When Ego Gets in the Way of Dreams

Our ego can sometimes shatter our dreams, and decisions made in the heat of the moment can close doors for a long time.

I had been singing for quite some time and was winning almost every competition I participated in. I even had the incredible opportunity to perform live at a concert alongside a popular Bollywood singer. Soon after, I got a call to participate in a well-known reality singing show. I practiced so hard that I could sing effortlessly even in my sleep! I had already started dreaming of becoming a singer with a huge fan base, that’s how passionate I was about music :)

But everything changed one night.

As part of the selection process, I had to perform at around 3 AM. Overconfident and eager, I hit the wrong note even before I properly began singing. I was immediately asked to leave with a polite “thank you.” At that moment, my world came crashing down.

Both my parents had accompanied me, but since it was late, they had fallen asleep and weren’t there when my turn came. When I told my father what had happened, he was so disappointed that he said something in frustration. Hurt and overwhelmed, I reacted impulsively and declared that I would never participate in such competitions again.

And that’s exactly what happened. I took up a job offer and never really pursued singing as a career after that — a decision I deeply regret and probably always will.

And believe you me, whenever I think of how I reacted to my father that day, tears roll down my eyes. I feel like I disappointed him for a lifetime.

I often think back to that moment and wonder:

What if I had handled the situation differently? What if I had chosen to keep going and prove myself instead of giving up?

But hey, the show must go on! :)