Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


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On Silence

Silence reveals the truths in time
Silence speaks volumes  without  a word
Silence is the recovery  period between two breaths
Silence dwells in every moment waiting for acknowledgement.
Silence ensures the moments of  discernment when emotions rule.
Silence hears the unspoken  words and feels the unexpressed thoughts.
Silence hones the wisdom within
Respect the freedom of silence as much as the freedom for expression.

Savvy


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Life lessons

Sharing nuggets of wisdom by my mother

If we walk on a thorn slipper , however soft the pathway be, we will be in pain. Neither we nor the path or surroundings , only the thorns are the reason for our pain which do not let us enjoy the other beauties of journey.

The negativity in our mind are like thorny slippers. If we have negativity in our mind , whatever be the situation, the accumulated negativity will not let us enjoy & will make our life miserable for both us & others surrounding us.

Our mind has a habit of searching and storing such negativities, making a strong imprint in the brain. To come out of it is entirely on individual’s efforts .
Our thorny thoughts & the chain of memories it brings along has to be cut off by our intentional effort to remember the pleasant & positive thoughts that gives us joy.

Momentary change is also the capability of the mind if we intend.
After all everything is transient in this life. Pleasure or pain, how long it will last is not in our hands. But the effort to make each moment happy is something we can try.

Spoken words and harsh actions cannot be taken back. We have to be careful with the words we utter. Do not get carried away by the momentary emotion which will make us regret later.

Peace is what everyone seeks.
Sound will not come with one hand. No one is without fault. The sadness is everyone of us thinks we are perfect and others are faulty. There lies the problem.

Another way is putting ourselves in other’s places & think what I would have done in such situation. May be we may have behaved worst.

Letting go of the past should be a continuous process. If we want peace, mere knowledge is not enough, consistent practice is necessary.

If our vision is not clear the fault is not in the eyes or the visuals. Just cleaning the accumulated dirt on the glass will make everything clear. Start cleaning the tarnished memories.

Remove the spiky slippers, cut off the horns , fangs and claws that troubles you . Bring out the positivity and the goodness in you.

No one to be blamed. Destiny sometimes puts us in hard situations without our faults. But That too will pass in its own time.

Patience & faith are the need of the hour. Compassion & kindness we give ,will come back to us when we need them.

Remember the saying. Happiness is as inside job.

Live happily & peacefully.
Have a blessed life.

Anjana


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On Silence

Silence dwells in the spaces between the steps to access whenever.
 Silence leads and the path appears.
Trust the lessons learned in silence.


Savvy


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On Changes

Life presents new paths at every turn
Every now has new learnings.
The trick is to be present in this moment
To understand the evolving perspectives
To be one, with the changes that manifests
Be present. Be adaptable. Be receptive!

Savvy


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What is life?

Sharing my mother’s poem today.

It is not about what we are having or doing.
It is about how we are feeling.
It is about how we make others feel.

It is not about where or how we are staying
It is about with whom we are staying.

It is not about where and what we have studied.
It is about what we are speaking.
It is about the tone of our talking.

It is not about the form or attire we are wearing.
It is about the approach & attitude we are having.

We live not with the luxuries of life
But with the state of our mind , our constant companion.

One word, or one stare has the power to change the whole state of mind, irrespective of the surrounding.
Being aware & having the right attitude in this ever changing life and making them positive ones is within one’s reach.

All it needs is the effort to make even the harsh moments to consoling n soothing moments with the right words & approach.

Yes. It needs a lot of training n conditioning to change the mind set, to walk the right path.
Yet it is worth trying as it brings peace n happiness to self & others.

Ultimately it is what we all are seeking. Right?
Ok to work. Better being silent is the best answer.

Never get hurt of insults. Take it as a way to move forward in life. It will strengthen you.

If you are not ready to adjust in life sometimes, you may have to suffer for a longer time.

Never be in awe of anyone.if you are awestuck you will be always a step behind them.

Never wish to live like others. You will loose your peace in the process.

Never compare yourself with others. It will end up in hating yourself.

Do not give much importance to other’s criticism. Then you will never live for yourself.

Being practical in approach makes life easier.

Sow the seeds of love, happiness, trust & success. They will come back in plenty. That is Nature’s Law.

If you want to know the value of your parents, live with your relatives for some.
If you want to know the value of relations live without money with them.

Never hesitate to try again. If you win it will take you to the next level. If you loose it will teach you a life lesson. Perseverance makes everything possible.

You have to cross many rejections to achieve success.

Anjana


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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


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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


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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


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On Humility

Humility is a conscious practice in awareness.
Until it becomes  a way of life.
In knowing  that there is always more
Than what the eyes  can see
Or the spirit can do


The soul knows
To reach beyond knowing
It is important  to acknowledge the space
To allow learning to take place
Humility  is dormant
When ego is dominant.
Humility is patience in waiting
A practice of  humility
In thoughts  words  & deeds,
In listening to understand,
In letting go in faith and fortitude,
In making way for gratitude
In being hopeful in trust
In moderation and measure
Can unlock the inner potential
For humility is full of possibilities.

Savvy


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The Divine Plan

If ever there is a shred of doubt

Of how life will pan out

How things will be

Or what will eventually happen

Just know…

The source coder has the divine  plan all figured out.

In trust & faith, in grace and in goodwill there is synchrony of the synergies.

And therein is the bliss in the bless.

Savvy


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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


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Another day!

The day we learn to be light and live in lightness and not take things so seriously, we start truly living.

After all the sun will rise and set in its own course, life will flow in the river of time, why not think of living it cruising along knowing nothing lasts forever.

Whenever life feels a little too weary..

Know tomorrow is another day

And there is always a sun awaiting to shine…

Savvy


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The Soul Mender

Sharing a beautiful story that I came across. ❤️

There is a Cobbler who sits across the street in front of my Office Building.

Every day, I see that there is a stray dog who comes and sits with him as soon as he arrives at the place, and he feeds him biscuits and some times milk.

The man gets busy in his work, while the dog sits there and gives him company.

One can feel that there is a unknown connection between them, they have conversation without a word being spoken.

He also brings food for birds, which he keeps at different places on the street pavement where he sits for his work.

Many people stop by and ask him for directions, he always guides them with a smile. Even if he doesn’t get any business from them.

If he sees a homeless person going by, he offers them water and food that he has brought for himself and engages in conversations with them.

One can see and feel the peace, the conversations bring to them.

I felt to go and meet him today.

He smiled at me and said his name is Dayaram, and asked me if I would like to have tea?

Pleasantly surprised, I said, “Sure, let’s have some tea.”

Here is a man who would be struggling to make ₹ 200-300 a day, out of which he would be spending around ₹ 12 – Rs.15 on the food that he brings for the dog and the birds, and the two cups of tea would cost him another ₹ 20.

He being rich in his own way, smiles radiantly, and his calm, effortless, abundant state of being is infectious.

I told him that I have been observing him, what he does, and that I am humbled and fascinated by it.

We continue talking, and I refer to the dog, and he says “Oh! he’s just one of us – God’s Own Creation”.

Talk about non-duality!

He goes on to say that “I am not serving… it is He who is making it happen via this person. It would be egoistic to say that ‘I’ am doing it!”

I fold my hands and bow to him, and request him to accept some money, saying, “It is not I, who is giving you this money, it is He who is sending it to you via myself.”

We laugh and he obliges me by accepting it.

As I am about to leave, he says:

“Maango Ussi se, Baanto khushi se, Kaho na kissi se”

माँगो उसी से, बाँटो ख़ुशी से, कहो ना किसी से

(Ask from Him, but then don’t just accumulate it – give it away to others with happiness and gratitude, and do it silently!)

The cobbler who mends shoes, mended my soul today


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Make space

All the good in the world

Flows in to your life

In a simple act of making space

For positive intentions

By subtracting the negatives

In mindful awareness

And consistent practice…

Life begins to shift for the better.

Make a positive intention now!

Savvy


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Patience waits…

Wisdom of Patience

Patience awaits
In faith and belief
Patience is understanding
For patience hones itself
For the suitable moments.

Patience is non-judgmental
Patience bears the burden
Of the moments
Knowing the power of time.
Patience is resilience in action
Patience is strength of the spirit
Patience speaks volumes of the soul
Without a word or deed.
Such is the wisdom of Patience

For much is resolved in patience.
A true Companion for Wisdom is Patience and a lot of life’s so called situations which need solutions can be resolved by thinking differently !

Ability to cultivate patience is an art…

To know all happens for a reason.

Savvy