Half Year Check Post

We all are crossing half the year now. The first 6 months was really packed for me - if not in physical life, atleast how my mental abilities were kept busy. I guess I was continuously on the run. Nevertheless, physical life too was very busy. I am enjoying what I am seeing here, what I am doing here. I pulled up my socks and took control of several things - yes, several things, - in my life.
I think it all happened because I had several moments of decisions. I took decisions - what is necessary at every stage. The phase that I am passing through is temporary. But I made a very strong, positive journey for myself.
Especially, I enjoyed talking to many people and was interested to know how contrast they could be in what they know and what they do. I really spent a great deal of time with several people.
I am looking forward to make 2013 another memorable year for me.

Life's Essential Ingredients!

I was reading Director Bala's interview in Anata Vikatan weekly on his upcoming movie Paradesi.  Some of his words inspired him. Then I thought, what could be life's essentials -

Here is my list of Life's Essential Ingredients -

• one or more strong Love
• one or more Rejections  
• one or more Betrayals
• one or more Rivalry
• one or more Pain
• one or more Success

Nothing else matters!  If we have all these, realize your life is already full and complete and start celebrating. Without the above, you cannot have life experiences.  I feel I already have all these and I feel fulfilled. As you read, you too have already this list of experience in your life.  So, start celebrating.

Incidents and Coincidence

Incident #1 Today morning, before leaving bed, looking at deep sleep Diya, I was telling myself “I should never be tough with Diya for her mischiefs;  because children are not from us, they are through us”.  I read this quote several months back.

Incident #2  Yesterday and day before, I was in Hyderabad and was closely following Swami’s health report in media. I was having few questions in my mind.

This morning, I picked Dr.Wayne Dyer’s book “Change your thoughts; change your Life” which reflects Tao principles. An excellent book.

Coincidence#1   One of the random pages that  I opened talked about the quote “children are not from us; they are through us”.  I was stunned because that was the quote I told myself hardly 10 min back. And I was reading that quote several months back in some other book.

Coincidence #2  In the same book, this has been mentioned:  One of Swami’s devotee Ms.Radhika Kinger had written a letter to Dr.Wayne Dyer on Sai Baba.  That was the time Swami was confined to wheel chair.  She had asked Swami why He could not cure himself.  For which Baba responded “My Life is My Message. Pain is a natural phenomenon. But suffering is a choice. I do not suffer as I am not the body”.     A relevant message coming to me through this book in current Baba’s health context.

Election & Cricket

Captain Vijaykanth

Captain Dhoni

Suddenly I observe some coincidences in Tamilnadu Election and World Cup Cricket this year.



* There are factors that decide who can be part of the team

* If you have not performed recently (in the last opportunity), you get replaced

* Beyond talent, personal contacts at management level, help influence

* Media exposes every move of the members

* There will be some who will get hurt

* Both are serious games, for some

* Both are fun games, for some

* Senior and old try to hold their places beyond performance and age

* Captains will make difference this time

Rules that rule our mind

I am driven by my own set of rules. You are driven by your own set of rules.  Every one of us have plenty and plenty of rules that drive us crazy, or fun loving, or contributing or caring, or happy throughout our life.  We did not consciously framed those rules and expect everyone to adhere to those rules.



A rule is our own definition of 'what has to happen in order for us to feel good'.  You are expecting your mom to serve the food in certain way. Thats one of your rules. If that is violated, you get annoyed, feel unloved, or feel rejected unconsciously.



You expect someone to smile at you when you say Good Morning.  They dont do always. And you get upset. Your rule is violated. We end up creating too many rules and end up ourselves unhappy.



The ultimate truth is that nothing has to happen in order for you to feel good. We need not any reason to be very happy.

Next time, if you are reacting violently to the situations at home or office, or emotionally disturbed for every event that happens, look at what the rule is.

Change the rule and define it in such a way that you always win.

For example, one great rule is "Any time I could smile, Any time I meet people and have fun, Any time I could contribute, Any time I could speak kind words, Any time I create something new, Any time I eat and sleep well for my health, Any time I could reach out to my old friends, Any time......-  I feel great and happy".



Define more rules that will always put you in an empowering mode. "Anytime I wake up and find myself alive, I find more day to make a difference". "Anytime I read a book, I am learning something new".



What does your rule book say?

The innocent sales boys

I had been to a mall today; noticed busy sales men and sales women all around - right from car parking through premier stores.



I treat them with utmost regard when they approach me or when I approach them. 



Some are good looking; some look learned;

Some interact well; some bluff;

Some are knowledgeable; some are not.



I used to wonder, for their age, if they had got the right standard of education, they would have been in a reputed job.



Last week, I met a girl in MK Ahmed Stores (Dollars Layout) who was sitting on the floor because she was standing since morning. Other girl was weeping over some internal issue with her other peers.



Their family background is not that great most of the times; we can assume so - they may not be doing this job for name sake. They could be the bread winners of their families.



Happen to watch Angadi Theru movie today in the TV.  Some of the story bits could have been exaggerated, but many things could have been true. But I did not have the courage to watch the movie!



What these workers grow to? What kind of fortune will they make?

I think the very basic thing we can do is respect them and help them where possible

New Year 2011 - Heads Up #5

Many of us buy gifts for ourselves, thanks to the flooding festive offers!

As you enter 2011, you may want to carry one essential and powerful tool with you: its called Forgiveness. Its a forgotten art of forgiveness!



How much ever happy we be, but it we carry grudges and mental poisons, whereever we go, life is going to be disastrous. Its like growing a fruit tree among filth.



We never realize that by not forgiving we hold on to our negative past and negative people. Life is meant to be fast forward!  Lets move on; lets move forward and not backward.



There is every reason for us to not forgive those people or incidents; but, but, can we devote sometime, and explore, invent and devise enough reasons to forgive the past.



We are better off, we are alive today probably because someone has forgiven us someday but they did not tell us.



So, think of all those people - it could be your relatives, neighbours, your family, especially your parents, your colleagues, someone very stupid, your friends, your well wishers, and including yourself.



Religions teach us this principle already - but to me its a common sense thing. Forgiveness is unassumingly simple and powerful tool that every time you apply, it will transform your life.



Forgiveness is good for your health. Forgiveness makes your more beautiful.



If for some reason, you cannot reach out to the person, forgive him mentally and you get transformed.



Go, find more than enough excuses on why to forgive someone.  Go, make new year yours!



 

DeClutter!

Today is the day I fixed for decluttering the several stuff I have at home. Every house "stores" a lot of unwanted things; and we keep them close to our heart without using them. There  is a hidden opportunity for charity - but we should not be disposing waste stuff in the name of charity.





One will undergo mental conflict before deciding to 'give away' something.



If you have not used an item for last 6 months, dispose off.

If you know that you will not use it for next 6-12 months, dispose off.



I did one today, and was able to find a lot of items that I thought I will use and never used.



This will help one live a close-to-minimalist life!  Try it.

 

New Year 2011 - Heads Up #4

Theme for 2011

New Year 2011 - Heads Up #2

Looking back at 2010, I had satisfied life. I was happy most of the times. I moved away from several 'past things' of mine and moved towards new. I am happy for taking several decisions consciously and having done it. I lived almost every day with my heart. I was grateful to myself than anybody else for choosing the path I decided to walk. Being my own critic, I am aware what I need to change. Thats up for 2011.

New Year 2011 - Heads Up #1

This year, I have two choice to pick my character traits. One is what Benjamin Franklin practiced. Another set is what Brian Klemmer preaches.  I love them both.



Benjamin Franklin Virtues

•  TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

•  SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

•  ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

•  RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

•  FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

•  INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

•  SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

•  JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

•  MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

•  CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no un-cleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation.

•  TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

•  CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

•  HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.



Read more: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/02/24/lessons-in-manliness-benjamin-franklins-pursuit-of-the-virtuous-life/#ixzz18upmiO39  (this Read more link appeared automatically when I copied from their site J I am just retaining it giving them the credit )



Character Traits of Compassionate Samurai

The character traits of Compassionate Samurai are Commitment, Personal responsibility, Contribution, Focus, Honesty, Honour, Trust, Abundance, Boldness and Knowledge.  I have already ordered the book from Flipkart and expecting the delivery in a couple of days. It’s a new year for myself. 



Tony Robbins Value System and Rules

As a NLP practitioner, I see value in values and defining my own rules to have unlimited power. 



What is my finally approach then?

•         My theme for 2011 is to live the life of “Compassionate Samurai”

•         My Value system for 2011 will be that of Compassionate Samurai

•         My rules will be defined according to those values

•         My tracking system will be similar to that of Benjamin Franklin

This is my sharing for all my beloved ones.

Next 13 years

Someone at my age of 30 told me that that age was a turning point for many. Whether he meant it for me or a general observation, his words influenced me someway. I started interpreting everything from that perspective.



But is not age. Its our thinking frame.  There are several inactive people at young age and several other active people at 80's and 90's.



I am putting myself in a 13 year frame starting this Nov 1st to make each and every day very significant in my life. At the age of 50, when I look back, I would have made myself very proud of what I lived for.



To be so, I need to be different, think differently, do differently.  I need to stop doing what is not useful. I need to stay away from people who are not sincere. I need to stop wasting time. I need to define clearly what I wanted in my life and make each day count. I need to acquire new skills.



I need to come up with detailed plans for physical, mental, spiritual, financial, recreational goals.



I am already on the job and the past 3 days have been excellent!

This lie is a coincidence

My blog entry on 'language distorted the world' should have been actually titled "Everyone speaks lies". I am pleasantly surprised to read the book review in TOI on a book titled "Why we Lie". Visit this link



This book is about the psychology behind lying.



And this lie is a coincidence and its a true lie :)   Can I someone explain this coincidence?

 

What will you celebrate?

What will let you celebrate if you were given an opportunity?  The moment itself.  The sunshine. The wind. The amazing art of breath. The life. Everything.



Its madness that we celebrate every year, meaningless functions, that are out of context. Every Indian, every religion, every sect has a bunch of days for themselves to celebrate just add some colour to their lives.



Celebrate this moment.

NLP is beautiful

I feel struck by the amazing field of NLP and its techniques. The more we understand and apply the good and powerful things in our life. VERY FEW PEOPLE APPLY IN THEIR LIFE, WHAT THEY LEARN. I am very fortunate that "I do" things. I see many around me handicapped by their own thoughts, and not able to move a bit in their life.  My entire evening was in love with NLP and I woke up this mid night to read more on it.  And it was raining heavily. A deadly combination! At this moment, I am in total control of my life - and I feel that sense of power. I want to reach out to people and tell them what it looks like. Guys, life is not living someday in future. Its living now - not just today. 

Pondering now...

• What different question should we ask ourselves to stop the corruption?


• If India continues to figure out with their new problems every single day, how we protect ourselves with the enemies outside?


• I wish I sleep only 2-4 hours everyday. Waking up 2 am or 3 am these days.  Something creative is running in my mind. Something new and fresh waiting to be born out of my shell.


• எந்திரன் படம் செய்ய செய்த செலவை துணியும் உணவும் இல்லாத மக்களுக்கு செய்தால் என்ன?


• If you keeping buying new houses as an investment, what will you answer to the future generation who are already homeless for various reasons?


• Did our parents had lesser problems in brining up compared to what we face with our kids?


• I say our mind is God. What else could be?


• The default state of mind is happiness. Why do we still pursue one?


• If TOI can stop publishing Bangalore Times and Bangalore Mirror, tonnes of papers can be saved and also trees.


• Why do we dont have negative music awards for our music directors who gave some junk songs?


• If my kid blogs now, what would she say about me?


• The world we see now through our filters, is not real

My August Month

Let the whole world know that the August is not an non-auspicious month. Because its my birth month, I have attached a lot of significance to this month.  I gain "power" around this month and live like a happy man. This month is like a new year beginning for me. But I am going to extend that amazing feeling to other months from now on. I have lost the concept of day-and-night, and see life days as one stretch period. Nature may be teaching us divide-and-conquer through day-and-night concept - but as my life is taking an interesting shape, day-night-day format is gone.

Can someone get me a mind-to-blog transmitter?  So many things to share, and I am not able to provide you an hot and unedited version of it.

 

Decision Making

Tony Robbins talks about decision making in his book "Awaken the Giant Within"

The three decisions that control your destiny are:

1. Your decisions about what to focus on.

2. Your decisions about what things mean to you.

3. Your decisions about what to do to create the results you desire.

This is my interpretation -



Decisions about what to focus on



a) Every Sunday I will decide what I will be focusing this week

b) Every day, I will decide what I will be doing today

c) Every hour, I will FOCUS



Decisions about what things mean to you



a) When "bad past" disturbs me, I will "pause" the video, audio and feeling, and will give the incident a new empowering meaning

b) When "fear future" makes me anxious, I will "pause" the video, audio and feeling, and will give to-be incident a new empowering meaning

c) If they do not make sense to me, I will make them zero voltage



Decisions about what to do to create the results you desire



a) First I will think of the usefulness of what I desire

b) Second I will assess whether it will make me a better person or not

c) Third I will DO it.





I think I will create a Google Spreadsheet template and track key things that matter to me.

Tough 10 days

I had a very tough 10 days; it was very stressful. I think I did a balancing act. My patience, my values, and my sleep everything was tested. I believe I kept my cool.



I was holding to myself with the help of all my life skills - like NLP, Alpha mindset, etc.



I also reminded myself that I have a very big future with all the things I am doing - I do not have the results now; but I have the efforts going now. Yes, I am going strong. With some stressful moments, and sleepless nights, I had body heat, hair fall and boils on my back.



I may be sounding too vague - but I cannot go too public :-)



My blackberry which has all my address book contacts has gone for service. So, I feel slightly hanidcapped.

• Link to First 10 days

Struggling with what I procrasinate...

I am recording the minutes that spanned from months to weeks to minutes on a certain task I am hating to do. Because I hate, I procrastinate. I try everything else other than that task - watch cricket, read books, visit loo repeatedly, play with my kid, eat snacks, surf regular websites, read more news, write-check mails, and so on. I disrupt my sleeping pattern, just allowing myself to be literally not-sleeping over the task. I donot want to run away from doing it. But I am not perfect at doing that task. Whatever may come, let me face it. But I notice, I get defensive, become calculative, and plan how to handle. Is this the same situation school children would be, which make them ultimately break or speak lies?  Ah, school children! I wish I bring in a system that makes no school children guilty of anything.



Let me march forward!