Satrangi Sapne!

The title of this blog, Satrangi Sapne (The dreams of seven colors) meaning “colorful dreams” in Hindi has always held a poetic charm. You’ll find it in songs, old films, and soulful poems. But here, in this space, I write not from a poetic lens, but from a practical one. A grounded, sometimes confused, often curious point of view one that keeps evolving as life unfolds.

I’ve often found myself asking a simple yet heavy question: What is success?

Not the dictionary meaning. Not the motivational quote version. But the real, messy, personal kind. Is it money? Status? Recognition? Is it ticking boxes off a checklist?And more importantly: Have I ever felt successful?

If I’m being honest, every time I’ve set a goal, something I truly believed would make me feel “accomplished”, it felt underwhelming once I got there. I’d think “this promotion will do it”, “this number in my bank account will feel right”, “this achievement will make my inner child proud”.

And sure, there would be a moment, a few hours, a day, sometimes a whole week of feeling good. But soon enough, the high would fade, and something would feel… missing. Like an incomplete puzzle with one tiny piece lost somewhere under the couch.

In today’s fast-paced, unpredictable world or what they call a VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) success itself feels like a trend. One minute it's “build your own business,” next it’s “quit everything and live slow.” One minute it’s hustle culture, the next it's mindfulness and balance. We’re constantly being sold different versions of success by influencers, companies, even our own inner voice.

When I sat with these thoughts overwhelmed by too many definitions and too little clarity something unexpected came to mind.

My parents. Not some billionaire, not a LinkedIn thought leader, not a TED Talk speaker. Just my father and mother.

My dad is a businessman. He works hard, but he’s never been obsessed with “10x growth” or chasing the next big thing. My mother runs a non-profit, rooted in community and service, just because it gives her joy and meaning. They live in a small town. They have three kids (one of them writing this blog). They’ve built a comfortable life with property, a lovely home, and a beautiful network of family and friends. They take vacations. They celebrate birthdays and festivals with full hearts. They’ve seen tough times too but who hasn’t?

And yet, watching them I see something so rare and so grounding: Balance. Joy. Stability. Connection. Gratitude.

And that’s when it hit me: Maybe this is success.

Success, to me now, is not a title or a number or a shiny moment on social media.

It’s this Satrangi (7 colored) blend of different parts of life where each color adds to the picture. Where happiness doesn’t come from one big goal, but from harmony across small, everyday elements.

Here’s what I now believe truly matters:

1. Physical Health: Being able to move, sleep, eat well, feel energized, not for aesthetics, but for life. For being present.

2. Mental Wellbeing: A calm mind. Inner peace. Resilience. The ability to process emotions and still stay grounded.

3. Relationships: Not just romantic ones but the deep, meaningful bonds with parents, siblings, partners, friends. The people who make ordinary days extraordinary.

4. Social Connections: A sense of community. Knowing your neighbors. Having people to laugh with, share meals with, call when something beautiful or difficult happens.

5. Financial Health: Not just wealth, but security. Freedom. The ability to live without constant financial anxiety. Enough to live well and give generously.

6. Spiritual Health: Feeling connected to something larger. Whether it’s faith, nature, mindfulness, or silence. A sense of grounding beyond the material.

7. Purpose and Meaning: Waking up with direction. Knowing that what you’re doing matters to you, to someone, to the world in some way.

   
   

I’m not here to romanticize simplicity or say that ambition is bad. I still have goals, dreams, career plans. I still want to grow. But I’ve stopped chasing one definition of success.

Because if I reach a milestone but lose my health, or if I build a brand but lose my joy, is that really success?

The version of success I want the one I saw in my parents is about wholeness. It’s about being able to say, with calm confidence:“I’m okay. I’m well. I’m loved. I’m growing. I’m enough.”

So for me, success is now about achieving my Satrangi Sapne - seven colors, seven pillars, seven quiet ambitions that make life not just full, but fulfilled. Not perfectly all at once, not every day but gently, gradually, consistently over time.