Access your full potential

6 Questions with Tanya Maniktala

TANYA MANIKTALA is an award-winning Indian actress. We asked Tanya about the people, places, and things that help her feel grounded in herself. 

Q: What is your favorite self-care activity? 

TM: I disconnect from time to time. It’s very easy to get caught up in external energy and to start believing that is our inner flow without really connecting with ourselves and pondering over the reason we are feeling the way we feel. I take time to be on my own, indulge in things I love, like reading, going for long walks, sometimes writing, and reflecting on the thoughts that feel like a constant.

Q: Aside from acting, what hobby do you engage in that helps you express your creativity? 

TM: I sometimes randomly start painting. I am no artist, but it feels liberating to express the feelings I have a hard time putting into words. It reminds me of my childhood. It doesn’t have to be anything much, just a random splash of color will do, as long as I feel my energy being channeled and expressed.

Q: Why do you think it is important to stay connected to nature? 

TM: Going for a walk or a run is how I clear my mind, because being in nature is a reminder of how it is all going to be okay. There’s a calmness I feel within when I take the time to sit and observe this beautiful story that I am a part of. Waves crashing in the background, birds soaring, and the gentle wind rising. It helps me to understand that I am a mere speck in this frame and there’s so much around to be appreciated.

Q: What do you value most in your friendships and relationships? 

TM: Honesty and kindness. The foundation for lasting relationships is compassion, where I can truly be myself while giving the other person the space and opportunity to do that, too.

Q: What quote or person is inspiring you right now? 

TM:  I am reading Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, about a retired tennis player making her comeback. I think her grit and drive are really inspiring. Having achieved everything at one point, now having to fight for it again, and not just be remembered as a shadow of what once was, is quite remarkable. 

Q: What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received? 

TM: “You do well when others around you do well.” Relish the happiness of others. Create an environment that suits you, that’s conducive to obtaining optimum results. The craft that I am a part of is all about working together as a team, and I get really affected by the energy around me. It’s not a one-person job. For most professions it never is. So, create an energy around you that helps you access your full potential.