What is it about love that we are weakened before it?
And what is about love that we are strengthened by it?
What is this power that love wields over us?
Love hurts and heals all of us, one way or the other.
Love is the most sensed, most quoted, read,
most written and talked about.
Yet the most confusing and complex an emotion to decipher.
Inspite of its simplicity…
There is both calmness and chaos in love.
The ocean of love tides washes you over
Yet one cannot get to the root of love.
For love is a sublime embodiment
Of the essence of creation itself.
Love conquers and connects it all.
But every love story is too unique
To come to any conclusions.
Perhaps we ought to let love be mystical as it is!
A lot happens in appreciation
And a lot is lost in criticism
We are social beings who are motivated through support and value.
Whenever there is effort, if it is noticed and nurtured it finds direction to be productive.
But if it is met with unfairness, criticism, hostility, lack of interest, disregard or disrespect it undermines the ability of the workflow or thought flow itself.
Effects on Creativity
Although Creativity needs encouragement and blooms in appreciation, yet in extreme circumstances, creativity manifests to become an act of expression and freedom of the being.
Creativity may be boosted by a shot of oxygen in appreciation. Likewise to appreciation which is supportive and encouraging, Critical thinking, analysis and feedback rather than criticism can be valuable fodder for creativity. Yet creativity becomes a let out in dire circumstances.
If something is meant to flow it will find it’s way to assert itself.
Value of Appreciation
Yet in the growing years especially, appreciation is an evolved method of correction. When children are young and they sense encouragement from parents they learn, they are supported and go on to achieve a great many things, as the parents become the wind beneath their wings.
When Appreciation is one-sided…
But as children grow up, they sometimes are so caught up in the competitive environment, not to mention the charm and complexity of a technology-driven world, that they hardly have time to take note or care of aging parents who may not have their speed and abilities anymore.
Appreciation matters for all.
Elders need patience, support & care to get by more than ever before without criticism. At this juncture of life, reality bites hard! In this phase, things are not the same, often there is dependence & helplessness. anger and irritation not to mention frustration and fear of coping alone. Age is not on their side and human frailties and aging tests even the most resilient. It’s an uphill road and the climb only gets steeper for life has changed course.
Suddenly time flies and it’s another phase of life, what was once easy to do like getting up and walking becomes the most difficult task to do.
In such times of difficulties, all the heart yearns for is a little bit of love and care.
The paradox of the Heart & Brain
The heart is ever-loving, young & hopeful and appreciative
It never ages as it keeps beating.
The brain is however twisted & contrived and critical.
It deciphers the pattern playing
It knows only too well
Everyone has their turn
For life comes a full circle!
These reflections are my heartfelt effort at sending some positive words of hope and resurrection to so many daring entrepreneurs who risk so much in these difficult times.
Every enterprise finds a crossroad
With unexpected constraints
When the narrative gets disrupted
Innovate to overcome Inflections
Change is the law of nature
Life is meant to evolve
But often change can overwhelm
As it shows up unexpectedly!
Inflections can be challenging
But it opens new vistas of thought
When enterprise and effort kicks in
The resolutions become crucial
At the point of inflection
Identify a pivot to circumvent the situation.
With a purposeful drive to beat the odds.
The systems need an innovative rethink
To adapt to changes realistically
To identify the key drivers of change
Instilling agility in teams to deliver.
No business is risk-free
Yet forewarned is forearmed
To smoothen critical transitions
At unexpected events such as now.
Choose to envision the bigger frame
Adopt an eagles eye view
Seek to identify values and you will find pathways.
To lead you to develop & innovate.
A few tips along the way
Listen to your teams.
Schedule a brainstorming sessions
At different intervals.
Use the collective intelligence of teams.
Allow people to pitch in, it creates cooperation, trust and builds solidarity.
Be informed and innovate.
Every milestone is a learning curve. Reinvent ideas& strategies Expand your vision and allow your life experiences to guide you. You did not just go through them for nothing! You are meant to flow!
Your smile is your soul signature
Your voice is the vibration of your energy
Your speech is a channel of communication
Your intention is the story of your purpose.
Your eyes are the window of your soul
Your heart is the expression of your being
Your steps are the path you create
Your actions are the enabler of deeds
Your body is the lighthouse
Your spirit is light.
There is an expansion
In heart fields
There is energy
Of love & goodwill
Radiating across the world
As we speak
There is a newfound camaraderie
Bonds of friendship & connection
Beyond the walls of isolation
Beyond the fear there is hope.
There is a realization
Of indifference and oversight
And awareness
Of the repercussions.
Soon the world will heal
And recover itself
Such is the law of nature
But hoping for the world
To continue this journey
Of new awakenings
And persevere to preserve
These understandings in the uncertainty
The pristineness of the serenity.
The wisdom from the challenges
Hope it continues to transform
Our world for the better.
This Global Shift to Work From Home was meant to happen. The lockdown just hastened the process. With more and more work being computer-driven the approach to online meetings finding acceptance the shift was inevitable.
With increasing traffic and the associated fatigue, the rising costs of real estate, infrastructure, and equipment to maintain and sustain a physical office environment the Work From Home seems to be a more suitable effective and efficient alternative in the current scenario.
However, this will soon gain greater acceptance as employers will find although there are challenges people actually can be productive from wherever they are. And there are ways and tools as well to ensure it. So much system integration and analytics only show how it can turn the majority into adopting this method of employment. Unnecessary travel time and cost are saved, the energy can be utilized with resourcefulness.
Virtual meetings are adaptable and can even be recorded and replayed. So training modules can be conducted once and replayed.
As change is the need of the hour a series of altering and shifting of perspectives will be taking place simultaneously. In such difficult situations, we need to learn to be pliant to what’s required. Learning to be more collaborative cooperative and supportive to make the purpose worthwhile.
Virtual Work is the Future.
While this is an advantage for employees to be flexible with timing with greater time at disposal by cutting travel times and the need to get ready etc. It is also a possibility of radical shifts for Future entrepreneurs will have to learn from this experience and weigh the pros and cons carefully and cut unnecessary costs to be resourceful productive.
As for employees though the multidimensional dynamics of social interaction and sense of community in a physical office is lost, an online conversation is replete with its own tools to circumvent this.
However, with no face to face physical interaction, lesser office politics, and no watercooler gossips, it could certainly reduce the waste of unnecessary time and lead to greater efficiency.
Already with the drastic changes in the world economy and the predictions for challenging times ahead, it is time to find ways to reduce costs and increase online engagement which is already offering an array of productive resources and end to end collaborations that can change the way we work. It’s time to rethink and reinvent the way we work!
Are you too empathetic for your own good?
Are you putting yourself in others shoes so much that you disregard yourself?
Are you neglecting your own self for others’ needs?
Are you having shoulder stress and general fatigue?
Are you feeling worn out often and yet get dressed and show up?
Are you feeling you are giving more than you have…in words and deeds?
Maybe you are overstretching in the giving.
Remember you need to reach out but only until you are able to keep your own self in balance.
Otherwise, you will soon feel you have nothing left to give.
Are you unable to sleep well?
You toss and turn all through the night.
Are you are so tired that you are constantly down and have chronic pain?
Are you overpressured?
You feel responsible for others’ problems.
Time to check your own state of being.
It is quite possible …
Maybe you are being over accountable.
Maybe you are over accommodating.
Many of us may identify with some of these sensations. I have also born the brunt of being in the state, with my health affected, in spite of being aware, thinking it will self heal in time.
The truth is many us may even know we are in such situations that are exhausting our reserves and yet at times may be unable to take drastic measures to prevent them. Knowing is not enough! It is necessary to take a step to change.
The trick is to understand the circumstances that we are feeling overwhelmed by and choose to target our changes realistically.
To each, the problem presents itself uniquely! For some, it may be relationships and family or careers. For others, it may be a personal affliction or tendency to multitask beyond themselves or even battling over perfectionism.
Whatever the reason the sooner you realize that it is detrimental for your health and understand you need to implement lifestyle changes the better it will be.
Often in our efforts to be the best version of ourselves, we may go into a mode of putting ourselves into more than we can handle. Our mind body and spirit also need rest and recovery from the daily stressors that life doles out to us all.
We can learn from nature
Everything is best in balance.
Savvy
Each of us may have different coping strategies to overcome the challenges but the problem is our purpose of being is so passionately driven and in the determined perseverance of what we choose to accomplish and achieve in our lifetime we often fail to recognize the state of our own lives until it feels too overwhelming.
Until the lack of sleep creates discomfort and disorders eventually leading to inflammations and diseases in the body and mind. We are guilty of undermining ourselves. We need to remember our sole responsibility as adults rest with us and we need to adhere to our health needs. After all, it is the only body we have. The importance of a healthy body and mind cannot be stressed enough.
Things every one of us can easily implement include :
Optimize food: Check your health and improve your food habits
Avoid self-victimization: Choose to not feel overtly responsible for all.
Plan your day: Prioritize tasks Schedule a personal time as often as you feel necessary. And value it.
Avoid procrastination: Recognize your symptoms and take action.
Sleep well. Remember you matter and health comes first. Only if you are healthy can you do anything else?
First there was fear
And then came panic
On how to cope
So many doubts
That erupt in the mind.
Chaos and confusion abound
And then in the silence that ensues
There is a certain quiet
That feels strange and new
For the world has borne too much noise.
It isn’t comfortable with lack of sound.
The world takes its time to ease in
Soon there is a certain awareness
That pervades all over in the stillness
While the world finds its bearing again.
Bored?
What boredom, no time for boredom!
says my seemingly exasperated friend in India on the phone.
With the complete lockdown and most on’ Work from home status ‘majority of families are struggling to cope with rising demands of the family be it the seniors at home, children and of course pets as well. The families are now suddenly having no house help, the quintessence of urban class living.
Compared to the Western world in India still, the lure of cheaper labor force makes a household helper available to all. But in the current scare, there are no maids, let alone cooks or gardeners. Except for those who may have a live-in helper which is not often the case.
Suddenly the ‘Work from home’ status actually registers the truth. For it is truly challenging for most families who have never bothered to make their own bed or do dishes or cook ever. In fact, there are many who wait for someone else to make their tea or coffee or get a glass of water.
In these hard-pressed times the major part of the work comes to the women of the household still, in spite of all those talks of women’s liberation that goes on doing the rounds every year around early March.
To all the women, who have suddenly vowed to prove themselves superwoman please take it easy.
A little dirty corner, neglected kitchen shelves, not a four course meal, everything is acceptable. But not at the cost of your own health. Remember your falling sick at these times will be disastrous especially if there is no one to take over from you !!
Stay safe
The women are left with no options as the demands keep on rising as those who are at home are hungrier than ever with time to kill.
There are, of course, some of those evolved households where all are contributing their bit. The onus of responsibility needs to be shared, else it will make every day a living hell.
If only more young parents of today teach all their children both sons and daughters equally to cook, clean and do housework as a part of life skills training so that they also know how to manage a home when they have one, the lives of so many future families will be truly much easier.
As we see it, the future is here with new challenges and unless we are all equipped with basic survival skills and takes into account, ownership, responsibility, and teamwork and move beyond gender biases, it is truly tough to live through times like these.
How are you and your families managing this interim period?
Take a moment and answer to yourself these 10 questions that will work as a gentle reminder towards developing Self awareness.
10 Questions in Self Awareness
1.What are my thoughts focusing on this now?
2.What am I cultivating in this now?
3.What am I creating today?
4.What am I inviting myself?
5.What am I holding on to?
6.What am I letting go of?
7.What are my needs?
8.What are my wants?
9.What am I grateful for?
10.What is my learning today?
Choose to be honest with your answers as you pause to understand and you will find guidance in Balancing Your Life In Every Now.
Purpose of life is to evolve for the better. Wherever we are, however we are, humanity always finds a way beyond the trials and tribulations.
We are meant to thrive beyond the adversity.
Enhance your self
Self isolation can be challenging but need not be as difficult as it seems.
A few things that can make isolation easier to bear and productive as well.
PLANNING
Creating a schedule. Writing down things to do or learn in a day is a great start.
Having a routine planned, help a great deal.
Keeping channels of communication open.
Speak to people , listen to others well.
Express yourself through arts , pick up a book to read or a hobby you can learn in this interim period.
Care for your self. It makes you feel good about yourself.
Arrange your wardrobe.
Do all the things that you feel you never had time for.
LISTENING
Listen to some soulful or foottapping music.
Start a conversation on the phone. Many are feeling lonely or overwhelmed and overburdened. Offer to listen and empathize. One of the important aspects of doing this exercise is it changes self perceptions and brings an understanding of the world beyond the limited self.
ACTIVITY
Take care of your health, eat healthy.
Be engaged physically mentally emotionally & spiritually.
Look up at the stars at night.
Watch the blue expansive sky in the day.
Hear the sounds of waves, if you can.
Even in a recording…waves gives a repetitive, soothing rhythmical relaxation experience that can smooth out the creases on your brow.
Ease in, to time your breathing with the waves.
Try this one .
These are a few ways to create a personal space for yourself in your mind and heart spirit and soul no matter where and how you are.
Hopefully it may help in some way to ease through this phase we are in.
Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace, sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on…so own up to your share of peace.
“One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to comprehend only a little of this mystery every day.”
~Albert Einstein
Savvy Raj 
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