I was only 6 years old when a freak accident cost me my left eye. Playing innocently with friends and a bow and arrow, I found myself on the wrong end of a perfectly aimed shot (the archer would have scored a perfect 10!), and my left eye was gone. Despite nearly four surgeries, my vision couldn’t be fully restored, and I adapted to seeing the world through one eye—what I now humorously call my ‘Shooter’s Eye’ akin to how archers close one eye to aim.

At the time of the incident, I was too young to comprehend the full impact of losing an eye, but thanks to the unwavering support of my parents, who treated me no differently and encouraged me to pursue all my physical activities, including playing my favourite game, cricket. Over the years, my passion for the game grew, and I eventually became a medium-paced bowler for my college team. I also developed a reputation as a skilled fielder, rarely dropping catches. Despite the risks the game posed to my eye, especially since my left-side vision was nearly blind, my parents never discouraged me from playing. However, I could never quite master batting, and it always remained an enigma to me.

In 2018, during a casual conversation on my way to the office, a colleague asked me about the differences between seeing with one eye versus two. My immediate response was, ‘Absolutely none’. However, he went on to explain the concept of depth perception, something I had never really thought about before. This revelation helped me understand why batting in cricket had always been a challenge for me—without depth perception, accurately judging the ball’s trajectory was difficult. Interestingly, though, I rarely dropped catches, especially high ones. I realized that time was a key factor—when batting, you have only a fraction of a second to judge the ball, whereas with catching, you have more time to react. Discovering this difference was eye-opening (pun intended!), and it gave me a deeper appreciation for how I interact with the world around me.

This realization sparked a retrospective analysis. How had I coped so well for so long? I identified several factors which are also relevant for the professional life:

1. Ignorance is bliss: Losing my eye at a young age meant I grew up adapting to my ‘2-D’ world without fully realizing its limitations. At times, constraints or limitations can push us to find better ways of doing things that might otherwise seem impossible, especially if our minds are clouded by doubt.

2. Positive outlook: Unaware of my visual impairment, I approached life with a determination to achieve, focusing on my strengths rather than dwelling on perceived weaknesses. I’ve come to realize that it’s always better to focus on the journey and set clear goals with a strong belief in achieving the desired outcomes.

3. Self-Belief: Inculcating a belief that it’s better to be okay with what you cannot do because there is so much you ‘CAN DO’.

4. Peer support: My family played a crucial role by treating me normally and encouraging me without drawing attention to my condition. Hence, it is desirable in professional life to help our colleagues and subordinates by reminding them of their strengths instead of making them conscious of their shortcomings.

Dwelling on weaknesses hinders progress. Instead, maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on goals without letting limitations define you should be the key to a professional journey.