On Success

-Ashwini Surpur

All of us want success in any endeavor that we take up. Yet we despair. Where do we go wrong?

Swami Vivekananda says "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea, and leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success"

Here are three factors to look into, while considering success.

Goal Setting

When deciding our goals, do we keep our abilities, bandwidth, and priorities in mind? We want to do well in our yoga practice but may not have the required time and capacity. We want to reach a specific career goal, but it may not be our cup of tea. We may not have the required skills and competency at this time. Or we may be following the path of others just because it sounds enticing. Trusting our chosen path is crucial, but before choosing it, we should carefully consider if it is the right one for us.

Consistency

Now that we have set a goal, are we consistently following the path that takes us toward our goal? We want to achieve heights in our careers, but are you prioritizing your chosen path? Are you updating yourself with the latest technology and changing trends? Are you sacrificing some fun and social aspects that otherwise impede your growth? If we mindlessly tread a path without introspecting on our growth and potential, we may soon reach a plateau. Coming to spiritual practices like yogasana or meditation, you may want to achieve mastery in yoga, but do you have the necessary commitment? You can always put off the practice for tomorrow, but will that tomorrow come? The yogic experience remains a concept that you never experience.

Patience

It takes time for a plant to become a tree and bear fruits. Similarly, our time and commitment to our chosen path may also take a long time to yield results. Can you wait patiently? The question, "How long?" is the problematic question here. It may be much longer than we expect. But we must be willing to wait, adjust our course of action constantly, and persevere until we see light at the end of the tunnel. We may never see the expected results, but it is possible for us to experience something more profound. We may end up changing our definition of success. We may end up developing contentment with our chosen goal and the current results of our work. We may come to understand that the expected results were not feasible in the first place. Our horizon of reality may widen enough to accommodate new perspectives. In every situation, we are growing leaps and bounds.

There is no shortcut to success and growth. We should let go of our fast-food mentality and look at life with a broader lens. We should take our time and progress steadily, drawing inspiration from the famous tortoise in the story of the tortoise and the hare. It's important to move at a pace that suits our individual capacity, and by consistently putting in effort, we can cover more ground. Rushing and taking shortcuts often result in a prolonged and challenging journey. Moving too quickly can lead to losing awareness and finding ourselves in a state of confusion. Trust in your chosen path and the guidance you receive, and you will find the strength to continue your journey. Any and every work can take us to genuine self-transformation when taken up with passion, dedication, and compassion.

In this life, there is a path for everyone. If we have true passion and eagerness in our endeavors, the universe conspires to take us toward the goal we deserve. Each day presents us with new lessons, and it's essential to internalize them. Let's approach this path slowly and strive to find balance in every action. Through dedication and perseverance, we can turn our lives into a lively celebration!

This is how we change Karma to Karma Yoga!

Ashwini Surpur is the Executive Director of Yoga Bharati and a Senior Yoga Therapist at Yoga Bharati.