I attended the launch of It Matters A Lot by author and bureaucrat Shubhra Saxena on October 16, 2026, at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Published by Rupa Publications, the book features a foreword by the Dalai Lama and explores self-awareness, conscious choices and what makes life meaningful.

The event brought together personalities from literature, diplomacy, academia, healthcare and public service, including Gurcharan Das, Pavan K. Verma, Prof. Kusum Lata Kedia, Abha Sharma and Dr Shweta Mathur Lall. The discussions reflected the book’s call to pause and reconsider our beliefs, relationships and ambitions.

At a time when success is often measured through professional achievements and social recognition, It Matters A Lot asks whether we are living by our own values or following others’ expectations.

Spanning life stages from childhood to old age, the book examines how upbringing, relationships, social conditioning and life experiences shape our perspectives.

Rather than offering a formula for happiness, Saxena encourages readers to question their assumptions and discover what gives their lives meaning.

Here are five important lessons from It Matters A Lot that encourage readers to reflect on their lives and embrace conscious living.

Success is often defined by society through career progression, financial security, recognition and status. While these achievements can be meaningful, they do not necessarily guarantee contentment.

It Matters A Lot encourages readers to examine whether their ambitions reflect their genuine desires or the expectations of family, peers and society. The pursuit of conventional milestones can become automatic when we rarely question why we want them in the first place.

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