#FailureIsTheSizeOfYourFear
Lord Krishna to Arjun “If you fight, you will either be slain on the battlefield and go to the swarga (heaven), or you will gain victory and enjoy the kingdom on earth. Therefore, arise with determination, O son of Kunti, and be prepared to fight”. (Bhagavad Gita 2.37)
‘I win or I learn, either way I gain. No reason to be afraid of failure”’ Jaganathan
There is a famous story involving Lord Krishna and Lord Balram from #Mahabharata. This story has been narrated earlier in #MondayMusings but it is worth the repeat.
I am the size of your fear
Krishna and Balram were walking through the forests on a full moon day, when the night fell. They decided to rest in the forest and continue their journey in the dawn. They stuck a deal to keep a watch in turn for animals and threats while the other would sleep peacefully without fear. Being the elder of the two, Balram insisted that he would take the guard first and Krishna would sleep. Balram smiled to himself as he watched Krishna sleep when he suddenly heard a loud sound, “Aaaaaa”.
Startled, he looked around and saw a demon about his height watching him with hungry eyes. Balram was scared and with a quiver in his voice, he asked, “Whhhooo aaarree yooou?” The demon laughed and said, “I am the size of your fear!” Balram was petrified. The more afraid he was, the more the demon kept growing. The more the demon grew, Balram’s fear increased, and it became a chain reaction. The demon was now towering – almost three times Balram’s size and he couldn’t take it anymore. Screaming, “Krishna!” he fainted.
Krishna woke up and saw Balram next to him. Assuming he was asleep, and it was now his turn to take the guard, Krishna reached out for his flute and was about to start playing it, when he saw the demon. The demon watched him with hungry eyes. Krishna watched him without much interest. Unable to take such apathy, the demon asked, “Are you not afraid of me, I am a demon, and your brother fainted seeing me?” Krishna said, nonchalantly, “Oh! Tell me who are you?” The demon said, “I am the size of your fear!” Krishna laughed. And the demon started becoming small. The more Krishna chuckled to himself, the tinier and tinier the demon became, until it was the size of a miniature doll. Krishna picked him up and put him in the bag to show to Balram.
The next morning Balram woke up and searched for the demon. Not able to spot the demon, he asked Krishna, “Thank God we are safe! A humongous demon came and told me he was the size of my fear. Thank God, the demon spared you!”
Krishna with a smile, took out the tiny demon from his bag and asked, “Is this the demon you saw last night?” Balram was confused and said, “Yes – it looks like him. But he was huge. How did he become so tiny!”
Krishna said, “He looked so huge because he was able to scare you. He was the size of your fear. I couldn’t help but laugh when he tried to scare me, and he kept shrinking. He would have disappeared, but I wanted to show him to you – hence I have kept him!”
The story might sound comic, ridiculous and childish on the face of it but is a very meaningful management lesson. Many a times, I realized in the past that the ‘size of fear’ was pulling me back in the efforts. Once the #FearOfFailure was removed from the mind, it is like all the hurdles removed in a 100m sprint. You cannot naturally win 100m sprint when hurdles are there only in your lane and the hurdles are your #FearOfFailure.
#BeFearless
The forest in this story is a representation of our progress in our life. We must face dark moments in our life. The monster is #FearOfFailure. If we do not encounter the ‘Fear Of Failure’ with #composure and #mindfulness, then the fears and worries consume us. It is said that the mind is an orchestra constantly playing instruments of all kinds of thoughts, but without a conductor. The instruments playing ‘worries’ make their own music, resulting in a cacophony.
Not only fear, the power and energy grow or diminish based on the ‘size of faith and self-confidence’. Experience by experience, it keeps growing stronger and stronger till it reaches a point when with the sheer strength of faith one can move mountains. Literally.
The problem with some of us is that we have faith in our doubts and doubts in our faith. It should actually be reversed, and it is easy to reverse.
Be fearless Spread only faith
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#PositiveNewsPage
From Breakdown to Breakthrough - Stories That Will Change How You See Failures
Adapted from https://indianmasterminds.com/
Every year, over a million students attempt the formidable Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, aspiring to join elite government administrative services. Despite their dedication & preparation, only a fraction make the cut.
While we often celebrate the success stories, it’s equally important to spotlight those who, despite not clearing the exam, went on to succeed on their own terms.
Meet Kajal Srivastava, founder of Swadesi Sports Wear
After six heart-wrenching failures in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Kajal Srivastava was ready to give up on her dreams and, almost, her life. As the reality of her final failed attempt in 2020 sank in, she found herself standing on the edge – both figuratively and literally.
It was her sister’s comforting hug and words that saved her life that day. “She told me I wasn’t a failure, that if I couldn’t serve the country as an IPS officer, another big opportunity was waiting for me,” she shared. Little did Kajal know that her new path was about to open up,.Today, she is not only a dedicated Kalaripayattu practitioner and teacher but also the founder of #SwadesiSportswear (www.swadesisportswear.com), a brand that champions eco-friendly activewear.
THE ROUGH ROAD OF UPSC
A graduate of Hansraj College in Delhi, Kajal’s UPSC journey began with high hopes. She moved to the heart of Delhi’s UPSC preparation hub, Rajendra Nagar, and started her rigorous schedule. Her daily routine included hours of classes and self-study, cramped into a tiny room with little ventilation, battling bed bugs and exhaustion.
Years passed, but success remained elusive. With each failed attempt, Kajal’s anxiety and self-doubt grew. The strain began to take a toll on her health. The struggle was compounded by health issues like thyroid and PCOS, which sapped her energy further.
In 2016, just a day before her UPSC prelims, a severe bout of appendicitis hit her. Against the doctor’s advice, she tried to make it to the exam center but fainted from the pain and ended up in surgery. “My entire year was wasted. And I had no Plan B. I continued to study all day and night,” she remembered.
Despite her relentless efforts, 2020 marked her final failed attempt. Six years of struggle had ended in heartbreak.
KALARIPAYATTU : A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
In the darkest moment of her life, Kajal discovered the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu. As a child, she was fascinated by the art of ‘lathbaaji’. Later, a yoga practitioner mentioned Kalaripayattu to her, sparking a new interest. She joined a gurukul (residential training center) of Shinto Mathew in 2017 while still preparing for the UPSC. Practicing the martial art became her solace.
The rigorous physical postures and movements not only helped her recover from health issues but also empowered her mentally. With her guru, #ShintoMathew, guiding her, Kajal found purpose again.
Kajal has since become an assistant teacher at her gurukulam, and her TAVASI movement has helped over 2,000 people find peace and strength through Kalaripayattu workshops.
REDEFINING ACTIVEWEAR
In 2022, another challenge arose. Continuous practice and training required her to stay in activewear all day, and she developed severe rashes due to the synthetic fabric and chemicals in regular sportswear. “The dermatologist told me it was due to the toxic chemicals used in the fabric,” Kajal said. This revelation pushed her to explore the harmful effects of synthetic fabrics on both health and the environment.
Unable to find a sustainable alternative, Kajal decided to create her own. She founded #SwadesiSportswear, focusing on breathable, eco-friendly fabrics such as cotton, ikkat, and kalamkari.
Without any marketing, Kajal already sold over 2,000 pieces, all driven by word-of-mouth.
FROM FAILURE TO FULFILLMENT
Kajal Srivastava’s journey from a disillusioned UPSC aspirant to a Kalaripayattu master and entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. Reflecting on her past, Kajal says, “Sometimes, the roadblocks we face are just redirections to something greater. I may have failed in UPSC, but I found a purpose that’s changing lives, including my own.
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Conceived, compiled and positive as a weekly positive newsletter #MondayMusings by Jaganathan t (www.authorjaganathan.com).
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