As a woman on the path to success, we expect to feel a sense of achievement when we see that we have reached the top — the place where we wanted to be. We might wonder, How does it look from there? Will the world and people around you look more beautiful? Will the journey to the top be pleasant and memorable?
For many women I have met, this journey has certainly not been easy. It is not always a journey of mutual support, collaboration and friendliness. Instead, you have to be careful about who is conspiring to push you down. There are many challenges, not just due to gender bias, but also due to jealousy from other women.
This kind of a journey can be very stressful and takes its toll on our body and mind. Moreover, many women impose limitations on themselves, believing that they are not fully qualified, and often talk themselves out of achieving their potential.
So, what do successful women do right? I believe that successful women are able to find their inner strength to make the most of opportunities — be it at the workplace or at home. The revered spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says that one who skillfully manages the challenges that life poses is successful. Here are some pointers:
• Commitment – One failure can lead to another success later. We should not be deterred by failures, but learn from them.
• Time – It is not sufficient to just invest money to nurture or develop something. We have to give it our time and attention.
• Setting an Example – A successful woman doesn’t just show you the way; she walks the talk.
• Teamwork – Making others feel involved; inspiring participation and contribution.
• Silence – Nurture quietude and calmness.
• Reflection – Setting aside time to sit quietly at the end of the day, looking back at all the day’s activities, and seeing where we made a difference. Reminding ourselves of the successes can inspire us to do more.
A woman has to balance her work, family, relationships — all of these and more on the road to success. When you realize that you are multifaceted and multidimensional, you know you can handle different roles in life. This realization dawns when you are in a calm and serene state of mind, which can be achieved through meditation.
I find that meditation can help us be more productive. It is my experience that when you meditate, a task that would take four hours to do gets done in two hours. I believe it is necessary that we give prime time to ourselves — to relax and rejuvenate, to realize that we have so much more potential that we think we do. Otherwise, we limit our capabilities.
