In the midst of the epic Mahabharata war, a profound moment of human crisis unfolded that holds timeless lessons for our modern lives, especially within the high-pressure corridors of today's corporate world. Arjuna, the mighty warrior, found himself paralyzed on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Overwhelmed by the prospect of fighting his own kin, he dropped his bow, Gandiva, and confessed his deep anguish to his charioteer, Lord Krishna.
The Eternal Wisdom: Seasons of Joy and Distress
Responding to Arjuna's distress, Lord Krishna shared a pivotal truth from the Bhagavad Gita. He explained that the experiences of happiness and sorrow are temporary, much like the changing seasons. "They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed," he advised. This teaching underscores that both elation and despair are fleeting visitors, born from what our senses perceive. They arrive unannounced, stay for a while, and inevitably make way for their opposite, just as winter's chill always yields to summer's warmth.
The core skill Krishna emphasized is equanimity—the ability to remain steady and undisturbed by these transient states. It is not about becoming numb to feeling, but about refusing to let those feelings hijack one's inner peace and judgment. This ancient insight finds a powerful echo in the daily grind of contemporary professional life.
The Corporate Battlefield: From Client Pitches to Boardroom Reviews
Consider the rollercoaster of a typical workweek for a mid-level manager. On Monday, you successfully lead a crucial client presentation. Your boss praises you, colleagues offer congratulations, and the promise of a bonus fills you with a sense of achievement and validation. You feel on top of the world.
By Wednesday, the scenario can flip completely. The same client may go silent, the project could face unexpected hurdles, and a stern meeting with a frowning supervisor might replace the earlier praise. This stark shift happens despite sincere effort and hard work. Krishna's teaching directly applies here: neither the success nor the failure is permanent. The high from the win is ephemeral; the sting from the setback is equally transient.
This pattern is starkly visible in sales teams during financial quarters. A representative might close a landmark deal, triggering celebrations and recognition. Yet, in the following quarter, the pipeline may dry up, targets might be missed, and anxiety can set in. Seasoned professionals who thrive in the long run understand this cycle. They learn to "tolerate it"—neither quitting in the freeze of a bad quarter nor burning out in the blaze of a successful one.
Building the Muscle of Tolerance in Daily Life
Why do these fluctuations disturb us so deeply? Krishna pointed to the senses as the source. A critical email feels like a personal attack because our eyes read the words and our brain constructs a narrative of threat. A boardroom critique from a CEO can trigger physical distress—a burning face, sweaty palms, and a racing heart.
Learning tolerance is the practice of creating space between the sensory input and our reaction. It involves consciously recognizing the transient nature of the experience. Practical steps include:
- Taking a deep breath when distress hits.
- Mentally labeling the feeling: "This is a passing 'winter' sensation."
- Savoring joy without becoming attached to it or overindulging.
- Reframing challenges with the mantra, "This too shall pass."
Life, according to this wisdom, is not about chasing perpetual summer or hiding from winter. Our senses create these experiences, but we hold the power to choose whether we are disturbed by them. The corporate world teaches this lesson relentlessly: promotions, accolades, setbacks, and criticisms all come and go. Those who cultivate inner steadiness ultimately rise.
Just as Arjuna eventually internalized this lesson, picked up his weapons, and fulfilled his duty with a clearer mind, modern professionals can also learn to navigate their boardrooms and career battles with greater resilience. By building the muscle of tolerance through mindfulness or brief daily meditation, one can face the next professional failure with a calm, inward smile and greet the next success with grateful humility. In the endless turning of life's seasons, the goal is to remain unshaken.
