Construction of Life
Someone has said, “Every problem can be solved, except the one that is assumed to be unsolvable.”
This is a deeply meaningful statement. It applies to all aspects of life—whether personal or collective, small or large.
When a problem arises, most people focus only on its difficult side. The easier side remains hidden from their view. But the reality is, no problem in the world is entirely difficult. Every problem has a side that is manageable—if one chooses to see it.
Often, when a challenge appears, a person becomes overwhelmed. But if they take a moment to think calmly, they will realise that every difficulty also brings with it a hidden opportunity, just waiting to be discovered and used.
Let me share a real example.
A man once started a business in partnership. The business grew and began earning well. But over time, the partner became dishonest. Using underhanded means, he pushed the man out and took full control of the business.
I met this man during that time. He was deeply distressed—so much so that he even considered ending his life. I told him, “You had two assets: one was the business, and the other is your own self. You lost the business—but you still have yourself. Why grieve so much over what’s lost? Focus on what remains. Use your strength, wisdom, and effort. With the help of God, you will succeed again.”
The man understood. He let go of the past and started afresh. With hard work and determination, he built a new business. A few years later, he surpassed the partner who had once wronged him. That man remained where he was, while this gentleman moved far ahead.
This is the secret of life and progress:
Where there is hardship, there is also opportunity.
Where there is loss, there are also means to gain.
Where there are enemies, there are also friends.
Where there are shadows, there is also light.
Where there is rejection, there is also acceptance.
A wise person never loses hope. He never gives up. He forgets the past and looks toward the future. He rises again after every fall. He never sees failure as final.
Courage is a person’s greatest asset. And it is a kind of wealth that can never be taken away.
Someone once said, “The one who runs after everything gains nothing. The one who focuses on one thing gains everything.” This is the most important principle of life. Those who understand and apply it will surely succeed.
Suppose you want to grow a garden filled with fruit-bearing trees. If you think you can plant full-grown trees and instantly have a garden, you are mistaken. Those trees will not survive. Even after years of effort, you will not see success.
The only way to build a real garden is to plant small saplings, water them, give them care and time, and allow them to grow. With patience and consistency, you will one day see a lush, thriving garden.
This applies to every field of life—whether it’s education, business, or industry. You must start from the beginning, accept the early struggles, and build from there. In this world, success only comes through this step-by-step method. There is no shortcut.
Often, when people deal with others, they find the offer or opportunity from the other person too small or unsatisfying. They try to take more—but that only leads to tension and conflict. In the process, even the little that was available is lost.
That is not wisdom.
A wise person accepts what is available, uses it as a base, and then strives for what is still out of reach. When a person does this, he finds that over time, even what was once denied to him becomes his—through his own effort and growth.
The mistake is in trying to grasp what you don’t have while neglecting what you do have. In chasing what is not in your hand, you risk losing your most precious asset—your time.
To give up what’s certain for something uncertain is not the way of an intelligent person.
Time is the most valuable resource a human being possesses. A wise person is one who knows how to preserve time—and never allows it to go to waste.
All India Radio, New Delhi,
10 December 1992.
