26/08/2025
The World is Our Oyster, But We Must Break the Shell Ourselves:
As a proud Fijian and Pacific Islander, and from my own experience, I’ve seen a quiet struggle play out across our beautiful islands. A conflict that happens not on the rugby field or in the halls of government, but within our own minds. It's the silent battle between our immense potential and our self-limiting beliefs. Too often, because of our own fears of failure and how we might be perceived by others, we talk ourselves out of opportunities that we might excel in, if only we had the courage to try.
From a young age, the path to success is often presented as a narrow, well trodden trail leading to one of three destinations. Our families, with the best intentions, push our children to become lawyers, pilots, or doctors. These are noble professions, worthy of respect, but they are often prized more for the notoriety they bring within the community than for their alignment with a child’s true passion or talent. This "prestige trap" inadvertently teaches a damaging lesson, and that is, that any other path is somehow a lesser one, and it is not. It creates a culture where the fear of not meeting a narrow, prescribed expectation can be paralyzing.
But an even heavier anchor holds us back: the deep-seated fear of what others will think. In our close knit communities, where family and reputation are everything, the thought of failing publicly can be terrifying. This fear causes us to shrink, to play it safe. We talk ourselves out of starting a new business, pursuing a creative talent, or taking a job that seems unconventional, all because we are more worried about the possibility of shame than we are excited by the possibility of success. We forget that failure is not a final judgment but simply a lesson on the path to growth.
We must realize that the world is filled with countless examples of people who have built incredible lives and careers without a formal university degree. This is not because education isn't important, it is vitally so. But education is not confined to the four walls of a classroom. True learning comes from experience, from resilience, and from the courage to take a stab at any opportunity that comes your way. The plumber, carpenter, boat builder, even farmers who builds a business that employs a dozen people, the artist whose work shares our culture with the world, the tech entrepreneur who learns to sell online, the stay at home parent with a catering business, these are all stories of profound success.
The world truly is our oyster, but an oyster shell is useless if we never find the strength to pry it open. That strength comes from within. Before we can conquer the world, we must first work on ourselves, on our mindsets. We must teach ourselves and our children that our worth is not tied to a specific job title and that failure is a badge of honor for those who dare to try. We must cultivate a mindset that allows us to face anything, to attack every opportunity we come across, and to never, ever be afraid of the journey.
By Dr Nemani Delaibatiki Lalanabaravi, DC, BSc
