If you don't mind, it doesn't matter...

Just a few years ago, I was a very shy person, a complete introvert. I was bold inside, but whenever it was about conversation or interaction, I couldn’t do it.

I lacked the willpower & confidence to talk. There is a plus point of being an introvert. People start thinking that you’re an intelligent & genuine person. It happened to me also. At first, I felt good. But later, I experienced something different. And that was, people were avoiding talking with me. They thought, I was rude, which I knew, was absolutely wrong. That was the wake up call; I realized that I must do something about it.

So, I started taking initiative in the conversation. Fortunately, I came across a book of Stephen Covey. The name of the book was, ‘7 habits of highly effective people.’ It provoked my curiosity. The first habit mentioned in the book was, ‘Be proactive.’

He had described that habit as, ‘there are two kinds of people in the world, proactive & reactive. Proactive people take the initiative. They don’t know whether they will succeed or not, but they take the chances & risks. Reactive people do nothing but, react. They just give the reaction to everything. If it is good, they say it is good & vice versa. So, I decided to be a proactive person from that moment.

I started interacting with the people; I started breaking the ice between the conversations. I started giving answers in lectures & participating in the competitions. It opened thousands of doors & opportunities for me. And I started enjoying that thrill. Whenever I raised my hand for the answer in the class, everybody used to look at me. That made my heart beat faster & I felt nervous. But I didn’t back down. I fought with my fears. I answered even when I was not sure about what I was saying. The mere purpose behind this was to struggle hard against the fears.

Whenever my answers were correct, I got a huge applause & a lot of praise. When I was wrong, I had to bear with the dead silence in the class & taunts as well. But it made me stronger. It gave boost to my silent & peaceful mind. It formed a lot of questions in life. And, the life became interesting. For the first time in life, I came across so many things, that were actually a part of me but I was unaware of their existence. I was never in touch with them.

It happened with me & I’m sure it happens with most of us. We’re never aware of our capabilities. We never dare to search for the horizons. But, we should. Not because it takes us to some dreamland, but because it gives us the joy of journey. Throw away all the hesitations, prejudices & fears. Say what you want to say without worrying too much. All the insults, taunts, fears are virtual giants created by us. If we neglect them, they don’t even stand a chance. Open up, it helps a lot.

When you mind a lot, it matters a lot. Because, you keep thinking about the unwanted things. You never ask a question in class, because one was not answered & all your classmates laughed at you. You don’t talk with a stranger, because you are scared to believe them. Response doesn’t matter if you are genuine in taking the initiative. And believe me, you get a good response ¾ times. Remember about the remaining ¼, if you don’t mind; it doesn’t matter. Think proactive, be proactive.