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For a long time in my life, I was ignoring myself. The strange thing was, I did not even know it.

When I was a little boy, I wanted to be like the Bollywood superheroes I saw on screen—strong enough to knock down a dozen people with a single punch. As I entered my teens, I realized how silly that dream was. My attention shifted. Now I wanted to look better, impress people, and fit in.

Soon, even that phase passed.

I became a Chartered Accountant. Like many ambitious young professionals, I started setting goals for myself. I wanted my own car within five years, my own office within ten years, and I wanted to become the Chairman of the Mangalore Branch of ICAI within fifteen years of practice.

Life was kind to me.

I got my car within three years. I got my own office within five. I became Chairman in my tenth year of practice.

I had achieved everything faster than I had planned.

And success went to my head.

I convinced myself that the next milestone, the next achievement, and the next financial goal would bring lasting happiness. Without realizing it, I had joined the endless chase for more money.

But life has a way of teaching us lessons when we need them most.

One day, I found myself sitting before a doctor, pleading:

“I am willing to spend any amount of money. Just save my mother.”

She had pneumonia.

My mother passed away.

That day I learnt a painful truth. The size of your car, your office, or your bank balance does not matter as much as we imagine. There will always be someone with a bigger car, a larger house, or greater wealth. Money is useful, but it is not all-powerful.

After that, I shifted my pursuit. If money was not the answer, perhaps intelligence was. I wanted the wisdom to understand life better. I thought I was making progress.

Then nature slapped me again.

My wife was diagnosed with cancer.

Thankfully, she survived.

But during that difficult period, she became my teacher.

While I spent my days worrying about the future and brooding over what might happen, she would gently remind me:

“This is not how we want to live.”

“Don’t keep looking back. Don’t keep looking too far ahead.”

“Let us live today.”

“Let us take one day at a time.”

Those simple words changed me.

Slowly, I began focusing on myself—not in a selfish way, but in an honest way. I started asking deeper questions. Who am I? What truly matters to me? What kind of life am I trying to build?

That journey continues even today.

I am no longer chasing strength, appearance, titles, money, or even intelligence.

Today, I am trying to master a different power—the power of acceptance.

The ability to accept life as it is.

To accept success with humility.

To accept difficulties with courage.

To accept uncertainty with faith.

Today, I genuinely feel blessed.

Whatever I have is a gift.

Whatever I have experienced has shaped me.

And whatever comes tomorrow will also have something to teach me.

Across religions, philosophies, and cultures, I find one common message:

What happened, happened for good.

What is happening, is happening for good.

What will happen, will also happen for good.

Our task is not to control everything.

Our task is to accept what comes with humility, gratitude, and faith.

That, for me, is the true Joy of Finding Oneself.