Skip to main content

How can we win ourselves?

When you look at the title, you might have thought that, winning is about, winning a position, money, respect, winning friends, winning people, some tangible outcome, but what is it all about ‘winning ourselves’.

Let's try to understand it one by one.

What do we understand by interference? Is this something which unnecessarily involves or meddles in our success? This could be the general thought of interference.

How do we understand the meaning of interference with regards to our growth and success? The interferences can be hurdles, which we come across. Basically, there are two kinds of interferences- Internal and External.

Below are examples of internal and external interferences (Self-discovery- CLF):

Internal interferences:

External interferences:

Ignorance

Poor education

Negligence

Poverty

Anxiety

No guidance

Stress

Lack of family understanding and support

Lack of faith

Political instability

Grudges and jealousy

Lack of finance

 Internal interference is what is in our control and we can overcome if we really try on it. The external interference are things or situations which are not in our control. The internal interferences are mainly factors like our ego which can affect our performance and relationship. Other few aspects such as fear, anxiety, temper, stress, being jealous, not having faith in oneself etc.

The interferences make us much more awaken in the topics to understand the world and ourselves in a new way.

How does 'ego' which is a very impactful interference, affect us.

With ego, we lose touch with reality, and we miss opportunities — to improve, to connect with others, and to achieve our goals.

 “If the ego is the voice that tells us we're better than we really are, we can say ego inhibits true success by preventing a direct and honest connection to the world around us”.

To get over on the external interferences we should understand our internal interferences well. And we can work on internal interferences completely, as this is in our hands.

For example:

Lack of poverty, No Guidance or No Financial support, for this external interferences we can fight and win by ourselves by building our internal interference like Laziness, narrow-minded, Negative mind etc.

So instead of stopping ourselves with a belief and thought of ‘no financial support’, we can think broadly and work hard and create opportunities and make money and capability and erase this interference of poverty in mind. We here learn how our internal interferences stop us from growing if we don’t overcome it. And for that, firstly realization of our internal weakness and threat is a must.

Ego plays a dual role in our life it has both positive and negative impacts. This is a very important aspect to understand and ponder, the term ‘ego’.

Example: Positive side- When ego says you are right, it makes us believe ourselves and move forward to our success when on doubtful step.

Negative side- When ego says ‘only I am right’, we may take the wrong step/decisions, and not consider the overall picture.

Image source: 

We are always interdependent and connected with others:

Many a time we try to satisfy others from our outcomes. When the outcome of our work will be dependent on another person’s opinion, that is when we have stopped focusing on our aim but we are more into impressing others. It is important to listen and understand others’ opinion and feelings, but at the same time we need to be focused on what we actually want to achieve

Other aspects that help us in life to succeed can be being positive about situations. We need to understand that everything can't be perfect. We should give space for mistakes of ourselves and others. We should learn to accept the flaws within us and others. We should learn to be adaptive to situations which appear suddenly without prior notice

Everything around us won't be as we expect it to be. We should change the attitude of blaming others for things that go against our expectations. Confidence in oneself is good but it shouldn't turn into overconfidence. When we become overconfident, we lose the ability to handle negative situations. We always expect things to be perfect. We won’t be able to handle failure. That is the extreme part of the ego, where we think our self to be right in every situation

We make an opinion about ourselves to be perfect and don't wish anyone to find mistakes in us. We become arrogant with people who have a different opinion. Our focus will only be on showcasing ourselves to be perfect. When we become self-centred, slowly we lose out with the communication with surrounding people, we become less connected.

What happens when we get disconnected? Example: We fail to share our ideas in many instances and that might lead to external interference like lack of funding for our ideas or something else.

Thus it's very important to be connected to people around us. Not just to share our problems and ideas but also to understand their feelings. In other words to activate our EI (Emotional intelligence).

These aspects bring us closer to a few important facets of our character, Personal, Social and Religious values we inherit.

I will conclude by summarizing how can we deal with internal interferences. The internal interferences are there in every one of us, nobody is perfect. The action we can take is, first of all, understanding our interferences and looking at ways to practically break them into units and see how each unit is impacting in our day to day affairs (SWOT). And the next step is accepting, wherever we need to improve upon. And further looking for ways to polishing ourselves so that we come out of interferences one by one gradually. And as we discussed above, once the internal interferences are in our control, it will, directly and indirectly, influence our external interferences in the effect that our external interferences can be controlled.

Further reading: Why “Ego is the Enemy,” and what we can do about it.

The above writing is organised from a group discussion transcript of ‘Self Discovery’ course (Day 4) of Credence Learning Foundation. For more information mail us at- reach.clf@gmail.com

I thank our Batch 2 members for this wonderful group discussion.

If you would like to support our work 

Please contact +91-9742708717 Or +91-9916 7777 53 

Click to explore the Credence resources:

Popular posts from this blog

From the Ground Up: Why Teams Drive Success and Leaders Pave the Way:

 - In the vibrant and often demanding landscape of the workplace, success isn't a solitary achievement. It's a collective effort, a finely tuned craft where each instrument plays a crucial role. And at the heart of this craft lies a fundamental truth: the team actually does the job. They are the engine room, the innovators, the problem-solvers who operate at the ground level, translating strategies into tangible results. We've all seen it – the late nights spent brainstorming solutions, the collaborative efforts to meet tight deadlines, the sheer ingenuity displayed when faced with unexpected challenges. This is where the real magic happens. Teams, empowered and given the space to operate, bring a unique blend of skills, perspectives, and creativity that is essential for navigating the complexities of the work. They understand the nuances, the local context, and can often devise solutions that a top-down approach might miss entirely. But where does leadership fit into this ...

If you stop working, learning, moving… it’s like telling your body and mind they’re obsolete:

 - *Howard Tucker*—neurologist, lawyer, and still active at 102—once said: “Retirement is the real enemy of longevity. If you stop working, learning, moving… it’s like telling your body and mind they’re obsolete. I walk five kilometers a day, snowshoe in winter, keep learning, and got my law degree at 67. My advice: don’t retire from life. Retire from inaction.”  At his age, many people are just waiting for life to pass by. But he keeps studying, walking, working. Not out of duty, but out of conviction. Because nothing is more dangerous than standing still. Even the heart rusts if you don’t use it.  Tucker is not an exception—he’s a reminder: That there’s still time. That purpose knows no age. That every day we choose to move, think, and create… we’re contributing. In April 2023, he contributed a piece to  CNBC  on five important pieces of life advice: staying active and not spending his days retired, staying in shape, not smoking, not restricting himself to a n...

Improving your perspective-taking skills can help you build stronger relationships:

 -  Ever notice how sometimes it feels like other people just don't get you? Or maybe you've had that feeling about someone else? A lot of this comes down to something called "perspective-taking"—basically, the ability to see things from someone else's point of view. It's like trying to walk in their shoes for a bit. But it turns out, this isn't always easy, and many of us struggle with it. So, why is it so hard to see things from another person's perspective, and what can we do about it? What is Perspective-taking: Perspective-taking is the ability to understand another person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is an essential skill for building empathy, compassion, and understanding in our relationships. However, many people struggle with perspective-taking. There are several reasons why this might be the case. Why some people lack it: One reason is that people may be too focused on their own thoughts and feelings. When we are constan...

The key to success - Personal life, Professional life, balanced relationships and self-growth:

- Why do you think the 'relationships' are important for growth? Be it a personal life, or professional life. In this article, we are discussing this aspect in three parts. Firstly, the importance of personal life and interdependency: The second part of the discussion is how we can develop our professional life: The Third Part of the discussion is how a team can help each member’s growth: 1. The importance of personal life and interdependency: When we discuss ‘self-growth’, we also include discussions about balanced relationships. Relationship plays an important role in every area of life. At the workplace, we need to have a good bond with our colleagues. And in personal life, we need to have a bond with family members, relatives and friends. Yes, as humans we are always interdependent with each other, in every aspect of life. Thus it is important for us to understand where we stand in terms of this interdependence. Unless we are not related to something or someone, our ach...

Judging Others: (Poem)

 - Judging Others: Sadly, we are always critiqued,  By the people that we know.  By title or occupation,  And by the possessions  that we show. We judge by skin colour,  Or by awards received.  By the denomination,  And by what we believe. We're judged by what we spend,  Or by what we give.  We're judged by age and gender,  And by where we live. We're judged by our past,  And by our education,  By the language that we speak,  Or by our nation. We evaluate cosmetically.  We judge both fat and small.  We judge by ones appearance.  Fact is, we judge it all! Some judge because they're paid to.  Some judge intentionally.  Some judge to build self worth,  Some judge unwillingly. BEWARE, for there is only One,  Who evaluates every stain and smudge.  Good luck amateur critics of humans,  When you face that  Wise & Mighty Judge! Source: received through WhatsApp message

We, the people who were born between 1940-1985 are the blessed ones. Our life is a living proof of simplicity and tranquillity:

-  What a beautiful answer!  Comparison between two  "Generations" ....... Everyone must read ЁЯСМЁЯСМ A youngster asked his father: "How did you people live before with- No access to technology No aeroplanes No internet No computers No dramas No TVs No air cons No cars No mobile phones?" His Dad replied: "Just like how your generation lives today with - No prayers No compassion No honor No respect No character No shame No modesty No time planning No sports  No reading"  "We, the people that were born between 1940-1985 are the blessed ones. Our life is a living proof: ЁЯСЙ While playing and riding bicycles, we never wore helmets. ЁЯСЙ After school, we played until dusk. We never watched TV. ЁЯСЙ We played with real friends, not internet friends. ЁЯСЙ If we ever felt thirsty, we drank tap water not bottled water. ЁЯСЙ We never got ill although we used to share the same glass of juice with four friends. ЁЯСЙ We never gained weight although we used to eat a lot of rice ...

30 simple life skills for 30 days:

*How can I improve myself within a month?*  This is a plan for 30 days. You can start practicing it from tomorrow. Follow one life skill per day as per the numbering 1-30 below. So if you follow order without miss, you will be able to do this whole exercise in a month. Many times we want to bring many habitual changes in us, but we fail to do it because of lack of initiative and many more reasons. Let us take this opportunity to imbibe this 30 better life skills in us. For better planning and implementation of this 30 skills. You should plan for the day one day prior. So that you can start your day afresh with a skill. *30 simple tasks for 30 days -:*     *Day 1*. Greet people with smile. Life is short. Life is simple. Do not complicate it. Don’t forget to smile.. *Day 2*. 'Greet first'. Make an habit of, you greeting the person before he greets you 'Hi, Good morning'. *Day 3*. Start planning your day. It will take a few minutes but ...

The concept of unique adaptability in elephants:

 - Baby elephants can walk very shortly after birth. They are typically able to stand within 20 minutes and walk within an hour of being born. This is a survival mechanism, as it allows them to keep up with the herd, which is crucial for finding food and water and staying safe from predators.  Here's a more detailed look: Standing: A newborn elephant calf can usually stand on its own within 20 minutes after birth.  Walking: Within an hour, the calf will be able to walk, though it may be wobbly at first.  Keeping Pace: After just a couple of days, the calf will be strong enough to keep up with the herd as they move and migrate.  Survival Advantage: This ability to quickly walk is a crucial adaptation for survival in the wild.  Tending to the Calf: The mother and other females in the herd will help the calf stand and nurse, guiding it and providing support until it can walk independently.  Source: Gemini AI search

Beyond the Clock: Reclaiming Our Most Precious Hours for Family:

 - The sun climbs, painting the morning sky with hues of promise. For many, that daily ascent marks not the beginning of personal pursuits, but the quiet march towards another workday. From **8 AM to 5 PM**, five days a week, the most vibrant, energetic hours of our lives are often exchanged for the steady hum of the office. This isn't just a block of time; it's the very core of our waking, productive selves, poured into tasks and targets that shape our careers, but often leave precious little for the dreams that stir outside the cubicle walls. Think of it. These are the hours when the mind is sharpest, the body most resilient, the spirit most eager. It's when children are at school, when the daylight holds the most potential for outdoor adventures, creative projects, or simply quiet reflection. Yet, for nearly a decade or two, sometimes even longer, this prime segment of our existence is dedicated to the demands of professional life. We arrive, often before the world fully...

What if we could learn to value the things we have, just as we did in those simpler times:

 - The Sweet Taste of Nostalgia: When Ice Cream Was a Yearly Treat Do you remember a time when the simplest of pleasures held extraordinary value? When a single scoop of ice cream was a cherished event, not just a casual indulgence? I do. I remember a time when our small town boasted only one ice cream parlour, a magical place we visited perhaps once or twice a year. Those visits were etched in our memories. The anticipation, the sweet, creamy taste, the shared joy with family and friends – it wasn't just ice cream; it was a celebration. We savored every lick, every melting drop, because we knew it was a rare treat. We valued it because it wasn't readily available. Fast forward to today. Ice cream parlours dot every corner, and frozen treats are accessible at any hour, in any flavour imaginable. The same can be said for countless other things that were once considered special. We live in a world of abundance, where instant gratification is the norm. And yet, something has been ...