This is how you can transform yourself.

I was at my friend’s pool Haldi party last week.

It was all fun and games until someone pushed me into the pool. With my clothes on.?

And my phone in my pocket.

The process of buying a new phone was confusing. A little anxiety about whether I’ll make the right choice.

But ultimately, my friend chose for me.

That’s what we often do, right?

We let others make our choices.

Let’s look at the poor Brahmin Agastya, the protagonist of today’s story.

After performing a pooja, the yajmaan gave him a goat as dakshina.

He happily carried the goat on his back and started walking home.

A group of butchers saw this and thought of taking advantage.

“Haha, maharaj, why are you carrying a dog?” laughed one.

Smiling back, Agastya replied, “Are you mad? This is a goat. Not a dog.”?

Walking ahead, the second butcher said, “Wow, I didn’t know you respect dogs so much. Love them, Agastya ji. But please don’t carry one on your shoulder.”

Agastya was confused. But he laughed it off.

“Get your eyes checked! This is a goat. Not a dog.”

As per the plan, the third butcher came in.

“You’re so brave Agastya! Aren’t you scared that the dog will bite you?”

Poor Agastya’s face turned pale.?

“Am I not seeing things right?” he thought.

Not making eye contact, he walked ahead.

This was the fourth butcher’s cue.

“Pandit ji, you’re a Brahmin. I can’t let you carry this weight on your back. The least I can do is help you. Please leave dealing with the dog to me.”

“Dog?”

“Yes, the dog on your shoulder. Let me carry it for you.”

“Do you see a dog?”

“Yes, it is a dog. What else will I see?”

That was the last nail in the coffin.

Agastya screamed at the goat, “WHY ARE YOU ON MY BACK, YOU DOG?

GO AWAY AND BARK AT STUPID THINGS.”

He frustratingly put the goat down and sadly walked home.

Agastya was stupid, right?

How could he not see what was in front of him?

The goat was his. He KNEW it was a goat.

How could he ever believe it to be a dog?

Call Agastya stupid or something else. It’s your choice.

But don’t forget: You are Agastya. (So am I).

Haven’t you found yourself believing what people say, forgetting what you have? What you really are?

“I must be a bad public speaker. He said so.”

“I’m not good at closing clients. My experienced boss said it, after all.”

“I will never be a good partner. My ex was right.”

When something is said repeatedly, we believe it to be true.

Doesn’t matter whether it’s the truth.

“I am ____.”

Whatever you fill the blank with becomes your truth.

And the wonderful news is: you get to choose what goes in the blank.

So go ahead, and create your identity.

When your belief changes, your behavior automatically changes.

And when behavior changes, your reality transforms.