Manoj Kumar Sharma, a former IAS officer, acclaimed author, and motivational speaker, continues to inspire the younger generation with his thought-provoking stories and powerful life lessons drawn from experience and integrity.

Manoj Kumar Sharma began his motivational message by reflecting on a common human sentiment — the feeling that something is always missing in life. He said, “We often wonder what might have happened if we had everything we desired.” But he gently reminds us that it is not necessary for everyone to receive everything in life. To emphasize this, he quoted a powerful line:

“कभी किसी को मुकम्मल जहाँ नहीं मिलता, कहीं ज़मीन तो कहीं आसमाँ नहीं मिलता।”

Moving forward, former IAS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma shares a profound insight: If we learn to find contentment even in the midst of absence, life becomes truly joyful. He emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of life lies in living it with patience and joy — not in constantly chasing what’s missing. To illustrate this perspective more clearly, Manoj Kumar shares a short and meaningful story.

Once, a man was walking through a bustling market, carrying a closed basket in his hand. Every now and then, he would stop, open the basket, look inside with a smile, then gently close it again. He repeated this action several times — open, glance, smile, close.

Observing this peculiar behavior, another man in the market grew curious. Unable to resist, he approached and asked, “What are you repeatedly checking inside the basket?”

The man replied calmly, “There’s a cat inside. I keep checking to make sure it’s still there.”

Hearing the strange answer, the curious man asked, “But why are you carrying a cat in the first place?”

The man with the basket replied, “Every night I have a terrifying dream—a huge mouse climbs onto me and bites me badly. I wake up bleeding in fear, drenched in sweat.”

The other man chuckled and said, “But that’s just a dream! The mouse isn’t real.”

At this, the man with the basket opened it and turned it toward him. “Look,” he said with a calm smile, “there’s no cat inside. I just imagine it’s there.”

With this, Manoj Kumar Sharma explains that the man with the basket experienced "अभाव में भाव की पूर्ति" — fulfillment in the face of absence. He encourages us to adopt a similar mindset in life.

He elaborates, saying that just as the man imagined a cat to find comfort in his fear, we too can choose contentment by changing our perspective. For example, when riding in a simple vehicle, instead of feeling envious of a luxury car, we can imagine our own ride to be just as grand — and what harm is there in that?

Manoj Kumar highlights that "यदि हम अपने पति या पत्नी में सबसे सुंदर व्यक्ति को देखने लगें," then that very thought brings a deep sense of satisfaction and completeness.

He reminds us that every day brings new lessons. So, let us begin each day with a fresh spirit — learning to live with humility, patience, and joy.