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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.)

The Saree Still Matters, Even Now

This festive season, let’s bring the saree — often traded for convenience and Western trends — back to centre stage and pay tribute to the artisans who have kept its legacy alive for generations.

As the festive season approaches, it is more than just a celebration of ritual—it is a golden opportunity to reconnect with our roots. Among the various treasures of Indian heritage, the saree stands tall as a timeless symbol of grace, dignity, tradition, and cultural pride.


Draped in six yards or nine yards of elegance, it is not just a piece of fabric; it is a flowing expression of heritage, speaking of emotion, elegance, womanhood, and identity. Every pleat holds the tradition tightly, the pallu flowing with diverse yet supreme culture, speaking loudly of our mothers and grandmothers. A living legacy indeed, the saree embodies the soul of our culture, narrating stories of generations, artisans, craftsmanship, and rich regional traditions that define India.


It holds its elegance in its purest form. Whether it's the silk of Kanjeevaram, handwoven Banarasi, Bandini of Rajasthan and Gujarat, cotton of Bengal, or Paithani of Maharashtra—each weave has a tale to tell, a rhythm of its land. The list is endless. Every saree holds a unique essence, carrying its region's and people's soul.


In an era of fast pace with fast-changing fashion rules, the saree stands out—timeless yet under threat—slightly blurred, slowly fading, and facing challenges in relevance and visibility.


Today, in our rush for convenience and Western wear, we see a decline in its everyday presence. We forget the charm and confidence it brings. The perception of it being "too inconvenient", "too traditional", or "outdated" has pushed it to the back of our wardrobes. The beauty and richness are increasingly being sidelined.


However, a closer examination reveals its true essence. Versatile, subtle, and bold, be it formal or festive. It fits every occasion with a slight twist, making it a perfect, wearable, stylish, contemporary power dress. The saree truly empowers while being traditional, adapting to every age, occasion, and region—a celebration of femininity and a statement of style and heritage.


Festivals are those sacred windows where tradition and modernity can beautifully coexist. Adorning a saree is a nod to our previous generation—our mothers and grandmothers. It is not just a fabric but elegance proudly draped by them and a gentle reminder to our future generations, our daughters, daughters-in-law, and nieces. It is not a burden of pressure but a legacy and pride to be kept alive.


This festive season, let the saree be celebrated.


Make every saree a memory that you wear—a history, artistry, and rich roots.


It is fading not because it lacks relevance but because we have neglected to carry it forward with pride. To preserve it is to honour our roots and ensure that the tradition flows seamlessly into the future.


I am a big saree lover and drape a saree in everyday life, flaunting it and walking with confidence. It gives immense pleasure to be draped in such eye-catching attire.

So to all ladies,

Celebrate the saree.

Celebrate your roots.

Celebrate YOU.


May this festive season bring vibrancy, adding colours in all forms, as many shades as your drape.

 

(The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views Personal.)

 

 
 
 

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