YogaSutras' guide to Professional Reinvention

"??????????????????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?????????????????? ?? ??????????????????"

Translation: "You have the right to work only, but never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction."

I’ve been thinking about 2024 and the year it has been for me. Workwise. Since this is LinkedIn, I’ll focus on this aspect of my life in this article.?

Among everything I’ve studied in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the principle of "letting go" (vairāgya or tyāga) and its relationship with new beginnings is my favourite lesson.?

But why am I talking about letting go? Some quick context. I’ve been a media public figure for almost 2 decades. In the first three months of this year, I coached a dozen C-suite executives in performative speaking ie public speech coaching across companies like OnePlus, LinkedIn, and Wipro.

In May 2024, I produced and hosted a 4-part Marathi language show on startups for NDTV Marathi, a brand new news channel. From June to October, I worked with Amazon. This was my shortest corporate stint ever, lasting just 5 months. And now, I’m back at freelancing. That’s a LOT packed into one year. The constant theme while trying something new, is to also actively let go of what one has come to identify oneself as.?

And hence, this article focussing on mastering the art of letting go; in the professional setting.

The principle of aparigraha, often translated as non-possessiveness or non-greed, offers deep insights into the art of letting go in our professional lives. The relevant sutra states: "???????????????? ?????????????????" - meaning when one is firmly established in non-possessiveness, there arises a deep understanding of the nature of existence.

At its core, professional aparigraha speaks to our relationship with work identities, roles, and skills. In today's volatile professional world, we often find ourselves clutching tightly to job titles, professional achievements, and established ways of working. These attachments, according to Patanjali, create what is known as "asmita" - a form of ego-identification that can limit our growth and prevent us from embracing new opportunities.

I studied hotel management, but within 2 years of working in Taj group of hotels, I decided to let go of that identity. To join a TV newsroom. What everyone sees is a new opportunity, what the self knows, is the process and inner struggle of letting go.?

The wisdom of the sutras suggests that professional growth follows a natural cycle, much like a snake shedding its skin. Just as the snake must release its old skin to grow, we too must periodically release professional identities, skills, and roles that no longer serve our evolution. This isn't merely about changing jobs or updating skills; it's about fundamentally transforming our relationship with professional identity itself.

Patanjali introduces the concept of "pratyak-cetanādhigama?" - inner awareness - as the first step in this process. This involves developing a deep awareness of when a role, skill set, or professional identity no longer aligns with our path of growth. It's about listening to the subtle inner voice that whispers of misalignment, even when external success metrics suggest otherwise.

The sutras teach that true professional mastery comes not from accumulation but from the wisdom of knowing what to release. This process of letting go, or "vairāgyāt prak?ti-laya?," involves seeing our professional roles as temporary vehicles for learning rather than permanent identities. It's about understanding that each position, project, or skill set serves its purpose for a time, and there is wisdom in recognizing when that time has passed.

When we practice professional aparigraha, Patanjali promises a remarkable transformation. The sutra "??? ??????????? ???????????????? ???????" suggests that our mind becomes naturally oriented toward wisdom and clarity. We begin to see professional opportunities with greater discernment, and our decision-making becomes more aligned with our authentic path.

This ancient wisdom is particularly relevant in today's dynamic work environment. The sutras suggest that by creating space through conscious release, we allow new possibilities to emerge naturally. This isn't about recklessly abandoning commitments but about mindfully recognizing when something has completed its cycle in our professional journey.

The practice of professional aparigraha also addresses the fear that often accompanies career transitions. Patanjali teaches that our attachment to professional identities creates what he calls "klesha" - mental afflictions that cause suffering. By practicing non-attachment to roles and titles, we develop a more fluid and resilient approach to career changes.

Perhaps most profoundly, the sutras suggest that each release creates a vacuum that naturally draws in more aligned opportunities. This is captured in the principle "???????? ????? ????????" - from emptiness, everything is born. When we create space by letting go of outdated skills, misaligned roles, or limiting professional identities, we open ourselves to new possibilities that better reflect our evolving professional journey.

The ultimate teaching of Patanjali on professional aparigraha is that our true professional potential lies not in accumulating roles and titles but in our capacity to flow with change. When we understand this, career transitions become less about loss and more about evolution. Each release becomes an act of trust in the natural unfolding of our professional path.

As we go into a new year, I wish you incredible peace, good health and success (whatever your unique definition of it is). I wish that you manage to go deeper in your understanding of ancient Indian wisdom through Yogasutras and Vipassana. I hope that these wise words help you understand yourself and your environment better and lead to your evolution for a more equanimous you.

Mangal ho.

Happy New Year 2025.?