Just Be Yourself.

I gave my first SSB at Allahabad in March this year. I qualified the screening test on the first day, and was very excited for the various activities during my 5 day stay at Selection Services Board, Allahabad. During evening time on the first day, while I was walking with one of the qualified candidates, I asked him, “Where are you from?”, he replied that he was from Maharashtra and was currently working in a MNC. As I was gripped with my own excitement of qualifying the SSB in first attempt, I just fired up my next question, "which attempt are you giving?". First of all, he smiled and said it doesn’t matter, but then I insisted and he said, so you want a number, yeah.

I replied, "yes!". He said, "it’s my 13th attempt!". I just stopped there for a while looking at him, so calm and composed during his talk, and a smile all over his face. Surprised by his reply my next question was how did he manage to gather and motivate himself all this time? I mean there would have been ups and downs, for sure, at any of this time did he never thought of giving it up and go into some other area of interest? He said it did occurred to me, but I want to try as much as I can and want to join the defense services. Further he added, that he had been screened out as well as conference out in earlier SSBs and yes he was disappointed, but each and every time he prepared himself for the challenge and let that ignition of motivation and hope glow inside himself.

He just put his hand over my shoulder and said, "Dude, never give up".

And guess what, he was the only candidate from our batch to get recommended for the medical!!! Now what would you call that? Luck or destiny? Neither of them! Let me tell you, it was pure and sheer hard work, his determination, his enthusiasm, his focus, his willpower and his character that led him to reach that position where he wanted to be. I don’t know whether he made to the short listing or not, but he definitely taught a lesson to me that day.

First, always be humble! Second, never never never give up on your dreams and aspirations. Third and the most important, be what you are. And you know what’s tough? To be yourself. In this world which is constantly changing, people running day and night, meeting aspirations, chasing ambitions, there is something what we are losing day by day. And that’s being ourselves. And I just want to say that, be the one what you want to be, let people love you for what you are, not for what they want you to be.

May be you are crazy, childish, motivated, messy, astonished, expressive, aggressive, opinionated, foodie, dance lover, 'quizzomaniac', whatever it is. Just be what you're. The one’s who want to stay with you during your bad and good times will stay forever, irrespective of what you are, what you do, they will always find a way to be with you, but also make sure that you be with them and give them equal time what they want. Love yourself. Let yourself explore. We are not aware what battles one is fighting every day, what challenges one is facing, we are just fighting our own silent battles. We do not know what pain one has endured, what sacrifices one has to make, yet we are smiling, lighting that hope and motivation what one needs and passing it onto others! Be a Helper. Inspire someone every day. Touch their soul through your words.

Repeat those words every time and whenever you can because not only it will make the next person feel better but will also make you hopeful and motivated. And that’s why i keep often repeating these things, not because I have more knowledge or so, but because at times, I myself need to hear what I speak. In an article, I read, that “By offering hope to others, I develop hope for myself.” What better way it could be. Don’t let someone say you are not good enough or hold on a grudge for something. Just be thankful to God for another day that how fortunate you are and share your knowledge, wisdom, love, craziness, messiness with this world. Do things what you have never experienced before, may be you will gain or maybe you will lose. If you win, you go on to another level, and if you lose, you will develop wisdom to enlighten others with. Admit it, the world needs more of that, we need more of that. So believe in yourself. Have faith and explore.