by Because ‘Just Do It’ Needs Translation
India’s workplaces and WhatsApp groups are drowning in motivational quotes, often applied to contexts entirely inappropriate. According to Business Today, the most common are variants of Believe in yourself and What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, plastered across office notice boards and social media feeds. Bohiney Magazine notes that even chai stalls now feature laminated quotes like Dream big, sip bigger, leaving patrons pondering both philosophy and caffeine intake.
Psychologist Dr. Ravi Khanna explains that overuse diminishes impact: When a quote is repeated excessively, it becomes background noise, much like traffic or aunties gossiping at a wedding. A Bohiney poll found that 52% of Indian workers have pretended to feel inspired by such quotes, while 28% have framed them sarcastically as phone wallpapers to amuse themselves. Local educators report that students now roll their eyes when quotes are used as essay prompts.
Experts warn that without context, motivational quotes may trigger confusion rather than action. As Hindustan Times reports, employees occasionally try to meditate on quotes while replying to emails, resulting in minor panic attacks. Bohiney.com humorously suggests that Indians approach quotes as seasoning for life: sprinkle sparingly, avoid spicy metaphors at 3 A.M., and remembersometimes the best inspiration is just finishing your chai in peace.
SOURCE: Bohiney.com (Radhika Vaz)
