Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: truth


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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


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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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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.


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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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Dancing Soul

There is something endearing about dancing with a partner, it’s the power to attract another magnetically and charmingly interact with another’s energy  and spirit through dance movement.


A prerequisite to dancing well is one’s ability to take an emotional journey and open oneself and to share and connect to another’s energies .This is what engages the audience and keeps them enthralled. It’s beyond the physicality of steps, patterns, touch, or even the right dance hold or dance frame. It’s in the ability to dance with space, time, yet in complete awareness of one another’s heart of movement.

 I had an opportunity to experience  this just the other day when I witnessed all of this and more in Rohini  (my mother’s friend actually)  a family friend of many years .

I have known her to be a simple religious and a happy go lucky person who also may have been through much personal turmoil like so many others but yet has managed a cheerful disposition every time I met her.

Her characteristic sunny nature would never give away the strife behind the smile. The occasion was her 25 th wedding anniversary  that I got invited to , and as we reached the venue  the couple were at the dais, very understated , a picture of simplicity & composure.

The evening took off, with all their close friends having some wonderful and touching things to say about them both.

There was a small dance floor which soon got filled up with people who were initially hesitant As the music filled the air   many more of us started getting into the groove and dancing. And then I saw her, it was her in her element, dancing from her heart and soul. It was fantastic to see her energetic dancing in full display for the all to see , Her ever calm and composed husband  seemed mesmerized by all the fun moves she did .

In fact everyone was charmed by her passion and for that moment I realized just then that her joyful dancing soul had peeped out from the depths of it all. 

 Kudos to her for keeping the spirit of dancing alive in her through all these years .God bless!

 Dancing from the heart always counts more than perfection of steps. And that’s the ultimate challenge… To keep the mind open, ready, receptive, giving and simple enough, to dare to step out of comfort zones.

My salute to this dancing soul !

Savvy Raj


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Seeing beyond looking

“The man doesn’t know that there is a snake underneath.

The woman doesn’t know that there is a stone crushing the man.

The woman thinks: “I am going to fall! And I can’t climb because the snake is going to bite me. Why can’t the man use a little
more strength and pull me up!”

The man thinks: “I am in so much pain! Yet I’m still pulling you as much as I can. Why don’t you try and climb a little harder!?”

The moral: You can’t see the pressure the other person is under, and the other person can’t see the pain you’re in.

This is life.

Whether it’s with work, family, feelings or friends, we can try to understand each other.

Learn to think differently, perhaps more clearly and communicate better. A little thought and patience goes a long way.”

Anonymous Writer

“God’s purpose for man is to acquire a seeing eye and an understanding heart.”


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Artists of thoughts

For all artists, thoughts are the treaure troves of creative enterprise, to choose those from which to create from,  are also thoughts that help pick tools for the infinite paths of expression.
The ability to express or create art is a gift.
 A Gift of Grace.
To respect the gift of creativity …. is to express gratitude and use it in empowering ways.
To be able to express and convey is to be able to let go without doubts of disbelief.
To be ready and willing to share helps boosts the sense of self confidence and self worth.

Take time to appreciate  the grace of your gift , as you make a difference in your own unique way!
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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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


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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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Acknowledge as is!

Today morning I happened to read my mother’s musings… which was written back in time on life. I share it here for I think it comes across as a relevant reminder for a pause in reflection.

No one is without faults.
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
Perfection in our speech, appearance, behaviour & habits are all our wants. But is it possible? Being wrong, doing wrong things, saying inappropriate words,-intentionally or not -is all in our nature. Do we realise, we too can be wrong sometimes , before pointing others.
Forgiving, if not forgetting is also in
in our nature. But how many of us are ready to do that. It is because of our ego and pride, putting ourselves first, comes before everything.
There is a proverb in Tamil. ” Even elephants can slip. ” How much ever perfect, one tends to be, mistakes happen many ways knowingly or unknowingly. If we keep this in mind , forgiving others, accepting people with their faults becomes easier.
Each is born & brought up differently. Values & principles change as per their culture , beliefs, situations and circumstances. Being stubborn & sticking to our thoughts , narrows our outlook of the world.
When we widen our spectrum, understanding & accepting others as they are, becomes much easier.
When we shift our perspective a little & start looking from other’s eyes, our shortcomings will become visible. Let’s be true n honest in our judgements.
We all need to co exist . Criticism, unless asked, distances us. Instead of accusations , appreciation & acknowledgement will bring us closer to each other. After all peace is what all of us want.
Above all we all are born with different nature by birth which is hard to change. We cannot change the stripes of a zebra. Acceptance & adjustment to a certain level is the road to peaceful co- existence.
So to have good relationships
Forget.
If not forgive
Accept
If not adjust.
We need not be divine. But need not be fault finders too. As fellow human beings , with erring in our nature, let’s all strive to live peacefully & happily acknowledge each other as they are.

Anjana


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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 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


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Truth is truth

Words have immense significance.

In the way we think speak, in the tonality, the choice of our words, we are influencing how we come across in every communication.

In saying…

I know everything  -Ego


You don’t really matter so you are not worthy of my time & attention – Indifference/ Disrespect/Seclusion


How can you come in my way?
Domination


Stay silent and speak only when I tell you to.- Control


Who are you to advise me? -Pride


How dare you speak this way?
– Arrogance

If we only knew
The preciousness of life
We will begin to realize
How much of life is wasted
In arrogance and egotism.
In anger and doubt
Over things that hardly matter
In the larger plan of life
Can we choose to value
The preciousness of being
Place value for life over things.

This world  is getting indifferent
Discarding truths nonchalantly
For it is difficult  to swallow
But truth is truth
It finds its way ultimately
To make all the difference.

 Savvy