I happened to come across this image and made me think of the times where I struggled hard to be in the position which holds the highest value. The thought that I would only standout if I was holding the top position in sports, academics or in ones professional journey.
I never achieved the top position however in the bragain I actually sabotaged myself trying to achieve it.
Strangely, while I was eyeing for the top position, I saw my mates happy and excited even with the fact that they participated… some of them were thrilled for holding the fourth or the fifth position.
That’s when I wondered, does the number really matter? Does the position really matter? Is it the number or the state of my mind that changes the game? Someone may not be happy being at the first position and someone may be content by holding the 10th position.
This seemed confusing and tricky to me.
While I was persuing my studies with majors in psychology, I realised a few important things.
Its not the number, rank, or success but my own thoughts that play a vital role in influencing my emotions.
How I think actually influences the way I feel. I tried telling myself to be positive in these tough situations. While it helped me many a times but to convince one self to be positive always was not convincing enough.
So I started working on myself to gain a better understanding and realised that it was my set of beliefs, that I have been carrying for years that ONLY the top position will give me happiness. It was imperative to be on the top position to be happy for me.I kept probing deeper what makes people happy while they are not holding the highest position. And there I got the answer – Self Acceptance!!!!
I was looking for acceptance from the external world. Looking for validations from people while the truth is that they are not even the ones to validate you. It’s me who has to accept myself before I even look for acceptance outside.
As I start this week … I promise myself towards working for it. I am starting today … are you ?
