The Art of Letting Go & Starting Over
The UPSC Civil Services Examination Prelims 2024 results were announced on Monday evening. For a fortunate few thousands, it was a moment of happy tears, while for the majority, it brought tears of pain and defeat. Having been a UPSC aspirant myself, I feel your pain and disappointment.
I too have faced failure innumerable times in my four decades of existence. Before being labeled as a ‘UPSC Fail’, I was a 11th fail. Yes, you read that right- I failed in the 11th grade. Later in life, I pursued the UPSC exams to fulfill my dream of becoming an IAS officer and serving the people. I read countless books (though I watched even more movies), wrote extensively, burned the midnight oil, and gave all four attempts. In my third attempt, I reached the interview stage, however, I missed a rank by a narrow margin. In my final attempt, I couldn’t even clear Prelims.
My streak of bad luck continued. I cleared the KPSC KAS exams (took them in 2011, results were announced in 2013), and secured a position as a Commercial Tax Officer. However, that result list was initially cancelled, and the appointment letters were finally sent in 2021.
By then, almost thirty, I had to start over and dream a new dream. Was it easy? Definitely not. Did I give up, though? No! I saw my failures as freedom– freedom from societal expectations, my own limiting beliefs, and most importantly, freedom from the fear of failure. I wasn’t afraid to take risks.
My next dream? Becoming an entrepreneur! During my UPSC Prep days, I used to maintain a blog- where I’d pen down my thoughts on various issues, politics, and IAS preparation. It gained popularity among aspirants, and I built a supportive, vibrant online community. When it comes to beginning again, we need to objectively assess our strengths & weaknesses, and build on all our previous learnings. The years I invested into preparing for the civil services exams weren’t a waste of time. I chose to utilise my experience to guide others through insightsonindia.com.
Growing up in a village, my access to opportunities was hindered by economic hardships. I was determined to bring about a revolution in the realm of UPSC Exam Preparation. The small step that I took over a decade ago, has since grown into a force for change. Today, it’s one of the top websites for those preparing for the UPSC exam.
So, what does this teach us about letting go and beginning anew?
One, failures are inevitable. Do not take them personally, do not catastrophize and believe everything is over, just because you failed at an exam or a task. It is never the end, it is always a beginning for a better and more exciting chapter in your life. You just need to pause for a bit, feel all the emotions- the pain, the anger, the frustration, talk to people you trust and then gather all the courage and will to begin again.
Secondly, failures are opportunities for growth. Failed in Prelims and wish to give another attempt? Reflect over where you lacked in your preparation, talk to others who cleared or mentors, listen to their strategies and guidance, and then build your own game plan to tackle the exam. Unlearn, learn new skills and use the experience to build back better.
Finally, failures are not rejections, but redirections toward new paths. Keep an open mind and heart, embrace new experiences and avenues. Do not be rigid about the path to your goal, or your goal, for that matter. It is okay to quit something that isn’t working, it is okay to choose a new path- whether at 30 or 40! Age is just a number.
But does the cycle of failures never end?
For me, the failures haven’t magically stopped. Success and failure are just momentary events in the timeline of life. In August 2023, I made another bold decision – to enter the realm of politics & contest the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. I contested as an independent candidate in Davanagere Lok Sabha constituency and managed to secure a total of 42,907 votes, finishing third behind the candidates from two national parties. Do I view it as a defeat? Not at all. It is a moral victory for me. I was bold enough to enter the political fray, contest in a constituency dominated by two strong political families, and pursue my goal of serving society- this time through the political path.
Peter Drucker has said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
Let go of what was, or what could have been; embrace the now- the present. Grab new opportunities or create them yourself. I never gave up, despite several hurdles thrown at me by life. Instead, I utilized the obstacles to grow stronger and do better. I still continue to dream big. The journey may be arduous, but the path to a better tomorrow starts with you and your mindset- today. Have unshakable belief in yourself and your ability to overcome the toughest of hurdles. Be bold, think big and never give up!
“Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life. Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.” ― Paulo Coelho
