FEAR OF FAILURE
“So, Mr. Dahal…..Have your say about the upcoming event. Are you ready for it?”, a known voice groaned. “Sorry mate. I am not going this time. ”, I replied. “Why on earth? We have high expectations from you”, he insisted. “The opponents are tough. This is not a primary level competition. I will be competing with my seniors and beating them is a next name to impossible.”, I argued. The way they were delivering was exceptional. I was absolutely demotivated by their talent. Couple of month back I had stood first in secondary level debate competition. I was in grade 8 and was one of the senior most students in the competition. I was quite confident and had delivered my best. Since then I earned popularity in school but this time the bar was risen high. Our annual parents’ day was approaching and everyone was excited. My peers were insisting me to participate in debate competition where I would be competing against my seniors and I was quite nervous. I saw them speaking and was astonished by their performance. My confidence was destroyed so I thought not to participate despite of the encouragements from my colleagues.
It was the day that everyone had been waiting for, the day that I never forget in my life. There were around two thousand audience including teachers, parents, students and the VIPs. I was with my battalion in the back cracking jokes and making fun of the people in the stage. One of my friends said, “Pratik, we have a surprise for you.” “Well, I will take that with both hands”, I replied without enthusiasm. Moments later the anchor announced something that emptied the smile on my face. The debate was about to begin and the anchor announced, “So the first performer in today’s debate competition is Mr. Pratik Dahal from grade VIII representing yellow house and he will be putting on his arguments to prove that science is a boon”. “WHATT?”, I cried in an innocent voice and realized what the surprise was. Just then somebody patted on my back and said, “You can and you will, I believe you will rock the stage”. I was too shocked that I didn’t even turn back to see who it was. My heart beat was increasing exponentially. I stood up from my seat and slowly moved forward. I experienced lots of pats on my back as I moved towards the stage. I saw my principal sir in the front row. He raised his thumb and wished me a good luck. Then I saw my parents and teachers which boosted up my confidence and I was back in form. I was given a round of applause as I went to the stage and held the microphone. Then in the tone of confidence I started putting on my arguments. Speaking in favor of science wasn’t tough for me as I had always been mesmerized by the inventions and discoveries of science. During those five minutes I explained all the positive aspects of science and technology and its necessity in human life. I gave enough arguments to defend my views and explain the beauty of science. The crowd was spell bound by the way I was delivering. My boys were there in the back cheering and supporting my arguments and that encouraged me further. I ended my words and returned back to my seat and thanked my friends for their support. I won the consolation prize in the competition but most importantly I learned a good lesson that day.
We ourselves are our best friend and greatest rival. We are too timid to start something or do something innovative that we easily give up and move with the crowd. Sometimes we need someone as a catalyst to push us into the ocean of opportunities. If we turn the pages of history, we come to a conclusion that every innovative idea had begun with a criticism whether it be the theory of Darwin or inventions of Edison. Every successful people whom we fantasize today had sailed against the wind during their days. But we are too fearful to fail that we don’t even try. Have we ever realized what if Bill Gates had never started Microsoft because of fear of being a failure? What if Zuckerburg was overpowered by self doubt? Would they reach to a position that they are at today? We grew up in a society that says failure is not an option. In fact, failure is an option provided you have guts to bounce back. Abraham Lincoln had failed sixteen times before he was elected as the US president and similar was the case of the founder of Alibaba Company, Mr.Jack Ma. We are easily paralyzed by our daily life problems that we don’t even dare to solve them.
In a nutshell, problem itself isn’t a problem. Allowing problem to overpower you is the biggest problem.
