Signs That Your Career is in Distress (But There's a Fix!)
- Arvind Kidambi
- Feb 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 13
Now that we’ve laughed (and maybe cried) about the obstacles, let’s get serious about solutions.
From Sutra 1.31 onwards, Patanjali lays out how to overcome these career-destroying obstacles—so if your personal brand is currently an unread LinkedIn message, this is how we fix it.
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Sutra 1.31: Signs That Your Career is in Distress (But There's a Fix!)
Sanskrit Text:
दुःख-दौर्मनस्य-अङ्गमेजयत्व-श्वास-प्रश्वास-विक्षेप-शहभुवः ॥
Duḥkha-daurmanasya-aṅgamejayatva-śvāsa-praśvāsa-vikṣepa-sahabhuvaḥ
Poetic Essence:
Frustration, fear, a restless mind,
A brand unclear, success left behind.
Breath unsteady, movement unsure,
A path once bright, now feels obscure.
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Personal Branding Interpretation
When your personal brand is struggling, there are symptoms—just like stress gives you headaches, career chaos gives you signs:
1️⃣ Duḥkha (Frustration) – “Why is no one responding to my job applications?”
2️⃣ Daurmanasya (Self-Doubt) – “Am I even good enough?”
3️⃣ Aṅgamejayatva (Restlessness) – Endlessly tweaking your résumé but never sending it.
4️⃣ Śvāsa-Praśvāsa (Irregular Breathing) – Panic every time someone asks, “So what do you do?”
Real-World Branding Example:
🚨 Your LinkedIn Profile = Career Confusion
- One week, you brand yourself as a “Marketing Strategist.”
- Next week, you’re “Exploring Opportunities.”
- Recruiters see this inconsistency and move on.
✅ Fix: Align your online presence
- Pick a strong headline and summary that reflects your true expertise.
- Example: “Helping brands grow through data-driven marketing | Ex-Spotify”
- Post content that supports this identity—don’t randomly switch industries every month!
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Sutra 1.32: The One-Word Solution—Ekāgratā (Focus!)
Sanskrit Text:
तत्प्रतिषेधार्थमेकतत्त्वाभ्यासः ॥
Tat-pratishedhārtham ekatattva-abhyāsaḥ
Poetic Essence:
Focus on one, steady your way,
Chaos fades when purpose stays.
Like a flame that stands upright,
Clarity comes, burning bright.
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Personal Branding Interpretation
👉 FOCUS. Stick to one core brand message.
Your career isn’t a buffet—it’s a signature dish.
Common Branding Mistake:
🚨 The Jack-of-All-Trades Résumé
- “Marketing | Finance | Sales | Coaching | Dog Whispering | AI Expert”
- No recruiter knows what you actually do.
✅ Fix: Clarify Your Niche
- Pick 2-3 key strengths.
- Example: “B2B Marketing | Demand Generation | Growth Strategy”
- Structure your résumé so your top skills shine.
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Sutra 1.33: The Mindset Shift for Networking & Job Search
Sanskrit Text:
मैत्री-करुणा-मुदिता-उपेक्षाणां सुख-दुःख-पुण्य-अपुण्य-विषयाणां भावनातः चित्त-प्रसादनम् ॥
Maitrī-karuṇā-muditā-upekṣāṇāṁ sukha-duḥkha-puṇya-apuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam
Poetic Essence:
With kindness, care, and joy for all,
The restless mind begins to fall.
Critics fade, the heart stays light,
A brand that shines, steady and bright.
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Personal Branding Interpretation
Patanjali says: Cultivate the right attitude towards people.
✅ Maitrī (Friendliness) → Network Authentically
🚨 Mistake: Sending cold LinkedIn messages like “Hi, I need a job. Can you help?”
✅ Fix: Comment on posts, provide insights, build real relationships before asking for favors.
✅ Karuṇā (Compassion) → Be Helpful Online
🚨 Mistake: Only posting about your job search.
✅ Fix: Share industry insights, help others with résumé tips, celebrate others' successes.
✅ Muditā (Rejoicing in Others' Success) → No Jealousy, Only Growth
🚨 Mistake: Feeling bitter when others get ahead.
✅ Fix: Learn from them—what did they do right? Can you adopt their strategy?
✅ Upekṣā (Ignoring Negativity) → Protect Your Energy
🚨 Mistake: Wasting time arguing on social media.
✅ Fix: Focus on building your brand, not proving someone else wrong.
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Sutra 1.34–1.39: Practical Tools for Personal Branding Stability
Breathing (1.34) → Calm Before the Interview
🚨 Mistake: Rushing into interviews without grounding yourself.
✅ Fix: Take 3 deep breaths before every call to project confidence.
Sensory Control (1.35) → Audit Your Digital Presence
🚨 Mistake: Googling yourself and finding embarrassing old tweets.
✅ Fix: Clean up your online presence—remove anything that doesn’t match your brand.
Inner Light (1.36) → Find Your Unique Strength
🚨 Mistake: Copying someone else’s career path.
✅ Fix: Ask, What do I offer that no one else does?
Mindfulness (1.37) → Stop Overthinking Rejection
🚨 Mistake: One rejection = “I’m worthless.”
✅ Fix: One rejection = "Not the right fit, let’s move on."
Visualization (1.38) → See Yourself Winning
🚨 Mistake: Walking into an interview expecting failure.
✅ Fix: Visualize success before stepping into the room.
Stillness (1.39) → Pause Before Major Career Decisions
🚨 Mistake: Accepting the first job offer out of fear.
✅ Fix: Take time to reflect—is this aligned with my personal brand?
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Next Steps: Put It into Action!
🚀 LinkedIn Post Idea:
- Share an obstacle you faced (like self-doubt or overthinking applications).
- Explain how focus, networking, or mindset shifts helped.
- End with: What’s been your biggest career challenge? Let’s discuss!
📝 Résumé Fix:
- Remove vague buzzwords and focus on real results.
- Instead of “Led a team” → “Managed a 10-person team, increasing revenue by 30%.”
💡 Cover Letter Tip:
- Start with a story or impact statement, not generic fluff.
- Example: Instead of “I’m excited to apply,” try “In my last role, I increased engagement by 200%. I’d love to do the same for you.”
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Final Thought:
Patanjali wasn’t just teaching yoga—he was teaching how to navigate life’s challenges.
✅ Now you know the obstacles.
✅ Now you know the solutions.
✅ Time to apply them and build a career identity that lasts.
So tell me—which one of these solutions are you going to apply first? 😃
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