A MANIPULATIVE MIND

 

Almost five years after COVID-19 disaster, I was just remembering the days when the entire world came to a halt. Something nobody even dreamt of. People all over the world were cut off physically from the outside world. Schools were shut down for a couple of years. Children had to attend online classes. Teachers who were not familiar with technology struggled to take online classes.

This was the time children became undisciplined. As there was no need for them to go to school, waking up early was no more a habit. There was no routine in life. They were struggling to overcome their laziness.

In the online class, they invariably switched off the video camera on the pretext that there was no charge in the mobile phone. They either slept through the class or were munching on some food. Some had the audacity to lie down. I later heard that some of the children sat in the class without bathing! Parents had to literally wake them up and hurriedly make them wear their school uniform.

The link that was shared by the teacher was misused by some of the students by allowing their friends to join the class and disturb the teacher by posting inappropriate messages. Maintaining discipline in an online class was a difficult task for the teachers. Much of their time was wasted bringing the class under control.

Thinking that they were cheating the teacher, the students lost most of the precious learning time. This resulted in a huge learning gap when physical classes resumed after two years. It was certainly the students’ loss.  Those who made use of the online classes continued to do well in their studies.

Every time we manipulate, we should remember that we stand to lose. We always end up as losers.

When students are asked to write a book review, some of them copy it from the net without even reading the book. All that matters to them is the certificate that they will receive on submitting a book review. They don’t realize that the process is more important. What you can become by developing reading habit is far greater than the certificates you have in the file.

Reading expands your mind, it enhances your vocabulary, improves your communication skill, enriches your knowledge and thought process and develops leadership qualities in you. A certificate is a mere piece of paper without all of these.

When an assignment is given, some of the students work on it diligently. But some of them waste their time doing what is not necessary and copy it from their friends, fearing a reprimand from the teacher. In the process, submission of the assignment means nothing when you have not learnt anything new in the process.

The best way to grow is to develop the discipline to think straight.

Manipulation may give you temporary victory, but it will ruin your life permanently. Overcome the temptation to manipulate, even if you stand to lose.

Eventually you will emerge stronger in your values and character and earn the trust of the world. This is the best way to grow in your own eyes.

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting

WHAT IS YOUR DEFAULT STATE?

The entire world watched with bated breath, the astounding victory of chess Grandmaster Gukesh, the youngest world chess champion from India. The young champion rearranged the coins back on the chessboard, amidst tears of joy on winning the highest honour in the game of chess, joined his hands in gratitude to the board, looked up and thanked the Almighty, and finally lifted up his hands in acknowledgement of his victory. He remembered to place his chair in the right position before he left the place.

The media was busy reporting the money earned by the chess champion, but my mind was only thinking about the disciplined life of this wonder boy. Dedication and devotion to the game was his default state. Respect and reverence for the game was his default state. A grateful heart and unshakeable faith in Almighty were his default state. Consistency and perseverance were his default state. Resilience and relentless striving were his default state.

These were all his attributes- the fragrance he emanated. That is the reason he became the youngest chess Grandmaster in the world.

By default, are we positive or negative? Our default state either takes us very far in the path of success in life, or cuts short everything positive.

I know of people who have had nothing, and by the sheer virtue of their hard work, have risen to positions of eminence, as their focus was always on building their career, which aided in their meteoric rise, and hence the benefits of a life of luxury.

They are not people about whom I have read in the pages of a book, but those whom I have been associated with.

Their strength was their ability to use their potential beyond one's imagination, work extended hours, sweat it out, set goals,  draw timelines and work with single-minded devotion. Hence, they transcended poverty and made it to the top of the chart. 

So, by default they are hardworking and not lazy. The contrary has been the story of those who have been lazy.

Anything that we are able to do effortlessly, is our default state. But a state of effortlessness itself is sometimes achieved only through effort.

Gratitude does not come naturally to all. So, the school asks you to begin by writing a line of gratitude in your journal in the school hand book. Helping others does not come spontaneously for some of you, so it has to be inculcated in you. Hence, the school involves you in the social contribution drive. Left to you, you may not choose to be punctual to school. Since it is a rule in the school, you come on time. A punctuality certificate is also given if you are punctual every day of the month, in appreciation of your effort.

Understanding the need to develop a powerful mind and to create self-awareness in you, the school has the practice of asking the students to sit in silence every day.  In order to build your confidence, intra-house competitions are conducted. Thus, your confidence is built. Respect towards teachers and parents is a very important quality that is driven into you through "Guruvandanam" and "Matru-Pitru vanadanam" celebrations.

So also, the Willpower drive, the Tree of joy, Social awareness programs, the special days, Joy of loving, Bouquet of thanks, and many more.

If you can take time to reflect on what your school insists you to do, though you may sometimes resist it, not understanding the importance of imbibing such values and habits, you will realize one day that the goodness in you, which comes naturally to you, the values and discipline by which you live your life, the competence that is your strength, the happy and  loving person that you are, the good Samaritan that you have become, are all your default state because, from your childhood, all these qualities were insisted upon by your school. Simply live by it!

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting

MAGNETIZING ABUNDANCE

“Day by day

In every way

I am becoming

Most & more

Healthy, wealthy

Loving, blissful

And spiritual” - mahatria Ra

Every year I look forward to my annual spiritual retreat. Even though two hundred of us congregate there, each of us will be in our bubble. We will be away from technology for eight days. There will be no clocks, no mirrors, no watches, and most importantly, no talking. Each of us will be introverted, more like “Vipassana.” Literally alone in a crowd.

We hear only one voice, that of our spiritual guru, and no other human voice. It is like a rebirth after the retreat. We come back rejuvenated, refreshed, transformed, cleansed, with higher maturity, deeper spiritual experiences, ready to go beyond our comfort zone and achieve new milestones, and work on ourselves to achieve that inner purity, which will take us closer to divinity.

Session after session we gain a deeper understanding of aligning ourselves to the existential order by executing the right choices. That is when we experience a flow in our life. When we are not aligned, there will be perpetual struggle in life. The question is not, how much I know about God, but how aligned I am.

One feels very true to one’s emotions at such a retreat. We are not people conscious. Tears of happiness, peace and gratitude well up, thereby making you feel truly blessed to have such pure experiences. Now and then hands go up in gratitude and you cry uncontrollably, deepening your positive emotions.

Personally, for me, the transformation has been humongous. My tears are not anymore wasted on negative emotions. Rather, there has not been the need for it. The more and more I sit in Silence, the more I empty myself of my negativity. A quietened mind is the most dynamic mind.

The inner conflict is resolved, peace descends, gratitude fills your heart, happiness engulfs your life, you experience harmony, you become calm and composed, faith is strengthened, ego is annihilated, your self- belief increases, you choose your actions factoring the consequences, you bring devotion and sacredness to your work. These are all the unique experiences of being spiritually aligned.

You realize that the more and more you become a contributing individual, you stop consuming the world. You desire to be selfless by putting the cause of men ahead of the needs of man. Thus, abundance flows into your life, when you take care of the creations of the Creator.

Layer after layer, over the years, the cleansing has been happening. All the transformations first begin with the mind. A mind that is rested becomes very potent. It prepares us to go up by making it easy to give up. Once the mind becomes powerful, it is only a matter of time that you start living a life that is aligned. No aspect of life is neglected. You start growing holistically when you get your inner world right.  Sooner than later you start magnetizing abundance in all forms and spirituality becomes a way of life

Blessed! Will always strive to be a blessing!!!

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting

 

REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

I am in awe of so many things in life. I am truly inspired when I listen to a talented singer, watch a dancer, listen to an orator, why, even when I see a beautiful house, a fit person, a sleek car, a sophisticated woman. You know what goes into my mind at that time? I think of the effort that has gone into it.

A lot of effort is required to remain talented, to maintain a house spic and span, to keep the car in good condition, to have a well- manicured lawn, and anything that has to be flawless, immaculate, shipshape, spotless, intact and pristine.

Whether it is a dancer or a musician or a singer, or a model, or a fitness enthusiast, everyone has to be in touch with what they are doing.

In life, everything needs maintenance. Sometimes when certain products are sold, the seller says with a triumph, “This is maintenance -free and has a lifetime warranty” Even a stove, a mixer-grinder, a refrigerator, a washing machine or a dishwasher, needs maintenance.

Only through maintenance we can ensure that it is in good condition. When almost everything, from a vehicle to a garden to a gadget to a building to a machine, needs maintenance, how can we think that our body alone doesn’t need to be maintained.

If we can be proactive and get our body moving, we can be fit as a fiddle. Right from childhood, if outdoor sport can be encouraged, movement will become a way of life for children.

Since life is becoming more and more comfortable, our lifestyle has become sedentary and we walk very less. Movement has reduced. Children tend to fall if the road is a little undulated. They are picked up and dropped at school every day. Think of their life fifteen years from now.

At least children love to play games and will not mind playing for long hours. That itself can be channelized into a sport. Then there will be a disciplined activity in their life, which will contribute to their well-being, if they play the sport regularly.

But what about adults? How much time are we giving to our body? The more we deny daily care of the body by not stretching, walking, weight training and many such activities, the more our body will start affecting our movements and stop functioning at its optimum.

It will need repair work, which means, our visits will be more often to the doctor and the physiotherapist, and not for entertainment or travelling around. Lifestyle modifications will have to be made, and we will lose the quality of our life.

Because, we have not been sent by Him into the world with a lifetime warranty for our body. That has been left to our independent will.

Just give one hour of the day to your body and it will take care of you for the balance twenty-three hours. Don’t even deliberate over it. Just begin today. You may start with fifteen minutes every day.

Begin with small goals, become consistent first, then you can increase the time. Initially your goal will be to exercise consistently, then you can start having your targets. For some of you, for whom there are no issues,  just being fit may be your target.

Every one of us must respect our body and give it the attention it requires. In turn, the body will gift us a pain-free and joyful life! You will start loving your body. What are you waiting for? Just wear your shoes and start walking. Waiting to see a fit you!

“Small beginnings

Incremental improvement

Sustained progress

Humongous possibilities”- mahatria Ra

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting