Acharya Prashant explains that while the mind naturally seeks security through planning and backup strategies, one must recognize that the link between cause and effect in the universe is beyond calculation. He suggests that while it is acceptable to plan, one should not let the outcome become overly significant. If a plan succeeds, it is fine, but if it fails, one should simply shrug it off. He points out a contradiction: if failure and success are viewed equally, the mind might question the need to plan at all. However, since the mind's basic tendency is to seek security, it will continue to organize and manage; the key is to not let these mental tricks become too meaningful. Addressing the fear of failure when starting something new, Acharya Prashant argues that being afraid of failure is itself a form of failure. He observes that most people try to remain safe in conventional ways, yet this process only results in becoming a fearful individual. This fear is proof that the old patterns of seeking safety are unhealthy and ineffective. He asserts that self-managed change often remains within the limits of one's existing patterns and fails to address fundamental problems. True change requires the courage to live in uncertainty and to examine the deep-seated confidence we have in our basic understanding of life, love, and relationships. He concludes that superficial changes, like changing one's appearance or surroundings while the core situation remains miserable, are pointless tricks used to hide real problems.
