Sharing an inspiring story on knowledge versus wisdom.
In two independent houses,separated by a compound two people were living, in one a retired person and in the other a techie.
They had planted identical saplings on either sides of the compound.
The techie used to give lot of water and manure to the plants.The retired,just small quantity of water and little manure.
The techies plant grew into lush green,leafy robust plant.
The retired person’s plant was a near normal but much luxuriant than his neighbor’s.
One night there was a heavy rain with gusty wind.
Next morning both came out to see the fate of the plants.
To techie’s surprise his plant had got uprooted where as his neighbor’s was unharmed.
Techie asks the retired as why his plant was uprooted despite such a good care where as the neighbor had hardly cared.
The retired person’s answer should be a lesson for all of us.
Look young man, you had supplied every thing a plant would need,in abundance and the plant did not have to go in search of it.Your roots did not have go down. I was supplying just enough to keep it alive. For the rest roots had to go down into the ground to fulfil it’s needs.
Since your roots were superficial the rain and wind could easily fell it.
Since my roots were pretty deeply grounded they could withstand the onslaught of the nature.
The same applies to your children too.
#HappyParenting!!😊
A lot of perspectives have been shared as far as women’s empowerment measures are concerned in India. Putting the plans on paper to process for transformation is the true need of the hour.
The focal point for change and transformations in bettering women’s life is about understanding women as equal humans not simply as a pretty better half and sympathizing with them as burdened beings.
A matter of Value
The dignity of the being is when women
are seen as individuals who are capable decision makers be it at home or boardroom and respected for their opinions and valued as they are.
A matter of equality
From birth as a baby who is raised equally with pride and without prejudice to acknowledging a need for changes in schools and colleges education, to be gender neutral and not gender biased.
Non-discrimination
At work, the corporate culture needs a structural mind shift to understanding unique challenges faced by female employees in terms of reducing harassment and denouncing gender bias in benefits perks and salaries. Discrimination is truly a discomfort that destroys productivity ‘
A matter of right!
To teach that a marriage of two people is to co-inhabit and collaborate as equals without the women being considered as weaker her inferior to the man.
As senior citizens, both genders must require social security assistance equally as with age the body wears down and gender becomes insignificant again.
A matter of Sustained empowerment
Besides simply providing authority or power to empower is to make the person stronger and more confident, especially in self-management.There is a need to see self-management as a skill that needs continuous and supportive nurturing for development. More the human approach the easier and more sustaining are the solutions.
Challenges at hand
In a country like India where women are still considered second-class citizens where corruption makes change difficult. where domestic abuse be it physical social or mental is rampant, women are still subjugated regardless of the society or state that come from in different degrees.There is a need for an educational system that guides and gathers up the spirit of women and coaches them to trust their abilities as many are in a state of doubt and fear and inhibited from personal self-expression.
The masses are still a persecuted lot in terms of social stigma from being a woman who is divorced and being single to widows and a working or non-working women. From feeling unsafe in travelling alone to securing a home to stay to having a lunch or dinner alone in restaurant to wanting to watch a movie without anyone for company to driving a car alone in a journey…. all women will relate to an increase in stress levels during these normal chores and activities even in the day .Moreover, it is the right to feel safe without discrimination of gender while travelling at night or day in a bus or car or any public transport. Many will have a story of subjugation and social insecurity that they may want to tell but do not speak up due to a lack of voice and fear of being hounded by attracting unnecessary attention to themselves.
Education matters!
The true solutions are a gradual change through continued public education reforms for all ages and gender that may help in bringing forth new mindsets and reinforce an altruistic behaviour.
Setting up women-centric organisations with greater authority can work to bridge the disconnects in communication as they could be the pioneers for any planned intervention.And movements to empower one another as women in consensus and collaborative endeavour helps bridge the dividing gaps.
From I to the We
Empowering the spirit within one another is the key and it becomes easier in the of the realisation of how interdependent our world truly is in the interconnects and how this can become our biggest strength
In a globally connected world resources needs to be collaborated to help one another.No one then will feel left out and helpless.There will be less hoarding and accumulation and more sharing and utilization.
Reformed practices in education will manifest the outcomes in society through transforming mindsets
Empowerment will mean a lift in global consciousness and not be self-limiting in its connotations.Only then can we comprehend what true empowerment means and how much it matters!
Empathy is about inclusivity and expansivity…
In thought & understanding in action.
In applying the sensitivity to the needs of the another in pain.
In doing without expecting in return
In feeling a oneness in spirit
Empathy speaks through heartfelt words
And kindred souls.
When empathy speaks it channels the thoughts to kindness and compassion.
Empathy speaks at times without words
From one heart to another
Empathy instils hope in the being when all hope has left.
Empathy operates with the goodness of nature and denotes the goodwill of nurture.
Empathy is a feeling, a sensing, a knowing
whose true measure is undefined and uncontained.
At times it springs forth unexpected.
And at times needs be cajoled to manifest from within.
As in the throes of life and living
Empathy at times does the disappearing act
But humans are endowed with the sense of empathy in the being.
Law of nature balances itself by nurturing empathy in the human lives.
For that is what makes up the uniqueness of the species.
A few traits that are empathy driven …
You have a strong sense of intuition
You feel and sense another’s feelings.
You are sensitive and receptive.
You prefer the positive in and around you.
Being in crowded places overwhelms you
You avoid negativity from all quarters.
You can easily tell when someone is telling stories or lying.
You enjoy the calm of peaceful environment
You enjoy the beauty of art and mellow music.
You find having time alone to recharge helpful.
You may feel vulnerable at times due to being extremely sensitive.
You may be a very large-hearted & generous.
You tend to feel refreshed in natural surroundings.
You may find yourself listening more than talking.
You may have an evolved sense of awareness of your surroundings.
Do you identify with all or even some of
them and if so feel glad that you are
empathic. as being so can be tuned to
become your source of inner strength.
Empathy can be seen as a gift of being humane! Respect it! Value it! Nurture it!
Sharing this immensely fulfilling read of stories which came my way today!
Once, All villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the People gathered but only one boy came with an umbrella.
That’s
*FAITH*
When You throw a baby in the air, he laughs because he knows you will catch him.
That’s
*TRUST*
Every Night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next
Morning but still we set the alarms to wake up.
That’s
*HOPE*
We Plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.
That’s
*CONFIDENCE*
We See the world suffering.
But still, we get Married.
That’s
*LOVE*
On an Old Man’s shirt was written a cute sentence
‘I Am Not 60 Years Old.., I Am Sweet 16 with 44 years Experience.’
That’s
*ATTITUDE*
Faith is a certainity & trust is a true measure in hope that comes with a knowing confidence of the unknown which is what brings forth the bonds in a boundless love that warms the heart and soul when a life is lived with a never say die attitude !
A short story of inspiration for beginners learning to dance!
A pleasant Sunday morning, finds me in a new venue, a family club actually for my dance workshops in the suburbs of Mumbai , well it was a start of something new, so there I stood before my new batch of learners. I notice a lovely couple had brought their daughter of five along with them. Being a parent myself I understand the limitations of nuclear parenting in Mumbai and the fact that there are times that one has to just take the kids along where you want to go, as sometimes, there is no one you could leave them safely with.
The keen observer in the picture is the little girl  I have written about  🙂
I smiled at the little girl who gave me a warm smile back. Very sweet I thought! Soon enough I began the session with the usual round of introduction to the dance form and then went on with the basic step of swing. I was quite busy with the parents and just had a cursory glance the little girl who I saw amusing herself standing near the corner where a couple of chairs were stacked.I went about explaining about the beat, counts and the rhythm and the body positioning and was halfway through the session . I was engrossed in teaching so much that I was suddenly jolted with a soft but insistent tap on my arm. I turned and was absolutely amazed when the little girl showed me the basic step with perfect timing to music. The little girl had carefully observed what I was doing and imbibed it for sometime standing quietly in the corner and once she was confident she came up to me silently for approval.
I was clearly bowled over by the power of observation and interest in this child. Many a times with power of observation we can master all that we want to by our-self , provided we have the determination to focus on our goals.
The little child’s brain had mapped a visual imagery of the step clearly, and was able to recall it at will even though she had not practiced it half the number of times her parents had… along with me.
 The power of observation has no age barrier, some are gifted and some have to develop the latent power within, but  we all certainly have it within us to  reap the potential of this power.So do care to see a little beyond the denials and negations just trust and believe you can dance and then You Most Certainly Can Dance!
This was first written for my dance students and future learners, a couple of years ago .But I felt it can be shared for the power of perseverance and belief makes all the difference !Â
We are all unique in our movements , so we must strive to find our own path to fulfillment , wherein lies our success. Success follows whenever we move with the strength of intention to learn to dance !
Take a step , start dancing today ! Make dancing a way of life, To find out more about learning to dance at your pace…
please contact here or write to me: savvy@danceconcepts.in
Mom..?
Dad..?
Husband /wife…?
Best friend..?
Son..?
Daughter…??
Or someone else… ????
Your real life partner
is Your *Body*
You and your body
stay together from
the beginning of your
life till your last
breath.
You enjoy each
relationship in this
world that you feel
is good for you..
But you also play an
important role with
your body.
What you do to your
body is your
responsibility and
that will come back
to You.
The more you care
for your body, the
more your body will
care for You.
What you eat,
What you do for being fit,
How u deal with
stress (physical/mental/emotional),
How much rest you
give to it..
Will decide how your body gonna respond
in your day to day
life.
Remember your
body is the only
permanent address
where You live.
What your body
wants is…,
Love
Care
Respect
Politeness
Honesty
Your body is your
responsibility.
Because…
You are Your real
life partner.
Sharing this above message as they certainly are words to remember!
The Body has always been at the receiving end.
Then there are always issues with the body we have , too thin too fat too muscular too lean too angular too buffed to wiry … sad for we are what we feed ourselves .
Instead of gratitude for the gift of life that gives us our body we focus on actual nonissues, without being able to be content and add to our stress levels ourselves.
Nurture your body.Value the residing space of our living spirit.
Respect the body
Our body is not a machine it needs more than regular fuel in the form of food .
Because we are a web of interconnected cells we thrive in the integration and interdependence of the body mind and spirit .
We need to think well to feel well
We need to eat well to be well
We need to choose well to live well
We need to behave well to thrive in wellness
This is the strength of the interdependence that keeps us going.
Feed the body with love:
Take care to eat right and respect its state of being
Be polite and honest in your ways. Every body can be listening . You are responsible for you can be influencing the apace around you. You are emitting your intentions and thoughts outwards subconsciously
You must remember to rest and care for your body whenever needed.
For whatever way and however you can, it is certainly like turning back the clock into a more productive you!
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 .
My reflections after a chance visit to Swadhaa A Waldorf School in Pune.
In my spare time as a hobby, I enjoy visiting offbeat places and interacting with people from all walks of life to broaden my perspectives. To envision the world through the eyes of another is always an insightful experience.
When I visited Auroville in Pondicherry last year amongst the many inspirational insights I came across a bit about how Waldorf Schools started by Rudolf Steiner who was inspired by Sir Aurobindo, stands for holistic education that speaks to the soul and strives for human goodwill and integrity and instilling a sense of creativity and wonder through its unconventional schooling methods.
Besides that, I also had come across words of praise for her schooling and education received from the well-known actress Jennifer Anniston an alumnus of a Waldorf School herself.
“I was always fascinated by acting, but my experience at Rudolf Steiner [school] encouraged me to pursue it as a career.” “Steiner was a free-spirited school that encouraged creativity and individualism.”
As a dance educator myself I have always felt schooling at conventional schools can be rather stifling for it focuses more on procedure and protocol than allowing freedom to explore. The root of our individuality and personal expression is often stubbed in the process of conforming to the norms and practices unless it is balanced out when there is a gateway to open communication and positive support on the homefront.
Recently having shifted my residence in Pune City and in my foray into understanding what my area had on offer as a creative educator myself, I came across. SWADHA Learning Centre. My interest was piqued that it was based on the principles of a Waldorf school.
I decided to experience the place on my own. Luckily for me the day I visited the school it turned out to be their Annual Day and there were elaborate festivities planned out for the entire day by the school for one and all.
There were workshops galore… I attended a few out of curiosity and came away heartened by the immense enthusiasm and support from the parents and children alike for this schools annual activity. I took my time to interact with some of the parents.
What I was immediately drawn to was the amount of openness that was there reflected in so many ways from children who were learning life skills experientially to how parents were so beautifully integrated into the educational activities of the children.
The pictures speak for themselves I must say!
In an era of grades and marks that decides destinies of children as future adults,
the learning concepts observed here come as a breath of fresh air. Like the lack of grading systems and adding only an individual assessment by the educator annually to ensure that each child is addressed and understood for their unique potential. And the breakdown of hierarchy which makes everyone an involved collaborator working towards positive transformations. And I believe they also help and guide a child gradually, who wants to integrate into conventional schooling system if they wish or need to for whatever reasons. The question is would we want to?
Perhaps the varied schools under the Waldorf umbrella are as unique as the people collectively managing them, but the fact remains that there is a happier learning space we can co-create for our future children if we have the willingness to come together and contribute our time and resources.
” A space that’s open yet bounded with a focus can be conducive to learning as when the process of exploration begins it is helped by a structured approach. But while boundaries may be reminding of a journey having a destination, it is the openness that reflects the never-ending source of creative possibilities.”
Savvy
An excerpt from my reflections on Learning spaces…. (read more )
In an age of self obsession bordering on extremes of behaviour from starving to binging, from wearing those uncomfortable hip breaking harmful high heels to choosing crazy outfits that fool you in the name of fashion, to wearing outrageous clothes without it actually suiting your personality, just to fit in and feel accepted I find a lot of people youngsters especially finding themselves at odds with their natural body and having issues with who they truly are. It reflects in the clothes they wear as much as in their attitude to the fast convenience food they choose to eat.
Here in this article I address this very insecurity and deep need to measure up to the so called dictates of trends and fashion in the name of modernity and suggest ways to work with yourself to help yourself shine your best inside out. For, a comfortable and relaxed confident body is the best outfit you can wear.
Savvy Raj
A positive body image brings optimism into your life and makes it easier to manage stress.
It also helps you cope the pressures of social situations with confidence. Below, I’ve listed10 tipsto help you in owning a more positive body image and relationship with yourself.
Be kind to yourself
Liking who you are and feeling good about being yourself begins with being good to yourself and showing yourself loving kindness.
Respect thy Self
Move beyond a need for validation from others. Your life and happiness must never be dictated by assuming what others may be thinking of you. Avoid seeking approval from others.
Think well and exercise the power of positivity
Keep a check on your own thoughts and steer clear of negative self-talk. See the positives in yourself and others and speak positively. See life transform for the better.
The company you keep matters
Surround yourself with kind and positive people. Avoid those who are self-obsessed and definitely stay away from bullies.
Cultivate a good attitude towards life
As you continue to work on your self-esteem remember body confidence is a matter of attitude and the way you carry yourself.
Cultivate good posture and poise
Work on your sense of poise, avoid slouching and fidgeting. This can help you tremendously in boosting your self-esteem in any social situation.
Speak well
Your body is always listening. So, speak well of yourself and others. Make it a habit to start and end the day on a positive note.
Embrace Self-value
Try to understand your weaknesses and accept them as challenges to work on. Treat yourself well. Make sure to eat well, exercise, or take a walk. Be healthy and groomed. Make it a part of daily life.
Take it easy
Over perfection is an obsession and can ruin your self-esteem and self-confidence. Ease up on yourself. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Own yourself
Embrace the uniqueness that you are endowed with. Remember you matter. You are so much more than a title, a rank, or a dress size. Don’t be desperate to fit in. Most importantly, be interested in your life and actively participate in it. Own yourself.
As you practise working on all these aspects and envision the positives, you create a positive shift in your perspectives.
Precious words from Rumi which are empowering, to say the least, awakening in us to respect the innate potential we all possess to reach out to help another …
To help is to empower the mind body and spirit of another.
Empowerment is a powerful factor in building lives. Given the choice of transforming lives with the abilities, you own…if you are ready to help another… What would you choose to be?
Being a Lamp :
A lamp lights up itself to light the way for another It is selfless and expansive . The light of a lamp lets you envision the strengths within the self as much as the others For to enable sight is to allow the envisionment. Being a light enables and empowers, as it throws light without fear or favour.
It is simply the quality of light to shine graciously!
Being a lifeboat:
It is the very purpose of a lifeboat to help save lives to allow another to hold on, to never fail in protecting from drowning in the voyage of life.
The lifeboat is a survival tool and is built to weather the storms without giving way. It floats on relentlessly without giving up to reach to safety.
Being a life boat in an emergency is like a godsend!. To save a life is to value its preciousness of the being.
Being a ladder:
Allowing the self to be utilized for another is the very nature of a ladder. In fact to be a ladder is to allow another to reach and aim higher to develop and evolve further.
A ladder is constructive in its very core essence, to build up another towards a goal.
Being a builder of another’s dreams and helping propel another to a cause greater than the self is the sign and strength of being a ladder. Being unmindful of the treading over of another in their attempt to reach their aspirations is a tall order indeed. The ladder provides the way without any personal gain.
Here are 3 beautiful sayings worth remembering always…
HANDS THAT HELP ARE HOLIER THAN LIPS THAT PRAY!
HELP EVER HURT NEVER.
ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS!
Self-empowerment &healing :
To help transform lives is to empower from the heart and make a difference!
However, it is about healing the self-first enough to let light in that helps others to see!
A friend in need is a friend indeed! ;
Whatever is your way to reach out and help, what is truly significant is the one who helps in time and need. For such a help is a hand of God in divine grace.
So make a choice to reach out to the world in your own unique way for it needs all the help it can get!
Sharing a beautiful story that will make us sense and acknowledge our inner feelings and help channelize its expression in a more evolved way with deeper understanding.
*The Empty Boat -A Story of Anger.*
A monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery. He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation. After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own. With his eyes still closed, he senses his anger rising, and by the time he opens his eyes, he is ready to scream at the boatman who dared disturb his meditation. But when he opens his eyes, he sees it is an empty boat that had probably got untethered and floated to the middle of the lake. At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization, and understands that the anger is within him; it merely needs the bump of an external object to provoke it out of him.
From then on, whenever he came across someone who irritated him or provoked him to anger, he reminded himself: ”The other person is merely an empty boat. The anger is within me……” In reality, we all have the anger within us, all the time, All it needs is someone, like the empty boat, to provoke it.
This story makes us think on many levels especially so on anger management.
Is our anger innate?How deep does it delve?
How much is our responsibility in acknowledging our true selves.
Acknowledgement is a step towards a response than reaction .
Acceptance leads to greater self-awareness.
Savvy
The question is not only why feel provoked with anger but how to manage it. How can it be circumvented? Is there a way to do so?
Every time we recognize where the anger resides we will learn to accept the source is the self than others. And then make an effort to not suppress or repress but channelize it in more productive ways.
In our wheel of human behaviour and emotions, Anger sits in the opposite spectrum of joyousness. It is a negative emotion that propels further negative thoughts. There arises the backlash of discontent and disorientation in various degrees depending on the level of anger that manifests.
Anger truly serves no purpose than destruction
For true peace, it can be a bone of contention
So let go of all anger and false pretensions
And value the calm that you actually are.
Savvy
On a lighter note here are a few reflections towards channelling arising negative emotions in awareness
and some amazing quotes from the great souls to go with it !:))
Think Humorously:’ If red is the colour of anger it is the colour of love too!’
Think Happy: ‘For every minute of anger you are losing 60 seconds of happiness ..’.Ralph Waldo EmersonÂ
Think Creatively:’The Greatest remedy for anger is delay!’
Think Practically: ‘He who angers you conquers you’.
Think Logically: ‘You will not be punished for your anger but by your anger…’ Buddha
Think Peacefully: ‘Anger is the ultimate destroyer of your own peace of mind’. Dalai Lama
Think Kindly: ‘Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you…’ BibleÂ
Think of changing the wavelengths:’ Anger makes you smaller while forgiveness forces you to grow
 beyond what you are!’Â
Paying attention to your breath: Breath in the now…to release resentmentÂ
In the inhale and exhale.: Pause to respond and delay a reactionÂ
Express Positivism: Let your past make you better, not bitter
Express Humility: ‘Angry people are not always wise…’ Jane Austen
Express Gratitude: ‘ Anger won’t make your problems easier but gratitude will make you stronger.’
Years ago when I was in the university doing my masters, I have a distinct memory of our Head of the Department carrying a book which read. ‘Don’t bite more than you can chew ‘ written in bold on the cover. A diminutive bespectacled gentleman every day he would carry it along with him to his lectures. And habitually as he reached his table he would carefully place it towards him and then start to speak.
The words on the book always intrigued me for its significance in our life and living.
Today as we discuss the art of management I see how this applies so beautifully. Commitment is an art of management. To manage your ability, capacity and resources at hand optimally and sustain it successfully learning to avoid overcommitment is a necessary skill.
A few Tips On the Art of Responsible Commitment.
Avoid over-commitment. To fulfil any commitment, before committing, simply make sure to clarify and define your own abilities and capacities to yourself. And communicate that in your actions as it will steer you clear from falling short of expectation from others.
 Be wary ofover-compensating Remember every time you are over-committing somewhere you are weakening the very relationships you are trying to strengthen either your family or with your self by trying to overcompensate.
Respect your need for well-being as over-commitment is stressful and creates opportunities for health issues gradually.
Strive tobring a sense of balance. You know your abilities best. If you wish to expand your horizons and venture beyond your comfort zone, trust your intuitive intellect it certainly will not let you down.
Inculcate integrity in your approach to commitment at home and work for a balanced life and living.
Savvy Raj 
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