SOCIETY MAY PREDICT, BUT ONLY YOU CAN DETERMINE YOUR DESTINY!

“First they ignore you,

Then they laugh at you,

Then they fight you,

Then you win.” M.K  Gandhi

There have always been people who are first ridiculed and later applauded by the same people who discouraged them once. But the most important thing is that there are very few people who have the gallantry and conviction to stick to their guns under such treacherous situations. Great people come and go but their legacy is always remembered. For instance, Henry ford is well known to the world not because of his whopping bank account but for the choices he made. He listened less to people, his detractors,  and trusted more on his instincts and vision, like he said, “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me a fast moving horse.”

People often play clairvoyant without any specific reasons but it’s not worth paying them attention that often. It’s like a patient in hospital brooding over his incurable illness, amid people all around talking of his illness and misfortune, if he believe he can be cured he will be. Belief system works more than medicine and beliefs have the capacity to override the impact of drugs on the body. Our belief about the illness and its treatment play as significant a role than the treatment itself. Dr.Henry Beecher from Harvard University did extensive research that clearly demonstrates that we often give credit to a drug, when in reality its the patient’s belief that makes the difference. Same ways if you believe in yourself, no matter how others perceive about you, you will do well.

For most people who are afraid to take charge of their own destinies, one of their greatest inhibitions is the fear of failure which is created by people who either never wanted them to succeed or have never succeeded themselves. And the irony is that most people get swayed easily because of their uncanny habit of depending on others. But if one develops a habit of uncompromised focus on the task at hand and the ability to concentrate on the work prioritized, despite people’s unavoidable predictions, I’m sure things will be easier than said.

At one point in life, being human, we face such circumstances when we start to doubt on our own abilities, may be for a while but sometimes we tend to do. And at that time it is very important who you socialize with and share your feelings with, if that person is discouraging then it is better to keep him at bay or stay away from him. And concomitantly keep company of those who can allay your fears & doubts and show you the right path.

HAVE COURAGE TO STICK TO YOUR VISION

Thomas Edison was a great man as we all know his achievements have greatly influenced life around the world, like electric bulb, photograph, motion picture camera etc. Edison had a very poor memory – especially in his youth. In school, he forgot everything he was taught. His teachers declared that he was addled brained that he was too stupid to learn, and the doctors even predicted he would have brain trouble. As a matter of fact, he attended school only three months during his entire life. After that, his mother taught him at home; and what a magnificent job she did, the result is known to the whole world. After that he developed remarkable memory and extraordinary ability to concentrate, to forget everything but the subject he had in hand. He proved all his teachers and doctors wrong through his achievements and people who criticized him became his most prominent followers.

Thomas Edison failed 9,999 times to create the light bulb. Just imagine if he had listened to his detractors and given up after the 9,999th time. A journalist tracked down and asked him: “How does it feel to have failed 9,999 times.” Edison replied “I haven’t failed, I have had great success, finding 9,999 ways that do not work.” People will always appreciate and benefit from his inventions. But few know that it was not an overnight invention, he struggled throughout his life to make it possible. People ridiculed him but he didn’t pay heed to them and concentrated all his energy on one single goal that was the secret of his mastery. That is the power of listening to your heart and believing in your dreams, had Edison listened to his critics he would not have made such great invention.

The same person who once sold candy and newspapers to supplement his income became the world’s fourth most prolific inventor, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. Arthur Schopenhauer

Eight years before he made it he was almost unknown. He was hard pressed to get enough to eat. Nine years ago he was broke. He was once fired because he didn’t ‘have any good idea.’ People told him that he didn’t have any real talent, discouraged him and sent him away with a broken heart. Somehow he managed to get a poorly paid job making drawings for churches. He thought at the time that it was hardship and agony but didn’t give up.

One day, he was sitting in a rooming house, trying to think up an idea, when suddenly there popped into his mind the mouse that used to climb up on his drawing board. That mouse became world’s most well-known fictional characters the ‘Mickey Mouse,’ making him billionaire. He never got dejected by people’s bad behavior rather he kept doing what he liked. Walt Disney believed the secret of success lies in being in love with your work. Let people have their own perception but that shouldn’t affect your vision.

Turbulent time makes great leaders, as Swami Vivekananda said, “In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are traveling in a wrong path.” And when you are on the right path you will often find people trying to sabotage you.

Next time when someone criticizes you or doubts your vision don’t get frustrated, just smile at him, he’ll have his lesson.