An essay on the unutilized power of YOU
If you already understand and have the growth mindset, you need nothing else
Atma-shraddha or “soul-faith”
“All the powers in the universe are already ours.” Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda brought in a great concept at focus: Atma-shraddha. Roughly, it is translated as self-confidence, self-belief, and self-respect.
It is quoted in the scriptures that your mind is your greatest friend and worst enemy.
Practising atma-shraddha — having faith in your soul — changed my life.
My self-esteem had fallen greatly in the recent past. In a lecture, I was introduced to these words, and I do not lie when I say that my life took a twist for the betterment.
To sum up the life-changing lecture in one sentence: The only one stopping you from your goals is you.
I am sure most of you will relate to the following circumstance:
Your teacher explains a concept and asks for doubts. The class, in a chorus, denies it. You may have a doubt, but you never give voice to it. You’re forever stuck up on the concept.
There are other similar situations, when you want to put your thoughts and wishes out, but something halts you.
What is that obstruction?
Is it a monster holding your neck? Is it your friend shutting you up?
The only one in your way is you.
Your inner voice, shying, hesitating, and fearing from god knows what prompts you to shut up, lest you look stupid.
As often said, a child who asks doubt looks foolish for 5 minutes. A child who doesn’t remains a fool for fifty years ahead.
Your nagging inner voice, you submit to it.
It reigns you and your life, making you smaller in front of your eyes and hence, in front of the world’s eyes.
Atma-shraddha is defeating that demon.
Don’t be a boulder for yourself.
You need to speak out and face your insecurities and fears to get better. You need to understand your power, the inner potential bubbling inside you.
You have no idea how easily stuff will come to you if you ask for it, loudly.
The two mindsets
I elaborated upon the growth and fixed mindsets in an earlier post.
Self-deprecating humour is the rage today. We love to demean ourselves and our abilities, leading to low self-esteem.
Here’s a tip to end the vicious cycle: Replace self-deprecating humour with self-elevating humour.
An example: When you slip, instead of saying, “how clumsy I am!” say, “how graceful is my walk indeed!” This exercise will subconsciously increase your confidence and self-esteem.
Most of us who are stuck in the rut have a Fixed Mindset.
The term pretty much means what it says.
Things might or might not be going well. Yet, you’d not do anything out of the blue and go forward with the same ol’ shit instead of improvising and improving.
We fumble when a rock bigger than anticipated stands in our way; we accept defeat already.
“I can’t do it” is a manipulated version of the fixed mindset.
Maybe your current self cannot do it, but what about your future self? With enough training and practice, why wouldn’t you be able to?
There is always a scope for improvement, as the Growth Mindset suggests.
You can grow in your abilities, you can change, and come out as a different and upgraded version of yourself when you’ve crossed the obstacle.
Before I attended the lecture, one event shook me badly.
I was never the genius kind of student for whom maths was a piece of cake. Hence, when my marks came shockingly low in an assessment, I felt I would never score high again.
After hearing the lecture, I got inspired to improve. I vowed to myself to perform better. The result?
My marks touched the stars again.
Only because I believed in myself and knew that I could grow in the future.
Any obstacle in your life is not passed by running in the opposite direction or hiding. In most cases, it won’t vanish.
You have to face the reality.
The confrontation may give you jitters. Either it will lead to success, or it will lead to failure. In both outcomes, you will grow instead of stagnating.
Look at yourself!
Look at those hands, idle with unrealized potential. It is more potent than Dr Strange’s magic. Only those who believe in their hidden power and tap it without inflating their egos can attain success.
A God is living in each one of us, watching and waiting.
Wake up, and the world will never be the same again.
Are You Lucky As Well?
One favourite habit of mine is listening to people’s lives.
My friends tell me their tales. A few common issues prop up then and now.
They’re related to three factors mainly.
Studies: Leads to high-stress levels and emotional breakdowns.
Social Life: Leads to mental illnesses of all sorts.
Family: Leads to unfair conflict.
I used to have a thousand circumstances to complain about earlier.
I wasn’t born into a millionaire household, the pollution levels around me are on an unprecedented rise, affecting my physical health, and my mental health suffered extensively at a young age.
My friends made me realise how extremely lucky I am in one aspect…
Self Love Comes With Self Accountability
“Self-love” is the rage of this generation
Too much pain is detrimental to your life as much as too little of it is. If you do not take care of your mental, emotional, and physical needs, you would function poorly as a human. Your days would pass miserably.
I love myself, embracing my crazy passions and appearance and giving myself the required breaks to enjoy life as well.
But in self-love, we forget accountability…
PS: I haven’t been active on Substack lately, and I apologise. My exams have gotten over now, though. I promise to enlighten and delight you all with more personal essays coming up regularly again!
If there’s any topic you would like my views on, shoot it at me. Your suggestions and lauding are welcome as well.