Angst. How many people have succumbed to the innate pessimism that lies in everyone? Only those who can steel themselves mentally can surmount the challenges that they will inevitably encounter in the twists and turns of life. For me, my first challenge emerged when I was ten and it was then that I learned the importance of psychological control.
It was the year 2005. I was grade five at that time. Walking to the basketball court at recess one day, I saw two boys playing. From their demeanour – their actions and deliberations, I could tell immediately that they were pompous and conceited. As if condescendingly, they invited me to play with them. Needless to say, I fumbled the ball many times as it was the first time I ever played basketball. My face red with embarrassment, I could feel my cheeks burning as I continued playing. As expected, the two boys guffawed each time I made an awkward move while bragging about how well they played. Infuriated yet composed, I made a resolution: I would practice and become so skilled that I would overthrow the bullies. Resolutely and rigorously, I toiled for months before I was finally satisfied with my level of play.
At recess one day, I challenged the two boys to a game. Aware of the phenomenal improvement in my skills, I was confident that I could beat them. Yet, as the battle with the bullies commenced, another one started simultaneously. I was suddenly fighting two battles. In one battle, I was playing basketball against the bullies, their shots going swish, swish, and swish while mine went clang, clang, and clang. In the other battle, I was drowning in a pitch black ocean that contained my negative thoughts instead of water. I was surrounded by thoughts of humiliation, disappointment, and shame. All I could think about was what would happen if I were to lose. My friends would all be in dismay while the bullies would continuously boast and view us contemptuously. Suddenly, I was transported back to reality. My knees jittery and my heart pounding like a drum, I collapsed onto the cement floor, gasping for air. Looking to my right, I saw the bullies towering over me and snickering at me, aware that their victory was imminent. Looking to my left, I expected to see the despondent looks on my friends’ faces. Instead, what I saw was hope flashed across their faces, faith that I could defeat the bullies and clinch the victory. The unflinching support that they gave me was the crucial factor that boosted my morale. All my negative thoughts were swiftly shattered and all that was left was my drive to win. Impelled by my newfound confidence and hope, I caught up like a roaring beast, scoring every shot I took. Everything soon reversed as I became the one cool and composed while the bullies were the ones uneasy and intimidated. In the end, I did beat the bullies, to ecstatic cheers and applause from my friends who were relieved that that would be the last they would see or hear from the two bullies.
As I now journey through life, I realize that this experience has helped to develop my strength of character, teaching me to be resilient and sanguine. No matter what happens, I should always try to remain phlegmatic when confronting the obstacles that I will encounter in the highway of life.
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