“The poor world, how often it has been cheated! The more the sansār, that is, the worldly aspect of life, looks at any growing movement with the eyes of suspicion, or, even better still, presents it to a semi-hostile front, so much the better it is for the movement. If there is any truth this movement has to disseminate . . . soon will condemnation be changed to praise and contempt converted into love.”
— Swāmi Vivekānanda
Lal Bahadur Shastri handled rejection from traditionalists and farmers when he wanted to introduce the Lerma Rojo and Taichung No.1 crops in India. But his resilience sowed the seeds that ended famines in India.
It is said that Savitribai Phule carried an extra sari every day while walking to the school where she taught because people would throw dung and stones at her. But her crusade laid the stepping stone for female education in India.
Society feels cozy in the status quo. Do something it is familiar with, even if those actions cause harm, and people stay quiet. But do something that people are unfamiliar with, even if it makes their lives better, and the fear of the unknown turns them into demons.
Don’t let a hostile herd deter you from doing what you should do. If anything, such hostility is a sign that you’re on the right path. Handle rejection and criticism like a pro; let it wash off you like water off a duck’s back. Don’t be afraid to walk alone. Over time, people who believe in your cause will join you and make your journey more meaningful.
Remember the old saying, “First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you.” If you can leave the world slightly better than you inherited it, you’ve lived a worthy life.