August 27th, 2010
How often do you find yourself procrastinating? That the project due next week can wait. That the fun time with your family can wait. That the visit to your elderly parents can wait. That the health screening can wait. That the meal with your best friend can wait. That your reading can wait. That your dreams can wait.
Our time on earth is limited. We do not live forever. Yet, we seem to forget this and live as if there is always a tomorrow. We postpone the things we need to do, the time we need to spend with our friends and loved ones as well as our dreams, thinking that time is always on our side. And we tell ourselves that, one of these fine days, we will find a time to do it.
It is common for students to wait till the last minute before preparing for examination. It is common for tax payers to file their tax return on the very day of the deadline. It is not surprising to see passengers arriving at the boarding gate seconds before the gate closes. (By the way, this comes to my mind as I am typing this article sitting at the airport waiting for my flight which has been delayed by an hour) However, the problem is, we do not know when the gate will close on us. There is no guarantee that we will live up to a ripe age of 80 years old, or for that matter, any age.
Don’t gamble with time. The clock is ticking, better hurry. Don’t get busy over things that will not matter at the end of the journey. Do the things that are close to your heart. Make time for your loved ones. If there is something that you have always wanted to do, but have not done so for one reason or another, hesitate no further. Do it before it’s too late as there will not be a last call for boarding to your next destination.
Posted in Procrastination, Time Management | 3 Comments »
August 16th, 2010
It is not always necessary to have a teacher to learn something. Be a learner and you shall learn from every other person in your life. LIFE IS ALWAYS TEACHING, ONLY IF YOU ARE LEARNING.
An uncooperative colleague may be a pain in the neck. An unfriendly neighbor may dampen your day. An impatient driver who cuts into your way may spoil your mood. A stranger may make your day. A teacher may believe in your potential despite you coming in at the bottom in class. All these people have one thing in common for you. They have all have a gift for you but only if you are open to receiving it. Be thankful that every one of them appears in your path at the most precise moment. Your job is to receive and uncover the gift.
The next time you are negatively affected by someone and you feel upset, angry or hurt over it, do pause for a moment. Coax your negative feelings. Ask them to remain quiet for a moment while you unwrap the gift. Try to put yourself in the person’s shoes and understand why he is acting that way. Maybe he is under tremendous pressure and that has severely crippled his ability to behave in a way that he should have. Perhaps he is suffering great pain and emotionally dehydrated and does not know any better way to release his pain and emotions. What can you learn here? That we should not let our extreme negativity infiltrate others. That we should not let our extreme negativity cripple ourselves. That we need to learn how to turn our negativity into positivity, into possibilities. Or perhaps he is angel-sent to force you off your current track so that you can embark on a more purposeful track.
The not-so-nice will come into your life with a gift. Be thankful and learn the lessons. Likewise, the nice will also come into your life with a gift. Be thankful and make good use of the gift. Say you may have been discriminated at work over your age/height/weight/looks etc. Subsequently, you landed a new job with an enlightened employer who recognizes your strength and potential and gives you opportunities to perform and grow. Be thankful for the gift. Do your part. Stretch yourself. Elevate yourself to the next level. Make good use of the gift.
Posted in Attitude, Positive Thinking, Thoughts to Ponder | 6 Comments »
April 14th, 2010
Have you tried waiting for a cab and after a seemingly long wait, when a cab finally arrived, someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere and snatched the cab right under your nose? Most people would be fuming mad and probably start to curse and swear. Their blood pressure would head North as they continue the day on a foul mood.
Why let external factors get you all worked up? It is not worth it. We all have a mind and we need to have complete authority over it. However, when we get angry orr irritated or get carried away by any other negative emotion, we give the authority of our mind to some external matter or thing that has affected us. It is very important for us to have a control over our mind and the best way to start is to keep cool. Talk your way out. Tell yourself that probably the person who got into the cab was rushing to visit his relative, lying critical in hospital. If that does not work on you, tell yourself that the event was deliberately planned by some higher intelligence. That you did not get to ride the fateful cab as the tire would puncture mid way. Just talk your way out. Don’t let heat build up. It’s bad for your body. If nothing works then speak the following words to yourself, “The authority of my mind is in my hands. A simple cab or stranger does not have the power to make me angry . I am cool, calm and relaxed.”
There may be instances when someone passes some unkind remark that is enough to make you hit the roof. Stay cool, even when you feel yourself boiling inside. Take a deep breath. Don’t quarrel your way out. Do not react instantly. Continue what you are doing as if the words have no effect on you. Show that you are in control. That you are too strong for anyone or any word to stir up negative emotions in you. If the situation is a little too overwhelming, speak up something (not necessary to be rude) and get on with over work. You don’t need to stay a second longer in any toxic environment.
Always maintain a happy disposition. Protect your inner reservoir of peace and joy. Don’t let anyone or anything pollute this sacred place. REMEMBER, your mind is in your control. Do not any external matter or thing affect your mind and play with your emotions.
Posted in Peace, Stress | 7 Comments »
March 22nd, 2010
You are where you are right now, thanks to the choices you have made (or have not made).
We make choices every day, from the moment we wake up to the time we fall asleep.
We decide the time to rise and the number of times to hit the snooze button. We decide what to eat for breakfast or we may decide to leave the choice to someone else.
We decide what to wear for work and how to commute to work or we may decide to leave it on autopilot. We decide whether we want to greet our colleagues or pretend that we are too busy to notice. We decide what tasks to do and which one to take priority.
We decide if we wish to invite an old friend for lunch or join the guys in the department. We choose fast food or spaghetti for lunch and coffee or tea for tea-break.
We decide to knock-off on the dot or stay behind to clear backlog. We decide whether to stock-up groceries on our way home or head straight home.
We choose between catching up with our children and working on our laptop. We choose between reading a motivational book and sitting in front of the television watching horror movie.
We decide whether to sign up for an interesting course or procrastinate. We decide how to spend the weekend , family outing or business entertainment. We decide how we want to sleep, on our back or on one side.
So, after all the decisions, are you happy with where you are right now? If you are, that’s great! Continue with your choices. However, if you are not happy with where you are right now and want to be somewhere else, you have a choice. Yes, simply by making choices, big and small, that will bring you to where you want to be. REMEMBER, you are what you are because of the choices you made. So, if you wish you change yourself or something in your life, the choice is yours.
Posted in Life, Motivation, Thoughts to Ponder | 6 Comments »
March 22nd, 2010
The majority of us have had those times where we have to do something we really don’t feel like doing. Perhaps it is the terrible project at work, working with someone we would prefer not to, or taking that unexpected business trip. Whatever the case may be, we are at a point where we realize the best option is to just go ahead and do it, despite the fact that we really have very little desire to do so.
1. Just do it. Don’t sit around dreading what you know you have to do, just do it and as soon as you begin, there will be positive momentum that is generated that you can build off of.
2. Give yourself a reward for doing it. If you had to go on that undesired business trip, perhaps you take the next day off or treat yourself to something you don’t ordinarily get to do.
3. Find something good about what you have to do. There is always something…you just have to honestly look. If it will somehow serve a positive purpose in the future, focus on that.
4. Think about other things that you actually like. You can borrow “feel good equity” from other things you are experiencing that make you happy. Borrow some of that positive energy even if it is unrelated.
5. No Sob Stories. Don’t complain about what you need to do while talking with anyone else. Try to always frame the situation in a positive manner when describing it to other people (i.e. I have to take a 5 hour flight, but at least I will get in some good reading time). It is not going to help you to have a pity party and it certainly isn’t helpful to invite anyone else.
6. Think about how great you will feel once you are done. It is amazing how good you feel when you have finally completed that one thing that has been weighing on your mind. Look forward to having that feeling.
Posted in Attitude, Motivation, Problem Solving | 3 Comments »
