Dixya Poudel

THE route to life certainly isn't a smooth one. Obstacles and adversities can occur in defining moments that consequently disrupt our sense of the world. We are all aware that failures and setbacks are a part of life. It is up to us to acknowledge our failures and turn them into a source of strength, guidance and self-actualisation.
Through our experiences, we know that psychological pain can be as devastating as physical pain. In psychological terms, when people say that their heart hurts in loss and agony, the feeling is quite certainly palpable. We all have come across rejections in relationships, friendships and even at work. It is a normal part of growing up as we assimilate in the social aspects of life. Likewise, in all walks of life, people have had to see their dreams turned to smithereens due to illnesses, financial instability and lack of guidance and opportunities.
Most of the youth who are looking for admissions to their aspired colleges have to deal with rejections. It also applies to Nepali students seeking admissions to colleges of their choice. At a young age, they find out that the world is competitive and that their chances depend on their grades, achievements and extracurricular activities. Each year thousands of Nepali students apply for admissions to colleges in the nation or abroad, only to be turned down.
It can be exasperating and disappointing which can further lead to feelings of insecurities. Educators see the failures of their students and commiserate with them in support. In turn, they can foster young students with lessons on overcoming failures. It is not the end of the world that they failed to secure admissions and scholarships to colleges.
It is said that pride comes before a fall. And even the most successful people have had to face situations which are beyond their circle of control. Then there are humanitarian aspects of failures and how we perceive them as an individual and a society. Once we realise that every individual has setbacks and challenges at some point in life, we might be more empathetic to his or her struggles. Being judgmental only hinders our own growth and potential. Because of judgments and preconceived biases, we could miss a really good chance at knowing a person.
Further, judgments in friendships and relationships are a deal breaker and they only bear ill-will and negative consequences. Once we come to terms with another's personal struggles and point of view, we are better able to navigate relationships. What can we do to better accept the humbling situations in life? First of all, we need to acknowledge our shortcomings and strengths. Then we need to create goals to improve our shortcomings and further enhance our strengths.
Humility comes from accepting that we are far from perfect and that life isn't fair. All may be fair in love and war but life has its own agenda. We could instead take proactive steps towards our own actions. Each time we fail, we can pick ourselves up and shake off the disappointments and look at the bright side of life. Eventually, our lessons from failures and adversities enable us to be a better person.