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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Expression of love

In case you want to express your love and sympathy to your fellow persons, just think of a child.
He is innocent, godly, no desires, no ambitions, no hatred, no jealousy, no vengeance -
All he knows - a joyful smile
The child makes you forget all worries in the world
Because he is not guilty
Try to have the qualities of a child.
Be transparent, friendly and sympathetic to others - you can enrich the qualities of a child
And your world will be always a happiest one

Saturday, October 18, 2008

SELF CONFIDENCE

Once a king was defeated.
He was brought before his enemy. The opponent asked - "Where is your palace ?"
Without any hesitation, the kind replied showing his chest - "It is here."
Those who dare to do things always shine and win many more laurels. Have faith in yourselves. A person who has faith in himself has the courage and determination to even shake a mountain.

GET YOURSELF RELAXED

Relaxation is good technique by which the mind and body gets rejuvenated.
Each day, at least have your body muscles relaxed for ten to fifteen minutes.
Either relax in a chair; if possible lie down in a bed or floor. Have your two hands kept in a relaxed position. Have your legs in a relaxed position. No tension anywhere in your body. Now try to keep your mind at your will and say to your mind - relax, relax, relax. Now start telling each part of your body - relax, relax, relax.

After five to eight minutes, you can freely feel - all your body muscles are getting relaxed. You will be away from tension or worries. You can see or visualise quite a number of thoughts running here and there. Now you are watching all your thoughts without participating with them. After fifteen minutes, slowly get up and breathe slowly and deeply through your nose. Now you are fresh as a flower. You are energetic. You are fresh with new energy and you can proceed doing good number of activities during the remaining hours at your disposal.

This is called - conscious meditation through body muscles.
Do you know - each one of us are doing meditation daily without our knoweldge. That is our sleep. During sleep the entire process is taken automatically by bringing all body and mind muscles together. Once we get a good sleep, we are at deep meditation and we feel much better.

What is a defeat ?

What is meant by defeat ?
Defeat - it is nothing but an information or message shown to you that you were not having sufficient strength or calibre in achieving success in your endeavour.

Life is a miracle. Defeats are turning points through which we should understand the right direction as to where we should proceed in the future.

So, next time, when you feel defeat, dont get disappointed. Try to understand the underlined message and act accordingly.
Success is at the next door - believe it.

KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES

This is the story of a swan.

Swan, as we all know, is a small bird - which can swim in water and cannot fly as high as an eagle.She likes to swim, likes to see nature as her friend, eats small insects and merrily enjoys with her friends.

One day, she saw quite a number of eagles flying high in the air. She thought - the eagles can fly high in the sky, they can go to various places, they can eat good number of food and of course they live a high status of life than hers.

She thought of joining the eagles group and one day she joined an eagles school.
When she arrived the school, she was given a warm welcome by a good number of eagles. The eagles were very ugly. They dont have the habit of taking bath. They smelt very bad. As a morning breakfast they offered the swan - four month old flesh of a dead rat. Swan never expected this kind of food from her new friends. She pleaded - "I am not hungry at present"

The eagles took the swan to their class room. The room was in a bad shape. Swan could see various kinds of bones of dead animals here and there. She could smell foul smell on account of rotten flesh shrewed here and there. She could see blood strains everywhere. She was told to sit on the flesh of dead dog.

Swan disliked the entire situation. She wanted to immediately run away from the scene. Somehow, she left the place and she joined in her own school immediately.

A swan is always swan. She is born to be a swan. She can reach heights as a swan nor as an eagle.

Some organisations lay greater emphasis on the strength of their employees. They understand that the knowledge, will power and capability and potential of their employees play a major role in bringing success to their organisations. They recognise the individual talents of their employees and utilise their energies and services to the fullest for their organisations.

Know yourself. Know your strength and weaknesses. Try activities suiting to your potential and you are sure to get success in your life.

In case you like dancing, try to become a dancer. In case you love music, try to be singer or a musician. In case you want to be a teacher, improve your communications skills.

Power of concentration

Whenver you do any work, do not have the practice of murmuring in your mind about you much time you had taken to complete your work.

Instead, just think over as to how much time you had been actually involved in your activities.
This is called the power of concentration.

Concentration is a habit by which you are controlling your mind and focussing your mental energies into a single activity without having any botheration about any other activity. This will enhance your vision and you will be able to do the work more effectively.

Students who are reading lessons for months together are getting poor marks whereas some students who are preparing their lessons only for a couple of days are getting good number of marks.

Since they have the power to control their mind and converge their energies into their desired activities, they are able to put their heart and soul into a single activity and they are able to grasp knowledge more than ten to twenty times than an average student.

Learn the power of concentration and learn the tricks in getting in examination and your occupation.

TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you noticed one thing in your life?
When you are about to complete your lessons, you say that you are getting a sound sleep. You also start saying that your mind is full of thoughts on various games, the activities relating to your friends, the cinema you had seen yesterday etc. etc.

You could have noticed this also in your life ?
When you are at a cinema hall or when you are actively engaged in any sports activities or when you are with your friends, you are not getting any thoughts relating to your lessons or studies ?

Why ?

It is the natural tendancy of the mind - to keep away from a work which seems to be very difficult for it.

However you can control your mind. Just like a sports activity, or viewing a cinema, you can also engage in your studies without any disturbance from any thoughts.
How ?
It is by sheer practice. Learn to control yourself. Once you had determined that you had to complete any work within a stipulated time, concentrate your energies and put your heart and soul into the work you are engaged in. Nothing is difficult. This you can practise within a week or ten days. Once you had mastered to control your mind, you can master any amount of your activities.

Success lies mostly in controlling our mind and our thoughts.

Thursday, October 16, 2008


On the basis of two comparative statistics, the following valuable information is made available.The average human reads less than two books a year. On the whole at present the people had lost the habit of reading. They are fond of reading newspapers, going to cinema halls, viewing TV, however, reading a book seems to be a tough subject for them.



On the contrary, notable personalities like great businessmen, poets, politicians read at least four books per week.


Whenever they find leisure time - during a flight in aircraft, idle sitting in hospitals etc., they used to read books of their choice.



We have to work for our survival. We should live with our family members, friends and relatives. However, there is an inherant need to satisfy our inner mind.


What are the benefits of reading ?


- You are calm during reading


- Your mind is at peaceful stage during the course of reading


- One part of your mind is active in reading, whereas the other parts of your mind finds leisure

KEEP YOURSELF AS POSITIVE

In view of the increasing negative events happening around the world here are five things you can do to help you stay positive.
1. Take a news sabbatical. Listening to the news can be downright depressing. All bad news all of the time can drag you down and keep you there. Give yourself permission to stop listening to the news, especially before bed time.

2. Use your influence to do good where you live. Shift your focus from what is happening in other parts of the world to your community. Get involved in making a positive change or contribution.

3. Focus on what is working in your life. Choose one thing that you are grateful for and focus on it for the rest of the day.

4. Express your appreciation to others. You can create a positive world one person at a time by saying thank you every chance you get to everyone you interact with ? from the person who holds open a door for you to your child who does a chore to a cherished friend or loved one.

5. Focus on what you can change, let go of what you can't change. When faced with a distressing situation ask yourself if you can control over the events. If you do, change what you can. If you don't, learn to let it go and move on.

LIFE IS FOR LIVING

Had you ever thought the purpose for which you have been living in this world ?More than 70% of the people live their lives without knowing the actual purpose for which they are born in this world. Is it for enjoyment ? Is it to live a life with full forms of enjoyment - with money, with as much pleasures of life as possible before the life term ends.Defintely not as such.About 20% of the people experience within themselves the slightest hint as to why they live in this world and what are their responsibilities and duties as a living human being. They have a purpose, principle and dedication to certain goals in their lives. They feel happy to live their lives; they feel happy to earn money, they feel happy to enjoy the pleasures of life as and when they come; they dont run behind blind desires to have as much pleasures as they can.The rest 10% - really understands the life to a desirable level. They understand that life is for living. To enjoy, to be happy and to be in peace. Above all they also understand that people around themselves should also enjoy, be happy and to live in peace. Their lives are in the form of sharing. Whatever they earn - they share. Wherever they are happy they share the happiness with others - their friends, colleagues or unknown people. They always make their presence everywhere - Because they are hamless

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

The teacher started calling her students belonging to Standard VIII - almost girls of twelve to thirteen year's old. The teacher started telling them the story. The story was that of the race between the hare and the tortoise. The students shrugged their shoulders - because they wondered whyt their teacher was telling the story meant for kids of three year's old . Once the story was completed the teacher now asked: "My dear girls - you know the tortoise was the winner and the hare was a loser. Tell me why?" First student: "The hare underestimated the talents of tortoise" Second student: "It was unfortunate that an ace winner like hare decided to compete with the dead slow tortoise" Third:"It shows the inner quality of tortoise. You can be slow - however steady. The consistent player in any field can win any race" Fourth: "Nobody should be prey to laziness. Laziness kills people" Fifth: "Hare had the potential to win - however very low determination. Poor in estimating the opponent's strength" Likewise the students started telling their opinions in regard to the qualities of hare and tortoise The teacher summed up: Never underestimate others; don't be a prey to lazines: be steadfast in your goal whatever may be the hurdles; above all have faith in yourself - the tortoise had the qualities and she won the race. Understimate others knowing fully well the inner strengths of the opponents; Forgetting goals often; lack of determination; Lack of will to reach the goal and finish the job - the hare had the above qualities and he lost the game. Be a tortoise - steadfast person aiming the goal and win your games

MOVE AHEAD

The king felt that he was not happy many times. He was not peaceful many times. He could not be happy throughout the day. Even though he was at a party or at a musical concert or with hundreds of people around him praising him to a large extent, he felt that he was not at total happiness. He could feel some sadness or grief clutching his heart from somewhere. He discussed this matter with his counsellors. They decided to meet a saint at a nearby hill and thought of getting a solution for this problem. The saint heard their view points and told the kind two words - just two words: "Move on" The kind and the counsellors could not understand the meaning of the words - "move on" What does it mean - move on ? - Moving from one place to another place - Moving from one room to another room - Moving from the palace to the mountains - Moving from one friend to another friend - Shifting the capital to another place - Shifting the spouse for another one - Shifting the children to another place or moving them to another person - Shifting the responsibilities Even after disucssion several times, they could not get the right point. Again they met the saint and asked for the solution The saint said: "Move on - means moving or shifting your mindset. When the mind is constantly doing the same thing, it loses its strength. It needs a change because change is inevitable. So, for a person he should move from one mindset to another mindset. How is this possible ? This is possible by forgetting the past and being in the present. It is also possible by forgetting the future and being in the present. In otherwords, to be at a present situation, one has to constantly active, doing something, or listening something. As a king, instead of plunging yourself into various celebrations, you should get yourselves involved in uplifting the welfare of your people by meeting them, creating various employment opportunities and you should always think about various measures in improving their living. In otherwords, do your duty to the best. It will make you - "Move On". Once you are on the move, you can be happy and at the same time you will be at peace."

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE

There are always two ways – by which we can improve our life. One by improving ourselves by putting our best efforts in our mission in life. The other one is to think bad of others Those who want to follow the earlier path are of hard working nature and are liked by others around them. Their thoughts are like these- - How best I can perform my job ? - What best I can do for my family? - How best I can help my friends, relatives and others ? Their life is full of success . Those who follow later path in life – spend most of their time in finding fault with others and spend much of their time in exploiting other's labour and wealth. They live in an imaginary world where appreciations and floral tributes are poured on them The earlier path is presumed to be a longer one and in fact it is the shortest route for success in all walks of life. As Napoleon Hill said: "Do the thing you like best. Your life will be embellished and you will be an inspiration for hope faith and encouragement with all the persons with whom you are in contact" As a wise man said" = No route is required to remove the darkness – It is sufficient you proceed towards prosperity

TWO DAYS YOU SHOULD(NOT) FORGET

"What are the number of days in a week ?" – Let us analyse this question which is meant for one LKG student. There are seven days a week – From Monday to Sunday- Of which two days are most important Every person who wants to succeed in life, should never forget those two days. The day number one is – YESTERDAY. Yesterday was already utilized. Even if you are prepared to pay thousand crores of rupees you may not be able to get back – Yesterday. You have the privileges to mentally analyse the happenings of the past, however, you cannot have it to live in again. Bitter thoughts at home, the cutting and hurting remarks of the boss at office, criticisms from friends and enemies will pour at your heart thereby slowing down your further progress, whereas the sweet thoughts of your success, recognition and achievements fill up your heart energizing you to progress further. The day number two is – TOMORROW While nobody can guess – when it will rain or when the storm will hit – precisely, how can you decide the happening of TOMORROW which is not at all born ? You can have many ambitions however, they should be achieved – in otherwords you should have your ambitions performed Never mind – Those YESTERDAY which was already a dead one and TOMORROW which is yet to born. Just think of the present moment at your disposal. Convert each minute of your life into hard labour or fun with your family or fruitful discussions with your friends. Now, you are one among the happiest and rich persons in the world. Today well lived is the road for your tomorrow's journey

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A Story Worth Reading . . .

I had a very special teacher in high school years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Class is over. I would like to share with all of you, a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important.

"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is the Powers way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground.

"Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the 'stuff' of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at anytime it can all be taken away."

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.

Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot, or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away . .

QUOTATIONS FOR HEART

Consider what it takes to become an undeniable success with these sincere quotations that identify the fundamental factors necessary to triumph...
" Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing."-- Abraham Lincoln

"God gave us two ends. One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use; head you win -- tails, you lose."-- Anonymous

"The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity."-- Ayn Rand

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get."-- B. R. Hayden

"Success is a journey, not a destination."-- Ben Sweetland

"The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes."-- Benjamin Disraeli

"I don't know the key to success,
but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."-- Bill Cosby

"The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm? to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore." -- Cyril Connolly

"All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others." -- Danny Thomas

"Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other."-- Erma Bombeck

"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire."-- Fred Shero

"Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time."-- George Bernard Shaw

"A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success."-- Joyce Brothers

"Failure is success if we learn from it."-- Malcolm S. Forbes

"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself."-- Mark Caine

"True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful."-- Paul Sweeney

"Get up one time more than you're knocked down."-- Peter's Principle of Success

"Most people who succeed in the face of seemingly impossible conditions are people who simply don't know how to quit."-- Robert Schuller

"The truth is that all of us attain the greatest success and happiness possible in this life whenever we use our native capacities to their greatest extent." -- Smiley Blanton

"When your physical environment is in alignment with your aspiration, success becomes the norm."-- Susan St Lawrence

"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."-- Theodore Roosevelt

"The way to succeed is to double your error rate."-- Thomas Watson

"Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price." -- Vince Lombardi

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."-- Winston Churchill
"Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have."-- Zig Ziglar

The Power of Concentration - By Remez Sasson





When I was a child, I was shown a fascinating experience, how a magnifying glass could burn a piece of paper when the rays of the sun were focused through it. The fire could start only when the rays were concentrated to a small point. When the magnifying glass was moved too far away or too close, the rays were not focused and nothing happened.This experience demonstrates the tremendous power of concentration.Concentration can be described as focused attention, the ability to pay attention to one single thought or subject to the exclusion of everything else, and as one pointed mind.When our mind is focused we do not dissipate our energy on unnecessary activities. 

Developing concentration is essential to anyone who aspires to take charge of his life. It is required in order to succeed in all walks of life. Without it our efforts are dissipated, but with it we can accomplish a great deal.Concentration has many uses. Concentrating on your activities makes you perform them better, faster and successfully. Focusing on work makes work more efficient. A better concentration makes studying easier, understanding faster, and improves the memory. It helps us to focus on our goals and achieve them more easily.The concentration power enhances our inner healing powers, and helps us to send healing energies into our and others bodies. It is required for developing psychic powers. 

It is a powerful tool for the efficient use of creative visualization and the power of imagination.When this ability is developed, the mind obeys us readily, and does not engage in useless dissipating thoughts and worries, and we experience true peace of mind. Concentration, which is actually mind mastery, is also a very important tool in practicing meditation. Without it the mind just jumps restlessly from one subject to another. Last but not least, it brings us faster to the brink of Spiritual Enlightenment.Now you understand why it is very important and worthwhile to develop and improve the ability to concentrate.I have found out that I could always find the time to exercise each day, no matter how busy I was. If I could do that, you can too. Forget all your excuses that you do not have the time, or you are too busy. 

Do not say that the circumstances are not proper, and that you cannot find a place to be alone in order to exercise.I have found out that while leading an ordinary life, with a job and a family, it is possible to find the strength and the time to develop this ability. It is possible to develop the power of concentration wherever you are. I believe that if you realize the importance the power of concentration, you will certainly find the time, energy and desire for it.Thoughts claim our attention incessantly, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so accustomed to this slavery, that we take it for granted, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions. While breathing we do not need to pay attention to each inhalation and exhalation. 

We become conscious of the process of breathing, only when we have some difficulty with breathing, such as when our nose is clogged due to a cold or when we are in an unventilated room.It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the onslaught of our thoughts, and of our inability to quell them, only when we need to concentrate, solve a problem, study or when we have worries or fears. Look at the following familiar scene. You need to study something for your job or for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.You return to read, and then hear you people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. 

You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything.This is what happens when concentration is not strong enough to ward off all disturbances. There are many situations in life, where a little concentration can make a great difference. Think, and find out where you could use more concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished,if you possessed better concentration.Concentration is worth cultivation. All spiritual traditions talk about it. It is useful in many ways in our ordinary daily life, for studying or working, for meditation, developing psychic powers and for magic.A work that requires physical strength, such as carrying heavy loads for example, develops physical strength. 

Yet, it is not as going daily to the gym and training in a systematic manner. It is the same with concentration. Reading, studying and trying to pay attention to what we do, develop some concentration ability, but practicing concentration exercises diligently each day is something else, it is like training in a gym.Resistance to developing concentration In order to develop this ability we have to train our mind. Most people shun concentration and do not even want to try. They think that concentration is strenuous and tiring, and that it involves exertion and tension, which are difficult and unpleasant.One of the reasons for this belief is because most people did not like to go to school, when they were children. They preferred play to study.Teachers and parents expected them to study, do their homework and bring good grades. As children, they felt coerced and forced to do something they did not like to do. 

In this way, in the children's minds, study became associated with doing something against their will. Studying needs concentration, and as children are often reminded that they are not concentrating enough, they develop a loathing for concentration. It becomes associated with coercion, lack of freedom,doing something they do not like and which is against their will. When they grow up, it is no wonder that their powers of concentration are weak, and there is no desire to strain mentally.We acknowledge the fact that good concentration is a great asset, yet most of us do nothing to enhance it, mostly because we do not know how. Reading and thinking about the benefits of concentration and about the reasons why it should be cultivated can help us change our attitude to ward it.Concentration can be fun if approached in the right way. It should be practiced with joy, fun, optimism, and understanding of its great possibilities. It has to be approached in a positive manner and then success dawns.

The benefits of developing concentration Sometimes you can find strong powers of concentration in yourself. When you are decisive and sincerely want to excel in your studies, pass an important exam, or solve a problem, the power of concentration becomes available to you. This kind of concentration is raised because of some need, or desire. Developing it in a systematic way, brings it under your control, and grants you the ability to use it easily, with no exertion whenever you need it.Real and good concentration is developed gradually, through daily work, and with special exercises. 

It has to be approached in a reasonable and practical way.Consider what the power of concentration can give you:-Control of thoughts.-Peace of mind.-Self-confidence.-Inner strength. -Will power.-The ability to focus your mind.-Better memory.-The ability to decide and carry on your decisions.-Better functioning in daily life, whether at home or at work. -The ability to study and comprehend more quickly.-Stop being carried away with every passing thought.-Freedom from needless and annoying thoughts.-Think when you want to, about what you want to think.-Inner happiness.-Help in developing psychic abilities.-More powerful and efficient creative visualization and guided imagination.-True meditation.-Spiritual Enlightenment.-And much more…It seems too good to be true? Develop your concentration and find out for yourself!So what about beginning to develop concentration power today?

Facing River of Difficulties




A very tired traveler came to the banks of a river.There was no bridge by which he could cross. It was winter, and the surfaceof the river was covered with ice. It was getting dark, and he wanted to reach the other side while there was enough light to see. He debated aboutwhether or not the ice would bear his weight.Finally, after much hesitation and fear, he got down on his knees and beganvery cautiously to creep across the surface of the ice. He hoped that by disturbing the weight of his body, the ice would be less apt to break underthe load.After he made his slow and painful journey about halfway across the river,he suddenly heard the sound of singing behind him. Out of the dusk, there came a 4-horse load of coal driven by a man singing merrily as he went tohis carefree way.

Here was the traveler, fearfully inching his way on hishands and knees. And there, as if whisked along by the winter's wind, went the driver, his horses, his sled, and the heavy load of coal over the sameriver!The story illustrates how many of us go through life.Some stand on the bank of decisions unable to make up their minds about the course to take. Others stand on the banks trying to muster enough courageto cross over to the other side of the task or problem encountered. On theother hand, some individuals crawl and creep through life for fear of thin ice.Their faith is not strong enough to hold them up.Still there are those who whisked along whistling as they go. Their faithis UNSHAKABLE.…...When we face the river of difficulties, we do not have to fear, nor do we creep through life. God has promised to help, and with God's help we canmerrily make our way to the other side safely.

THE FAMILY - JUST THINK OVER



The man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door... Son: "Daddy, may I ask you a question" Daddy: "Yeah sure, what it is?" Son : "Dad, how much do you make an hour" Daddy: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?" that man said angrily Son : "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?" Daddy : "I make Rs. 500 an hour" "Oh", the little boy replied, with his head down. Looking up, he said, "Dad, may I please borrow Rs. 300?" The father was furious, "if the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or other nonsense, then march yourself to your room and go to bed. Think why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior" The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

 The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:"May be there was something he really needed to buy with that Rs. 300 and he really didn't ask for money very often!" The man went to the door of little boy's room and opened the door. "Are you asleep, son?" He asked. "No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy. "I've been thinking, may be I was too hard on you earlier", said the man, "It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the Rs.300 you asked for" The little boy sat straight up, smiling "oh thank you dad!" He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled some crippled up notes.

The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father. "Why do you want money if you already had some?" the father grumbled. "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied."Daddy I have Rs. 500 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you" MORAL It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life.

We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the fami! ly & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family. An unwise investment indeed! You know what's the full word of FAMILY ? FAMILY=(F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU.

WHAT IS MOTIVATION?



The word "motivation" is often used to describe certain sorts of behaviour. A student who studies hard and tries for top grades may be described as being "highly motivated", while her friend may say that he is "finding it hard to get motivated" to study for an exam or to start an assignment. Such statements imply that motivation has a major influence on our behaviour but they don't really tell us how.

A Definition of Motivation

Motivation can be defined as a concept used to describe the factors within an individual which arouse, maintain and channel behaviour towards a goal.

Another way to say this is that motivation is goal-directed behaviour.

While it is easy to see the things that a person does, it is much harder to guess at why they are doing it. As an example let us look at our hard-working student. It may be that that student is working hard because she wants to get high marks, but it might also be that she really enjoys learning that subject. She may be striving for high marks because she wants to impress her friends or because she wants a good job, so that the marks themselves are really a step toward another goal. It is dangerous to assume that you know what is motivating someone because you really can't "read their mind".

Since it is part of a manager's job to get their work done through others, managers need to understand why people do things (that is, what motivates them?) so that s/he can convince their employees to work towards the goals of the organisation.


APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION

Theories are ways that we try to explain and understand complex and abstract issues and ideas. Abstract ideas are ideas like truth or love. They are very difficult to talk about because they are very hard to describe and define. They are not clear cut or concrete. Motivation is a fairly difficult area and there are a number of theories which have been developed to try to explain why people behave in the ways that they do and to try to predict or guess what people actually will do, based on these theories.

Basically there are two general approaches to motivational theory.



CONTENT THEORIES - what makes people tick. what turns them on or off.

These theories suggest that people have certain needs and/or desires which have been internalised . (This means that as we have grown up we have learned that these are things that we want and need and we come to believe it so strongly that we think that it is a natural thing to want these things.) These theories look at what it is about certain people that make them want the things that they do and what things in their environment will make them do or not do certain things. For example why would a person who was getting a lot of money for a job still be unhappy? Maybe there are other things which they consider to be more or equally important such as the work environment or the friendship and support of the people that they work with.

We will look briefly at two content theories of motivation.


Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Abraham Maslow (1908 - 1970) developed a theory of motivation based on a hierarchy of needs. This is probably the most popular theory of management although the theory does have its critics..

Maslow believed that each person has five categories of needs

Physiological needs - Basic needs for the body, such as food shelter drink rest etc.

Safety needs - Where the basic needs are reasonably satisfied we turn to thinking about protection from danger, security and order so that we feel safe. These safety needs can be a concern for physical safety but also covers psychological safety needs such as job security etc.

Social needs - Once the first two needs are reasonably satisfied, social needs such as needing acceptance, giving and receiving affection and "belonging" become things that people want

Ego needs - Next comes people's need for achievement, self esteem, self confidence, respect and status

Self Actualisation needs - finally at the top of the hierarchy once all of the other levels have been reasonably satisfied is the need to become the person that we feel that we are capable of becoming. This means that we have achieved what we consider to be our very best.

Maslow believed that the lower needs (physiology and safety etc) needed to be at least partially covered before the higher needs (such as ego and self actualisation) could be activated (In fact Maslow believed that these two higher needs are very rarely satisfied in anyone). He believed that once one set of needs was at least partly satisfied people would begin to be motivated by needs from the next category. An example which might be used here is a shift in the emphasis of the union movement in Australia from wages and working hours to now emphasising issues such as job security, industrial health and other security issues. There is also a move away from unsatisfying specialisation to a team or group work system which gives workers more responsibility and hence more satisfaction. Informal groups such as sporting or friendship groups are also often encouraged in the work environment. Can you see what needs this is addressing?

Maslow also believed that people were often motivated by more than one set of needs at a time and that they place varying importance on different needs. This means that someone could be motivated by their basic need for food, shelter and comfort but may override these needs by refusing to do a job which contradicts their personal values. Their self-esteem (which is an ego need) was the dominant one. As our circumstances change the needs that we consider to be the most important to us can change too. If the physiological needs are neglected for too long we may starve or become ill. These needs may then become the dominant ones and the job taken even though it conflicts with a person's values.

In Australia as an affluent or wealthy country, most peoples lower needs are satisfied and so we are not really motivated by them because we already have them. We are fairly safe and have enough to eat so we are more often motivated by higher needs. Maslow suggests that once we have activated these higher needs we often view them as more important than the lower needs. as an example of this an employer might wonder why a job which is secure and has a good superannuation package as its main attraction does not attract applicants. It may be that the sort of person that the employer wants for the job is more attracted by the ego needs such as independence and sense of achievement in a job and considers that it is worth the risk of an insecure job environment


Hertzberg's Two Factor Theory

Like Maslow Hertzberg believed that people had higher and lower levels of needs. Unlike Maslow who had five levels of needs Hertzberg has divided human needs into two categories.

· Hygiene factors - "environmental factors" such as salary, inter-personal relationships, working conditions, style of leadership and types of supervision, security, type of work, working hours, status. Hygiene factors are so called because they are seen to work like preventative medicine. They stop you from getting sick but do not really do anything to make you the healthiest that you can be, or better than you were. In a management context this means that hygiene factors don't motivate people to do their very best but they are needed to stop people becoming dissatisfied with their jobs.

· Motivating factors - factors within a job which allow for such things as achievement, responsibility, recognition, advancement, challenge. Hertzberg suggests that these factors are the ones which encourage people to strive to do well, in other words to motivate them to do their best.

Hertzberg believed that these two levels of needs were equally important for job satisfaction however they worked in different ways. If the lower needs are inadequate workers will quickly become dissatisfied, however, as these needs are satisfied trying to motivate staff by just adding more hygiene factors such as wages or work hours is an inefficient and short term solution. A better way would be to appeal to their higher level needs by giving them more responsibility or giving them greater scope for advancement. In this way the individuals goals are satisfied as well as those of the organisation. Job enrichment programs are where jobs are redesigned to incorporate these motivating factors.



Process Theories - how and by what goals people are motivated.

Process theories of motivation look at what people are thinking about when they decide whether or not to put effort into a particular activity. Here is just one of a number of this type of approach to motivation theory.

Adam's Equity Theory

Adam's argues that people are motivated by "inequity". That means that a person looks at others who are doing the same or similar jobs to them and compare how much effort that they put into the job and how much they are rewarded for their work.
For example a person who was working very hard in a job may see a colleague who does not put in much effort at all has the same rewards of salary, prestige, promotion etc. This would probably be a negative motivator, discouraging that person from working so hard. There are, on the other hand, positive motivators where a person feels that they receive more than others in the same job and so feel that they are being rewarded for their efforts.

Know ur Value





A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rupee 500 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rupee 500 note?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this."
He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty.
"Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rupee 500/-.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams. "VALUE HAS A VALUE ONLY IF ITS VALUE IS VALUED BY YOU"

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS




* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1 WE CANNOT HOLD A TORCH TO ANOTHER MAN'S PATH WITHOUT BRIGHTENING OUR OWN

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2 EDUCATION IS NOT PREPARATION FOR LIFE. EDUCATION IS LIFE ITSELF * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3 PAIN IS INEVITABLE. SUFFERING IS OPTIONAL.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

4 IF U DON'T HEAR OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING, FIND ANOTHER DOOR. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

5 WHEN IT IS DARK ENOUGH , YOU CAN SEE THE STARS.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

6 NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYBODY UNLESS YOU ARE HELPING THEM UP. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

7 NOTHING IS SO STRONG AS GENTELNESS, AND NOTHING IS SO GENTLE AS TRUE STRENGTH.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

8 HATEFUL PEOPLE THINK GOD IS ON THEIR SIDE BUT LOVING PEOPLE ALWAYS TRY TO BE ON GOD'S SIDE.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

9 FROM WHAT WE GET WE CAN MAKE A LIVING. WHAT WE GIVE HOWEVER MAKES A LIFE. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

10 A MAN HAS MADE ATLEAST A START ON DISCOVERING THE MEANING OF HUMAN LIFE WHEN HE PLANTS SHADE TREES UNDER WHICH HE KNOWS FULL WELL HE WILL NEVER SIT.

BE A POSITIVE MINDED PERSON





In view of the increasing negative events happening around the world here are five things you can do to help you stay positive.
1. Take a news sabbatical. Listening to the news can be downright depressing. All bad news all of the time can drag you down and keep you there. Give yourself permission to stop listening to the news, especially before bed time.

2. Use your influence to do good where you live. Shift your focus from what is happening in other parts of the world to your community. Get involved in making a positive change or contribution.

3. Focus on what is working in your life. Choose one thing that you are grateful for and focus on it for the rest of the day.

4. Express your appreciation to others. You can create a positive world one person at a time by saying thank you every chance you get to everyone you interact with ? from the person who holds open a door for you to your child who does a chore to a cherished friend or loved one.


5. Focus on what you can change, let go of what you can't change. When faced with a distressing situation ask yourself if you can control over the events. If you do, change what you can. If you don't, learn to let it go and move on.

Confident, persistent, assertive...we want you!




The other day I glossed over an advertisement that read – If you are confident, persistent, assertive, disciplined and persuasive, We Want You! Beautiful! I said. If any human being has these qualities , then not just a company, the whole world needs such a person. If we can take a deeper look into these qualities and the combination that they form, then surely we'd have a better understanding of the inherent human tendencies and groom them into a positive frame of being. Let us make an analysis of each of these qualities and then watch their impact in combination.

Confidence - usually it has always been confused with arrogance. Confidence is that state of being which arises from a very 'clear stream of reason' and when this has lost its way, there is none but arrogance. Thus, oozing with confidence, is like a perfectly ripe fruit, that is juicy. It takes a whole lot of effort on the part of the plant before its fruits are perfectly ripe, almost like the most loving gift of a Mother (Nature), bestowed upon a dear child. Which means, it arises from a high degree of perfection in the task at hand, arising from an in-depth understanding of the subject and a high level of discipline in practice.

Persistence – perseverance and doggedness is the only way to keep driving one's own self into performing. – Old saying from Sant Kabir - Karat Karat Abhyaas Te Jadamati Hot Sujaan, Rasari Aawat Jat Te Sir(l) Per Padat Nisaan. [With repeated effort and practice even a thick headed can become Knowledgeable, Just as with continuous rub of rope on a stone (over a long period) leaves its mark] This is the primary requirement for any profession – sports, music, art or natural and humanitarian sciences, et al. Think of the days immediately after the twin (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) atomic explosions in Japan. There, inside a burnt down garage, two young lads were trying to figure out how to pick up the threads of their life and take it forward. From there emerged the SONY Company, a multinational firm that became a household name in the field of electronic equipments. They strived so hard that a time came when they were unable to find any visible error in their electronic manufacturing. Since 100% efficiency is technically and practically impossible and against the laws of nature, they started observing minutely. Close monitoring revealed that their error percentage was reduced to extremely miniscule levels. That led them to coin a different term, unknown to the world till then – PPM (defective parts per million). That meant that they had less than 10 defective pieces per million, i.e. 0.000009%, a Unique Achievement by Human Standards. Only this kind of sheer grit makes achievers out of ordinary people, none else. Achievers aren't different people, they just do ordinary things differently. Persistence cannot happen mechanically, nor can it happen with over enthusiasm. The art lies in striking a balance. An article in a National daily said that India's Prized Nuclear Programme, that brings teeth to its bargaining capacity with the world, is fed by Rural India! "Interesting!" I said. The report revealed how the best of the minds are running away abroad in search of a secure Profession with a bright Future!!! Leaving, students from rural India, to work on these Super-Speciality projects. Beautiful!
Don't they need bright and secure prospects? However, such a big dream (to work on important National Projects) is enough to ignite their minds and motivate them, bringing the best out of them to the fore. Not only this, whatever they achieve, it is indigenous, giving them a higher degree of satisfaction and sense of fulfilment, that many of these 'bright and secure future' seekers don't get. With these students' work, we are competitive in the world and best in quite a few sectors in Science and technology – unbelievable, isn't it? This proves that what is necessary is passionate and sincere effort to attain a dream. An Einstein used to fail in mathematics in school and an educationist of the stature of Tagore never liked school!! This is perseverance in real sense, to fulfill a dream; not by hook or crook, but by sincere and diligent effort. Assertion – this is a quality that is usually misunderstood with stubbornness and a very fine line marks the difference. Assertion of anything comes with a great sense of responsibility. It is usually said – assert your rights, but remember rights are always paired with duties. Assertion can never take place in a desensitised manner. It always keeps in view the overall perspective and acts in tandem with collective interest in mind. A deep sense of accountability is fundamental for being assertive in the right way, absolutely uncompromising in spirit. There is another aspect to this quality. In quite a few cases, we see that people are not assertive, because they feel that they need to be considerate, like Arjuna wanted to be considerate towards all those elders who were prepared to fight against him and siding dishonest. At that point of time, Krishna says, "abandoning all weaknesses, O' Arjuna, get up." Our scriptures and saints have always said- one who bears pain without complaining as much to blame as the one who inflicts it. Both are equal partners in the scheme of sin. Discipline – that state of mind, where one can single pointedly dedicates one's own self to the task at hand. This can happen only when - one is convinced of the benefits of the actions (the role of the intellect), - motivated enough to apply without falling prey to any kind of laziness (the aspect of mind) and – has a fit and stable body. Balance in Body-Mind-Intellect is an apriori to a spirited yet controlled effort for functioning, that too with the same effort and over a long period of time. Or else it is not discipline. One has to search out newer means to maintain a discipline (in the right spirit) If a batsman scores 300 in one game and scores Zero in two matches, thus averaging 100 runs per match. Yet the team loses in 2 out of three matches and all the runs scored will surely not have much value.

Persuasive – this is a science as well as an art. When the chips are down, the best of the men falter in persuasion and sustaining the spirit and flame of constructive work. Let me quote from a talk delivered by our present President. This portrays the best picture of how positive people can be? "I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.
Why are we so NEGATIVE?" This is Persuasion. Believe me persuasion begins from persuading one's own Self. As Swami Vivekananda used to say that every communication is 30% words and other external means, while the remaining and vital 70% percent comes from inner feelings, which gets communicated, whether desired or not. If we're not convinced, we'll never mange to get the thought translated onto others. The most beautiful words that illustrate this concept, again, belong to Dr. Kalam, when he says, "I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation." When thought emanates from the innermost core, the intensity with which it emerges makes the thought transform into action and at times take the dimension of a collective passion. That is why I felt that if a person has the above qualities in the correct blend, there is no stopping. Such a person is none short of a social dynamo and benefits the personal and the collective being, hence is always the Most Wanted

Lessons on Life




There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral lessons:Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later

WHO IS A WINNER ?





A Winner is NOT one who NEVER FAILS......But one who NEVER QUITS!!!"Need a proof? Read on................... 10 Real Life Incidents and Learn not to Quit in life and always have a hope in life that you will be successful. Failures are stepping stones for success
1) Officials rejected a candidate for a news broadcasters post since his voice was not fit for a news broadcaster. He was also told that with his obnoxiously long name, he would never be famous. He is Amitabh Bachchan.
2)In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record auditionfor the executives of the Decca Recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, "We don't like! their sound.Groups of guitars are on the way out." The group was called The Beatles
3)In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modeling Agency told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married". She went on and became Marilyn Monroe.
4)In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't going' nowhere son. You ought to go back todriving' a truck". He went on to become Elvis Presley
5)A small boy--the fifth amongst seven siblings of a poor father, was selling newspapers in a small village to earn hisliving. He was not exceptionally smart at school but was fascinated by religion and rockets. The first rocket he built crashed. A missile that he built crashed multiple times and he was made a butt of ridicule. He is the person to have scripted the Space Odyssey of India single-handedly. He is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. President of India
6)When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers.After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said,"That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to see one of them?"
7)When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process".
8)In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down. In 1947, after 7 long yearsof rejections, he finally got a tiny company in Rochester, NY, the Haloid Company, to purchase the rights to his invention--an electrostatic paper-copying process. Haloid became Xerox Corporation
9)A little girl--the 20th of 22 children,was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with aparalyzed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year shedecided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl-- Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
10)A school teacher scolded a boy for not paying attention to his mathematicsand for not being able to solve simple problems. She told him that you would not become anybody in life. The boy was Albert

The cucumber seller of Chennai





On a hot July day, my colleague Moses and I were trying to locate our car on Chennai’s Nungambakkam High Road in front of Nalli Silks when I saw a roadside cart laden with cucumbers. The seller was vacantly gazing at passersby. Clad in a white shirt and a dhoti worn in the traditional Chennai style, he had long hair and an unkempt beard. I did not know Tamil, and asked Moses to find out the price. One rupee apiece, came the reply.
We wanted one piece each. The cucumber seller began deftly slicing them to put salt and the delectable red chilly powder on the neat halves. As we bit into the cucumber, I asked Moses to tell him that his pricing was too low, and that he should raise it. Moses conveyed this. The seller shook his head, and replied that “customer satisfaction” is more important than extra profit. The words ‘customer satisfaction’ were in English. I gulped my patronising comment. At this time, Moses excused himself to find our car. After a few moments, the seller asked me in English where I was from. From Bangalore, I replied. What follows here is our conversation. His statements are highlighted.

Isn’t the Karnataka budget due to be presented tomorrow?
Yes, that is true. Living in Karnataka, it was easy for me to concur on this.

I wonder how the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will ever solve the watersharing problem. Man cannot solve this problem. It has to be God. After all, it is an issue of how much rain is going to fall!
I nodded. I was not sure if I had a view at all.

See the way the monsoon is progressing. It does not look good. The progress of the rains is leaving a ‘V’ of a dry patch as the clouds move north. Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and the states up north will have problems. Politicians are the ones who use such problems to create a divide among people. They always do it. They use water, religion, anything they can, to create a divide. Look at the way Amarinder Singh of Punjab is taking a stand.

I looked at him, in part admiration and part disbelief.

You’re from Bangalore. Things are going well for you folks. But I don’t understand how people with shady business interests can become representatives of public opinion there.
It was part complaint and part observation.
At this point, a fellow peddler arrived — helped himself to some of the cucumber, and the two had a quick conversation on some issue I did not understand. After the other person left, I asked him if selling cucumber was his full-time vocation. He told me that right now it was. Earlier, he sold lottery tickets, the trading of which has since been banned. As a result he had to switch his business to selling cucumbers on the wheeled cart. No complaints and no issues. Meaning to engage him further, I asked him his religion. This drew an instant look of disappointment from him:
“Sir, I am an Indian. That is my religion. In my eyes, all people are equal, and it does not matter to me at all.”

The clarity of his response and his conviction took me completely by surprise. His net worth was probably equal to his day’s turnover. The newspaper and magazines he reads, to keep abreast of things, wipe off the disposable income he generates. Bare feet on this busy, dusty road, he sold a low-value, perishable product from a rickety cart. At peace with himself and with the world rushing past, this man was dressed in poverty. But in his presence, it was I who felt poor.

“We are not complete if we are not connected. It is only when we are connected that things make sense. Only when things make sense, we can form an opinion. Standing there, I wondered how many in the corporate world know who the chief minister of Punjab is, and about the progress of the monsoon! How many have an informed view on river water politics and budget proceedings of another state. “

Soon, Moses appeared with our car. It was time for me to go. I shook hands with the nameless cucumber seller of Chennai.

Actually, I wanted to touch his feet.

At peace with himself and with the world rushing past, this man was dressed in
poverty. But in his presence, it was I who felt poor

The author is co-founder & chief
operating officer at MindTree
Consulting.

SECRETS OF SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS



A successful businessman sent his son on a long journey to learn about the secret of success and happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through different places for many days in search of the wisest man. At last he was guided to a beautiful castle, atop a hill by some people saying that there lived a wise man. On entering the main room, the lad saw a hive of activity, diamond merchants and other traders came and went, people were conversing in the corners, there was a group of musicians playing instrumental music., etc. The wise man was conversing with people and the lad had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given attention. The lad finally met the wise man and explained to him why he had come. The wise man listened patiently and advised the lad to look around the castle and return in two hours.

“Meanwhile I want to ask you to do something”, said the wise man, handing to the lad a spoon containing three drops of oil. “You can wander about the castle, however, you should see that you are not allowing the drops of oil to spill in the ground”. The lad went here and there climbing and descending many stairways, keeping his eyes glued to the spoon. After three hours he returned to the wise man. The wise man asked, “How many wall hangings studded with gold you had seen ? How many pictures you had seen in the drawing room ? How many statutes you had seen in the main hall ? Had you visited the nine jeweled royal temple ?” The lad was quite embarrassed and confessed that he had observed nothing as his only concern had been not to spill the oil in the spoon.

“Then go back and observe the marvels of this castle”, said the wise man. “You cannot trust a man if you don’t know his house”. The lad again picked up the spoon and started exploring the castle. This time he observed everything with full concentration, returned to the wise man and explained in detail about the things he had seen in the castle. “But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you ?” asked the wise man. The lad then noticed that there were no drops of oil in the spoon

“The secret of success and happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never forget the drops of oil in the spoon .” The lad understood the meaning of the two drops of oil – the vision and values. Vision is the mental picture of our desired future and values are our emotions based on which we choose and decide things and how we accomplish them.”

POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE




A milk vendor used to sell milk on his motor cycle in a town. He was carrying four milk cans, two on each side of his vehicle . One day, while he was calling on a house, two students approached his motor cycle and pushed frogs one each in two cans. The happy frogs started finding themselves in a tight position.

The frog in one of the cans studied the situation. It made a SWOT analysis. His strength was – to swim effectively in any liquid. He recollects from his “WISDOM BANK” that most difficult times come only for a short time and will not last long. He starts swimming and swimming and finds himself sitting on a butter lump formed due to the churning action of his swimming. He is now safe for a while. When the milk vendor opens the cans for his next call, the frog leaps to his freedom .

The frog in other can does not turn on his attitudinal bulb. He blames the student for his misery and started cursing him. He blames God for making him so small that he can neither lift the lid of the can nor he can drill a hole in the can. With all these negative thoughts, he eventually drowns in the milk and dies.

What is the moral of the story ? It is about ATTITUDE. While the first frog was a ‘ I CAN’ person with a positive mental attitude, the other one was a “I CAN’T” person. You can be a “CAN” or ‘CAN’T’ person. The choice is with you alone.

Noone except yourself can make you a ‘CAN’ or ‘CAN’T’ person.

THINK FOR A WHILE





Various programs were going on at a circus. A juggler started doing his performance. As he went on to perform more and more difficult tricks, the excitement started to rise from among the audience.

At last, he came to the most difficult of the tricks where he had to basket a ball on a 12 feet pole attached to the plate that he was holding with his legs, while lying on his back.
The awe struck audience began to applaud, anticipating a perfect basket. For a split second, the juggler thought about the loud applause that he would get after the successful performance. The concentration wavered and down came the ball with a thud which was followed by a long oooh…from the audience.

Had the juggler had kept his concentration intact on the trick instead of anticipating the applause of the audience, he would have definitely succeeded in his performance.

Let us think for a while. Do we too perform to get appreciation or let appreciation come as a result of good performance ?

What is the moral of the story ?

Let us focus ourselves on doing the job rather than wondering about the results.
The results will be always fantastic.

TAKING AN INTEREST IN PEOPLE






There are things we like doing and enjoy talking about. But we also have to be prepared to take an interest in what interests the people we have to live and work with.

If you are taking an interest it will not happen often because you will find that people interest you whatever they happen to be doing or talking about.

Try to develop an enthusiasm within you. If you can feel strongly enough about something to take time and trouble over it, you can be sure that the zest will never depart from your life.

Enthusiasts are constantly up and doing. There are always people they want to meet, things waiting to be done, new fields to conquer.

Taking an interest in the people we meet should be based on fellow-feeling, not on any desire to poke and pry. All of us know what it is to feel tired, said, lonely, and to make fools of ourselves.

We have experienced what it means to be pleasantly surprised, wildly excited, deeply fond of someone. The fact that we share these as experiences with others, that they are common to mankind, should act as a bond between us and other people

People who do not take an interest in anyone or anything outside themselves find it hard to understand those who do. They want all the attention they get, begrudging anything they are called upon to do for others. Yet it is a remarkable paradox that when we take an interest without wanting, let alone expecting, anything in return, we get interest back fourfold.

People who are concerned only with themselves are not happy. They grow old and tired before their time. Conversely, if you are taking an interest in people and the things that are happening around you, you will not have the time to grow old. You will be far too absorbed in it all to bother about yourself.

COPING WITH STRESS



Sometimes a person can be too controlled. He can appear calm and composed, reasonable, efficient, thoroughly dependable, good at dealing with crises and completely on top of the world. And then without warning, he can suddenly suffer an explosion of stress, which may take the form of serious illness.

We all need control and self-discipline. But beware of that stiff-upper-lip and I can take it attitude. You can be as strong and tough and intelligent and capable as you like-but there is a limit. We can not rid ourselves of our problems and worries and all the pressures of life as easily as that. What we try to do is to forget them for the time being by keeping busy, or by taking something to calm us down. Because we have managed to push stress into the back ground of our mental fort, we feel a bit better.

Yet here is the reason for so much of our tiredness, moodiness and irritability with others, and all those vague feelings of uneasiness. It is the unrecognized hidden pressures, those emotions and feelings which we cannot always let go without hurting, or upsetting or antagonizing somebody.

Nevertheless, it helps to recognize and admit the stress in our lives. If you are unhappy, frustrated, dissatisfied with things as if they do not push it away pretending to yourself and everybody else that this is the way you like it. Accept the oncoming trouble. Recognise there is a problem inside you. You can see it in true colours. Admit honestly to yourself that this not what you want, and that you want to change it.

Most problems can be relieved even when they cannot be wholly solved. But only when we are honest with ourselves, and are not trying to pull the wool over our own and other people’s eyes. If it is possible unburden yourself to someone trustworthy. If you cannot talk to anybody, try writing a letter immediately after reading it through. You may be surprised how your outlook lightens and your attitude changes as you release the stress within you.

Stress is unavoidable. Anybody and everybody can have stress. The way to cope with stress is to let it come out whenever and wherever we can.

White Dog/Gray Dog



"Inside of me there are two dogs.The gray dog is mean and angry.The white dog is good and kind.The gray dog fights the white dog all day."
The question here is : which dog wins? the real answer is : "The one I feed the most." I identify with the above wisdom when I find myself struggling between the forces that help me expand my comfort zone: the good things that I want to accomplish, against the forces that want to maintain the status quo: My insecurities and negativity. The story of the white dog / gray dog has helped me categorize the patterns I have inside me. This lets me catch myself and manage the gray dog by turning my attention to what really serves me and not the voices of internal struggle. You too can stop feeding your gray dog.


TIPS TO YOUTH - PART:02

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 What are the ingredients for a peaceful financial living ?
At least we should have one percent of our monthly income on the last day of the month
At least we should save twenty percent of our income each month
Our first expenditure during any month should be our SAVINGS only
Have a habit to maintain a register wherein you should record all your day today expenses. This will enable you to know – where you spend unnecessarily
We should have details for each expenditure. This habit will make you more disciplined on financial matters
Once you decide to go in for shopping, make a complete list of things you had decided to buy on that day.
Try to buy articles on your own. This will enable you to know the economic scenario and people around you better
Have a financial plan for each month and try to confine your expenditure within the allotted budget
Have no loan account with any shoppers
Purchasing in instalments is always not profitable
Always visit a cinema hall on the tenth day or afterwards. You can avoid rush and enjoy the show in a peaceful manner

How to understand the intricacies in life?




  • 1.    During each day immediately on getting up from the bed raise your hands and tell boldly and loudly – “Today is going to be an important day for me and I will be happy throughout the day and I am going to achieve all my ambitions today without any difficulty”. This drive will initiate you to perform the tasks comfortably and accurately

    2.    Develop a desire to earn money irrespective of the age. Money provides financial strength. You may be comfortable with the financial security and strength provided by your parents and you may be having money to the fullest extent and there may not be any necessity for you  to work at all. However, once you find a job, earn money and spend the earned money, you derive the satisfaction to the fullest extent which cannot be gained by any other means. Work provides you satisfaction, happiness, fulfillment, strength, health, wealth and everything you want to achieve in this world.


    3.    In order to assume positive qualities, repeatedly think that this world is good and the people in the world are good. Always believe that happiness is available in plenty everywhere in the world. Always believe that you are going to get success and your life will be always the happiest. It is an open secret that the busy man always is found to be happy and cheerful.

    4.    What is failure? Failure is the opinion in the minds of the people around you. Failure is the earliest decision taken by people who are found to be lazy, fearful and lack constructive thinking.


    5.    Goethe said: “Whatever you imagined and whatever you wanted to do, do it yourself today and there is no necessity towards any postponement”

    6.    Do you know? Abundant knowledge, abundant power, abundant miracles are found in ignorance.