Phew!! What a Match it was!! An ultra-marathon for both players. Each game, or rather, each point, was well fought by both players. Yes, we were all exuberant to see Lakshya finally win. But what are the takeaways from yesterday’s match for parents and youth, especially when it comes to planning life’s future decisions?
“Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana” is the most popular shloka from Bhagavad Gita Chapter-2 verse-47, which was well demonstrated here in the match. Every game was a roller coaster ride, swinging from one side to the other, and each point had such rallies that anyone could have taken the point. Both the players were par excellence in their strokes, they were both extremely powerful and agile; they both had very strong endurance and stamina, they both had an excellent attitude of “never say die” and gave their 100% on the court.
So what is it that makes one win and the other lose? Isn’t this common in our lives? Even after extreme planning, preparation, and perfect execution, there are times when the results are not in our favor. This time, all Indians are feeling celebratory, but what about the opponent and his supporters? How must they be feeling? I am sure that the player and his team have not left any stone unturned in their efforts and preparation for the Olympics.
Takeaway 1: You may feel you are the best in your field, but there will come a time when someone will better your record and push you behind. So it is always wise to be grounded and humble and keep the cup half filled or empty to be in a learning mode at all times.
Takeaway 2: The game was extremely enjoyable, irrespective of the result of the game. Both the players played their best and fought like valiant warriors. One had to win, but actually both are winners, as the quality of the match needs to be celebrated and spoken about. The ‘process’ is more important than the “result,” as there are huge learnings and growths in the process, not necessarily in the result. Both the players have actually learnt and grown to be better players and human beings because of the game. That is the real victory, growth and value of the game.
Takeaway 3: The results are never in our control, no matter how good we are, how perfect we are in our planning, or how consistent we are in our efforts. There is always that ‘unknown’ variable that adds on to the other variables and creates the result. This unknown variable is part of the ‘universal cause and effect’ principle and is much longer-term than what a normal person envisages. Therefore, being humble and praying as an additional effort to contribute to a positive effect in the cause-and-effect chain of events may increase the chances of success.
Summary: Competence, efforts, and positive beliefs are very critical for winning, but the grace of God, or the universal cause-and-effect factor, is also a factor that multiplies the probabilities of success in any venture. As parents and youth are planning for the future, the “mental,” “social,” and “physical” qualities need to be focused upon by building competencies in these areas through practice and hard work. However, there has to be equal focus on the “spiritual” self as well, which enables a person to remain grounded and humble as they reach higher levels of achievement in their fields. Meditation, mindfulness, and prayers to be in harmony with the universe and the environment must also be part of the self-development activities.