Friends, you might have seen lions roaming freely in the jungle or birds soaring in the sky on YouTube or Discovery Channel. However, if you’ve observed closely, even lions are not entirely free to wander. They too have territorial boundaries in the jungle, and one lion rarely trespasses into another’s domain. If they do, they must face the consequences. This shows that even our physical and mental strengths have limits, and when we recognize these limits and move accordingly, our potential becomes boundless.

Let’s explore this concept through a story:

For the past three years, Ramesh had been attempting competitive exams, but success still eluded him. Over the last two years, he worked hard to address the mistakes he’d made, yet the outcome remained unchanged. This year, not only did he fail to pass, but his marks were lower than the previous year’s. This deeply troubled him. He kept recalling his parents’ and friends’ advice. All three had told him he was hardworking and dedicated, but he needed to change his perspective and approach. They had even suggested some strategies, but he dismissed their advice, confidently declaring that this year would be different.

A week had passed since the results were announced, and Ramesh still couldn’t decide what to do next. As he sat on his bed sipping tea, he suddenly remembered something his friend Sunil had said. He quickly picked up his phone, called Sunil, and began getting ready to leave.

Sunil, sitting with Ramu Kaka, said, “Kaka, this is my friend Ramesh. He’s been very stressed lately, so I told him I’d bring him to you. You always have a solution to everyone’s problems.”

Ramu Kaka looked at Ramesh with a smile and said, “It’s nothing special, really. Sometimes I just get lucky with my advice, and people think I’m wise.”

Sunil placed a reassuring hand on Ramesh’s shoulder and said, “Brother, tell Kaka your problem freely and without hesitation.”

Ramesh hesitated but eventually said, “Kaka, despite trying everything, I haven’t been able to clear a competitive exam in three years. I’ve done all I can think of, but I’m still not achieving what I want. What should I do now?”

Kaka smiled and replied, “Son, the answer lies in your question itself. You said, ‘I’m not achieving what I want.’ This can mean two things: either what you want is beyond your reach, or you’re not putting in the right kind of effort to achieve it. Alternatively, it could mean you’re unaware of your own capabilities. Another possibility is that you’re not analyzing the reasons for your failures correctly. Without understanding the root causes, you can’t achieve your goal by repeating the same approach.

“If you can’t analyze your failures yourself, seek help from others. If you can’t hear your inner voice, listen to someone else’s.”

Ramesh hesitantly said, “Kaka, I’ve read and heard that one should listen only to their own heart and not others. I’ve followed the path many successful people have taken, but it’s not working for me.”

Kaka smiled and said, “That’s exactly what I wanted you to admit, son. You’ve heard correctly. There’s a similar saying: ‘Listen to everyone, but follow your own heart.’ These sayings are not to be taken literally. They have deeper meanings, but in today’s world, our burden of knowledge has become so heavy that we don’t try to understand them.

“The essence of these sayings is that if you’ve correctly assessed your abilities and chosen your goal wisely, then yes, you should focus on your own heart and path. However, this does not mean ignoring your parents or friends who’ve known you for years. Their advice is invaluable because they understand you deeply, sometimes even better than you understand yourself.

“In your case, having failed three times, there’s clearly something you’re missing in your analysis. That’s why you must listen to your loved ones and give special importance to their insights. While your focus is solely on your goal, they are observing your struggles, abilities, and choices from the outside. They can offer suggestions no one else can. That said, the final decision must always be your own. I believe you understand now.”

Standing up, Kaka concluded, “I have to leave now. Next time you come, come with a decision in mind so we can have a more productive conversation.”

Hearing this, Sunil and Ramesh folded their hands in respect and walked out, ready to face the future with renewed determination.