Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Manjeet Singh Kukreja E very time I get scared to approach my dreams… when size of the project overwhelms me, when the cold responses from  people around me, the ‘No’ that I hear, the memories of some of my past setbacks, the perennial question: What if I fail? What if my people betray? What if… ? Yes, every time these negative voices raise their neck and make me develop cold feet, I remind myself this: They only try to test your resolve! Indeed, it is so. Unless, my resolve is tested, it won’t become steely, tough. If iron has to pass the test of fire to become steel, my resolve, too, has to pass the test of negative resistance from people around me to become steely. Only when I pass this test, I shall be eligible to succeed, win. W hat is that I want? Have I thought enough about it? Have I desired it enough? Have I written it down… visualized it, felt it… seen in my mind, felt in my heart and invited in my soul…Have I made a commitment to ...

Pic.: Nirmala Sundar W here does our cynicism come from? I think, it comes from our disappointments and frustrations. I watch myself, closely, every time I tend to become cynical – and, let me tell you this: I do pass through my own share of cynical bouts umpteen times in life – and notice that my heart is not strong enough to withstand the disappointments and frustrations stemming from various setbacks… the temporary defeats, unfair criticism from people around, lack of loyalty and integrity from people around, lack of appreciation and loss of love… yes, I notice, that whenever I experience any of these setbacks, if my heart is not strong enough to withstand the pain and the shock, I, invariably, tend to sulk… go into my shell and conclude, “What is the point?”… “No use.” Mercifully, in my case, the bouts of cynicism are sporadic… Like the dark clouds in the sky, they appear, stay there for a while… and, then, they go… But, go they will! So, wh...