The idea that there may be more than one outcome or consequences of our actions plays a critical role in our lives, growth and success or failures. The introspections, assumptions and the likely and unlikely expectations of our thoughts can get us to progress or otherwise be stagnated in life.

A student preparing to take a new course gets to a dilemmatic situation and begins to introspect, ‘what if I fail this course?’ what if I’m unable to graduate because I took this course?’

Having gone through a lot of frustrations, the ‘what if’ thoughts wouldn’t skip the unemployed person who has been shortlisted for a job interview. Again they think about ‘what if I’m not considered for this job’?

Because her earlier relationship hit the rocks, she vowed not to get serious and committed to anything closer to a relationship. Her worst nightmares are ‘what if I get my heart broken for the second time, what if I’m not good enough to be in a relationship’? This and many others are what will occupy her mind for a long period along with her single life.

‘What if Analysis’, like the computer-based tool found popularly in Microsoft Excel which helps to make predictions based on the variations of input fed to the computer, it’s worth being aware that social beings and humans for that matter engage in such personal analyses either consciously, unconsciously or both.

The subjective analysis of what-if is as useful as powerful to every individual. Making projections and predictions about an action not only make you better and well informed about decisions, but you are also in a pleasant position to know the likely outcome of your intent with precision.

As a student, the possible outcome of taking a new course is either a pass or fail. The thoughts of failure will lead one to withdraw from taking the course but here is a good deal of doing the ‘what if.’ If you know with certainty that failure is one of the possibilities, then planning and preparing adequately to pass the course provide the leeway out of the challenge. If you surely want to avoid failure, then you surely should put in more study time! Of course, that’s easier said than done but the bottom line is, passing and failing are the possible outcomes of taking the course and whatever decision you make, was courtesy the “What-if analysis.”

Writing multiple applications and moving around with CVs in search of limited job openings is as frustrating as bad luck. Getting shortlisted for a job interview is one part of the prayer answered but passing the interview is the task to overcome. Alone in thoughts, one begins to think about the worst that could happen at the interview – the fear of not getting the job. Here too there are two possibilities but passing the interview is not a source of worry as compared to failing it. So the worst-case scenario is that one gets rejected. The good thing here is that you already know your options and nothing, will come as a surprise to you after the interview.

Breakups could be traumatizing and most life decisions could be borne out of breakups. The impact of breaking up with someone you were once emotionally connected to seems devastating and some people vow not to experience those agonies again. They will never want to get close and in the unlikely event that they find themselves closer to what appears to be a new relationship, the ‘what ifs’ re-emerge. The ‘what ifs’ here provide surety for possible acceptance and rejection. Knowing what could be served on your plate helps you to know what’s at stake whether or not you get committed to the new relationship.

To most people, thinking about the potential failure of an action seems like a negative or losers’ mentality. To a substantial extent, I don’t subscribe to that notion. Knowing what lies ahead of me will put me in a better position to prepare even for the worst case, if possible. The what Ifs provide me with practically possible situations and as humans, we are fallible – we may not always get it right! We always need to introspect and be in a better position to prevent, control and reduce possible failures, rejection, breakups and what have you.

What if what you just read could help? You decide!

Back then in elementary school, leisure was only about having a bit of a sugary and creamy combination that leaves good memories during recess. Our definition of ‘break time’ was not about relaxation but an avenue to lay our hands on a delicious ice cream. The seller of the ice cream was most often than not our best friend irrespective of his or her age. His/her presence on campus made us happy and his/her absence was badly felt.

But as I write this piece , my relationship with that ice cream seller is nothing but a memory recounted from my days in elementary school. I remember ice cream sellers were loved, smiled at and liked by all simply because they (ice cream sellers) always want to make people happy.

As I add numbers to my age, I have realized that most people are caught up in the trap of selling ice cream in real life situations. The question is, who is an ice cream seller?
In simple terms, they are the people who try to satisfy the demands of all those who come their way – always want to see the people around them happy with their physical presence. They hate critics and frown on change. With the complexity of human behavior, meeting the demands of all is herculean a task and could lead to a compromise.

In making people around us happy, we are more likely to suppress our believes, norms and values in order to meet their demands and expectations. You might be deceiving yourself that people like you and for that matter, persistently, you want to make them happy by any means possible. Consistently, you became a victim of indecisions because you might change your behavior to suit how they want you to be – and you settle for less of your capabilities. Selling an ice cream alienates you from yourself. Your actions, thoughts and behaviors are externally motivated and you become a pretender so that people will like you. The reality is, you cannot make everyone happy. Even with selling ice creams, some people prefer less sugar to more and you can have some challenges with meeting their demands too.

In the course of life, there may be people who will hate you for who you are and for what you do but that doesn’t mean you should set your standards so low to harbour mediocre thoughts of people. No matter how you live your life, people are going to criticize it, lambast you for doing certain things your way but that’s not enough reason to stop being you. Embrace critics that will shape your life and not those that will make you settle for less than your potentials all in the name of making someone happy. The best motivation in life is intrinsically triggered.

Maybe previously you have been selling ice cream but it’s better late than never – you can breakaway from that chain. The first indicator for you to know that you are no longer selling ice cream is that, you will lose friends. I mean friends you have  stayed connected to for a while. Their proximity to you may begin to widen as you shut down the ice cream business.

This will be an opportunity for you to nurture yourself and be that person you always wanted to be but for selling of ice cream. You will no longer live a life that seeks to please someone. You don’t have to make everyone happy as you give your life a true meaning and a proper reflection of who you are.

You are worth more than being an average person. Speak life into your life and walk into the steps of realizing your full potential. Selling an ice cream is quite a limitation to self-awareness and control.
SHUT THAT BUSINESS, DOWN!