LOOK AROUND…LOOK BEYOND

 

(Education is not all about what we receive within the four walls of our classroom, or what we read from the textbook, or what is imparted to us as part of academics. Something beyond that is required to live a life of peace and harmony. So, a curriculum has been devised to address the needs of students, to achieve wholesome development)

In a nuclear family set-up, children’s needs and wants are taken care of. Especially, with many families having only one child, a lot of attention is given to the child and sharing is not an integral part of their growing up years. The joy of giving has to be ingrained from childhood.

Some of them don’t know that there are many people in the world who are deprived of the basic needs in life. We need to sensitize them to the plight of others. Else, there is a threat of creating a selfish society.

“Learning, Earning & Returning should be concurrent and not different phases in life.” -mahatria

Even a s a student, there are so many contributions we can make. Our students planted 1111 saplings under the Go Green Project, in Chitlapakkam and Chromepet, in the year 2012, and today they have grown into trees. It is a legacy we leave behind.

Every year we celebrate the anniversary of infinitheism on 11^th November. We take our students to at least fifteen schools where they give motivational talk to the students on “The Turbulent Adolescent Years”and “How to Get Their Teenage Right.” We have been doing this for the past thirteen years. The impact is more when students share with students.

“Happy to Help” is a group in the school. These students usher in the kindergarten students, and also help the teachers for a while in the morning to ensure that the toddlers settle down for the day.

There are different ways in which students are taught to contribute to society. They stage street plays to create awareness amongst the general public on “World Mental Health Day.”

Doctors were honoured on “Doctors’ Day” and they were overwhelmed by this gesture. Temple cleaning, lake cleaning, participating in walkathons to spread awareness, are all part of their social activities.

Looking beyond “Me, Mine & Myself” is inculcated in students early in life.

Students are asked to talk about the importance of giving, to their neighbours and relatives and collect funds for the underprivileged. They also talk about the number of social contributions the school has made over the years.

Students have been making social contributions for almost three decades. The parents of these students have to be thanked for their support. The money thus raised is used to build washrooms, classrooms, set up labs, libraries etc in government schools, and for many other noble Cause.

The kindergarten students take gifts for the less privileged children on Eid-al-Fitr. They also donate their used toys, which are in good condition, to the down-trodden, through NGOs. NSNites experience the joy of giving, throughout their school days, year on year. This will make them good Samaritans in future. So many of our alumni have started an NGO or a Trust to reach out to society.

The seeds we sow today become the trees of tomorrow. Success is not measured by the salary you earn or the position you occupy. Are you living a holistic life?

Are you using your potential and are you useful to the world? Then you are living a meaningful life.

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting 

EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM…

SPREADING GOODNESS

(Education is not all about what we receive within the four walls of our classroom, or what we read from the textbook, or what is imparted to us as part of academics. Something beyond that is required to live a life of peace and harmony. So, a curriculum has been devised to address the needs of students, to achieve wholesome development)  

It is common amongst students to fight with each other and complain about what the other person did. It is all part of growing up. But do we actually outgrow this habit of pointing a finger at the world? We all tend to get into this vicious cycle of pointing a finger at somebody else and not willing to own up our mistake.

We decided to introduce two practices; one was to ask students to write something good about their classmates every day. If they wrote every day, for a month, they would be given a “Good Finder” badge. This motivated the students to write every day, something good about someone, and show the book to the teacher.

The other practice was, to ask a few students to speak something good about the child who was celebrating their birthday. Students excitedly wait for their turn to talk all the good they can about their classmate.

Giving a right direction to their thinking is the key. It will help them to find goodness in people. And that is all is required. A few habits practiced, long enough, becomes their nature.

The school has so many Best Practices, each, carefully thought out and executed, to bring out the beautiful qualities in children.

Education is not all about exams and marks. In school, you prepare for tests, by learning the lessons well. But, life tests you and only after that you learn the lessons. What better way than inculcating the right qualities in children, at an age when they absorb it instantly.

Imagine the impact it would have on them when they practice this every day for several years. It will direct their mind in the direction of finding goodness in the world.

How beautiful it would be if each one of us, instead of expecting something from the world, and feeling disappointed, expects more from ourselves!

NSN intensely works on developing the personality of the students and provides them holistic growth.

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting 

 

THE COMPLEXITY OF RELATIONSHIPS

As a student, I often wondered how to solve a mathematical problem and what was its relevance to life. It was never explained. So, I never enjoyed a math class. I usually zoned out after a while, when I could no more catch up with the teacher’s explanation. I thought, either she was very fast, or she did not explain how she arrived at the next step, or she was happy to carry on when the students in the front row nodded their head.  Math, to me was a complex subject.

As an adult, I realized that relationships are more complex than math!

We juggle between roles, each calling for a different approach and temperament. What works with one, may not work with the other. Even amongst our own children.

Managing relationships is like driving on a chaotic road. We should be an expert in maneuvering, to ensure we don’t get hit, or we don’t hit anyone.

I was pathetic in managing relationships. I used to sulk and moan when someone was nasty to me. I even got very angry with those who accused me. I was not able to tolerate nonsensical behavior. I used to react!

“Others hurt you because of their immaturity. You feel hurt because of your immaturity.”  -mahatria

But a great teacher of life came to my rescue. Unlike the math teacher, He taught me how to manage relationships, with utmost clarity. That did the trick.

Sometimes most simple things are misunderstood, people read between lines, some feel that they are being taken for granted, some others feel they are being used, some feel inferior for no reason, some feel holier than thou, some are difficult to please, some cannot be made  happy, some are constantly dissatisfied, some are short-tempered, while some others are cranky, some are egoistic, some are naïve, some are unpredictable, some throw tantrums, and only a few are balanced.

Relationships are like fire. Maintain a distance and it will give you warmth.

Others’ shortcomings are their problem. You cannot please everyone all the time. Your attitude is all that matters to you. I stopped reacting, and giving undue attention to those who don’t deserve it. People’s opinion about me does not matter to me anymore. Hence, I feel liberated.

“Expect more from yourself than what others expect of you” – mahatria

Honesty in a relationship only builds trust. Are you trustworthy and reliable? Then you can build relationships and thereby a strong bond.  Set personal boundaries to maintain emotional balance. Go into any relationship looking at what you can give and not what you can receive.

                                Do all the good you can

                               For all the people you can

                               In all the ways you can

                              At all the times you can

                               Without any expectation 

I give all relationships their due status.  There is no disrespect whatsoever. Being polite has become my nature. Detached attachment works. Stop being  dependent on someone for your happiness.

There is no pain anymore. I didn’t know life could be so peaceful with the new approach. Ever since, I have come a long way. I am in a beautiful space where I decide my happiness.

Live life on your terms. Make relationships less complicated and more enjoyable. Align yourself with people whose values are similar. It creates harmony and reduces friction. There is so much fun in watching the drama than being part of it.

             “Life is celebration and celebration is life.”

- mahatria

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting 

A POWERFUL PAUSE…

 

Sometimes acting quickly is what is required, but there will be times in life when a pause becomes a powerful turning point.

There is a lot of distraction, restlessness, disturbance, amongst youngsters. A society that is progressively becoming individualistic, wants everything and everyone to be in sync with them. They cannot accept anything that is not favouring them.

To those who cannot take a no for an answer or cannot accept failure, I wish to say that, instead of being disturbed, rattled or disillusioned by the world, make peace your priority.

Every choice we execute has a consequence. If the choice is not right, the consequence will take away your peace. So, choices have to be deliberated. Anything that is done impulsively could backfire. Have a peaceful arrangement with life.

Friends may entice you to try something for the first time in the name of having fun. They will even tell you that everything in life should be tried. When everybody is indulging in it, you too will be tempted. It is very difficult to resist, especially when you are with your friends. What you may not do when you are alone, you will certainly have the courage to do it with your gang of friends. Just pause for a while…reflect…and then move away to ensure that you don’t yield to the temptations.

Teenage is a phase in life when you are prone to arguments with parents. You cannot agree with them on many issues. In fact, you will be at logger-heads with them. Anything they say may irritate you. You feel they are curbing you or controlling you and you get agitated. Many a time there will be a quarrel, a disagreement or even a showdown at home. You might even say things that you will regret later. At such times, just pause for a while…reflect…and then move away to avoid further confrontations.

Developing a herd mentality is common amongst teenagers, who cannot stand up for their own beliefs. Peer influence is very powerful during teens. It is not easy to walk alone and be right. You need immense courage. But, when you join the wrong gang of friends, there is every chance that you may lose yourself, develop wrong habits, and ruin your own life. Before you extend a handshake to the wrong person, just pause for a while…reflect… and then decide to withdraw and move away.

A pause is very powerful to bring life defining changes. It can preempt you from hitting the wall and bleeding. A poignant pause is all that you need to practice, to bring peace into your life.

After reading this, just pause for a while…reflect …and bring in new changes that will help you achieve new dimensions in life. 

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting

What is Your Primary Form of Worship?

 

“If you love your work, it is your

happiness

If others recognize the results of your

 work, it is your success

If you dedicate those results to Him,

then it is your prayer” – mahatria

Some of us are familiar with the story of Jim Murphy and Dave Anderson, who joined the American Railways on the same day. Twenty years later, Jim Murphy became the Chairman of the American Railways, whereas, Dave Anderson continued to be a worker. Dave said, “I came to work for $1.75 an hour, Jim came to work for the American Railways, and that made all the difference.

If our work is our passion, it will manifest in the life that we live.  Work should energize us and not drain us of our energy. If you are tired at the end of the day, then you are not in the right profession. Work should help us discover ourselves. Nothing mirrors us to us as much as work does. In fact, work empowers us and enhances our growth.

I never knew what I was capable of. I was very happy as a homemaker and had no intentions to work. I must confess that I had sleepless nights thinking of becoming a working woman. And lo behold, it is almost three decades as an educationist, and I feel I have just begun.

Work upskilled me, uplifted me, and refined me. It brought in all the desirable qualities and also made me a disciplined individual. My focus was always on what I could give. Students were my focus of attention. Their needs and success were at the forefront of my mind.

I would say that I brought about a lot of changes in me to suit their needs. Over the years my love for them grew by leaps and bounds. I began to thoroughly enjoy my days in my workplace. I realized that it was a calling. There was something divinely beautiful about it. It never seemed work to me. I was flowing with the flow as if some poetry was unfolding in my life.

Life was not the same again. Children became my heart beat, my very breath. Doing something for them came naturally to me. Their mere presence energized me. I realized that it was my “swadharma.” I entered school every day with a grateful heart. The school is filled with their vibrations.

Not all are blessed to work with children. You need to be His Chosen One.

Right from a toddler to a teen, there is a huge range. Everything about each age group is so different. This variety is the beauty. The energy around is electric and the synergy is palpable.

Where else will you experience such an environment! Where else will you see so much of life! Where else will you find so many expressions and emotions! Where else will there be a potpourri of talent! Where else will you receive so much love!

It is only in a school that you will find all of these and much more. If you are part of this ecosystem, consider yourself to be super blessed! May your work be a prayer unto Him and your primary form of worship.

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting 

My Learnings…My Transformations

THE THREE KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

No matter what we achieve or where we reach in life, our happiness and peace depend on whether we get certain fundamentals right. Most importantly, whether we get the three relationships in our life right. My relationship with myself (intra- relationship), with others (inter-relationship) and with the divine (transcendental-relationship).

INTRAPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP:

 I cannot boast about a balanced childhood. I had my own areas of weaknesses and limitations. Especially my self-image, which was at its lowest ebb. My spiritual journey brought many corrections in me, one at a time. A lot of inner cleansing began to happen, and I was proud of the person that emerged from within. Getting my thoughts and actions right through years of practice, helped me to feel happy about the person I became. When you grow in your own eyes, you are able to look up to yourself. This instantly builds your self-image.

I learnt to drop guilt by forgiving myself. I stopped defining myself by my looks, as there was a huge scope for me to become a beautiful person, inside out. The focus shifted to that. I no more compared myself with anyone, as I began to feel complete unto myself. Thus, there was a huge shift in my relationship with myself, as I began accepting myself.

When you offer yourself to a higher intelligence to work on you, you can be sure that nothing but the best will come out of it. This has tremendously improved the quality of my life in such a way that life has become so beautiful.

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP:

The three powerful mantras which I learnt, a practical approach to navigating life’s challenges;

“Accept the unchangeable

Change the changeable

Remove yourself from the unacceptable” -mahatria

Accept the unchangeable:

This became the very basis of my relationship with the world. I was quite rigid in my relationships as I was unable to accept people who wronged me, and so I sometimes lost my peace. According to this mantra, one needs to accept certain situations or actions of people that are not in one’s area of influence, for one’s own peace. Resisting it could only cause suffering in us. Acceptance is the key to your peace and the proof of your maturity.  

“How others behave

Is not in my control.

How I choose to respond

To their behavior

Is in my control.” -mahatria

Change the changeable:

I attempted making positive changes wherever I had control, and thereby worked on improving relationships. Peace prevailed as there were no agitations in the mind.

Remove yourself from the unacceptable:

Whenever there are situations or relationships that are toxic or harmful, if it is unacceptable to you, it is better to remove yourself with grace from such a situation or relationship. I did just that. This, I think, is a practical approach to navigating life’s challenges.

TRANSCENDENTAL RELATIONSHIP:

I have been a believer of God from childhood. A quality I imbibed from my mother. But God was always a form, an altar, an idol, in the sanctum sanctorum, to whom I prayed from far. I was God-fearing.

With my initiation into spirituality, very soon I realized that God is formless. He is a divine presence in my life. He is not outside of me, but within me. That, when I pray to Him, I am communicating to Him, and when I am in silence, I am in communion with Him.

That my work could be a prayer unto Him. When I take care of His creations, He will take care of me. This understanding created a major shift in my perspective about God.

Are you struggling in any of these relationships? Try these mantras and you will experience the best of times in life!

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting  

LEAVE BEHIND A LEGACY

“History is full of individuals, where one human being in one lifetime, by the way they lived their life, impacted humanity forever…That’s a teacher for humanity and for the future of the world.” -mahatria

Happiness is a state of mind. It does not depend on any external factor. If we decide to do something happily, that is what we will experience. Everything depends on how we perceive the world or the work we do.

Becoming a teacher is not a simple decision that one makes. But it is something that should be taken after much deliberation. It is a huge responsibility, as the future of students is shaped by a teacher. It is a silent promise that a teacher makes to the parents, that she will take care of the child.

Once we take it up, we have to gear up for all the challenges that come along with it, depending on the level we are handling. Challenges will come from students, parents, as well as colleagues.

In an age where there are several distractions, how does a teacher stay connected and committed? Many may think that teaching is the easiest thing to do. Become one and you will understand that it is easier to work with machines or numbers or data.

                 “To teach is to touch a life forever.”

 It calls for not just academic brilliance, but also a compassionate heart, mindfulness, a perennial source of love, emotional equanimity, personal values, patience, integrity, versatility, resourcefulness, prudence, and so much more, if you are a teacher. Students will remember their teachers much after they leave school for the way they made them feel in class.

Agreed that teaching is a very demanding profession, but are you willing to dedicate yourself to it? Then you are truly a blessing to the world.

It requires high energy levels to keep a class of forty engaged. A mother with two kids will agree how tough it is for her. A teacher should cater to the different intelligences in her class and also address the ones who have learning disabilities, like a juggler in the circus. It is indeed a tight rope walk.

There is a lot of preparation that is required to teach a generation that has vast exposure. The shelf life of knowledge and skills are changing. Today, in the age of AI, knowledge can be easily accessed. Without preparation, the class cannot be engaged. Students respect teachers who are knowledgeable.

If a generation that has a very short attention span has to be attentive for forty minutes, the teacher has to be very resourceful and make her class dynamic. When there is a huge temptation to relax at home, watching television serials and staying long on social media, it needs tremendous will power to set aside time for classroom preparation.

Prioritizing can alone help in resolving the inner conflict

We need to give up mediocrity to embrace excellence, without any compromise. No other profession demands an individual to be a role model as much as it is required of a teacher. Teaching is the mother of all professions.

Students will grow into wholesome individuals by just watching the qualities of the teacher. They will simply dissolve in their presence.

Teachers have to collectively own the vision of the school. It is expected of a teacher to be familiar with the latest trends in education, so that she can be relevant.

When a conflict in the mind to choose between what is easy and convenient or what is right, is resolved, a champion of a teacher emerges.

Schools are waiting to experience teachers who are sorted, who are ethical, who align to the school’s culture, who bring in expertise and excellence in execution, whose intentions are pure, who will mentor the students, making them knowledgeable and skillful, mold them as wholesome individuals, creating them as leaders of the future.

One life can impact one generation by the way we live our life. Let’s aspire to leave behind a beautiful legacy of an inspired and empowered community of students.

Individually as a teacher and collectively as a school, let us gift “inspirational” leaders and role models to make the world beautiful.”- mahatria

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting