“Most decisions are affected by what we’re feeling in the moment, the key is to be aware of it and not let it control you.”
— Gukesh Dommaraju
Summary
Gukesh Dommaraju’s insight reminds us that emotions are inevitable, but not inescapable. The real skill lies not in avoiding them, but in recognising them — and deciding not to let them drive our next move.
Explanation
Some decisions are made with calculation, some with instinct — but most, Gukesh Dommaraju reminds us, are shaped by whatever we’re feeling in that precise moment. Tension, excitement, doubt, even overconfidence — these forces tug at us constantly. The key, he says, is not to suppress them, but to notice them, and then choose deliberately what to follow.
This isn’t detachment; it’s discipline. Awareness, for Gukesh, is not about becoming emotionless — it’s about becoming clear. It's the same principle that has guided his rise from a promising prodigy to a World Champion: learning to observe the emotional noise without letting it direct the next move.
And that’s a lesson that applies far beyond chess. Whether you're preparing for a performance, handling a high-stakes meeting, learning a new skill, or simply trying to grow, the ability to pause and recognise what you’re feeling — before reacting — is powerful. When you become aware of your emotions, you gain the chance to use them, rather than be used by them.
Improvement, in any field, isn’t just about talent or repetition — it’s about knowing how your inner state affects your outer action. Like Gukesh, the best performers don't avoid pressure; they learn to stay calm inside it. Mastery, then, isn’t the absence of feeling — it’s choosing wisely in the presence of it.
About Gukesh Dommaraju:
Gukesh Dommaraju is the reigning World Chess Champion (2025) and one of the youngest Grandmasters in history. Hailing from India, he first gained global attention for his prodigious rise, narrowly missing the record for youngest GM by just 16 days.
His success comes not only from sharp tactical skill, but from a calm, focused mindset shaped by meditation, self-discipline, and a deep awareness of how emotions affect decision-making. For Gukesh, becoming a champion was as much about inner clarity as it was about mastering the board.
An After Afterthought
“And all those things I didn't say
Were wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song (hey)
Take back my life song (hey)”
— Rachel Platten, Fight Song (2015)
These lines echo the spirit of Gukesh’s insight — a turning point where emotion becomes energy, and awareness becomes action. Platten begins with a storm inside: things unspoken, feelings pent-up. But she doesn’t drown in them — she channels them. Her voice becomes a declaration, not of victory yet, but of intent.
Where Gukesh urges us to notice emotion without letting it steer us, this lyric shows that same idea in motion. It’s not about silence or suppression — it’s about choice. A moment where you acknowledge the noise, then speak through it with purpose.
“Fight Song” reminds us that awareness isn’t passive — it’s powerful. It lets us feel everything without being ruled by any of it.
About the Song:
Fight Song was released in 2015 and quickly became an anthem of personal strength and emotional resilience. Written during a time of deep self-doubt, Rachel Platten transformed her quiet struggle into a global message of empowerment — proof that clarity often comes not before emotion, but through it.
About Rachel Platten:
Rachel Platten is an American singer-songwriter known for heartfelt, affirming pop. Before her breakthrough, she spent years working behind the scenes in music. Fight Song gave voice to that persistence — showing that even in doubt, determination can speak louder.