I think the most important mantra in my life has been and will

Hear the words of Shakti Mohan, who, from her own journey of struggle and triumph, declared: “I think the most important mantra in my life has been and will continue to be—patience, hard work and will power.” In these words, we do not merely hear advice; we hear the distilled wisdom of ages, the triad of virtues that have carried countless souls from obscurity to greatness. For she names three eternal companions: patience, which steadies the heart; hard work, which strengthens the body and mind; and will power, which ignites the spirit when all else falters.

She begins with patience, the most underestimated of virtues. For in a world that demands speed, patience feels like a burden. Yet without it, no seed can grow, no craft can ripen, no soul can mature. The dancer, the artist, the warrior—each must learn to wait, to endure repetition, to embrace the slow unfolding of mastery. As Mohan herself, a dancer, knows well: the beauty of performance is born not in an instant, but in long seasons of practice, bruises, failures, and quiet persistence. Patience is not weakness—it is the strength to endure time itself.

Then she speaks of hard work, the eternal law written into the bones of creation. The rivers carve valleys, not in a day, but through relentless persistence. The mountains rise through the toil of the earth across centuries. So too must the human soul labor if it wishes to build something enduring. Talent alone may give a spark, but without work, the flame will die. Shakti Mohan’s reminder is that no mantra is complete without sweat, without discipline, without the daily offering of effort. Hard work is the body’s prayer, and those who neglect it cannot expect the fruits of greatness.

Finally, she lifts up will power, the hidden fire that sustains both patience and labor. For many begin the journey, but only those with will endure to the end. Will is the force that rises when the body aches, when the world doubts, when failure whispers, “Give up.” History shows us countless examples: consider Thomas Edison, who after a thousand failed experiments still pressed on until the light bulb was born. It was not genius alone, but will power, that refused to break. So too must every seeker cultivate this inner fire, for it is the unseen ally that carries the weary across the finish line.

We find echoes of this triad in the story of Mahatma Gandhi. His patience allowed him to endure prison and humiliation without breaking. His hard work was seen in the countless marches, speeches, and struggles he undertook without rest. His will power carried him through when the might of empires sought to crush him. By these three virtues, he did not merely change his own destiny—he moved a nation toward freedom. Thus Mohan’s mantra is not only personal—it is universal, proven in the lives of heroes.

The lesson is clear: greatness is not born in moments of ease, but in the crucible of waiting, striving, and enduring. Patience teaches us to trust the process. Hard work teaches us to give all that we have. Will power teaches us to rise again when we fall. Together, they are the pillars of every lasting achievement. Without one, the structure collapses; with all three, nothing is impossible.

Practical actions await each listener. Begin by cultivating small acts of patience—hold steady when results are slow. Commit daily to hard work, even when the task feels small or unseen, for every effort builds the foundation of mastery. And train your will power by embracing discomfort, by setting goals and refusing to abandon them when storms arise. For in doing so, you do not merely follow Shakti Mohan’s mantra—you embody it, and by it, you shape a life that will endure, inspire, and shine.