Human beings are an amalgam of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, desires, images, fear, hopes, doubts, opinions and ambitions, each of them playing its part in determining success of an individual. There is a common saying ‘Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.’ It is our thoughts which guide us to move ahead to explore the unexplored or to step back out of fear. These are our thoughts which can help us to take a less trodden path and yet cross all the barricades.

“Not out of right practice

Comes right thinking, but

Out of right thinking

Comes right practice.”

–        Annie Besant

Thoughts- steering wheel of life

Our life is a cascade in which one factor initiates the other. Our thoughts ignite images and emotions. These images and emotions trigger our attitude and actions. Our actions then determine what happens to us. If we think about success and confidence, we will feel competent and perform better. If we think about making mistakes and being embarrassed we will perform poorly, no matter how good we really are. Hence it is our thoughts which can give us a motive to strive hard or defer a work; to achieve success by doing good or consider success in causing detriment to others.

Thoughts help us to shape our destination. The desire to become successful ignites a will which makes our efforts persistent. Will and way are complimentary to each other. If one has a strong yearn he can cross over all shackles to turn the table around and bring a reality in castles built in air. Sometimes before achieving success, we have to face failure. These failures may leave us low spirited or fill us with enthusiasm to start fresh. This is all the magic of thoughts which can turn us into a liability or asset.

Thoughts- stepping stones or hindrance

It is very easy to give up and quit but it is difficult to sustain. Only our thoughts give us energy to be persistent, consistent and enduring. False and negative thoughts bring weariness and sluggishness. Negativity has never won laurels. The words like quitting, impossibilities, stepping back are difficult to find in dictionary of few people. Only positive thoughts can give liveliness, dynamism, strength and vivacity to fly high and touch the sky.

People like Helen Keller, Stephen Hawking, etc. have done miracles because of their optimistic thoughts. Obstacles in their lives could not weaken their thoughts to make their life meaningful and successful.

Vincent Van Gogh was an artist who lived in penury. No one was interested in his paintings but his positive outlook never allowed him to stop painting. After his demise he left 750 paintings and 1600 drawings which became extremely valuable. His paintings were sold for $82.5 million, the highest piece ever paid for any painting. His thought to achieve never parted from him so success had to blaze his path.

If people of countries under colonial rule would have accepted foreign authority and discrimination and not thought of liberation, we would not have been breathing in independent countries.

Through its Mangalyaan mission, India could only became the first country to attain the feat of reaching Mars’ orbit in its first attempt only because of its positive thoughts. Despite several financial and technological challenges Mangalyaan could become a success just because of the positive attitude of the scientists working on the mission.

COVID-19 a pandemic that bound the world in isolation and loneliness could only be tackled due to zeal of frontline professionals to protect human lives. The stress, dejection and fear associated with COVID could only be busted with hope, optimism and sanguinity.

Even in mythology we get to know about Lord Hanuman who is reminded of his powers when he had to cross the ocean to reach Lanka.

In the long run

Thoughts that are not restricted to self and take the development of entire society into account make world a better place to live in. Thoughts of an inclusive world give wings to humanity and leave egoism and ignorance to linger.

Winding up by verse written by Walter D. Wintle-

“If you think you are beaten, you are

If you think you dare not, you don’t,

If you like to win, but you think you can’t

It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost

For out of the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow’s will

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are

You’ve got to think high to rise,

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins

Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!”

Amidst positive atmosphere of India which is characterized by multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-caste society living with communal harmony, it is distressing to see that thoughts of corruption, terrorism, avarice, egoism and abhorrence are making the environment filthy. Such thoughts only weave the net of obstructions. So let us strive to secure the future of our country and safeguard it from gloom, pessimism and negativity. Affirmative and progressive thoughts will only be able to save foundational ethos of secularism, democracy, fraternity, liberty and equality on which the country rests.

By: DEEPIKA SINGLA

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