Motivation Archives - Page 7 of 8

Five Life-Altering Philosophies from Calvin and Hobbes – Happy In The Now

by sincera | Aug 18, 2013 | Life, Managing Yourself, Motivation

Have you ever experienced how the simplest of things can trigger and unfold a whole world of profoundness, weaving itself into the weft and warp of our lives? Be it a gesture, a remark, or a few words, they sometimes leave behind an impression on our lives that last for ages. One such thing that has gone a long way to rearrange my perspectives on life is the timelessness and wisdom of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes.

Calvin’s conversations with Hobbes have become life lessons for thousands around the world, and I am no different. Having read and re-read numerous Calvin and Hobbes comic strips over the years, I realize that through its humour, simplicity and wisdom, it has become one of my guides to understanding life.

Here are five life altering philosophies that are landmarks of my journey with Calvin and Hobbes, and have contributed to making me what I am today:

Philosophy #1: Curiosity does not kill the cat!

Calvin cannot stop thinking about things and happenings around him, and neither can I. It is his musings about life, relationships, school, parenting et al that has made me a reflective person. I cannot comprehend how people stop thinking about things when there is still so much to know! Delving into Calvin’s explanation of phenomena around him has exposed me to a world of humour, perspectives and a different culture of thinking. Needless to say the perils associated with being a thinker cannot be discounted for. But the depth I’ve gained is priceless!

Philosophy #2: The best things are learnt outside of textbooks.

Calvin’s rebellion in Ms. Wormwood’s class has been my biggest source of joy because it resonates with one of my beliefs which I value most: Learning through experience is powerful, life changing and everlasting. Texts books are only meant to clear exams. It is also this belief of mine that got me my job! The constant effort to evolve as a better human being in any role we play is only enhanced by life’s lessons, and not through chapters or pages. Any experience holds in it the magic wand of transformation, and when embraced, it helps us become the architects of our own lives, designing our own big picture.

Philosophy #3: Play saves the day!

No matter what happens, each day in Calvin’s life has an element of play in it. Only then does he consider it worthwhile. When practiced, I found that I could not let go of this habit. And over the years, play for me has taken different forms. Today I like to indulge in a variety of activities like writing, music, cooking, running, painting, or anything that gives me a sense of immense joy and satisfaction at the end of the day. Though the child in me wishes I could graze my knees more often!

Philosophy #4: Express. Not suppress.

Calvin’s favourite form of expressing how he feels is through snowmen. It seems strangely cathartic, and I love it. Unfortunately I live in a country which doesn’t get snowfall. But learning from Calvin’s bravado, I consistently use various forms of expressing myself. Predominantly it is through blogs or colours. And I have found it to be extremely liberating. This practice has helped me deal with days when “even lucky rocket-ship underpants don’t work”. Brings things into perspective!

Philosophy #5: There is treasure everywhere.

What amazes me constantly by this last Calvin and Hobbes strip is the feeling it leaves the reader with. This very piece is what has inspired and triggered my love for travel. Every time I read this I feel a great sense of wonder and it pushes me to explore all the possibilities that await me. I have come to realize that I’d rather save up to travel and see the world, than trade the experience for ‘things’. The explorer in me thanks Calvin for instilling and reinforcing this outlook.

Though when Bill Watterson ended the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip in 1995, he said he had contributed all that he could, for me the Calvin and Hobbes School of Learning does not end at all. The reason I picked these five today is because I have constantly made an effort to live these and it has changed me. So now I welcome you to dive into the goofy world of Calvin and experience the magic. Pick your favourites and share with us your experiences through Calvin and Hobbes. We would love to relive the magic with you!

This post is dedicated to the genius of Bill Watterson. In eternal gratitude.

This is Nilisha Mohapatra’s (@NilishaM) third guest post for Happy In the Now. Her two previous posts are “ Five Steps that help me be Here and Now – Being Mindful and Happy In The Now” and “Five Life Skills that give wings to your Career”. Nilisha is a Post Graduate in Applied Psychology, and is a content designer and trainer for Transformational Programming and Life Skills development.

P.S : I love Calvin and Hobbes too !

Five Steps that help me be Here and Now – Being Mindful and Happy In The Now

by sincera | Mar 31, 2013 | Motivation, Productivity

RIGHT NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME!

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness~James Thurber

There are two things that the human mind loves indulging in – reminiscence (about the past) or planning (for the future). I often find myself thinking of what was or what could be. To reflect better, I write down my thoughts – a roadblock or problem I encountered, and possible ways of avoiding the same problem in the future or effective ways of dealing with it ahead. Not to say that there is anything wrong with that. In all probability this writing trend will continue because it is cathartic and insightful in action. But of late, what I’ve been finding increasingly refreshing and extremely perceptive, is being alive to the present. Being here and now.

I mainly have a thinking personality, and often get myself into a vicious cycle, where all my thoughts, feelings, memories and actions get into one big cluster. Needless to say, it ends up causing unnecessary distress. And from them on it’s a spiral of doing and undoing, coloured with hues of helplessness. Wanting to get out of this pattern, I decided to give in to the continuing wisdom of ‘being mindful’. Six months and still going strong, this decision has actually changed the way I am and continues to affect it positively. Now I know why it’s a fad!

How did I start my journey towards being more mindful and aware?

Here is my Modus Operandi to take control of my life and truly be Happy In the Now :

Step #1: Refrain from complaining. Block the negativity– When we find ourselves in situations which do not turn out the way we want them to be, the most common behaviour we resort to is complaining about people, about life, about the world, about self! And all this does is feed the frustration and spread vibes of discontent, unhappiness and growing negativity. Little do we realize that we always have more constructive choices to exercise in such situations. What can we do?

Change the situation – If you know you can do something to change the situation or make it better, do it! Channelize the energy from complaining to action. Talk to someone who can turn it around for you – a friend, a colleague, your boss or a therapist! Speak out and act.
Accept it – Many a times some events are really beyond our control, or for that matter, anybody else. Like the loss of a loved one, a heartbreak or even a natural calamity. Yes, it is painful, distressing and it is difficult. But how is resistance and struggling to make this any better? Here acceptance is the way to finding inner peace. Accept your feelings, the turmoil and surrender to the moment. Let it wash over you like a wave, and slowly yet gradually watch yourself gain your footing back. As I always say, let life unfold.
Remove yourself from the situation – In our quest to support others, be with someone or for our own good, we walk into situations which later turn out to be unfavourable. If you find yourself in such a state and you know you can extract yourself from this cluster, do so. Exercise the choice of getting out of a scene if you know you can. This will give you breathing space and also time to think straight. Be assertive.

Step #2: Observe yourself. Look within – Thinking of the past or the future, we all are bound to experience a myriad of emotions. Some which we may favour and some we may not. When you find yourself getting into a pattern of nostalgia or self-blame/doubt, step back from the thought. When I say step back, I mean stop engaging yourself in first person for the given situation. Look at the thought, understand what emotions and feelings you experience due to this. Is it a knot in the chest? Dry throat? Feel physically angry or drained? Notice all these happenings. See why this is happening. Don’t judge yourself. Don’t label the emotions as bad or good. Be objective. Understand. Observe yourself as a bystander and detach yourself from the experience. Easier said than done, this requires practice. But gradually you’ll see your past affecting you lesser each day. This is a very potent form of meditation as well. Watch this TED Talk to understand this better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR62JJCMBQ

Step #3: Count your blessings – We usually use our present as a means to get to our future. We rarely understand that what we have right now is much more powerful than what could be. To enjoy the present, to enjoy what you have, count your blessings for the day or the week or even for the moment. Make a list of things that you are thankful for. Feel the gratitude. Really appreciate each and everything that is working for you. You can even put up this list at a place where you can glance at it frequently and feel good about it. You don’t need to be in significant distress to do this exercise. Do it just to feel good, feel blessed. And remember, that your list can change with time. Keep it short, to about 6-7 things which you can recall anywhere, anytime.

Step #4: Pick up positive vibes – When you feel yourself slumping, and are unable to pull yourself out of it, connect with people who induce an instant dose of positivity in you. I am not talking about a motivational speech here. Talk to people who appreciate you and are thankful for what they have. Or watch inspiring TED Talks, read your favourite piece of literature. My favourite reading piece is ‘Oh! The places you’ll go by Dr. Seuss.’ Find anything that reinforces your zest for life. Never believe that misery needs company. If you can’t think of anything, come back and read this post! Make the moment you have, shine.

Step #5: Have a Mantra – Being mindful is not easy. Changing ourselves is not easy. And it’s perfectly alright to fall back on these techniques. I always believe that failing once in a while is good. That way you’ll know what you shouldn’t do. To be present in the moment, have one or two mantras which can constantly remind you of your initiatives. Something that can get you back on track if you happen to derail. The couple I use are,

“Keep Calm and Be Patient. It’ll be just Fine.”
“You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes,
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose”

These give me an instant dose of energy and brings me back to my present, when my mind gets caught in the past or the future. Stick your mantra in a place where you can see it, and watch the magic unfold.

Why to make ‘right now’ the best time of your life?
Well, what you do right now is what defines what happens next. Sow well now, to reap beautifully soon after.

As Lao Tzu says,

Wisdom For the Journey

Always we hope
someone else has the answer.
some other place will be better,
some other time it will all turn out.

This is it.
no one else has the answer.
no other place will be better,
and it has already turned out.

At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.

There is no need
to run outside
for better seeing.

Nor to peer from a window.
Rather abide at the center of your being;
for the more you leave it, the less you learn.

Search your heart
and see
the way to do
is to be.

– Lao Tzu

After the last few work-related posts, it was time to bring back the “Happy In the Now” theme and I invited Nilisha Mohapatra to write today’s wonderful piece. Nilisha is a Post Graduate in Applied Psychology, and is a trainer for Transformational Programming and Life Skills development.

We would love to hear back from you – what steps do you use to be mindful ? What helps you de-stress ? Please share your secrets and stories.

Pic Courtesy by Bill Watterson – http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/

Five Ways to Ride the Waves of Change – Make the Best of Every Situation to be Happy In The Now

Five Strategies to be Happy in the Face of All Odds

Five Mood-Killers that Stop you from being Happy in the Now

Five Strategies for Staying Ahead and Aware – Happy In The Now

Five Hidden Blessings in Adversity

Five Life Lessons from the past year – and here is hoping that I learned them well – Happy in The Now

Five Mood-Killers that Stop you from being Happy in the Now

by sincera | Apr 28, 2012 | Life, Managing Yourself, Motivation

The happiness of most people is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things. ~Ernest Dimnet~

More and more, I have come to realize that happiness is a choice; it lies inside us just waiting to be tapped and is not something that we will get if so-and-so happens.

So what stops up from being happy in the now? If Happiness really is a choice, what can we choose not to do so that we feel good inside all the time? I think it sums up to these five attitudes or mood-killers:

Mood-Killer #1: Comparisons (Measuring yourself by other’s standards) – Why oh why do I not have what he or she has?

Mood-Killer #2: Dissatisfaction (and not Appreciating what you have) – I wish I was a perfect…….

Mood-Killer #3: Dependence (Playing the victim) – If only he or she did or did not do this or that, I would be so much happier…

Mood-Killer #4: Boredom (Not getting a Life) – I have nothing to do, nowhere to go and the whole world is a drab, dry place…

Mood-Killer #5: Worry (the What-If game) – Oh no, the world is going to end in 2012, what if I cannot charge my cell-phone?

So, shed a few tears if you will, stop that thought process there, get into your groove and DO HAPPY!

Much has been said about this and here are a few of my favourite quotes that best describe what I have learnt:

If you are not happy here and now, you never will be ~Taisen Deshimaru

How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now, and there will never be a time when it is not now~Gerald Jampolsky

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling ~Margaret Lee Runbeck

Happiness is an inside job ~William Arthur Ward

Five Ways to Ride the Waves of Change – Being Happy In The Now

by sincera | Feb 27, 2012 | Business, Career, Life, Managing Yourself, Motivation

The old maxim – Change is the only Constant – has so much of truth and wisdom in it. There is no such state as “settling down” anymore – be it in your personal life, beliefs, career or business. Just when you pause to reflect – O.K, now I can sit back and relax, life has a way of throwing a curve ball at you. For those (me included) who like to be in charge or in control of almost every situation, this can be extremely stressful and sometimes bewildering. But there will always be events, interactions and decisions that you did not expect or have no control or influence over that could have a large impact on your life. I have now realized from my experience that asking the “Why” question in such situations is not very helpful – there is no clean answer to that. What does help however is asking the “What” question and that invariably leads to answers to keep your head afloat and ride the waves of change.

Here are five ways that have worked well for me to ride the waves of change that I hope you can relate to as well:

Ride the Waves of Change #1: Accept the Change –

This is the first and most important stage of managing change – don’t get sucked into reactions like the blame game, frustration and worst of all, burying your head in the sand like the ostrich, hoping that the problem will go away. We prolong the struggle when we do not accept the reality of change – accept it to move on to strategizing how and what you need to do next.

Ride the Waves of Change #2: Be Patient –

Give yourself some time, don’t react immediately. Decisions or actions taken in the heat of the moment have a way of coming back and biting you. Let your feelings flow, get over the emotional turmoil and clear your mind. There is a lot of value in giving yourself a quiet period when you are in distressing circumstances. Alternate possibilities emerge when you cast off whatever it is that has weighed you down.

Ride the Waves of Change #3: Tap into your Support System –

You don’t have to face everything alone. Talk to the right people, listen to suggestions, share your troubles and be open to help. “Ask and you shall receive” really works. Whether it is for a job reference or mentoring or simply prayers, reach out to people around you. My mom’s illness has made me realize how much a caring word (or even a tweet/mail from across the world) can comfort and help put things in perspective.

Ride the Waves of Change#4: Take care of yourself –

Change brings in stress in your life, and stress takes energy. Don’t add to it. Set aside time for things that comfort you and bring you peace – get enough sleep, go for a walk, curl up with a book or listen to music. Replenish your energy levels and get fit to confront all challenges and demands on you. Work on yourself to learn to live with uncertainty.

Ride the Waves of Change #5: Look inwards and prepare for the next change –

Admitting that we aren’t in control, in good times or bad times, is a very personal and painful process. It involves examining your beliefs, your value systems and many of the things that we take for granted. But whether, we know it or not, each of us has personal values that can serve as anchors to help us ride out the storm. Trusting in ourselves, in life, and/or in a super power are a few starters on the path to acceptance and grace.

These are all thoughts and ways that we generally don’t delve into in “normal” times but are exactly the kind of things that we need to think and work through to bring in greater self-realization and the inner strength to be resilient in the face of whatever life throws our way and happily ride the waves of change.

How have you coped with changes in your personal life or at work? I would love to learn from your experiences.

An Idea is not enough for Success… Five more lessons from Steve Jobs

by sincera | Jan 29, 2012 | Business, Leadership, Life, Managing Yourself, Motivation, Performance, World of Work

I have never met Steve Jobs, nor worked with him, nor ever interacted with him remotely. But his products touched a chord and I have followed his life journey as closely as the new product launches every year. Maybe more so, simply because almost two decades back I shared the same dream i.e. Touch lives with Technology and make it so seamless that anyone anywhere can use it. Today a three-year old kid uses the technology intuitively and a 70-year old grandpa no longer fears the machine.

For years, I have lived with my dream. Steve had the passion to follow through. That is the difference.

I learnt from Steve that dreams simply give you a false sense of illusion – it’s how you translate that dream into a goal that sets you apart.

I learnt that an Idea is not enough – an idea is just the beginning, the real work starts after that. I learnt that it is enough to start with a broad vision, and let the details evolve. I learnt that the difference lies in how strongly you believe in the idea and (more importantly) what commitment you make to take it forward.

The 5 biggest lessons from Steve Jobs that I learnt and would like to emulate:

Lesson #1: The Passion to make a Difference – The desire to touch lives and the inspiration to make a lasting impact.

Lesson #2: The Perseverance and Courage to Pursue – To keep going despite all odds & contradictions. To always look for alternatives even when the full picture is not clear yet.

Lesson #3: The Self-belief and Conviction to be Different – The foresight to challenge conventional wisdom. The ability to manage inertia and overcome resistance.

Lesson #4: The Focus on Simplicity – The goal to constantly improve usability and drive the experience. The acceptance of using Technology as a means and not as a goal.

Lesson #5: The Pursuit of Perfection – The willingness to admit mistakes and change course even late in the game. Striving always for the best possible.

Most importantly I learnt that achievement is not built around creativity or innovation, but realized through painstaking execution.

I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.

Steve Jobs, Interview, 1995

Today’s post is written by Arti Khanna. Arti combines more than 25 years of technology and business experience in communications to look at emerging trends and incubate new initiatives in communications and applied verticals. Connecting the dots between market dynamics and strategy is her specialty.

What other lessons have you taken away from Steve Job’s life? Have you ever moved an idea to execution? Do you plan to? How do you translate your ideas into plans for action? We would love to hear back from you.

Five Pointers on Working harder on Yourself than you do on Your Job or Business

by sincera | Dec 31, 2011 | Career, Life, Managing Yourself, Motivation, Performance, Productivity, World of Work

This year if there has been one quote or advice that has STUCK with me, PUSHED me and HELPED me in my career and life – it is this:

Work harder on yourself than you do on your job ~ Jim Rohn

This does not mean that you not give 100% to your work, it just means to focus 100% on yourself first – the value then that you bring to your job or business or family increases hundred–fold. The more you work on yourself, the better things get in every sphere of your life. I have tried and tested these results on me and many others in my extended teams this year meeting with great success. So how do you incorporate this philosophy of working harder on yourself in the daily rat-race?

Here are five pointers to help you achieve this:

Pointer #1: Self Examination – Sorry but as I said it all starts with the Self. This is not about looking in the mirror and asserting that everything is great. As someone wise said : The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. Focus very specifically on what things you need to improve on – is it your self-confidence, your ability to plan and be organized, your writing or speaking skills? Identify the areas and drill down further to the HOW. We are lucky to have amazing resources available on the internet on any topic that you could think of and many support groups to egg you on to achievement. Try http://www.marcandangel.com/ – a personal favorite. Tap these sources well.

Pointer #2: Be a Life-Long Learner – Lifelong learners tend to love what they do, or they at least find some aspect of it to love. Learners love the challenge, if nothing else. It’s the learners who question the status quo, shake things about and are innovators. And of course getting rewarded at their jobs or business is an inevitable side benefit as learning keeps you current and relevant. There are two parts to learning – staying current and learning a new skill. Keep some time aside for reading, there is a plethora of blogs that you can subscribe to – my no.1 recommendation is Seth’s blog which certainly shakes you out of complacency. Another great resource is the HBR site – on any given day, you can definitely find an article that captures your interest or simply browse through the archives. Learning a new skill will help you expand your capabilities – enroll in an online course and make good use of your company’s training department.

Pointer #3: Be Yourself- Realize that You are in control. We all have our own standards of excellence. We also have different priorities and what motivates me to put in 100% won’t necessarily be the same for you. Whatever your own standard of excellence is in your work, whatever you feel passionately about – that’s what you should be true to. Don’t stop doing or keep doing stuff just because some of your colleagues’ standards of excellence are lower than yours or their priorities are different. Your measuring stick for your own achievement should be based on what you want to achieve, not how much or little other people are doing. What excites you most? Feed that passion and find ways to align it with your work responsibilities.

Pointer #4 : Avoid the Negative(And Reinforce the Positive) – What makes you feel tired and drained – it could be people, thoughts or activities. If you want to maintain a positive attitude, consider sharply limiting your daily exposure to such experiences. Don’t show up at the daily complaint sessions at work. If you’ve got family members who are constantly negative, tune them out. Your happiness lies within you – trite but true, practice happiness every day, make it your sacred ritual. No matter what you do for a living, the key to success is great performance, every single day. And that’s only possible if you make optimism, energy, and enthusiasm part of your daily experience.

Pointer #5: Help Others Succeed – I read a beautiful Zulu proverb recently that says it all: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”- A human is only a human because of other humans. We’re all interconnected! Your Success is assured and becomes more meaningful when you help others succeed. Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows. The more you give of yourself in anything, the more you get in return – especially when you give with no expectation of return. Too often, we build islands of ourselves cutting ourselves off from people who we can learn from, grow with and share life’s experiences. Do what you can for other people, work hard at building relationships. It is a sure shot method to help you become a personal and professional success and live a fulfilling life.

The inspiration for this post came from my mom and a few of my favorite people at work and twitter (you know who you are) while talking about what’s worked and what has not in the past year. Let us strive to be not just good but a little better in the coming year. Do what you love and love what you do.

How do you incorporate this philosophy of working harder on yourself in the daily rat-race? Do share your experiences on what has worked for you in the last year, the one experience or learning that you are taking with you into the future.

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