3 Life Changing Stories of Albert Einstein
“I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It’s because of them I’m doing it myself.” These are the words of Albert Einstein. So, in this blog, I am going to share with you three incidents from the life of the world’s most genius person, the lessons of which can completely change your life.
#1 Once, Albert Einstein invited one of his friends over for dinner. However, he became so engrossed in his work, presumably on some experiment or research, that his friend waited for six hours. He even ate the food but einstein still didn’t realise. When Einstein finally emerged from his work and saw his friend waiting, he remarked, “If these empty dishes weren’t proof, I wouldn’t believe I’ve eaten.”
Don’t you understand ? Means Einstein himself did not know whether he had eaten food or not. He thought that if there are empty utensils lying here then I have had dinner, whereas in reality the food was eaten by his friend
Einstein would often get into such a flow state while working that he would lose track of time and surroundings.
Likewise, if you’re engaged in any task, immerse yourself completely in it. You must become one with the task at hand. Only then can it be called work. because in reality, we do not need more time but more focus, focused hours.
However, in today’s world filled with distractions, achieving this flow state can be challenging. But you can achieve it by using the time blocking method. Allocate a fixed time block for yourself, whether it’s 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or even 90 minutes, depending on your capacity. During this time, eliminate all distractions and focus entirely on deep work. Concentrate and work diligently, as this is the essence of true effort. Otherwise, if you spend two hours sitting down to work but keep getting distracted, those two hours will merely be in name; they won’t be productive work hours. Then gradually increase the time of these time slots, like 25 min to 45 min. 45 to 60 and 60 to 90 minutes and so on and you will begin to see its impact soon.
#2 After completing his diploma, Albert Einstein felt that he could also teach students. He wanted to teach, but not in the conventional sense like other teachers. He preferred practical and deep knowledge and enjoyed teaching in that manner. However, he couldn’t find the teaching job he desired because wherever he applied, colleges were intimidated or insecure due to Einstein’s profound knowledge. Consequently, Albert couldn’t secure a teaching position anywhere.
In the midst of this, he moved to Switzerland, and in 1902, at the age of 23, he found a job as a clerk in a patent office there. This job suited him well because it provided ample free time for study and research. It was during this time that he developed his most important theories, such as the Theory of Relativity and his famous equation E=mc^2, as he had plenty of time outside of office hours to dedicate to writing and research.
Continuously researching and publishing papers, Einstein’s popularity gradually grew. He authored hundreds of books, and his research revolutionized the world. In 1921, he was awarded the Nobel Prize, and in 1999, Time magazine declared Albert Einstein as the Person of the Century for the 20th century.
So, whatever you are doing, whether it’s a job or study, make sure to devote time to something that interests you or aligns with your passion, where there are possibilities for growth. Many people have experienced that by pursuing side projects alongside their main endeavors, they stumbled upon opportunities that led their lives in completely new directions. It’s essential not to waste our lives on things or activities that we don’t find fulfilling or that we’re doing out of obligation.
As Albert Einstein once said, “I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious.” So, start doing whatever interests you, whatever makes you curious, even if it’s just half an hour daily, over time, you might start seeing opportunities that could steer your life in a whole new direction. And this has been the case for many people.
#3 This incident may sound familiar to you, but the lesson it imparts is unique. When Einstein was just 8 years old, one day he arrived home and handed his mother a letter he had received from school. Albert asked his mother what was written in it. Emotional, his mother told him that it said he was an exceptionally talented child with immense potential, but unfortunately, the school, faculty, and teachers were not capable of educating him adequately. She advised him to study at home from now on, as he was too intelligent for them to teach. Young Einstein was elated by this revelation. It motivated him greatly, and he began to learn everything on his own. As he grew up to become a renowned scientist, one day while shifting houses, he found a folded piece of white paper in a drawer. Upon opening it, he discovered it was a letter from the same teacher he had received many years ago, which his mother had given him. He read it, and it said that he was dull-witted, not suitable for the school, and there was no need to send him there anymore; his upbringing was to be handled by his parents. However, at that time, his mother had read it to him inversely, so that young Einstein wouldn’t get demotivated. After that incident, Einstein revolutionized science and the world as we know it. Some may argue that this story belongs to Thomas Edison. Look, whether it’s Einstein’s or Edison’s story, that’s not the main issue. Both Edison and Einstein contributed significantly to science and this world. What matters most is what you can learn from it.
Today, many students or individuals are living beneath their limits. They believe that those who achieve something significant in life are entirely different. But this is an illusion. In reality, any person can become anything. As Einstein himself said – ” Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Similarly, your teachers, parents, and society may underestimate you based on one thing – your marks, degrees, or even if you’re introverted. But you shouldn’t let people’s opinions define your limits and capabilities. Don’t limit yourself based on others’ judgments. Only you know yourself better than anyone else. Maybe there’s something you’re interested in or passionate about, something you enjoy doing. Through practice, you can master it. Believe in yourself. You are more than what you think you are. Your limits are infinite. You just need to push yourself a little further than what you’ve been doing so far. That’s all for today, I hope you have learned a lot from these three stories. If you enjoyed this post, you might also like some of my other writings listed below, Wish you all the very best.