Rajeev Verma Published on 27-Feb.2025
In life, the biggest obstacles are often not external but internal. The story in the image above teaches a powerful lesson about self-belief and determination. It uses the example of a deer and a lion to convey how fear and self-doubt can hinder success, even when one possesses the ability to achieve their goals.
The Story of the Deer and the LionThe story highlights that a deer can run at a speed of 90 km/hr, whereas a lion’s speed is only 58 km/hr. Despite being faster, the deer often falls prey to the lion. The reason behind this is not the lion’s strength but the deer’s own fear. The deer believes that the lion is stronger and superior, which makes it look back again and again while running. This fear weakens the deer’s confidence and reduces its speed, ultimately leading to its downfall.
The LessonThe biggest message from this story is that self-doubt is more dangerous than any external challenge. Many people give up on their dreams not because they lack the capability, but because they don’t believe in themselves. Constantly looking back at others, worrying about what they might think, or fearing failure only slows down progress.
How to Apply This in Life
1. Believe in Your Strengths: You have the potential to achieve great things. Identify your abilities and trust them.
2. Stay Focused on Your Goals: Don’t let fear distract you from your dreams. Keep your eyes on your destination.
3. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others: Everyone’s journey is different. Comparing yourself will only drain your energy.
4. Overcome Fear with Action: Fear will always exist, but taking action despite fear builds confidence.
5. Self-Confidence is the Key to Success: The world will only believe in you if you believe in yourself first.
Hence, the deer loses not because it’s weak, but because it lets fear control its mind. Similarly, no matter how talented or capable you are, self-doubt can hold you back. Believe in yourself, keep moving forward, and never look back. Whether others support you or not, your self-confidence will be your greatest strength.
Remember: Your speed doesn’t matter if your mind is full of doubts. Stay strong, stay focused, and success will follow.
RAJEEV VERMA 