Safe Answers or Honest Curiosity?

 What should I choose?

The easiest one—the one you know would be easier, where you are sure of the destination and the result.

Or the other path—the one you are curious about, which would feed your knowledge system, but you aren't sure about the result.

Yet your inner self says, "You might feel happier and satisfied if you take this choice."

Let’s take an example from a question paper.

You get two questions.

The first question is a very general one. You know the answer as it is—you could even make a carbon copy of it. But even that makes you hesitate to choose it.

Because it might sound too obvious, and there’s nothing new you can incorporate. Yes, I agree there are possibilities to bring in your perspective, yet your mind is tired of answering such summary-type questions.

Whereas there is another question which intrigues your mind. It makes you feel curious.  You start biting your nails with curiosity as this question challenges you.

Yet, the same inner self is scared to attempt it: i) fearing that it would get you low marks

ii) unsure whether you could do justice to that question

iii) you start judging your own capacity—whether you'll be able to feed that curiosity

But again, it taps you… screams loudly:

"Attempt this question, you eager child!"

Even if it doesn’t make you score good marks—as per the standard—but still, by attempting this:

You would fulfill your thirst for knowledge.

You would have the satisfaction of trying something new.

It’s something you don’t fully know. You have a basic idea, yes—but the question isn’t about that basic idea. It asks you to dig into your mind, gather whatever you know, and even think about things you’ve never considered before, and put them all together.

Isn’t it tempting? 😄

Which one would you choose? Whoever reads this blog, please give me your answer.

Honestly… it depends.

Our education system often trains us to reproduce the ideas and not to think. We are rewarded for correctness, not curiosity.

And whenever we are put in such situations, we choose the ordinary option because it is safe. The one that makes you think isn’t safe, as there is no guarantee that you will score marks. Maybe a few—especially our English teachers—would've  appreciated it. But others… we already know the answer.

So even after growing up, in college as well as in life,

we hesitate to take risks.

Because there is already an easier option lying in front of you.

So even now, I can't ask you all to choose the second question.

Maybe you can—if you don’t care about marks or disappointments and want to stay true to your soul.

But other than that, yes—if the situation is high-stakes, choose the easier one safely. And see if you can add your uniqueness to it.

Whereas, on the other hand, if the situation allows even a little room for risk, then yes—give it a try.

That’s where real learning happens.

That’s where you realise the weight of your choices.

That’s where you feel happy.

And that’s where you have no regrets.

Okay Wait,

The first time when you take this option, you would have regret. And I’m not an exception to that. As I already said, we are used to going behind hundred people. And suddenly, when you try to make your own path, it feels new.

The results may bring sadness in you.

But yes… close your eyes and ask your deeper self—I guarantee you,

you would feel happy.

For taking this risk.

At least now.

And maybe

that’s enough to not regret it anymore.

Because sometimes, the biggest regret isn’t failure,  it’s not trying at all.