Acharya Prashant explains that a small person cannot become big by faking it or by merely adding external attributes like wealth, fame, or age. He emphasizes that the desire to become 'big' is rooted in the deep-seated belief that one is 'small.' This belief in one's smallness (chhutpan) is the very obstacle to growth. True progress in spirituality is not about becoming big, but about the renunciation of smallness. He uses the analogy of a snowball to show that even if it grows in size, its core remains the same small molecule of ice. Similarly, a person may gain a large bank balance or social status, but their fundamental tendencies and insecurities often remain unchanged from childhood. He clarifies that spirituality is about questioning the identity one has assumed. He suggests that instead of trying to be 'big,' one should aim to be 'not small' (alaghuta). This involves a constant internal struggle against one's petty self, referred to as 'Bachhu Mal' or 'Chhotu Mal.' Acharya Prashant asserts that one should be a critic of their own smallness and only praise themselves when they successfully challenge their limitations or laziness. He notes that while the mind is the cause of bondage, it is also the only tool available for liberation. Therefore, one must use the mind to illuminate and investigate the mind's own deceptions through constant self-inquiry and alertness.