– by Lion Lady Dr. Radhika Ganesan
Throughout my life, I’ve had many learning experiences, but one that stands out is what I learned from a simple chess game. I still vividly remember the day when this lesson unfolded. I had just completed my 12th standard, and one fine day, my cousin and nephew came over to visit after a long time. We decided to play a few rounds of chess.
In the first game, I played against my nephew and won with just a few moves. Then, my nephew played against my cousin and won. When it was my turn to play against my cousin, I lost. This pattern repeated itself more than once, and I found it puzzling. Logically, if I could beat my nephew and my cousin lost to him, I should have been able to beat my cousin. Yet, that was not the case.
Determined to understand this anomaly, I started observing the games more closely. I noted that every time my cousin made a move, he would say things like, “I’m coming for you,” “You will lose,” and “Watch out for your Queen; I’m going to checkmate you.” These constant remarks created a sense of fear and doubt in me. Normally, I played with an aggressive strategy, moving my pieces forward and attacking. However, his words made me switch to a defensive strategy. I began pulling my pieces back, trying to protect them, which ultimately led to my defeat.
After losing a few games, I realized that my cousin was using a strategy of psychological intimidation—creating fear. This fear made me adopt a defensive approach, which wasn’t my natural style of play. Once I understood this, I decided to play another game against him. This time, I ignored his taunting remarks and stuck to my original aggressive strategy. I focused solely on the game, and to my delight, I won.
Through this experience, I learned a profound lesson: fear is the most dangerous enemy, more crippling than any external challenge. It can lead you to make decisions that aren’t in your best interest, causing you to lose even when you have the potential to win. My dear friends, never let fear be a barrier to your success. Confront it, understand it, and play your game without letting fear dictate your moves.
This chess game taught me that psychological tactics can influence decisions and outcomes. However, by recognizing these tactics and staying true to your strategy, you can overcome fear and achieve success. Fear is a formidable opponent, but it is one that can be defeated with awareness and confidence. So, the next time you face a challenge, remember to stay focused, trust your instincts, and don’t let fear hold you back.
– Lion Lady Dr. Radhika Ganesan holds a doctorate from Harvard School of Public Health, USA in Nutrition & Psychology. Dr. Radhika is the Director and R&D Head, Food Research Lab, a unit of Guire
