How far to go? Does running after your wants make you happy?

Woah! Mr. Sharma, your house looks wonderful! The interior is so classy. I've never seen anything like this before!

Your son has become an engineer! That's amazing! Now you are going to get lots of dowry Mrs. Meena! 

These are things that you also must have heard people say around you. Actually, this is an ideology most people can't resist. Most people, even if they read a thousand inspiring storybooks, innumerable quotes, and listen to various self-help speeches, can't keep themselves away from those tempting materialistic things. They are ready to give their all to satisfy their wants.

Suppose there's a guy named Aarush who wanted to become an IAS officer and did whatever it takes to become one but still couldn't pass the entrance exam, which was the first step towards his goal. Now, instead of moving on with his life and finding a better purpose, he took this failure to heart and started cursing himself and his fate. As time passed, he started blaming his family and the system for everything he wanted but didn't get. Now, he doesn't want to settle down with a job that he finds inferior to the job of an IAS officer. 

Where do you think this kind of mindset will take him? Don't you think this kind of thinking will drown him in depression and social anxiety later on in his life? 

There are many people out there like Aarush. They think it is possible to get whatever they want if they try hard enough. But, you and I know that it is not the case. We can't have everything in life. We can always think and try our best to land on the top position. But, it is also important to understand that even if we don't get what we want, it is fine. 

Be patient. Have gratitude for what you already have. 

It is essential to understand that one thing leads to another. After fulfilling one desire, another desire comes out of the bush to make us hustle even harder, sometimes at the cost of our health, happiness, and peace.

Do you have the personality of a go-getter? Great! There's nothing wrong with that. But do not run after things that ask you to bet your everything on them. 

Success and failure aren't the opposite poles of a magnet. One who gets success also gets failure in his life. Ups and downs are part of life, and we should never move our faces away from any of them.

Written by Pranjal Sinha