Some years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco.
Mensa, is an international organization for people who have an IQ of 140 or higher.
Several of the Mensa members went out for lunch at a local cafe.
When they sat down, one of them discovered that their salt shaker contained pepper, and their pepper shaker was full of salt.
How could they swap the contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and using only the implements at hand?
Clearly — this was a job for Mensa minds.
The group debated the problem and presented ideas and finally, came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer.
They then called the waitress over, ready to dazzle her with their solution.
“Ma’am,” they said, “we couldn’t help but notice that the pepper shaker contains salt and the salt shaker contains pepper…”
But before they could finish, the waitress interrupted & said…
“Oh — sorry about that.”
She leaned over the table, unscrewed the caps of both bottles and switched them.
There was dead silence at the Mensa table.
For most of the problems in our lives there are simple solutions, but it is our “Brilliant” minds that complicate every simple solution. …Change the Caps and enjoy life !!
Between being an asset and liability the ego drives our being.
Unmindful and ungrateful often times as such is its way!
It can interfere just as much as it can be indifferent to the being
It can alter goodwill and stall humility from expressing itself
It can change the words we were meaning to speak
It can halt a chance to commune with others
It can steer a dialogue to a monologue
It can become a bone of contention
It can rob us of cooperation and collaboration
And yet all this while a sense of ego can be a source of self-esteem
It can help a person from crumbling in a crisis
It can create a curiosity to know and acquire
It can be a strength of support in times of dire need
It can propel us to do more & achieve more
Your Ego can be your trusted aide
For it knows you more than you ever can.
It is born with you from your first breath
And plays on its course till your very last.
So the question is not about banishing but of balancing.
In striking a chord of balance between the states of being.
Mindful words from a heart full of grace,
Can be a precursor of changing ways.
A respect and regard for another’s perspective
Appreciation and value for others much as one’s own!
A few reflections on striking a balance
Accept that your ego is like your shadow
It follows where ever you go
It creates hurdles in your deeds
It can doubt and induce fear
Simply trust with your loving self
For it’s your internal guide
That leads from the heart
To let you see and know
Who you truly are!
Let your love meet your fears
It will understand the power of love
Choose to be loving and considerate
Change your track to being compassionate
Choose to avoid loose talk
Choose the virtue of generosity
Choose to be inclusive and expansive
Choose to admit your mistakes
Choose to see the world beyond the self
Choose to take your self lightly
Choose the freedom of laughter
It unshackles the chains of self-restraint
Let the self, express and entertain itself!
So allow the ego to a little space but make sure it knows its space.
Allow it to be a part of you but don’t allow it take the whole of you.
Transcending the Ego is the aspiration,
For every religion speaks of this very transcendence…
From trivial and baseline pursuits to higher consciousness.
Ego can be a tool for survival but it can be a weapon of mass destruction!
Transform it into self-improvement manoeuvre it to reconstruction.
In every deed of Giving the ego cannot be far behind for, to give itself seems so full of itself. The Giving means there is something to give an upper hand a stake a superiority if nothing else a contentment of a fulfilment. So to give seems a little egotistical in all its glorious ways.
Yet there is a transformation in every act of giving, that finds its path in the journey towards transcendence .
This above digital artwork Titled ‘Circles of thoughts,14 is a creative interpretation of encircling thoughts, The verses that follow is the 14thpart of my series of micropoems on interconnecting thoughts.
Creativity stems from the acceptance of your authentic self. It is a never-ending journey of endless possibilities that is much beyond the pursuit of a hobby or craft and can be a habit of a lifetime. So besides being a Dance Educator as a Wellness coach, I offer a variety of Personal Effectiveness Programs for Self-development.
Being a Writer and a Designer creating art gives me immense satisfaction with the infinite ways of expressing myself as I believe in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
Our thoughts can make or break us in every now.. and our life seems like a hell or a blessing in the way our thoughts unfold . Every life has a unique purpose and a perseveres on with the thoughts to fulfill its being .
A transition in thoughts is an expansive phenomenona. It courses on even in attempted conquering of thoughts through control or manipulation of its meanderings into an intentional channeling in consciousness.
Transcending thoughts is a choice as thoughts come and go ..the patterns we choose to create with, through and in them, makes one consciously or subconsciously a sculptor of one’s life. And through every exercise of such a choice we can leave a poised mark in time.
That said, yet, when we choose to make our presence felt and how we emerge will all figure out along the way in the strength of an interrelation of thoughts in interdependence. So truly choices we make matters a great deal . Think well!
The highest motivation that can change the way we behave for the better is always intrinsic than external factors. There have been many research studies conducted to find out if we are influenced to perform better consistently through a system of rewards and punishments. Humans, are found to decrease performance in tasks where there is only materialistic gain as a reward,but fare consistently better where there is autonomy & encouragement towards a purpose. A purpose which aligns with their innate sensibilities.
This throws the conventional and traditional approach to getting work done, up for a toss. As it is exactly opposite to the viewpoint that humans can be manipulated to a large extent to achieve better results by the so-called carrot and stick methods .
In choosing to work harder at a task or a job with passion instead of needing to comply to it lets the being feels free enough to go beyond the box . As there is free will within a wider net of required structure the creative potentialities are given a free play and thus the individual moves closer to his authentic self . The joy of self-expression results in a need to share it with others out of sheer happiness .
Highest levels of happiness are in giving a larger meaning to life whether it is in involving oneself in activities helping another, in learning and growing with another , it could be in learning a new art form ,or even simply in dancing socially with a group of people , are all wonderful for your well-being& a healthy life. Even in the simple act of volunteering towards a good deed from the heart, can make one realize the true joys of sharing….and find meaning in one’s own lives .
What is that makes us love ourselves better when we give? Is it the satisfaction in the appreciation of that which we willingly share or is it on the innate need for doing a deed with a larger good in mind. or is it in the happiness of the other that results through the actions. Whatever it may be, just remember we are truly blessed and are our most authentic self in every expansive action that we choose to do!
The trick is in the integration of such artistic pursuits into our everyday lives ,as most of us carry on with our life with little or no time to spare for a little self enrichment.
The mystique and majesty of Abu Dhabi is well enshrined in the beautiful exquisite and holy mosque Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque in Al Mushrif, a district in Abu Dhabi the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, and is considered to be the key site for worship in the country. The design of the mosque was done by a Syrian architect named Yousef Abdelky.
Breathtaking architechture combined with amazing royal blue lighting from the ornate chandliers in the evening hours gives out the feeling of heady opulence and extravagance throughout the beautiful structure as much as the keen sense of subtlety of approach in maintaining uniformity of designs and colour.
It is amazing to see the well maintained courtyard with exquiste inlay work and the beautiful waterbody along the pathway.
The magnificent splendour of intricate carvings the majestic coloumns resplendent with matching motifs continues in the gigantic green carpet splayed across the entire inner sanctum.
A visual treat no doubt but the sense of symmetry is almost meditative.. Walking along through the gilded coloumns corridors is a beautiful and zen like experience in itself.
The magnanimity of the silence space is almost alluring as much as the effects of the beautiful lighting throughout the interiors as much as the exteriors of the mosque .
What distinguishes these motifsof Islamic architecture are the use of coloumns, piers and arches organized and interwoven with alternating sequences and use of fractal patterns and repetitive radiating structures. Standing there at dusk witnessing the beautiful moonlit sky and our dancing reflections in the azure blue waters of the pool of water in this magnanimous shrine one could feel totally inspired in even simply visiting it once for this mosque is certainly a masterpiece of Islamic architechture.
Much gratitude to my dear brother in law and family in Dubai who offered to drive us from Dubai to visit to this grand mosque. Certainly a trip to Abu Dhabi would be incomplete without visiting this beautiful Shrine!
Every shrine is filled with a vibration that is unique to the place be it a mosque synagogue a church or a temple … for the convergence of countless positive intentions energizes the space filling us with a deep sense of peace and serenity.
Parenting is a long term learning process. With the first born every parent is going through a variety of emotions and various stages of parenting. It is true as an infant it is entirely on the parents- be its safety, its cleanliness, understanding its cries for various needs- all done with so much love and care without prior experience. As the child grows so does its mode of expression, tantrums, seeking attention, and the parents learn to cope up with all of it like experts. Cherubic angels with devilish moods. It’s a 24/ 7 job with full focus. The teacher in the child starts teaching valuable lessons, you may have not come across so far in any university.
You have to constantly learn new techniques with every child. One lesson will not work with the other as they are different individuals teaching you to handle the same issues with various means.
You will be learning new lessons with every stage of their growing up. Infants to toddlers to kids, youngsters to teen agers, Young adults to grown up,men and women, each stage teaches you different lessons.
You will be learning new lessons on changing generations, their changing values, how to maintain the balance and be a bridge to keep up the tranquility and peace at home. Though every phase has its testing period, it is challenging period when they are in their teens with their need to balance their inner and outer worlds. Once you cross that successfully you can enjoy a momentary peace till the next one starts.
Coping up with the the new relations that springs up in their lives, and the need to understand their changing priorities, to accept gracefully and take the back seat in their life though they remain as ur priority , without regrets. Ability to know the strength of the bond though invisible still remains strong and intact. The list of life lessons the child teaches goes on till the end.
That is the way life has to go on.
And all the while we pride ourselves as parents and that we teach and guide our children!
Who is the real teacher here?
These are a few reflections from my mothers perspectives on Parenting.
There may be many styles of parenting and the nurturing they instill may be relative to what they received. There is no foolproof way to successful parenting as success is itself subjective. However the idea of nurturing abilities and giving space for evolving helps the holistic development of individual.On Nurturing
In a nutshell …can think of 5 A’s of Nurturing as parents… but the list never ends .
Acknowledge abilities as uniquely significant.
Appreciate the good qualities & its application.
Allow the potential of personal expression.
Accept the challenges as part of life
Adapt to changing nature.
What are your views on Parenting and nurturing? Do share.
Ingenuity of man is fascinating indeed But when coupled with the passion it leaves quite an imprint ….
Here’s a testament of a love story finding a fixture in reality .
Have you heard of the STATUES OF LOVE
Located in Batumi, Georgia, the statue of lovers begin to move every night at 7 p.m.And the two figures represent a Muslim boy, Ali, and a Georgian princess, Nino, from a famous 1937 novel by Azerbaijani author Kurban Said. The tragic story ends with the lovers separated by the invasion of Soviet Russia. This powerful love story has been translated into more than 30 languages.
“Man and Woman” is a 8 meter (26 foot) tall moving steel sculpture by Georgian sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze.
Savvy Raj 
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