MARCH

Point
Out
SPIRITUAL TOUCH
What Successful Women do Right
»»
Bhanumathi Narasimhan
As a woman on the path to success,
we expect to feel a sense of
achievement when we see that
we have reached the top – where
we wanted to be. We might wonder, how
does it look from there? Will the world
and people around you look more beautiful?
Will the journey to the top be pleasant
and memorable?
For many women I have met, this
journey has certainly not been easy. It is
not always a journey of mutual support,
collaboration, and friendliness. Instead, you
have to be careful about who is conspiring to
push you down. There are many challenges,
not just due to gender bias, but also due to
jealousy from other women. This kind of a
journey can be very stressful and takes its
toll on our body and mind. Moreover, many
women impose limitations on themselves,
believing that they are not fully qualified,
and often talk themselves out of achieving
their potential.
So what do successful women do right?
I believe that successful women are able to
find their inner strength to make the most
of opportunities –be it at the workplace or
at home. The revered spiritual leader Sri Sri
Ravi Shankar says that one who skillfully
manages the challenges that life poses is
successful. Here are some pointers -
n Commitment– One failure can lead to
another success later. We should not be
deterred by failures, but learn from them.
n Time– It is not sufficient to just invest
money to nurture or develop something.
We have to give it our time and attention.
n Setting an Example– A successful
woman doesn’t just show you the way
she walks the talk.
n Teamwork– Making others feel
involved; inspiring participation and
contribution.
n Silence– Nurture quietude and
calmness.
n Reflection– Setting aside time to sit
quietly at the end of the day, looking
back at all the day’s activities, seeing
where we made a difference. Reminding
ourselves of the successes, it can inspire
A woman has to balance her work,
family, relationships– all of these and
more on the road to success. When you
realize that you are multi-faceted and
multi-dimensional, you know you can
handle different roles in life.
us to do more.
A woman has to balance her work, family,
relationships– all of these and more on the
road to success. When you realize that you
are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional,
you know you can handle different roles in
life. This realization dawns when you are in
a calm and serene state of mind – which can
be achieved through meditation.
I find that meditation can help us be more
productive. It is my experience that when
you meditate, atask that would take four
hours to do gets done in two hours. I believe
it is necessary that wegive prime time to
ourselves – to relax and rejuvenate, to
realize that we have so much more potential
that we think we do. Otherwise we limit our
capabilities.
When you meditate, you realize the
expansion within you –the limitlessness
within you. Such an expanded awareness
can help you perceive the connections
between people and lead you to realize your
purpose in this world. Connectedness and
commitment are a byproduct of meditation.
Meditation brings us in touch with our
inner source of strength. Sri Sri often says,
“Success means strength, an unshakeable
smile that nobody can take away, and
courage that does not diminish.”
True success is when it extends to both the
material and inner realms. It is not just about
getting promoted at work, accumulating
a lot of money, or appearing on magazine
covers. Are you enjoying the little things
in your life? Have you recently observed
the glistening dewdrops in the grass? The
birds chirping, the sparrows sipping water,
the Blue Jays feeding, the eagles circling
overhead, the beautiful flowers… Have
you cleaned your window pane, have
you watered the small little plants in your
garden? Have you observed the lucky
bamboo plant with two new leaves, enjoyed
craftsmanship of your carpet –all the
beautiful colors, made a new salad dressing,
and experimented with your sandwich?
I believe that living every moment to the
fullest with an expanded awareness is a sign
of a successful woman.
In a recent article, Warren Buffet, chairman
and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway explained
why women are key to America’s prosperity.
I have always believed that a woman is the
heart of the society – she brings families
together, and has a multitude of talents and
abilities to lead. A society that empowers
women to succeed is a society on the path
to prosperity.
(The writer is the Chairperson of the International
Women’s Conference, a meditation teacher, and
Director of Women and Child Welfare programs of
The Art of Living Foundation)
66
MARCH 2014