The Inspiring Journey of Shilpi Shah Embracing Wabi Sabi philosophy of life

Life is rarely a straight path, it twists, turns, and often throws us into the unexpected. For Shilpi Shah, the Founder of Live Wabi Sabi Life, this has been the essence of her story. From studying geology to teaching, taking career breaks, pursuing an MBA at IIM Calcutta, working in digital entrepreneurship, and even winning the Making a Difference Award and titles in beauty pageants, her journey has been anything but conventional.

Shilpi’s philosophy of life is deeply rooted in Wabi Sabi, a Japanese concept that embraces imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. When she stumbled upon this idea in 2020 through a newspaper article on Wabi Sabi interiors, it felt like a mirror reflecting her own life. She realized she was already living that philosophy, one where nothing had to be perfect, yet everything had meaning.

Her secret - She developed a daily gratitude practice.

A Dreamcatcher behind her office chair.

Meditating beside her Wind chimes, or sitting near her Chinese bamboo plant to center herself and calm her mind.

Today, her blog Live Wabi Sabi Life is more than just a personal platform, it’s a movement that celebrates authenticity, self-love, and the courage to evolve. In 2025, after years of writing and building, she finally turned her passion into purpose and business.

But this journey isn’t just about career shifts and achievements. It’s about resilience, community, and the power of staying authentic in a world that often demands perfection.

From Geology to Digital Entrepreneurship

If someone told you a geologist would one day become a digital marketing strategist, a blogger, and a beauty pageant winner, you’d probably think it was impossible. But Shilpi proves that career shifts are not failures; they’re stepping stones, which once again indicates the Wabi Sabi philosophy of life.

Her early career began in geology, a field rooted in studying Earth and its structures. However, life had different plans. Teaching came next, followed by a career break, a phase many women experience. Instead of seeing it as a setback, Shilpi embraced it as part of her evolving journey.

When she restarted, she stepped into the digital world through Fuzia, a global community for women that fosters creativity, collaboration, and empowerment. This became her gateway into content writing, social media, and digital marketing, fields she had never formally studied but quickly mastered through upskilling and real-world practice.

Her story reminds us that career detours are not dead ends. Instead, they prepare us for unexpected destinations. Just as a river doesn’t flow in a straight line, Shilpi’s career meandered, yet each turn enriched her journey, making her the multi-dimensional entrepreneur and thought leader she is today.

The Philosophy of Wabi Sabi That Changed Everything

Imagine walking into a room where nothing is symmetrical, the walls are slightly uneven, and the decor is imperfect, but somehow, it feels deeply peaceful. That’s Wabi Sabi, a Japanese philosophy rooted in appreciating imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness.

When Shilpi first read about Wabi Sabi interiors in 2020, it struck her like lightning. She realized that life itself is Wabi Sabi, never perfect, always evolving, and full of hidden beauty in its cracks and flaws. For someone who had shifted careers multiple times, taken pauses, and embraced uncertainty, this philosophy wasn’t just inspiring, it was liberating.

She began to live this truth daily: that there are no medals for perfection, neither from people nor from the Almighty. Instead, the real beauty of life is in “becoming.” We are not finished products but works in progress, shaped by every experience, mistake, and triumph.

This mindset became the foundation of her blog Live Wabi Sabi Life. What began as a reflection of personal insights has now grown into a movement for authenticity, self-love, and mindful living. It’s a reminder to all of us that chasing perfection is exhausting, but embracing imperfection is freeing.

Educational and Professional Background

Behind every bold career move is a foundation of learning, growth, and courage to start again. For Shilpi, one of her most significant milestones was earning her MBA from IIM Calcutta, one of India’s premier institutions. This wasn’t just an academic achievement, it was proof of her determination to reinvent herself.

Her MBA opened doors to the world of business strategy, leadership, and digital entrepreneurship. Combined with her hands-on experiences at Fuzia and later at G100 Media Arts & Communications Wing of the Global Advisory Council, she shaped a career that bridges business with purpose.

Each professional phase, geology, teaching, marketing, and entrepreneurship, added a unique layer to her skill set. Unlike traditional career paths that are linear, Shilpi’s journey reflects a portfolio life, one where different roles, industries, and passions merge to create a dynamic career.

Her background demonstrates a powerful truth: you don’t have to stick to one identity forever. Reinvention is always possible, and sometimes, it is the only way to truly align with your evolving purpose.

Transitioning Careers and Finding Purpose

For many professionals, the fear of switching careers holds them back. Questions like “Am I too old to start again?” or “Will people take me seriously?” often become roadblocks. But Shilpi’s story proves that purpose matters more than linearity.

When she transitioned from geology to teaching and then to digital entrepreneurship, each decision was guided not by societal expectations but by her own evolving sense of purpose. The break she took wasn’t a pause, it was a space for reflection. And when she stepped into the world of women's empowerment through Fuzia, it clicked that this was where her passion and skills aligned.

Her journey illustrates that finding purpose is a process. It requires patience, courage, and willingness to walk into the unknown. By embracing Wabi Sabi, she accepted that careers don’t have to be perfect, they just need to feel authentic.

In a world obsessed with labels and straight-line success stories, Shilpi’s life is a refreshing reminder: you can be many things at once, an MBA, a digital marketer, a blogger, a storyteller, and a pageant queen, all while staying true to yourself.

The Birth of Live Wabi Sabi Life

Every great movement begins with a moment of clarity, and for Shilpi, that spark came in 2020. While reading a newspaper article about Wabi Sabi interiors, she realized that this Japanese philosophy wasn’t just about design; it was about life itself. The idea that life is imperfect, incomplete, and ever-evolving resonated deeply with her own journey of career shifts, pauses, and fresh starts.

By 2022, she had transformed this revelation into her blog ,Live Wabi Sabi Life. It wasn’t just another lifestyle blog; it was a philosophical and personal space where she celebrated imperfections and encouraged others to embrace their authentic selves. Her posts became a blend of storytelling, reflection, and practical insights for people struggling with self-doubt, transitions, or the weight of perfectionism, incorporating tools like planners, diaries, and digital calendars.

But Shilpi didn’t stop at expression; she envisioned a future where her passion would create impact and inspire people to share their imperfections openly, because their scars make them unique. By 2025, this evolution transformed Live Wabi Sabi Life into a sustainable platform where people began sharing Wabi Sabi Stories ~ soulful reflections that captured not just words, but emotions and spirit. It became a space where authenticity thrived and every person, women specifically, felt truly seen, valued, and celebrated.

Her story shows that entrepreneurship isn’t about quick wins, it’s about persistence, clarity of purpose, and creating content that resonates with real people. For Shilpi, the blog became more than a career move; it became a legacy of imperfection embraced and celebrated.

Embracing Wabi Sabi in Real Life

Living Wabi Sabi mindset has inspired many, especially women, who often face the burden of societal expectations. Through these stories, she encourages others to see that mistakes, pauses, and detours aren’t failures, they’re essential chapters of growth.

Her life itself is proof of Wabi Sabi as it showcasea a personal journey of aspirations - higher education - love marriage - motherhood - lost opportunities - switching careers - health issues - career break - restarting career in a digital domain - pursuing MBA from IIM Calcutta, and lots of upskilling, and one day while reading a newspaper article about Wabi sabi when she connected the dots backward she realised she have been living a Wabi Sabi life. In every experience, she has carried the message that imperfection isn’t weakness, it’s power.

Beauty Pageants and Achievements

In 2025, Shilpi Shah achieved a milestone that beautifully reflected her philosophy of self-love and authenticity, she was crowned VG Mrs. India Gujarat Empress and VG Mrs. India Fashionista. These titles were not just about glamour; they were about breaking stereotypes and redefining beauty standards.

For Shilpi, participating in beauty pageants wasn’t about fitting into a mould. It was about celebrating individuality and proving that beauty lies in authenticity.

Receiving the Making a Difference Award at Naaritvv Fest Season 5 she felt deeply grateful for being recognised for the purpose and passion behind her journey.

What made these achievements more special was her acknowledgement that it wasn’t hers alone. She dedicated these titles to her community, her Fuzia family, her G100 network, and her mentors, all of whom had shaped her journey in countless ways.

Her wins in the pageant world reflect the heart of the Wabi Sabi philosophy: you don’t have to be flawless to shine. True elegance is found in confidence, resilience, and authenticity.

Women's Empowerment and Global Network

At the core of Shilpi’s journey is her passion for women's empowerment. Her work with Fuzia, a global community for women to share creativity and collaborate, has given her a platform to uplift thousands of women across cultures. Through content creation, digital storytelling, and leadership, she has helped amplify voices that often go unheard.

Additionally, her role with the G100 Media Arts & Communications Council surrounded her with a powerful network of women leaders, innovators, and changemakers. This community became both her source of inspiration and her anchor. The diverse perspectives she encountered through G100 reshaped her worldview, deepened her empathy, and strengthened her resolve to build a life rooted in authenticity.

Shilpi often expresses gratitude to the universe for aligning her with these networks. She acknowledges that her journey isn’t a solo success, it’s a reflection of the collective wisdom, silent strength, and encouragement she has received from her peers and mentors.

For her, empowerment isn’t about competition, it’s about collaboration. It’s about creating spaces where women lift each other up, share their journeys, and embrace both their strengths and vulnerabilities. This belief continues to fuel her blog, her professional work, and her personal life.

The Game-Changer: Interviews with Thought Leaders

One of the biggest turning points in Shilpi’s blogging journey was when she started conducting interviews with thought leaders. These conversations opened doors she never expected. Each dialogue not only expanded her knowledge but also offered fresh perspectives that reshaped her understanding of business, life, and self-growth.

Through these interviews, she learned that wisdom doesn’t come from books alone, it flows through real experiences, diverse voices, and authentic conversations. The insights she gained became building blocks for both her blog content and her personal mindset.

For Shilpi, these interactions were not transactional but transformational. They changed how she approached challenges, how she defined success, and how she envisioned the future of Live Wabi Sabi Life. The interviews became more than blog features, they became mirrors that reflected different versions of herself waiting to be discovered.

This step was truly a game-changer, not only fueling her content strategy but also grounding her philosophy in lived human experiences. It made Live Wabi Sabi Life not just a blog, but a collective voice of evolving wisdom.

Gratitude and Community Support

Behind every achievement is a circle of people who make it possible, and Shilpi has never forgotten this truth. Her journey, whether through career transitions, blogging, or beauty pageants, has been deeply supported by her community and network of women leaders.

She often expresses gratitude to her Fuzia team, highlighting how their encouragement and belief in her abilities shaped her growth.

She recalls moments when mentors like Shraddha Varma created space for her to flourish, even when she doubted herself. She also thanks Ria Singhal for her unwavering support and Priyanka Mishra for being a true reminder of authenticity. These acknowledgments reflect Shilpi’s character, she doesn’t stand alone at the podium of success but shares the crown with those who lifted her along the way.

Her gratitude extends to her global network at G100, where powerful women from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds constantly inspire her. Each interaction has been an exchange of wisdom, perspective, and strength. For Shilpi, this isn’t just networking, it’s sisterhood.

She believes that community support is like the roots of a tree: unseen, yet essential. Without the wisdom and encouragement of those around her, her achievements would not carry the same depth of meaning. By sharing credit openly, she not only uplifts others but also reinforces the Wabi Sabi truth that success is never perfect or singular, it’s collective and evolving.

Shilpi’s Philosophy of Life

At the heart of Shilpi’s journey is her unshakable belief in authenticity. Her guiding principle is simple yet profound: perfection is overrated, authenticity is liberating. Through her blog, her pageant experiences, and her work with women’s empowerment, she has consistently highlighted the beauty of imperfection.

Shilpi believes that we are all works in progress, constantly evolving, learning, and reshaping our lives. She doesn’t see mistakes as failures but as stepping stones. Detours, pauses, and shifts in direction are not signs of weakness but proof of resilience.

This philosophy also influences how she raises her voice for women. In a society that often demands women to “do it all” flawlessly, she stands as a reminder that being real is far more powerful than being perfect. Her message is clear: stop chasing medals of validation, embrace the raw, unfinished masterpiece that is your life.

Her Wabi Sabi-inspired outlook is refreshing in today’s fast-paced world. It encourages people to slow down, accept flaws, and focus not on arriving but on becoming.

The Future of Live Wabi Sabi Life

With a strong foundation and a deeply rooted philosophy, the future of Live Wabi Sabi Life shines with promise and purpose. Building on the success of Wabi Sabi Stories, Shilpi now envisions expanding into a digital magazine, podcasts, impactful collaborations, and meaningful community-led initiatives.

Her goal isn’t just to grow a platform but to spread the Wabi Sabi message globally, to inspire people across cultures to embrace imperfections and celebrate authenticity. With her background in content writing, digital marketing, and storytelling, she is uniquely positioned to amplify this philosophy to larger audiences.

Future plans may also include expanding into online courses, workshops, with thought leaders, making Live Wabi Sabi Life not just a blog but a holistic lifestyle and learning platform.

For Shilpi, the blog will always remain a living, evolving space. Just like the philosophy it’s built on, it will continue to adapt, grow, and transform with time. The journey of Live Wabi Sabi Life, much like Shilpi herself, is beautifully unfinished.

Conclusion

Shilpi Shah’s journey is a living example of the Wabi Sabi philosophy. With strong roots in community support, a powerful network of women leaders, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity, Shilpi continues to inspire.

Her crowns, achievements, and professional milestones are not just hers, they belong to the countless people who shaped her, guided her, and walked beside her. And as she steps into the future, one truth remains clear: the beauty of life lies not in perfection but in progress.

FAQs

1. What is the philosophy behind Live Wabi Sabi Life?

It is based on the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi, which celebrates imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. Shilpi applies this philosophy to real life, reminding people to embrace authenticity over perfection.

2. How did Shilpi Shah transition from geology to digital entrepreneurship?

Her journey began with a career in geology, then teaching, followed by a career break. She restarted through Fuzia, where she learned content writing and digital marketing, eventually becoming a blogger and entrepreneur.

3. What role does women empowerment play in her journey?

Women's empowerment is central to her mission. Through Fuzia and G100, she has worked with global communities, uplifting women creatives and connecting with powerful networks of leaders.

4. How did beauty pageants impact Shilpi’s life?

Winning titles like VG Mrs. India Gujarat Empress, and VG Mrs. India Fashionista allowed her to embrace authenticity and break stereotypes, proving that true beauty lies in confidence and individuality.

5. What is Naaritvv Award?

It's a felicitation of extraordinary women achievers from different cities across diverse fields. With 23 award categories, these awards continue to be genuine, merit-based, and highly respected. Shilpi has received Making a Difference Award at Naaritvv Fest Season 5

5. What’s next for Live Wabi Sabi Life?

Making it a holistic lifestyle platform that spreads the Wabi Sabi message worldwide.

Don’t just wish for a great day, make it happen!

Wishing you strength, resilience, and limitless growth,

Love & Light,

Live WabiSabi