Wish you all a very happy new year!

Jan 1, 2020
5 min read

Updated: Apr 7, 2021

Here's wishing all of you a very happy and prosperous new year. May 2020 bring you all that you hoped for and may your wishes come true.

Let me start the new year with a short anecdote:

The ICC Cricket world cup is held once every four years since it’s inception in 1975. It’s a jamboree of cricket where all the top cricketing nations in the world meet and compete against each other for the ultimate prize in limited overs cricket.

In 1999, the world cup was held in England. Twelve teams participated in all, out of which Pakistan and Australia qualified for the finals.

Both sides had made it to the final in contrasting manners.

Pakistan were clearly the favourites of the tournament; the team to beat. Led by the inspiring captaincy of Wasim Akram and packed with exciting talent like Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Ejaz Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and others, the Pakistanis were clearly the favourites. Barring a few losses, they dominated in all other matches and made it to the finals quite comfortably.

Australia, on the other hand did not have a good start to begin with. They lost to Arch Rivals New Zealand and Pakistan in the group stages and were on the verge of being eliminated early on in the tournament. But led by their gritty skipper Steve Waugh, they clawed their way back from the dead and scraped through to the finals by the skin of their teeth.

In the final, everyone was predicting an easy Pakistani victory. The odds looked to be in their flavor. Bookies predicted a one-sided match.

And a one sided match it was. But it was Australia who upset all the odds and demolished the much vaunted Pakistani Batting and Bowling line up to romp home with their second successive world cup trophy.

The Pakistani team which was looking unbeatable throughout the tournament, suddenly looked jaded and out of place.

Everyone was surprised.

Imran Khan, former captain of the Pakistani Cricket Team was not.

In an interview with a sports magazine, he was asked why did Pakistan lose the match despite being so strong and unbeatable throughout the tournament? The team did not lack in talent and experience, for if they had, they wouldn’t have even made it to the final. Nor were they up against a much superior team. The Aussie and the Pakistani teams were evenly balanced. Yet on the critical day, the Pakistani team caved in like nine-pins in a largely one-sided contest. Why so?

Imran responded by saying that Pakistan had lost not due to any dearth of talent and commitment, but due to the fact that they were up against a much determined opponent in the form of Australia. The Aussies had clawed their way back in the tournament after facing near-certain elimination. They were hungry for the win and were determined to let nothing or no one stand in ther way.

Pakistan, on the other hand was never really challenged throughout the tournament. All their victories were comfortable, dominating victories. They were never forced to step out of their comfort zone.

Imran concluded that this single factor had made all the difference between victory and defeat.

In a race between a Tiger and a Deer, nine times out of ten the Deer wins. Why so? Because the Tiger is running for it’s food while the Deer is running for it’s life. The Tiger, if unsuccessful can always try again. But the Deer knows that if it cannot outrun the Tiger, there will be no second chance.

In a way, the Tiger too is running for it’s life. It needs the food to sustain itself. It knows that it simply cannot afford to give up. Therefore, it makes repeated attempts despite numerous failures and ultimately snags it’s prey.

Life is very much the same.

Sometimes, you need to be like the Deer. You need to outrun your fears, insecurities and all negative thoughts and emotions which prevent you from moving forward. Sometimes, fear of failure is a good thing. Let it propel you to give your best effort and outrun all that holds you back.

Sometimes, you need to be like the Tiger. You need to first decide on a goal, set your sights firmly on it and make an all out effort to achieve it. Oh sure! Success will not happen at the first try, maybe not even after seven or eight tries. But if you are dejected and on the verge of quitting, take a breather and ask yourself this very basic and honest question:

Do you really want it?

If yes, then how bad?

Why did you set your sights on this goal in the first place?

Is it just a vanity metric? Something to boost your image among your peers!

Or is it something life changing; something which changes your life for the better and makes a change?

Why do you want to quit? How did the thought of quitting come to mind?

Continuous failure could mean any of the two things:

Either you're not doing the thing right

OR

You're not doing the right thing.

Find out which of the above two holds true for you. Do an honest and brutal self-analysis. Because no one knows you better than you!

Change gears, or if necessary, change the track altogether.

Ask your heart what it wants. Follow it! Your heart knows best!

Just do it!

You will slowly realise the strength to continue despite repeated failures. You will taste success!

Like the Deer, outrun all your troubles and stay ahead.

Like the Tiger, set your sights firmly on your goal and never give up.

In the end, it all boils down to this:

Do you really want it? If yes, then how bad? What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal?

Let me end this article with the lyrics from the inspirational song, “The Cup of life” sung by Ricky Martin.

The cup of life, this is the one Now is the time, don't ever stop Push it along, gotta be strong Push it along, right to the top

The feeling in your soul is gonna take control Nothing can hold you back if you really want it I see it in your eyes you want the cup of life Now that the day is here, gotta go and get it

Do you really want it? (Yeah!) Do you really want it? (Yeah!)

Here we go! Ale, ale, ale! Go, go, go! Ale, ale, ale! Tonight's the night we're gonna celebrate The cup of life! Ale, ale, ale!

The cup of life, it's do or die It's here, it's now, turn up the lights Push it along, then let it roll Push it along, go, go, goal

And when you feel that heat, the world is at your feet No one can hold you down if you really want it Just steal your destiny, right from the hands of fate Reach for the cup of life 'cause your name is on it Do you really want it (Yeah!) Do you really want it (Yeah!)

Here we go! Ale, ale, ale! Go, go, go! Ale, ale, ale! Tonight's the night we're gonna celebrate The cup of life! Ale, ale, ale!

The feeling in your soul is gonna take control Nothing can hold you back if you really want it I see it in your eyes you want the cup of life Now that the day is here, we're gotta go and get it Do you really want it? (Yeah!) Do you really want it? (Yeah!) Do you really want it (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)