Next time you hear someone say “It’s not for me, I can’t do it,” — share this with them.
There was a time in my mid-twenties when failure followed me like a shadow. I constantly felt like life was unfair, the universe was against me, and fate had handed me the short end of the stick. I blamed everything — my background, the world, timing — everything but myself.
And for a while, that story comforted me. “It’s not your fault,” I’d say to myself. But deep down, I was stuck.
Then, something changed. I began observing the people I admired — people who had built something out of nothing. And I saw one striking pattern: they never blamed anything external. They looked inward, took responsibility, and made consistent efforts to fix themselves, not the world.
Let me share a powerful example.
South Africa’s cricket team has long been labeled “chokers” — faltering on big stages despite immense talent. Temba Bavuma, a player who faced relentless criticism for his background, style, and stature, took on the leadership of this very team. He didn’t inherit an easy legacy — he inherited baggage.
But Temba didn’t let history, opinions, or narratives define him. He just worked. He shut the noise out and responded with performance. Today, he’s no longer “just a player” — he’s the man who helped rewrite history. Lord’s stadium stood up for him.
Imagine if he had said, “This isn’t for me. I can’t carry this.” We wouldn’t be talking about him today.
That was my turning point, too. I stopped blaming. I accepted:
✅ I was lazy.
✅ I lacked discipline.
✅ I craved comfort.
✅ I feared pain and effort.
Once I accepted those flaws, I started working on them — slowly, painfully, and honestly. That shift was everything. Today, I no longer chase success. I chase the right effort. And I know — if I keep at it — the right things will happen at the right time.
Temba means “Hope” in Zulu.
May you find hope in yourself.
Start accepting your flaws and fixing them.
That’s how we all become the “Lords of Lord’s” in our own lives.
Let this be your sign to stop saying “It’s not for me.”
Start saying: “I can try. I can improve. I belong.”
Follow more reflections at www.boopeshvikram.com
#LifeLessons #MindsetMatters #TembaBavuma #OvercomingFailure #Hope #Inspiration #LinkedInWriting #SelfReflection #BoopeshWrites #PersonalGrowth #AIAndLife