Give to Get

Give to Get: Walking down the street today I heard a man repeating this mantra to all those who passed by him: “Have you helped someone  today besides yourself?” He was trying to raise money. For his Cause. But it got me thinking about giving. You need to give to get. Giving does begin the receiving process. Give support to get it. Give praise to receive it. Give your best to attract it. Give more respect to experience it. And give more love to become beloved. (Powerful thought: If you make five people feel better about themselves each day, by the end of one year you will single handedly have elevated the lives of nearly 2,000 people. Continue this practice and—after a decade—you’ll have positively impacted 20,000 people. Factor in the number of people that those you touch, in turn, influence and you’ll quickly realize that your “little daily gestures of inspiration” can end up helping hundreds of thousands of human beings over the course of your lifetime.)  Give to get. And so staggeringly simple. All about helping others reach world class. So many people need all that knowledge and experience what you possess. Just share with them. And they’ll joyfully help you get to your cherished ideals.  You need to give to get.

The Seven forms of Wealth

The Seven forms of Wealth: In my mind, wealth isn’t just about making money. There are actually seven elements that you want to raise to world-class levels before you call yourself rich. I’ll identify them:  Inner wealth: This includes a positive mindset, high self respect, internal peace and a strong spiritual connection.  Physical Wealth: Your health is your wealth. What is the point of getting to a great place in your career you get sick doing it? Why be the best business person in the hospital ward?  Why be the richest person in the graveyard?  Family and social wealth: When your family life is happy you will perform better at work. No one gets to the end of their life and regrets making their family their first priority. Career wealth: Actualising your highest potential by reaching for your best in your career is incredibly important. Getting to greatness in your profession brings a feeling of satisfaction on a job well done. It helps you make your mark and earns you self-respect.  Economic wealth: Yes, money is very important. It absolutely makes life easier and better. Money allows you to live in a nice home, take beautiful vacations and provide well for those you love. "The more you make, the more you can give away"Adventure wealth: To be fulfilled, each of us needs mystery in our lives. Challenge is necessary for happiness. The human brain craves for novelty. And we are creative beings so we need to be creating constantly if we hope to feel joy. Lots of adventure (ranging from  meeting new people to visiting new places) is an essential element of authentic wealth. Impact wealth: Perhaps the deepest longing of the human heart is to live for something greater than itself. Each of us craves to be significant. To make a difference. To know that the world has somehow been better because we have walked the planet. I invite you to focus on each of these seven elements if you want to experience real wealth. Money alone does not define being wealthy. There are many rich people who are unhappy and unsuccessful as human beings. By focusing on elevating all seven of these areas to world-class levels, you will not only shine ever so brightly for those around you- you will also find contentment that lasts.(Excerpts from a Robin Sharma book)

22 Ways to become #Spectacularly #Inspirational

22 Ways to become Spectacularly Inspirational: I couldn't resist sharing with you Life Coach Robin Sharma's 22 ways to miraculously change your life  1. Do important work vs. merely offering opinions.2. Lift people up vs. tear others down.3. Use the words of leadership vs. the language of victimhood.4. Don’t worry about getting the credit for getting things done.5. Become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.6. Take your health to a level called superfit.7. Commit to mastery of your craft instead of accepting mediocrity in your work.8. Associate with people whose lives you want to be living.9. Study for an hour a day. Double your learning and you’ll triple your success.10. Run your own race. “No one can possibly achieve real and lasting success by being a conformist,” wrote billionaire J. Paul Getty11. Do something small yet scary every single day.12. Lead Without a Title.13. Focus on people’s strengths vs. obsessing around their weaknesses.14. Remember that potential unused turns into pain. So dedicate yourself to expressing your best.15. Smile more.16. Listen more.17. Read the autobiography of Nelson Mandela.18. Reflect on the words of Eleanor Roosevelt who said: “Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.”19. Persist longer than the critics suggest you should.20. Say “please” and “thank you”.21. Love your loved ones.22. Do work that matters.

Get Excited or get Upset

Get Excited or get Upset: The most important of all of our human traits is the power we have to choose. To choose how we live. To choose what we will do. To choose how we will view and consider a circumstance.  I was once up there in the mountains on a quick trekking trip with my kids. Day before, it rained and continued through the next day. We could have grumbled because our plan was gone for a toss. We could have complained. We could have got frustrated. Instead, we stepped back, decided to make a better choice and then viewed the whole  thing as a giant adventure. We got excited versus upset. We donned  the plastic covers that the resort provided. Suited up. And danced in the rain like there was no tomorrow. Guess What? The trekking trip actually became amazing. Nice weather. Feeling the rain water falling on you is a great fun. And you know what? It was totally unplanned. It was hard to for me to wipe the smile off my face. Each day we have the opportunity to make choices. And the way we choose shapes our  destiny. Get excited. As author Paul Theroux  once observed, “Only a fool blames his bad vacation on the rain.” It is rightly said: whenever there is a storm...don't get upset...rather learn to dance in the rain.

Relationships

Relationships: Since time began, we have been told by the wise that giving is much more beneficial than receiving. There have probably been many occasions on which you had a good reason to question that advice, but even in those moments, your higher self would probably have agreed with the concept.l came across something that suggests there is something you can give every day ... something that would provide you with great compensation. It costs nothing but creates much. lt enriches those who receive. It happens in a flash, and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich that they can get along without it, and none are so poor who can't give this. It creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in a business, and is the countersign of friends.Your gift will provide rest for the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it is given away!This is a bit of a riddle, isn’t it? What on earth could provide so much for so little?  A SMILE. That’s right, a smile!  Make up your mind to give a big one to every person you come in contact with today. A smile . . . from ear to ear. And pay particular attention to the reaction you get from every person you give one to. A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never last; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. (Excerpts from a Bob Proctor book)

26th January

26th January: What does 26th January mean to us? A holiday...if it comes close to a weekend then probably a long weekend holiday? No, its much more than that.India got freedom from the British Rule on 15th August 1947. As a sovereign country, our democracy needed a Constitution (A constitution  is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed).Let us understand the meaning of 'Republic': It means "A sovereign state or country which is organised with a form of government in which power resides in elected individuals representing the citizen body and government leaders exercise power according to the rule of law." That's why India is called 'Republic of India'Preamble (an introduction) to the Constitution of IndiaThese are the opening words of the preamble of the Indian Constitution:“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:JUSTICE, social, economic and political;LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them allFRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION"  The Constitution was passed on 26 November 1949 in the Constituent Assembly. It was adopted on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, when the country became a republic in true sense. 26 January was selected, because it was this day in 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence was passed.(Source: Wikipedia)But how many of us truly beleive in this? How many of us understand our Rights and Duties toward each other?Do we truly get justice, liberty, equality and fraternity? We need to think about it seriuosly and start raising our voice against injustice, denial, inequality and intolerence. We need to do whatever each one of us can do... even though a little would make a lot of difference. Elected government is the representative of people... of you. If they don't give you your Fundamental Rights, fight for them because your constitution has given you those Rights... your own constitution. Start thinking about Republic Day beyond it being a mere holiday!

What happened to “Please”?

What happened to “Please”?: I was just in Starbucks getting a coffee and the woman next to me collects her coffee from the counter and then says: “Can I have a tray?” She didn’t say it rudely—she just wasn’t polite. That got me thinking... Whatever happened to “please”?  To me, “please” means “I respect you.” “Thank you” means “I appreciate you.” Good manners are powerful in showing those around you that you care about them. I love Frankie Byrne’s line that “respect is love in plain clothes.” How often have you bought something at a store or ordered something in a restaurant and just ached to hear some good manners?  Authentic success is not complicated. It comes down to consistently following a series of fundamentals. Those who get to greatness just run the basics—bit by bit, day by day over many months and years. It’s not hard at all. It just takes small acts of daily discipline around a few important things. But when done over time, amazing results appear. The  best among us just do the things most of us already know we should do to live an extraordinary life really well. And they do it consistently. One of the key things they do is say “please” a lot.  Good manners are a stepping stone to being a remarkable human being, whether as a mother, a father, a salesperson or the CEO. They really do show people that you respect them. Yes, having good manners is common sense. But as the French philosopher Voltaire once said: “Common sense is anything but common.” And if all this stuff is so obvious, how come most people don’t do it? Good manners are a stepping stone to being a remarkable human being.

Getting what you Want while loving what you Have

Getting what you Want while loving what you Have: Excerpts from Robin Sharma:Some pundits encourage us to enjoy the moment and appreciate what we have, suggesting that constantly striving for more is unhealthy and the primary source of our discontent. And others say that, as human beings, we were built to push beyond our comfort zones each day and reach for something higher, to become great. I’ve struggled a lot with this issue, as I articulate a personal philosophy that I will live my life under. I think l’ve found the answer, a solution that feels right to me: It's a balance, I've realized. I call it 'The Mandela Balance'.  Nelson Mandela, a man I greatly admire, once said: “After climbing a great hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk has not yet ended.”  To me, Nelson Mandela is suggesting that it truly is all about a balance. Enjoy the View from where you are at. Savour how far you have come. Be grateful for where you are along the journey that is your life. Live in the moment. But also remember that with the gifts that reside within you come great responsibilities. I believe that every human being has a “duty to shine.” We must not rest on our past wins  and become complacent. We must walk out into the world—each day—and do our best to be of greater service to others, realize more of our potential and become better citizens on the planet. We must continually walk toward our fears and make more of our lives. We must constantly play a bigger game and use our creative talents to do, be and see  more. This drive to realize more of our greatest selves has, l believe, been knitted into our DNA and to deny it is to deny our human nature. This world was built by people who felt some discontent with the way things were and knew they could do better.  Yes, as we set higher dreams and raise our personal standards, we will create some discontent. “Show me a completely contented person and I’ll show you a failure,” observed Thomas. I think he was speaking truth. The greatest among us were not satisfied with the way things were. Think Gandhi. Think Mother Teresa. Think Bill Gates. Think Einstein. Think Mandela. So love what You have. And then go for what you want. Enjoy the climb up the mountain. But never take your eyes off the summit.

Do you like your work?

Do you like your work?: “Without work life, all life goes rotten, but when work is soulless, life stifles and dies.” These were the words of Albert Camus, a French Noble Prize winning author and a journalist. These words truly mean a lot if thought through deeply by us. When I read this thought for the first time, it silently made me realise that so-called ‘journey of life’ can become very zestful and euphoric if we do what we like and what offers us ‘real happiness’.This can only happen if we first religiously listen to our heart and mind and discover ourselves and our hidden talent. Sadly, many of us fail to discover ourselves as we are most of the time more curious to know and follow others, our neighbours, relatives, friends and end up being part of the same crowd rather than making efforts to make a unique mark in life. In this race, we do not even pause for a minute to ask ourselves, if the path we are following or want to follow is compatible to our interests or can keep us elated and make us taste success.Lao Tzu, a renowned philosopher and poet of ancient China once said, “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.” That is why success, along with happiness in life, knocks only on the doors of those who have explored themselves and do what they best like.I can’t hold myself back from sharing that I was touched when I saw Sushmita Sen’s interview, after she was crowned Miss Universe in 1994. These were her thoughts on happiness in life: “Happiness comes only when we listen to our heart and mind and not when we follow what the crowd does… If we are happy, we can achieve anything in our life and can successfully live life to the fullest.” I can’t agree more with her.

Doubt verses Faith

Doubt verses Faith: Material and physical laws exist, but there is something higher than the obviously seen physical creation of names and forms. The power of mind over matter, of consciousness over physical reality comes with an understanding of consciousness and this is what we need to attend to.  There is a limitation in the field of action (Karma-kshetra); but still it is necessary to make an effort on our part. This is the essence of the Geeta: “Be involved in action and have unswerving faith in the power of intention (sankalpa).”  Have faith and know that the best will happen. Once you have faith in God, then you should not doubt it one bit. This is what knowing the Divine truly means. God and the world are not two separate entities; they are one. Wherever there is faith," miracles do happen and nobody’s life is devoid of miracles. Only we don’t believe in them.  If you doubt, “Oh, maybe I have this problem,” or “I don’t know if this will happen,” or “Maybe I will not succeed,” then your own doubts can act like a brake when driving the car. In the Geeta, Lord Krishna says, “When doubt enters into the heart of an individual, he is totally lost, and becomes miserable.” Know that the best will happen to you in your life. Be assured that your work will get done. It might take some time for it to be completed, but it will happen.  God isn’t in the sky somewhere; he resides in our heart. And if we cleanse our hearts, then the Divine power will emerge from within us. It may take some time for the manifestation of the Divine will, but it will be done, sooner or later. One only needs to have patience and faith. Faith is realising that you always get what you need. Faith is giving the Divine a chance to act. So, have faith and the best will happen...surely. Remember; your doubts are the traitors!

Use your Travel Time

Use your Travel Time: If you commute to the office for thirty minutes each way every day, after one year you will have spent the equivalent of six weeks of eight-hour days in travelling. Given this, can you really afford to spend all your time staring out the window and day dreaming? So many of the highly successful and enlightened people I know share a common habit: they listen to motivational lectures while travelling. In doing so, they transform their travel time into learning time and make their automobiles moving universities. Turning your car or others modes of travel into a “college on wheels” will be one of the best investments you will ever make. Rather than arriving at work tired, frustrated and dispirited, listening to educational audios will make your commute fun and keep you inspired, focused and alert to the endless opportunities around you.  Everywhere, in big or small cities, the travel time is steadily increasing. Whether you use your own or public transport, you can convert this time into the most productive one; learning. And, if your awareness is strong and you keep on thinking about some idea; there are fairly good chances of getting a solution while travelling. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to get into the passenger seat of the car of a successful and fulfilled person and found a small mountain of CDs occupying the place where I was to sit. Most of the latest books can now be found on audio CDs along with many of the best motivational programs and life leadership systems. Personally, I try to listen to at least five new CDs a month ranging from the latest business bestsellers to programs on time management, creativity, positive thinking, physical well-being and spiritual satisfaction.

Respect Your Instincts

Respect Your Instincts: It is easy not to listen to what we call the “still, small voice within,"  that inner guide that is your personal source of wisdom. It is often difficult to march  to your own drum beat and listen to your instincts when the world around you pressures you to conform to its dictates. Yet, to find the fulfillment and abundance you seek, you must listen to those hunches and feelings that come to you when you most need them. As I grow older, I give far greater respect to my instincts and to the natural reservoir of intuition that slumbers within each one of us. The impressions I receive when I first meet a new person have come to play a larger part in the way I work and live. It seems that with age comes the corresponding ability to trust your own instincts.I have also found that my personal instincts grow stronger when I am living “on purpose ” that is to say, spending my days on activities that advance me along the path to my legacy. When you are doing the right things and living the way nature intended you to live, abilities you were not aware you had become engaged and you liberate the fullness of the person you really are. As the Indian philosopher Patanjali eloquently wrote:  When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, Your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a person far more than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

Decompress before you go Home

Decompress before you go Home: After a day of stress and pressure at the office, most of us arrive home cranky, tired and dispirited. We gave the best we had to our colleagues and customers and, sadly, we have nothing left for the people we love the most: our spouses, children and friends. Like gladiators who have just completed the battle of their lives, we wearily walk to our favourite easy chair and order family members to  leave us alone until we regain our composure. Taking ten minutes to decompress before you walk  through the front door of your home will help you to avoid making this scenario a part of your daily routine. Rather than leaving work, driving home and rushing into your house, I recommend that you spend a few minutes sitting alone in your car while parked in the driveway. Use this time to relax and reflect on what you would like to accomplish during the next few hours with your family. Remind yourself how much your partner, and children need you and how many fun things you can do if you simply put your mind to it. To further decompress, you could go for a quick walk around the block or listen  to a favorite piece of music before you open the  door and greet your family. Be creative about your personal decompression time and treat it as a chance  to renew and recharge so you are the person your family wants you to be when you greet them.  Remember; your family is the most important part of your life; they're always with you through thick or thin.

Divine Self-Confidence

Divine Self-Confidence: Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. A false self-confidence is non productive. This is when people have low self esteem. However, their desire for acceptance and success causes them to put on a front. They tell themselves, I am not very good at what I do, but I want you to think I’m good at it.  The second type of confidence is a real form of confidence, but unfortunately never earns people the real joy that life offers. People with this type of confidence do what they do well, and they know it, but they make certain everyone else knows it as well. This quickly turns into conceit.  The real winners have a divine self-confidence. They do what they do well, and they also know why. These fortunate individuals have an awareness of an infinite power that is within. They merely choose to build an image in their marvelous mind of what they want to do.  All of the truly great achievers in life have developed this divine self-confidence. It is the result of years of study and a self-imposed discipline. Happiness, health, and prosperity are their rewards. If you have a divine self-confidence, you know how fortunate you are. If you don't, begin to study yourself. I can assure you, you will develop it. Self-confidence is a must for a fulfilled life. The people who develop divine self-confidence appear to live a charmed life. They are admired and respected by their peers.

Take a weekly off

Take a weekly off: In ancient days, the seventh day of the week was known as the Sabbath. Reserved for some of life’s most important, yet commonly neglected pursuits, including spending time with one’s family and hours in deep reflection and self-renewal. It provided a chance for hard-working people to renew their batteries and spend a day living life more fully. However, as the pace of life quickened and more activities began to compete for people’s attention, this wonderful tradition was lost along with the tremendous personal benefits that flowed from it.  Stress itself is not a bad thing. It can often help us perform at our best, expand beyond our limits and achieve things that would otherwise astonish us. Just ask any elite athlete. The real problem lies in the fact that in this age of global anxiety we do not get enough relief from stress. So to revitalize yourself and nourish the deepest part of you, plan for a weekly period of peace- a weekly sabbatical- to get back to the simpler pleasures of life. Pleasures that you may have given up as your days grew busier and your life more complex. Bringing this simple ritual into your weeks will help you reduce stress, connect with your more creative side and feel far happier in every role of your life. Your weekly holiday does not have to last a full day. All you need are a few hours alone, perhaps on a quiet Sunday morning, when you can spend some time doing- the things you love to do the most: spending time in your favorite hobby, watching the sun rise, taking a solitary walk along a beach or park and writing your diary. Organizing your life so that you get to do more of the things you love to do is one of the first steps to life improvement. Who cares if others don’t understand what you are trying to accomplish by making the 'weekly sabbatical an essential part of your life'. Do it for yourself: you are worth it.

Bless Your Money

Bless Your Money: A few years back, I found a book entitled 'Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind'. It was written almost thirty years ago by a man named Al Koran, who was then known as “the Finest Mental Magician in the World.” In a chapter entitled “The Secret of Wealth” he writes the following: “When you send your money out, remember always to bless it. Ask it to bless everybody that it touches, and command it to go out and feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and command it to come back to you a millionfold. Don't pass over this lightly. I am serious."  Over the next few days, why not follow Al Koran's advice and see what happens? When you pay for your groceries, silently bless all those who have helped bring this food to you: the farmers who have grown it, the delivery people who have carried it and the store keepers who have stocked it. If you are paying for your children’s education, why not give silent appreciation to all the teachers who are spending their days shaping the minds of your kids and to all the others who make their work possible? When you pull out a few currency notes to buy something off the rack in a store, bless the person who is toiling away behind the counter and hope the money adds value to the quality of his or her life. And...observe the difference. Have you ever noticed the happiness in the eyes of the person receiving the money? It's not important whether you owe him the money or paying him for something else, the important part is the 'feeling' with which you're parting with your money. That feeling always sticks with it. Don't forget to bless the money whenever you're paying it, the next time. As that timeless truth says, “The hand that gives is the hand that gathers.”

Master your time

 Master your time: I have always found it ironic that so many people say they would do anything for a little more time every day and yet they squander the time they already have. Time is life's great leveler. We all have the same allotment of twenty-four hours in a day. What separates the people who create great lives from others is how they use these hours.  Most of us live as if we have an infinite amount of time to do all the things we know we must do to live a full and rewarding life. And so we procrastinate and put the achievement of our dreams on hold while we tend to those daily emergencies that fill up our days. This is a certain recipe for a life of regret. As, a novelist wrote: because we don't know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain day of your childhood, that you can’t even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless. How many more times will you sit with your friends and let loose? I leave that to you to figure out. But certainly a small number. Commit yourself to managing your time more effectively. Develop a keen sense of awareness about how important your time really is. Don't let people waste this most precious of commodities and invest it only in those activities that truly count.

View more blogs

Everyday, be kind to a stranger

Everyday, be kind to a stranger: On his deathbed, a man reflected on his entire life's learning and then summed it up in seven simple words: "Let us be kinder to one another". All too often, we believe that in order to live a truly fulfilling life we must achieve some great act or grand feat that will put us on the front covers of magazines and newspapers. Nothing could be further from the truth. A meaningful life is made up of a series of daily acts of decency and kindness, which, ironically, add up to something truly great over the course of a lifetime. Everyone who enters your life has a lesson to teach and a story to tell. Every person you pass during your days offers you an opportunity to show a little more of the compassion and courtesy that define your humanity.Why not start being more of the person you truly are during your days and doing what you can to enrich the world around you? In my mind, if you  make even one person smile during your day or brighten the mood of even one stranger, your day has been a worthwhile one. Kindness, quite simply, is the rent we must pay for the space we occupy on this planet. Become more creative in the ways you show compassion to strangers. Paying for the person who has lost money, offering your seat on the bus or train to someone in need and being the first to say hello are great places to start. Whenever you deal with a person who is poor or downtrodden, always remember that he is also a husband or father or brother of someone and he is 'their' world. Always treat that 'person' the way 'you' would like to be treated by others.

The power of 'Thank you'

The power of 'Thank you': The more the pace of our lives speeds up, the greater the impact the simple gestures of life will have on those most deserving of them. And near the very top of my list of simple gestures that have profound consequences is the lost art of writing thank you notes. How many times you, if you recollect, you've used these words in your day to day life? Everyone loves getting recognition - it's a fact of human nature. We all have a deep-seated need to feel important. I truly love receiving letters or emails or messages who appreciate if I have done something good for them. And knowing how much joy l feel when l receive these from others, l try my best to respond to every mail/message that comes across to me with a thank you note.Even in the case of the people you deal with on a daily  basis - your business associates calling you with new opportunities or carrying forward your old relationship - you try to follow up on every encounter with a sincerely written thank-you note. People working in your office, your colleagues, at home or neighbourhood, everywhere you can always use these powerful words - 'thank you'. Sure, it takes time. Sure, there might be pressing things on your agenda. But few acts have the power to build and cement relationships like a heart-felt letter of thanks. lt shows you care and that you are considerate and human. So this week, go out and buy a package of the blank thank-you cards that are now available in bulk at your local office corner shop and start writing. You — and all the people that you deal with — will be glad you did.

Thinking big is beautiful

Thinking big is beautiful: We are told to think big and grow big. Only thinking big gives one the kick-start to be on the path of great achievements. If you have read David J Schwartz’s ‘The Magic of Thinking Big’, you would agree that you always wanted to be 'big’ but never thought and acted seriously on those lines. It is all thinking and putting your thoughts into action with the zeal of a warrior: Somewhere in your mind there has to be a reminder that tells you when you feel you are ‘down’ that nothing is impossible, provided you promise yourself that you can and will. Schwartz tells: “The thing I understand is why should young people these days be so ultra conservative, so narrow in their view of the future?”  The greatest human weakness is self deprecation: Selling oneself short. We think small and hence  remain small. We always see  on the other side a picture opposite of what it actually is. In other words, we are living in a self-deceiving world all the time. We assume We can’t and hence we can’t. When philosophers tell you to ‘know thyself’, you are quick in listing your faults, shortcomings and inadequacies. That makes you feel ‘small’ and incompetent for any challenging job. One must always find out one’s assets and value them. You will always be greater than what you are; but your own devaluation of yourself makes you small not only for yourself but for others as well. Remember, nobody will value you beyond what you value yourself. You will be what you think you are. The sign of a great man is in putting/seeing the same thing scenario in a different perspective.  While the ‘small thinker’ would say, “Sorry folks, we have failed because it was too tough for us.” the one who thinks big, as Schwartz says, will say, “Here is an approach that will work.” And that is the winning way.

Focus! Focus! Focus!

Focus! Focus! Focus!: Sages often draw our attention to an Indian fable wherein it is stated that if it rains at the time when star Svati is in the ascendant, and a drop of rain falls into an oyster, that drop gets transformed into a pearl. The oysters are said to be very much aware of this. That is why they come to the surface when the star shines, and wait patiently to catch the precious drops of rain. As soon as a rain drop falls into it, it close its shells, dives deep down into the bottom of the sea, and begins to concentrate on the task of developing the drop into a pearl. Swami Vivekananda says seekers on the spiritual path should emulate the example of the oyster by shutting their minds to all outside influences and devoting themselves, with one-pointed concentration, to developing the truth within them.  To quote the Swami: “Take up an idea. Make that idea your life, think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone”. Only that person who truly yearns for truth, perceives the Divine Light. People who only take a nibble here and a nibble there, are led astray and they do not reach anywhere. Tremendous perseverance, indomitable will and focus are required to attain success on the spiritual path which is akin to walking on a razor’s edge. The Almighty often tests the patience of seekers by placing them in difficult and trying situations in life. The Swami says rather than being overwhelmed by a deep sense of despair and governed by a defeatist attitude while encountering difficulties, one should make a genuine effort to better oneself and the quality of one’s life every single day, one little step at a time. With each difficult situation that we surmount, we gain inner strength and our confidence level increases. By reposing unwavering trust in the Higher Power, we are able to polish and develop our pearl inside, our precious true self.

Focus! Focus! Focus!

Focus! Focus! Focus!: Sages often draw our attention to an Indian fable wherein it is stated that if it rains at the time when star Svati is in the ascendant, and a drop of rain falls into an oyster, that drop gets transformed into a pearl. The oysters are said to be very much aware of this. That is why they come to the surface when the star shines, and wait patiently to catch the precious drops of rain. As soon as a rain drop falls into it, it close its shells, dives deep down into the bottom of the sea, and begins to concentrate on the task of developing the drop into a pearl. Swami Vivekananda says seekers on the spiritual path should emulate the example of the oyster by shutting their minds to all outside influences and devoting themselves, with one-pointed concentration, to developing the truth within them.  To quote the Swami: “Take up an idea. Make that idea your life, think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone”. Only that person who truly yearns for truth, perceives the Divine Light. People who only take a nibble here and a nibble there, are led astray and they do not reach anywhere. Tremendous perseverance, indomitable will and focus are required to attain success on the spiritual path which is akin to walking on a razor’s edge. The Almighty often tests the patience of seekers by placing them in difficult and trying situations in life. The Swami says rather than being overwhelmed by a deep sense of despair and governed by a defeatist attitude while encountering difficulties, one should make a genuine effort to better oneself and the quality of one’s life every single day, one little step at a time. With each difficult situation that we surmount, we gain inner strength and our confidence level increases. By reposing unwavering trust in the Higher Power, we are able to polish and develop our pearl inside, our precious true self.

Life means right balance

Life means right balance: Arjun once asked Lord Krishna what life was? The question was just of three words but it was the biggest question for mankind. Lord Krishna too gave the answer in just three words: Life means balance. Life is not about one thing. If one eats too much, that’s wrong, and if one eats nothing, that’s also wrong. If one laughs too much, that’s wrong, if one never laughs, that’s so wrong. Excess in any field, whatever that be, is wrong. Life seeks balance of everything. Proper balance of everything in life means a good and healthy life. One should always try to maintain this balance among one’s feelings, relations, materialistic pleasures and work. Only a balanced life can lead you to the right track, and only a balanced life can give you your desired goal. In today’s complex life, we are totally confused. Some people prefer their professional life to any other. Position, power and money are everything for them. They ignore their family life. And, in the state of failure, some of them prefer to commit suicide instead of learning a lesson. Some people give up everything, including their families and aged parents, to pursue their career in a distant place. For many of us, career, professional life, materialistic pleasure and lust have become more important than a peaceful and meaningful life. What is happening all around in our society? We have totally forgotten the teachings of our religious masters. We have lost balance; that’s why our society is going towards a big catastrophe. Always remember, life is not about one thing, it is amix of everything. If one runs after one thing only, it means one has lost one’s direction. Only sugar can’t prepare a dish. Salt is also important in food; and similarly many other things. So, wake up and try to maintain balance in your life. If you succeed, then your life would be like a rainbow; and full of meaning.

Fight for your lost smile

Fight for your lost smile: The boy entered the house in a disgusted manner and slammed the door behind. The mother looked at him and asked about his day in the school but got no reply. The boy locked himself in his room. She went tip-toeing and put her ear on the door and could hear suppressed sobbing. She wanted to knock at the door and ask the reason but could not muster courage. She moved to her room and got lost in a train of thoughts: “My son was never like this. He is such a bright, amiable and jovial soul...”.  The famfly had recently migrated to the city from a small town. In the beginning the boy used to come home bustling with energy and volumes to talk about the new big school,and the new ways of teaching. “I worked on computer which I had seen only on television”, he said one day. But now, no more of his smile. The mother had already voiced her concern to his father and he assured her that things will be fine soon. In the evening, when the father came, he went straight to the boy’s room. The father put his palm on his forehead. The boy looked at him with tears welling in his eyes. I know it is really difficult to leave behind the old home, old friends but you are a brave boy who never showed any sign of dejection, the father stated. Only a tiny language barrier is pulling you back and making you a weak soul. Why cannot you learn the language and be once again a winner? And the boy responded “I certainly will”. From that day onwards, he started working so hard on the language that he soon became one of the brightest students of the school. It is the determination to do something which has the power to take us out of the difficult situations and makes us a winner.

Circumstances ... You decide what to choose

Circumstances ... You decide what to choose: Where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going? These are three important phases in everyone's life. You can mentally mix exciting experiences from your past and present that will prepare you to develop an interesting vision for your future. Or, if you are not mentally alert, you could very easily reverse the process and reflect on some unpleasant experience or failure from your past that would cause you to see only the negative circumstances that exist in the present. This sort of mental activity would automatically develop a negative attitude and prevent any productive planning for your future. Our past experiences and our present circumstances have absolutely no power other than that which we choose to give them. As each of you get into the habit of giving your mental energy to your past accomplishments, your successes, the experiences that brought great joy into your life, you would then only see all of the opportunities that surround you. Positive circumstances will pop up one after another.  Where you are now suddenly becomes very exciting. Mentally mix  that part with the present, and you will have a wonderful vision of your future. Where you have been, where you are now, and where you are going? Three important phases. Make your mental mix a winning combination. Many of the successful people I know keep a win list of their accomplishments. They carry it with them and read it periodically.   You might try this. Then, when you look back, you will be certainly holding a beautiful picture.  Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past, to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future.

The Ant Story

 Please click The-ant-story

Power of a calm mind

Power of a calm mind: The tension of modern, complex living has invaded the quiet sanctuary of the soul. There is the necessity for cultivating stillness in the mind. When mind is disturbed, you bring many problems in life. Your attitude and behavior changes and you break relationships with your boss, subordinates, relations and customers. Anger, depression, anxiety and all other negative emotions result into many diseases in the body. When the mind is tense, you take wrong decisions and bring many other problems in your life. In a motionless, completely still and clear lake, you can only see its bottom. But if a stone is dropped in the middle of lake, ripples are formed, at first one, then a few, then many. The same is the case of a disturbed mind. When it is filled with negative thoughts, you cannot see inside your heart. Archimedes could not get his answer while sitting at his worktable,  when his mind was filled with anxiety and tension. He threw everything out, went into the bathroom, and started taking a bath. With his mind relaxed, the answer came to him. He hopped out of the tub and ran about the streets naked, shouting Eureka, Eureka (I have found it). With this principle of buoyancy, he found how ships, weighing thousands of pounds, could float on water, whereas a small coin sinks.  Dr. Frederic Benting, Noble laureate, a brilliant Canadian physician and surgeon, spent considerable time to find an effective way to arrest the disease of diabetes. One night when he was in a drowsy state (mind becomes calm since conscious mind is submerged to a greater extent), the answer came to him to extract the residue from the degenerated pancreatic duct of dogs. This was the origin of insulin, which helped millions of people.  In any examination, with a tense mind, you cannot remember the answer even though you know it. Therefore, there is a need to keep your mind cool, always, in all circumstances, and lead a successful, prosperous and victorious life.

Keettoo Mobile App tutorial

The gains of patience

The gains of patience: Life is full of challenges; and sometimes, under pressure, people crack. They feel they can no longer stand against all the problems facing them. Sometimes people feel they have the worst job in the world, others feel they have the worst health problems.  There is a tale about a wise man. One day a woman went to him for advice.  She said, “Things are terrible at home. I live in a small hut with my husband and two children. My husband is not doing well at work and cannot afford anything larger. My husband’s father lost his job, so his parents had to move in with us. The wise man thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have a cow?"The woman said, “Yes.”  He said, “Take the cow into the hut to live with you for a week and then come back to see me.”   The woman was puzzled but thought that since he was a wise man, there must be some magic in bringing the cow into the house. So, she did what he told her to do. The week was horrible. The hut was so crowded that every time the cow turned around, all the six family members had to change their places. When they tried to sleep, the smell was intolerable, and its mooing won’t let them sleep.  After a week, the woman went to the wise man with her complaints. The wise man thought for a moment and said, “My dear, go home and take the cow out of your hut and come back to me.”  A week later, the woman returned to the wise man and said, “Thank you! I feel happy and things have become so peaceful.” This story illustrates how we often get unhappy with our situation until we find things could be worse.  On the spiritual path, one of the lessons we need to learn is accepting the will of the Lord. Life would be so much easier if we accept that God knows what is best for us.  We should give God a chance to let things happen and observe patiently.

Faith in God crucial

Faith in God crucial: In a forest, a pregnant deer was in labour pain and was about to deliver. Looking for a safe place for delivery, she found a remote grass field near a river. Suddenly, the process triggered and she was in dire pain. At the same moment, dark clouds gathered in the sky and the lightning started a forest fire. Confused, she looked here and there and saw a hunter on her left with his bow pointing at her. Then she turned to her right, spotted a hungry lion approaching her. The deer knew she was in a real mess. Frightened to the hilt, she stood there, totally bewildered at the situation. But despite of being totally lost, her determination to bring her child into this world remained strong. As she was thinking of the possible threats she might have to face, a miracle happened. There was a huge lightning and that blinded the hunter. The arrow got released and zipped past the deer and hit the hungry lion. Soon it started raining heavily and the forest fire was slowly doused by the rain and in the midst of all this, the deer gave birth to a healthy fawn.  If we try to introspect, in our life too there are times when we are surrounded from all sides with negative thoughts and difficult situations. Some thoughts are so powerful that they overpower us, but it is for us to decide which path to follow. The deer story has a great lesson. Her priority in the given moment was simply to give birth to her baby. The rest was not in her hands and any action or reaction that changed her focus would have likely resulted in death or disaster. So she kept her cool and left everything to the God. In response to this faith, God created a perfect environment for the birth.  Like the deer, if we too focus clearly and have faith in God, then it is for sure that He will take care of all our needs and will bring us out of the most difficult situations.

Need to mind your mind

Need to mind your mind: The mind is whatever we make of it. As we think, so we become. We are a product of our thoughts. Whatever we thought in the past, that we have become today and what we think today, that we’ll become in the future. Think high so that you can convert your mind into Jyot swaroop (like light) and Brahm swaroop (pure energy).  We have to learn from our past mistakes and try not to repeat any of them. Now onwards, for the future, every thought has to be censored by us and think of the best that could happen in our lives. Have only high, lofty thoughts so that you get a chance to go ahead and do better. The idea is not to give your mind a chance to fall into the trap of negative thoughts.  The Geeta says if you don’t make your pure energy and instead make it demonic, you will land up in the worst kind of hell. On the other hand, he who enlightens his mind will climbs great heights.  Mind is such a tool that it can change us from anything to anything! Even if we are full of the five vices and sense pleasures, by purifying our mind and through yog, we can become Parbrahm (Pure Consciousness). Many sadhus have shown us how they became stable after failing many a time. How? They did it with great persistence and by converting their mind into Parbrahm. We have to keep on telling our mind what we want to be, whatever we want to be, we have to make our mind repeat that. Whatever we don’t want to be, let us not repeat it, not even in our mind. Suppose we are unwell and to seek help we have to tell somebody, but don’t let your mind repeat again and again that you are ill. If you do, you will fall ill all the more, for sure.  Therefore, take your mind high up, think positive, perform the right action with all your energy and the best will happen.

Joy is a state of mind

Joy is a state of mind: How do you define happiness when someone asks you, “Are you happy?” You say either yes or no. Right?  I was roaming in Connaught Place, Delhi, with a friend, talking and lost in my own world until I saw a boy lying on the floor with scanty clothes on his body on a hot summer day. Many flies were wandering here and there on his body but the boy was lying carefree on the floor in deep sleep. To make sure if he was really sleeping, I touched him after seeing a bit of movement in his body. He was smiling, perhaps he was seeing some beautiful dream. I didn’t want to disturb him; so I stood up and went my own way. I was asking myself why do we spend our whole life asking for more  from God? Why aren't we satisfied with whatever God has given us. Even a luxury bedroom with AC and other comforts is not enough and we move about complaining about what we don’t have, not really thanking God for what we have. The next thing I want to share is about food. Some of us have the habit of calling food “shit” if we don’t like it. A friend did that recently just because it was not to his taste; and I found it disgusting. The point is even if the food is not tasty, you can’t call it shit. This is what many in the world are dying for. Have you seen those street kids stealing some leftover food from bins and eating them? I have seen. The message: Learn to respect what you possess, learn to be thankful, learn to smile, learn to appreciate what God has given you because there are many in this world who don’t have even a bit of what you have and still they are happy. Happiness is a state of mind, and it does not come by having ‘more’ of what we have.

Magic of sweet words

Magic of sweet words: Sweet words act like honey. Just as honey has medicinal value and cures a lot of simple ailments, sweet words too solve a host of problems if used in our daily communication. Recently, I engaged two carpenters to get the doors of my house repaired. One was an old fellow and the other a very young one. The old carpenter had a very rough tongue. He talked to his younger colleague in a very foul language, always. But the young carpenter was the exact opposite with a sweet tongue. To resolve a problem that took place between the two over the alignment of doors, the younger one used his extra-ordinary sweet language to bring the old fellow around his viewpoint. He addressed his colleague as “father-like figure”, “an experienced fellow" and “a skilled carpenter”. These words cooled down the temper of the old carpenter.  Sweet words can resolve  even the worst of disputes. On the contrary, the use of harsh and foul language can even turn a friend into a foe. Our epics bear a clear testimony to this fact. Had Draupadi not taunted Duryodhana as “blind man’s son as blind”, there would have been no battle of Mahabharta. Similarly, Shishupal’s head had not been chopped off by the disc of Lord Krishna had he stopped a stream of abuse that he hurled at the Lord.  Lord Krishna had cautioned Shishupal to restrict his “unruly behaviour”. But, Shishupal did not pay heed to Lord Krishna’s advice and crossed all the limits of decency. This finally led to his fall. The Laxman-Sarupnaka episode too has its genesis in bad language. When Sarupnaka’s overtures to win over the heart of Laxman failed, she resorted to uncivilised language which provoked Laxman to chop off the latter’s ears and nose.  Foul language is like poison as it kills both mind and body. It provokes anger and finally leads to an aggressive conflict. Sweet words have the power to open closed doors. They are like the magical ‘seam-seam’ of the great Arabian tale - Ali Baba and Forty Thieves.

Why we say 'Happy New Year'?

Why we say 'Happy New Year'?: When the clock strikes 12:00 in the night of 31st December, we are all waiting to shower our loved ones with the most important and appropriate wish of the day and that is 'Happy New Year'. Whoever is physically present there gets hugs and kisses or handshakes along with this greeting from us. We don't waste anytime and quickly make sure that we've wished the maximum number of people in our life. We even wish our domestic helps(or reciprocate if they wish us first) a happy new year. Then we move on to our phone address book and select people who are our relatives, business associates, even not so close ones also, to make sure we wish them 'Happy New Year'. This phenomenon keeps on going starting strongly from 1st January and then slowly fading away in a few days, only to be reactivated at the beginning of the next 'new' year. What is 'Happy New Year '?Actually this is a wish, a blessing from us to others that their new year is filled with happiness. This wish comes from our heart and if we all notice, we ourselves feel very good when we say 'Happy New Year' to anyone. As humans, we always get happiness when we 'wish' or 'bless' others knowing deep inside our heart that we've done something good. The blessings could be any related to the well being of the other person. Then why wait only for this occasion to bless others? Why can't we do this everyday or for that matter...all the time? What does this cost us? A few words of blessings from us can give lot of strength or happiness to others.Let this be a new year resolution for all of us ... to always 'bless' others everyday as everyday is a new day, a new opportunity, a new challenge, a new occasion and a new celebration. Always remember that our blessings to others eventually come back to us ... multiplied!