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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.)

Why Are We Demanding Redesigning of TBTT?

Thousands of residents of Mulla Baug area in Thane are united in demanding that the Thane Borivali Twin Tunnel (TBTT) should be extended close to now defunct Uni Abex company towards Ghodbunder Road. In present design, the TBTT ends before Satya Shankar Housing Society causing difficulties to all the nearby residential complexes. The residents huddled in a brain storming session on Saturday with the officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) appraising them of their pragmatic difficulties and the possible dangers they are going to face in the near future.


The residents had to raise their voice since the beginning when the TBTT, the brain child of then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, started taking physical shape in 2024. The residents, mostly office goers, realised that the tunnel’s location was shifted from Tiku Ji Ni Wadi, a private amusement park, to their otherwise peaceful and lush green area to benefit someone. Then came the next shock. A toll plaza was proposed right outside a residential complex Neelkanth greens  blocking movements of the law-abiding tax payer residents. The residents of nearby housing complexes namely Neelkanth Woods, Neelkanth Greens, Cosmos Longue and Satya Shankar Residency would have been directly affected if this toll plaza came outside Neelkanth Greens.


This was the moment when the residents joined hands to raise their voice against the ‘injustice’ in designing and planning of the TBTT. They got the first success when the MMRDA agreed not to erect the toll plaza outside Neelkanth Greens. However, to the residents’ surprise the tunnel and the toll plaza has been shifted just 500 meters ahead to another residential complexes Cosmos Lounge and Satya Shankar Residency.


We, the residents, are demanding that the tunnel and the toll plaza should be moved further 300 meters  close to a defunct company called as Uni Abex, where no residential complex situates. There is an ample of space available for toll plaza which will not harm any housing society and the road will also remain intact.


We are the Project Affected People (PAP). We have formed a representatives committee comprising members from all complexes. We are trying to attract the attention of the MMRDA and the state government to our legitimate demands.


We are going to face a huge difficulty on the front of pollution and vehicular traffic in our peaceful area when the tunneling work begins hopefully after the monsoon. We are going to sacrifice the peace for a project of national importance. That does not mean the authorities should neglect our genuine demands.


There is no traffic police employed in this area causing chaos. Dust suppression system is not activated. Roads are not cleaned of the dust. If the situation is not improved the muddy roads may cause accidents especially for the two wheelers. The Contractor Megha Engineering Pvt. Ltd. (MEPL) has to take extra efforts as this project location is thickly populated.


We understand from the media reports that there is a wide road proposed right through our housing complexes that will connect Mulla Baug to Patlipada near the TBTT’s starting point. This will make this area the busiest junction for the vehicular traffic in Thane.


We are the peace-loving and responsible citizens. The government should not overlook our demands in the election season. Any adverse impact on the residents’ health and life would be detrimental for the prospects of the political parties as well.


(The author is a resident of Mulla Baug, Thane.)

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