Today, I found myself seated in a classroom at PG College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, my palms slightly sweaty as I faced a practical exam. Despite the nervous energy bubbling inside me, I managed to keep a calm exterior, unbeknownst to my classmates who see me as the “tech blog guru” and assume I carry an aura of unwavering confidence.
Throughout the beginning of this course, a cloud of stress hovered over me. The fear of failure gnawed at my thoughts. “What if I fail?” This wasn’t just about disappointing myself, but also about the expectations others had of me due to my writing and perceived intellect.
However, during one of those overwhelming moments, the wise words of my old friend Aryan echoed in my mind: “It doesn’t matter what others think. Whether you fail or pass isn’t the point; the point is that you tried.” His words were a beacon during my moments of doubt, reminding me of a profound verse
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
Bhagavad Gita (2.47)
“Your right is to perform your duty only, but never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.”
Bhagavad Gita (2.47)
These ancient words remind us that our focus should lie in the effort, not the outcome. Whether I excelled or fell short in my exams, the real victory was in stepping into the arena, regardless of the result.
Reflecting on this, I realize that if I exceed expectations, it isn’t a testament to my supremacy but a sign that I must set higher goals, continually challenging myself. As Lord Krishna advises, we should act without attachment to outcomes, focusing solely on our actions.
This philosophy rings true not just in academics but in all walks of life. Success and failure are mere milestones in the long journey of learning and self-discovery. The most crucial question isn’t whether we passed or failed but what we learned from the experience.
As I sat there in the exam room, I decided that no matter the outcome, this was a learning curve. Each nervous heartbeat, every second of anxiety, was teaching me something about resilience, about the impermanence of our fears, and about the endless capacity we have to rise above expectations, including our own.
So, let’s keep moving forward, learning from each experience, and remembering that in the grand tapestry of life, every thread, whether it appears flawed or perfect, adds strength and character to our story.
