Take a pause with Varun Duggirala

In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks to the talented Kubbra Sait as they delve deeper into her life story. The metamorphosis from a shy, anxious kid to the enigmatic woman she is today, is a journey not many people know of. She shares key learnings from her life and why she consciously chooses to step out of her comfort zone.  Kubbra Sait is an Indian actress, TV host and model who has...

If life’s a journey, we are its passengers. Sometimes we find ourselves lost on our way, wishing there was something to help us navigate through the tough times. Well, no one thing works for everyone; however, some lessons do apply to all of us. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun shares seven such life-changing lessons he picked up through the various phases of life. By sharing them with you, h...

When we say we are passionate about something, it usually stems from a place of knowledge. We are well-informed about the subject at hand and function from a place of knowledge. Curiosity, on the other hand, is the thirst for knowledge. It denotes a need to learn more about a topic of interest. It fuels our learning and pushes us out of our comfort zone to get the questions in our minds answered.&...

In the pursuit of perceived uniqueness, we often tend to avoid being repetitive. If you think about the most famous, impactful people in the world, you will notice that they don’t have a new and unique perspective every time they speak. The core message will always remain the same, they just have a unique way of putting it across.  In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks about why it is o...

In the digital world, content is the currency that works. To ensure a steady stream of income (read: content) in this case, one has to be consistent. The truth is there are no original ideas. Every idea you see is a derivation of an original idea that has existed for a long time.  In this episode of Take aPause, Varun shares his secret to consistently creating content across platforms. As a p...

Our mind is a powerful tool. Creative thinkers have channeled this power for centuries to build architectural marvels, invent technological gadgets and find a way to reach the moon. So, if we choose to only look at the negatives, our mind will spend time showing us evidence of it.  In this episode, Varun talks about how our minds can be utilized to help us succeed. The outlook we choose deter...

We are all dealing with our own demons and fighting battles every day. Somedays we lose big, everything feels tougher, and the terrain ahead seems rougher. The constant barrage of people who tell you to move on can seem more like a taunt than well-meaning advice.  In this episode, Varun talks about how this pain can be used. We don’t need to easily move on from things important to us, our fee...

We all worry about the future. Its uncertain nature, its ability to throw curveballs, and the resulting worry about whether we are truly prepared for what our future has in store. What we fail to realize is there is no way of knowing. There is no instrument, application, or human that can tell you exactly what your future will bring except one person – you. What you do today will determine how you...

In our growing-up years, the chance to make our own decisions seems like the ticket to freedom we all crave. However, as we move ahead in life, we realize that every second we’re forced to make choices. It can be extremely overwhelming to face these decisions without knowing the outcome. Or, without knowing which path will lead us to the right destination.  Sometimes, not taking a decision se...

We often find ourselves weighing our options before every decision. Our hands get clammy, we have sleepless nights, we overthink every aspect, and we wonder if each decision is going to be the one that will have a butterfly effect on our lives. We want it, no, we need each decision to be perfect.  In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about this common dilemma everyone has faced at some...

Our body is an intuitive and efficient machine. Along with performing so many functions, it is also deeply attuned to our true emotions. Have you noticed how your body reacts before you’re going to do something exciting, and how different it feels when you’re doing things you don’t enjoy? In this episode, Varun talks about a concept recently discussed by Marie Forleo on gauging our true emotions a...

When doing something we love and enjoy, the passage of time and the volume of effort we put in seem immaterial. We want to continue with the task until we get the desired result, no matter how difficult it may be. Similarly, when tasked with something we find no joy in, time seems to drag on, making the task extremely difficult to complete. So how do we tackle this?  In this episode of Take A...

The very act of our inception was a race! Since then, we have just been running through life, chasing our next destination, the next goal, and the next milestone. We believe that society has set markers for our life, where if you’re 25 and not in a dream job, you are a failure. Is there a need to rush through life to meet the so-called standards the faceless people have set for us? Or can we choos...

If you had to list down everything you want to achieve, how long would the list be? The expectations we set for ourselves can sometimes become those very things that overwhelm us. A mountain-worth of goals in a finite lifetime may be a tall order to fulfill.  In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about an effective way to achieve your goals without letting their sheer volume overwhelm y...

How many times have you seen a success story and thought to yourself, why not me? How many times have you compared yourself to someone else and thought about how easy their journey has been? Your journeys cannot be compared because the obstacles they had to overcome are far different than yours. Everyone has their own demons to fight, their own battles to win just like you. So, comparing your firs...

Our first instinct when we know someone is struggling is to ensure we give them support. We state similar instances from our lives to let them know they are not alone. This course of action might not have the desired effect on the individual. It may make them feel even worse.  In this episode of Take aPause, Varun shares why he believes listening is an integral step to healing. What do you th...

Our lives are filled with moments that can alter its course. It is upto us to decide whether to take the path in front of us, or take a detour and learn a few new things along the way. Sadly, our decisions often tend to be influenced by fear – fear of judgement, fear of failure. Imagine if you could make decisions without these fears whispering in your head. What would you choose? In this episode,...

When you think of the word “fear”, what comes to mind? Is it a collection of small things, or just one large looming emotion pertaining to something that scares you at a visceral level? Things you fear are like a close-knit bunch of friends; they usually flock together lending each other the power needed to control you.  In this episode, Varun explores what it means to be afraid, and how you...

Do you know who the first man on the moon was? The first Indian to win the Olympic gold? History is notorious for honouring only the ones who have achieved the impossible. Emphasis on the word “achieved”. When we look at winners, it is easy to get swept up in the waves of their accomplishments; we want to emulate their journey.  It is common knowledge that for every winner that exists, there...

A question most of us have heard often is, ‘what is your 5-year plan?’ While we may have some semblance of what we want to achieve, charting how to achieve them is equally important. The planning is just as important as the execution.  In this episode of Take aPause, Varun weighs the importance of long-term and short-term goals to figure out how we can strike the right balance between the two...

The word bragging by definition is to speak with pride about something you have done or something you possess. Confidence, on the other hand, is defined as the feeling that you are sure about your own abilities. Read the definitions again. Aren’t they almost similar?  In this episode of Take aPause, Varun breaks down a very famous quote by Muhammad Ali and how you can apply it to your own lif...

We all have big plans for our lives and our future. The enormity of our goals can sometimes be extremely overwhelming. The How’s & Ifs of the plan threaten to dismantle the structure instead of helping form it. In this episode of Take APause, Varun shares a story from Will Smith’s life and how he still applies that lesson in the face of adversity.  What helps you move forward with your li...

Conversations are the currency of the networking world. Every interaction comes with a subtext, a silent agenda. The way to navigate it is to ensure the purpose with which you conduct each exchange. At a personal level, it may be to find romantic relationships or make a friend. Professionally, it may be to increase your likeability and their perception.  In this episode, Varun shares an inter...

When you own up to a mistake you’ve made, you indicate that you’re willing to change and rectify things. This may come with its own repercussions in the short term, but to be willing to face them is what shows your strength of character. In this episode of Take a Pause, Varun talks about the importance of owning up to your mistakes and admitting when you are wrong, while being humble about the tim...

Each time you avoid an uncomfortable conversation, you end up creating a bigger problem for another day – a day that is bound to arrive sooner rather than later. It is in fact the conversations that you feel like running away from that hold the key to real freedom and growth. In this episode of Take a Pause, Varun talks about the importance of uncomfortable conversations in overcoming barriers in...