Get what you want?

There is this interesting quote that says 'When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it' or some such. Paulo Coelho, I believe, is credited with having written it in 'The Alchemist' or some such book. Made me think of the Universe as some sort of Blinkit which delivers what you ask for, you know. Just throw the wish out there and, presto, it gets delivered to you. (Not that it really happened to me. Been asking for those billions for lo these many years but...)

And, then, I discover that Tiru has said it way back in history. This one...

Ulliyadhu eidhal elidhuman matrunthaan ulliyadhu ullap perin - Tirukkural

He who seeks to achieve a goal shall find it easy if he focuses unremittingly on it - Loose Translation

Well, Tiru does not necessarily convert the Universe into a Blinkit for your wishes but he does say that if you seek to achieve a goal unremittingly, you will find it easy to achieve it. Tiru, of course, does not leave it at just wishing for something. He requires some effort from you...to focus continuously on the goal. So, yes, there is no Universe running around to deliver your Mungerilal ke haseen sapne (Alas, for me).

Does focus unremittingly on a goal suffice, then? I think what all of these guys are saying is not merely sit around on extended daydreams. If something is your goal, then you are expected to put in effort to get there. The thing about 'unremitting' focus is that you are not going to keep changing goals. Like work towards the IAS for a couple of months, switch around to learning AI, then think that becoming an actor is better and so on. So, if you pick a goal and stick to it, work towards it, you'll find it easy to achieve it.

You see, if you are working relentlessly towards one goal shit happens. Someone meets an expert in that area and remembers you; he puts you in touch. Another guy points you to a VC...things like that. THAT is how the Universe helps you, not by sending a cascade of gold coins down your chimney, if you have one. All these things happen only if you are relentlessly working on one thing; if you hop and skip and jump, these guys are unlikely to help you because they do not even know what sort of help you want!

So, yeah, in a way Tiru beat this Paulo Coelho chappie to it. AND it still requires you to do all the hard yards. Alas!