Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


7 Comments

The Gruen Transfer

The Gruen Transfer
The Gruen transfer is a psychological phenomenon in which an idealized hyper-reality is realized by deliberate reconstruction, providing a sense of safety and calm through exceptional familiarity.

In shopping mall designing…the Gruen transfer (also known as the Gruen effect) is the moment when consumers enter a shopping mall or store and, surrounded by an intentionally confusing layout, lose track of their original intentions, making consumers more susceptible to make impulse buys. It is named for Austrian architect Victor Gruen, who disavowed such manipulative techniques.
The Gruen Transfer is the few minutes after you walk into a store where the stimulus confuses your brain and hypnotizes you into buying more.

There is always a dark side to marketing advertising and sales … with the intention of luring customers to buy!

Have you experienced this feeling when you buy or go shopping at a mall?

Do share your experiences if any!


3 Comments

Why Practice Matters?

Why Practice Matters?

Learning any skill requires disciplined and repeated practice. Skill Development is an art itself .

Without the effort of practice , skills cannot improve or sustain.

While practice may not make every person perfect it will certainly better them gradually.

Practice makes you learn until you start to work instinctively.

To reach the level of an expert, practical training is a progressive module which creates challenges as you go along. Every stage a bit tougher than the earlier one.

What is important to remember is that practice is not only necessary but it is necessary to practice efficiently and effectively.

Does practise makes it perfect?

Practice is to engage and rehearse repeatedly in order to perfect a skill to mastery , but not all who practice acheive the level of an expert even with structured and deliberate practice standards in place . So we can safely say practice makes one better gradually.

A consistent practice of any talent or skill will begin to show results for sure. It could be tangible jump or it could be a little step according to the amount to time, focus and energy given to practice. In time the results could be exponential in its rewards as well.

Practice can be truly rewarding and a great source of confidence.But practice needs not only consistency but also determination in perseverance.

A few tips to improve and implement a practice routine..

Be ready to self reflect so as understand why you are motivated to continue practicing.

Be willing to develop the learners mindset and maintain it.

Be mindful of your behavioral changes as you improve and work on it positively to sustain you.

Be engaged proactively to adjust your practice levels as per requirement.

Be focused to set short and long term goals and work on achieving them.

Most of all…

Continuity of practice is important after achieving a set goal…

Keep your practice going!

Savvy


12 Comments

The things I like…

Every little moment of life is a celebration when you care to value it!

So today on my birthday here is my wish for you all!

And yes, here is a list of my reflections on the simple things I truly like...
Seems endless!

I like ….

The old world charm of an elegant Foxtrot

The magic in gliding to a whirling Waltz

The tantalising passion of a Tango

The sizzling chemistry in a Rumba

The gay abandon of a Samba

The freedom and gaiety of a Jive

The spiritedness and fun of Swing

The stylish charms of the Cha Cha cha

The sensuality and speed of Salsa

The teasing hips moving to a Bachata

The synergy of a march in a Merengue

The flamboyant frills of a Flamenco.

I like it all and more

And yet most of all I like the simple joy of dancing naturally.

I like…

The touch of pen to paper

The flow of colour on canvas

The smell of a brand new book

The joy of reading and writing

The rhythm of rhyming stanzas

The soulfulness of a profound poem


I like …

The smiling eyes of a happy child

In the joy of holding a present unopened

The caring ways of friends so dear

The warmth of a genuine smile.

I like…

The peace in every mindful moment acknowledged…

The morning walk on a sandy beach

The gentle waves embracing my feet

The smell of the first rain invigorating a patch of earth

The fragrance of jasmine flowers

The whiff of warm enchanting woods

The chirping of birds in the trees nearby

The caress of a breeze so cool

The chill of winters day

The twinkling of the stars on a clear night sky

The passion play of a full moons day

The dancing lights of twilight

The shimmering moonlight on a tranquil lake

The magic of morning break at dawn

The enthralling evening shadows playing at dusk

The enchantment and rapture of a saxophone

The twang and elan of a accoustic guitar

I like…

The smell of fresh ground coffee waiting to be sipped

The aroma of baked goodies out from a hot oven

The melt in the mouth bite of a dutch truffle cake

The steaming cup of cheer on a cold winters day

The tinge of warmth of ginger

The spice n flavour of aromatic cinnamon

The chewy goodness of an oats and raisin cookie

The quench of thirst from a pure glass of water

I like it all and so much more…

Yes there is so much in life to like and love

The list is endless! And I am pretty sure it is the same with you :))

‘This is a mindful and gratefulness practise that I do every once in a while …. What we like may be very unique and may change with time, but that is not as important as acknowledging it . Gradually we learn to see the bliss in the blessings.

To acknowledge the simple pleasures of life and living is to know its worth .

Try to make your own list … adding as you go along and you will soon have so much to be thankful for that you learn to live like this moment is completely worth it and never take a moment of life for granted.’

Savvy


7 Comments

A Sight to Behold!

Blooms and blossoms Photos by Savvy Raj

My photo of the day! Blooming in my terrace garden…

Roses have a beauty of their own

Colours contrasting with the green leaves

They blossom and capture hearts

Arrestingly captivating

To look at , enticingly fragrant

So delicate and fragile

But in all their vulnerability

Their charm flows in abundance

Always a sight to behold

Amazingly significant

For a Life so short lived!

Such is the wonder of life and living!

Savvy

Amazing nature! Amazing beauty!

Teaching us it is not the length of time we live , but in how best we can live the time we have!

Savvy


25 Comments

The Wisdom of Silence

The Silent Retreat

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks.

They began with enthusiasm and no one said a word the whole day.

By nightfall of the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out.

The first monk blurted out, “Oh, no! The candle is out.”

The second monk said, “Hey! We are not supposed to speak!”

The third monk said in an irritated voice, “What is this? Why did you two break the silence?”

The fourth monk smiled and said, “Wow! I’m the only one who hasn’t spoken.”

Reflections:

Each monk broke the silence for a different reason, each of which is a common stumbling block in our inner journey: distraction, judgement, anger and pride.

The first monk got distracted by one aspect of his experience (the candle) and forgot what was more important – the practice of witnessing without reacting.

The second monk was more worried about others following the rules than in actually practising himself. He was quick to judge without noticing that he himself was guilty of what he was criticizing.

The third monk let his anger towards the first two monks affect him.
The singular burst of anger ruined the effort of the day.

The fourth monk lost his way because of pride. He was convinced he was superior to the others, proving his ignorance.

Why did the fourth monk speak at all? He could have simply maintained his silence and he would have been successful in his endeavour.
But if he had, chances are, the other three might have continued to argue and not even noticed his silence. Some people are like this.

Their motto is “If I am doing something good, but no one notices, I might as well not be doing it at all.” They believe that the reward is not in the effort, but in the recognition.

There is a beautiful quote, “It is the province of knowledge to speak; it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.”

As we learn to truly listen, witness and observe without impulsively reacting with distraction, judgement, anger and pride, then we understand the true meaning of silence.

The Wisdom of Silence

Silence has the strength of spaces in sublime consciousness…

Silence shows the way of patience

Silence activates our guiding spirit

Silence powers the strength of intuition

Silence moves towards deep contemplation

Silence evolves the spirit of understanding

Silence graces atmosphere with quietude

Silence defends without a word

Silence strengthens the soul.

Silence can be a knowing of the peace within .

Silence is painful in its struggles and valuable in itself. Silence is in utter desperation, deep contemplation with phases of meditative connectedness. Silence is never thoughtless or mindless.

Silence dwells in the spaces between the steps to access whenever. Silence leads and the path appears.

Trust the lessons learned in silence.

Savvy Raj


14 Comments

Choice rests with you!

The power of choice rests with you … always .

Whatever irks you in the moment

Whatever seems too disappointing.

Whatever brings you down

Take a moment to think if its worth your energy and time…

Savvy

And here is nice little message worth a read on anger management.

I once asked a very successful Man to share his secret with me. He smiled and said to me.. “I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters. I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me…I stopped fighting with my in laws…I stopped fighting for attention…I stopped fighting to meet public expectation of me…I stopped fighting for my rights with stupid people..I left such fights for those who have nothing else to do but fight…And I started fighting for my vision, my dreams, my ideas and my destiny. The day I gave up on small fights is the day I started becoming successful.”

Some fights are not worth your time. Choose what you fight for wisely…..


12 Comments

On Love

As love conquers you it blesses you in the knowing.

Make not a mockery of love

Serenade love and allow it to speak truth

Love surfaces from the depth of emotions

To mend you and this world to a better place.

As true love is eternal

Free as bird in flights of oblivion

Travelling in the abandon

Of the wilderness of the spirit

Yet bonded in the boundless infinity

Endless love a gift of grace

Acknowledge this treasure

Blending two souls in one

As a life loved is well lived… such a rare sight!

What a blessing it truly is….A love like that!

In realising the many miracles of life is knowing a love that can move the soul of our being. We can consider ourselves lucky to even have been touched by a love like that!

Savvy

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my friends and readers!!!


9 Comments

On letting go…

We are often about holding on than letting go . We are able to hoard but find it difficult to let go . We try to control our lives a little too much that we often forget there is a power greater than us that cares for us all.

Letting go in faith and trust is an immensely gratifying experience. If you choose to let go of your unnecessary niggles of doubts and fears you will find the path of calm and peace that sustains you …

So what are the immediate things you can choose to let loose?

Here are a few that come immediately to mind…

Lose your excuses
You will find results

Lose your worry
You will find the will to do

Lose your negative thoughts
You will reflect positivity

Lose your doubts
You will find solutions

Lose your fears
You will find the way

Lose your inadequacies

You will find abundance

Savvy


5 Comments

Infinity of Creativity

Creativity is innate potential.
Deeply entwined in humility
In every realisation of potential infinite.
Creation manifests itself time and again.
Savvy


8 Comments

Another day dawns!

Magnificent Sun!
Across the distant horizon resplendent in all its radiant hues sun shines on its blessings and bejewels the sky. The leaves unfurl themselves a little bit more, with strength and energy and basking with confidence in its radiance. So glad the bitter cold of the night has moved away, they glide lovingly content in this moment that glows with warmth!

The buds awaken themselves and bloom willingly only to reveal their astoundingly tender beauty. And soulfully they turn seeking the brilliance of the magnificent sun …catch them dancing the dance of beauty and grace that’s shimmering in its rays…Maybe they know well the time they have with the sun is precious and know they must live it with all their might and behold it’s a breath-taking sight !


Who better to seek to understand the preciousness of time …. to understand the wisdom of time than from a tender flower a midst its unabashed beauty!

Time is precious!

Fill your day brightly !

Live the moments!

Make it yours to love!

Shine and sparkle some more !

Savvy Raj


10 Comments

Care or control?

Care or Control?

I was in consultation with a middle age couple.

They started fighting right in front of me.

The upset husband said-

See doc….

I ‘Care’ so much for her & this is what I get in return.

To which the fuming wife replied-

He doesn’t care…
he just ‘Controls’!

The care from one person was perceived as control by another!

This made me think…🤔

What is Care and
What is Control?

How to identify them?

Soon

I received the answer.

I had an argument with my teenage daughter over a trivial disciplinery issue…

Harsh words were exchanged leaving both of us in tears…😪

After sometime,

as our emotions settled down ,

We said sorry to each other…

My daughter hugged me and said-

Papa ,

You know why you got upset?

You were not upset because I did wrong.

but u were upset because

I didnt follow your instructions…

there is a big difference!

I was stunned with her mature thinking pattern.

I received my answer too…

I was trying to Control her under the disguise of Care…

that caused the conflict ….

If I really ‘Care’ for someone ,

I will not get upset or angry with that person…

I will keep searching different ways to help him…

If I am struggling in any relationship…

I need to closely observe

If there is any subtle Control hidden behind my apparent Care…_*

‘because

“Care is an expression of love

While Control is an expression of ego…

Control cuts…Care connects

Control hurts…Care heals.

Keep Caring for people

but dont Control them …

because

Often people are not wrong…

they are just ‘different’.

Keep Caring.


5 Comments

Being as you are…

Your life is a gift.

Explore the best in you

Take charge of yourself!

Choose to know your strengths.

Than search for influencers outside

Choose authenticity, to be real

There is much within awaiting you

So much to simply be…

It is actually simpler to be yourself. There is something that each of us can do better than any other. So important then to listen to the inner voice and bravely obey that.

Savvy


9 Comments

Power of Possibilities

Explore the Immense Power of Possibilities!

Hope lives on, in possibility

Joy is always a possibility

Love happens, its a possibility

Luck as well is a possibility

Try and try again in perseverance

When effort becomes a possibility

Success too becomes a possibility

Power to the arising possibilities.

Savvy


2 Comments

SYNCHRONICITY OF INTENTIONS

We are so caught up in the external knowledge, that we at times fail to connect with our inner awareness.

Conscious awareness is immense power in one’s hands.

Our thoughts are intentions, inseparable from everything that exists. But very often it is blocked with unnecessary anxiety, discontent or other negative emotions. Intentions as energy fields can be powerful, but the collective consciousness of intentions towards a larger good can be even more so.

We have the choice to choose wisely and create the beauty of synchronized creative patterns. Look around us and we can observe nature which blesses us when in the harmony of synchrony.

Each of us is uniquely blessed with the power to choose thoughts that can transform the life within us and around us for the better. This is the first step to touching lives beyond dimensions with the synchronicity of good intentions.

A prayer towards general goodwill is a good example of synchronicity of intentions.

After all, intention too is a form of prayer. And more the attunement to an intention more the chance of manifesting the energy of synchrony.

In every moment the choice of any thought and creative enterprise is, was and will always be with us …

Let’s care to choose well!

Savvy


8 Comments

Reach out…

Stretch your self…

to reach out…

a little more everyday 🙂

Some day you will be thankful

How far you have reached!

Every moment is an opportunity

To reach out and grow

Evolve for the better

Be open to the unfolding life

Strech yourself a little more every day…

To accommodate

To acknowledge

To accept

You will find your strength

In flexibility

In adaptability

In your vulnerability

You will find new frontiers

That you paved along the way.

Trust yourself a little more

There is so much out there

If you are willing to see and learn

Reach out & truly care to share

The simple joys of being alive.

Savvy