Stand for what you believe
After completion of graduation, attaining a degree, spending lakhs of rupees of father, intense hard work, reading, classes and many other things modern students thinks “Now what to do? “, “ Will I get a good job?”, “Will I fulfill dreams of parents?” , “How would be my future?” and the questions go on and on. As a teacher I have came across number of students who literally think themselves of failure because they tell that they have a degree but they lack knowledge in that specific field. For example after completing B.C.A course, they don’t even know fundamentals of programming. This is possible because of modern education system which is totally based on marks. Knowledge is given least importance. Hence, we have law graduates who lack fundamental knowledge of law. We have teachers completing B.ed but they can’t teach properly and the list is endless.
It is really a serious concern. It is not limited to students. Some person start a shop or a small business and suddenly after two years when we again meet him, he tells that I have changed my work and previous work was boring or not giving enough financial returns. Same applies to service sector; we can find many persons changing jobs or think to change the job. Every year on the New Year eve people talk about their New Year resolutions and then they talk about it on the next New Year. I got interested in this fact and found out similarity between students, businessmen, service persons and common people. The similarity was they believed in something and with the passage of time, they started doubting themselves and their doubts turned into reality and they quit from what they were doing.
People who are overweight think of doing Yoga, morning walks and exercises but after one month they think that all this is useless or difficult and they must continue with their same old routine. This is human tendency. We talk about changes but we are very reluctant to change ourselves. Main reason for reluctance against change is a group of Negative people is always surrounding us. Intentionally or unintentionally they give Negative thoughts to our mind and gradually we think them as true. Many times I have noticed that when somebody is cooking food and we just create a doubt in his/her mind about the quality of food, it results into spoiling of recipes. People complain that they cannot speak publicly or students complain that they feel urge to go to toilet during examination hours. Is this the case of lack of self confidence or some what different?
The main reason for all this and many more problems with each of us is belief. We believe in others but we often doubt ourselves in each and every stage of our life. Whether it is shopping, whether it is colour of shirt or buying a car or a bike, we depend on others to take decision on our behalf and this weakens our self confidence. I remember an incident that happened there was a student who was an excellent dancer. I had seen him dancing many times and I appreciated his art. I told his father that he is an excellent dancer and he should be given more training in that field. His hesitant father refused and rebuked me for that advice and boldly told me that “My son would be a doctor and not a dancer”. His father never allowed him to dance and the boy took science stream and ended as a failure. He took commerce stream and now he is thinking what to do and at a big age he is again learning dance and trying to make a career. Sometimes I think that God must be crazy when he made these types of guys who always force their aspirations on their children and talent is wasted for accomplishment of dreams like mirage.
Is this change?
Great stories of past are guidelines for us. One such story is of Christopher Columbus. Everybody knows that Columbus discovered America but actually Columbus was a man of great vision, courage and belief. In those days, it was believed that the earth was flat and it ends in Africa. Everybody doubted Columbus in his venture. After some days of voyage his seamen were in a mood of mutiny. Columbus was continuously asked by them if they could ever find New World or even they could return to their homes. Nothing was in his favour. Columbus still had faith and Self belief and a thought that “I would find a new sea route to India”. He couldn’t find New Sea route to India but he discovered the West coast of America and he named it as West Indies. Discovery of America was itself a great work and the world remembers him today for it. The moral is quite simple believe in yourself in all circumstances.
People talk about luck of Dhirubhai Ambani and his riches. Many dream of becoming like him. People proudly speak of his achievements and establishments. What may be the reason for his success? People tell that he used to work in a Petrol Pump and ended with one of biggest refineries of the world. While answering in a debate about same thing, I told students that you talk about his riches, you talk about everything but why don’t you talk about his hard work, his dedication and his perseverance. He had open eyed dreams. We also have open eyed dreams. He faced the challenges and became victorious. When it comes to challenges, we quit or we postpone or we find ways to avoid it. Students run from studies, professional run from extra work or new work, teachers are worried only about syllabus and parents are worried only about marks. When somebody talks about new ideas or something different, he is either considered as fool or he is considered as insane.
‘Stand for what you believe’ is written for all who want a change in their life. I have mentioned here some of the steps which you can easily follow and bring about positive changes in your life.
FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTH:
First step for change is focus on your strength. Think deeply and ask yourself “What am I good at?” I am sure the answer is within you. A good idea is to note-down points of your strengths and stick them near your work table or study table or counter or wherever you can see it at least ten times a day. This will help a lot. If you are a student and good at Mathematics then proudly write… “I am good at Mathematics”. Whether you are a business man or a banker or a cook or a dancer first find what you are good at. You might have read or seen the movie based on the story of Milkha Singh – the flying Sikh. His success story reveals that if you concentrate your strength in proper direction you can do anything. Try to increase interest in your work or specific subject or job even though it seems uninteresting or boring. Try to polish your knowledge and try to become more and more powerful in any particular field. What is the definition of ‘Genius’? A genius is an expert in one’s own field of work and failure in all other fields. Friends, here is the secret. Why are you wasting time on things in which you are not good at?
COMMIT TO YOURSELF:
No commitment is better than self commitment. Commit yourself for big things, don’t commit others. Even if new job or new business is challenging or seems difficult or impossible never forget your self confidence. In India we are taught from family and friends that there is long list of things and work which we can’t do. This holds us back. When you decide to change, you have to face adverse circumstances and fearsome criticism from all. If you are afraid of results, you can never face them. When Wright Brothers were inventing aeroplane thousands of people doubted them and nobody was ready to believe them. They ignored all the negative thoughts and continued to work hard on their invention. In the end, their plane flew and all those people were dumbfounded. Message from this is very simple, commit yourself first.
NO ROYAL ROADS TO SUCCESS:
‘Help yourself and God will help you’, you might have heard this saying thousand times. It means start something. Start helping yourself. Many are worried about success. So, I wrote above that there are no royal roads which will lead to success. We all know about great Cricketer Sunil Gawaskar and his achievements. His son couldn’t become a successful Cricketer and it proved that royal roads lead him to nowhere. Men are like diamonds they get their shining after passing through hundreds of experiences and challenges. So the best thing to do in life is to move forward. If your destination is success, perseverance should be your companion. We know about inventor of Electric bulb – Thomas Alva Edison. He tried 999 different things as bulb filament but they didn’t work. He wrote in diary that he learnt that those things couldn’t be used in filament. In the end he invented Electric bulb and found out metal that could be used in filament. Message is quite simple…… Always try…..success is within our reach.
DON’T DEPEND ON ANYONE’S ELSE DECISION:
You are the creator of your own destiny. I advice you not to depend on anyone else to take decision for you. It doesn’t mean that you don’t listen anybody or become egoist. It means that you can ask for suggestions, guidance or advice of somebody but ultimately you should take all the important decision. This thing is always considered as a Taboo in India. In West, we see parents treating their children as friends at teen-age. In India many decisions are forced upon individuals. The best thing to do in a dilemma is to think properly entire matter, openly discuss with your parents or boss or better half. The final decision in any matter should be taken by you because ultimately you would be the person responsible for that. There was a student of mine, who was excellent in studies and decided to complete post graduation. At the same time, he was selected for a government job. He was asked forcefully to do job and he turned out a failure in his job. He is still doing job but always talks about that if he had courage to overturn that decision in past, he would be successful. Take the example of VVS Laxman, one of the most stylist Cricket legends. His parents were doctors and insisted him to pursue MBBS. A time came when Laxman had to decide either to give exams of MBBS or to play Ranji Trophy game? Laxman decided to play Ranji trophy game and the rest was history. Moral is very simple… You have to decide.
GET READY TO TAKE ON CHALLANGES:
Accept challenges, they are blessings in disguise. In job or business or studies you will face great competitions. Nobody has a secure position. So always be ready for next challenges. Challenges bring out best from us. Challenges awaken hidden giants within us. It is proved that the people who readily accept challenges tend to become more successful in life. Difficulties are with everyone. Chanakya is the best example of accepting challenges. A simple Brahmin who was once insulted by a king decided to uproot his whole dynasty and ultimately succeeded in his aim. Chankya had total knowledge about the power of king and yet he won. So challenges are part of life.
SIDESTRACKING DISTRACTIONS:
Many times situation may arise which may distract you from your goal but be consistent in your work. Problems and difficulties add a flavour to life. Distraction may be of temporary gains or small success or small failures or may be financial or family problems but they are common for all. They can’t stop you if you have will-power and firm determination. Take the example of the greatest living astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. His body is completely paralyzed. He can’t even speak and uses a voice synthesizer yet his inventions and scientific researches are going on and he is presenting his vision for year 2050. This is what we call will-power. God has blessed us with number of abilities the best thing to do is to use them.
STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND THE SUCCESS IS WITHIN YOUR REACH:
Once you get going in things that you really want to do, the last step is perhaps stand for what you believe in. It reminds me an incident from Ramayana; Angad was sent to Ravana’s court as a peace messenger. Angad was not allowed a seat there, he made a seat higher to Ravana with his tail and seated in front of him. A time came when Angad fixed his feet in the floor and all demons tried successively to move his single foot but they weren’t successful. Angad has put his feet on the floor so heavily that they all wasted their energy and in the end Ravana stood up. When Ravana was going to move his foot, Angad asked him if he wasn’t shameful of falling in feet of a simple monkey and asked him to fall in the feet of Shri Ram. The message is quite simple Angad stood with belief that none of the demons could move my feet unless I wish.
The same phenomenon applies to all of us. A person should believe in himself and also believe that he can do what he wishes to do in life. So from now onwards if you wish to do any small or big works first believe that you can do. If you want to top any competitive exam or if you want to start you business or if you want to change the job or if you want to study further or if you want to reduce your weight or anything else that is must for you…. Then get started. Don’t wait for anything…. Start something in that direction… The nature gives you indications and you have work according to it…..Don’t worry “How I will do this?” or “How this will happen?” ….. Just start from nothing and you will soon reach something. Success if waiting for you……. What are you waiting for?
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time
We are the ones, we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
- Barack Obama…
“Dreams is not what you see in sleep
Is the thing which doesn’t let you sleep.”
- A.P. Abdul Kalam.
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