Tell defeat I'm stronger!

"Being young is like riding on a carousel of emotions—problems, issues, insecurities et al. But don't let this deter you from challenging life, says Dr Daisaku Ikeda. To challenge is to live a fulfilling, winning life!


Youth is a time of rapid change. It can also be a time of confusion. You may feel as if you're standing alone in a wasteland or on a battlefield. Sometimes you may think you can't believe in anybody, that no one loves you, or that you've no reason to live. You may feel anxious about your looks or have quarrelling parents at home, financial worries or a serious illness. From feeling confident and upbeat at one moment, you may be overwhelmed with insecurity, frustration or apathy the next.
You may have fundamental questions about yourself: Who am I? What should I do with my life? It is quite natural to feel unsure about how to proceed. I feel it is best to concentrate your energies on what you need to do right now, and gradually your full potential will emerge. The most important thing is not to give up on yourself, giving in to negativity or cynicism. Don't compare yourself with others. Be true to who you are and try to cherish and feel content with your own irreplaceable life. Even if you're sometimes laughed at, or people let you down, keep going forward and never let yourself be defeated. An easy life where everything goes your way might seem great, but it won't help you develop your character. You may even become a person who is of no help when things get tough.
There is no such thing as a whole life of smooth sailing. Therefore you're actually doing yourself a favour by taking on difficult challenges, strengthening yourself while you're young. Difficulties can enable you to develop a big heart and become a person of depth and substance. Rather than a life of blank pages, it's better to live a life crammed full of memories of struggles and wonderfully varied experiences.
Even if you feel powerless, that it is difficult to believe in yourself, please try not to be easily swayed by the views of others, and hold true to what you know is right. Try to believe in yourself !
You possess a treasure more valuable than power or fame. To be young is to have hope, passion and freedom. Your whole life lies ahead of you, brimming with possibilities. Set your sights high!
Twenty-one-year-old Edward Whymper was a nineteenth-century English mountaineer who set out to climb the Matterhorn in the Alps. It had never been scaled before. His first attempt failed, but he resolved not to give up, and year after year he pitted himself against the mountain. On one attempt he got within 430 meters of the summit, but slipped and was seriously injured. Another time a rock fall forced him to descend. He was defeated seven times, but he didn't give up. Finally, on July 14, 1865, on his eighth attempt, at the age of twenty-five, he made it to the peak.
Similarly, by challenging a great goal, you can break through your limitations and realise incredible growth. It all comes down to you. Don't rely on others or wait for them to do something.
Try to develop such a strong sense of responsibility that you can stand up to the fiercest storms, confidently proclaiming, "I'll do it. Just watch me!" Confront reality, looking it squarely in the face, and challenge everything that lies ahead of you with courage, wisdom and strength. "