bhaskar saikia

There’s a strange thing that happens when you start doing more than what people expect from you. At first, your progress is met with silence or doubt. Later, when you keep showing up, working through setbacks, and making things happen, the responses begin to shift. But here’s the catch: not everyone cheering for you is truly proud of you. Some are simply astonished that you managed to keep going.

Surprise often disguises itself as praise. People who never imagined you’d follow through may clap when you cross a milestone, but deep down, their applause carries more disbelief than admiration. They didn’t think you had it in you, and now that you’ve proven them wrong, they mask their shock in words that sound supportive.

And that’s where perspective matters. You can’t build your journey on external validation. If you did, you’d lose momentum the moment the applause fades or the surprise wears off. What sustains real growth is the quiet fire within—the drive to prove to yourself, not to others, that you’re capable of shaping your path.

So the next time recognition comes your way, take it with grace, but don’t mistake surprise for pride. Real pride—the kind that matters—shows up in the mirror when you remember how hard you worked, how often you pushed through doubt, and how many times you chose persistence over comfort.

In the end, your victories belong to you, not to the people who once underestimated you. And the most powerful applause you’ll ever hear is the steady rhythm of your own footsteps, moving forward despite everything.