“Survival of the fittest” is one of the oldest and most popular theories of evolution. Many a times we are asked to adjust, compromise or be flexible. Mostly that is the demand of the hour. It’s not wrong to do that. But the real danger begins when you let go one of these..

1. Your Greatest Passion: Remember the time when you felt like the happiest person on earth? When all you wanted was time to stop by. When you felt so light you were almost flying. That’s the effect passion has on one. It fills you with adrenaline. It makes you alive. The moment you let go of your passion, there’s little juice left in your life. Very soon, you’ll start feeling dry. Don’t let that bottle of energy tonic slip from your hand. Ever.

If you’re one of those who say, ‘I don’t have any passion’, ask yourself this: “What would do whole day if you didn’t have to worry about anything in the world.” What would you do to spend the time if you didn’t need to work for earning? Something that’s not a work for you. That’s your PASSION.

2. Your Deepest Values: We are taught several values in the moral science class in the junior classes. Not necessarily each one of them will resonate with you. But the ones that do, are your lighthouse. They’ll guide you forever, bring you back to track whenever you are swayed away. They’ll help you in moments of dilemma, give strength in tough times and rejoice with you in glory. They would be there for you, as long as you don’t forsake them.

My deepest value is Kaizen, constant and never ending improvement. To reach for my maximum potential, to excel in whatever I do. Learning and growing is essential to my existence. No matter what state of mind I am in, reviewing these values bring me back to life.

3. Your Childlike Curiosity: I am sure you’ve been troubled by your own or someone else’s kid by the most irritating question ever, “What’s that?” We all have been in that situation. We get tired of answering but the child doesn’t get exhausted at all! Instead with each answer, they come up with a new question. And that’s now they grow so fast. Imagine what could be achieved if we continued that level of curiosity forever. Exploring the wonders of world every day. Going beyond what is necessary. Reaching out to know more, be more and do more. Trying, experimenting, falling, and getting up. No day would be the same as before. Nothing would be boring. Every moment would be exciting, thrilling and scintillating.

4. Your Strong Self-esteem: No matter where, what or who are you, you’ve got to have a strong sense of self-esteem. It has nothing to do with your position, designation or status. It’s the image you’ve created of yourself. If you see yourself as a loving person, your actions would manifest accordingly. If you see yourself as a failure, you’ll unconsciously do the things that brings you failure. You are what you think. Attitude matters. Probably much more than anything else. It’s the greatest gift we have, which no other creature has. We can change our attitude, our perspective, and our viewpoint as we wish, whenever we wish. Letting go of the self-esteem is worse than death. It’s like dying all over again every single day. Don’t die multiple deaths before you actually die.

5. Your Absolute Faith: You are passionate. You value your values. You are curious. And you have high self-esteem. Does that guarantees that everything you touch would turn into gold? Nothing could be farther from truth. No matter how hard you try, how dedicatedly you work and how competent you are, there would be times when you just fail. In moments like these, you either can see a huge failure or get back to your shell or you see it as a learning, an event which was essential for your growth and move on. You will not understand the reason of a misfortunate event immediately. No one feels great about being rejected for an admission, or a job or even a proposal. It hurts. It sure does. But like all pain, this one also has a pain-killer. A very effective one. It’s called FAITH. Strong, certain, absolute faith in the superpower that’s holding everything in its place. This faith gives you the strength to walk when your body, mind and spirit, everything, quits. Hold on to your faith and it’ll hold you when you need it the most.