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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Collector, officials trapped in siege

Mumbai: In a major development, scores of government officials, including the Palghar Collector Dr. Indurani Jakhar, were trapped after thousands of angry tribals, farmers and activists laid siege to the Collectorate building here on Tuesday evening, the organisers said.

 

The long-march with over 50,000 participating started from different parts of the district on Monday and culminated after traversing around 70 kms at the Collectorate, where they were stopped by a huge posse of police.

 

“We requested permission to enter and stage our dharna inside the sprawling building compound, but they flatly refused. We had no option but to occupy the main road that links Palghar-Boisar, creating traffic jams. We have now blocked  all the entry and exit points, while the district officials announced the closure of the road indefinitely late in the evening,” All India Kisan Sabha President Dr. Ashok Dhawale told ‘The Perfect Voice’ from the venue.

 

Marking the biggest agitation in over a year, more than 50,000 trooped out on roads from various villages and hamlets across the district for various demands.

 

These include scrapping of the Wadhawan mega-port and Murbe port projects, restoration of the MNREGA, implementation of the Forest Rights Act and PESA, vesting of all ‘inaam’ and government lands in the name of the tillers, cancelling the Smart Meter Scheme, Repeal of new Labour Codes, drinking and irrigation water supply, plus others like enhanced facilities for education, health, employment, etc.

 

“We had already informed the authorities on the long march and we are hopeful that we shall be called for talks on Wednesday. We shall not budge from here till all our demands are conceded in writing and implemented within a time-frame,” said a grim Dr. Dhawale.

 

Spearheaded by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), it has the participation of  several fronts like AIKS, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Student’s Federation of India (SFI) and Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM).

 

The long march is being led by Dr. Dhawale along with AIDWA National General Secretary Mariam Dhawale, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Vijoo Krishnan, Central Committee member Dr Ajit Nawale, CITU State Secretary Vinod Nikole, two-term MLA from Dahanu Kiran Gahala and others.

 

A party spokesperson said that the long-march started from Charoti in Dahanu tehsil and en route, hundreds joined the crowds. After an overnight halt at Manor last night, it proceeded to the district Collectorate on (Tuesday) evening where the indefinite siege began.

 

“So far, everything is proceeding peacefully. There has been no violence or any coercive action from the police side. We are optimistic that our meeting on Wednesday will pass off successfully,” added Dr. Dhawale.

 

The long march saw major traffic snarls on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway, arterial roads in Palghar, Thane and beyond as people were stuck for hours as the vehicles moved at snail’s pace since Monday.


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