THINKING BIG- Does this really work?

Is there really a power in ‘THINKING BIG’?

David J. Schwartz quotes -

‘When you believe you can do it, the how-to-do-it will follow’!

SRK also said in a movie  ‘Agar Kisi cheez ko dil se chaho…. to poori kainaat aapko usse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai’ (If you desire something from the heart…then the whole universe will work towards getting you that)

So, I too started ‘THINKING BIG’ of scoring 98% marks in UP Board in my high school 1992 during exams. Ha…Ha…Ha… (Why am I laughing ?...because I did not read between the lines David’s famous quote-

“Hope is a start. But hope needs action to win victories’.

I laugh whenever I think about those childish things I did. I wrote 98% on few pages and pasted on all four walls of my study room so that I could concentrate on my goal. When my siblings saw it they could not help laughing for which I felt offended at that time but now when we all sit together we laugh at all those childish acts we did at that age. So, without beating around the bush, I come back to my goal of obtaining 98% marks in 1992 in UP Board High School Exam (one of the toughest boards at that time and that too in science stream, when mugged up syllabus of 9^th class used to be tested again in the last month of 10^th class)

To my surprise, I got 1^st position with 64% marks(as I had only hoped but knew inside somewhere that I had not worked that hard) which was no doubt far less what I had thought of (read as not prepared for). However, all family members were happy as only 14.7% of total students had passed that year due to implementation of Nakal Adhyadesh (Ordinance on Anti-Copying) by the then U.P. Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and I was one of those fortunate ones to clear the exam. I was also happy and contented.

In Intermediate, I again started ‘THINKING BIG’ of becoming a doctor. Again battle started against one’s intellect, fulfilling parents’ expectations, one’s potential, capabilities and real interests. The entire scuffle in mind again lost the battle of achieving high goal and found a new goal to become a food–nutritionist after completing graduation. But I found that cooking and calculating nutritional value was not my cup of tea.

After graduation, again time came to prove one’s worth and again ‘THINKING BIG’ emerged in mind and high goal of becoming a lady army officer was set but soon this wish ended in borrowing and wearing a friend’s uniform and looking myself in mirror(obviously could not clear SSB even after three attempts). But I did not lose heart as it was told during SSB interview that Amitabh Bachchan was also not able to clear that exam.

Amitabh Bachchan has also stated “Of course there are emotions, dissatisfactions and disappointments but you have to move ahead with life. Fortunately, I was destined for something else.”

Keeping these words in mind, never-die-spirit surged once more and this time I thought of becoming a successful business woman but landed up as a high school teacher after completing Bachelor in Education. And once more the idea of ‘THINKING BIG’ provoked my mind and I thought of being promoted in the same job and envisaged myself working as a Post Graduate Teacher in a senior secondary school. I don’t know where that never-die-spirit of ‘THINKING BIG’ comes from but it is nonetheless with me till date whereas I am still working as a high school teacher in a private school.

Sometimes, I try to convince myself that my dreams were mere castles in the air and I might not have put my unfeigned efforts into my aspiration or “meri shiddat mein kahin kami reh gayi hogi”.  At the age of 40+, ‘THINKING BIG’ has given birth to fear of failure and brought me at the verge of contentment that ‘whatever happens, happens for good’. At the same time I feel this contentment brings stagnation and boredom to life. It takes away one’s energy and feels like dragging life till death. It slays adventurous spirit and the person struggles to be happy to hide his disappointment.

If I see my journey so far, I realize that in pursuit of different goals, my never-die-spirit taught me many lessons and kept my life breathing. What I have learnt is that ‘Thinking Big’ is a way of life that never ends.

“Zindagi zindadili ka naam hai, Murdadil kya khaak jiya karte hain.”

(Life is meant to be lively, what the hell do the dead hearts live.)

 Once again it is whispering me to set a high goal. Doesn’t matter, I succeed or fall but it makes me feel ‘I AM ALIVE’ and gives strength to keep me going. I am clear in my mind that killing time and waiting for my death is not my way of life. I have always believed in Rajesh Khanna’s dialogue-

“Babu Moshaay, Zindagi Badi honi chahiye, Lambi nahi!”

So, I will keep on “THINKING BIG” because for me, it is not only an Art of Life, but also a Part of My Life.

 

 This really works.