Acharya Prashant responds to a question about his thought process when preparing for and later leaving prestigious career paths like IIT, IIM, and the Civil Services. He explains that it was not the same man who prepared for these exams as the one who left them. He emphasizes that human beings are in a constant state of flux, always changing, which is the nature of life. He cites the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who said, "You don't step into the same river twice," comparing man to a river that is constantly flowing towards the sea to dissolve and disappear. The speaker illustrates this by describing his younger self at fifteen, preparing for the IIT-JEE. This boy was a child conditioned by his situation, having been born into a family of bureaucrats. He believed that the only way to live a meaningful life and contribute was through the government machinery. Seeing that IITians were often top rankers in the IAS, he decided on the path of "to IAS via IIT." This was the thinking of a conditioned child. However, as time passed, the teenager grew up. Through the process of preparation and after getting selected and spending time in the training academy, he saw the reality of centralized government and bureaucracy, realizing that such systems inherently lack freedom. At twenty-two, he decided he could not spend his life in a system that would constantly dictate how he should be, and so he quit. Acharya Prashant clarifies that his personal story is not of great importance, except for one crucial lesson: it doesn't matter where you are or what your history is. While your past has brought you to your current point, it doesn't have to define your future. In your deep awareness and understanding, what is right is right. He uses the analogy of watching a bad movie to explain the concept of sunk costs. If you realize a movie is terrible after an hour, you have two options. The first is to think, "I've already invested money and an hour, so I'll invest another hour." The second, wiser option is to think, "I have *only* invested money and one hour; why should I waste another? I can still save an hour." This choice, between being a captive to your history or acting on what is right in the present, determines the destiny of your life. He concludes that one should not be committed to anything except one's own consciousness.