FIRST POST

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 There was a very interesting query from Chanchal, to which I am giving my answer.

CHANCHAL:  If we are working towards something we strongly aspire and face lot of obstacles in our efforts and it’s followed by repeated failures. Considering that the road signs were always discouraging and in the end they kept us away from our goal, we should accept that it is not meant for us. But, how does perseverance fit into the scheme of things? I mean if something inside tells us to strive for it again and again, irrespective of failures should we stop trying because of these road signs? What if that goal is to be achieved only after experiencing such hardships and failures, which in turn have some lessons for us before we achieve our actual goal? How do we differentiate that we are not destined for certain things or we will get them after going through some hardships or failures?

MY ANSWER: Of course we have to strive for almost everything in life as very few are born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouths and manage to retain it there throughout their lives. But to my mind there is a clear distinction between facing a challenge and being blind to some reality. Let me elaborate.

There are number of occasions when we do not immediately succeed in a particular effort or endeavor. There are also times when we achieve partial success or the goal eludes us at the last moment. Sometimes our desires and dreams get fulfilled slowly and with a lot of effort. All this is an unalienable and integral part of human life. However my take is simple. With every failure there must be some objective self-analysis of what factors contributed to that failure. In most cases it would either be a personal shortcoming or it could be circumstances beyond the control of the individual.

Assuming it is the former, then by all means one must do whatever it takes to overcome the personal flaw or failing and try again with renewed vigor. How else will the ignorant soul refine, learn and progress. But when you are dogged with repeated failure due to circumstances you have neither contributed to nor have any control over, then you could be turning a blind eye to a flashing road sign.

Understand that it’s not always going to be a black and white situation and there will be many shades of gray depending on each individual case. One also has to consider the degree of resistance with each succeeding attempt. Basically one can ignore the road signs and persist and even eventually succeed. But whether the option you have opened for yourself after such resistance is going to be good for you or not is debatable. It could also be the case that you may have missed a better opportunity or greater benefit by ignoring the Universal indications or then simply ignored an easier way of doing things. There are numerous permutations but to my mind, repeatedly disregarding a road sign is opening a completely wrong window of opportunity, the consequences of which one will eventually have to pay for.