Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2011

The nights between the Christmas & the New year

...and all across the map,

Not an entrepreneur will rest,

Not even a quick nap.

They have work to be done,

Opportunities never sleep.

With visions of better lives,

Their commitment runs deep.

This holiday season,

God simply wishes to say:

Of you are living your life truthfully,

He is proud of you every day.

Wishing you Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a safe and healthy New Year.

PS. It's not too late call your parents, siblings, friends and neighbors and wish them new year!

Being Humble

The more you are humble, the more will be your success.

Contemplation:

Humility gives you the wings to fly. It gives you enthusiasm based on your inner truth and you can easily move forward. When there is no humility you will find yourself being pulled back again and again.

Application:

When you do something, remind yourself of how much you are enjoying it. Let there be no desire for recognition or praise. Then you will find yourself succeeding in the task that you undertake and you will be appreciated too.

Facebook & Me

Making Your Thoughts Count

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

“A human is a product of the thoughts he keeps.” – We know that and yet we choose to think rubbish. Take a moment to visualize your thoughts and you’ll see more than 98% of your thoughts would be either of the days that has gone by or of the future. Yesterday & Tomorrow.

And here we forget one of the most venerable teachings of life “Present is a PRESENT.” Why must we choose to endure pain long after the incident has happened? Why we worry about what is yet to come? Why must we give tit for tat? Why can’t we practice patience?

Let’s not be ordinary. Let’s do something special and make our good thoughts count. Let’s spread peace by being at peace with ourselves because with our thoughts, we make the world.  

Knowing Thy Spirit

“Err...What?”

“Why?”

This is how a typical answer to the post topic will be like. Spirituality, when mixed with religion, can evoke responses like these.

The word ‘Spirituality’ is made from Latin ‘Spiritus’ meaning – “Self”.

Christian Science uses "Spirit" as one of the seven synonyms for God, as in: "Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love.

Hinduism uses “Spirit” to refer to “Soul” or “Atman”.

Greek perceived it as the entity that leaves body when someone dies.

On exploring the relationship between spiritual points of view about health and healing, you’ll find that knowing about “Self” is probably one of the biggest discovery you can do about yourself. Today we have gone to moon, exploring Mars, have gone under sea, into the deepest locations on earth and try to find what happens there – but what happens in our mind, we don’t know. And if we know, we can’t control.

Hatred, jealousy, insecurity, anger and frustration – each of us can identify our self with these intimidating emotions. People feel more comfortable telling stories of their pain rather than happiness. Why? Because we fear our happiness might get lost if we share. If that is how you feel too, trust me – it is the time for self discovery.

Just spare few thoughts and think who you are, where you from, what is life and what is death. I’ll be writing about these topics in detail, so if you have anything to add, let me know. Will put it here along with your link.

Making everyday a Perfect Day

Making a usual day a perfect day can be a struggle. But for most us, what to do to make it perfect isn’t the hard part.

Come on, think about it.

You normally don’t struggle (too much) over what to do. The question is when to do to make your day reasonably good.

Here are four pointers that help me making my day better than others. They are yours to use –

Get up early

Almost 85% of people sleep till 8 and miss the wonderfulness that an early morning has to offer. One of the best gifts you can give to yourself is ‘getting up early’. Of course, trying it suddenly is going to be difficult but if you make it a habit, you’ll have so much extra time to think, read, exercise or anything you like to do. I meditate, cook, and go for a walk when people around are sleeping and enjoy it thoroughly. 

Appreciate & Learn

Try this – spend 5 minutes twice a day in gratitude – it will reshape the way you perceive your day. With appreciation will come the desire to learn. Focus on what is best right now and block the rest.

Have a schedule

When we write our thoughts, we become conscious of doing them on priority. Success doesn’t happen by accident but through conscious choice. Plan out what is most important to you so that you can get them done.

Accept changes gracefully

Change in the only constant thing in our universe. To live perfect days, get rid of your attachment with things (my home, my car, my laptop, my idea etc.), situations (at home, work, financial, emotional) and people (parents, children, friends, spouses) – love them just like you love everyone else. Attachment doesn’t let you move out of your comfort zone and your growth becomes ZERO. It costs you your happiness.

John Wooden (American basketball coach) once said “You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

How will you alter your choices to make your days perfect is on you.

Pleasant Birthday Wishes

It's somebody's birthday every week and every time I spend considerable amount of time on the Internet looking for that perfect wish - which not many people have heard of. This morning I had a thought - why not create my own list and post it online. I can categorize it according to how people search and they may get what they are looking for here.

So here a "Cheers" to a new start!

• May this year be your best ever.
  I hope all your birthday dreams and wishes come true.
  Not just a year older, but a year better.
  Here's to another

• Pleased look forward,
  pleased to look behind,
  And count each birthday with a grateful mind. 

• Happy Birthday, you're not getting older you're just a little closer to death.To the nation's best kept secret; Your true age.

• Birthdays are like boogers, the more you have the harder it is to breathe. 

• Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest!

• Money's tight
  Times are hard
  Here's you frigging birthday card 

• Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

• Better to be over the hill than buried under it.

• You are only as old as you act.

• So many candles... so little cake.

• Happy Birthday to you,
  you live in a zoo,
  you smell like a monkey,
  and you look like one too.

• We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it. 

• Happy Birthday on your very special day, I hope that you don't die before you eat your cake.

• Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest.

• Wish u many many Happy returns of the day

• Smiles and laughter, joy and cheer
  New happiness that stays throughout the year
  Hope your birthday brings that to you my dear

• On your birthday I wish you much pleasure and joy;

• I hope all of your wishes come true.
  May each hour and minute be filled with delight

• I already gave you my heart 1 years ago—this year all I can give you is a simple wish: Happy Birthday. And I hope you’re happier and more in love with me of course!

• Today, on your special day,
  My heart reaches out to you and pray,
  May He blesses you with happiness
  Today, tomorrow and forever

• A prayer: 2 bless ur way

• A wish : 2 lighten ur moments
  A cheer: 2 perfect ur day
  A text: 2 say HAPPY BIRTH DAY 
• Because it is your Birthday,
  You get an extra hug,
  You also are entitled to,
  Another year of love.

• I’m so blessed 2 have a friend like u

• This comes with many
  Loving thoughts & warm wishes
  I send 2 u,
  May ur day be filled with laughter
  On this ur special day & may the finest things
  In life always come
  Ur way happy birthday!

• May you have all the joy your heart can hold,

• All the smiles a day can bring,
  All the blessings a life can unfold,
  May you have Gods best in everything.

Happy birthday to you,

• Even though i wish it earlier i dun cared.
  Dun forget bout our friendship, that we’ve shared. 
• You can spend
• hundreds on birthdays,
  thousands on festivals,
  lakhs on weddings,
  but to celebrate
  all you have to spend is your TIME…. 
• Life is very short,
• So enjoy every moment,
  Dont lose your confidence
  Go always ahead.  

• For the world, i’s just another day,

• But for me today is the best day of the year!
  .
  .
  .
  .
  Happy Birthday my love.
  
   
• Before the clock strikes 12,
  let me take the opportunity,
  to let you know that you,
  have grown a year more…
  Happy birthday
   
• “The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.Happy Birthday

• Each year your birthday reminds me

• That I really want to say
  I’m very glad I know you;
  I think of you each day.
  I hope you enjoy your birthday

• May today be filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love. Happy Birthday to someone who is forever young.

• This brings a birthday greeting
  and a wish for nothing less
  than good luck in the future
  and special happiness.
  Happy Birthday 

• You're another year older and another year wiser
  So put your brain to work
  And figure out there ain't no gift for you. 

• Two tips on your birthday:
• 1) Forget the past, you can't change it.
  2) Forget the present, I didn't get you one. 

• Some words of wisdom for your birthday, "Smile while you still have teeth!"

• Happy Birthday you old fart.
  You would have loved the gift I didn't bother getting you.
  Another year, another new place thet aches.
  One more year of existence down the drain. Happy Birthday!

• The only reason you hate your birthday is because people give you odd gifts, scary cards with weird messages in them, and because you're getting older. Anyway, Happy Birthday!

• It's ok to light the candles on your birthday cake now; I've already alerted the fire department. 

• With age comes wisdom. (You're one of the wisest people I know!)

• I was trying to think of what to get you for your birthday but nothing came to mind.

• You're not old until you can't read this writing anymore. (written in real small text)

9 Habits That Can Help You in Managing Self the Better Way and Control Stress

We are so used to doing things that we simply forget the ones that we shouldn't. Here's a list of what crossed my mind - if there's anything else you'd like to add, be my guest.

  

1. Trying to do everything

Yes, we have been brought up with the notion that we shouldn't pass over any of our works to others but have you heard the word “delegation”?

I understood its importance when I realised that people are always willing to help but I should know how to take it. by rule, 80% of our time gets wasted in doing 20% of work. So how about slashing that unproductive time from 80% of low value work and making the best of your day?

2. Answering all emails (or calls and messages for that matter)

Ahhhhh! Another silly notion that I had – I used to think I have to reply to all emails until I noticed that not all my emails were replied to. In fact, many weren’t, even when they were follow-up replies to reader mails asking for help. Seemingly, all the effort that go into meticulously typing, wording and formatting my mails wasn’t really getting me anywhere. I would be stuck in email land the whole day long with no output to claim of my own except for an increase in mails in my sent box. So I began to selectively reply to higher priority emails, and the world didn’t stop. In fact, I now have more time to create more high value content and articles for readers, which is a big win for everyone.

3. Thinking you have to do everything immediately

Apart from my to-do list and not-do list, I also have a do-later list. This is to collect the items that drop in mid-way through the day, usually administrative, nitty gritty tasks that don’t take much time but aren’t majorly important too. If I drop what I’m doing at the moment to work on them it can be disruptive, so instead I put them in my do-later list. Then at the end of the day, I batch and process everything at one go. It’s a lot more effective.

4. Putting important tasks off

Procrastination is the mind killer. It may seem like a good idea to put off that task now, but that’s just setting yourself for a jam later on, and it’s not worth it. Get started on your most important projects now and stop putting them off. Out of all the people I’ve met in all my life, I’ve never come across anyone who gets authentic joy and happiness from procrastination. The ones who claim to be happy procrastinating are usually living in an illusion, alternating from “Oh I’m happy the way I am” to “I wish I don’t have to do this” to “Sigh I wish I started earlier” in a matter of seconds.

 

5. Trying to get things perfect the first time round

Interesting, it’s the perfectionist in us that causes many of us to procrastinate. If the perfectionist side of you is hindering you from getting things done in the first place and makes you feel stressed, that’s something you should look into. Get into the notion of ‘drafts’ – let yourself work on a 1st draft, where you work on the core content, then return for a 2nd or 3rd draft where you iron out the little details. Give yourself the permission to make mistakes which you can correct later on.

6. Being hung up over details

Being detail oriented is good. However, don’t be so obsessed with details that it holds you back. Does this matter a year from now? 3 years from now? 5 years? If not, then maybe it’s  not worth worrying so much about it now. Go for the bigger picture; that’s more important to you and that’s what is going to keep you motivated.

7. Not having clear goals

Do you know your goals for this month? How about your goals for this year? And the next year? If you can answer these 3 questions with absolute certainty and conciseness, then you’re good to go. Otherwise, perhaps it’s good to spend some time to think over them or else you’ll start getting stressed out.

8. Not taking breaks

Humans are not robots. While robots can sustain constant output over a long period of time, we need to rest and recharge otherwise we come under stress. So schedule a short break in between your work hours, say for 5 or 10 minutes, take a breather and say no to stress. You’ll find your focus markedly higher when you return.

9. Trying to please everyone

I like this quote by Colin Powell, which says “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity”. You’re never going to be able to control what others think, so don’t spend too much time sweating over it and stress yourself. Instead, work on the things you have control over – yourself, your emotions, your thoughts, your actions and feel happy about it. Spend your energy in the creation process, and on people who do deserve your attention and love. Try it for a week – You’ll find it’s a lot more rewarding this way.

The Big, Bold & Beautiful Commonwealth Extravaganza

Against the backdrop of an early October sun set, the spanking new Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium turned into a golden hue as the Rs 44 crore aerostat lifted into the skies and a bevy of puppets danced and over 800 drummers heralded the event.

A spectacular laser fireworks show lit up the evening sky and India took a giant leap, 28 years after it hosted the Asian Games.

In a neat diplomatic compromise, Prince Charles, representing Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth, and President Pratibha Patil did the honours at the inaugural ceremony, amid thunderous cheers from the capacity 60,000 crowd.

"I have much pleasure in declaring the 19th Commonwealth Games open", the Prince said reading out a message from the British monarch.

This was followed by the address of President Patil, who concluded by saying " the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are now open. Let the Games begin", signalling the formal commencement of the sporting extravaganza.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his cabinet colleagues, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Maldives President Mohammed Nashid, Prince of Monaco Albert II, Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell, Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and a host of dignitaries were present at the ceremony.

It was a mix of both cheers and jeers for Kalmadi when he made his speech while references to Dikshit were received by loud cheers in the audience. commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

After brief speeches by Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, the Queen's Baton, which traversed through all the 71 Commonwealth nations made a grand entry with Bindra being given the honour.commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

Badminton star Saina Nehwal, Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar were the others who carried the baton.

It was followed by the arrival of the Games flags of all the participating countries and the oath-taking ceremony by the Indian captain Bindra.

There was also a section dedicated to the great tradition of learning which unfolded under the Knowledge Tree - a sacred space of Learning - presenting the Indian Classical dance and music that have been passed on through the Guru shishya Parampara.

The production comprised six classical dances of India, including Odissi from Orissa, Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathak from North India, Manipuri from Manipur, Mohiniattam from Kerala and Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh. commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

Each classical dance represented a season -- Odissi (Spring), Bharatnatyam (Summer), Kathak (Monsoon), Manipuri (Autumn), Mohiniattam (Fall), Kuchipudi (Winter).

Through dance, music and projections on the aerostat of tree leaves, the production captured the emotions as experienced through changing seasons.

India's Yogic way of life was also on display with a presentation of the practice of YOGA - the ultimate union of the body, mind and soul.

All along the ceremony, the moving lights on the helium balloon continued to change their hues, projecting life size revolving images of the action on the ground.

The past few weeks of negative publicity that had dogged the nearly Rs 70,000 crore mega-event was quickly forgotten as the glittering opening ceremony, which encapsulated a fascinating mix of culture and modernity, kept the spectators enthralled for more than two hours.

The ceremony, which set the stage for 12 days of intense competition will see over 7000 athletes from 71 countries vying for honours.

The aerostat, a giant helium balloon was dramatically lifted to its full height amid the sounds of Nagada drums.

A spectacular display of drummers from various parts of India then took centrestage and Keshav, a child prodigy from Auroville, Puducherry, was the cynosure of all eyes. commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,

The musical production of Swagatam, a rendition of a blend of Hindustani and Carnatic that finally climaxed into a Quawalli, was performed by Hariharan.
commonwealth,
1050 school children performed a choreography of the Namaste sign, which presented the 23 officially recognised languages of India through projections on the aerostat.
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The athletes parade began in which 71 women, dressed in sarees that not only represents different designs form the various Indian corners but also myriad patterns, colours and styles, carried their country's placards.

The 619-member strong Indian contingent, which had Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra as the flag-bearer, drew the loudest cheers as it walked into the jam-packed stadium in the presence of a host of dignitaries, International Olympic Committee and CGF officials.

The Pakistani contingent drew a heavy round of applause from the crowd, notwithstanding the irritants in the bilateral ties.

816 performers together performed a choreography that formed the shape of a sun doing the Suryanmaskar - a series of Yoga postures done in salutation to the sun. Performers on the center stage also displayed some of the most complicated asanas.

The performers then dramatically changed the choreography and began to spiral, representing the kundalini - the coiled energy, an instinctive force that lies at the base of the spine.commonwealth,

Then there was the Great Indian Journey, where a train made a grand arrival as the Cheraw dancers from Mizoram did the Bamboo dance to give the Rhythm for the train.

There was also a segment on Mahatma Gandhi, where the Father of nation was paid rich tribute through a simplistic, humanistic form, depicted through sand animation based on the historic moment of the Dandi March with Mahatma's favourite hymn - Vaishnavo Janato played at the background.

Folk dancers from various corners of the country also came together to rejoice and dance in celebration of the message of the Mahatma, showcasing the ultimate richness in India's folk culture.

The opening ceremony finally culminated with the rendition of Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman's CWG 2010 Anthem -- Jeeyo, Utho, Badho, Jeeto (Live, Rise, Move, Win) -- to inspire all the athletes to give them the push to victory.

In his address Kalmadi, widely criticised for the controversies that surrounded the delayed preparations to the Games, said "India is ready to host a great Commonwealth Games."
commonwealth,
"Despite the bad publicity, all the Commonwealth nations stood by India as Delhi becomes the largest ever in the history of the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"We are prepared to deliver a great Games," he concluded. In his brief address, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "Welcome to India. Welcome to the Games. Millions are waiting eagerly to watch the Games unfold".

The formalities, with the march past forming the major chunk, were followed by a 40-minute cultural display in which classical Indian dances, a fine yoga display and a Bollywood-style show.
commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth, commonwealth,
The Indian railway train was pulled by the age-old steam engine to the strains of the Rahman-hit 'Chayya Chayya' from the film 'Dil Se'.

A giant figure of Lord Buddha was created and rose up from the centre stage to rise up to the canopy.

Instrumental rendering of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite song 'Vaishnavo Janato' was done with a figure of the Father of the nation also created through technology in the middle of the stage.

The stadium reverberated with Rahman's Games theme song "Yaaro, India Bula Liya" and his famous "Jai Ho" number from his Oscar-winning " Slumdog Millionaire" album, in the midst of a spectacular fireworks display, before the curtains came down on the spectacular ceremony.commonwealth, commonwealth,

For the first time in Games history the athletes who took part in the march past were later seated on the periphery to watch the remaining part of the pageant.

Keeping the focus...

Why do some people fail while others succeed? Why students from a same class may find themselves at complete opposite ends years after they have left the school? Why businesses fail to pick up or go through a dry run after a successful period?

Because the focus is lost.



Focus is the key to suceed. Masters are good only in one thing because they foucs hard on it. Sometimes we meet people who like to do everything and that is why they are good at nothing. Businesses/freelancers like to be busy and that's why they pick up everything that comes across their path, without giving it a thought whether the opportunity is in sync with their core philosphy or not and they fail not because they didn't have opportunities but because they had too many of them.

So, what's the solution?

Build your work around selective things and say "no"to the rest. Ditto for the personal life. Pick 4 values and stict to them. At work, build your team around 4 key result areas and say no to rest. If you try to do everything all the time, you wouldn't stand anywhere.

So, the thought of the day is - Stay Focused. If you want to succeed, it is the only way to go.

Rules Of Being A Human

Something I read yesterday and really linked it, so posting it here




1.     You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.


2.     You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."


3.     There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."


4.     Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.


5.     Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.


6.     "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."


7.     Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.


8.     What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.


9.     Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.


10.     You will forget all this.

Never let anyone turn you around

Life is full of surprises. At one moment you could have everything and at other - nothing. Having worked as a freelancer for years, I have learned a lesson - If you want to live happily, never let anyone turn you around". 

When you take a step towards new heights, you'll meet people willing to pull you down - simply for the fun of watching you scramble. In the world we live in, only the true leaders can see situations as a challenge. Only one belief keeps them running - Life has a very fair accounting system. Caring for others is always going to pay. The difficult times are the exact times to be generous. Be generous with your time, money, feelings, emotions, care, car, home, people - everything! Don't lock what you don't use behind the cupboards. Give away your gifts. Be philanthropic with your attention.  When the whole world is shrinking its vision, its the time for some to play it forward. Begin the reinvestment in simple acts of kindness and see your efforts getting logged into the social accounting system.

Falling in line doesn't mean giving up personal convictions. Design your own terms. Watch your WATCH - Wishes, A - actions, T - time, C - Character, H - Habits

The A, B, C & D of life

Image: www.tigerbreath.com  

When hardship hits, our instinctive reaction is “what will happen to me? My home? My family? My work?”

It has become natural to start pulling in. Some people, you must have noticed, immediately get into protective mode. They try to pull in and preserve their domains. It has become human nature today.
Is this living the life as it comes? How about not acting on fears and narrowing our vision but standing for what we believe is right and getting rid of our own limitations? The simplest way to do it is by learning the basics again. So, let’s begin

A: is for accuracy. We must try and deliver everything with unmatched accuracy not only when we are working professionally but at home, with people as well. Remember, if no one’s ever going to see, it doesn’t make leaving the table messy after you’ve had food is alright. No – it isn’t. Just imagine – if someone would pay you to do it, would you then also leave it like that? No, isn’t it? Yes! I know money is a great driving force but is it ethical to be lazy?


A is also for alertness. The more alert a person would get, the better will be accuracy and of course – the end product. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are doing it with accuracy and alertness, you are bound to make it perfect.

Maintaining Balance Between Head & Heart

Its a delicate balance that most of us fail to maintain.


In our interactions with others, we sometimes only use the head, i.e., my logic.  Yes, that does bring us to a logical level and enables us to understand the facts very clearly.  But if you keep myself limited only to the facts, you tend to forget to use your heart.  Then we are not available to the other person and fail to understand them.


So, what's the solution?

In order to be successful in all our interactions with others,  have the right balance between your head and my heart. See beyond the facts, say and try to listen and understand the other person too.  When you do this you will not hurt people with your attitude but will be able to maintain harmonious relationships.

The Change Management of Life

How often you feel angry on others? If something unpleasant happens, are you able to control your mind at the right time or do you keep on thinking about it the whole day?


Generally, our thoughts drive us. It is our perception about other people; situations etc. that make us react. We are so used to keeping thoughts running on our mind that we don’t even realise how much wasteful things is happening inside us. Have you ever noticed how easily we get affected by outside scenario? When we meet an irritating person, we get irritated too.

Have you ever noticed why?

Because we have become takers of negativity, ego, anger, frustration and waste. This needs to be changed. The thinking has to become positive. With the power of positivity, we refuse to give up. Remember, though situations don’t last but tough people do.

Let us try to be a better person. It will change everything around you, because change always begins from inside. If I’ll change, the WORLD will change with me.

What is Honesty?

Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty Honesty
People often limit honesty to speaking truth. It is however much more than that. Honesty means being clear with own intentions and inner self. It is then it will bring clarity of thoughts and understanding of own capabilities. This clear understanding enables one to do the best according to the capacity. It gives the recognition of a higher step that can be climbed and brings the humility to learn from the different lessons of life.

When we become honest, we are able to know our own limitations and accept them with love. This acceptance keeps us busy with what we can do without creating the unnecessary confusion about future. We are able to do right things at the right time. We are prepared not to let situations demand more from us because there is total clarity within.

Global Warming

Global Warming is so nineties

Fight for a new cause


Water and toilets for all

Principles of positive thinking:

1. The foundation of positive thinking is to have self-respect and to be contented.

2. Self-respect in positive thinking means to be assertive and to set boundaries about what is acceptable and what is not.

3. The aim of positive thinking is to reach a stage of neutrality where your mind is purely positive because your thoughts are completely free from the opposition or resistance of negativity.

4. Positive thinking is about seeing the negative for what it is and thereby neutralizing its power over you. If you don’t identify the negativity clearly, then you are influenced by it.

5. Positive thinking is the consistent refusal to engage in projection. That means to refuse to project onto others the lures and entrapments of negative which lurk in your inner world. It also means that you refrain from seeing the world through rose coloured glasses and getting dazzled and impressed. Projection distorts your perception and skews your vision of the world.

6. Positive thinking is to be free from worrying about others.

7. Positive thinking is to develop an attitude of enlightened self interest. This is the opposite of selfishness. It means to come to terms with yourself and not be deceived by your own weaknesses.

8. Spirituality identifies you as a pure, peaceful, powerful jewel in the heart of God. Positive thinking is to respect yourself by refusing to adopt some one else’s negative vision of you. In this way you also avoid the powerful negative force of self-doubt.

9. A positive thought is produced in the face of many things that are negative. Sustained positive thoughts lead to neutrality. A neutral thought is produced when there is no further negativity to contend with.

10. Self-respect means that you consider it inappropriate to criticize others. You consider it cowardly to feel threatened by someone else. You view everyone as responsible for their own behaviour.

11. Self-respect is to affirm that you are a pure and peaceful soul. From this spiritual sense of identity you resist prerogative thoughts about your personal value and integrity from within and from without.

12. Self-respect implies self-confidence. You maintain regard for yourself independently of praise or defamation, success or failure. You maintain an attitude of love, peace, faith, courage, perseverance, enthusiasm and happiness.

13. Your contentment allows you to have a large heart, magnanimous feelings towards others and a comfortable relationship with the social environment, free from fear.

14. Respecting yourself gives you the power to discern, when someone wants you to buy you into a lie: but you don’t.

15. A positive thinker has a personal ethical policy of honesty. This ensures that the faculties of intuition and perception are reliable. An honest person can detect when someone is lying. You have regard for your discernment and therefore are hard to deceive. At the same time of deception the other’s effort will be to persuade you to disregard what you know don’t exist.

16. You are not deceived by things that you feel positive but are in fact negative. Negativity is subtle and invisible. It occurs both within the self ad through other people. Your thoughts of contentment are not based on appearances.

17. Positive thinking is independent thinking based on higher principles and values. It is not a reaction to appearances or being dependent on people, places ad things being as you expect.

18. Thinking a positive thought in a simplistic way is a form of denial because it ignores the web of negativity and the selfish motives of others around you. Unless you discern others selfish motives, you will get duped.

Why Birthdays Are a Big Deal?

People throw birthday parties, like to go out, shop, eat and have fun on their birthdays. Yes, it is the day they were born but what’s the big deal about it? Why can’t we be so cheery all the days in the year? Why do we need a special occasion for celebration?


How about making your whole life special? How about having a vision for the entire humankind and contributing into it daily through good wishes? How about leaving our meanness and extending our love to others selflessly? How about picking up the phone and calling your estranged sibling, with whom you haven’t spoken in the years and pretend that things are okay?

Why do we have limited visions, I don’t understand. Why we find it easy to talk to people sitting thousands of miles away from us on Facebook but have cold-wars at home? Life doesn’t need to be so complicated. We don’t have to be afraid because someone will snub us. We just have to be powerful enough to make our happiness becomes contagious.

And that’s what I am going to do on my birthday. That’s my vision for the next year – Give more than what people expect so that I can be happy that I did something good.

When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Gets Going

Truly admire these words. Life is full of struggles. We can either sit back and let them take their toll on us or do take an action so that they feel weaken. Somehow, the second choice suits me more.

Every day I get up, I only have one thought in mind – “How to make today a better day than yesterday?” and so, I navigate my ideas to push me in doing something different at every moment, so as to ensure that things always look bright and different.

Life is a hungry beast. It is going to eat us up if we don’t do something about it. So, if you ever feel low, remember - when the going gets tough the tough gets going.

Patience – The Biggest Virtue

Slow but the steady one always wins. Success is not the result of how fast or shrewd you are, but how diligently you work.

We have got so much used to thinking that everything should happen fast. Even with little on our part, we expect high results. Isn’t it easy to say that “you didn’t work according to what I told you”, rather than “I am sorry, I realise that I didn’t explain things properly to you”.

Since impatience is so deeply rooted in us, we just can't wait and therefore jump to conclusions and react immediately without understanding the problem. Thus we find it difficult to experience success in whatever we do.

So what’s the solution?

The understanding starts with the fact when we realise that fruits of seeds that we sow in will come at their own time. This will give you the patience to wait without expecting results too fast. And it’s the patience that will let you stay calm even in the most negative/adverse situations.

Staying healthy from mind

In this world of uncertainty, keeping your body fit can sometimes be a challenge. From morning till night, we are so engrossed in our routines that sometimes we even forget what the body requires.

My post is not about promoting self indulgence in such a way that there’s nothing else to do. To have a healthy body, a healthy thinking is what we need. We would never eat rotten food because we know what it is not healthy and eating it would give rise to problems. But how many of us notice the thoughts that we feed into our mind throughout the day? Our whole day is spent in creating negativity and the feeling of jealously, hatred, fear, ignorance and anger – all the wasteful thoughts – and then at the end of our day, we get a feeling that “I don’t know why, but I don’t feel happy”.

Why is sadness, low self esteem and depression is on high? Why do we feel lonely even when we are surrounded with people? And for that matter, why have our nights become sleepless?

The answer my friends is not the candle in the wind but it is to watch what we feed our mind. We reap what we sow and if someone is reaping wrong feelings for others, how can he or she expect happiness in return?

What is Leadership?

On my way back from office today, I pulled over a cafe to have a cup of coffee. Read a quote in The Economic Times where an elf mentions to a Hobbit: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Wonderful advice, simple enough to be remembered by all of us.

Leadership Poster

Sometimes we tend to postpone taking initiative and drive a change until we officially receive more responsibility and get a bigger title against our names. But isn’t today the best time to enact like a leader?

No matter what you do in the organization you're in: Lead Where You Are Planted. Start from where you are. Your bold act of leadership just might transform your organization. And if you get super lucky, the course of the future will change to fit you in.

Feeling stronger Everyday...

Had a chance to meet few ladies from a nearby village today. Man, I was amazed by their quest for life. Their life stories are unbelievably true. They believe in taking care of not only their family but 10 other homes in addition to that. There's something called "pure love" that perhaps God has gifted them.

Why we educate ourselves? To gain knowledge, right? And what do we do with it? We become rational. We start analysing everything from our tiny brain and forget what that 'inner voice' is saying.

Having met this group, I feel I rather unlearn everything and spend some time in knowing humanity. There is so much suffering around and if we take a step in curing it through our thoughts, positivity and liveliness, what can we not achieve?

My India Today

State of Affairs in today's world is disturbing. I can't believe I live in a country where parts of it are so affected by terrorism.


We talk of saving tigers, we have socialists dressed up in khadi and blabbering all the useless things, but where is it all leading to? My first reaction is when I see such discussions on TV - "Do hell with it". What about saving humanity? Are we even inclined to do that?

Yesterday, there was a massacre and 75 of my brave countrymen were killed – they left behind 75 families in despair, parents, wives, children - all asking just one question - "What is our fault?" And indeed, what is their fault? We have no doubt on our infantry services. We know they believe in tit for tat. I just hope government wakes up and does something worthwhile and the ever hyped media, for a change forget what Sania Mirza is doing and cover something substantial... And I hope my countrymen realise there is something more to life that cricket and IPL.

How To React When Relationships Demand Compromise?

Maintaining relationships with extended family is not easy. You may have a good synchronization with few of them, but keeping everyone contented sometimes becomes tough.

I don’t know about other countries but in India, many of us have lost the value of the word “FAMILY”. We have forgotten what it’s like to be in a lovable relationship, to give without worrying about taking and to compromise on your happiness for the sake of family.

When you are on a path of becoming better, problems do come. Situations take you test at every instance. So, if something happens with you that you don’t like, what do you do? Chances are that most of us REACT than ACT. We immediately let our disappointment show without giving a thought to the other person’s feeling.

And this is what ‘Karma Philosophy’ has taught me – “Always do you good, best things will follow”. Trust me; it’s not too painful to have a big heart. Just believe in giving. Promise yourself to give something to everyone you meet, don’t worry if you don’t have anything because if nothing else, then give Happiness. It would be your biggest virtue and you will never suffer for it. This is what I am learning; hope to become better along the way.

Love you guys!

Nitima

What have Human Beings Become?

There’s an earth-quake coming every week. Countries like Nigeria, Afghanistan, Congo are on verge of breaking into pieces. Can’t believe that on one side of the world people are dying in hundreds, some countries don’t have legislature to protect their citizen’s basic right of living and then there are those who are worried about Oscars, Rahul Mahajan’s incredibly stupid acts, IPL, weapons, Paris Hilton’s dresses – It’s amazing – the insensitiveness of individuals makes me wonder – ARE WE HUMANS? Animals are better– at least they are away from the feelings of hypocrisy, jealously and hatred.


Come-on people, wake up. This world needs thinkers; it needs those can think of a world governed not by selfish interests but by love, peace and harmony.

Or we want nature to shake us...

FEW TIPS ON HEALTHY LIVING

A friend sent me these; I thought I'll share it with my extended family of readers from all over the world


Healthy Living Tip 1. Enjoy a pint of water first thing in the morning.

If you haven’t got time for anything else in the morning, make time to drink a big glass of water. We lose a lot of oxygen through the night and to rejuvenate our cells, we need to supply them with water and oxygen. Drink a glass of water and within a week you’ll begin to feel less tired. I like the taste of water, but I know some people do not so if you’re one of them, squeeze some fresh lime into your water to give it taste and drink up.

Healthy Living Tip 2. Grab a few fresh fruits on your way out.

Wherever you are travelling, pick up one or two fruits and eat them. If you leave for work in the morning and return in evening, take a few fruits and eat them throughout the day. Fruits are great for their nutrients, vitamins and sugars that are required in our body.

Healthy Living Tip 3. Avoid going to junk food shops

If your work mates are going and you want to go along, go ahead but don’t order the burger or French fries. Go for a nice salad instead. Or any other healthy meal that takes your fancy. Junk food is full of “empty calories” that do nothing for your body but put on extra unneeded and unhealthy fat. Opt for more organic, whole foods. Ease up on animal fats. And, start reading labels on eatables. You are what you eat!

Healthy Living Tip 4. Exercise on the go.

If you work in an office, get up every 30 minutes and go for a walk. If you have an office with stairs, run up and down the stairs every couple of hours. Get your blood flowing and your muscles moving.

Healthy Living Tip 5. Drink herbal teas.

When at work or home, many people love to get a cup of tea or coffee. Decide that you’ll be healthier and get a warm cup of herbal tea. The selection available today is absolutely massive, so you’re guaranteed to find one you enjoy.

Healthy Living Tip 6. Eat a handful of nuts.

Get your favorite selection of nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.) and raisins and have a big handful of them at around 3pm. This has been shown to increase afternoon energy and productivity.


Healthy Living Tip 7. Say yes to freshly squeezed juice.

Say “yes” to freshly squeezed juice every morning. Your energy, body, health and vitality will increase ten-fold.


Healthy Living Tip 8. Deep breathing.

When you’ve got time – at your desk, driving the car, cooking food – do some deep breathing. Inhale and count up to 5 seconds, hold it for a few seconds, and release slowly. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is one of the best things we can do for our blood and cells.

Not Letting The Motivation Disappear...

Motivation disappears when we start seeing ourselves as ‘ordinary’. We begin to see every day as a routine, cooking, laundry, cleaning, working – everything starts looking monotonous after a while. Yes, variety is the spice of life and who says we should not live a spicy life? Get inspired to get motivated. Think of ways you can sketch you day in a more colourful way, take a break from what you do continuously and Thank God for not giving you what you never wanted, be a giver rather than taker and if you can’t give anything else, give people motivation, love and peace.


My leadership is giving my best when no one is watching because I know that I want to excel not because people appreciate it but because I am made to do things in the best way.

Words written by a friend...

One of my good friends has written a very thought provoking poem. I wish I had talent to write like this...

There used to be a glacier,
There used to be a lake,
There used to be a sea-shore,
Now its all fake.


We have eaten the treas,
We have melted the ice caps
We have leveled the mountains.
Now the earth shakes.

Read the entire poem here on Life Motivations

My Country, My Vision

On a recent trip to the interiors of India, I was once again reminded of the diversity my country has. The lives we all are living today, we need to see things from our eyes to appreciate them and I am no different.

A day after 26th Jan, I want to share my vision for my country.

My vision for India is to make it a better country to live and work. I don’t want to wait till 2020 to be part of a developed nation, I want everything now. I want cleaner roads, better government accountability, civilised countrymen and unlimited opportunities to take talent to next level. I understand my responsibilities, I know evading tax or electricity bills won’t make me rich and I must pay for what I use. I want a break from idiotic television serials, sickening media coverage and senseless realty shows. I want to watch cricket for the love of the game and not for the glamour stage it has become. I want the power to sue a company if it doesn’t treat me right. I want people to be more active – learn sports and yoga and not copy west blindly. I want families to be more united and not run madly in the race to earn more money....

Let us preserve what is good within us, so that we can give a better tomorrow to our children.... let us be happy and spread joy, even if our neighbours don’t like because I can be what I want; and so can be my country.

Practical spirituality – learning the art of passing smile

Corporate offices are full of people running in the mad race of showing each other down. In the language of a consummate, this is called ‘beating the competition’. Do we have time for ourselves? The answer is “NO”


And that’s why, we are not happy. There is something missing badly from our lives – and that is laughter.

Yes, people do laugh but most of the time it is on sarcastic comments that we all pass to each other casually. Where has the smile gone, I fail to see...

But we are smart – aren’t we? Whatever is going missing from our lives, we are nominating days to make up for that. Father’s day to express love for fathers, mother’s day to tell how amazing our mothers are – isn’t this irony of life that we need special days to remember all those special people who have shaped our lives? And have loved us beyond calculations to make us what we are today?

And on heights of all these days, there is laugher day – 16th Jan. Do we need a special day to remember that smile is costless, easy, helps us in making friends and is a gift in itself? If you are wise, tell me - why can’t everyday be the laughter day?

Spiritual quotient and me!

Recently a reader sent me an email asking “how to maintain spiritual quotient during the day?”

People, by default, relate spirituality with religion. However, the reality is something else. Spirituality means “being in peace with yourself and experience the state of bliss.” Seeing every moment as a new opportunity and living it completely. To be able to see the freshness that every second, minute, hour and day brings. Isn’t every moment full of promises, just as the thousand before that you missed? Spirituality makes you completely free of passing any judgment whatsoever. It makes you feel "light" all the time. You cannot carry over something if you don’t want. You don’t have to pass a ‘be a good person’ exam before you start on the path of spirituality - its completely unconditional.

It’s like every moment is saying… “Okay, so you missed me the last ten thousand times, but look! I am here again… and again… and again...and again!” And there time is – welcoming you with open arms.