Reflections on Past Mistakes and the Impact on My Life Choices

It is an intriguing question to ponder - if given the chance, what would you change about your past decisions?

I often do not dwell on altering my past because, quite frankly, it is beyond my control. However, let me explore if modifying one significant decision could have significantly improved my life trajectory.

Missed Opportunity: The IIT-JEE and Agrawal Classes

In my senior year of high school in 1983, I was unaware of the IIT-JEE examination. My friend Alok Mathur, whose father was a Gold Medalist from what was then Roorkee University (now IIT Roorkee), suggested I share his postal coaching of Agrawal Classes for the examination. The fee was Rs 600, and we could split the cost, with me paying half. I, however, was hesitant about joining a coaching class, and my refusal led to a profound impact.

Alok was offered admission to IIT Kanpur with a 322 rank, whereas I was admitted to IT-BHU Varanasi with a 1331 rank. Assuming I would have joined Agrawal Classes, would my academic journey have been different? And, more importantly, would my career path have taken a different turn?

The Civil Services Exam: A Missed Chance?

After my undergraduate degree, I chose to pursue mechanical engineering in preparation for writing the UPSC civil services examination. My chosen optional subjects for the civil services examination were mathematics and physics, which I had to study from scratch. My four years in engineering school felt like a wasted opportunity, as I could have studied mathematics and physics for four years instead.

Instead of doing an undergraduate and graduate degree in engineering, could I have opted for a bachelor's in science, followed by a master's, and spent my four years dedicated to deepening my knowledge in mathematics and physics? Even more, would the top rank in the civil services examination, leading to a prestigious IAS position, have truly satisfied my aspirations?

The PhD and Academia: A Missed Potential

Assuming I had chose a different path, my next consideration was the possibility of pursuing a PhD after an M Tech. This would have transformed my path into becoming a professor in a prestigious college, but the reality was that my interests and goals were more aligned with writing and providing value through literature.

I might have published numerous research papers and written dozens of books; however, the topics would primarily have been technical, limiting my audience. Given my current role as a content creator and author, I am not sure if academic life aligns with my true passions.

Valuable Experiences and Unique Paths

Reflecting on my past, the opportunities and experiences I have had are invaluable. My 25 years as an IRS officer and civil servant have provided me with a wealth of knowledge and experiences, including:

Receiving the highest decorations from the Government of India Valuable experience from teaching Ethics and Essay courses to over a million civil services aspirants Publishing nine books on various topics such as spirituality, leadership, mythology, happiness, and ethics Writing over 5700 answers on Quora, read by 260 million people

Each decision, even those I now view as mistakes, has contributed to who I am today. Changing any of these decisions would mean a different person living a different life. I cherish the experiences that have made me, and therefore, I choose not to regret my past.

In summary, while it would be tempting to change my past, the reality is that these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today. Each mistake or wrong decision is a lesson in itself, and I am content with the path I have chosen.