Find Your Image

Niranjan was coming back from school like everyday but something happened that day. The annual elections in the school for the President were announced. Being an academically inclined child always he did not even pay attention to it.

 Niranjan had been a very disciplined and well behaved child. From a very early age he was aware of his image as a studious child. He never bothered to clarify that either that he had other dimensions too. Nobody focussed on his other aspects. He was always introduced as a studious, shy child. But Niranjan knew that he was confident but it was always overshadowed by people. He wasn't shy but reserved. With time he tried breaking that stereotype but it did only to some extent. He was now considered confident but only in his space and still not the way he wanted. This always bothered him. He did make peace with it by gradually making an effort. He never saw himself any lesser but he wasn't rigid to not explore. He wanted to. . . . . . .

When he reached home, he followed the same routine and went to bed. There was nothing in the air that excited him, he liked to go to school anyways. He had a good image and also good friends. So he liked going.

The next day was the last day to submit the names for the elections and Niranjan was sitting there with his friends, suddenly his Principal came in. He was an influential personality and he had quite an impact on students. He made a powerful speech on why it is important to explore and how can it help us in the long run. Niranjan was always listening but he never really felt that motivated . He did not think twice and went to home only after submitting his name for the President. It was a sudden decision but required.

Niranjan came home and told his parents and a teacher. They were surprised or shocked!! but Niranjan wasn't. A certain sense of calm surrounded him. He prepared his speech in the simplest words.  

He went into the hall next day where he had sat quite a time when he had voted for the past participants for a lot of years. Back then, he was judging the others and now the tables turned. He went there and gave his speech confidently. The impact could be seen in the hall. This later commensurated in his win that too with the highest majority ever.  

But what really amazed Niranjan and made him glad that he was actually the way he though he was all this while. It was not a shallow image that he used to carry all the time. Later he got to know that people had faith in him already. Sometimes we criticize ourselves too much that is the root to many problems. Niranjan never thought of him any lesser. It were the opportunities that he needed. He proved that he wasn't merely building the castles in the air. He was happy that he could prove himself right. He never intended to stand for winning but to explore and to believe in himself that he is what he thinks he is!

When we have insecurities in life, that's where problems arise. If you are afraid of the criticism then you ain't for this world. No matter what you do, there will always be a section that is there to put you down . Believe in yourself is the mantra to be untouched by this negativity.

If somebody's told you their opinion about you which is nasty then you have two choices; First, that you go home and cry thinking too much about 'their' opinion and spend rest of your time regreting and complaining to God about it. And the second, you make yourself understand the fact that the person just said a sentence and went away and got busy in their lives without even bothering what it meant to you. That opinion shouldn't even matter to you. What should matter is your own opinion because you spend the maximum time with yourself, so it's very important what image you carry of yourself. You might pretend somethings but in that coarse you certainly will achieve it. If you are not confident from inside, fake it on the outside. Eventually in that faking, you will become a confident person. But you need to believe in yourself immensely.

Later, Niranjan did face a lot of criticism for his actions,looks out of people's own grudges . He was mocked but what never took away the confidence from him was his Self Belief and he laughed them off.

"Those who seek validation outside, end up becoming a sheep. "