If after striving for a long time in one area, we get only moderate success, what should we do?

Despite our best efforts over a long time, we often achieve only moderate success. How should we take that? I’d say we need to consider three broad factors: our nature, our endeavor, and our culture (or the situation around us).

Nature:
We all have a particular nature. Nowadays, people often say you can achieve whatever you want in life, but that’s an exaggeration. We are naturally drawn to certain things. We need to discover what we are drawn to, what we are gifted in, and what interests us, and then do our best in that area. Not everyone can become a champion cricketer, a great musician, lawyer, doctor, or engineer. Especially excel in those fields. Instead of thinking “I can achieve anything I want, and if I don’t, it’s a failure,” we should look within: what are my natural gifts? What are my true interests?

Our interests often choose us more than we choose them. Think of it like farming: we cannot grow any crop on any land. We have to understand our “land” — our nature. For example, just because a friend grows mangoes successfully, it doesn’t mean mangoes will grow in your land. Similarly, we have to understand ourselves — our natural interests and talents. This is called our kshetra in the Bhagavad Gita.

To assess this, we can ask ourselves two questions:

• What do I feel comfortable doing?
• What am I competent at doing?

Krishna speaks of guna (qualities) and karma (actions) in the Gita, which relates to understanding our nature and our work.

Endeavor:
Next, we must look at our efforts. Using the farming metaphor again: if the yield is poor, it could be that the seeds sown aren’t suited to the soil, or it could be that the farming itself was inadequate — maybe the plowing wasn’t done properly. Similarly, we must honestly evaluate if our efforts and methods need improvement. No doubt, without improving our endeavor, we won’t progress. There is always room to grow.

Culture or Situation:
Finally, we must look at the culture or the external environment. The land may be right, and we may be farming well, but if there’s no rain, or if the climate has changed and crops no longer grow in that region, our efforts may still fail. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, external circumstances prevent success.

So, we look at three things broadly: our nature, our endeavor, and the culture or world around us.

When making major life decisions, it’s helpful to write these reflections down rather than keep them in our head. I also conduct seminars on journaling for self-understanding and transformation. Putting thoughts on paper or screen creates a helpful distance, giving us better clarity and perspective. Revisiting these notes regularly—weekly or periodically—helps us gain deeper insight over time.

If we find we are not aligned with our nature, we may need to make changes. That guidance can come from within or from external sources. Adding a prayerful mood—“Lord, please guide me to do what you want me to do”—can help us receive that guidance.

Aligning with our nature doesn’t mean immediate change; it can be gradual. Sometimes we can do something aligned with our nature on the side while continuing our main activities. Then we assess: do we need to improve our efforts more? Or is the external environment just not suitable?

Consider Srila Prabhupada, one of the most prominent spiritual teachers from 20th century India. For over 40 years, from 1922 to around 1966, he tried to spread spiritual wisdom in India but had limited success. He realized India at that time was too politically obsessed to value its own spirituality. So, at nearly 70 years old, he went to the West, which was spiritually receptive then, and had phenomenal success over the next ten years. Later, he returned to India, where his movement also grew as cultural nationalism encouraged Indians to appreciate their own culture, especially when foreigners promoted it.

In his case, he persisted in his calling but also wisely changed his external situation to succeed.

The principle is this:

• Sometimes our efforts need improvement.
• Sometimes we need to harmonize with our true nature.
• Sometimes we need to change our external circumstances.

We need to contemplate carefully, seek prayerful guidance, and then learn and act accordingly.