Let’s Be Calm :)

Anxiety comes naturally to us & so do it’s pillion riders called hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, panic attacks..the list is limitless. Our mind loves playing tricks with us. We need to love outsmarting it 🙂

Use logic to quieten your distressed self. Be conscious of each moment, guys. Take in a few deep breaths when your mind starts racing & coaxes you into believing that some upheaval is near when that’s clearly not true.

A calm, mature approach to any situation is always desirable. Anxiety only breeds immaturity & less thought – out actions. Breathe, think & act, not the other way round !

Knowledge & Wisdom Are Different

They are cousins, belonging to the grand tree of learning but don’t share the exact same genes. There are so many knowledgeable people around but wise ones are hard to find. If you ever find one, make sure to assimilate and pass on that wisdom to as many as possible because, after all, sagacity makes a person grounded & purposeful while just being informative may breed arrogance.

Comfort Zone

Oh that feeling…yes,yes that one. It’s unsettling right? You just don’t wanna step out of that soft, velvety cocoon that you now live in. I get you, my friend.

It’s akin to being woken up from a deep slumber by an alarm clock on a Monday morning ! Who likes that but what needs to be done, needs to be done. It is imperative to get out of this comfort zone that we keep putting ourselves into or else we are only inviting inactivity.

Flowing water appears more cheerful than it’s still counterpart. So be like a river, always going with the flow, saying sayonara (bye) to the familiar & kon’nichiwa (hello) to the unknown in order to reach your own fullest potential. Don’t ever forget the known, for it taught you a lot but don’t be afraid of embracing the unknown either !

Believe In Yourself

“Oh, I should have done this. I should have said that then. How I wish I was more confident back then …. “

Familiar with these dialogues? Sure, we ALL are ! Aren’t these the same bullies who pay us an unsolicited visit every time we decide to walk on that less beaten track or when we start comparing ourselves with others ? Gosh, we really need to start respecting & loving our own selves.

Now, I’ll tell you something about bullies – they hide their insecurities behind aggression. That’s what regret (I rather call them learning) & under confidence also try to do with our minds – limit our ability to conquer the world by masking our cognition & emotion over a gloom of darkness. So what, if you didn’t achieve so-so thing before so-so time, you can very well go ahead & add so many new feathers to your cap.

LEARN from your past. Experiences exist to enrich us, not to demean us. Don’t beat yourself over what you could have done because in the process you’ll let go of what you can do. Don’t let your mind rule you, YOU should rule your mind.

You are a summation of the whole of your experiences & not a product of a few negative events that may have hit you like a cyclone. Understand yourself. Have compassion for yourself. There is no time limit for self enhancement, it’s a life long process. Move over your yesterdays to live a shining today & a fulfilling tomorrow. 🙂

Do I Sound Utopian?

“Be the change you want to see in the world.“

I am sure you have come across this quote way too many times. You have heard it, maybe rote learnt it for an exam too, but have you internalized it?

My writings speak of a more humane, peaceful, compassionate & less anxious world. Some of you may think I sound Utopian & that we can only do so much – at best change ourselves but not the people around us, so what’s the point in being so nice when others just go about their daily life without a care for virtues?

Good question, buddy but I have a counter for it 🙂 Change starts from within us. If negativity multiplied in a domino effect why can’t positive thought & action counter it by being a greater force? If we all start to change bit-by-bit, this world would surely become a more congenial space to co-exist in.

Through vicarious learning people would start emulating you provided you start believing in being the force behind the CHANGE. Sustainable development of the human race is crucial for life to flourish in. We were NOT created to tolerate the ‘drudgery’ of life ! We were given the gift of life to make some good out of it not just for ourselves but for others too.

Take a step forward in the right direction, you’ll see an entire camaraderie rallying behind you. Call a spade, a spade. Stand up for what is right. Reject the wrong. Start with your own flaws. Leave impressive footprints for humanity to follow & learn from & one day you’ll look back feeling satisfied 🙂

Help? Sure But Conditions Apply !

What’s in it for ME? What will I gain out of it? Why should I do this for YOU?

Be honest & ask yourself, aren’t these the questions that cross your mind whenever someone asks you to do something which doesn’t directly/ indirectly concern you? If you graciously decide to help then you make sure to maintain a mental note of all the things you have done & wait for the right time to get the favor returned. Am I right ?

Most adult relationships are a form of quid pro quo, always looking for a high Return-On-Investment. Where has all the goodness-for-the-sake-of-goodness gone? Did it ever exist in real or has it just been a part of our collective consciousness? Why are we always taught to be virtuous when vice comes more naturally to humans?

Looking out for someone without an ulterior motive is so rare that if some kind soul actually exists, he/she is made to feel like a saint or a Nobel Peace Prize winner – someone rooting for peace in a world where violence & anger exist organically but love & compassion need to be consciously developed !

Imagine a world where everyone thought of the other person before him/herself, forming a chain of benevolence. A space where unknown people were not suspected but thought of as those who would stand for what is right & would willing help a distressed person. This way wouldn’t we all be less anxious & happier souls?

‘Failure’ & Overthinking

Please, please, tell me which scripture or legal document says that not being successful in a task is a cardinal sin? None, I would like to believe. If it is not a ‘crime’ then why are people afraid of talking about their misfired adventures?

Life is not supposed to be flawless. I really wonder who put this idea in the minds of the human race that being unsuccessful is something to be ashamed of.

You tell me , you have learnt how to ride a cycle, swim or how to play the guitar, right? Did you learn everything & became a perfectionist from the word go? If yes, then, my friend, you are a supra human ! 🙂 otherwise mortals like me tend to try & try before we finally triumph.

Champions don’t emerge from the sky, they emerge from the masses but what makes them different from the majority is that they don’t believe in giving up, even when they feel that the world thinks they should.

Perseverance is a trait found in all those who want to or have realized the true meaning of life. By all means, fall, please do. Without falling, you won’t realize how to stand up on your own two feet. Tell me one person who has learnt to run without walking or one who has learnt to walk without falling down. I don’t think anyone like this really exists..

Humans overthink & believe that others are as bothered about their so called ‘failures’ as they are but that’s far from truth. Everybody’s focal point revolves around their own life. They are as concerned about themselves as you are about yourself so don’t stress over what others would think, only focus on upping your game!

Why Can’t We Handle Criticism?

Often when someone points out our short coming, we tend to take it as a personal insult & make a face as to why this person is saying all that he/she is. This person could be a parent,friend,boss or even a stranger. We end up feeling unpleasant & start criticizing & pointing fingers at the other person in order to drive home the point that even he/she is not perfect..

Reacting like this to any negative feedback is more like a defense mechanism for a lot of people. Why do individuals rise up against an unpalatable critique? All of us know that all mortal beings are, by definition, imperfect then why do we make acknowledging that such a big ego hassle?

If put rightly then the feedback given by the person may still be accepted by us but if he/she decides to say the same thing in a slightly curt manner then suddenly all hell breaks loose & we get into an argument or start harboring a grudge for no rhyme-or-reason.

Learning to be conscious of our blemishes is the only way to emerge brighter than before! Master the art of keeping people who point out your weaknesses close to you because they are the ones who’ll refine you unlike sycophants who only know how to please.

Cheers To Life !

After a certain age, don’t we all turn into boring/mechanical people who are always running after something & worrying about endless things on a daily basis! The carefree days of childhood seem to be tucked away somewhere in our long term memory..huh!

Yes, it’s necessary to be occupied in order to prevent the mind from becoming a devil’s workshop but it is also imperative to sometimes break the circuit & relax just for the sake of relaxing – taking a break not because the kids’ have their summer vacation or because you could turn a work trip into a work – cum- pleasure one just to please your spouse. Taking a break simply because YOU want to chill a bit. That’s all. No strings attached.

Being a responsible adult doesn’t mean you only cater to others’ needs and not your own. Learning new skills, meeting new people, ticking off all those items on your bucket list & most importantly becoming a better person , should feature in your daily to-do list along with the everyday mundane chores of life like paying bills, attending to work & buying groceries.

Adulting is a part of life – not your whole life. Smile. Laugh. Breathe. Love. Live a little 🙂