Carrying the expectations of 1.35 billion people is never an easy ask, but for Indian Olympians across disciplines, it amplifies the pressure of a podium finish manifold. And so, failing to make the cut, as was the case with the Indian women’s hockey team and golfer Aditi Ashok, brings crushing feelings of dejection. 

The same is also true for ambitious professionals who either have their sights trained on the higher rungs of the corporate ladder or are heading disruptive enterprises of their own — seizing or creating opportunities comes with an inherent risk of failure, and with that risk comes the likelihood of disappointment and dejection. “Especially in countries like India, where we’re taught to flow with the tide instead of swimming against it, the fear of failure can keep professionals from innovating and exploring new avenues. And, in doing so, they run the risk of playing too safe by not trying anything new at all. That stagnation can be their downfall,” observes Sonalee Panda, a business mentor.