We as humans of the so called evolved societies with education and global experiences and connects on our sides are often the ones who take the most time to smile at one another as humans traveling in the same journey of life, let alone share a laugh in the open. I wonder why?
We live within boundaries for our own safety which is good for our protection and yet it robs us of our freedom to live life.
We are always so careful in looking to put our best foot forward that we lose the joy of spontaneity.
Our life is controlled by our own doings that we throw ourselves into little boxes every day and night and we forget what it feels to think feel and sense beyond the box literally.
And sadly those who do are ridiculed for being the odd one out.
True freedom is unshackling the self from these chains of false convictions…of how to be. And just be.
This kind of thinking is what can transform the world.
It is a treat for me to come across this interesting post share on Facebook by Vijay Anand who I personally may not know, but am sharing it with joy!
I have a friend who lives in Finland and works in the education space – she works in the government department that skills immigrants, so that they become productive and assimilate into the society.
During one of our conversations, she mentioned about how in a lot of Scandinavian countries all public transport is free [1] – you can hop into any bus, and go anywhere and even the trains are free. In Finland, you can also study whatever you want – go to school, college, go get a PhD for free – if you want.
I went “hmmm” in my usual, “I am not sure how this works” thought process. And remarked “I guess that works in a socialistic society”
What followed was insightful.
She asked me what I thought was the most important asset in a society. Honestly, that caught me by surprise. Our economy is measured (and GDP seems to be the holy measure) by movement of money, and hence companies?
She remarked, “Well, its People. It should be, isnt it? – atleast in the 21st century”. Her point was that the days of “companies” being valuable is a outdated model. Natural resources, companies being valuable, made sense for the industrial era, not really for the knowledge economy era.
She said, “Most democracies, even so called capitalistic democracies see people as a liability – a bunch that needs to be taken care of. So education is seen as a cost, healthcare is seen as a cost, but in Finland the model is that people are assets”
Her example : If you charge people a “fee” in college, they will pay a one time fee. And because of financial difficulties, they might not even pursue further education. Whose loss is it, she asked? I guessed, it was the individuals. “Nope, cause if someone who has the potential to be a PhD scientist ends up being a librarian because they couldn’t afford to study, it is the loss to the country – in more practical terms, the govt losses 30% of a much higher revenue that they could have made. Instead they have a citizen who hasn’t reached the full potential but still continues to consume the same amount of resources – might even add to the burden.”
If one looks at each individual that way – that everyone has a potential and if the govt helps them achieve the best version of themselves, then for a lifetime (say 40 odd years) they get 30% of everything he/she makes.
How does the free bus and trains work, I asked. If you remove traffic and remove headaches, employees reach offices faster. Companies get employees who aren’t half drained by the time they reach office. The more productive the workforce is, and the more profitable the company is, the government benefits from both – more tax money. A scientist who is able to do his/her best work creates assets for the country.
When people are the assets, the system starts as early as the mother being pregnant itself, to ensure that care is provided to deliver a healthy baby, and when the baby is born, the formative years are provided for to ensure nutrition and a healthy mental faculty, and periodic tests to map out the trajectory of every individual and set them on that path.
“So really Finland is very capitalistic, she said. What the societal model is, is that we value human beings and every human being as an asset. Whereas most “capitalistic” societies see them as liabilities and spend most of the money on welfare schemes and burdening the middle class.”
#Mindblown
The role of the government should be to enable its citizens / institutions / companies to be the best version of themselves and get the heck out of the way.
0. This idea is simple but radical. It took a few months for me to digest it. Give it time. I know the first reaction you might have will be similar to mine – cynical. But it makes sense.
1. India having a bigger population actually makes this even more attractive. People are assets. The more of that you have, the more you win.
2. This is fundamentally flipping the economy on the head. Today there are a few companies that create value (GDP) that is divided by the population. This model empowers individuals that Population x productivity = GDP
3. 90% of a country like India today lives off of 12,000 Rs per month. 5% of the country pays taxes that supports the rest of the country and the aspirations of infrastructure building. That is simply not sustainable.
4. This seems to be one of the few ways to not just get India to the 5trillion economy (as a bi product and not the goal) and beyond. In a day and age where civil liberties violation and environmental abuse will and should not be tolerated, this model paves a way. Most countries that are developed today got there through slavery or burning through the environment, which is a option we dont/cant have.
5. Getting ready for the knowledge economy, not only will get us into the world stage, but will get us far ahead in terms of the future – with being a young country, that is a service to future generations we cannot ignore. As they say, “skate to where the puck is going, not to where it is.”
When being expansive
Is about being able to inhale
And being inclusive in approach
Expansions drive meaning and purpose.
What expansions can exhale
Is the need for confounding perfection.
It can let go overt authority and control.
It can delegate responsibility responsibly.
The purpose of an expansion ascertains the flow
For it creates trajectories as it carries on.
When expansiveness is inclusive
This inclusivity outreaches itself
In expansive circles of thought & deed
Then development than deterrence
Becomes the process of the progression.
So whether it is one individual mind
Or an organization of many minds
When the circle of thoughts are expansive
Their very intersections in inclusivity
Emerges new and exclusive patterns
In both unity and divergence,
Fuelling creativity to fulfill its purpose.
Yesterday I posted a verse that came to me inspired by these captures. Here is the link https://wp.me/p6a0yZ-4CX
There is more to these photos…
While visiting Lourve Museum in France and while walking around those endless galleries of amazing artists and their creativity galore, my eyes turned to a glassdoor near the flight of steps.
I chanced upon this wonderful sculpture on the roof top of the facade, reaching out to the yonder as if to tell something… I filled in the blanks.
Sometimes we are so deeply caught in the maze of life around us.
But if we only care to look beyond it all, we are inspired to see so much more.
Art is in the way you see life.
Art is all around us and is but a perspective of the nuances.
All you need is the heart to appreciate.
Oh beautiful piece of sky!
Lighting our heart with liberty!
Forage in us the spirit of freedom.
Let us breath in the beauty of openness.
Let us witness the ethereal light across the horizon.
Let us rejoice in your dance of abundance.
May you bless us every day
Painting our hearts with hope.
And let us live in love.
In gratitude and good energies.
Keep the Spring in your heart
Then no Winters are too harsh
Or Summers too hot to handle
As Seasons change around you
You sense it all from the hope of your heart.
And hope springs forth eternally…
Here is a beautiful video that came by , shared by my friend Ashok Subharao
Although it is in Tamil , the gist is relevant to keeping the Spring in our hearts.
Love
Be in love
Be alive to life
For life moves in time
The Circle of life is a given
Only you can make this now matter well
Feed the soul, with all your heart.
Be in this moment ,feel light.
Think well live happy
Feel the love,
Love life
Live
Another video clip that came by shared by my friend Christoph, while writing the above words in this format specifically, with an idea to use words symbolically to capture the essence of the circle of life, this also feels apt to share here.
It speaks of the circle of life and the essence of letting go.
This is so important for living life well.
The lesser the baggage you carry in your head and heart the lighter you feel and freer you are!
For what matters is what you make of the now…
Let the seasons change around you
As you engage with this moment.
Live life lovingly!
In a world that is literally shrinking globally, In a world where respect for cultural diversity, Is paramount to humanity. In a world where inclusivity is a necessity, In a world where businesses are adopting empathy driven approaches. In a world where love, kindness and faith is needed much more than ever, In a world that is changing states quo…
There is need for all of us to come together. There is need to value connections. There is need to understand each others vulnerabilities. There is need to be inclusive in the diversity.
When we move beyond the I And envision the Us When we see the world as ours than mine. When we care to collaborate together, In mutual respect of the differences When we acknowledge the strength of unity in the diversity. When the, Me and Myself Shifts to Us beyond the Mine.
Artic Circle Rovaniemi Santa Claus Village. Image Credits Deepa Rajesh
The world will evolve for the better of all. Let’s know, how interweaved we are! For that’s where our true strength lies In this very interconnectedness. No matter the distance of space or time. So, in a world where it is right now There is no room for the I, Me & Myself anymore.
A true story I came across which is worth reading…
“I boarded flight from Bangalore to Mumbai, economy class. I put my hand bag in overhead bin and took my aisle seat. There was an old person sitting next to me on the window seat.
I had a presentation in Mumbai, so took my documents and started going through them for the final time before the presentation. After 15–20 minutes I was done with my documents, so I put them away and started looking out of the window, and suddenly I looked at the face of this person sitting next to me. I thought I have seen him somewhere.
He was old, his face, the suit was not very expensive, and he was replying to some mails or going through some documents. I exactly don’t know. I noticed his shoes, they were average quality.
Something stuck me and I asked him:
*“Are you Mr. Narayana Murthy?”*
He looked at me, smiled and replied, *“Yes, I am.”*
I was shocked !
For one second I had no idea what to say next. I looked at him again. His shoes, his suit, his tie and his specs. Everything was average. This guy was worth $2.3 Billion and co-founded Infosys.
I always wanted to become super rich so that I can buy all the luxury and travel business class. He could buy the whole airlines and yet he was sitting next to me in economy class!
I again asked: *“Why are you travelling in economy class and not business class?”*
He replied:
*“Do Business class people reach early?”*
And then introduced myself, “Hello sir! My name is ***** and I am a freelance corporate trainer and I work with many MNCs PAN India.”
He then put his phone away and started listening to me, he also asked few questions and answered the questions I asked. We both went down deep into the conversation until I asked a question which was about to change my life entirely.
I questioned:
*Sir, You are so successful and have made so many good decisions in your life. Is there something you regret?”*
He got intense look on his face, thought for a while and answered,
*“Sometimes my knee hurts, I should have taken better care of my body. When I was young I was so busy working that I never got time to take care of myself and now even if I want to work more, I can’t. My body doesn’t permit.”*
*“You are young. You are smart and ambitious but don’t repeat the mistake I made. Take proper care of your body and take proper rest. This is the only body you have got!”*
That day I learned two things, one that he told me and another that he showed me!”
Being rich is not about owning things.
I had got what I needed.
What a great and down to earth human being he is, no doubt he is so successful!
There are many types of feedbacks given and solicited in a typical corporate environment.
In the art of management the topic of critical appraisals and sharing feedbacks is a nerve wracking process on both sides. For the truth is feedbacks at work take not only a whole lot of in- depth analysis, but it takes courage and common sense deliver. And often they can be the toughest of conversations to have.
Are you feeling uncertain about how to confront a feedback session.At work there will be time where you might have faced a feedback session .
If you have been the one who is giving feedback to your team or a member of your team here are six tips that can help you master the art of giving feedbacks.
Prepare
Keep the perspectives clear of what was expected and agreed upon earlier and the issues that is evident. Give a clear picture of what has been observed to the receiver. Remember you are addressing the work issues, dont get personal.
Proper time and place
Ensure you are slotting a feedback time that is mutually least distracting.
This will ensure there is the required focus and necessary attention to the discussion at hand.
Ask and listen well
Contrary to what is understood about feedbacks time the reviewer needs to hear more and speak less often to deliver objective feedbacks to resolve issues.
Avoid letting your own ego from taking too much space. Instead Inquire more into why certain things are not going well. Speak less ask more open ended questions and let them speak and ask for feedbacks and own up to their mistakes. That way you will not be crushing egos but resolving issues you are facing as a team .Avoid bombarding. Be empathetic but assertive.
Sandwich
Choose your words and sentences well.Feedbacks and critical analysis involves being mindful of the words you choose and conveying the criticism in a well meaning way so that you are not directly attacking the receiver. This will ensure they are able to digest and understand what is going wrong and not stagnate by becoming defensive.
Remember it is not a war of egos and ensure you avoid making it one .
Be clear & concise
Vagueness is not going to resolve anything. Be objective in your feedback . If someone is a perpetual latecomer then mention specifically how many times they are late in the last month .
This will make them more accountable and lead to ownership and better productivity at work.
See the Bigger Picture
When you giving feedback address the issue and do not attack the person’s character. Try your best to see things in the larger frame . Avoid being petty and leave your own ego aside before you begin.Remind yourself always to envision the bigger picture. And remember that it is not personal.
Feedbacks in general can be a very valuable tool for companies.and there are many types of feedbacks.
Have you given or received feedbacks recently.
What are your expectations and experiences on feedbacks?
The above clip is my dedication to my dear mother. They are a compilation from her own set of artworks dated around 55 years back in time or more.
The reason I share this is to encourage people to see possibilities in creativity and how it can soulfully connect us all, through creative enrichments.
To give you the background…my mother had and still has a fine sense of design and her drawings always had an artistic flow. But unfortunately the daily grind of life and living took its toll and art and creativity was pushed into the background perhaps not realizing the innate talents. But the truth is, a lot happens in appreciation than in indifference.
So her skills were lying untapped and unrecognized. In time as I grew up and while on a visit to my maternal grandparents home in the village, I chanced upon her collection of drawings and paintings stacked in the attic gathering dust in complete ignorance.
The moment I saw them I knew they have to be brought out to see the light of the day… although sadly it was personally disheartening, to see many of the beautiful pieces made on paper, crackling and crumbling in time.
I brought them back with me to the city and took pictures of what was left of it and tried to salvage it piecing them together.
By then I was encouraged by friends and relatives who saw and deeply appreciated them too.
I hit upon the idea of creating a video clip using technology to enhance her original design sense. Yes, they are not as good as her original artworks, for technology is way too perfect to bring out the joy of uniqueness in the human hand.
Yet it is my humble attempt to value the time spent in creating by her own hand with the limitations of the resources available to her in those times.
There are far too many paintings, so I pieced them like a kaleidoscope of sorts to get a sense of her artistic endeavours.
Many times we fail to see the hidden talents in our loved ones. We relate with them for years and hardly know the depth of who they truly are.
Art has a way of bringing out the brilliance of the light within us by bridging gaps in our understandings but also opening new perspectives of thinking.
Today is the day I was born, and one of the ways I choose to celebrate it, is by dedicating this post to my dear mother Anjana.
Thank you, mom, for the beauty you create, being who you are! God bless.
Choose well You are way better way more, Than what you think & understand of you. There is much that only you can choose to do. Choose to live your life lovingly! Choose to be purposeful! Choose empathy than criticism. Choose self respect and freedom to be.
The faster you understand yourself And accept being who you truly are, And choose to better yourself to be the best version of yourself… The closer you are to being truly happy!
Savvy Raj 
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