

⚓ Shipping Life Examples:

• You bought marine software that’s not working — but won’t stop using it because “I paid for it.”
• Your venture is failing, but pride stops you from changing course.
• You ignore a junior’s good suggestion because… well, you’re senior.

It happens — we protect our image at the cost of progress. But here’s the truth: Mistakes don’t make you weak. They make you real.

🧠 Behavioral Bias:

• Overconfidence Bias 🏴‍☠️
• Self-Justification 🧱
• Fear of embarrassment 😶

Let’s break the pattern.

💪 Action Plan:

• 🗣️ Say a recent mistake out loud — to a friend or in your journal.
• 📓 Start a “Mistake Log” — One lesson per error.
• 💖 Daily Affirmation: “I’d rather learn than pretend.”

🗓️ Weekly:

• Wednesday: Review one ego-driven decision.
• Friday: Call a mentor and share it honestly.

📣 Drop a 💪 if you’re done defending the wrong decisions.
💬 Like & Follow for more mindset shifts.

#EgoTrap #StrongAdmitMistakes #MaritimeLeadership #LearnAndLead

 

🧩 4. The Comparison Trap – “Your Only Benchmark is YOU” 📉📈

What it means:
You’re doing great… until you look at someone else. Suddenly, your success feels small. That’s the Comparison Trap.

🚢 Common Triggers:

• Your shipmate bought a house. You feel behind.
• A junior officer gets promoted fast. You question your progress.
• A peer shares achievements — and you shrink in your own story.

It’s painful. But it’s also not real.

💭 Real Talk:

What they show is the highlight reel.
What you live is the full story.
A flower never thinks about the flower next to it — it just blooms. 🌸

💪 Action Plan:

• 📵 Reduce time stalking others online.
• 📈 Compare only to your past self — not your peer.
• ⏰ Set “Gratitude Alarms” thrice daily. At each one, say:
  “Right now, I have enough.”

🗓️ Weekly:

• Monday: Write 3 things you’re proud of.
• Thursday: Encourage someone who's probably comparing themselves to YOU.

📣 Drop a 🌱 if you’re ready to bloom in your own light.
💬 Like & Follow for more clarity like this.

#ComparisonTrap #OwnYourPace #GratitudeMindset #SeafarerGrowth

 

🚀 Final Message from Dattaram:

“Your journey is not defined by others’ timelines.
Your strength is not weakened by past mistakes.
And your worth is not measured by comparison.”

Let’s build a stronger, wiser, and emotionally resilient shipping community.
Together. 💙

 

👇 Comment below:
✅ “I release the past”
✅ “I choose clarity”
✅ “I sail forward”

🔔 Follow @ShipOpsInsights with Dattaram for more practical wisdom, book breakdowns, and mindset mastery at sea & on shore.