If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: We all want everything to be okay. We don't even wish so much for fantastic or marvelous or outstanding. We will happily settle for okay, because most of the time, okay is enough. - David Levithan
Don't be fooled by your emptiness, there's so much room for happiness!
Two things help success in life:
1. The way you manage when you have nothing
2. The way you behave when you have everything.
Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from the negative.
When we all help one another everybody wins. - Jim Stovall
Rivers never go reverse - so try to live like a river, forget past and focus on future... always be positive!
We can save many relations, if we understand a simple fact that people are not wrong, they are different.
The secret to living longer and better:
Eat half...
Walk twice...
Laugh triple...
and love without measure. - Chinese proverb
The happiest people do not necessarily have the best things.
They simple appreciate the things they have.
There is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some people come into your life to test you, some to teach you, some to use you, and some to bring out the very best in you.
A lamp doesn't speak...it introduces itself through its light...
Achievers never expose themselves, but their achievements expose them.
While you were waking up today, someone else was taking their last breath. Be thankful for this day.
Life, the start and the end are similar, take advantage of the time in between.
Positive thinking isn't about expecting the best to happen every time, but accepting that whatever happens is the best for this moment.
Sometimes the strongest people are the ones who love beyond all faults, cry behind closed doors and fight battles that nobody knows about.
Friday, April 29, 2016
1 to 10... Fantastic Words
The most selfish one letter word.
"I"
Avoid it.
The most satisfying two letter word.
"We"
Use it.
The most poisonous three letter word.
"Ego"
Kill it.
The most used four letter word.
"Love"
Value it.
The most pleasing five letter word.
"Smile"
Keep it.
The fastest spreading six letter word.
"Rumour"
Ignore it.
The hard working seven letter word.
"Success"
Achieve it.
The most enviable eight letter word.
"Jealousy"
Distance it.
The most powerful nine letter word.
"Knowledge"
Acquire it.
The most divine ten letter word.
"Friendship"
Maintain it.
"I"
Avoid it.
The most satisfying two letter word.
"We"
Use it.
The most poisonous three letter word.
"Ego"
Kill it.
The most used four letter word.
"Love"
Value it.
The most pleasing five letter word.
"Smile"
Keep it.
The fastest spreading six letter word.
"Rumour"
Ignore it.
The hard working seven letter word.
"Success"
Achieve it.
The most enviable eight letter word.
"Jealousy"
Distance it.
The most powerful nine letter word.
"Knowledge"
Acquire it.
The most divine ten letter word.
"Friendship"
Maintain it.
Friday, April 15, 2016
All Parents - Do Read
A man, an avid gardener, saw a small butterfly laying few eggs in one of the pots in his garden. Since that day he looked at the eggs with ever growing curiosity and eagerness.
The eggs started to move and shake a little.
He was excited to see a new life coming up right in front of his eyes. He spent hours watching the eggs now. The eggs started to expand and develop cracks. A tiny head and antennae started to come out ever so slowly. The man's excitement knew no bounds.
He got his magnifying glass and sat to watch the life and body of a pupa coming out. He saw the struggle of the tender pupa and couldn't resist his urge to 'help'. He went and got a tender forceps to help the egg break, a nip here, a nip there to help the struggling life and the pupa was out. The man was ecstatic!
He waited now each day for the pupa to grow and fly like a beautiful butterfly, but alas that never happened. The larvae pupa had an oversized head and kept crawling along in the pot for the full 4 weeks and died!
Depressed, the man went to his botanist friend and asked the reason. His friend told him the struggle to break out of the egg helps the larvae to send blood to its wings and the head push helps the head to remain small so that the tender wings can support it through its 4-week life cycle. In his eagerness to help, the man destroyed a beautiful life!
Struggles help all of us, that's why a bit of effort goes a long way to develop our strength to face life's difficulties!
As parents, we sometimes go too far trying to help and protect our kids from life's harsh realities and disappointments. We don't want our kids to struggle like we did.
Harvard psychiatrist Dr Dan Kindlon says that over-protected children are more likely to struggle in relationships and with challenges. We're sending our kids the message that they're not capable of helping themselves.
To quote clinical psychologist, Dr Wendy's Moral: "It is our job to prepare our children for the road and not prepare the road for our children."
The eggs started to move and shake a little.
He was excited to see a new life coming up right in front of his eyes. He spent hours watching the eggs now. The eggs started to expand and develop cracks. A tiny head and antennae started to come out ever so slowly. The man's excitement knew no bounds.
He got his magnifying glass and sat to watch the life and body of a pupa coming out. He saw the struggle of the tender pupa and couldn't resist his urge to 'help'. He went and got a tender forceps to help the egg break, a nip here, a nip there to help the struggling life and the pupa was out. The man was ecstatic!
He waited now each day for the pupa to grow and fly like a beautiful butterfly, but alas that never happened. The larvae pupa had an oversized head and kept crawling along in the pot for the full 4 weeks and died!
Depressed, the man went to his botanist friend and asked the reason. His friend told him the struggle to break out of the egg helps the larvae to send blood to its wings and the head push helps the head to remain small so that the tender wings can support it through its 4-week life cycle. In his eagerness to help, the man destroyed a beautiful life!
Struggles help all of us, that's why a bit of effort goes a long way to develop our strength to face life's difficulties!
As parents, we sometimes go too far trying to help and protect our kids from life's harsh realities and disappointments. We don't want our kids to struggle like we did.
Harvard psychiatrist Dr Dan Kindlon says that over-protected children are more likely to struggle in relationships and with challenges. We're sending our kids the message that they're not capable of helping themselves.
To quote clinical psychologist, Dr Wendy's Moral: "It is our job to prepare our children for the road and not prepare the road for our children."
What is Binding You?
A farmer was taking three of his donkeys for sale to the market. On the way he saw a river and decided to have a dip.
Since he had only two ropes to tie the donkeys to a tree, he looked around wondering how to tie the third one.
He saw a sage and sought his help if he could give him a rope to tie the third donkey. The sage did not have a rope but had a suggestion.
He told the farmer, "Let the third donkey see you tying the other two donkeys to a tree. Then you pretend to tie this one also."
The farmer did as he was told and went for a dip in the river. Coming back, he thanked the sage and saw that the donkeys stood exactly at the same spot where he had left them.
He untied the two donkeys and patted the third one to start moving. After going a little distance, imagine his surprise when the third donkey stood still at the same spot.
Cajoling, kicking or talking did not help with the donkey, refusing to move from the spot.
The farmer went back to the sage, who told him, "Untie the third donkey." "But," protested the farmer, "I have not tied him." The sage asked, "You know it. But does the donkey know that?"
Sure enough the farmer went back and pretended to untie the donkey. The donkey moved immediately as though released and walked over to join the other two donkeys.
We are all, also tied up by too many imaginary ropes... which are really non-existent. The only truth is there are no boundaries in real life and anyone can stretch to any extent. Don't we all see records being broken, every time, everywhere and everyday?
Our mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except with our permission.
Since he had only two ropes to tie the donkeys to a tree, he looked around wondering how to tie the third one.
He saw a sage and sought his help if he could give him a rope to tie the third donkey. The sage did not have a rope but had a suggestion.
He told the farmer, "Let the third donkey see you tying the other two donkeys to a tree. Then you pretend to tie this one also."
The farmer did as he was told and went for a dip in the river. Coming back, he thanked the sage and saw that the donkeys stood exactly at the same spot where he had left them.
He untied the two donkeys and patted the third one to start moving. After going a little distance, imagine his surprise when the third donkey stood still at the same spot.
Cajoling, kicking or talking did not help with the donkey, refusing to move from the spot.
The farmer went back to the sage, who told him, "Untie the third donkey." "But," protested the farmer, "I have not tied him." The sage asked, "You know it. But does the donkey know that?"
Sure enough the farmer went back and pretended to untie the donkey. The donkey moved immediately as though released and walked over to join the other two donkeys.
We are all, also tied up by too many imaginary ropes... which are really non-existent. The only truth is there are no boundaries in real life and anyone can stretch to any extent. Don't we all see records being broken, every time, everywhere and everyday?
Our mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except with our permission.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Overtake
A boy with his parents was travelling in their car. Father was driving and son was sitting in the back. Dad was driving this car very carefully because it was quite dear to him.
After a few minutes later, a modern car overtook their car. Son told Father, "Dad this car went ahead of us, please use accelerator to overtake that car." Dad replied smiling, "Son, it is not possible, our car is not capable of going that fast."
Within a few seconds, another car went ahead of them. Son got annoyed by it and told dad to press accelerator.
Dad replied to son in anger, "You are only seeing cars which are going ahead of us. There are many cars behind us. If we try to catch up with those cars in front of us, we may end up doing damage to our car."
Son replied nicely, "Dad, you compare me with other smart kids and keep telling me to be like them. If I try to be like them, I might end up hurting myself right! You are only seeing smarter kids than me, but you are not seeing kids who are behind me."
All parents must read.
After a few minutes later, a modern car overtook their car. Son told Father, "Dad this car went ahead of us, please use accelerator to overtake that car." Dad replied smiling, "Son, it is not possible, our car is not capable of going that fast."
Within a few seconds, another car went ahead of them. Son got annoyed by it and told dad to press accelerator.
Dad replied to son in anger, "You are only seeing cars which are going ahead of us. There are many cars behind us. If we try to catch up with those cars in front of us, we may end up doing damage to our car."
Son replied nicely, "Dad, you compare me with other smart kids and keep telling me to be like them. If I try to be like them, I might end up hurting myself right! You are only seeing smarter kids than me, but you are not seeing kids who are behind me."
All parents must read.
Smile For You
Smile is infectious, you catch it like the flu,
when someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realised I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile then I realised its worth,
A single smile, just like mine could travel around the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!
when someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realised I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile then I realised its worth,
A single smile, just like mine could travel around the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Harvard University Recommended 20 Happy Habits for 2016
1. Be grateful.
Slow down, look around you, and pay attention to the little details in your life - the delicate purple flower on the sidewalk, the beautiful sunset, the hot shower that washes away your long day, and the smile in your partner's eyes...
When you have a grateful heart that is appreciative of life's beauty, wonder and blessings, you're automatically filled with happiness.
2. Choose your friends wisely.
According to Harvard, the most important external factors affecting individual happiness are human relationships. So if you want to be happy, choose to be around people who are optimistic, who appreciate you as you are, and who can make your life richer, bigger, more fun, and more meaningful.
3. Cultivate compassion.
When we try to step into other people's shoes and understand a situation from another's perspective, we're more likely to handle the situation with compassion, objectivity and effectiveness. There will be less conflicts and more happiness.
4. Keep learning.
Learning keeps us young and dreams keep us alive. When we engage our brains and put them toward productive uses, we're less likely to dwell on unhappy thoughts and much more likely to feel happy and fulfilled.
5. Become a problem solver.
Happy people are problem solvers. When they encounter a challenge in life, they don't beat themselves up and fall into a depressive state. Instead, they face up to challenge and channel their energies toward finding a solution. By becoming a problem solver, you'll build up your self-confidence and your ability to accomplish whatever it is you set your mind to - and whatever challenges life throws your way.
6. Do what you love.
Since we spend over one-third of our adult life working, loving what we do has a huge impact on our overall happiness. If this is not possible at the moment, then try to find enjoyment and meaning in your current work, or cultivate a hobby that involves doing something you love.
7. Live in the present.
When you feel depressed, you're living in the past. When you feel worried or anxious, you're living in the future. But when you feel content, happy and peaceful, you're living in the present.
8. Laugh often.
Laughter is the most powerful anecdote to anger or depression. Research has shown that the simple act of curving the corners of your mouth can increase your feeling of happiness. So don't take life too seriously. Try to find humour and laughter in life's everyday struggles.
9. Practice forgiveness.
Resentment and anger are forms of self-punishment. When you forgive, you're actually practising kindness to yourself. And most importantly, learn to forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. It's through our mistakes that we learn and grow to become a bigger and better person.
10. Say thanks often.
Always be appreciative of the blessings in your life. And it's equally important to express your appreciation to those who've made your life better in some way, big or small.
11. Create deeper connections.
Our happiness multiplies when we connect and bond with another human being on a deeper level. And being fully present and listening are two of the most important skills to strengthening that bond and bringing happiness to ourselves, and to others.
12. Keep your agreement.
Our self-esteem is built on the agreements we've made with ourselves. And high self-esteem has a direct correlation to happiness. So keep your agreements with others and with yourself.
13. Meditate.
According to Harvard, people who take 8 sessions of mindfulness meditation training are, on average, 20% happier than a control group. Such training can lead to structural brain changes including increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection.
14. Focus on what you're doing.
When you put your mind, heart and soul into what you're doing, you're creating a happiness state - called the 'flow'. When you're living in the flow, you're less likely to care about what others may think of you, and less bothered by things that are not that important. The result? More happiness, of course！
15. Be optimistic.
For happy people, the glass is always half full. If your tendency is to imagine the very worst-case scenario every time you face a challenge, then train yourself to reverse that tendency. Ask yourself what good can come out of the situation or what you can learn from it. Optimism surely fuels success and happiness.
16. Love unconditionally.
No one is perfect. Accept yourself for all of your imperfections. And do so for others. Loving someone unconditionally does not mean that you need to spend all your time with them or help them figure out their problems. Unconditional love means accepting people as they are, and allowing them to find their own ways, at their own pace.
17. Don't give up.
Unfinished projects and repeated defeats inevitably dampen one's self-esteem. If you've made up your mind to do something, see it through. Don't give up until you succeed. Remember, failure is temporary but defeat is permanent. And defeat only occurs when you give up.
18. Do your best and then let go.
Everyone has limitations, and things don't always turn out to be what we'd like them to be - despite our efforts. So always give your best, and then let go. Let events run their course. When you've done your best, you'll have no regrets.
19. Take care of yourself.
A healthy body is the key to happiness. If you have poor health, it's very difficult to be happy no matter how hard you try. So make sure you eat well, exercise and find time to rest. Take good care of your body, your mind and your spirit.
20. Give back.
Doing good is one of the surest ways to feel good. According to Harvard, when people do good, their brains become active in the very same reward centre that is stimulated when they experience other rewards. So it's not a surprise that people who care more about others are happier than those who care less about others.
Slow down, look around you, and pay attention to the little details in your life - the delicate purple flower on the sidewalk, the beautiful sunset, the hot shower that washes away your long day, and the smile in your partner's eyes...
When you have a grateful heart that is appreciative of life's beauty, wonder and blessings, you're automatically filled with happiness.
2. Choose your friends wisely.
According to Harvard, the most important external factors affecting individual happiness are human relationships. So if you want to be happy, choose to be around people who are optimistic, who appreciate you as you are, and who can make your life richer, bigger, more fun, and more meaningful.
3. Cultivate compassion.
When we try to step into other people's shoes and understand a situation from another's perspective, we're more likely to handle the situation with compassion, objectivity and effectiveness. There will be less conflicts and more happiness.
4. Keep learning.
Learning keeps us young and dreams keep us alive. When we engage our brains and put them toward productive uses, we're less likely to dwell on unhappy thoughts and much more likely to feel happy and fulfilled.
5. Become a problem solver.
Happy people are problem solvers. When they encounter a challenge in life, they don't beat themselves up and fall into a depressive state. Instead, they face up to challenge and channel their energies toward finding a solution. By becoming a problem solver, you'll build up your self-confidence and your ability to accomplish whatever it is you set your mind to - and whatever challenges life throws your way.
6. Do what you love.
Since we spend over one-third of our adult life working, loving what we do has a huge impact on our overall happiness. If this is not possible at the moment, then try to find enjoyment and meaning in your current work, or cultivate a hobby that involves doing something you love.
7. Live in the present.
When you feel depressed, you're living in the past. When you feel worried or anxious, you're living in the future. But when you feel content, happy and peaceful, you're living in the present.
8. Laugh often.
Laughter is the most powerful anecdote to anger or depression. Research has shown that the simple act of curving the corners of your mouth can increase your feeling of happiness. So don't take life too seriously. Try to find humour and laughter in life's everyday struggles.
9. Practice forgiveness.
Resentment and anger are forms of self-punishment. When you forgive, you're actually practising kindness to yourself. And most importantly, learn to forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. It's through our mistakes that we learn and grow to become a bigger and better person.
10. Say thanks often.
Always be appreciative of the blessings in your life. And it's equally important to express your appreciation to those who've made your life better in some way, big or small.
11. Create deeper connections.
Our happiness multiplies when we connect and bond with another human being on a deeper level. And being fully present and listening are two of the most important skills to strengthening that bond and bringing happiness to ourselves, and to others.
12. Keep your agreement.
Our self-esteem is built on the agreements we've made with ourselves. And high self-esteem has a direct correlation to happiness. So keep your agreements with others and with yourself.
13. Meditate.
According to Harvard, people who take 8 sessions of mindfulness meditation training are, on average, 20% happier than a control group. Such training can lead to structural brain changes including increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection.
14. Focus on what you're doing.
When you put your mind, heart and soul into what you're doing, you're creating a happiness state - called the 'flow'. When you're living in the flow, you're less likely to care about what others may think of you, and less bothered by things that are not that important. The result? More happiness, of course！
15. Be optimistic.
For happy people, the glass is always half full. If your tendency is to imagine the very worst-case scenario every time you face a challenge, then train yourself to reverse that tendency. Ask yourself what good can come out of the situation or what you can learn from it. Optimism surely fuels success and happiness.
16. Love unconditionally.
No one is perfect. Accept yourself for all of your imperfections. And do so for others. Loving someone unconditionally does not mean that you need to spend all your time with them or help them figure out their problems. Unconditional love means accepting people as they are, and allowing them to find their own ways, at their own pace.
17. Don't give up.
Unfinished projects and repeated defeats inevitably dampen one's self-esteem. If you've made up your mind to do something, see it through. Don't give up until you succeed. Remember, failure is temporary but defeat is permanent. And defeat only occurs when you give up.
18. Do your best and then let go.
Everyone has limitations, and things don't always turn out to be what we'd like them to be - despite our efforts. So always give your best, and then let go. Let events run their course. When you've done your best, you'll have no regrets.
19. Take care of yourself.
A healthy body is the key to happiness. If you have poor health, it's very difficult to be happy no matter how hard you try. So make sure you eat well, exercise and find time to rest. Take good care of your body, your mind and your spirit.
20. Give back.
Doing good is one of the surest ways to feel good. According to Harvard, when people do good, their brains become active in the very same reward centre that is stimulated when they experience other rewards. So it's not a surprise that people who care more about others are happier than those who care less about others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)