Have the kindness to see the good
Disregard and cast off the negative
There will be much that may cloud
your vision.
There is much we do not know
We all have our own stories
Of trials and tribulations
It’s not easy for any of us.
And for some it may just be
A little extra tough these times.
Truly it takes nothing from you
To choose to stay positive
And stay nice no matter!
Our world is having it rough already
Let’s try and make it better
Each of us one kind gesture in time
Let’s leave imprints of kindness
In hearts and souls
Let us empower our spirit
To be hopeful and happy
All is meant to be well
So be kind and do good!
Purpose of life is to evolve for the better. Wherever we are, however we are, humanity always finds a way beyond the trials and tribulations.
We are meant to thrive beyond the adversity.
Enhance your self
Self isolation can be challenging but need not be as difficult as it seems.
A few things that can make isolation easier to bear and productive as well.
PLANNING
Creating a schedule. Writing down things to do or learn in a day is a great start.
Having a routine planned, help a great deal.
Keeping channels of communication open.
Speak to people , listen to others well.
Express yourself through arts , pick up a book to read or a hobby you can learn in this interim period.
Care for your self. It makes you feel good about yourself.
Arrange your wardrobe.
Do all the things that you feel you never had time for.
LISTENING
Listen to some soulful or foottapping music.
Start a conversation on the phone. Many are feeling lonely or overwhelmed and overburdened. Offer to listen and empathize. One of the important aspects of doing this exercise is it changes self perceptions and brings an understanding of the world beyond the limited self.
ACTIVITY
Take care of your health, eat healthy.
Be engaged physically mentally emotionally & spiritually.
Look up at the stars at night.
Watch the blue expansive sky in the day.
Hear the sounds of waves, if you can.
Even in a recording…waves gives a repetitive, soothing rhythmical relaxation experience that can smooth out the creases on your brow.
Ease in, to time your breathing with the waves.
Try this one .
These are a few ways to create a personal space for yourself in your mind and heart spirit and soul no matter where and how you are.
Hopefully it may help in some way to ease through this phase we are in.
Here are some interesting observations from office group meetings.
Office meetings are no different
From groups of human getting together
Human behaviour has an extensive range.
From shy to extroverted, bold to introverted
Myriad patterns of personalities
Manifest in business meetings.
There are those totally in charge
Setting the tones driving the agenda
There are those who are out to showcase skills at every opportunity.
There are others who are peacebuilders.
There are facilitators who are also great delegators.
They are resourceful in the absence of a leader.
There are those brimming with enthusiasm.
They are the ice breakers who reduce tensions.
There are the creativity enhancers.
They step beyond the box and think.
They can bring tangible and intangible to light.
They can be ambiguous or realistic in views.
There are contributors who just say a few words which make people rethink.
They may have voiced their opinion only after much thought.
There are those who blether on and on without consideration for others.
For, they love to be the centre of attention.
They forget it is a meeting with a time & agenda.
Then there are the team players who actually enjoy meetups.
They are adaptable, versatile and happy to help.
They are the bond that binds one and all.
They are juxtaposed with the reserved and silent ones.
They are those who are uncomfortable with the attention.
They are the wallflowers who may have many views but are quiet in a group.
They are great to tap into to hear alternate views.
Have you noticed those who are physically there in a meeting but yet not there?
They are lost in a realm of their own
They are wanderers who are free spirits actually.
They hate to be restrained in one space for even a while.
There is just one issue they hardly pay attention and hence may be unproductive at meetings.
Have you also met the pessimistic who always think it won’t work?
They can bring down the spirits and the morale of an entire team.
There are also the argumentative who always have a counter view without thinking.
Then come to the detail-oriented
Who never leave anything to chance.
They come prepared and are diligent.
They are at risk of seeming too intense.
They, however, can pinpoint the errors.
Their questions can bring clarity to the team.
Finally, there are those who rarely attend.
They saunter in without an agenda.
They have no idea what the meeting is all about.
They have never bothered to find out either.
They still can be channelised through proper directions.
Lastly, let’s watch out for perpetual latecomers.
They always may come in full of excuses but with the right interventions & time management skills.
They can be great contributors…
How many of these types have you observed in your office meetings?
Every person is unique, & likewise, every meeting is thus equally unique.
Through a positive approach, when utilized in the right way for the right skills…
Everyone can then, greatly contribute to the productivity of a meeting.
AN ARTIST’S RELATION TO SOLITUDE
An artist must make time for the long periods of solitude
Solitude is extremely important
Away from home
Away from the studio
Away from family
Away from friends
An artist should stay for long periods of time at waterfalls
An artist should stay for long periods of time at exploding volcanoes
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at fast-running rivers
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the horizon where the ocean and sky meet
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the stars in the night sky
Marina Abramovic
I loved the poem enough to share it, yet felt there is something much deeper to reflect there.
Is solitude the road to stillness … afterall there is often stillness in the movements and movement in the stillness as well.
So I would like to ask an artist…
Do you really want solitude or stillness ?
Sometimes in deep solitude there is no stillness.
And that is perhaps the reason for the need of staying away from it all.
Staying away is not the answer but just a change to alter and arrange thoughts.
For thoughts run amuck sometimes and have a speed all their own
Touching the nerve of truth
It is not an easy task to confront
Cause to confront is to be ready for conflict
Be it any kind…
From mental social or physical and more
Conflicts are always unwanted.
But change is the only constant
And life moves on creating itself.
In any art and creative endeavour
Say even speaking & writing for that matter, there is much scope for influences and perceptions.
It is the nature of truth to transform
But not without chaos and confusion
Such is the nature of human frailty.
There in lies the strength of human spirit. (Contd)
