Confusion gets us nowhere;
it’s the clarity that gives us strength to move forward. One thing was clear to
me that if I want to live life of my dreams, I have to follow people who are
doing it and take their guidance. It doesn’t matter whether I’m meeting them in
person or I’m reading about them, watching their videos or reading the wisdom
they shared through books. I have to get into the mindsets of great people if I
want to be like them. From one year, I had been reading various books that
would give me a way to do something with the knowledge I have, but at that
moment I had a clear idea of which books should I read, what were my
circumstances and how great ones used to think in those situations. Being an
introvert, I gave more emphasis on reading books, blogs, watching videos
online, listening to podcasts and audio books.
I came across some great wisdom that was giving me the
clarity of my vision; not of business, but of life. I fell in love with quotes.
They are short, but convey deep meaning. Through quotes, I was getting more
clarity, and by reading books, watching inspirational and motivational videos,
my belief system was forming. Because of it, I felt that I was on different
mindset, on different magnitude, thinking on whole new level. Robin Sharma
said, “Either you can change the world or worry about fitting in, but you can’t
do both,” which gave me confidence that I have to choose one path. Thinking
about path, I came across a great poem by Robert Frost, ‘The Road Not Taken’,
in which said, “Two roads diverged in a
wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the
difference.”
Yes, I’ll take the road less
traveled, but will things work out right? And Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just
take the first step.” I realized that I have to take the
first step in faith. But, there will be ups and downs, how will I survive those
times. What if I suffer? What if first step in faith proved to be right, but
after that, it falls apart? I got answer of it in Paolo Coelho’s book, The
Alchemist, in which he said, “No heart has
ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams.” I was relieved but still thinking about
backup plan, though all these lines were inspirational and appealing to anyone
to follow their dreams. It all seems captivating from outside, to read these
lines, thinking that everything will be alright, I won’t be suffering, but in
reality, will everything happen in a way I planned? Yes, I have to improvise,
change strategies, but will this give me the happiness and sense of fulfillment?
Few days of self doubt and I
watched a TED talk by leadership expert Simon Sinek, ‘How Great Leaders Inspire
Action’, in which he explained how great leaders survive in the difficult times
and they inspire others to take actions without using carrots and sticks
method. He also wrote a book named ‘Start With Why.’ In the book, he explained that
the great leaders start with the question ‘Why’, not ‘What’. Before doing
anything, they think about why they want to do what they want to do. That ‘Why’
gives them the courage to persevere in difficult times. Friedrich Nietzsche
said, ‘He who has why to live can bear anyhow.’ This wisdom was giving me
confidence to do, to prepare my mind for the uncertain future. I was reading
more and more about how great leaders think, how they do the things, what gives
them the courage to take risks and succeed.
I made a decision that
instead of thinking about backup plan, why not to think how plan-A will work
out right? Instead of wasting energy in preparing some backup plan, why not to
invest that energy in making plan-A a successful adventure? As Paulo Coelho
said, “When you want something, the whole universe conspires you in helping you
achieve it.” Clarity is strength. I was clear that I was going to do something
impossible, unrealistic, unreasonable and impractical. Something the world
doesn’t know about. I was going to do a business based on my research how smile
is related to human nature and solve people’s personal as well as relationship
problems through their smile.
Thanks to the great ones for
sharing their wisdom through different mediums.
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Today's letter is 'C'.
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To know more about yourself from your smile, send me photo of your smile. I respect your privacy, so I assure you that your identity will not be revealed anywhere. And this service is absolutely free!!
Email Id. - iwantsmileforme@gmail.com
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(Image courtesy of Jeroen van Oostrom at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
