The Mirror Test

The Mirror Test: I believe it’s important to remember that when you know better, you can do better. With higher levels of awareness, you can make smarter choices. And the more clarity you get as to who you want to become, the more quickly you can start making the choices needed to get you there. Clarity really does offer a framework for more intelligent decision-making (and we become our decisions). Here’s a simple tool for you: the Mirror Test. Look into the mirror and ask yourself the following question: “What one thing could I do today that if I did it, my professional and personal life‘ would get to its NLG: Next Level of Greatness?” Then think about that one thing. Reflect on executing that step superbly. And go out and do it. Act with courage. Now. Remember, small daily improvements lead over time to stunning results.

Hum Sab ki yahi hai kahani

Pride In Parenting

Pride In Parenting: Leadership begins at home. Your family is an organization that needs to be managed, cherished and elevated if you aim to truly get to the rare life I believe you deserve. I also believe that the highest moments of our lives are the moments shared with those we love. How proud are you of your kids? Are they your primary priority? Mine definitely are. I’d let go of all I’m doing in my work life in a second, if my children needed me to. Do you spend quantity time with your kids as well as quality time? I’ve been a father for 29 years now and I must share with you that no matter what toys, video games or gifts I gave my gang, nothing could beat my time. Thats all they really Want. That’s all they’ve ever really wanted. I can’t tell you how many uber-rich executives have flown their jets for meeting different people for business, and shared that though they “have it all,” they still have nothing. Because they missed their kids’ childhoods. Money is not  the most important form of wealth. It just isn’t.  So today; Iove your loved ones. Cherish them. And tell them the things you’ve wanted to say but haven’t had the courage to say. You will never regret showing them how proud you are of them. Ever!

Awaken The Superhero Living Inside You

Awaken The Superhero Living Inside You: We all have an identity most people don’t even know about. We have within us a giant, a divine being of love and decency and compassion. We have the spark of God and of godliness. There is no power greater than this.As has been said many times before, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. But most people can only see the physical. They can’t see the potential that shines just below skin-level.That’s the thing. None of us are ordinary. We are all extraordinary. Some of us just haven’t discovered that fact yet. In other words, feel that Superman and a Spiderman within, so you and I have a superhero waiting to be released and developed into something more than we’ve allowed so far as well.SUPERHEROES SAVE LIVESSuper heroes fly straight into danger to save the innocent. The whole point of being a superhero is the justice they mete out and the lives they save from the selfish disregard of villains.Awaken your inner Superhero by serving the common good: We can reach out to those in need and, with superhero ability, serve and teach and guide and lift and bless their lives.Awaken your inner Superhero by being a source of hope: Life can also be big and bad and scary. Our challenges can seem larger than life, stronger than mere mortal flesh and blood, able to withstand conventional weapons, persistent, enduring, angry.That’s where we can shine the brightest, offering hope, standing as beacons to the lost and self-defeated, letting the light of our optimism and decency and faith and commitment to high values and enthusiasm for life shine bright.

The Ultimate Peace In Life

The Ultimate Peace In Life: How many times have you gotten upset because someone wasn’t doing their job, because your child isn’t behaving, because your partner or friend isn’t living up to his or her end of the bargain? Or when you’ve planned something carefully and things didn’t go as you’d hoped?This kind of anger and irritation happens to all of us — it’s part of the human experience.One thing that irritates me is when people talk during a movie. Or cut me off in traffic. Or wrongly park their vehicle which blocks other's way. Actually, I have a lot of these little annoyances — don’t we all? And it isn’t always easy to find peace when you’ve become upset or irritated.See, the cause of our stress, anger and irritation is that things don’t go the way we like, the way we expect them to. Think of how many times this has been true for you.And so the solution is simple: expect things to go wrong, expect things to be different than we hoped or planned, expect the unexpected to happen. And accept it.Let me let you in on a little secret to finding peace of mind: see the glass as already broken. So when the nice glass you bought inevitably falls and breaks, someday, you might get upset. But not if you see the glass as already broken, from the day you get it. You know it’ll break someday, so from the beginning, see it as already broken. Be a time-traveler, or someone with time-traveling vision, and see the future of this glass, from this moment until it inevitably breaks.Expect your child to mess up — all children do. And don’t get so upset when they mess up, when they don’t do what they’re “supposed” to do … because they’re supposed to mess up.Expect your partner to be less than perfect.Expect your friend to not show up sometimes.Expect things to go not according to plan.Expect people to be rude sometimes.Expect coworkers not to come through sometimes.Expect roommates not to wash their dishes or pick up their clothes, sometimes.Expect the glass to break.And accept it.You won’t change these inevitable facts — they will happen, eventually. And if you expect it to happen — even see it as already happening, before it happens — you won’t get so upset.You won’t overreact. You’ll respond appropriately, but not overreact. You can talk to the person about their behavior, and ask them kindly to consider your feelings when they do this … but you won’t get overly emotional and blow things out of proportion.You’ll smile, and think, “I expected that to happen. The glass was already broken. And I accept that.”You’ll have peace of mind. And that, my friends, is a welcome surprise.

What Separates You?

What Separates You?: 'Starbury One' basketball shoes look a lot like those made by Nike and Reebok. They are worn on-court by NY. Knicks guard Stephon Marbury. And they are built to last, like those of their competitors. So what makes them special? The fact that they are only $14.98(Rs. 950) a pair...really. The best businesses know their Separation Points—their competitive advantages—and then have the discipline to stay brilliantly focused on them until the whole world knows what makes them special. Tesla just put out a sports car- $100,000 a pop. But here's the thing: It does 0 to 60 mph in four seconds, is electric powered and will go100,000 miles per battery. Masterful Separation Points. So, have the courage to be different. Have the boldness within your industry to create value that has never before been created. Be strikingly creative, always getting better and dreaming bigger- And know what separates you from everyone else. Because if you don't know what makes your business special, how can you tell everyone else?

Angels In Your Evolution

Angels In Your Evolution: An idea just came to me. You’ve heard it before, but the more we  get exposed to a good idea, the more deeply we get to integrate it. Like reading a powerful book for a second and third time. Seems like a whole new book on every new reading. Did the book change? No. You did. Your capacity to understand got bigger. Your world-view got broader. Your ability to take in the insights grew. And so you discovered a whole new level of knowledge in that book. That was always there. You just didn’t have the eyes to see it before. The idea I feel so passionately about on this sunny afternoon can be stated in a simple phrase: Angels of Evolution. Nothing soft and irrelevant about this one, just a way to look at life’s challenges in a better light. As blessings rather than curses. Because they just might be. Angels of Evolution. Everyone who is causing you stress, struggle and challenge in your life just might be an angel of sorts. They just might be the very messengers carrying the lessons you most need to learn, to get to Your Next Level of Greatness. The difficult teammate might be an angel of sorts, here to teach you understanding. A business setback or professional disappointment might be an angel sent to build your resolve and commitment. A health issue might be an angelic wakeup call to get you to commit to a better diet, regular exercise, relaxation and meditation. Each encounter represents a defining moment that gets you to the excellence meant for you.  Angels of Evolution. The hardest stuff in your life is the ideal stuff to get you to where you’ve always dreamed of being. The people and events that irritate, anger and hurt you are the ideal educators to help you learn the lessons that will help you shine—at work, at home and in life. So that you evolve. And grow.

Angels In Your Evolution

Angels In Your Evolution: An idea just came to me. You’ve heard it before, but the more we  get exposed to a good idea, the more deeply we get to integrate it. Like reading a powerful book for a second and third time. Seems like a whole new book on every new reading. Did the book change? No. You did. Your capacity to understand got bigger. Your world-view got broader. Your ability to take in the insights grew. And so you discovered a whole new level of knowledge in that book. That was always there. You just didn’t have the eyes to see it before. The idea I feel so passionately about on this sunny afternoon can be stated in a simple phrase: Angels of Evolution. Nothing soft and irrelevant about this one, just a way to look at life’s challenges in a better light. As blessings rather than curses. Because they just might be. Angels of Evolution. Everyone who is causing you stress, struggle and challenge in your life just might be an angel of sorts. They just might be the very messengers carrying the lessons you most need to learn, to get to Your Next Level of Greatness. The difficult teammate might be an angel of sorts, here to teach you understanding. A business setback or professional disappointment might be an angel sent to build your resolve and commitment. A health issue might be an angelic wakeup call to get you to commit to a better diet, regular exercise, relaxation and meditation. Each encounter represents a defining moment that gets you to the excellence meant for you.  Angels of Evolution. The hardest stuff in your life is the ideal stuff to get you to where you’ve always dreamed of being. The people and events that irritate, anger and hurt you are the ideal educators to help you learn the lessons that will help you shine—at work, at home and in life. So that you evolve. And grow.

Go Perpendicular

Go Perpendicular: On vacation in Goa with my family. And I’m doing some relaxing and renewing. I’ve never eaten so much in my life. Yesterday afternoon the kids and I rented a little boat and headed down the coast. We hugged the shoreline, stayed close to land, never strayed far from home. This got me thinking. About Christopher Columbus. And about taking smart risks. Every explorer before him feared losing sight of the shore. They clung to the known. They opted for security. They didn’t dare. Columbus did something different. He was brave. Went straight out to sea. Went perpendicular to the shoreline. And found a new world. Good on him. Of course I needed to be safe with my kids. I’m just trying to make a point: Greatness, as a leader and as a human, sometimes requires that you leave the constraints of safety. Sometimes you just have to let go of the known. And sail out into the unknown. To try a new way. To think a new thought. To behave in a new way. And to go perpendicular when the rest of the world hugs the shoreline and clings to safety. Yes—I get it’s so human to feel frightened as we experiennce the Blue Ocean of change, transition and growth. But as Lord Chesterfield said, "It is not possible to discover new oceans unless one is willing to lose sight of the shore."

Build Bridges Not Fences

Build Bridges Not Fences: Had a conversation with a VIP today (Very Interesting Person). Thirty-two years old. Grew up in the hills. Builds fences for a living. A philosopher at heart. Told me how everyone is into building fences these days. To block out their neighbours. To insulate themselves. To maintain privacy. And to foster separateness. “I grew up in Mashobra,” he shared. “In our little village, we were like one big family. It really took a village to raise each child. Everyone talked to each other. People cared about one another. We were part of each other’s lives—a real community.”  Community. Beautiful word. Every single one of us has a deep psychological need for it. We all crave to belong. To know we are part of a larger whole. It gives us a sense of security. Safety. And happiness. The best organizations foster community and build workplaces where people feel safe to be themselves again. The best families do the same thing—honoring each other and creating rich shared moments. So maybe we should stop worrying too much about building fences. And start creating true security—by building bridges.

Treasure Your Valuables

Treasure Your Valuables: What is valuable to you? What do you most treasure in your life?  We're not talking about gold watches and diamonds here but rather things that you feel that you cannot do without. What is important to you in your emotional life? What feelings and people  are important? What inspires you, makes you feel good, energizes you?   Your valuables are whatever makes you ‘come alive‘. Make a list of them. Think about why you value them? Why are they so precious to you? Take time to appreciate and treasure your valuables. End of the day, your true happiness lies there.

Heal Your Life

Heal Your Life: However ill you feel, whatever psychological problems you face, you can still be in control of your own healing. If you have a physical condition, find out all you can about it and don't expect the doctor to 'sort everything for you.' Take the prescribed medicine but also investigate the alternative approaches.  Look at your lifestyle and nutrition: 'Do they support good health?’ 'Are your relationships supportive or stressful? ‘Do you love your work or is it winding you up?' Look beyond a single symptom; look at the whole picture of your life and take charge of your own healing. Allow yourself a whole day to enjoy a health farm extravaganza in the privacy of your own home.  Planning is important so decide beforehand exactly how you will spend your day. Buy any beauty items or toiletries that you might need. Shop for some delicious nutritional food. Buy some pure fruit juice and spring water to drink throughout the day. Choose some beautiful relaxing music and some aromatherapy oils to burn. Start your day by unplugging the phone and switching off TVs and computers.  When you spend a day just pampering yourself, you will feel refreshed and invigorated.

Look For The Silver Lining

Look For The Silver Lining: Life is full of ups and downs but we can learn from everything that happens to us. A relationship ends; we fail an exam; lose a job. Once the initial  anger/dependency/depression is over we can review our setbacks and use them to learn more about ourselves. Every event in our lives has a purpose. There is a powerful intention in every situation. Rather than remaining in a negative state which only pulls you down, approach the situation in a new way. As one door closes another opens. Look for the newly opening door, look for the silver lining.

Laugh Yourself Silly

Laugh Yourself Silly: How do you feel when you have had a really good laugh? You feel great, don't you? It rejuvenates. Laughing and smiling actually have amazing health-giving effects. Laughter really is the best medicine.  You can't have a really good laugh and be anxious at the same time. Begin with a smile, a smile can start to change your mood. Seek out something that has made you laugh in the past - a video, a book, the company of a certain friend, an activity. Or for that matter, laugh at yourself. You will feel amazed. Put a smile on your face and go for laughter. It can only make you feel100 per cent better.

They gave a beautiful life to a beautiful child!...

So, this is something that happened in my immediate family. My aunt and uncle loved and had known each other for over two years before they tied the knot. It seemed like a rosy story. Everything was all good and they were having the best days of their life. They both loved each other as much as they had done on the day they met. The family was also very supportive. Things were all good and they decided to take the next big step almost after 2 years of enjoying the marital bliss when they decided to extend their family. And that is when the trouble started, they tried initially for some time but it didn’t work. They went in for a lot of tests, took all the medication as prescribed by the doctors. Nothing happened. At first they had a lot of hope that something will happen and they would get the happiness in their life but with time they lost all the hope. And it was always a sad affair when the relatives and people were more worried about you being childless and like it meant the end of the world. I had seen that look in their eyes and that they wanted to share the love in their life with a third someone and craved for it every day when they see other happy couples with kids. The sorrow in their life seemed unending but their love for each other seemed eternal.
Then one fine day, we received a call from my auntie that they had adopted a beautiful baby girl and she is there at their house. We couldn’t contain our joy and it was at the peak when we finally visited them and there she was-the sweetest and the most beautiful thing that we had ever seen. She lit the whole room with her presence. My aunt told me that they had told someone in their village that they would like to adopt a baby girl. So, when they got a call from that person, they couldn’t wait and left immediately and brought home this 3 day old bundle of joy after doing all the legal formalities. Her parents were poor and couldn’t believe her luck that her child is going to an affluent family. A week back was that baby girl’s 1st day in the school and it made me feel so proud of my uncle and aunt who not only lit their home with this beautiful child but also gave a beautiful life to this sweetest child.

Never Give Up

Never Give Up: When your life is hard and difficulties seem to appear whichever way you turn, it is natural to feel dejected. When we are within the midst of a trauma we will not be inclined to take helpful advice on how to 'feel better.' We need to experience the sadness, grief, anger, rage, hurt, shame or whatever strong emotions we are going through. However, the darkest phase is truly just before the dawn. Never ever give up on the miraculous process of life. Believe in yourself and know that you 'can' and 'will' feel hopeful and joyous again.

Change Your Environment Everyday

Change Your Environment Everyday: Research shows that the more we are able to express ourselves positively in our environment the more relaxed and happy we are able to become.  Every day do something to make your surroundings more beautiful.  EXAMPLES:*Put fresh flowers in your bedroom.  *Bring a photo for your desk at work *Change a room around*Wash the curtains*Put a plant in your office*Move the pictures around in your house*Play beautiful music while you do the housework*Light a candle when you sit down for a mealGive your surroundings some Tender Loving Care and feel the difference.

Be Slim And Re-invent Yourself

Be Slim And Re-invent Yourself: You know those days when you wake up feeling lethargic, bloated and overfed and low in the attraction stakes? Get a grip on your day and turn it into a 24 hour programe which will take off a little weight, make you feel spiritually lighter, more in control and will increase your feelings of self-respect. Keep your diet as light and pure as you can. Drink hot water with lemon juice every couple of hours to detoxify your system. Have some exercise time and relaxation time throughout the day. Tomorrow you will wake up feeling better, brighter and lighter.  Do something which is out of character. Here are a few ideas-  Change your style of dress. How long have you had the same hairstyle? More than a year? Change it. Find a new friend, someone who is quite unlike you. Start a new hobby or join a class. Change your make-up/aftershave. Change is like a breath of fresh air, enjoy the new perspectives it brings. Have a great and fulfilling life ahead!

Respect Parenthood

Respect Parenthood: When the dinner is burning and the washing machine has broken down and you only had three hours sleep last night, remember: you are not alone!  Parents everywhere do the magnificent job, so remind yourself to respect the act of parenthood. Make a list of the following points and refer to it constantly.Parenthood is a big job!I am doing my best!Parenthood is vital!I don‘t have to feel guilty!I need to look after myself!There are no perfect parents!l forgive and thank my mother and father!l can let go!Put this list in a prominent place! You will always cherish parenthood.

Make Your Own Mission Statement

Make Your Own Mission Statement: What is your mission statement? In other words, what is your life's purpose, why exactly are you here? To raise consciousness about environmental issues? To make the world a happier place? To ensure that your children have high self-esteem? To make people laugh? When you can make a mission statement your life will have new direction and purpose. Remember that you bring your unique set of skills and strengths to this planet and you came here to use those abilities.Discover what drives you from within and match it with the real world activities to give your life new meaning.

Do Whatever Turns You On

Do Whatever Turns You On: It is not necessary to take mood altering drugs in order to change the way that we feel. Think of how easily your emotions can be changed by the simple things in life. Perhaps a certain piece of music can lift your spirits, a walk, a piece of artwork, sex, a poem, surfing, driving, cooking, swimming, dancing, shopping, singing. There are an infinite number of possibilities here. Start to notice what changes your mind for the better.Make a list of the things that energize or excite you. And do these things.

Thanks to God and people those really helped me in my difficult...

I went into the love marriage against family wishes in the year of 1996. It was a drastic change for me since my new family was a big joint family and I had spent all my life in a nuclear family. And moreover the family members were not welcome and supportive. I tried my best coping up with the change and mingling with them, but they never understood me or supported me. I became a mother soon and couldn’t have been happier. The attitude of my extended family continued to get worse. I tried settling with them,  but to no avail. And then one day all hell broke loose when suddenly my husband passed away. My son was only 5 years old that time and I was not a working woman. This was the turning point of my life. My whole life changed. It was already very painful for me and on the top of everything everyone blamed me for my husband’s death. But yes,  there were people in my family who supported me,  but then they were few.

After my husband’s death, I started my studies again and completed my B.A. and did a computer course. 6 months after my husband had passed away, I started working and paid for my son’s school fees. I would work all day in the office and at night my family would bad mouth me. I used to cry all the time at night and then would take to reading to divert myself away from all the nagging. Almost 4 years passed like this. Some people advised me for remarriage. But I never wanted to remarry because I was concerned if the new person in my life would be able to love my son as much as his own father would have. That time I decided that time that I would be independent and work hard for the sake of my son. Now, after so many years, I am happy that I took this decision.

I continued working hard,  but the salary I was getting was very less. So, I applied on many job portals. I got an interview call from a company but I was full of negativity due to the hardships in life. Yet I gave the interview and to my surprise got selected.

After some time of taking up the new job, I got an increment in a couple of months and new responsibilities. After all these years I am earning well and am much more confident too. I feel safe as well.

I got separated from my in laws sometime back and now I am living with my son. He is 18 years old now and a matured person.  During all this long hard period God and some wonderful people have helped me and because of them I am still alive and smiling. So from the bottom of my heart,I am thankful to them all.

Besides this, I would really want to tell all women out there to study hard and be educated because education is something that will always help them in all walks of life. And there’s nothing like being self-dependent and having their own identity.

Make Good Vibrations

Make Good Vibrations: You can raise your energetic vibrations and feel lighter by using Uplifting words and thoughts when you speak to yourself and to others. If you feel anxious, use positive words to raise your energy. Say such words to yourself as: HARMONY, LOVE, PEACE, BEAUTY, JOY, ENTHUSIASM, COMMITTED, DELIGHTFUL, lNSPlRED  Think and speak of all the beautiful and inspiring words you know. Notice how you feel lighter and brighter when you use these words in conversation. Use uplifting words in the company of others; watch and feel the changes in their energy and yours.

A Special Child: A Boon or a Bane - As you see it!...

Nine years ago I gave birth to my daughter, who is moderately autistic and battled severe life threatening epilepsy for most of her childhood. I struggled with her care, diet and many other life style choices that you are compelled to make suddenly after the diagnosis.

I had a flourishing career, which I gave up. I became a 24X7 stay at home mom caring for both my kids. Sleepless nights spent in and out of hospitals were routine for me. 

Cut to the present I slowly started working again, first I began to teach once a week and then gradually went on to pick up a very good well paying job. I tend to dress well and take care of my health. Even then I am amazed at the stigma I face everytime people come to know about my daughter, they look at me with pity, and wonder silently as to why I am so happy then!!!

They think that I should be perpetually sad, look sorry and dress shabbily because c'mon I have been punished, haven't I?

I want to put the word out to all special parents, that it is of utmost importance that you celebrate your special child rather than considering him/her to be a punishment. My daughter has made me a better human being, more patient, compassionate and above all has given me the drive to succeed and achieve inspite of all obstacles. I mean, one look at her and I feel emboldened, because if she could fight through so much inspite of being such a small precious life, what stops me then!!

She has taught me to dream, smile and laugh from deep within, and bloom under my piece of the sky.

We must consider them as our strengths and feel blessed and surge ahead rather than becoming a victim of the stereotyped image of tired, hassled and penniless parents of special children.

Once you clear these clouds from your mind, you will truly soar and it is in your soaring that your child will find her wings...

Take a Shower of Light

Take a Shower of Light: Whenever you need a lift, whether it is to energize yourself or to ‘throw light‘ on a problem, try taking a shower of light. Imagine that you are standing under a shower. See large drops of white light falling over you and enveloping you. Feel the light as it embraces you. See the white light turn into the colours of the rainbow. Feel and absorb the colours. When you are ready, mentally turn off the shower. Put your co-workers in a shower of white light and see the difference in your working day!  CLEAN YOUR AURA - Sit comfortably, close your eyes, steady your breathing and relax.  Be aware of the energy surrounding you: this is your aura. Imagine a halo of light around your entire body; visualize an unbroken line of light encircling you. Now send a white beam of cleansing light around the contour of your aura. Imagine this light as a vacuum cleaner sucking out any dirt or negativity. When your aura looks bright and clean open your eyes. With your freshly cleaned aura you will feel like a million dollars. Clean your aura regularly to maintain good health and positive energy.

Take a Shower of Light

Take a Shower of Light: Whenever you need a lift, whether it is to energize yourself or to ‘throw light‘ on a problem, try taking a shower of light. Imagine that you are standing under a shower. See large drops of white light falling over you and enveloping you. Feel the light as it embraces you. See the white light turn into the colours of the rainbow. Feel and absorb the colours. When you are ready, mentally turn off the shower. Put your co-workers in a shower of white light and see the difference in your working day!  CLEAN YOUR AURA - Sit comfortably, close your eyes, steady your breathing and relax.  Be aware of the energy surrounding you: this is your aura. Imagine a halo of light around your entire body; visualize an unbroken line of light encircling you. Now send a white beam of cleansing light around the contour of your aura. Imagine this light as a vacuum cleaner sucking out any dirt or negativity. When your aura looks bright and clean open your eyes. With your freshly cleaned aura you will feel like a million dollars. Clean your aura regularly to maintain good health and positive energy.

Pebbles of Wisdom

Pebbles of Wisdom: Here are some of the quotes and insights by Sadhguru, a profound modern mystic.

Use Your Time Positively

Use Your Time Positively: Are you able to managing your time efficiently and are able to do things you love to do?  List the way your time is used in different activities throughout the week. — "Now list those activities that give you the most fulfilment.  And compare the lists. What are the differences between the two? How could you manage your time to allow for more personal satisfaction?  Learn to make the very best use of your time; it is your most valuable resource.  You should have the positive mindset while planning your time allocation. Replace Should with Could. Write down all the things that you think that you should do: I should..........................................Now, take each ‘I should‘ from your list, read it out loud and then ask yourself, 'Why should I?‘  Rewrite your list, replacing ‘should‘ with 'could' and start each statement with, 'lf l really wanted to‘.  Rewrite your list in this way and you might find that there are some things that YOU don't even want to change!  Don't be a 'should‘ victim, trapped by guilt. Allow yourself the possibility of 'could' and you will become free to allow positive changes into your life.

Plant a Tree

Plant a Tree: According to ancient Eastern thinking, to live a fulfilling life, you must do three things: have a son, write a book and plant a tree. By doing so, the thinking goes, you will  have three legacies that will live on long after you die.  While there are clearly many more elements of a happy and complete life (I would add the joy of having a daughter to the list), the idea of planting a tree is an excellent one. Watching a tree grow from a sapling into a tall oak will keep you connected with the daily passage of time and the cycles of nature. Just as the tree grows and matures, so too will you be able to mark your personal passages and growth as a human being.  If you have children, you might also wish to plant a tree in honor of each of them. As they grow, you can carve notches on the trunk to mark their different ages. Each tree then becomes a living record of a different life stage. Planting a tree for each child in your family is a wonderful and creative act of love and one that your kids will remember for many years to come.

Re-frame Your Situation

Re-frame Your Situation: This might be hard to believe, but nothing is actually stressful in itself. Stress lies in the eye of the beholder. In other words, if you see a person, situation or event as threatening you will register stress. Think of a personal situation which is a problem for you right now.  Visualize the problem in glorious technicolor. Now, drain all the colour out of the picture. Shrink the picture until it disappears.  Replace it with a bright, new, positive image in which all your problems have  been resolved. Re-frame your negative pictures to take the stress out of your life.  Just stop thinking about the problem anymore and instead, only think about the solutions. Visualise that your problem has been resolved resulting in that much awaited relief. Remember that worlds biggest successes have been the result of the biggest difficulties.

Remember... Be Here Now

Remember... Be Here Now: If you get so organized and together that you are busy living in the future or you are rushing to keep track of time, then you are missing the true pleasure of the moment.  Whenever you feel that your life is running out of control, stop and say to yourself: ‘Remember, be here now‘!  The power is always in the moment. Stop reading and recognize the moment, feel now.  'later' never actually exists because we are never really conscious in the Present moment and 'later' always lies in the future.  Appreciate this precious moment of your life.  This reminds me of Jason Mraz's song: 'Living In The Moment'This life is one actWhy do we lay all these trapsWe put them right in our pathWhen we just wanna be free...

Forgive Your Parents

Forgive Your Parents: Number of times I've heard people say "If my parents had taught me this, I would've been very successful." Or "If my parents were good looking, I would've been good looking too." Remember, your parents did the best they could. We can only teach and pass on what we already know or have and that's what they did. You may have recognized some of your own negative behaviours, thoughts and feelings in your parents. You cannot let go of negativity and replace it with positivity if you are still blaming your parents. Since you're now aware of your negativity, why don't you fix it? Maybe your parents were not aware of this. Let go of whatever you think your parents 'did' to you. I repeat, your parents did the best they could. Start to forgive your parents and you will start to feel like a new person. Remember, your parents had parents too!

Believe That You Deserve The Best

Believe That You Deserve The Best: If you don‘t believe that you deserve the best then you will not allow good things into your life. Do you think that you deserve to fulfill your dreams? Do you deserve the best that life has to offer? Do you believe that you don‘t deserve very much or, in fact, that you deserve nothing at all?  Closely examine your beliefs about what you think you deserve. Repeat this affirmation over and over: I deserve the best in life. Say it in the car, sing it under the shower. Believe that you deserve the best and you will get it! Period!

Expect a Miracle

Expect a Miracle: Miracles are love in action. lf you don't believe in them they will never happen to you. We can attract miracles into our lives but only when we truly believe they are possible.  Forget about not really allowing yourself to believe in case you are disappointed. Fear of disappointment will stand in your way forever! Expect a miracle for a week. Wholeheartedly believe that one will happen and keep trusting. The miracle might not be the one you were expecting but I can assure you that something  amazing will happen.  Belief is the most powerful magic of all.

Accept a Compliment

Accept a Compliment: How do you react when someone says 'You are looking beautiful or handsome'? Or 'You're looking slim'? Do you reply like 'No no, it's not like that'. If yes, then think why do we find it so hard to accept a compliment gracefully?  How do you actually feel when someone pays you a compliment? Perhaps you don't believe them. Do you make throwaway comments that spoil the effect of the compliment?  How do you feel if you compliment someone and they don't accept it? Would you bother to do it again? Learn to accept a compliment. The next time someone says something nice about you just say ‘thank you‘. It might be difficult but keep on trying. Accept a compliment and you will feel wonderful and so will the person giving  it.

Don’t Worry About Things You Can’t Change

Don’t Worry About Things You Can’t Change: Time and again, when I face a challenge in my own life, I return to The Serenity Prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr: “God, give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.” One gentleman who went through an exercise found that 56 percent of his worries related to things that would likely never happen; 26 percent were about past actions that could not be changed; 8 percent related to the opinions of people whose opinions really did not matter to him; 4 percent concerned personal health issues that he had since resolved: and only 6 percent concerned real issues worthy of his attention. By identifying and then letting go of the worries he could do nothing about or that were a complete waste of his energy, this man eliminated 94 percent of the problems that had plagued him.

Give Your Back a Rest

Give Your Back a Rest: Performing back exercises will strengthen your back and it will also help you to support your body and carry it more efficiently. A stronger back may promote better posture and prevent back pain. There are many varieties of exercises you can do to work out your back without weights. Many exercises that target the back muscles can be performed at home using few or no items.Try these exercises:  * Lie down on your back, upper arms resting on the floor and hands resting on your abdomen.  * Support your head with a small cushion so that your head is in line with the rest of your body.  * Pull up your legs, knees pointing to the ceiling. Keep your knees apart and your feet flat on the floor. Feel how this brings your lower back closer to the floor. Rest like this for just a few minutes every day and feel the difference in your  energy levels. God bless!

Praise a Child

Praise a Child: When we recognize children in a positive way we are helping them to develop good, positive emotional and behavior patterns: we are developing their self-esteem.  Using praise is one of the most powerful ways of allowing a child to feel good about him/herself. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you encourage a child to  feel good about him/herself - everyone gets a warm glow!  If you haven't got a child go out and find one to appreciate! Praise a niece, a nephew, a next door neighbour - they will feel great and so will you.

Stop Sleeping So Much

Stop Sleeping So Much: There's one truth: Most people sleep more than they need to. They fall into the trap of spending some of the best hours of their lives on a mattress. They squander their potentially breathtaking gifts. They lose the battle of the bed. They trade their greatness for a snooze button. Here’s an insight I invite you to consider: Sleep begets sleep. The more sleep you take, the more you need. Ever noticed that as you sleep more, you feel sleepier? Strange, isn’t it. But it’s true. Yes, I get that sleep is essential to keep us radiant, renewed and healthy. My fear is too much sleep. The kind that keeps great people ordinary. The kind that minimizes high-potential lives. The kind that sucks the living out of human beings destined to stand for excellence (and you know who you are). Happens to a lot of us. Because we fall in love with a pillow. We have too many important things to do and too many great places to explore and too many Big Hairy Audacious Goals (thanks, Jim Collins) to get, for us to sleep too much. Life is for the living. I repeat that: Life is for the Living. You and I have been given a gift today: to have the opportunity to make a difference and exercise our talents and have a phenomenally fun time doing it. And we need to seize (and respect) that gift. So sleep less. Live more. And as Benjamin Franklin observed, “There will be plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.” l’ve always liked that guy.

Personal Mastery

Personal Mastery: Two beautiful words: personal mastery. They have an inspirational vibe to them. They offer hope. They challenge. They provoke. They affirm—and remind us of our highest possibilities.  To be given the gift of life is to be given an awesome responsibility. Each of us must go out into the world each day and live our best. Yes, life doesn’t always seem fair. We’ll encounter difficult customers and low—performing suppliers and angry commuters. We’ll face hard and confusing times. We sometimes feel alone, or like giving up on standing for our highest and best. That’s just life happening. But, at the same time, life offers you daily opportunities to shine. To polish your gifts. To release your chains. To achieve personal mastery. Make a commitment today that will alter the course of your life. Forever. Dedicate yourself to personal mastery. Think about your thinking. Detect your authentic values and what you aim to stand for. (How can you be who you are if you don’t know who you are?) Get to know your fears. Reflect on your personal genius and human potential. Learn to let go of the emotional baggage from you past. Refuse to tolerate negativity.(Kahlil Gibran once wrote that “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother”; every one of us has so many more choices than we can currently see, and as we dare, doors we didn’t even know existed begin to open up.) Read more. Learn more. Get fit-no, get ultra fit (sad that-too often-good health only matters to those who have lost it). Become remarkable at what you do for Work. Become so good at your craft that your organization carmot run without you. Become the friendliest person you know. Work on compassion and understanding. Be nice. Be good.

Do Your Best And Let Life Do The Rest

Do Your Best And Let Life Do The Rest: No one gets to top class in their work or within their personal lives without a relentless devotion to not giving up. All acts of heroism were accomplished by human beings who refused to lose. They just wouldn’t let go—no matter how bad or impossible or impractical things looked. But having said that, life often sends us curve balls and has other plans for us. (Comedian Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer at age 42, put it so very well: “Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the most of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.”) We long for something to happen and some dream to get done. But no matter how hard we try, the clouds never part. We never get the break. Luck never smiles on us. We continue to toil in darkness, fueled purely by faith. That’s fine—if deep within you, your fire burns brightly and every fiber within you tells you to carry on (self-faith is a hallmark of greatness). But sometimes, you get to a point where you just know it’s time to change strategy. It’s not about losing hope. You just know. It’s about trusting life. Trusting that there’s an even better thing waiting for you. And that it’s time to course-correct. For the past few years, I’ve tried to live by the pretty simple philosophy: Do your best and let life do the rest. It’s not easy to let go of what you want (I know how painful that can be). But why wouldn’t you, if some- thing even better is waiting just around the corner?

Ask to Get

Ask to Get: You’ll never know if you don’t even try. There is enormous power in asking for what you want. All too often, our internal chatter prevents us from taking the steps needed to get us to our own unique form of greatness. We are kept small from our inner imaginings—so many of which are lies. The most brilliant of the best, those who live glorious lives that matter, ask like crazy. They understand that it’s a habit that must be polished for it to shine. And the more you do it, the easier it gets (like any skill). So they ask. For the support and help they need at work. For the understanding they may seek at home. For a Win they need for their business. For a better table at their favorite restaurant. For a better seat at a sold-out concert. And because they ask more, they get more (success always has been a numbers game). Nothing happens until you ask. People are not mind readers. They need to know what’s meaningful to you. And if you ask nicely, they just might say yes.

A Day of Listening

A Day of Listening: Listening is, in so many ways, the social equity of the world-class cultures that evolve into world-class organizations. Listening makes people feel special (and talent leaves organizations mainly because they didn’t feel special). Listening shows respect. Listening allows you to gather the data that will improve everything you do. I guess what I’m suggesting to you is that brilliant performers are brilliant listeners.  Today, just for a day, make the decision to listen (versus just hear). Don’t interrupt. Don’t rehearse your answer while the other person is speaking. And don’t dare check your e-mail or search for text messages while another human being is sharing their words. Just listen. Deeply. Be there for that person. Because everyone has a voice. And each of us craves to have ours recognized. Watch the great things that unfold once you do.

Ask to Get

Ask to Get: You’ll never know if you don’t even try. There is enormous power in asking for what you want. All too often, our internal chatter prevents us from taking the steps needed to get us to our own unique form of greatness. We are kept small from our inner imaginings—so many of which are lies. The most brilliant of the best, those who live glorious lives that matter, ask like crazy. They understand that it’s a habit that must be polished for it to shine. And the more you do it, the easier it gets (like any skill). So they ask. For the support and help they need at work. For the understanding they may seek at home. For a Win they need for their business. For a better table at their favorite restaurant. For a better seat at a sold-out concert. And because they ask more, they get more (success always has been a numbers game). Nothing happens until you ask. People are not mind readers. They need to know what’s meaningful to you. And if you ask nicely, they just might say yes.

Akeli Ladki Mauka nahi, Zimmedari Hai!

A Day of Listening

A Day of Listening: Listening is, in so many ways, the social equity of the world-class cultures that evolve into world-class organizations. Listening makes people feel special (and talent leaves organizations mainly because they didn’t feel special). Listening shows respect. Listening allows you to gather the data that will improve everything you do. I guess what I’m suggesting to you is that brilliant performers are brilliant listeners.  Today, just for a day, make the decision to listen (versus just hear). Don’t interrupt. Don’t rehearse your answer while the other person is speaking. And don’t dare check your e-mail or search for text messages while another human being is sharing their words. Just listen. Deeply. Be there for that person. Because everyone has a voice. And each of us craves to have ours recognized. Watch the great things that unfold once you do.

Don’t Pick Up the Phone Every Time It Rings

Don’t Pick Up the Phone Every Time It Rings: The telephone is there for your convenience, not for the convenience of your callers. Yet, as soon as we hear the phone ring, we act as if we are firefighters rushing to a five-alarm fire. We run to pick it up as if our lives depended on the call being answered at once. I have seen people interrupt quiet family dinners, dedicated reading times and meditation periods to answer those seemingly urgent phone calls, many of which turn out to be ones that could have been taken later. Voice mail, though not perfect, is in many ways one of the great blessings of the modern age. It frees you up to do the things you want by allowing you to answer calls when it suits you. You no longer need be interrupted by the ringing phone and can spend your time on life’s more important pursuits. The habit of picking up the phone every time it rings is a hard one to break, as I know from personal experience. It is so easy to run to it, simply because we want to know who is calling us.Often, picking up the ringing phone is just another way to put off doing something you don’t really want to do. But once you get good at letting it ring and staying focused on the activity at hand, whether it is reading a good book, having a heart-to-heart conversation with your life partner or frolicking with your kids, you will wonder what the hurry to pick up the phone was all about in the first place.

Don’t Finish Every Book You Start

Don’t Finish Every Book You Start: It is so easy to feel compelled to finish every book you start. A great sense of guilt fills our minds if we do not reach the end of that book we used our hard—earned money to buy. But not every book deserves to be read in its entirety. As Francis Bacon said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few books to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.” I myself was guilty of feeling the need to read every book I picked up from beginning to end. I soon found that not only did my reading pile become unmanageable but I began to enjoy the pastime of reading less. Once I decided I would be more selective about which books I actually completed, I not only got through more of them, I found I learned more from each one.  If you find that after reading the first three chapters of a book, you have not gained any worthwhile information or that the book has failed to keep your attention, do  yourself a favor: put the book away and make better use of your time (like reading the next book in your pile).

Practice the Action Habit

Practice the Action Habit: "Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it." Most of us know what we need to do in order to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. The real problem is that we don’t do what we know. I have heard many motivational speakers say, “Knowledge is power.” I disagree. Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is only potential power. It transforms itself into actual power the moment you decisively act on it. The mark of a strong character lies not in doing what is fun to do or what is easy to do. The sign of deep moral authority appears in the individual who consistently does what he ought to be doing rather than what he feels like doing. A person of true character spends his days doing that which is the right thing to do. Rather than watching television for three hours after an exhausting day at work, he has the courage to get up off the couch and read to his kids. Instead of sleeping in on those cold wintry mornings, this individual exercises his natural reserves of self-discipline and gets out of bed for a run. And since action is a habit, the more positive actions you take, the more you will feel like taking. All too often, we spend our days waiting for the ideal path to appear in front of us. We forget that paths are made by walking, not waiting. Dreaming is great. But thinking big thoughts alone will not build a business, pay your bills or make you into the person you know in your heart you can be. In the words of Thomas Carlyle, “The end of man is an action and not a thought, though it were the noblest.” The smallest of actions is always better  than the boldest of intentions.

Talk to Yourself

Talk to Yourself: Once I read a book called 'As a Man Thinketh' by James Allen. The book discussed the enormous power of the human mind to shape our reality and attract great happiness and prosperity into our lives. The work also mentioned the profound influence of the words and language we use on a daily basis to create a more enlightened pathway of thought. Fascinated, I began to read more and more wisdom and self—help literature. And as I did, I discovered the profound impact and importance of the words we use in our daily communications (both with others and with ourselves) on the quality of our lives. This knowledge also caused me to become aware of the personal dialogue that each of us has going on within us every minute of every hour of every day and to vow to improve the content of what I was saying to myself. To achieve this, I began to apply a strategy developed by the ancient sages over five thousand years ago. And, in many ways, it changed my life. The technique is a simple one and involves nothing more than selecting a phrase that you will train your mind to focus on at different times throughout the day until it begins to dominate your awareness and reshape the person you are. If it is inner peace and calm you seek, the phrase, known as a mantra, might be, “I am so grateful that I am a serene and tranquil person.” If it is more confidence that you want, your mantra could be. “I am delighted that I am full of confidence and boundless courage.” If it is material prosperity you are after, your saying might be, “I am so grateful that money and opportunity is flowing into my life.” Repeat your mantras softly under your breath as you walk to work, as you wait in line or as you wash the dishes to fill otherwise unproductive times of your day with a powerful life improvement force. Try to say your personal phrase at least two hundred times a day for at least four weeks. The results will be profound as you take one giant step to finding the peace, prosperity and purpose your life requires. As Hazrat Inayat Khan said, "The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than Jewels."

There Are No Mistakes

There Are No Mistakes: It’s so easy to beat yourself up over mistakes you’ve made. Too many among us live in the past rather than loving the present and building a dazzlingly bright future. Some people stay stuck for years over something they did or a failure they experienced. Sad. A life is a terrible thing to waste. But let me ask you a question: Is there really such a thing as a mistake? First of all, no one tries to fail or mess things up. Every one of us wakes up in the morning, walks out into the world and does the best we can do based on what we know, the skills we have and where we are on life’s journey. But even more importantly, every so-called mistake is actually a rich source of learning. An opportunity to build more awareness and understanding and gain precious experience. Experience that will help us do, feel and be even better. Everything that has happened to you in your life—the good and the diflicult—was necessary to help you become the person you are now. Why make it wrong? So, just maybe, there are no mistakes. Just maybe what we could call failures are actually growth lessons in wolf’s clothing. And just maybe the person who experiences the most wins.

Embrace Fear

Embrace Fear: Here’s a powerful idea that just might revolutionize the way you work and live if you embrace it at a DNA level: Your life will expand or contract in direct relationship to your willingness to walk directly toward the things that you fear. Do your fears and you’ll shine. Run away from them and you shrink from greatness. Reminds me of what Frank Herbert wrote in Dune: ‘'I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over hie and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”  So amazing what happens when you encounter a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable/insecure/scared and yet, instead of heading for the metaphorical exit door, you stay strong and do the thing you know you should do. First, you realize that the fear was mostly a hallucination. And second, you get some kind of unexpected reward for your bravery because on the other side of every fear door lie gorgeous gifts, including personal growth, confidence and wisdom. l’ve seen it time and time again. lt’s a law of life, I guess. So run toward fear. Start small. Slow and steady always wins the race. And watch the success you so dearly deserve begin to show up. When you most need it.

Wear Shiny Shoes

Wear Shiny Shoes: Okay, your shoes don’t need to shine for you to be a superb leader. And please remember, leadership isn’t about your position, its a way of being—Leading Without Title, to be precise. Leadership is about holding yourself to world-class standards, taking personal responsibility (versus playing the victim), being excellent within the sphere of your influence, building beautiful relationships and elevating others by your example. My point with this chapter is simply this: The way you do the little things says a lot about the way you will do the big things. And resigning yourself to mediocrity around your minor pursuits sets you up for mediocrity when it comes to the major ones. If your yard or home is Well organized, I’ll bet your life is well organized. If you are attentive to details like remembering the birthdays of your friends and sending thank—you notes after every meeting, my guess is that you will be attentive to the details around your larger projects and bigger opportunities. And if your place of business is spotless, there’s a great chance the work you do for your customers will reflect the same Commitment to excellence. (I can tell a lot about a business by the cleanliness of their bathrooms; an immaculate bathroom shouts "We care!” and that caring translates into remarkable service.)  So pay attention to the details. Focus on the small stuff (like crazy). Commit to OAD: Obsessive Attention to Detail. World-class people and organizations always do. Because the little things truly are the big ones.

Don't Wait for Change

Don't Wait for Change: You know I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I’ve always maintained that I’m no guru and most definitely a work in progress. Very ordinary. I have my strengths. And my flaws (like every human being). One of my weaknesses is impatience. I just have this aching need to get great things done. Can’t stand slow change. Need to make my impact, and to spend my talents (we all have them). Now.  Like some weaknesses, it’s also a great source of success. I move things forward fast. Just love speed. Only results matter (I’m generalizing, a bit). Makes me think of what Clint Eastwood said in a recent issue of Best Life: “Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.” Exactly.  Sure, work with your team. Yes, collaborate. Of course delegate to others who have strengths where you don’t. But sometimes, when everyone else is waiting for someone else to take the first step, you need to be the one to drive the change. To me, that’s courage in action. To me, that’s using your life well. To me, that’s leadership and for being extraordinary.

Get Up Early

Get Up Early: Getting up early is a gift you give to yourself. Few disciplines have the power to transform your life as does the habit of early rising. There is something very special  about the first few hours of the morning. Time seems to slow down and a deep sense of peace fills the air. Joining the “Five o’Clock Club” will allow you to start controlling your day rather than letting your day control you. Winning the “Battle of the Bed” and putting “mind over mattress” by rising early will provide you with at least one quiet hour for yourself during the most crucial part of your day: the beginning. If spent wisely, the rest of your day will unfold in a wonderful way. I can safely say that this is one success principle that is really worth integrating into your life. In doing so, you will join the ranks of many of the most influential people of our time ranging from Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Edison and Nelson Mandela to Ted Turner and Mary Kay Ash. So while your family (and the world around you) sleeps, you start getting up first at 6 A.M., then at 5:30 A.M. and finally at 5 A.M. Listening carefully to classical music, writing letters, reading the classics and walking were just some of the activities that can be used to rekindle your spirit and reconnect with a part of yourself you think you had lost. To cultivate the habit of getting up earlier, the first thing to remember is that it is the quality rather than the quantity of sleep that matters most. It is better to have six hours of uninterrupted sleep than ten hours of restless, broken sleep. Here are four tips to help you sleep more deeply:  -Don’t rehearse the activities of your day while you are lying in bed trying to get to sleep. -Don’t eat after 8 PM. (If you have to eat something, have soup.) -Don’t watch the news before you go to sleep. -Don’t read in bed.  Give yourself a few weeks for this new habit to take hold. Saying that you tried to get up early but gave up after seven days because it was just too hard is like saying you tried taking French lessons for a week but gave up because you could not speak the language by then. Life change takes time, effort and patience. But the results  you will receive make the initial stress you experience more than worth it.

Wear Shiny Shoes

Wear Shiny Shoes: Okay, your shoes don’t need to shine for you to be a superb leader. And please remember, leadership isn’t about your position, its a way of being—Leading Without Title, to be precise. Leadership is about holding yourself to world-class standards, taking personal responsibility (versus playing the victim), being excellent within the sphere of your influence, building beautiful relationships and elevating others by your example. My point with this chapter is simply this: The way you do the little things says a lot about the way you will do the big things. And resigning yourself to mediocrity around your minor pursuits sets you up for mediocrity when it comes to the major ones. If your yard or home is Well organized, I’ll bet your life is well organized. If you are attentive to details like remembering the birthdays of your friends and sending thank—you notes after every meeting, my guess is that you will be attentive to the details around your larger projects and bigger opportunities. And if your place of business is spotless, there’s a great chance the work you do for your customers will reflect the same Commitment to excellence. (I can tell a lot about a business by the cleanliness of their bathrooms; an immaculate bathroom shouts "We care!” and that caring translates into remarkable service.)  So pay attention to the details. Focus on the small stuff (like crazy). Commit to OAD: Obsessive Attention to Detail. World-class people and organizations always do. Because the little things truly are the big ones.

Create a Love Account

Create a Love Account: Mother Teresa once said, “There are no great acts. There are only small acts done with great love.” What small acts can you do today to deepen the bonds between you and the people you value the most? What random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty can you offer to someone in an effort to make his or her day just a little better? The irony of being more compassionate is that the very act of giving to others makes you feel better as well. To practice being more loving, create a love account. Each day, make a few deposits in this very special reserve by doing something small to add joy to the life of some one around you. Buying your partner fresh cut flowers for no reason at all, sending your best friend a copy of your favorite book or taking the time to tell your children in no uncertain terms how you feel about them are all good places to start. If there is one thing that I have learned in life, it is that the little things are the big things. Those tiny, daily deposits into the love account will give you far more happiness than any amount of money in your bank account. As Emerson said so eloquently, “Without the rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar.” Or as Tolstoy wrote, “The means to gain happiness is to throw out for oneself like a spider in all directions an adhesive web of love, and to catch in all that comes. ”

Become a Volunteer

Become a Volunteer: I find a great deal of wisdom in the ancient persian proverb “I wept because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.” It is so easy to magnify our problems and lose sight of the many blessings we all have to be so very grateful for. Giving the gift of your time by volunteering to serve those who have less than you is an excellent way to remind yourself on a regular basis of the abundance that exists in your life.  Once I was attending a conference, a man came up to me and told me he was one of the top managers of a big media company. One of the reasons for his success, he said, was his habit of spending a few hours a week helping those less fortunate than he was. “Seeing what others don’t have keeps me awake to all the good things I do have. It  prevents me from taking things for granted and, even more importantly, helps me make a difference in the lives of people who really need me.”  French physician Albert Schweitzer observed, "I don't know what your destiny will be but one thing I do know; The only ones among you who will be happy are those  who have sought and found how to serve." And Anne Morrow Lindberg wrote, “One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life." Volunteering affords you the chance to help others and pay back the debt owed to those who have helped you.

Be So Good They Can't Ignore You

Be So Good They Can't Ignore You: Here’s comedian Steve Martin’s advice to young comics: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Love it. Life favours the devoted. The more you give to life, the more life sends back. It’s just not possible for you to be great at what you do, always reaching for your brilliance and standing for excellence, and not win in the end. Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead once said, “You do not merely want to be the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do.” Sometimes discouragement sets in. Happens to all of us. We try hard, stay true to our dreams and pursue our ideals. Yet nothing happens. Or so it seems. But every choice matters. And every step counts. Life runs according to its own agenda, not ours. Be patient. Trust. Be like the stonecutter, steadily chipping away, day after day. Eventually, a single blow will crack the stone and reveal the diamond. An enthusiastic, dedicated person who is ridiculously good at what they do just cannot be denied. Seriously. Steve Martin’s insight speaks to me deeply. “Be so good; they can’t ignore you.” (Management guru Peter Drucker made the point slightly diiferently when he observed: “Get good or get out". ) Apply that philosophy at work. Apply it at home. Apply it in your commumty. Apply it to your world. Having the courage to present your gifts and your highest capacities will yield magnificent rewards. Life is always fair in the end. Trust it.

The Power of Simple

The Power of Simple: I learn so much from my children. Not only are they my heroes, they are two of my best teachers. They have shown me how to live in the moment, helped me to see life as an adventure and taught me how to open my heart. And they’ve taught me so many lessons on The Power of Simple. These days, I’m all about simple. A simple message about everyone being a leader—no matter what they do or who they are. Simple ideas and tools (that actually work) to help people and organizations get to world class. And living a far simpler life (because, at heart, I’m a very simple man). Simple, to me, is so powerful (Google co-founder Sergey Brin made the point superbly when he said that at his company “Success will come from simplicity.”) Which brings me to my son. We went to London a few weeks ago. A shared experience that we’d planned for a long time; it was all about celebrating his graduation. We hung out at the best places in London. Went for dinner at Alain Ducasse at Dorchester, Heston Blue Menthal and went to the Royal Opera House to watch a show (one of life-time experiences). A weekend full of precious pleasures and unforgettable memories. Between a father and his son. Sunday night, on the flight home, I asked my young buddy, “What did you like best about our weekend?” He sat silently. Thought deeply. Then he smiled. “Dad, you know that the hot dog you bought me on the street yesterday? I loved that the most.”  The Power of Simple.  Success will come from simplicity.

Invisible Fences

Invisible Fences: I'm sitting here at the airport in Mumbai. Was just thinking on why so many of us play small in the core areas of our lives. Why we avoid change. Why we don’t innovate and express the creative genius that resides within each one of us. Why we refuse to accept the call on our lives. And why so many of us refrain from being remarkable. The answer I came up with? Invisible Fences. Here’s What I’m talking about: I took a drive out into the countryside last week. To breathe. To renew. To think. I saw a sign from a dog training company on someone’s lawn. It spoke of an Invisible Fence. It's a system that sets an invisible boundary that the dog can’t get past. The dog eventually becomes conditioned so that even when that fence is gone, it will not run beyond it. The dog sets up imaginary limits that determine its reality. We’re like that too. As we grow up, we adopt negative beliefs and false assumptions and sabotaging fears from the world around us. These become our Invisible Fences. We believe they are real. When we bump up against them at work (and in life), we retreat. We believe the boundary is true. So we shrink from all we are meant to be/ do/ have. The illusion seems so real. But it’s not. Please remember that.  So I invite you to question your Invisible Fences. Be aware of them. Observe them. Challenge them. So that when one confronts you, rather than running away from it, you exercise the force of will and talent of heart to run through it. Toward the poetic possibilities your life is meant to be. Because what you resist will persist. But what you befriend, you will transcend.

Be The Best You

Be The Best You: Warren Buffet once observed, “There will never be a better you than you.” Brilliant insight. From a brilliant guy. There will never be a better me than me. And there will never be a better you than you. Some might try to copy the way you think, speak and act. But no matter how hard they try, they will only be a second-best you. Because you are unique. Only one of you alive today. Among the billions of us. Makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? Makes you realize you are pretty special. No, very special. And that there really isn’t any competition. And so today, what will you do with you as you march out into a world that needs people playing at extraordinary with their lives more than ever before? Will you exert more of your hidden potential? Will you liberate more of your natural creativity? Will you uncover more of your authenticity? And will you be more of the you that you're meant to be? Just wondering. Because there will never be a better time to be the best you than today. And if not now, then when? Makes me think of what the philosopher Herodotus once said: "It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what may happen." So beautifully said.

Care for the Temple

Care for the Temple: A few months ago. I had lunch with a colleague and we discussed the things we did in our lives to stay focused, balanced and at our peak amid the demands of our busy schedules. He made a powerful  point: He said, “many people regularly go to a church or temple to stay grounded and centered. I’m a little different. I go to the gym — that's my temple." He added that no matter how busy he is, at 5:30 P.M. he closes his office and makes the "daily pilgrimage" to his gym to run a few miles on the treadmill. Nothing can stop him from taking this time to ensure his health and happiness. My friends observation made me think of a saying which is "in a sound body rests a sound mind.” It also made me realize that our bodies need to be treated like temples and considered sacred if we hope to live life fully and completely. Regular exercise will not only improve your health. it will help you think more clearly, boost creativity and manage the relentless stress that seems to dominate our days. And research has proven that exercise will not only add life to your years, it could add years to your life. One study of 18,000 Harvard alumni found that every hour spent on exercise added three hours to the participants lives. Few investments will yield a better return than time spent on physical fitness. And remember: ‘Those who don’t make time for exercise must eventually make time for illness.’  In your life, set the goal of swimming five times a week. There is something special about the renewing power of swimming that I cannot begin to describe. Every workout in the swimming pool brings the same results: You will feel energised, serene, balanced and happy. And my exercise sessions also bring me something that I feel is truly priceless: perspective.  The act of caring for my physical temple reminds me that life's greatest pleasures are often life's simplest ones.

See your Day as Your Life

See your Day as Your Life: “The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures sent from a distant, friendly party, but they say nothing, and if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry them as silently away,” observed Emerson. As you live your days. so you will live your life. It is easy to get caught up in the trap of thinking that this day does not matter much given all the days that lie ahead of you. But a great life is nothing more than a series of great, well—lived days strung together like a beautiful necklace of pearls. Every day counts and contributes to the quality of the end result. The past is gone, the future is but a figment, so this day is really all you can own. Invest it wisely. Your life is not a dress rehearsal. Lost opportunities rarely come again. Today, vow to increase your passion for living and multiply the commitment you will bring to each of the days that will follow this one. Many people think that it takes months and years to change your life. Respectfully, I disagree. You change your life the second you make a decision from the depths of your heart to be a better, more dedicated human being. What takes the months and years are the efforts you must apply to maintain that decision. And the best life changing decision you will ever make is the one to live every moment of your days to the fullest. As golf legend Ben Hogan said, “As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.”

Find your Place of Peace

Find your Place of Peace: Everyone needs a sanctuary or a “place they can go to be quiet and still. This special place will serve as your oasis in a world of stress. It will be a spot where you can take refuge from the crush of daily activities that demand your time, energy and attention. Your sanctuary does not need to be fancy. An unused bedroom or a corner of an apartment with some freshly cut flowers on the table will do nicely. Even a wooden bench in your favourite park can serve as your place of peace. When you feel you need some time alone, visit this  sanctuary and do some of those “inner development” activities that are so easy to neglect during the course of a busy day. Write in your diary or listen to a soothing piece of classical music. Close your eyes and visualize your ideal day. Read deeply from that book your mother always told you to read or from a book of wisdom. Or simply do nothing for thirty minutes and let the renewing power of solitude take hold. Carving out a little time for yourself is not a selfish act. Replenishing your inner reserves allows you to give more, do more and be more for others. Making the time  to care for your mind and spirit will keep you balanced, enthusiastic and youthful. And as L. F. Phelan once said, “Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. People grow old only by deserting their ideals and by outgrowing the consciousness of youth. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.... You are as old as your doubt, your fear, your despair. The way to keep young is to keep your faith young. Keep your self-confidence young. Keep your hope young."

Imagine a Richer Life

Imagine a Richer Life: A very famous writer once wrote, ‘‘In the midst of winter. I found there was within me an invincible summer." We really don’t discover how powerful and resilient we are until we face some adversity that fills our minds with stress and our hearts with pain. Then we realize that we all have within us the courage and the capacity to handle even the greatest curves life may throw our way. Many of the men and women reveal the challenges they face in their lives. Some speak of difficulties they have motivating their employees in these uncertain times. Others speak of inner longings and the need to find a greater sense of meaning and fulfillment through their work. And still others are seeking advice on how to restore balance within their personal lives. The solution always begins with the same lesson: to improve your life, you must first improve your thinking. Or as the old saying goes, “We see the world, not as it is but as we are.” Our greatest human endowment is the ability to reframe and reinterpret a difficult circumstance in a more enlightened and empowering way. Dogs cannot do this. Cats cannot do this. Monkeys cannot do this. This gift belongs only to us and is part of what makes us human. Blaming our circumstances for the way we feel is nothing more than excusing ourselves. In handling any problem. we must have the courage to assume a measure of responsibility for whatever situation we are in and then realize that we also have the capacity to use the setback to our advantage. Life’s greatest setbacks always reveal life's biggest blessings.

Understanding the Meaning of Colours

Understanding the Meaning of Colours: The meaning of colours can vary depending on culture and circumstances. Each colour has many aspects to it but you can easily learn the language of colour by understanding a few simple concepts which I will share with you here.Non-verbal CommunicationColour is a form of non verbal communication. It is not a static energy and its meaning can change from one day to the next with any individual - it all depends on what energy they are expressing at that point in time. For example, a person may choose to wear red on a particular day and this may indicate that this is their favorite (personality) colour, or they  are ready to take action, or they may be passionate about what they are going to be doing that day, or again it may mean that they are feeling angry that day, on either a conscious or subconscious level. All are traits of the color red.The Meaning of ColoursRed is the colour of energy, passion, action, ambition and determination. It is also the colour of anger and sexual passion.Orange is the colour of social communication and optimism. From a negative colour meaning it is also a sign of pessimism and superficiality.With the meaning of colors, in colour psychology, Yellow is the colour of the mind and the intellect. It is optimistic and cheerful. However it can also suggest impatience, criticism and cowardice.Green is the colour of balance and growth. It can mean both self-reliance as a positive and possessiveness as a negative, among many other meanings.Blue is the colour of trust and peace. It can suggest loyalty and integrity as well as conservatism and frigidity.  Indigo is the colour of intuition. In the meaning of colours it can mean idealism and structure as well as ritualistic and addictive.                       Purple is the colour of the imagination. It can be creative and individual or immature and impractical.        The colour meaning of Turquoise is communication and clarity of mind. It can also be impractical and idealistic. The colour psychology of Pink is unconditional love and nurturing. Pink can also be immature, silly and girlish. Magenta is a colour of universal harmony and emotional balance. It is spiritual yet practical, encouraging common sense and a balanced outlook on life. May your life always be filled with the power of each colour and abundant happiness! God bless you!

Do New Things

Do New Things: Human beings crave control—that’s just the way we are. It’s a survival mechanism that goes right back to the days when we lived in caves. We need certainty, and anything less makes us uncomfortable. But leadership is all about getting good at being uncomfortable. It’s about running toward, not away from, the things that intimidate and frighten you. And leadership is about trying new things. It’s so easy to eat the same food each day. But if you don’t try new foods, you just might miss out on the opportunity to discover your new favourite meal. It’s easy to associate with the same people and have the same conversations each day. But if you don’t expand your community, you just might miss out on meeting your new best friend. It’s so easy to do the same things at work each day—to get stuck in a rut. And if you don’t stretch, you'll miss an achievement that could flood you with a sense of confidence and fulfilment that will be the start of a whole new world of work.  I invite you to use each day as a platform for filling your life with more adventure, passion and energy by injecting into it more new things. Listen to Jazz if you usually listen to Rock music. Eat Asian food if you usually eat Continental food. Read Time magazine if you subscribe to Fortune. It’s a big, interesting world out there. And it’s yours for the taking.

Create a Daily Code of Conduct

Create a Daily Code of Conduct: It is easy to live your life like a leaf in the fall wind, moving in whatever direction the wind blows that day. To create a great life, you must live more intentionally, deliberately and passionately so that you live on your own terms rather than on someone else’s. The real challenge is that with so much to do, it is easy to allow life to act on you and watch the days quickly slip into weeks, then into months and finally into years. But I have a solution. In my own life I have created what I call my Daily Code of Conduct. It is simply three paragraphs containing the values, virtues and vows I have determined through much reflection that I need to live by in order for my life to be a fulfilling one. For example, part of the first paragraph states, “Over the next twenty-four hours I vow to appreciate this day, as it is all I really have, and to use every minute wisely and fully. So much can be done over the next twenty-four hours to advance my life's agenda and complete my legacy. I will, throughout this day, remember that this day could be my last and try to do everything good."My code  then outlines my dearest values and vows as they relate to  my family, my community and myself. Reading my Daily Code of Conduct at the very beginning of the day, reminds me of the things that matter most in my life and reconnects me to my highest priorities, priorities that are so easily forgotten in the blur of daily events. After reading my code, I feel energized, committed and ready to go out into the world with a renewed sense of purpose and focus. Creating your own Daily Code of Conduct will do the same for you.

Be More than your Moods

Be More than your Moods: For much of my life, I believed my thoughts were beyond my control. They just entered my mind automatically and did whatever they wished to do. Even worse, I believed that 'I' was my thoughts. Thankfully, I discovered that nothing could be further from the truth. We are not our thoughts. Instead, we are the thinkers of our thoughts. We are the creators of the thoughts that flow through our minds and, given this fact, we can change our thoughts if we choose to do so. This seemingly obvious insight was an epiphany for me. I soon became far more aware of the thoughts I allowed into my mind and the inner dialogue that takes place within every one of us every waking hour of every living day. I began to pay complete attention to the quality of my thoughts. This awareness was the first step to changing them. Over a matter of months, I trained my mind to focus only on positive, inspiring and enlightening thoughts. And in doing so, I saw the outer circumstances of my life change. Just as you are not your thoughts, you are not your moods. You are the creator of the moods you experience, moods that you can change in a single instant. If you choose to do so, you can feel peace in a moment of stress, joy in a time of sadness and energy during a time of fatigue.

Stop Complaining and Start Living

Stop Complaining and Start Living: Stop complaining about having no time for yourself and get up an hour earlier. You have the option, why not exercise it? Stop complaining about not being able to exercise given all that is on your plate these days. If you sleep seven hours a night and work eight hours every day, you still have more than sixty—three hours of free time every week to do all the things you want to do. This amounts to 252 hours every month and 3,024 hours every single year to spend on life’s pursuits. There has never been a more exciting time to be alive in the history of the world and you have the choice to seize the boundless possibilities that every day presents. If you are not as fulfilled or as happy or as prosperous or as peaceful as you know you could be, stop blaming your parents or the economy or your boss and take full responsibility for your circumstances. This will be the first step to a completely new way of looking at your life and the starting point of a better way to live. As George Bernard Shaw said. "The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them.”  Make wiser choices about the thoughts you will allow to enter your mind as well as the attitude you will bring to your days and the way you will spend the hours of your time. Stop complaining and start living. In the words of  the poet Rudyard Kipling, “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, yours is the earth and everything that's in it."

Serve others selflessly

Serve others selflessly: It is said, “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed." And the ancient Chinese believed that "a little fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses." One of the greatest lessons for a highly fulfilling life is to rise from a life spent chasing success to one dedicated to finding significance. And the best way to create significance is to ask yourself one simple question, “How  may I serve?" All great leaders, thinkers and humanitarians have abandoned selfish lives for selfless lives and, in doing so, found all the happiness, abundance and satisfaction they desired. They have all understood that all-important truth of humanity: you cannot pursue success; success ensues. It flows as the unintended but inevitable by-product of a life spent serving people and adding value to the world. Mahatma Gandhi understood the service ethic better than most. In one memorable story from his life, he was traveling across India by train. As he left the coach he had been riding in, one of his shoes fell to a place on the tracks well beyond his reach. Rather than worrying about getting it back, he did something that startled his traveling companions: he removed his other shoe and threw it to where the first one rested. When asked why he did this, Gandhi smiled and replied: “Now the poor soul who finds the first one will have a pair that he can wear.”

Make a Vow of Silence

Make a Vow of Silence: The Buddhist monks have a favorite strategy to build willpower —one that has been used by many cultures over the years to create enormous amounts of inner strength and resolve. It is the vow of silence. Staying quiet for even short periods of time builds willpower and  self-control because you exert force on your will by not  giving in to the impulse to talk. So many people talk far more than they have to. Rather than speaking precisely and communicating only what needs to be said, all too often we go on and on. This in itself reveals a lack of discipline. Discipline involves saying exactly what needs to be said and preserving your precious mental energy by not talking more than you have to. Measured, precise speech is also a sign of clear thought and of a serene mind.  A strategy that you can apply today to improve your personal discipline is to keep a vow of silence for one hour a day over the next seven days. Don't speak at all during this silent time. Or if you must, speak only in direct response to a question and offer a clear, crisp answer rather than rattling on about everything from : what was on TV last night to where you hope to vacation this summer. The vow of silence can be adopted politely and warmly. The idea is to make you stronger and to enhance your will, not to hinder your relationships. Within a matter of days, you will feel a sense of mastery and strength growing within you. Judge by the results: they will speak for themselves.

Keep strong Perspective towards Life

Keep strong Perspective towards Life: One day, according to an old story, a man with a serious illness was wheeled into a hospital room where another patient was resting on a bed next to the window. As the two became friends, the one next to the window would look out of it and then spend the next few hours delighting his bedridden companion with vivid descriptions of the world outside. Some days he would describe the beauty of the trees in the park across from the hospital and how the leaves danced in the wind. On other days, he would entertain his friend with step—by—step replays of the things people were doing as they walked by the hospital. However, as time went on, the bedridden man grew frustrated at his inability to observe the wonders his friend described. Eventually he grew to dislike him and then to hate him intensely. One night, during a particularly bad coughing fit, the patient next to the window stopped breathing. Rather than pressing the button for help, the other man chose to do nothing. The next morning the patient who had given his friend so much happiness by recounting the sights outside the window was pronounced dead and wheeled out of the hospital room. The other man quickly asked that his bed be placed next to the window, a request that was complied with by the attending nurse. But as he looked out the window, he discovered something that made him shake: the window faced a stark brick wall. His former roommate had conjured up the incredible sights that he described in his imagination as a loving gesture to make the world of his friend a little bit better during a difficult time. He had acted out of selfless love. This story never fails to create a shift in my own perspective when I think about it. To live happier, more fulfilling ljves, when we encounter a difficult circum- stance, we must keep shifting our perspective and continually ask ourselves, "Is there a wiser, more enlightened way of looking at this seemingly negative situation?" Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest physicists ever, is reported to have said that we live on a minor planet of a very average star located within the outer limits of one of a hundred thousand million galaxies. How's that for a shift in perspective? Given this information, are your troubles really that big? Are the problems you have experienced or the challenges you might currently be facing really as serious as you have made them out to be?  We walk this planet for such a short time. In the over- all scheme of things, our lives are mere blips on the canvas of eternity. So have the wisdom to enjoy the journey and savor the process.

Be liked by the People

Be liked by the People: One of the deepest of all the human hungers is the need to be understood, cherished and honoured. Yet. in the fast paced days we live in, too many people believe that listening involves nothing more than waiting for the other person to stop talking. And to make matters worse. while that person is speaking, we are all too often using that time to formulate our own response, rather than empathizing with the point being made. Taking the time to truly understand anothers point of view shows that you value what he has to say and care about him as a person. When you start “getting behind the eyeballs” of the person who is speaking and to see the world from his perspective, you will connect with him deeply and build high-trust relationships that last.  We have two ears and one mouth for a reason: to listen twice as much as we speak. And having the courtesy to be a better listener has another advantage: since you are not doing all the talking, you are doing all the learning, gaining access to information you would have missed had you been engaged in the usual monologue.Here are a few practical tips to become better at the art of listening:  1) If you are speaking and the person you are having a conversation with has not said something within the past sixty seconds, there is a good chance you have lost him and it’s time to stop talking so much. 2) Resist the temptation to interrupt. Catch yourself just before you do so and pay more attention to the content of what the other person is saying to you. 3) If appropriate (i.e., in a business setting), take notes. Few things more readily show the other person in a conversation that you genuinely wish to learn from what he has to say than pulling out a notepad and making notes while he speaks.  4) After the other person makes his points, rather than immediately responding with your opinion, reflect on what you have just heard. Saying something such as, "Just to make sure I understand you, are you saying ...?" and doing so with complete sincerity will bring you much closer to the people you interact with every day of your life.