Setbacks To Strengths

Failures and setbacks are part of the journey. It is nothing to be ashamed of; it is something to learn from. I am not really bothered a lot about setbacks or failures in themselves, but about the kind of attitude with which they are dealt with.

They are something to take a lesson from and to better ourselves, and I would rather face failures and make mistakes while practicing than in the actual performance that counts. Making mistakes is a good thing in general; you get to know your weaknesses and where you are lacking in either your planning or your execution.

I have seen people make really good plans and execute them very poorly, even though I was doing the same not too long ago and sometimes even now.

It is necessary that you recognise that you have a weak point somewhere, and you should be willing to work on it and actually work on it. Learn from the people around you who are good at what you are weak at. I know all of us have an ego to some extent inside us, but I'd rather that you put it down for a while and learn from other people, because there is no shame in trying to better ourselves and strengthen our weaknesses, and there is absolutely no shame in asking for help.

I know that sometimes, when we fail or come to face with a setback, the people around us say really unkind things to us, showing absolutely no regard for our own emotions. It's like some people make you feel as if, “I am also sad about facing a setback, and you are not the only one caring about it; I know the result I got is not what I initially desired, so please, I know that, and I am just as sad” . When you come to people who make you feel like it, it hurts, I know, but the only advice I have is that they also care for you and probably also want the best for you too.

I want you to imagine a time when one of your strengths was a setback. My setback has always been languages, particularly Hindi. It was hard for me—at one point, extremely hard—since I can’t write Hindi words correctly. I made a lot of spelling mistakes. My paper used to be drenched in red ink. For some reason, it seems like a really distant memory. I am still not very skilled in my Hindi writing skills, but I have definitely gotten better at spelling. The same cannot be said for my Hindi reading. But I don’t think Hindi as a language ever got easier, did it? can it? Definitely not. So what changed? probably I did. But that’s the thing, though: what may be your setback today may become your strength tomorrow; you never know, but for that, you must be willing to learn.

It doesn’t get easier; you just get stronger.

In this era of the internet, I really don’t see why you must struggle with your weaknesses all alone. Learn things online if you don’t have any choice. Learn with conviction to get better. Learn for yourself. People grow in adversity.

If you feel sad, talk to the people that you feel as if they understand you—your friends, your family, a stranger, a mentor—anyone works, but don’t keep sadness and grief inside; it rots you from within, leaving you emotionally devastated.

Try your best to help yourself; if not you, then who? In the process, if you need some help, then get some. If you need my help, I will help where I can if you ask for it. But the only thing is to do your best and get better. I know you can do it.

I have confidence in you.