I was talking to a friend about stress recently and realized something I’ve always believed isn’t actually that common: I genuinely think that if you keep trying to improve, stay reflective, and don’t give up, you’re basically guaranteed to succeed eventually. Maybe not at the thing you’re working on now, but the skills and mindset compound until something hits. And so why stress?
I know how that sounds. Delusional? Privileged? Naive?
So I tried to figure out where this belief actually comes from…
Maybe it’s because I read books about compound effects1 when I was young and got obsessed with the idea that consistency always wins.
Maybe I just don’t find it useful to spend precious headspace2 on failure scenarios, so I choose to believe things will work out.
Maybe I’m actually terrified of failing and this is just elaborate denial.
Maybe it’s because I have a family safety net, so “failing” doesn’t mean homelessness… it just means trying again.
Maybe I’ve read too many biographies3 and started seeing my life as a narrative where setbacks are just plot development.
Maybe it’s because past “failures” (like my marketing agency) still added to my experience and reputation, so I stopped seeing failure as purely negative.
Honestly, it’s probably a combination of all of these. Or maybe there’s something deeper I would only figure out in therapy!
But for now, this belief (whether it’s wisdom or functional delusion) is serving me well. I don’t get too stressed. I assume all problems are solvable. And I think clearer because I am emotionally stable despite the situation. Maybe one day I’ll hit a wall that forces me to reconsider. But until then, I’m running with it.
Sindhu Mohan 