“What you call majority is mainly composed of fools and men of common intellect. Men who have brains to think for themselves are few, everywhere. These few men are the real leaders . . . the majority are guided by them as with a string, and that’s good, for everything goes right when they follow in the footsteps of these leaders.” — Swami Vivekananda
Your life is a series of choices. No grand gestures, but daily decisions.
Most people drift. They chase social media likes, date people who don’t respect them, buy things they don’t need to keep up with trends… they do things because it’s normal (which means everyone is doing it and they don’t want to feel left out).
But you are different. You know that normal and right are not the same. If anything, in today’s times, they are often the opposite.
Success doesn’t come from following the crowd. It comes from living intentionally. This means investing in yourself instead of wasting your time. It means saying no to things that don’t align with your values, and understanding that tapasyā (discipline) creates freedom.
James Clear says, “Every action you take is vote for the type of person you wish to become.” You become one type when you scroll, spend impulsively, and complain. You become another type when you read, save, and do something to make your situation better.
Restraint may sound like a punishment, like you are depriving yourself of all that is good in life. But it’s not. It’s strategic focus. You can still enjoy life’s pleasures; only now, they cannot control you.
The world rewards those who can delay gratification. Who can sow a seed today despite knowing they will not live long enough to enjoy its fruit. Who understand that growth happens in silence, not noise.
Don’t try to fit in. Stand out. Lead. Contribute to a better future. It is what you are on this earth for.