We often celebrate the grand victories in the Ramayana—Rama’s unwavering commitment or Hanuman’s impossible leaps. But let’s zoom in on a moment of quiet, human failure, embodied by the Vanara chief, Sugriva.
After years of exile and fear, Sugriva finally defeats his brother Vali with Rama’s help and reclaims his kingdom, Kishkindha. A massive victory! But then, Sugriva disappears. He plunges into celebration, comfort, and deep inaction, completely forgetting his sacred promise to help Rama find Sita. Weeks turn into the monsoon season, and Sugriva remains inert, stuck in the post-victory slump.
It’s easy to judge him, but how often do we do the same? We crush a huge work project, get that promotion, or finish that challenging yoga sequence—and then hit the pause button so hard that momentum vanishes entirely.
Here is Sugriva’s unexpected lesson on defeating the inertia that follows success, broken down into three actionable steps:
Step 1: Identify Your ‘Kishkindha Comfort’
Sugriva had found immense relief after intense struggle. Comfort is natural, but unchecked comfort becomes quicksand. Take an honest inventory: What small luxuries or indulgences are currently preventing you from addressing your next big goal? If you find yourself delaying a critical task because the immediate reward (rest, entertainment, validation) is too enticing, you are in the Sugriva phase. Acknowledge the comfort; don’t condemn it, but set a firm boundary for its duration.
Step 2: Empower Your ‘Hanuman’
Sugriva didn’t snap out of it himself; he needed Hanuman. Hanuman arrived, not to punish, but to remind Sugriva of his duty, his debt, and his true character. Who is your Hanuman? This is your accountability partner, coach, or trusted friend who has permission to call you out gently when you lose focus. Giving someone else the authority to activate your duty is a powerful lever against self-sabotage.
Step 3: Shift from Victory to Duty
Sugriva was so focused on the end of his struggle (Vali’s defeat) that he forgot he was now at the beginning of his duty (helping Rama). When you finish a major milestone, immediately define the next tiny, non-negotiable step that transitions you toward your new duty. For Sugriva, this was simply sending out the search parties. For you, it might be scheduling that first difficult meeting or writing the outline for the next chapter. Do the small duty before the massive mission.
The greatest challenges in life often follow our greatest triumphs; don’t let comfort steal your destiny.