Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: Environment


by 7 Comments

Self Management

10 Life Skills that you need to master.

1. Managing Changes

Change management is an important component of life skills. Often loneliness is felt at different phases of life
Overcome the fear of being alone. Life teaches many challenging lessons. But most of all know that nothing is permanent Change is the order of nature And if you ever find yourself at crossroads feeling deserted lonely or lost without any loved one , fear not, as there are many who may be feeling so amidst company.
Develop hobbies and a sense of purpose that you are passionate about. And you will never feel alone a single moment in your life .

2 Art of patience:
Everything has a time and reason. Like nature teaches us time and time again, nothing can be hurried without a repercussion. And all comes in course of time.

Cultivating Patience is the key to mastering burden of procarasitation by others.

3 Letting go . Let past go and do not dwell on it. Work to balance the holding back & the letting go with discretion and discernment.

4 Managing Expectations
The world does not owe you anything infact you owe it much.Managing people’s expectations  and your own  requires some clear boundary setting by you for your own sanity. Dont expect immediate results and ease up to master expectations.

5 People Management

All cannot be pleased by you and neither should you try pleasing all. Managing Self involves learning to say no when you feel it deeply. You cannot live a life pleasing others . Putting your health and self care on priority is a duty to the life within you. You have every right to be happy and healthy. Self care is never a selfish act.

6 Self Control & Self Discipline

Both help and aid you to progress towards Self control than to control all around you. You may not be able to control everything and every one’s behavior. But remember you are completely in charge of your own behavior.

7 Empathy :

Empathise with your problems but there is no need to over sympathize and feel sorry for your yourself. Accept that you may have emotionally weak moments which may drain you but know it moves on. So you dont need to stay there in your thoughts hurting yourself.
You may feel and go through bouts of tears envy anger jealousy and they can be at times to heal you through or counter productive for you depending on the intensity but these self pitying moments in your thoughts come as you are only human, but you have free will and intention on your side and it is duty and right, for you owe to yourself to let these go as they came and not drown yourself with these thoughts. So pull out yourself out of the down spiralling thought road.

8 Responsibility :

Being responsible includes making an effort to finish work entrusted in a timely manner as well as in an efficient manner. Strive to improve your potential. Know where, why, when, how and for what to use your own personal energy and strengthen yourself engaging and involving in worthwhile company and causes.

9 Moderation :

Moderation in behaviour
Your thoughts result in actions
Strive to cultivate a balanced approach in extreme circumstances which may seem truly challenging.
Express your opinions tactfully address the situation mindfully & he(artfully) as you integrate the wisdom of the heart and mind conciousness.

10 Resilience

Life is different for each of us. So move ahead knowing that every day challenges come for a reason that is best not revealed now . Have faith hope belief and trust in your being. There is always a reason why things happen the way they do . Do not give up hope in your failures as they are harbringers of hope and wisdom to create a more evolved you.


Remember every failure is a step to chisel and sculpt away to a better you.And most of all make your life worth living.

Savvy


by 1 Comment

Memorable reads

Some times as you read you pause in reflection, to ponder over the memories and to sense the meaning just one more time …

Here is one such read …

There are perhaps no days of our childhood that we lived as fully as the days we think we left behind without living at all: the days we spent with a favourite book. Everything that filled others’ days, so it seems, but that we avoided as vulgar impediments to a sacred pleasure — the game for whose sake a friend came looking for us right at the most interesting paragraph; the bothersome bee or sunbeam that forced us to look up from the book, or change position; the treats we had been forced to bring along but that we left untouched on the bench next to us while above our head the sun grew weaker in the blue sky; the dinner we had to go home for, during which we had no thought except to escape upstairs and finish, as soon as we were done, the interrupted chapter — our reading should have kept us from perceiving all that as anything other than obtrusive demands, but on the contrary, it has graven into us such happy memories of these things (memories much more valuable to us now than what we were reading with such passion at the time) that if, today, we happen to leaf through the pages of these books of the past, it is only because they are the sole calendars we have left of those bygone days, and we turn their pages in the hope of seeing reflected there the houses and lakes which are no more.

Proust

https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/10/20/proust-on-reading/

Our readings leave an imprint in our souls… and how.

There are indelible and enduring marks on our mind and emotions.


by 5 Comments

Self Mastery

Self mastery is art of life living
In self control and self discipline
In discerning  for the self
In dedicated focus
In balancing  and regulating thoughts and emotions
On what matters most!

In the continuing battle
Between the heart and mind
Between feelings and logic
Of thoughts and emotions
Between expression of  emotions
And restraint in rationality
Between thinking  and doing
Often creating extreme experiences & situations. 
If one can practice self control  consistently…
One can master anything.

Savvy


by 1 Comment

PEACE

In the midst of the moments…

So many ways to sense peace
In the serenity of  tranquility
In the calm of quietude
In the stillness of silence.
In the repose of ease
In the joy of contentment.
In the bliss in this now.

Savvy


by 3 Comments

A prayer

A prayer is a bow of acceptance.
A prayer is a joyous amalgamation to the divine within.


Savvy


by 1 Comment

Art of Management

Irony Of Middle Management

One of the common concerns of any scaling team is that while the stakeholders ensure themselves with a great set of leadership and they in turn recruit a battalion of teams under them to do the work, there is one lacuna…the chaos and confusion in the middle management!

The disenchanted middle management scenario is a result of widening gaps in communication and connection between the managers and themselves.

Often, great work done by the team goes without credit, buried under the hierarchy structure and lack of appreciation.

Second, despite ability in the teams and readiness to accomplish good work, there is a lot of confusion about what to do as there is no clarity passed on to them from their managers.

It is clearly indicative of how important it is for the leadership team to share the purpose of why they are doing what they do…and how the message needs to be passed on with the same passion to every member of the teams, no matter the number of layers adding up in the middle.

This is how you reinstate ownership and accountability, which is paramount to the efficiency of the teams.

Unfortunately, much of what is conveyed to the managers from the top in terms of the purpose is typically withheld from teams, for the manager may not personally value the significance of the message for teams reporting to them to understand. It becomes less and less significant in their discussions.  And that is where a gamut of internal communications issues show up.

What will you do

When you do not have a purpose

You stop steering…

As there is no winds of  motivation to sail your course.

In the case of the middle managers sandwiched in between, they soon have no sense of purpose, they are frequently found working in circles without direction.

They may seem busy doing mundane chores to fill their workdays, and go back home every day a little more disengaged and disconnected with the system.

In my professional career as a Consultant & having been involved in the organizational development up close, I have encountered such scenarios where the value of transparency in teams in their shared work as well as the vision & purpose of the leader is regularly lost in the daily rut of routine. Between filling forms and answering mails, much of the work today has become impersonal. 

I believe the role of the middle management is crucial in managing change, for they can bridge the gap between expectations from the strategic objectives and key results set from the top to match with the speed and efficiency of actual day-to-day activities’ integration.

An engaged, informed, and knowledgeable middle management would mean a lot to the stability of a growing organization. It is a huge balancing act between managing to sustain through the changes and managing policies practices and procedures ensuring compliance and come away stronger.

It is important for the key stakeholders to have a conversation that sets clarity on the value for the middle management in the system and expectations from them.

They need to know how much interconnected they actually are in driving changes. They also need to become more self-aware and understand the intricacies of working beyond biases and prejudices that may come along while they understand the power structure of their respective organization.

Beyond good communication skills, they will have to develop their expertise in networking with their seniors as well as their teams.

The responsibility on the middle management is demanding as the role is expanding to include the implementation of changes in the system as well as managing the cultural changes.

This can happen best when the senior management is aware of the challenges faced by the middle management, like time in planning to execution. They can best help fasten this process by direction support and feedbacks while realizing the strategic value of the middle managers.

Every level of management is intrinsically interwoven and important to the whole. In recognizing their individual strengths as well working in the spirit of collaboration, teams begin to evolve.

What do you think of the prevailing practices at work?

Savvy Raj


by 1 Comment

Its Logical!

Logically

There is always a reason

For things as they are

For people to be who they are

For time to be as is

So dont worry!

Just be happy…

Savvy


by 3 Comments

On walking

I am very fond of walking, I even have a virtual group of walkers that I walk with for motivation everyday. We contribute our steps to a charitable cause. But more on that some other time. Suffice to say walking is one of my favorite activity, for it is truly destressing.

Sharing this information that came my way on social media this morning…

IMPORTANCE OF WALKING.

Both the legs together have 50% of the nerves of the human body, 50% of the blood vessels and 50% of the blood is flowing through them.

▪️ It is the largest circulatory network that connects the body.
So Walk daily.

▪️Only when the feet are healthy then the convention current of blood flows , smoothly, so people who have strong leg muscles will definitely have a strong heart. Walk.

▪️Aging starts from the feet upwards

▪️As a person gets older, the accuracy & speed of transmission of instructions between the brain and the legs decreases, unlike when a person is young.
Please Walk

▪️In addition, the so-called Bone Fertilizer Calcium will sooner or later be lost with the passage of time, making the elderly more prone to bone fractures. WALK.

▪️Bone fractures in the elderly can easily trigger a series of complications, especially fatal diseases such as brain thrombosis.

Walk daily without fail

▪️ Exercising the legs, is never too late, even after the age of 60 years.

▪️Although our feet/legs will gradually age with time, exercising our feet/ legs is a life-long task.
Walk 10,000 steps

▪️Only by regular strengthening the legs, one can prevent or reduce further aging. Walk 365 days

▪️ Please walk for at least 30-40 minutes daily to ensure that your legs receive sufficient exercise and to ensure that your leg muscles remain healthy.

We care. We share


by 5 Comments

A passionate perseverance…

You become what you consistently  think about.
Would you agree?


From since I can remember I have been fascinated by movement and dance. With its power and applications in grace and dignity.

I had no plans to become a  dance educator but decades into dance and training  here I am still thinking  and writing  and dancing whenever I can.


Yes, you may have many other professional careers and  experiences in varied fields but the things you are deeply passionate about, you become and becomes you.


Be it any form of art of science  or anything in between yet unnamed…
You draw energy  and purpose  from it…
You feed from the very energy  in reference and reflection.
You transform yourself and your environment with the very same energy within in enthusiasm as you come from heartfelt abundance.

Savvy


by 1 Comment

Taro

Our Gardens Gift

Taro Or Arbi in Hindi

Every morning I try and spend some time in my terrace garden by myself, and I am often delighted by a gift or two from nature’s amazing abundance.

This morning I came across a refreshing sight of this plant growing right below our beautiful mango tree. I was compelled to use Google lens for more on this plant and found out it is Taro or what is commonly called Arbi in Hindi.

Here is a little bit more I read about this beautiful plant reaching out with a generous spread of leaves.

Taro is a starchy root vegetable that has a sweet, nutty flavor—a flavor and texture that seems a combination of chestnuts and potatoes. Taro can be steamed, boiled, fried, stir-fried, baked, and braised. It is often added to soups and stews where it absorbs fatty juices and serves as a nutty thickener.

It’s hard to describe taro flavor using other flavors. It is known to have a sweet taste with a hint of vanilla. People usually consume its edible corm and leaves. The corms, which have a light purple color due to phenolic pigments,are roasted, baked or boiled. The natural sugars give a sweet, nutty flavor. The starch is easily digestible, and since the grains are fine and small it is often used for baby food.

Young taro leaves and stems can be eaten after boiling twice to remove the acrid flavor. The leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C and contain more protein than the corms.

In its raw form, the plant is toxic due to the presence of calcium oxalate, and the presence of needle-shaped raphides in the plant cells. However, the toxin can be minimized and the tuber rendered palatable by cooking, or by steeping in cold water overnight (Source Wiki)

Interesting information on Taro.

Do you know more about Taro, do you have a taro plant in your garden? Would love to hear more.

Savvy


by 3 Comments

On Love & Inclusion

A poignant tale of a little child sensing the favoritism by her own father was shared by my friend Ali Anani in his post….

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ali-anani-phd-15305319_love-experience-empathy-activity-6970262610063589376-9Fbe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Here are my reflections on this post… which I had initially shared with him privately but then realized that perhaps it needs to be read and understood in the larger context of the trials and tribulations in life and living..

Truth has a way of baring open the wounds of the heart and mind on its path of healing the hurt.
For truth is on its own path of self correction in this world.
For unfairness and
Injustice has to somedayfind justice
Exclusion to inclusion
Doubts to clarity.

When truth speaks
In one way or another
It is important to listen
In empathy without judgements

Truth speaks as it is
In all of innocence
Or in wisdom of awareness.

And yet…
Innocence can be daunting  to handle . But addressing the truth one way or the other
Leads to discoveries of how little we know or of what is sensed & perceived.


In the story  that my friend shared…here are instances of lack of inclusion in a family

Where in one day there is marked difference in the way the father speaks,
When the child says
Why are you speaking to me…

Interesting to note that you perceived  the young child as witty
Whereas another may perceive  it as defiance,or even an evidence of an awareness of lack of inclusion and discrimination at this household in the young child’s mind.
And that she is voicing  it in all of innocence.

What would be of significance  is how the father addresses  this brewing disconnect.

Lack of love can be a difficult  phase at any age especially  for a child.
Let’s trust the universe to show the way for this child to receive what she is yearning for one way or another.
May every life be able to sense  love and live life lovingly. 

Savvy


by 5 Comments

On Kindness

The blessed touch of kindness

In thoughts, words & in deeds

Can transform the moments in every now…

Choose kindness always.

The blessed touch of kindness makes an ordinary day blessedly beautiful 😊

Savvy


by 1 Comment

There comes a time

The river of time is ever flowing

Where are you in this now?

Are you adrift for a reason or flowing along in purpose?

Are you sensing there is more

For you to do before you arrive

Where you want to go…

Are you feeling you are rushed

Carried through without a say

Or are you fighting alone

And wishing for some support and strength

Know wherever you are in this journey

You are meant to be and do

All that you deeply intend

For the river courses through

And finds its way to the sea…

Trust time to deliver all I’m good time

Trust yourself along the way

For you are not only in the flow

You are the flow

Savvy

O

Time to regenerate

by 3 Comments


by 3 Comments

On Encouragement

Correction does much,

but encouragement does more.Like the sun after a shower!

In every opportunity to teach, train and educate if every teacher, manager, leader acknowledges the value of appreciation and encouragement it will create and leave a positive impression forever in the heart of the learner or follower.

Savvy