The standard definition of being a ‘successful’ woman in India usually revolves around being ‘highly educated’, to at least have a master’s degree so that you can get a job and be financially independent. That’s it. Full stop. This definition of success is not only mediocre, but dangerous.
Young girls pour their entire energy in trying to get good grades, getting into the right universities, getting a job, getting married by a certain age, becoming mothers and the cycle repeats.
I do not want to end up being a mere collection of other people’s thoughts, desires, wishes and beliefs and bury my inner voice underneath all this noise.
I’m reminded of a saying by Mark Twain that goes like this: “Do not let your schooling interfere with your education”.
Success comes from successfully using your mind to shatter mental conditioning imposed by society.
When we observe the mind continuously we get the concrete proof that every action, thought & desire we think we have, is just borrowed. We want things that other people have taught us to value, things that may actually not be good for us! There is a vast universe awaiting us to explore, yet, we only narrow our existence and put all energy in merely acquiring power & prestige, gaining respect in the eyes of ‘the others’. Why should I blindly accept the answers given by parents, teachers, celerities, writers, politicians who themselves aren’t self aware?
The mind needs a vigorous workout, the intellect must exercise, it must know the joy of staying awake at night because it can’t stop thinking about the mysteries of the universe. It needs to explore science and history beyond what is ‘approved’ to be taught in schools and colleges.
Eventually by thorough self introspection and observation of the mind, one shall come to know of the limits of using intellect reason and logic alone in decision making. And even though we think we come to our decisions through logic alone, we fail to realise that most of it is motivated around how we shall be perceived by other people!
It is essential to know of the subtle ways by which we disempower ourselves by co operating with popular opinions marketed as truths.
We watch what we put on our plates but we don’t watch what content we are consuming. And Let me tell you this:
The successful woman is PICKY in everything she does.
Success comes when she chooses the people she wants to be associated with. She’d rather be alone than be in mediocre company.
She does not believe that she needs to be married by a certain age. She strives to look her best but doesn’t pour in all the energy in merely trying to appear attractive. She knows that mindset is everything.
She is in touch with her intuition and has learned through experience on whom and what to trust. She observes her mind throughout the day and is acquainted with all of her inner darkness and light. She knows that the quality of her thoughts define the quality of her life. She knows that the unexamined life is not worth living. Every belief needs to be tested. Truth cannot be spoon-feed.
She is assertive and says no without apologising. She knows she’s subservient to no-one!
We often tend to act as if we must respect authority figures by fearing them. But a woman who is awakened to the spiritual treasure inside her knows that respect has nothing to do with fear, rather these concepts are diametrically opposite.
She knows she can have it all without sacrificing one thing for the other.
It all boils down to how I make myself feel, the thoughts that I constantly repeat.
And to do that I must breakout of the bubble.