Failures often feel like the end of the world, like thereโs no light beyond the tunnel, a dead end. In those moments, we are drenched so drenched in hopelessness that it almost seems the world is ticking into judgment and no way beyond, with every passing second.But we forget that these shortcomings are not the end of the world, but roadblocks with better times waiting ahead.
Raja Ravi Verma (Photo: @casteobession/ X)
Raja Ravi Verma shed light on this scenario through his wise words.The quote which is widely attributed to him, feels like a warm hug from an old friend who knows youโve been beating yourself up over a setback. It tells us something simple but life-changing, that โfailureโ is really just success that hasnโt finished taking shape yet.Raja Ravi Varma, the legendary Indian painter, whose work was based on Indian themes with European art techniques. He also lived through years of criticism and doubt before becoming one of Indiaโs most famous and revered artists. His work wasnโt immediately accepted everywhere. Some called it too Western, while others said it wasnโt traditional enough. But he did not give up and kept painting, kept refining, kept going.
Quote of the day
There is no failure, itโs only unfinished success
Raja Ravi Verma
Raja Ravi Varma shared a mindset, through this quote, that carried him through years of struggle before his art became iconic.The quote is simple on the surface, but has a deeper meaning underneath. We call situations a โfailureโ when something doesnโt work out the way we planned on the first try, like when a project doesnโt work out, a business flops, a relationship ends, or a dream feels out of reach. We label it as final, and think that weโre not cut out for this.But Ravi Varma tells us to be patient, hold on, and hope that it’s not final but just unfinished.
Being successful is just like painting a beautiful piece
Relate success like a painting. When youโre halfway through, it might look messy. Colours are smudged. The face isnโt quite right. The background feels flat.And if you stepped back at that moment and declared, โthis is a failure,โ youโd be missing the whole point. You havenโt finished painting it yet.The same goes for life. What looks like failure today might be the rough draft of tomorrowโs climax. Every mistake, every rejection, every late night of rewriting or beginning from scratch is part of the process and not the end of it.