What if...
By Saai Syvendra ·
What if everything was possible, with no constraints, is there something that you would try out? Can I have a raise of hands if you’ll do have something like that in mind? What made you hold back and not try those out? Is it the fear of failing or is it the “What Ifs” like the ones in my case? TMOD and my fellow TM, let me introduce you to “What If”.
First and foremost, what is communication? The exchanging of information by speaking, writing or using some other medium is known as communication. In certain instances, this has different names. For example, when seated in an exam hall, the exchanging of information by speaking, writing or using some other medium is known as copying. Communication at the right time and at the right instance can make you a hero but at the wrong time and wrong instance can get you a zero.
Who of you believes communication is a two-way thing? I had the same opinion until I first came across “What If”. Let me take you back to the day I was doing a question given by our grade 3 math teacher. The question read, “There were 19 birds seated on a branch of a tree. If John shot 3 of them, how many remain?” Without any hesitation, I wrote down 16, big and clear. Suddenly a voice just went, WHAT IF… John misses the shot, what if the gun didn’t have bullets, what if the tree doesn’t have branches, what if…
I wondered whose strange voice that was, I looked around to see if it was anyone of my friends, but there was no sign of it. Instead, I noticed my teacher. Her eyes were glued on to me cause it looked like I was exchanging information with the others. With embarrassment, I stared back at the paper realising it was my inner voice that I had heard before. I didn’t put much thought into it back then but two years ago I heard that same voice again.
This was the time when all of us were locked up at home, not being able to go anywhere or meet anyone. The entirety of mankind depended on devices such as smartphones and laptops. May it be for work, for play or even for socialising, it was the go-to option. During this period I heard it again… WHAT IF… mobile phones did not exist, what if covid didn’t come, what if covid was a man-made virus, what if, what if, what if… So many questions just stormed into my mind one after the other… Even if I wanted to answer them I couldn’t, cause there was no one on the receiving end. Among all this drama, school resumed once again and this time around on a daily basis so many what-ifs kept clogging my decisions. What if this, what if that, and what if, what if, what if…
I felt myself in the middle of darkness, all alone without any sign of light whatsoever. “What if I’d never find light, what if I fail in trying so, what if there was no way out at all.” That is when I made my weaknesses to help me gain confidence. I changed those questions into statements. “What if I’d never find light, what if I fail in trying so, what if there was no way out at all.” I wouldn’t know unless I’ve experienced it myself.
“What if” is a double-edged sword, if used correctly it can kill any fear that you have, but on the other side, if you’re not careful it can literally kill you. As Toastmasters we are gathered here today to improve our public speaking and communication skills with others, aka interpersonal communication. We should be mindful of intrapersonal communication cause it is equally important as well. The next time you are about to question yourself with a “what if”, make sure to turn it into a statement, use it to shatter the doubts you may have and forge ahead
#Pathways
#Level2
#2022