Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Tag Archives: # SelfAwareness


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Soul Signature

Creativity abounds
Artist delivers
Critiques interpret
Art flourishes.

Every piece of art is a creative signature
Of the soul of the artist
Artworks retain its interpretation within
As they leave the chamber of creation.

Once the art is set free and open
Making it visible and vulnerable
To reviews, critiques or applause
It is open to manifold interpretations.

The inference is never complete
Nor is it free of judgements in assumptions
For how can it be so?
It is nature of art to manifest counter views.

These very varied interpretations
Give life to the art
For as new meaning is born
The art flourishes in its wake.

Savvy Raj


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Miracles Happen

Miracles happen.

You see it around you

In willingness,

In the strength of faith,

In a shift of perspectives,

In envisioning beyond,

In refusing to give up,

In never losing hope,

In allowing to be guided,

In seeing possibilities in the impossible,

In keeping wonder alive,

In sensing the evolving miracles,

In knowing the fragility of every now,

In living life’s every moment

As if it is a miracle in itself.

Either there is a miracle for you

Waiting to happen,

Or you are the miracle for another

Waiting to unfold.

Both are inspiration for one or the other

For out of difficulties

Miracles are born!

Whenever and wherever, there is hope, faith and love, miracles happen.

Savvy


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On Razors edge

My reflections on the stunning capture of the Cherry blossom Tree on Mount Fuji in Japan.

On the razors edge , there is poignant elegance

Beautiful poise, precariously in balance

Amidst the fury of the fire raging beneath

She stand resolute in her calmth

Not helpless but in knowing Nature’s ways

That in time all is well back to base

Beauty on the outside burns off into the ember

Leaving an ashen pile of dust to remember

Yet deluding the fury in being uprooted

In the strength of the grounding firmly rooted

Leaving an evergreen picture of poise

She has that stoic stance of grace

A pose of composure on destiny’s face

In spite of a life abruptly denied

She is the beauty of Grace personified !

Savvy Raj

Image credits

http://followpics.me/fuji-volcano-japan-cherry-blossom/


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Handle stress wisely!

Many times in our lives, many of us are at times challenged and confounded by these moments, that I would prefer to call ‘ What if ‘moments. Like for instance ‘if only I had done this , if only I had said that, if only I had the sense to think this way and so on and so forth!!!
The main reason I feel these feelings occur is that when we are faced with a trying situation for e.g. sometimes some of us buckle under the pressure, maybe to conform with the norm or worry about what is the ideal way to behave that we don’t focus on what is necessary for the moment and fail to capitalize on our strengths.

A few of us feel threatened enough to attack the offender or be brutal enough verbally or physically and regret later about our lack of discretion and control.
Still others who are so numbed by what is happening end up being dumbfounded that they don’t know what struck them… And there are those who are quite indifferent to the situation so much that you wonder if they are human at all only to realise later that there is an emotionally charged outburst long after the stressful event.
Basically when one is feeling pressured or during extreme stress of a new situation with a feeling of being pushed to a wall , we need to be aware of it , but the force of what is coming must be cleverly deflected from our path and neutralised.

If only this learning is valued, taught and applied many of us will be much happier souls. This means we must learn to be present in the moment, for which we first need to develop a keen sense of balance and control in all areas of our life. In thoughts words and deeds. This in itself is a powerful tool to calm a person enough to handle any so called crisis. When we are in a state of balance we are clearer in what we want and our existing resources.

This opens up possibilities of channelling the strengths of our resources positively to the common good of all.

Daily we could simply strive to imbibe at least some of these in our lives…..

  • To reduce our impulsive reactions
  • To balance our needs and expectations
  • To conquer our ego but value ourselves.
  • To focus on the present moment
  • To cleanse the mind by thought awareness
  • To cleanse the body by healing movements
  • To learn to be patient and develop perseverance
  • To understand the importance of
    equanimity and composure
  • To control anger and other sensory indulgences
  • To be kind, generous, open minded and tolerant
  • To believe in equality
  • To conquer our unnecessary fears and inhibitions
  • To live our lives lovingly, completely being in every moment of it without passing it up for another time!
  • To develop a sense of respect for self and equally respect another.
Finally to be grateful for all that we have at this moment…

When we have the grace of gratefulness we will possibly be more balanced and composed to deal with situations wisely and life’s moments will turn to be positively enriching experiences.

Savvy Raj


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Walk the path…

My reflections on this beautiful picture….
Sun kissed leaves shine like gold
Majestic tall trees lined with wisdom untold
A winding woody path so green
emerges in between …
It beckons you onto a journey to the unknown
Yet with the radiant light of the sun leading you on
You know for sure you will never lose your way
Basking in the beautiful morning suns ray ….
Walk the path … befriend nature and dare
To accept the experiences, it’s ready to share
Live this moment, do not leave it for another day
awaiting when the sun shall shine this glorious way …
Cos Life is so much like this unknown path my friend
Make the journey as the sunshine around the bend
Trust yourself to be all you can be
And perhaps, its awaiting you … that which you wish to see!

Savvy

#motivational #poetry #awareness #life


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On Integrity

The Strength Of The Soul

Treat yourself well

And treat others equally well!

Value your sense of self esteem

But value another’s right to theirs.

True integrity lies in…

Practicing one’s own preaching

Be true to your word

For both matter a whole lot.

No one is an island

Every one is necessary and important

For who they are and deeply entwined

In the grand plan of life .

Stay true to who you are

For you are best at being you.

Integrity speaks from deeds not words

Make sure your actions justify your words.

A

And sense the calm you feel in your heart

Feel the ease of being when with another.

All it needs is a little care and consideration

For the world in and around you!

When work becomes effortless…

When you experience meaning in the moments.

Whatever is the work you do

Whichever is your walk of life

When you are driven by a certain passion

When you know you are contributing to a purpose larger than you

When you sense a balance,

When inspite of the challenges you feel you have it in you, to persevere

When you find you have all the focus and ability to connect with the what you do

You feel one with the flow…

You begin to enjoy the life in the moments!

Savvy


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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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Take note…

All that is visible
May be just an illusion
Or tricks and perhaps a facade
In the name of reality.

There is a maze running through
Of potential possibilities
Of fears and failures
Of success in endeavors.

Perceptions can create deceptions
Perhaps scripted and meant to distort.
And create a illusory reality
That can confound the smartest minds.

Humans are a work of art
Of mesmerizing magnitude
Each with a heart and mind of their own
Uniquely endowed beings…

Between the white and black
Are so many shades of grey
What appears right or wrong
May have so many layers to it.

Know such is the manner of life and living
Care to take note of emerging perspectives
And understand the shifts of behavior
Before you decide or draw a conclusion.

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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Why Practice Matters?

Why Practice Matters?

Learning any skill requires disciplined and repeated practice. Skill Development is an art itself .

Without the effort of practice , skills cannot improve or sustain.

While practice may not make every person perfect it will certainly better them gradually.

Practice makes you learn until you start to work instinctively.

To reach the level of an expert, practical training is a progressive module which creates challenges as you go along. Every stage a bit tougher than the earlier one.

What is important to remember is that practice is not only necessary but it is necessary to practice efficiently and effectively.

Does practise makes it perfect?

Practice is to engage and rehearse repeatedly in order to perfect a skill to mastery , but not all who practice acheive the level of an expert even with structured and deliberate practice standards in place . So we can safely say practice makes one better gradually.

A consistent practice of any talent or skill will begin to show results for sure. It could be tangible jump or it could be a little step according to the amount to time, focus and energy given to practice. In time the results could be exponential in its rewards as well.

Practice can be truly rewarding and a great source of confidence.But practice needs not only consistency but also determination in perseverance.

A few tips to improve and implement a practice routine..

Be ready to self reflect so as understand why you are motivated to continue practicing.

Be willing to develop the learners mindset and maintain it.

Be mindful of your behavioral changes as you improve and work on it positively to sustain you.

Be engaged proactively to adjust your practice levels as per requirement.

Be focused to set short and long term goals and work on achieving them.

Most of all…

Continuity of practice is important after achieving a set goal…

Keep your practice going!

Savvy


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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


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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…..


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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!!!