Learning from a cricket match

After a long time, I watched a full inning of India of today's match against England. In the end, India lost but it left me wondering about the amazing quality of cricketers of remaining calm under intense circumstances. It is so similar to UPSC's preparation. Intense pressure, confusion about what to do and what not to do, big hit or singles, rotating strike or holding on to it and many more things. It is so similar to UPSC's preparation and also so common to our daily life.

One quote from the commentator was very inspiring. "Fortune favors the brave". If filled me with some energy. Quitting the job was a tough decision. Except for a couple of people, everyone opposed it. Even I was reluctant and half-hearted and double minded during all the negotiations. But somewhere things rolled and I nudged forward a little step in an uncertain territory. It's a new opportunity. Looking at today's match helped me in realizing that one does not need to be jittery and confused. All you need is determination, discipline, and dedication.

It is so easy to say do not give up. People perfect preach others about the need of following one's conviction. I preach it all the time to my nephews and nieces. But putting this in practice is damn difficult. We Indians not only miss the spine for this courage and ability to move into unexplored territory but we also lack the overall ecosystem for the same. I say so for the following reasons:
1. The society is deeply focussed on what others are doing. The introspective appeal is missing in the social system.
2. Our child-rearing processes make us image-conscious. As a result, we fear to break the social and psychological barriers.
3. The inherent human tendency is to move towards stability and security. The social system strengthens it. Even our religion used to preach us to not take up sea voyages. For these reasons, Indian never became great sea-fearers.

Maybe some of us have the spine but social ecosystem causes a lot of problems. Many of us go to foreign territory and do great things. They are the same individual who would spit on the road, lack discipline and become gossip-monger while they are in India.

Anyways, the cricket match was fun. It exhibited the power of confidence, calmness, and conviction. I wish I could achieve the same but how is the big question.