The journey of Kavayaa from Oman to Mumbai explores her remarkable journey, highlighting the transformative power of embracing diverse experiences and prioritizing self-discovery.
Kavayaa, your journey from high school to college involved diverse experiences. How do you believe these varied roles have shaped your perspective on career and personal growth?
It made me realise so much about life and how we tend to take things for granted. I went from living in Muscat, Oman, which is a decent and developed city my whole life, to moving to a hill station in Maharashtra called Panchgani in India for a year.
The place was beautiful, but seeing how the locals lived and behaved made me develop a better understanding and empathy towards people who don’t reside in the richest of the richest areas. It made me grateful for everything I had because they were so different from everything I ever knew. At first, I struggled to make myself at home. But as time passed, I learned to live with grace.
Going from Panchgani to Bombay for my higher education after my boarding school life was way easier. I had lived in the “city of dreams” before and was quite comfortable navigating through it. I have a deep love for the place. However, Covid-19 hit just as I got admitted to College for my Bachelor’s Degree. Lockdown was not so great for me but I learnt several lessons nonetheless.
My overall experience in Bombay post-lockdown was like a fantasy. In a fast and smart city with all kinds of people, I think there’s place for everyone. I got cleverer and wiser. I started chasing my dreams and working more on my art – dance. I always knew I wanted to make it big in life.
Could you share a pivotal moment during your side hustle as a promoter that taught you valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and sales?
The first time I made a huge amount of money was through this job and that made me realize my potential. Something I understood while working for an event company in Oman was that having the right network and connections can do you wonders. Building your own little community of people is a great start and knowing how to communicate your products or services in an engaging, captivating way can bring you multiple leads into the business.
Transitioning through different part-time jobs, such as graphic designer and salesperson, must have offered unique insights. What were some key takeaways from each role?
They were both short-term. However, I believe there is always something to learn from each experience in life, hence I do my best at each job.
As a graphic designer, the internet was my best friend. With so much knowledge and information on there along with my ideas and creative thinking, it was something I enjoyed doing.
As a salesperson, I learned how to communicate better with customers. I think when I approached them like a friend I was trying to talk to and not as someone I just wanted to extract leads from, it built a better understanding and relationship with them.
As someone who values creativity, how do you balance your passion for dance and content creation on Instagram with your professional endeavors?
I think it is important to nurture your passions. I also think that with practice, talent and skills can be acquired.
I love making content on Instagram and my contribution currently at a Marketing Agency allows me to be creative in my professional life as well. For me, ideas always stem from moments of silence and solitude. When they do, I note them down.
I manage to hit the gym, attend dance classes, and plan out days to make my Reels. I love what I do and am so grateful that I get to live like this.
I think that’s the secret. When you’re doing what you love, you’re going to show up for yourself every day.
Your dedication to dance since childhood is inspiring. How has this passion influenced your approach to challenges and achievements?
Dancing is one way I express myself. Growing up, I always took part in different dance showcases and competitions, which taught me that if you put in the work, you will achieve your desired outcomes anyway.
I think challenges are teachers. Failure/rejection is a redirection towards what is truly meant for me. Achievements are to be celebrated, each small one, too. Being my biggest supporter made me develop more confidence and a strong sense of self that helps me today. I didn’t give up on myself, no matter what. I’m resilient as a person, so I kept going. And as long as you believe in yourself, the sky is the limit.
Living in different places with family members scattered across the globe, how has this influenced your perspective on culture, identity, and connectivity?
Distance does mean very little when somebody means so much. I miss having them around today in the same home but we are always connected in our hearts. Making efforts to chat over calls helps us feel connected along with a few visits every once in a while. I think if you love someone, you’re spontaneously making efforts to be a part of their lives whether that is in good times or bad. That’s what we do.
Growing up, my parents, sister, and I celebrated every festival. I loved that. We learned to embrace our Gujarati culture and every aspect of it. We also always honored where our friends came from.
I incorporated everything I liked into my identity and made it a point to take an interest in every culture, religion, community, and festival. Not only because I wanted to but also because I genuinely like to do so.
We as humans are a mosaic of all the things and people we have ever loved. Isn’t that beautiful?
Could you elaborate on how you integrate principles of mental health and self-development into your daily routine, especially during transitional phases like completing your bachelor’s degree?
When it comes to mental health, it has been a rollercoaster ride. The highs and lows are inevitable. It’s important to be kind to yourself and to show compassion to yourself in times of happiness and in times of sorrow. I believe change is the only thing that is constant. We are changing every day, and learning new things every day.
So, each day, I try to thank myself for getting out of bed. I tell myself, “Thank you for doing your best today, I’m proud of you.” and I mean it. It’s the little things, you know? When I look into the mirror, I see my reflection and tell her that she is beautiful, kind, talented, patient, worthy, capable, and so much more. I think positive affirmations to yourself go a long way believe what you tell yourself.
That’s just a glimpse of how I help myself on a daily basis and it has really worked for me. I try to heal my inner child more and more every day.
I don’t think it’s possible to be truly happy with yourself when you want to eliminate some parts of yourself. That’s why we must learn to honour our negatives and positives and accept ourselves as we are while working towards a better future.
Believing in the universe’s energies, how do you harness this belief to manifest your goals and aspirations, both personally and professionally?
This is something I love talking about. There’s magic existing all around us! Gratitude is the answer. It has always been for both my personal life and professional. Words matter and energies don’t lie. The frequency and vibration of even your voice can shift your reality.
I believe that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
If I constantly tell myself what I lack, I’m going to attract more experiences in life that show me what I don’t have. If I am grateful for the things I do have, I will attract abundance. This could be something as simple as being able to have a meal with my loved ones, having clothes to wear, a beautiful home to live in, and wonderful opportunities to grow in my career. Because I think this way, I keep receiving more.
It is also important to take action towards my dreams. To reach my goals, I need to put in the work as well and not rely completely on the universe and my manifestations.
I’ve realized that my mind is so much more powerful than I thought it to be. Mindfulness and mindset matter.
When I changed the way I looked at things, everything about me changed. It was like looking at the world through a completely new lens. Beautiful.
Your journey seems to emphasize personal growth and resilience. Can you share a specific instance where overcoming adversity played a significant role in shaping your character?
I went through a really tough phase in my life a few months ago when I lost a loved one to death. I also lost a lot of “friends” that I thought really cared for me. Even though I still had genuine people around me to look after me, I was not okay. I was in grief, I was in pain, I was struggling, and I felt nothing but darkness. It took me time to pull myself together, but I did it. I embraced my emotions, accepted my hurt, and didn’t try to pretend I was okay. I allowed myself to be sad. I didn’t try to resist the negative feelings. I felt them, I released them, and I healed. I realized that I was the light I had been looking for all along.
Losing people is a part of life. That’s how you grow. What’s meant to be yours will be yours no matter what you do. And if something isn’t meant for you, if it’s not right for you, you will not have it no matter how much you try. I learned later that there was a reason why some people couldn’t go with me to the next level of my life. That’s just how it is. I loved experiencing it – the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s made me who I am today, all of it. Loving the person I am in this moment, I wouldn’t go back in time to change anything.
With your multifaceted interests, how do you envision blending your creative passions with your career aspirations in the future?
I think as of now, I am my own business. My Instagram is where I market myself and bring in finances through brand collaborations. I’m working on myself every day, on my craft, and on my job.
In the future, I would love to start a company of my own. Something that incorporates multiple services all in one place. I would love to help and guide other people with their art, mental health, and work skills and provide a safe space even for a conversation on what’s troubling them in life. I’m positive I’ll figure it out along the way.
As a young woman navigating various aspects of life, what advice would you offer to others seeking to find their own path to fulfilment and success?
- Authenticity
- Curiosity
- Empathy
- Love
Be authentic to yourself. Stay true to who you are. Go out there and make things happen. If you have a vision, create it. It doesn’t matter if nobody claps for you; clap for yourself. That’s the only applause that matters. Worry only about your opinion, don’t bother about what other people have to say. Don’t be scared of being made fun of. Only someone who is insecure in themselves is going to make fun of you for trying to do something with your life. You’ll never see someone more successful than you criticizing you for trying. Try new things and focus on yourself. We are the creators of our reality. Make Things Happen.
Be curious about the unknown. Want to learn new things, Even things you thought you knew everything about. Life teaches you lessons every day, so pay attention. See what you can take from every experience – personal or professional, and evolve.
Be empathetic towards those that are unkind to you. They are hurting. If it’s not sad enough that they upset you, just know that they are upsetting themselves too. Don’t give it too much of your energy. Choose yourself and the right people will also choose you.
Do things; from love and not for love. Give because you want to give and not because you want to be appreciated. Have a big heart, life is unpredictable. Love yourself and everyone around you. Life’s not permanent anyway.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the next chapter of your journey, and how do you plan to continue evolving as a woman in today’s society?
I will keep working on myself. I will keep working on my craft and keep showing results at work. I will keep hustling and have my parents remain proud of me. I will continue to help and influence people.
I think women are doing great in today’s world. I love to see the progress. I would love to see women supporting each other more. I don’t bother about society and its limiting beliefs or about what people say. I heard a dialogue from this series I was watching recently and said, “I hope to make the world a better place. Or at least my little corner of it”. That’s what I’ll do.
I will just keep being me, keep doing what I love and what feels right. Keep being this little bubble of light and shine my energy throughout my journey of life. I’m grateful for everything that has happened so far and excited to see what’s coming next.
