Siddarth Shukla

Thats where magic happens!

Growing up in a small village in India, I was taught to follow the rules without question. School was a place where we had to wear uniforms, arrive on time, and take permission for even the smallest things, like going to the washroom. Teachers were figures of authority, and their word was final. We didn’t question them; we memorized what they taught, answered the way they expected, and received validation in return.

In those days, questioning authority was almost unheard of. Teachers weren’t just authority figures—they were the gatekeepers of knowledge. They would teach us in class with the aid of a blackboard, give us homework, and if you didn’t finish the homework, you got punished; if you did, you were okay. There was no scope for questioning or exploring curiosity with your teacher, so the answers weren’t personal—they were tailored to fit the teacher’s expectations. Curiosity wasn’t encouraged; it took a back seat to fulfilling the teacher’s expectations.

We didn’t have access to the internet or computers, so our knowledge was limited to what we were taught in class. The need for approval outweighed the desire for exploration, and that’s where the problem started. It still affects me today—rather than surrendering to my curiosity, I often find myself seeking validation from others.

The same pattern followed me into adulthood. As an engineer, I realized that although there are many ways to solve a problem, corporate bureaucracy only allows the solutions that fit their preconceived frameworks. The person closest to the problem, the one with the deepest understanding, is often overlooked in favor of management’s solutions. Management, being further removed, often sees things differently, and what starts as a minor issue is blown out of proportion because those with the real solutions are rarely heard.

Suppressing Curiosity to Please Authority

As children, many of us sensed that our teachers didn’t have all the answers. Yet, the fear of embarrassing them—or ourselves—kept us silent. Rather than ask meaningful questions, we accepted surface-level learning: memorizing, repeating, and passing exams. This gave us temporary satisfaction, but the deeper questions—those sparked by true curiosity—remained unanswered. This habit of seeking approval from authority instead of pursuing our own truths followed me well into adulthood, shaping my approach to work and life.

Looking back, I now see that this cycle extended beyond the classroom and workplace. We’re conditioned to please, to conform, and to seek validation from teachers, parents, peers, spouses, kids, banks, and eventually politicians. The fear of asking tough questions, of breaking free from the status quo, keeps us locked in a cycle of low-level satisfaction. We get by, but our true potential remains untapped.

Breaking Free: Thinking for Yourself

It wasn’t until I started exploring my own thoughts and questions, especially through writing and creating, that I began to break free from the need for external validation. I realized that thinking for myself allowed me to explore ideas that resonated with my own values, not just the expectations set by others. The process wasn’t easy, and there were moments of discomfort. But slowly, I learned that the act of creating for myself—not for others—was freeing.

Write for Yourself: Creating without Seeking Approval

Writing for myself has been a transformative process. I no longer worry about whether people will agree with me or whether my ideas will be validated by external sources. I’ve realized that true creativity comes from within, not from seeking approval. It has been a challenge to break free from the conditioning of always trying to please others, but I’m learning that the most authentic and impactful creations come when I write or create for myself.

Critique and appreciation now hold the same weight for me. I value feedback, but I’ve learned to stay grounded—whether someone praises or critiques my work, I absorb it without letting it impact me emotionally. If the critique resonates, I’ll incorporate it; if it doesn’t, I move forward. The same goes for appreciation—I appreciate it, but I don’t let it shape my direction. My craft is shaped by my own understanding, growing as I continue to explore my thoughts and question assumptions.

Create for Yourself: Exploring Ideas, Not Seeking Perfection

The same goes for creation in general. Whether it’s writing, building, or starting something new, the mindset of “creating for yourself” is about exploring your ideas and following your curiosity, not about achieving perfection. Too often, we hold back from starting projects because we’re worried they won’t be “good enough.” We fear judgment, or we compare our work to others.

But the truth is, creation is messy. It’s supposed to be. If you wait for the perfect moment or the perfect idea, you’ll never start. When you create for yourself, the process itself becomes the reward, and the result is often more authentic and impactful than anything you could have planned.

Embracing Authenticity in Life and Work

When I look at the world today, especially through the lens of social media and society’s expectations, I see a pattern of people striving for external validation. Whether it’s chasing material success, fitting into societal molds, or pleasing family and friends, people are stuck in a cycle of living for others. This mindset extends into how we work, how we approach relationships, and how we navigate life.

But living for yourself, just like writing and creating for yourself, requires breaking away from the need to conform to others’ expectations. It’s about aligning your actions with your own truth, even if that truth doesn’t match what society or the people around you expect.

Conclusion: Aligning with Your Own Truth

The journey to thinking, writing, and creating for yourself is not easy. It takes courage to break free from external validation and societal pressures. But the reward is worth it. You’ll find more joy, freedom, and authenticity in your work and life when you stop living to please others and start living to express your true self.

So, whether it’s in your work, your personal life, or your creative endeavors, ask yourself: Am I doing this for myself, or for someone else’s approval? If it’s the latter, it’s time to shift gears and start living, writing, and creating for yourself. Thats where magic happens! and you may see while you were creating for yourself but you were interacting with cosmos.