Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!


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Smile from the Heart….

Living in an appearance oriented

world, we are quite conscious of

how we appear to the world on a

physical level , often disregarding

how we feel inside ,causing us to

very often disconnect with our inner

consciousness. Its important then to

bridge this mind body disconnect

with whatever the path that you

prefer to choose, peeling the layers

of disconnect and pave the path to healing oneself towards being a

better person inside to outside!

When we are more focused in our

inner cross examinations we may

gradually realise the real meaning

of why we are what we are , and

the true substance in our lives.

We must truly think of what and

how we can evolve into a better

being, cos life lived without direction

and focus is a life never lived…

however the process of our inner

ruminations need not always sap

our motivations and test our limits

to such extents that we lose ourselves

in the effort, and forget to smile

from our core, at our near and

dear ones! We can learn to find

our selves amidst the chaos if we

learn to stop overt thinking and

over analysing ourselves and

living the moment from now on.

Things are dandy if only we stop

and realise it…

Let’s care enough to ‘Smile from

the Heart!’
Savvy


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The Gruen Transfer

The Gruen Transfer
The Gruen transfer is a psychological phenomenon in which an idealized hyper-reality is realized by deliberate reconstruction, providing a sense of safety and calm through exceptional familiarity.

In shopping mall designing…the Gruen transfer (also known as the Gruen effect) is the moment when consumers enter a shopping mall or store and, surrounded by an intentionally confusing layout, lose track of their original intentions, making consumers more susceptible to make impulse buys. It is named for Austrian architect Victor Gruen, who disavowed such manipulative techniques.
The Gruen Transfer is the few minutes after you walk into a store where the stimulus confuses your brain and hypnotizes you into buying more.

There is always a dark side to marketing advertising and sales … with the intention of luring customers to buy!

Have you experienced this feeling when you buy or go shopping at a mall?

Do share your experiences if any!


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The things I like…

Every little moment of life is a celebration when you care to value it!

So today on my birthday here is my wish for you all!

And yes, here is a list of my reflections on the simple things I truly like...
Seems endless!

I like ….

The old world charm of an elegant Foxtrot

The magic in gliding to a whirling Waltz

The tantalising passion of a Tango

The sizzling chemistry in a Rumba

The gay abandon of a Samba

The freedom and gaiety of a Jive

The spiritedness and fun of Swing

The stylish charms of the Cha Cha cha

The sensuality and speed of Salsa

The teasing hips moving to a Bachata

The synergy of a march in a Merengue

The flamboyant frills of a Flamenco.

I like it all and more

And yet most of all I like the simple joy of dancing naturally.

I like…

The touch of pen to paper

The flow of colour on canvas

The smell of a brand new book

The joy of reading and writing

The rhythm of rhyming stanzas

The soulfulness of a profound poem


I like …

The smiling eyes of a happy child

In the joy of holding a present unopened

The caring ways of friends so dear

The warmth of a genuine smile.

I like…

The peace in every mindful moment acknowledged…

The morning walk on a sandy beach

The gentle waves embracing my feet

The smell of the first rain invigorating a patch of earth

The fragrance of jasmine flowers

The whiff of warm enchanting woods

The chirping of birds in the trees nearby

The caress of a breeze so cool

The chill of winters day

The twinkling of the stars on a clear night sky

The passion play of a full moons day

The dancing lights of twilight

The shimmering moonlight on a tranquil lake

The magic of morning break at dawn

The enthralling evening shadows playing at dusk

The enchantment and rapture of a saxophone

The twang and elan of a accoustic guitar

I like…

The smell of fresh ground coffee waiting to be sipped

The aroma of baked goodies out from a hot oven

The melt in the mouth bite of a dutch truffle cake

The steaming cup of cheer on a cold winters day

The tinge of warmth of ginger

The spice n flavour of aromatic cinnamon

The chewy goodness of an oats and raisin cookie

The quench of thirst from a pure glass of water

I like it all and so much more…

Yes there is so much in life to like and love

The list is endless! And I am pretty sure it is the same with you :))

‘This is a mindful and gratefulness practise that I do every once in a while …. What we like may be very unique and may change with time, but that is not as important as acknowledging it . Gradually we learn to see the bliss in the blessings.

To acknowledge the simple pleasures of life and living is to know its worth .

Try to make your own list … adding as you go along and you will soon have so much to be thankful for that you learn to live like this moment is completely worth it and never take a moment of life for granted.’

Savvy


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A Sight to Behold!

Blooms and blossoms Photos by Savvy Raj

My photo of the day! Blooming in my terrace garden…

Roses have a beauty of their own

Colours contrasting with the green leaves

They blossom and capture hearts

Arrestingly captivating

To look at , enticingly fragrant

So delicate and fragile

But in all their vulnerability

Their charm flows in abundance

Always a sight to behold

Amazingly significant

For a Life so short lived!

Such is the wonder of life and living!

Savvy

Amazing nature! Amazing beauty!

Teaching us it is not the length of time we live , but in how best we can live the time we have!

Savvy


25 Comments

The Wisdom of Silence

The Silent Retreat

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks.

They began with enthusiasm and no one said a word the whole day.

By nightfall of the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out.

The first monk blurted out, “Oh, no! The candle is out.”

The second monk said, “Hey! We are not supposed to speak!”

The third monk said in an irritated voice, “What is this? Why did you two break the silence?”

The fourth monk smiled and said, “Wow! I’m the only one who hasn’t spoken.”

Reflections:

Each monk broke the silence for a different reason, each of which is a common stumbling block in our inner journey: distraction, judgement, anger and pride.

The first monk got distracted by one aspect of his experience (the candle) and forgot what was more important – the practice of witnessing without reacting.

The second monk was more worried about others following the rules than in actually practising himself. He was quick to judge without noticing that he himself was guilty of what he was criticizing.

The third monk let his anger towards the first two monks affect him.
The singular burst of anger ruined the effort of the day.

The fourth monk lost his way because of pride. He was convinced he was superior to the others, proving his ignorance.

Why did the fourth monk speak at all? He could have simply maintained his silence and he would have been successful in his endeavour.
But if he had, chances are, the other three might have continued to argue and not even noticed his silence. Some people are like this.

Their motto is “If I am doing something good, but no one notices, I might as well not be doing it at all.” They believe that the reward is not in the effort, but in the recognition.

There is a beautiful quote, “It is the province of knowledge to speak; it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.”

As we learn to truly listen, witness and observe without impulsively reacting with distraction, judgement, anger and pride, then we understand the true meaning of silence.

The Wisdom of Silence

Silence has the strength of spaces in sublime consciousness…

Silence shows the way of patience

Silence activates our guiding spirit

Silence powers the strength of intuition

Silence moves towards deep contemplation

Silence evolves the spirit of understanding

Silence graces atmosphere with quietude

Silence defends without a word

Silence strengthens the soul.

Silence can be a knowing of the peace within .

Silence is painful in its struggles and valuable in itself. Silence is in utter desperation, deep contemplation with phases of meditative connectedness. Silence is never thoughtless or mindless.

Silence dwells in the spaces between the steps to access whenever. Silence leads and the path appears.

Trust the lessons learned in silence.

Savvy Raj


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Choice rests with you!

The power of choice rests with you … always .

Whatever irks you in the moment

Whatever seems too disappointing.

Whatever brings you down

Take a moment to think if its worth your energy and time…

Savvy

And here is nice little message worth a read on anger management.

I once asked a very successful Man to share his secret with me. He smiled and said to me.. “I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters. I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me…I stopped fighting with my in laws…I stopped fighting for attention…I stopped fighting to meet public expectation of me…I stopped fighting for my rights with stupid people..I left such fights for those who have nothing else to do but fight…And I started fighting for my vision, my dreams, my ideas and my destiny. The day I gave up on small fights is the day I started becoming successful.”

Some fights are not worth your time. Choose what you fight for wisely…..


12 Comments

On Love

As love conquers you it blesses you in the knowing.

Make not a mockery of love

Serenade love and allow it to speak truth

Love surfaces from the depth of emotions

To mend you and this world to a better place.

As true love is eternal

Free as bird in flights of oblivion

Travelling in the abandon

Of the wilderness of the spirit

Yet bonded in the boundless infinity

Endless love a gift of grace

Acknowledge this treasure

Blending two souls in one

As a life loved is well lived… such a rare sight!

What a blessing it truly is….A love like that!

In realising the many miracles of life is knowing a love that can move the soul of our being. We can consider ourselves lucky to even have been touched by a love like that!

Savvy

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my friends and readers!!!


9 Comments

On letting go…

We are often about holding on than letting go . We are able to hoard but find it difficult to let go . We try to control our lives a little too much that we often forget there is a power greater than us that cares for us all.

Letting go in faith and trust is an immensely gratifying experience. If you choose to let go of your unnecessary niggles of doubts and fears you will find the path of calm and peace that sustains you …

So what are the immediate things you can choose to let loose?

Here are a few that come immediately to mind…

Lose your excuses
You will find results

Lose your worry
You will find the will to do

Lose your negative thoughts
You will reflect positivity

Lose your doubts
You will find solutions

Lose your fears
You will find the way

Lose your inadequacies

You will find abundance

Savvy


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Infinity of Creativity

Creativity is innate potential.
Deeply entwined in humility
In every realisation of potential infinite.
Creation manifests itself time and again.
Savvy


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Courage matters.

Courage plays out in numerous ways
Sometimes as acts of dare
Changing the path of destiny
Sometimes it is the resilience to brave
All odds with humility and honour.

Sometimes it is courage that speaks boldly
Where voices are muffled in fear and favour
Othertimes courage bears it all in forbearance
Withholding in the wisdom of patience.

Whatever the path courage takes
When Courage speaks
There is bound to be a breakthrough
There is hope and faith
A belief in humanity
A deliverance in trust
To stand up against all odds
For a cause or a person or reason.
Speaks volumes of the spirit in the daring soul.

No act of dare is insignificant
For every act of courage
Leaves an everlasting imprint
Inspiring the aspiring
Encouraging and motivating
Improving and imploring life
To hope for the better.
That there is a light of dawn
After the plight of the night.

Savvy


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SYNCHRONICITY OF INTENTIONS

We are so caught up in the external knowledge, that we at times fail to connect with our inner awareness.

Conscious awareness is immense power in one’s hands.

Our thoughts are intentions, inseparable from everything that exists. But very often it is blocked with unnecessary anxiety, discontent or other negative emotions. Intentions as energy fields can be powerful, but the collective consciousness of intentions towards a larger good can be even more so.

We have the choice to choose wisely and create the beauty of synchronized creative patterns. Look around us and we can observe nature which blesses us when in the harmony of synchrony.

Each of us is uniquely blessed with the power to choose thoughts that can transform the life within us and around us for the better. This is the first step to touching lives beyond dimensions with the synchronicity of good intentions.

A prayer towards general goodwill is a good example of synchronicity of intentions.

After all, intention too is a form of prayer. And more the attunement to an intention more the chance of manifesting the energy of synchrony.

In every moment the choice of any thought and creative enterprise is, was and will always be with us …

Let’s care to choose well!

Savvy


8 Comments

Reach out…

Stretch your self…

to reach out…

a little more everyday 🙂

Some day you will be thankful

How far you have reached!

Every moment is an opportunity

To reach out and grow

Evolve for the better

Be open to the unfolding life

Strech yourself a little more every day…

To accommodate

To acknowledge

To accept

You will find your strength

In flexibility

In adaptability

In your vulnerability

You will find new frontiers

That you paved along the way.

Trust yourself a little more

There is so much out there

If you are willing to see and learn

Reach out & truly care to share

The simple joys of being alive.

Savvy


9 Comments

On Self esteem

Self Esteem is deeply entwined with our inner confidence and the way we choose to behave in this world.

Unfortunately it is also influenced by many external factors which could be peers , family , relationships , and even state of health at the moment.

People who have a strong foundation of self esteem will tend to see the value of a life well lived.

If your feeling undermined by someone who brings you down at every opportunity, who sabotages your growth by clever manipulation you can rest assured they are not on your side. In fact they are the ones saddled with insecurities and self esteem issues and the sooner you distance yourself from such people , the better you are going to be.

No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow. Alice Walker

A few surefire ways to develop your sense of Self Esteem.

1 : Unlearn the negative patterns of thought.

2 : Create a habit of speaking mindfully

3: Choose to believe in your self worth.

4: Choose to forgive and let go baggage.

5: Keep learning & updating your skills.

Most importantly, celebrating the little things in your life makes you realise your self worth… so be a friend to yourself. It truly matters a great deal!

You owe it to yourself …cos you are worth it.

Savvy


9 Comments

All is a part of life!

Here is share of my mothers reflections after reading my yesterday’s poem

Light after dawn

Every example stood out for me and I just had to share .. with some pictures for the same and a title.

“A seed has to undergo so much to come out of the earth with new shoots of tender leaves

Gold nuggets have to undergo much before they become beautiful ornaments

Raw diamonds and precious stones have to undergo much to get their brilliance .

A mother has to undergo so much before the birth of a wonderful life.

A rock and tree have to so much undergo before they become priceless sculptures

All things of Nature have to go through a lot of transformations before a finer end product emerges.

Never fear the blow of the hammer, the cutting of the axe, the heat of the burning fire or the hurts, pains and insults one has to bear as each blow makes them stronger, shapes them to what they are going to become. Gives them more power, value and a beautiful form.

Keep smiling. The smile and silence can unsettle the opponent.

Make each experience as a stepping stone to rise high,

A lesson to learn, to mould you to become a better, stronger, mature, independent and fearless as a person than before.

Remember there is dawn after every dusk.

Yes, your transformation will be hard. Yes, you will feel frightened, messed up and knocked down. Yes, you’ll want to stop. Yes, it’s the best work you’ll ever do.

Robin Sharma


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Light after the night.

After deep pain arrives a great blessing
After heavy rain appears the rainbow

In toughest moments arrives a breakthrough
Through the biggest wave shines through a light.

The longest night awakens with the hope of new dawn.
The longest tunnel opens to beams of sunlight

In deepest silence may be hidden utmost reverence.
In deepest gratitude lies a heartfelt prayer

What is visible may be an illusion
What is invisible may be the truth!

Savvy

#hopegiving #trust #faith #belief