Happy New Year 2013

A Brighter, Better New Year

Happy, Happy New Year!
We wish you all the best,
Great work to reach your fondest goals,
And when you’re done, sweet rest.

We hope for your fulfillment,
Contentment, peace and more,
A brighter, better new year than
You’ve ever had before.

Its Time To Welcome The Fresh
New Year With Fresh Hope,
Fresh Expectations, Forget The Past Just
Think About Ahead. Happy New Year

21 Things That Can Kill Your Motivation part 2

 countinue......... from Part 1


11. Lack of Action
There are many people who will set a goal, create a plan, and then wait for the perfect time to start. This could be the start of a new year, the beginning of next month, after the summer ends, etc. The best time to take action is when you first set the goal. The reason is because by taking action right away, you’ll create momentum. This momentum can help to increase your motivation. If you wait too long, that excitement will decrease and so will your motivation.

12. Not Having a Clear Plan
Without a clear plan, you’re bound to waste a lot of energy and time. Trying to get from point A to point B without a map to point B can frustrate you and kill your motivation as you realize how much energy and time you’ve wasted and how you’re not that much closer to your achieving your goals. Figure out what you need to do and schedule it into your daily activities.

“He who fails to plan is planning to fail.” – Winston Churchill

13. Having Too Many Goals
Achieving a major goal can be hard enough on its own and when you have too many goals, your focus is scattered. Often times, you end up not achieving any of them. Of course when this happens, the disappointing results can zap your motivation. It’s often better to just choose one goal so you can put all of your focus on it and achieve it than to spread yourself too thin and end up not achieving anything.

14. Fear of Failure
This is major motivation killer. For many, just the thought of failing can be enough to obliterate any motivation they may have. This is a tough one to overcome but just keep in mind that a lot of the biggest accomplishments were a result of the many failures that preceded them.

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

15. Feeling Overwhelmed
Remember back in college when you had a project to do or a paper to write and just the thought of how much work and time it’s going to take was enough to make you nauseous? Looking at everything you have to get done all at once can often be too much to handle and break your motivation. The key is to break it all down into small, manageable steps.

16. Doing Something You Hate
If you hate what you do, it’s tough to find the motivation to give it your all. If you need motivation just to get up in the morning and drag yourself to work, it may be a good idea to create a plan to get yourself into a line of work that you actually enjoy.

17. Comparing Yourself to Others
For some, comparing themselves to others can help motivate them to push hard for their goals but for others, it can crush their motivation. Realize that we’re all different and if comparing yourself to other people is causing you to slow down or retreat from your goals, think how much further you’ll be behind 10 years from now. Don’t let the current success of others hinder your progress.

18. Having Too Much Time
When we have too much time to do something, some of us tend to procrastinate. People tend to be super motivated to get things done when the deadline is right around the corner. April 15th ring a bell for anyone? As the saying goes, “If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person.”

19. Lack of Information
For many people, not having enough information, in terms of what to do, can wreck their motivation by prohibiting them from taking action. Even if they find out what to do, some people get too bogged down in figuring out every last detail. Although being prepared is important, sometimes, it’s better to just fire first and aim later.

20. Setbacks
Setbacks can be devastating to one’s motivation. Making progress or even achieving a goal only to have it be taken away from you can make life seem pretty unfair. Realize, however, that setbacks are a part of life. We all go through them. Setbacks are part of what gives life its juice. Our proudest accomplishments are usually the ones where we had to dig deep in order to find out what we’re really made of and were forced to grow in order to overcome the difficult challenges standing in the way of our goals.

“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” – Bernice Johnson Reagon

21. Fear of Criticism
Most of us mere mortals have a fear of being criticized at some level. This fear can wipe out our motivation and even cause some people to quit on their goal altogether. Just keep in mind that there isn’t a single person on this planet who has achieved any great level of success who doesn’t have someone hating on them. Don’t let the opinions of others force you to abandon the things that are most important to you.

“To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

Conclusion
By figuring out what commonly kills your motivation, you can plan ahead and come up with ways to prevent it from happening and increase your chances of achieving your goals in the process.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ― Winston S. Churchill

 Cheers..............

21 Things That Can Kill Your Motivation - part 1

Getting what you want in life comes down to getting yourself to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. The problem many of us run into is losing our motivation to do what we have to do.Coming up with a bunch of ways to motivate yourself is great but I think it’s also useful to identify some of the things that destroys your motivation in the first place. That way, you can figure out what usually causes you to lose your motivation and do something to prevent it.
If taking action is the key to success, then figuring out what stops you from taking action is equally important. The following is a list of 21 common things that can kill your motivation.

1. No Goals

If you don’t have any goals, you can easily find yourself not wanting to do very much. Without a clear direction or purpose, life can seem pretty uninspiring. Take some time to figure out what you want in life. What kind of experiences do you want to have? What sort of impact do you want to make? How do you want to be remembered?
“What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” – Robert H. Schuller

2. Weak Desire

Having a strong “why” is vitally important when it comes to motivation. You can have goals but if your desire to achieve them is weak, any number of things can discourage you and kill your motivation. If your desire is weak, either come up with stronger reasons for achieving the goal or choose another goal, something that actually excites you.

3. Lack of Instant Results

This one is the biggest reason why so many people start a workout or diet program and end up quitting 2 months later. This is usually a result of expecting too much too soon. Give yourself a reasonable time frame. Any goal is achievable if you have enough time, assuming that you’re doing the right things.

4. Lack of Support

When you feel like no one believes in you or supports you or cares about whether or not you accomplish your goals, finding the motivation to keep pressing on can be difficult. Look for people who will support and encourage you. Also, support the dreams of those around you. You just never know how much of a positive impact your support can have on someone.

5. Lack of Belief in Yourself

You can have the motivation to start taking a lot of action but if you don’t truly believe you can accomplish your goals, you’ll eventually stop and end up saying, “I knew I couldn’t do it.” When you let negative thoughts control you, you’ll start to doubt yourself and your motivation will plummet. Try reading positive material and filling your mind with confident thoughts. If possible, hire a coach or find someone who has achieved the results you want to help you out.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

6. Low Energy

It doesn’t matter how motivated your mind is, if your body is lacking in energy, you won’t be able to do much. Take care of your body. Eat right and get some exercise. You can get a lot more done when you have the energy to bounce out of bed in the morning compared to having to muster up every ounce of energy you have just to drag yourself out of bed.

7. Distractions

Distractions will constantly show up from every direction. Give into them and your focus will be thrown off course and when you stay off course for too long, your motivation will eventually deteriorate. One way to deal with this is to constantly ask yourself whether or not what you’re doing at the moment is taking you closer to or away from your goal.

8. Boredom

Often times, the big picture is more exciting than the details but in order to get from where you are to where you want to be, you need to work on the details. If your goal is to lose weight and you find running to be extremely boring, that could kill your motivation. In this case, finding another calorie burning activity is important. If you run a business that requires you to do a lot of boring tasks and it’s killing your drive, hire someone else to do those things.

9. Negative People

Negative people can suck the motivation right out of you. Their negative attitude and discouraging remarks can be a huge energy suck. You should do what you can to avoid these types of people as much as possible.

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

10. Negative News
The world seems to have an endless supply of bad things happening, at least according to the media. If you spend too much time focusing on all of the bad things that are going on in this world, it can deplete your motivation quite quickly. Since the media focuses mainly on the bad, because it sells, try balancing that out by focusing on the good.

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius

Cheers...........

The Top 20 Lessons For Living Longer

1. Eat mostly plants.                                  

(Have meat as a side dish instead of the main dish)

2. Put family first.                                                        

(Time with family is priceless)

3. Take a walk.                                                  

(Our legs are meant to move us, so move)





4. Drink a plenty of water.

(It's been a practice for centuries, it must be good)

5. Reduce and manage stress.                                         

(Stress kills, so avoid it or deal with it)


6. Have a purpose.

(Be excited when you wake up each morning)




7. Get outdoors.

(We came from nature, go back for a visit)

8. Be grateful.

(Appreciate what you got and you will get more)

9. Have fun.

(Do things that you enjoy)

10. Maintain a healthy body weight

(Move more, eat less)

11. Get regular exercise.

(Push and pull heavy things)

12. Love and laugh

(Preferably both at the same time)

13. Snack on nuts

(The most nutrient dense food in the world)

14. Give something back.

(If you want to get, you have to give)

15. Eat a large breakfast.

(Your mother was right...again)

16. Eat a medium lunch

(It's a lunch break, not a lunch buffet)

17. Eat a small dinner

(Enough eating already)

18. Drink plenty of water.

(It's the basis of all living things)

19. Sleep when it's dark.

(There is a reason why we can't see in the dark)

20. Learn new things.

(You live, you learn)

Steps you can take to ease the sting of criticism

To become a top performer, you’ll need to open yourself up to feedback from those around you. Here are some steps you can take to ease the sting of criticism and begin to make it work for you, instead of against you.

1.Hit the Pause Button - It’s important to maintain your composure and not lash back or respond defensively to criticism. Take a breath. Don’t do or say anything. This brief pause not only helps you compose yourself and prepare to listen to what the other person has to say, it demonstrates your poise and self-confidence. Maintaining your composure when criticized shows that you’re in control.

2.Turn On Your Brain and Turn Off Your Emotions - It’s important to disconnect your automatic emotional response to criticism. Otherwise you won’t be able to objectively consider the value of the information. Focus on the words and facts, not on the feelings they generate within you. Regardless of how undiplomatic the other person is in delivering the feedback, tell yourself that it is designed to help you improve, not to tear you down.

3.Listen Carefully - Listen intently to what the other person is saying. If you’re busy formulating your rebuttal, you may miss some valuable information that can help you avoid errors in the future or improve your overall performance.

While any criticism can be discouraging, it’s important to keep in mind that negative feedback can contribute significantly to faster growth and higher performance.

The Excellence (Story)

A man once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God.

Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?" "No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" he asked. "There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work. "Where are you going to install the idol?"


The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high. "If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked… The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I will know it."

The desire to excel is exclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not. "Excellence" is a drive from inside, not outside. Excellence is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficiency…

Cheers..............

Be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low

Moods are one of those unavoidable, mysterious parts of life that must be dealt with by everyone. Our understanding of moods greatly affects not only our wisdom and perspective but our overall level of satisfaction as well. Generally speaking, when our mood is high, our spirits are up. When our mood is low, our spirits are down. Moods are like the weather, constantly changing.

When we are in low mood, we think of our dissatisfactions more than when we feel good. We worry!

The fascinating thing about moods is that, to a large degree, we only believe these negative, fearful, and self-defeating thoughts when our mood is low. When our mood is high, we think very differently. We don’t worry as much.

The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low. Try to keep in mind the effect your mood is having on the way you are thinking and feeling. Your understanding of moods allows you to keep your perspective and not take so seriously the thoughts you are having when you are low. Rather than believing in your negative and fearful perceptions, you can dismiss them as being mood related.

When you are in a low mood, don’t make important life decisions. Your thinking and wisdom are not as sound as they will be in a higher state of mind. 

Cheers..................

As we rush through life!

In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

About 3 minutes:
The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.  

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story.  Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:
1.In a common-place environment, at an inconvenient or inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
2.If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
3.Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

Learning:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... how many other things are we missing as we rush through life? 

 

Happy Diwali.................

Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.


Diwali in history

The history of Diwali is replete with legends and these legends are moored to the stories of Hindu religious scriptures, mostly the Puranas. Though the central theme of all legends point out to the classic truth of the victory of the good over the evils, the mode of their presentation and the characters differ. Diwali, being the festival of lights, lighting the lamp of knowledge within us means to understand and reflect upon the significant purpose of each of the five days of festivities and to bring those thoughts in to the day to day lives. 


The Defeat of Narkasur by Lord Krishna:

 Lord Vishnu in his 8th incarnation as Krishna destroyed the demon Narkasura, who was causing great unhappiness amongst the people of the world. Narkasura was believed to be a demon of filth, covered in dirt. He used to kidnap beautiful young women and force them to live with him. Eventually, their cries for rescue were heard by Vishnu, who came in the form of Krishna. First, Krishna had to fight with a five-headed monster who guarded the demon's home. Narkasura hoped that his death might bring joy to others. Krishna granted his request and the women were freed. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of evil. 

The Defeat of Narkasur by Lord Krishna: 

Lord Vishnu in his 8th incarnation as Krishna destroyed the demon Narkasura, who was causing great unhappiness amongst the people of the world. Narkasura was believed to be a demon of filth, covered in dirt. He used to kidnap beautiful young women and force them to live with him. Eventually, their cries for rescue were heard by Vishnu, who came in the form of Krishna. First, Krishna had to fight with a five-headed monster who guarded the demon's home. Narkasura hoped that his death might bring joy to others. Krishna granted his request and the women were freed. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of evil. 





The five day of Diwali

The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. The second day of Diwali is called Narak Chaturdasi. It is the fourteenth lunar day (thithi) of the dark forthnight of the month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. The third day of Diwali is the actual Diwali. This is the day when worship for Mother Lakshmi is performed. On the fourth day of Diwali, Goverdhan Pooja is performed. The fifth day of the diwali is called Bhratri Dooj. It is a day dedicated to sisters. 


Hindu Mythology


The Story of Rama and Sita: Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife's insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil. 


The Story of King Bali and Vamana Avatar(the Dwarf): The other story concerns King Bali, who was a generous ruler. But he was also very ambitious. Some of the Gods pleaded Vishnu to check King Bali's power. Vishnu came to earth in the form of a Vamana(dwarf) dressed as priest. The dwarf approached King Bali and said "You are the ruler of the three worlds: the Earth, the world above the skies and the underworld. Would you give me the space that I could cover with three strides?" King Bali laughed. Surely a dwarf could not cover much ground, thought the King, who agreed to dwarf's request. At this point, the dwarf changed into Vishnu and his three strides covered the Earth, the Skies and the whole Universe! King Bali was send to the underworld. As part of Diwali celebrations, some Hindus remember King Bali. 

Krishna and The Mountain: In the village of Gokula, many years ago, the people prayed to the God Indra. They believed that Indra sent the rains, which made their crops, grow. But Krishna came along and persuaded the people to worship the mountain Govardhan, because the mountain and the land around it were fertile. This did not please Indra. He sent thunder and torrential rain down on the village. The people cried to Krishna to help. Krishna saved the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain with his finger. The offering of food to God on this day of Diwali is a reminder to Hindus of the importance of food and it is a time for being thankful to God for the bounty of nature. 


Sikh Festival Diwali 

In Sikh perspective, Diwali is celebrated as the return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji from the captivity of the city, Gwalior. To commemorate his undying love for Sikhism, the towns people lit the way to, Harmandhir Sahib (referred to as the Golden Temple), in his honour. 


Jain Festival Diwali

Among the Jain festivals, Diwali is one of the most important one. For on this occasion we celebrate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira who established the dharma as we follow it. Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhamana on Chaitra Shukla 13th in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula river at the age of 42.

Be worry-free!

When we are happy and worry-free, we not only enjoy our lives more, but we are also more competent, creative, wise, and productive. We bring out the best in others and in ourselves. Without the internal distractions of stress, anger, frustration, and worry, our relationships flourish, stress is diminished, new doors are opened, and our lives run smoothly.

We worry about all sorts of things; some obvious, others more subtle. We worry, for example, about making or repeating mistakes or looking foolish. We worry about what others will think if we ask for help or ask for a raise. We worry about speaking to groups, about our future, and about the past. 

What well does worry really do us? Some would argue that it’s “wise” to worry, that it somehow proves that you’re able to anticipate problems. Yet while being able to anticipate problems is certainly useful, I disagree that doing so requires worry.
    

Worry is actually a dream-snatcher. It takes an enormous toll on your spirits and on your emotions. Worry adversely affects your decisions and your judgment, keeping you on-edge, uptight, and heavyhearted. 

If you know successful people in any field, you’ll find a thread of consistency that runs through virtually everyone – they don’t worry much. Interestingly enough, however, the lack of worry preceded their success and was not a by-product of it. Successful people share an inner unshakable confidence that is free from excessive worry.

Part of overcoming worry is to see it as a distraction rather than as a necessity. As worries enter your mind, try to give them less significance and less of your attention.

Cheers........................

History of Dussehra

 

 

History of Dussehra:

One of the popular Hindu festivals, Dussehra is celebrated with pomp and gaiety. Since ages, a number of rituals are performed to please the Almighty, on the ceremonious occasion. It is the climax of the nine-day long celebrations of 'Navratris', which precede it. The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Apart from the legend from the epic Ramayana, and the story of the triumph of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, a vibrant history is associated with the festival. In this article, we have provided interesting information on the history of Dussehra.

History & Origin Of Dusshera

Triumph Of Lord Rama Over Ravana
The celebration of Dussehra is rooted in the Hindu epic of Ramayana, according to which, Lord Rama, the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu, killed the ten-headed demon Ravana, in Satyug. Ravan had abducted Rama's wife Sita. Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana, follower Hanuman and an army of monkeys, headed towards Lanka (Ravana's Kingdom) in order to enter a war with Ravana and rescue Sita. On his way to Lanka, Rama organized Chandi Pooja to seek the blessings of Ma Durga, the Goddess of power and courage. After seeking her blessings, Lord Rama defeated and killed Ravana, with the help of his fellow beings. Therefore, the day was celebrated to commemorate the victory of Rama over Ravana, which later came to be known as Vijayadashmi or Dussehra.

Assassination Of Mahishasura By Goddess Durga
Another legend is connected to Goddess Durga. According to the story, all the Gods in swarglok and the living beings on earth were upset by the tyranny of the demon Mahishasura, because he had acquired invincible power to conquer the world. He was undefeatable, even by the mighty deities - Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Therefore, all the Gods decided to create a power, which would destroy Mahishasura, freed the living beings from his despotism and restore the swaglok to them. This gave rise to the creation of Goddess Durga, an avatar of Ma Shakti. With the weapons given to her by the Gods, Goddess Durga went to fight against Mahishasura. She defeated the demon, successfully, and restored the swaglok to the Gods, as promised. Her victory is celebrated as Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, by many people following Hinduism.

Rain Of Gold Coins
According to a story, Kautsa, the young son of Devdatta (a Brahmin), was residing in the city of Paithan. After pursuing his education under the guidance of Rishi Varatantu, he wanted to offer a dakshina to his Guru. Although the guru refused initially, he later asked for 140 million gold coins. The student approached King Raghu for the coins, because he was renowned for his generosity. Within three days of the student's request, King Raghu asked the God of Wealth - Kuber - to create a rain of gold coins near the apati and shanu trees. After presenting the promised gold coins to his guru, Kautsa distributed the rest of the coins to the needy, on the day of Dussehra. Since then, people loot the leaves of apati trees and present to each other as a symbol of gold, on Dussehra.

Shami Tree
Another legend connected to the origin of Dusshera finds place in the greatest Hindu epic - Mahabharata. According to a story, Pandavas where banished by Kauravas for 12 years and 1 year of disguise, because the former were defeated in gambling (chausar) by the latter. Subsequently, Pandavas decided to spend their first 12 years of exile in the woods and the last year in disguise. Since they were asked to remain incognito during that period, Pandavas did not want to be exposed to others. Therefore, they lay aside their divine and powerful weapons during the exile. They concealed their weapons under the shami tree, situated close to the place of their residence. At the end of every year of the exile, Pandavas came to the shami tree to check whether their weapons were there.

Whenever Pandavas approached the tree, they worshipped it and Goddess Durga, the presiding deity. In the mean time, Kauravas were making every attempt to trace Pandavas, so that they could extend the exile time, because it was said that if they were found, they would have to spend another 12 years in the woods. However, the Kauravas could find the Pandavas only past the stipulated time. Subsequently, the Pandavas went to the shami tree, fetched their concealed weapons and went straight to the battle field to fight the Kauravas. Pandavas emerged victorious. The event took place in dasami and since good had achieved victory over the evil, it came to be known as Vijayadashmi. Since then, people hug each other under the shami tree and exchange its leaves.

 

HAPPY DUSSEHRA TO ALL.....................

 

 

 

Surround yourself with experts

Surround yourself with experts

Many people surround themselves with “successful” people and “experts”. Many are frightened that people who are more successful won’t be willing to spend time or share their ideas with us. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The reality is, accomplished people love it when someone takes an interest in their success; they love to share their wisdom, good ideas, or business secrets. It makes them feel wanted and needed.

I’ve worked on projects with some very famous, successful people. When people ask me, “How in the world did you convince them to participate,” they are often shocked at the simplicity of my answer. I respond honestly by saying, “I just asked them.” You’ll be amazed at the number of people who are more than willing to help, whether it’s the owner of a successful grocery store, a top-producing insurance salesperson, a well known author, a physician, a lawyer, or an excellent teacher. 

Most want and are willing to offer advice. In fact, asking someone you admire and respect for their feedback and ideas is the greatest compliment you can offer them. Not all, but most highly successful people (in any field) are available to help others. Usually, it’s the people fighting to climb to the top who are the most frightened, insecure, or unwilling to offer guidance. 

If you do ask for help or advice and are turned down, you can bet that the next person you ask will be more than willing. If you want great advice and you want to avoid big mistakes, seek help. Surround yourself with winners. 

Implications of thinking big!

The implications of thinking big are widespread and impressive. Thinking big is a magic door opener that broadens your perspective and allows you to see new opportunities. Thinking big makes life easier and a lot more fun. 

I’ve been repeatedly reminded by successful people in virtually every field that thinking big is one of the keys to success. Let’s consider a few examples. Successful insurance salespersons insist that it takes the identical amount of time to speak to someone about a million-dollar policy as it does a one-thousand-dollar policy. 

    

The bigger your visions, the larger your potential for success. If you’re trying to sell homes for a living, as an agent, it takes the same amount of energy to ask a wealthy person for their listing as it does a low-end homeowner. You can think small, or you can think big.

    

As usual, the primary reason many people think too small is fear. Thoughts like, “I can’t speak to a room full of people,” “I can’t risk taking on a larger project,” and “I couldn’t ask the boss to have lunch with me” fill the mind and are taken too seriously. When fearful thoughts enter the mind, try to banish them. The fear you are experiencing is almost always self-created and usually unnecessary.

    

Could you be thinking in larger terms? In most cases, the answer is yes! There may be ways that you can reach more people with the same amount of effort. Regardless of the business you are in, the first step is to eliminate any fear or worry that is getting in your way. As your worrisome thoughts gradually disappear and become less appealing, new ideas and insights will begin to emerge. 

Cheers.......................

Born to Succeed

When struck by defeat and pain
When your every breath becomes a strain
When you have failed a thousand times
Rise, to try once again

When others try to pull you down
In their negative talk do not drown
When people say it cannot be done
Show them you can be stopped by none

When failures shatter your dreams
When difficulties come at you in streams
Stand up and fight by all means
For giving up is not in your genes

When the road seems all dark and gloomy
Let the light from your desire burn bright
Do not let the journey fill you with fright
Persist no matter what your plight

Ignore all the shouting and the pain
Pour your heart and soul again
Do not to be chained by anything or anyone
Realize that you are the chosen one

Let go of all the doubts and proceed
Do not stop even when you bleed
To failures and misfortunes do not concede
Always remember that you are born to succeed

keep Smiling....................

Cheers.......................

The law of the seed

Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on the tree, each with ten seeds. That's a lot of seeds!

We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more trees?"

Nature has something to teach us here. It's telling us: "Most seeds never grow. So if you really want to make something happen, you better try more than once."

This might mean:

You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job.

You'll interview forty people to find one good employee.

You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, car, vacuum cleaner, insurance policy, idea...

And you might meet a hundred acquaintances to find one special friend.

When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed.

We stop feeling like victims. Laws of nature are not things to take personally.

We just need to understand them - and work with them. 

Just One

One song can spark a moment,

One flower can wake the dream

One tree can start a forest,

One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,

One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,

One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation,

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness,

One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.

One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,

One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,

One heart can know what’s true,

One life can make a difference,

You see, it’s up to you!

cheers

Happy Independence day...........

Love your whole life

We often confuse emotional well-being with happiness. Being content and at peace with yourself goes beyond happiness, which may at times, be fleeting. On the other hand, in the annals of psychology, emotional well-being demands certain behavioural attributes: flexibility, coping skills, control over your life, a constructive direction and inter-personal skills. Here, experts identify how you can work towards achieving this.

1. HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND

Friendship is one among the foremost casualties of your stressful life as an adult. So go back and search for that close pal from your long list of  friends and get in touch.

HOW FRIENDSHIP HELPS 

A ing friendship rests on the foundation of intimacy, trust, security, equality and reciprocity-all of which foster satisfaction, an essential element of well-being. Friends help you evolve as a human being and assure you that there will be somebody to hold on to in the hour of need. This encourages you to take chances in life and achieve greater success. "A close friendship buffers you against crises and helps you bounce back," says Dr Seema Mehrotra, additional professor & in-charge, Positive Psychology Unit, Clinical Psychology Department, NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Psychiatrists associate friendship with happiness, because it meets our demand for affiliation. "Friends give you a sense of self-worth and boost your self-esteem," says Dr Bhavna Barmi, consultant, clinical psychology at Delhi's Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. Your close pals boost your health too. According to a study in PLoS Medicine, the benefit of friends, family and even colleagues is just as good for long-term survival as giving up a 15-cigarette-aday smoking habit.

INCREASE YOUR FRIENDSHIP QUOTIENT 

The first measure of your friendship quotient is your ability to accept human follies. Next comes loyalty and sustainability. Also, you need to develop certain social skills, like keeping in touch and sharing emotions to develop a close relationship. "Make sure that you listen to your friend patiently, respect boundaries and allow space," says Dr J Ram, consultant, clinical psychiatrist, Apollo Gleanagles, Kolkata.

2.- BE EMPATHETIC 

'Put yourself in the other person's shoes' is advice that all of us have come across at some point in our lives. To put it simply, this is what empathy is all about. In the language of psychology, empathy is the ability to recognise the thoughts and emotions of another conscious being. "Concern, sensitivity and care are in-built in the concept of empathy," says Delhi-based clinical psychiatrist Dr Sameer Malhotra. Empathy is actually rooted in our survival instinct from the times of hunter-gatherers when our survival, to a large extent, depended on our ability to empathise with and cater to others' needs. Hold on to your empathetic streak, it's an essential cognitive ability.

HOW EMPATHY HELPS 

We still operate in tribes in a larger and more complex sense of the term. So the role of empathy, not only for survival, but also for a sense of fulfillment is undeniable. "This is because we, as socialised creatures, crave for a sense of belonging and empathy helps us find it by promoting interpersonal bonding," explains Malhotra. According to empathy experts, at a higher level, empathy transcends from being aware of others' thoughts and feelings to actually experiencing their situation as if it were our own. This fosters a sense of intense connection and close ties, essential for emotional well-being. Moreover, research shows that people who show kindness and gratitude towards others are happier than those who don't. Being able to share another person's perspective can also lead to a deeper insight into life that would not have been possible if we remained confined to ourselves only.

INCREASE YOUR EMPATHY QUOTIENT 

Learn to observe quietly. This will give you a greater capability to peek into others' thought processes. Read fiction. A University of Buffalo study found that participants identified themselves with the characters in the fiction they read. Getting absorbed in another's life story strengthens the connections between your cognitive and emotional brain, thus boosting empathy.

3. BE CREATIVE

Remember those days when you painted handmade cards or wrote a small poem for the school magazine? How those acts of creativity filled you up with euphoria? Get in touch with that child in you.

HOW CREATIVITY HELPS 

"Creative activity that taps into your creative elements, helps you disengage from the monotony of daily life and fills you up with a sense of accomplishment," explains Dr Rajashekar Reddi, Prevention advisor and senior consultant, neurology, Max Healthcare, New Delhi. Not only does creativity boost emotional well-being, even viewing a creative piece yields positive emotions. According to a London University study, viewing a work of art raises the levels of dopamine-a neurotransmitter that controls the brain's reward and pleasure centres. "Creativity is the source of novel ideas, which give you easy solutions to many everyday problems. Thus you can lead a successful life," says Dr Pranjali Pradhan, cognitive neuropsychiatrist, KEM Hospital, Mumbai.

INCREASE YOUR CREATIVE QUOTIENT 

Albert Einstein said of the theory of relativity, "I thought of it while riding my bicycle." Various studies reveal that aerobic activities give you cognitive flexibility and help you access insights that might be out of your reach when you are sedentary. So slip on your walking shoes every day. "Keep your mind sharp by challenging your brain. Solve puzzles, keep a hobby and try to pick up new sets of skills," says Pradhan. And learn to think out of the box. Try to link unrelated subjects which will in turn spark a different thinking pattern.

4.- BE RESILIENT 

"Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before."-Elizabeth Edwards, American author. Don't give in to failures, rise each time you fall.

HOW RESILIENCE HELPS 

"A strong resilient streak helps you bounce back from a crisis, which is a fundamental attribute of successful living," says Mehrotra. "Your emotional well-being, to a large extent, is determined by your capability to be in control of your own life and resilience helps you achive that," reiterates Dr Vivek Benegal, professor of psychology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Research also shows that resilience protects against (and reverses) depression, anxiety, fear and helplessness.


INCREASE YOUR RESILIENCE QUOTIENT 

Find some lesson in every adversity. Being hopeful is another way of combating a challenge. Resolve to be happy even in moments of utter despair. Train your brain to see half full, rather than half empty. Learn to accept changes.

5.- BALANCE YOUR EMOTIONS 

We've often heard that old adage about how too much or too little of anything is bad. It's no different when it comes to your emotions. Overwhelming emotions can be the root of problems in your functional life, affecting both your work and relationships. Though easier said than done, try and make special efforts to regulate your emotions better.

HOW BALANCE HELPS 

The best gift of balanced emotions is stability, an intrinsic property of your emotional well-being. The key to balanced emotions is your ability to regulate your emotions. A study named Anger in the Age of Entitlement Research reveals that selfregulation is necessary for emotional well-being. Your self-regulation skills will enable you to keep you calm in a stressful situation and boost your decision-making capacity.

INCREASE YOUR BALANCE QUOTIENT 

"The first step is to recognise and admit to yourself that your emotions need regulation," says Benegal. Practise mind-body techniques like yoga regularly. It is the sure-shot way to develop emotional equilibrium. Get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. According to a study in Current Biology, rapid eye movement sleep, a phase in your sleep cycle, facilitates emotional regulation. Work your willpower muscle if you really want to take stock of your emotions. Give positive autosuggestions to yourself every day, 'I can. I will never let my emotions take over my rationality.' Be flexible. Flexibility broadens your mind and and makes you more accepting of others' views, boosts your reasoning and sharpens your judgement skills. All these work together to give you better control over your emotions.

cheers to Yahoooooo