“Coherence” is a word of profound scientific significance. In the realm of physics, coherence refers to a property of energy that defines its relationship with itself across space and time. Spatial coherence, for instance, describes the correlation of an energy wave across different points in space—how consistently and uniformly the waveform repeats its pattern across that space. Similarly, temporal coherence relates to the correlation of an energy wave over time, illustrating how steadily the waveform maintains its rhythm and structure at various moments.
Extending this concept to human identity (watch this to understand how 'coherence' becomes one of the defining attributes of energy self), a “Coherent Identity” can be understood as the energetic self of an individual maintaining coherence—stability and consistency—across different points in space and time. But how is such coherence possible? The energy self is often in flux, influenced by emotions, impulses, and the dynamic rush of life’s moments. This raises an important question: what does it truly mean to maintain a coherent identity?
Perhaps achieving a coherent identity means maintaining a sense of centeredness—a stable core of one’s persona—even when confronted with fluctuating emotions, impulsive reactions, or challenging circumstances. If a person remains grounded and unfazed by these external triggers, they can preserve their inner coherence even amidst life’s chaos.
In the following narration, we will explore the journey of a character named Ravi. Ravi is an ordinary, educated individual with a decent moral compass. His story begins at a pivotal realization: the importance of maintaining centeredness through life’s highs and lows. However, he struggled to figure out how to achieve this. Through a series of life events, we’ll follow Ravi’s journey as he discovers and develops methods to maintain this centeredness, ultimately striving toward developing a coherent identity.
Story 1
Ravi’s life had been a whirlwind of challenges ever since he lost his father. The grief was still fresh in his heart, but life offered no time to heal. His mother, who had always been a pillar of strength, was now battling severe kidney dysfunction. Her condition required frequent dialysis, and her frailty deepened with each passing day. Watching her endure relentless physical pain weighed heavily on Ravi’s heart. Every visit to the hospital, every strained smile his mother gave in an effort to reassure him—it all left him grappling with an overwhelming sadness. The Ravi who once believed in the fairness of life now found himself questioning it.
As if his emotional burden wasn’t enough, financial worries loomed large over his head. His mother’s insurance coverage proved to be woefully inadequate, and the constant outflow of money was draining the family’s finances. Being the sole breadwinner, Ravi carried the weight of supporting his mother, his wife, and their young child on a modest income. His days were spent balancing bills and medical expenses, always aware of the razor-thin margin by which they managed to scrape through. The fear of an uncertain financial future haunted him, amplifying the stress that already consumed him.
Despite the weight of these challenges, Ravi understood that crumbling under the pressure would only make things worse. He needed to maintain his composure—not just for his own sanity, but for the well-being of his family. He decided to center himself by consciously compartmentalizing his thoughts. His first step was dedicating time to his mother, regardless of how busy or stressed he felt. Each evening, he made it a point to sit with her by her bedside, hold her hand, and talk about small, comforting things. Sometimes, he would share happy memories of the past to bring a smile to her face. At other times, he would sit quietly, praying for her comfort and strength. These moments became a sanctuary for him—a time to reaffirm his love and devotion to his mother.
On the financial front, Ravi took a practical approach to combat the growing anxiety. He meticulously created a multi-year financial plan for the family, outlining possible scenarios and preparing for various outcomes. He assessed their savings, adjusted expenses, and explored alternative sources of income, giving himself a clearer view of the road ahead. With each step he took toward addressing these financial challenges, he felt a renewed sense of control.
This structured approach to life’s chaos became Ravi’s anchor. The act of doing his duties—not just thinking about them but taking concrete steps—helped him regain a sense of balance. The sadness of his mother’s condition, the worry about finances, and the anxiety about the future didn’t vanish, but they no longer consumed him. His devotion to his responsibilities and his willingness to face them head-on gave him a deep sense of purpose. This purpose, in turn, empowered him to rise above feelings of despair, anxiety, and fear.
For Ravi, centeredness was not about escaping his problems—it was about embracing them with devotion and determination. His ability to maintain focus, care for his loved ones, and work tirelessly toward solutions helped him stay grounded, no matter how daunting the challenges. In the process, he discovered that his strength didn’t lie in having all the answers but in his unwavering commitment to do his best for those who depended on him.
Story 2
Ravi sat in his office, the weight of the past few months pressing down on him like a mountain. As the Founder and Head of a business unit specializing in cutting-edge technology, he had poured his heart and soul into building a team of highly skilled individuals. Together, they had spent the last few years shaping the future, crafting products in a niche technology space that was still finding its footing. Despite their dedication, the business landscape was unforgiving. While their efforts earned industry recognition and respect, the market lacked the maturity to deliver tangible traction.
The breaking news came on a rainy afternoon. The sponsors of the business unit decided to shut it down. They had opted to shift their investments to a more lucrative domain, leaving Ravi and his entire team with an expiration date. The business unit had yet to deliver revenue-generating products, making the possibility of an acquisition a distant dream. Now, Ravi faced an impossible reality: his team, full of talented individuals, would soon be out of jobs in an industry weathering its own storm.
Ravi understood the brutal nature of business decisions, but that did little to ease the stress and anxiety. It wasn’t just his livelihood at stake—it was the future of every member of his team. He knew their stories intimately: the engineer juggling financial liabilities, the designer saving for a child’s education, the researcher supporting elderly parents. The thought of their struggles kept Ravi awake at night. As the leader, he felt the weight of responsibility to find a way forward for all of them.
After an initial period of grief and introspection, Ravi knew he had to act. Letting despair consume him would only add to the chaos. Grounding himself in his principle of centeredness, he formulated a plan.
The first step was personal survival. Ravi took stock of his finances, carefully mapping out a strategy to sustain himself and his family for the foreseeable future. Once he established this foundation, his attention turned to his team. He tapped into his network, reaching out to trusted industry contacts and well-wishers to identify companies in similar technology spaces that might need a talented workforce. His relentless outreach bore fruit—he found a few companies looking to aggressively ramp up their talent pool.
What followed were the most critical weeks of Ravi’s professional life. The interested companies began evaluating the team, assessing their credibility and expertise. Ravi took it upon himself to anchor every discussion, advocating for his people with unwavering determination. But the stress of the situation had taken a toll on his team. Many were demoralized, their spirits dampened by the uncertainty of their future. Some struggled to muster the energy to prove their worth in the evaluations. Ravi recognized their exhaustion and stepped in to lead by example.
He kept his head clear, focusing on the tasks at hand, and urged his team to trust the process. His ability to remain calm and composed under immense pressure inspired confidence in those around him. Ravi’s centeredness became the beacon that guided his team through this storm.
With just three days left before the termination date, Ravi’s efforts bore fruit. Three companies expressed interest in hiring his team members. Offers were extended to each individual, ensuring that not a single person would face a day of unemployment. As the last acceptance email was sent, Ravi allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction.
But there had been a moment during this ordeal when Ravi’s emotions had overwhelmed him. On a festival day, while visiting a temple, he found himself crying—tears born not of fear or stress but of devotion. As he prayed, he thought about the responsibility resting on his shoulders. He wondered if he could guide his team to a place where they could celebrate the same festival next year with joy and security. It was a moment of vulnerability, but also one of profound clarity. Those tears, he realized, were a testament to the love he felt for his team and the duty he owed them.
In the end, Ravi’s centeredness and tenacity helped him win another battle. His ability to navigate the storm with dedication and devotion reaffirmed his coherent identity. Ravi had not only secured a future for his team but also demonstrated the quiet strength of a leader who leads with both heart and purpose.
Story 3
Ravi’s phone buzzed late in the evening, pulling him out of a quiet moment with his family. On the other end of the line was his cousin, her voice trembling with despair. She had been the victim of a significant financial fraud—a carefully orchestrated online scam that had drained her savings. Worse, the fraudsters, emboldened by their success, had begun sending threatening messages and making calls, adding a layer of fear to her grief.
Ravi listened intently as she recounted her ordeal. She had reached out to the cyber police and her bank, but neither could offer much help. The authorities cited technical challenges and legal loopholes, while the bank’s response was steeped in procedural red tape. Ravi could feel the anguish in her voice—the helplessness of watching her hard-earned money vanish without recourse.
As the call ended, Ravi sat in silence, his mind racing. A wave of anger welled up within him—anger at the audacity of the fraudsters, at the inefficiency of the system meant to protect innocent people, and at the plight of his cousin and others like her. The sheer injustice of the situation gnawed at him. But alongside this anger, he felt a stirring of determination—a need to act, to do something to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.
Ravi committed himself to a cause: raising awareness about cyber frauds and empowering people to protect themselves. Yet, as he began planning his campaign, a conflict brewed within him. He recognized that much of his drive stemmed from anger, and he knew that anger, left unchecked, could cloud his judgment and disrupt his centeredness.
Over the next few days, Ravi launched an awareness campaign. He started small, creating simple yet impactful content explaining common tactics used by scammers and how people could safeguard their information. He collaborated with local organizations, schools, and community groups to reach a wider audience. Yet, as he worked tirelessly on this mission, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his anger was the fuel driving him forward.
Ravi decided to confront these feelings through introspection. In quiet moments of reflection, he examined the complex emotions swirling within him. He realized that anger, while powerful, was not acting alone. Beneath the anger lay a deep sense of empathy for the victims, a strong will to fight against injustice, and an unwavering determination to make a difference. He understood that anger, when accompanied by these other emotions, could be a catalyst for meaningful action—but only if it was channelled with purpose and clarity.
This revelation brought clarity to Ravi’s mind. He saw that it wasn’t anger itself that was driving him; rather, it was the cause—the importance of protecting innocent people—that gave him a sense of purpose. The anger had merely sparked his initial response, but it was his devotion to the cause that sustained his commitment. This realization helped Ravi reconnect with his centeredness.
With this newfound clarity, Ravi poured himself into the campaign with renewed focus. He created detailed guides, organized workshops, and even partnered with cybersecurity professionals to share tips on staying safe online. He also supported his cousin emotionally and helped her regain a sense of security in her life. Ravi’s efforts began to make an impact—people who attended his sessions started sharing their stories of how they avoided falling for scams because of what they learned.
As weeks turned into months, Ravi’s campaign gained momentum, and so did his sense of fulfilment. He realized that staying centered didn’t mean suppressing emotions like anger but understanding and channeling them into constructive action. His fight against scammers became a testament to the power of purpose and devotion to a greater cause.
In the end, Ravi’s journey was not just about raising awareness but about reaffirming his own coherent identity. He remained steadfast, leading with clarity, compassion, and determination—qualities that allowed him to transform a moment of personal anger into a mission that touched countless lives.