6 Ways to Start Your Day Off on a High Note

I’m an early riser and I have been most of my life. It’s a habit my parents instilled in me ever since I was a kid, and nowadays I actually look forward to the morning. But for the first part of my life, my mornings used to be a bit chaotic.

I recall the daily scrambling to eat breakfast, get my things together, and get out the door. As a result, my life was a reflection of this chaos. I think the way you start your day can have a big impact on how the rest of it turns out so I today I want to share six basic ways that you can start your day off on a high note.

1. Write
   As a blogger, I've found that I’m most prolific and creative early in the morning. But even if you’re not a blogger, writing is a very therapeutic thing to do. We tend to have quite a bit on our minds when we wake up because we’ve been dreaming all night. Putting it all down on paper allows you to clear the mind for a much more productive day ahead. I always come back to what Tony Robbins said about journaling - “A life worth living is a life worth recording.”
2. Read
   On the days that I can’t seem to put two words together, I go to my next alternative which is to read. I recommend you don’t read the news or anything serious right when you wake up. Most of what’s on the news is negative. You could spend time reading through thearchives here at Dumb Little Man or find books that are uplifting. Whatever you read, make sure it’s somewhat light-hearted or thought provoking. Even if you read for 15 minutes each morning you’ll be amazed at how much that adds up over time. Eventually it will be something you look forward to.
3. Listen to Music
   I tend to combine reading and writing with listening to music, but you could just listen to music. I have a morning playlist setup onSpotify that is very soothing. I tend to stay away from anything that is really loud or full of negative lyrics. I think you can more or less listen to anything as long as you find that it calms your nerves.
4. Motivational Tapes
   This is something I’ve actually learned from listening to Zig Ziglar. He said that one of the best ways to speed up the flow of serotonin first thing in the morning is to listen to a motivational tape. Having done this more than a handful of times, I can definitely say there’s value in doing this. You start your day off with a bit of inspiration and hope and that mindset permeates the rest of your day.
5. Exercise
   
   If there’s one thing that trumps all of the above for me, it’s a morning surf session. With nothing but waves, a sunrise, and dolphins leaping in the air, this really enables me to start the day off on a high note. All it takes is one good wave. But if you don’t live near an ocean, any form of exercise will do. Go for a walk around your neighborhood even if it’s a short one. Do a search online and you’ll find anumber of exercise options that you could do in the comfort of your own home. While I think being outdoors is idea, if you live somewhere where it’s freezing cold it might not be that easy to get outside.
6. Sit Quietly
   
   This might seem like a strange way to start a productive day. A few years ago when I was diagnosed with IBS the doctor told me to spend 15 minutes in the mornings just relaxing and doing absolutely nothing. This is actually easier said than done because we’re so used to being in motion. But I think you’ll find that slowing down just a little will actually result in a much better day. 
   The way you start your day can have a big impact on how the rest of it turns out. So pick any one of these ideas and try it for 30 days. I think you’ll be amazed at the dramatic difference it will make in your life. 
   
   
   Sumeeth <3

A Motivational story about Positive Thinking

Jerry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant

The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?” Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.

I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

“Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,” I protested. “Yes, it is,” Jerry said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live life.”

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gun point by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?” I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Jerry replied. “Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked. Jerry continued, “…the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man.’

I knew I needed to take action.” ” What did you do?” I asked. “Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’”

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything. 

Positive thinking the the first step towards a happy life.

Attitude is everything

God’s Three Roles In The World Drama

God’s Three Roles In The World Drama

 

God As A Creator

Logic tells us that spiritual and material energy in the form of souls and matter didn’t just suddenly appear out of nothing. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can’t be either created or destroyed. Matter itself is a form of condensed energy. Souls are also conscious points of energy. Both are uncreated and therefore eternal. The Second Law shows us that energy, when in use, moves from a potential state, in which energy is available, to a spent state in which it is no longer available. Putting both laws together we have what appears to be a system in which the basic components have neither beginning nor end. They move towards a state of energy exhaustion (entropy). If time were linear (a straight line) and there were no external intervention, then over an unimaginably long period of time the universe would just fizzle out.

Fortunately for both the souls and the elements of matter, there is one supreme energy source which is external to the process of entropy (unaffected by the process) and thereby retains its original potency or power. When things reach a certain stage of weakness and chaos, the Supreme Soul plays out His role of re-energizing the souls. The recuperation (recovery) to their original state, in turn, has a direct effect on matter. It also comes back to its own original state of perfection. If, as has been shown above, God’s presence, power and knowledge are purely spiritual, then creation has to be a spiritual act and not a physical one. Creation can be understood as the regeneration or reshaping of what is already there and not one of creating something physical or non-physical out of nothing. God recharges the souls’ spent spiritual energy.

God As A Sustainer

We need to understand God’s role clearly as a sustainer. We have to understand the difference between physical and spiritual sustenance. We may think that God is the sustainer in the sense that He gives us our goods, wealth, health, food, water, air and so on. If that were so, why should He give more of these things to some and not to others? Why do poverty, starvation and disease exist if God is a sustainer and provider of all in the physical sense?

Whatever I do or do not possess I have earned for myself. It is not God who pays us our salaries. Whatever fruits I earn are the results of my own efforts. As a spiritual sustainer, He fills us with His power and virtues like peace, bliss, purity and happiness. He also shares with us spiritual knowledge and bestows his love and blessings on us, all of which help us in our spiritual effort, so that we can transform (change) ourselves and does not provide us with food and wealth.

God As A Destroyer
 

There are many mythological stories all over the world about a revengeful God, destroying whole armies who dared to stand in the way of His chosen ones. The ‘Mahabharata’ in India depicts the same, where Lord Krishna helped the ‘Pandavas’ defeat the ‘Kauravas’, because ‘Pandavas’ had love, devotion and respect for  Lord Krishna and ‘Kauravas’ did not. We have even gone to war, praising the righteousness of our causes and counting on God’s support. Somehow the heart rejects the idea of a violent God who is a destroyer of life. He is the destroyer of evil (and not of life) and the creator of virtue.

The story of the ‘Mahabharata’ is obviously symbolic. It can be applied to the present moment in the World Drama, when the Supreme Father, the Incorporeal (non-physical) Father is with us and is helping us in our war. Our war is not a physical one, our enemies our not our brothers, but our own weaknesses. The weapons (‘shastras’), which are shown in the ‘Mahabharata’ in the physical form, are actually the weapons of knowledge and spiritual power acquired through meditation; with which we are able to bring down our enemies, our vices and shortcomings e.g. the discus (‘chakra’) has a spiritual significance. It is shown in a physical form but is actually a discus of self-realization (‘swadarshan chakra’). ‘Swa’ + ‘darshan’ means self-realization. Self-realization is achieved when one receives spiritual knowledge. The Supreme Father possesses this discus, which he gives to us, along with other weapons (‘shastras’). We, the chosen ones, the true followers of God, make our path easier for us through His powerful guidance. We leave suffering behind and make the journey to the other side – to a promised elevated world.  

Our former captors (those who had imprisoned us), our weaknesses, try to follow us in the elevated future but are destroyed completely with God’s help.

Controlling Your Emotions

Controlling Your Emotions

There are five essential steps to emotional control and mastery. Although the complete process will finally happen in a few seconds in real life, it is essential for our learning to break it down and see what is required at every step.

Step One – Awareness

This simply means being aware of the emergence of the subtlest (finest) of emotions, which, if left unchecked, will grow into important disturbances. For example irritation leads to frustration leads to anger leads to rage.

Step Two – Acknowledge 

Which means taking responsibility for the emotion by understanding and acknowledging that I am the creator of the emotion, not someone or something else.

Step three – Acceptance

Fully accept the presence of the emotion without resisting (opposing) it in any way. If it is resisted it simply becomes stronger, or is suppressed for another day.

Step Four – Ascend

This is the moment of full detachment from both the emotion and the inner source of emotion. In the process of detached observation the emotion is losing its power. And it is only through detached observation that the emotion will begin to dissolve.

Step Five – Attune

This means returning our attention to the very centre of ourselves where our inner peace and power are to be found. This is the purpose of meditation.

Understanding The Identity Of The Supreme (God)

Understanding The Identity Of The Supreme (God)
It’s not too difficult to understand that out of all the billions of souls, there is One who could be designated as the Supreme (God), because of His perfect love, total truth and absolute beauty. It is reasonable to accept that such an unlimited being is never born from a mother’s womb nor undergoes the experience of death. He never passes through the stages of growing up nor gets involved in specific relationships with individuals. Just as every human soul has a mind, intellect and a specific set of ‘sanskars’ that determine each one’s individuality, the Supreme would also be made up of these three energies – each functioning at their most perfect levels. Because He remains beyond the play of things in the physical world, the power and sharpness of these basic capabilities never decrease. His original qualities are neither lost nor reduced. Before coming here from the soul world, we also had qualities similar to those of the Supreme but not to the same unlimited extent.
If we identify ourselves totally with the physical body, the idea that God created human beings in His image may have led us to believe that the human form is God’s image. Perhaps that is how we created the figure of an old white-bearded man (as God) sitting up in the heavens, controlling, rewarding and punishing humans as well as nature as He found fit. Whenever God is depicted in modern-day cartoons, it is as such. The contradiction is that such a ‘God’ appears to have been created in our image, with both our best virtues and our worst defects.

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3), and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called “Smile.” The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reaction. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say, hello anyway? so, I thought, this would be a piece of cake literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonalds, one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.
I did not move an inch…an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around, I smelled a horrible “dirty body” smell and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was “smiling”. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, “Good day” as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, “Coffee is all Miss” because that was all they could afford (to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. They just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it — the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me — judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Thank you.” I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, “I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.”
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, “That is why God gave you to me honey — to give me hope.” We held hands for a moment. We are not churchgoers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure light of God’s sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in “my project” and the instructor read it, then she looked up at me and said, “Can I share this?” I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings (part of God) share this need to heal. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonalds, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn — unconditional acceptance. After all, we are here to learn! Much love sent to each and every person who may read this…♥ and Light to all…GOD BLESS YOU…(“,)

Seven Secrets of Highly Productive People

Some people are incredibly effective and efficient. They get lots of work done – and it’s all high-quality. They seem to have boundless energy and enthusiasm. Maybe you’ve got a friend who’s like that – or perhaps it’s your colleague, or your spouse. You might think that they were born that way: they had the “productivity gene.”

The truth is this: you can massively increase your own productivity by understanding and using the secrets that highly productive people know.
Perhaps you’ll find that some of these are familiar tips: if so, are you actually following them?

1. Understanding “Peak” Times of Day
   Productive people have a good sense of their daily rhythm, and they allow for this when planning their day. They recognize that not all hours are created equal.
   
   Do you know when your “peak” hours are? You probably have a good gut sense. Maybe you work really well in the mornings but struggle to focus in the afternoons. Perhaps you have a boost of energy at 3pm every day.
   
   Use it: Once you know your best hours, use those for your hardest tasks – anything requiring lots of concentration or creativity. If you’re highly focused between 10am and 12noon, don’t use that time for reading emails.
2. Focusing on One Task at a Time
   Productive people understand that multitasking is a myth. They don’t try to juggle five things at the same time. They focus on one task.
   
   How about you? Perhaps you’ve fallen into the trap of trying to work while you’ve got Facebook and Twitter open. You check your inbox every few minutes. Or, at home, you try to study while you’re watching television. By trying to multitask, you’re losing focus every single time you switch between things.
   
   Use it: Pick one task to work on – finishing that report, clearing your inbox, filing your papers – and see it through to completion. Then pick the next task.
3. Eating Healthy Food (Especially at Lunch)
   Productive people know that they need to carefully manage their physical energy throughout the day. That means fueling their bodies with good, nutritious food.
   
   What does your usual lunch look like? If you scoff down fast food, plus a large coke, at your desk, you’ll get a quick energy boost from all the simple carbs – followed by a crash soon after. If you go out to a restaurant and eat a three-course meal, you’ll struggle to stay awake later in the day.
   
   Use it: Aim for a moderate-sized lunch, and focus on foods that give you sustained energy (like whole grains and protein). Try fruit, nuts or seeds as mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.
4. Allowing Others to Help
   Productive people don’t try to do everything alone. They delegate at work. They get their family to pitch in at home – or they hire a maid or gardener. They’re good at managing people, not just their own workload.
   
   Do you ever ask for help? Perhaps you’re afraid that you’ll look weak – but the truth is, none of us achieve anything alone. We’ve always got support (whether emotional or practical) along the way.
   
   Use it: What time-consuming tasks could you delegate at work? Could you pay someone to clean the house (or take care of the garden, etc) instead of struggling to do it yourself?
5. Saying “No” to Unwanted Commitments
   Productive people might seem to do everything, but they also say “no” to commitments that would conflict with what they’re already doing. They’re not afraid to set priorities and stick with them.
   
   Do you find it hard to say “no”? Maybe you’re afraid of offending someone, or you feel bad turning down their request. But if you take on every commitment that comes your way, you’ll soon find that you’re not able to complete anything on time and to a high standard.
   
   Use it: Be choosy about what new things you take on. If you don’t have much choice (e.g. it’s your boss asking) then explain that you’ve got a full workload, and that you’ll need to give up something else.
6. Exercising Regularly
   Productive people make time to exercise. That might be one of the things that surprises you – How can Sam have enough energy to do a full day’s work and then hit the gym? I feel exhausted just watching him.
   
   How often have you said “I don’t have time to exercise”? Perhaps you feel too tired at the end of the day – so you slump on the sofa in front of the TV instead. You think that if you exercise, you’ll be exhausted the next day. But, as productive people know, exercising doesn’t tire you out – it gives you more energy.
   
   Use it: Start small. Get out in your lunch hour for a brisk 15-minute walk – and see what a difference it makes to your energy levels during the afternoon.
7. Investing Time to Save Time
   Productive people know that the smart choice is to spend a little bit of time right now in order to save lots of time in the future.
   
   Have you ever struggled on with an inefficient method, because you “didn’t have time” to change it? Perhaps you can complete a particular task in 30 minutes, and it would take two hours to put in place a more efficient method. If that 30 minute task crops up every week, though, and a two-hour fix would cut it to 5 minutes each time, it’s a fix well worth implementing!
   
   Use it: Any time you’re engaged in a repetitive, lengthy computer task, figure out whether there’s a more efficient method (like using macros).

7 Simple Steps to Becoming Well-Read

One of the most common personal development resolutions is to read more. Reading is a great way to fire up your brain, increase your vocabulary, gain a richer understanding of your own or other cultures, and enjoy some good stories to boot!

So what’s holding you back? Maybe diving into a “To Read” list as long as your arm feels daunting, or you’re embarrassed to go back to book club after skipping for three months in a row. Maybe you just haven’t found the time to read lately. Whatever’s keeping you from tackling that list of books, these tips may help you find your way back into the pages:

1. Start small.
   If you don’t have time to read, you’re probably not going to wake up tomorrow and knock out 150 pages (although if you do, more power to you!). Try reading for 15 minutes before you go to sleep, or reserve part of your lunch break for reading time. Whatever reading time you decide on, though, stick to it.
2. Make reading fit your schedule.
   On the road a lot? Listen to audio books instead of the radio. Computer junkies will love services like DailyLit, a site that emails books to you in 5-minute installments, according to a schedule you set. Constant traveler? Invest in an e-reader so you can take plenty of reading material with you, even when packing light.
3. Decide what you want to read.
   Do you want to read the classics? Are the new novels that are getting reviewed and talked about more your style? Or are you hoping to increase your knowledge about something, like Web programming, a foreign language, or modern art? Having a focus for your reading can help keep you from getting overwhelmed.
4. Don’t be a slave to The List.
   While having a focus is important, don’t shut yourself off to everything else, or reading may seem more like an assignment than a pleasure activity. If you’re brushing up on the classics and a newly published novel catches your eye, read it! You can make some great discoveries by trusting your own taste.
5. Minimize distraction.
   Find a quiet place. Disconnect from electronics, and avoid surrounding yourself with other people. They won’t mind. You can tell them all about the great novel you found later. For now, let yourself sink into the story.
6. Note your progress.
   Jot down the books you finish in a notebook. Writing something down about what you read, even if it’s only the title and author, will help you remember it longer and provide you with an accurate record of how close you are to reaching your goal.
7. Spread the word!
   One of the best things about being better read is that you’ve got more to share in conversation. Try writing a book review on your blog, or joining a book club. Who knows? You may inspire someone else to curl up with a good book, too.

7 Powerful Tips To Becoming a Better Listener

When people speak, do you listen? How much of what's communicated do you internalize?

Recently, I was talking to someone who was not very present in the conversation. Even though she would nod and say "Yeah" the whole time we communicated, her follow-up comments would reveal she wasn't listening 100%.

For example, there was a point when I talking about A, but she kept replying to me as if I was saying B. I thought it was really strange, so I repeated what I said in a slower, more precise manner. But the same thing happened - while she would nod and say "Yeah" while I was speaking, her reply suggested she did not get the gist of what I was trying to say.

At that point, I was entirely baffled. After engaging in a few more conversations with her, I realized it was a norm with her. She often nodded and looked like she was following the conversation, but her comments were often off tangent. It would seem that even though she exhibited "signs" that she was listening, she was never really listening.

Listening is an important skill - more so than one may realize. We use it all the time - at work with our managers and co-workers, in presentations, in relationships, in social settings, with our families. Believe it or not, we even use it when watching TV and films!

In my work, listening is especially important. When I'm coaching my clients, it's important I listen and understand their underlying problems (that may even elude them), so I could ask the appropriate coaching questions to forward them. When I'm communicating with the readers at my blog, it's important I read between the lines and "listen" to what they're trying to say, because words alone may not convey their intended messages.

I've learned that being a good listener takes more than just hearing what the person has to say - it requires conscious desire, conscientiousness, and practice. In this article, I share my 7 personal tips on how to be a better listener:

1. Remove All Distractions
   In this day and age, in our quest to get as much done as we can, we multi-task the whole time - from web browsing, checking emails, replying emails, working, talking on the phone, fiddling with our phones, writing in our notebooks, etc. So when people approach us to talk, it's natural we add that to the list of things we're doing at the moment, vs. giving them our full attention.
   
   To be honest, I do this myself, especially if it's just a short or casual conversation. I think it's fine if you're able to attend to the other party's request. However, if the person is trying to tell you something important, or share something personal, you should ideally stop what you are doing and give him/her your full attention. What I do is I close the lid of my laptop (hence eliminating all distractions), turn myself towards the person and give him/her my full focus. Doing so is a sign of respecting him/her.
2. Be Present
   Are you present when you're around other people? Or are you lost in your own thoughts?
   
   In the example I shared in the opening, it was apparent my friend was not present during the conversations. Even though she would nod as a sign of acknowledgement while others were speaking, her mind was lost in her thoughts. Hence, when it was her turn to speak, her comments would be off tangent to what was being communicated.
   
   To be a good listener, you have to be present. Being present means (a) not being preoccupied physically (b) not being preoccupied mentally. The former means to remove distractions, as I mentioned in Tip #1. The latter requires you to clear your mind of other thoughts and focus on the person speaking. This means to stop thinking about the argument you had at work with your co-worker in the morning, the report you've yet to finish, or where you're going to have your dinner, and to pay attention to what's being communicated now.
   
   How does one become more present? I see it as an ongoing path, rather than one end goal. One activity that never fails me is this 15 minute brain dumping exercise, whereby I clear out mental clutter instantly. Meditation is another useful habit that helps me to be more present - instead of thinking about the past or the future, I'll be in the current moment, which is the moment we are living in anyway.
3. Wait for the Person to Finish Speaking (in the start)
   It's good etiquette to let the other party finish what he/she wants to say, before you butt in with your comments. I know there are times you feel you get what the person is trying to say and you can't wait to share your comments, but hold it off in the beginning of the conversation. Because the person may have other things to share but can't because you are speaking.
   
   I find that often times when I just sit and wait, the person will often have something to add on - which I would never have known if I had interjected or stepped in to speak. Once I get a hang of what the person has to say and where the person is coming from, I'll be more open in interjecting, while being conscious of the person's needs and letting him/her go ahead if there's anything he/she wants to say.
4. Don't Assume Anything
   An important part of listening is not to assume. When you assume, you automatically layer over what the person says with your presumptions, which makes it near impossible to have any meaningful conversation. While the person may say A, ultimately you can only hear B, simply because your mind is not open to receiving new information in the first place.
   
   When it comes to communication, err on the side of safety and assume you know nothing. In this regard, questions are your best friends (see #7).
5. Look at the Sub-Text
   Powerful listening requires you to understand that the words articulated in a conversation do not always represent the person's intentions. Many times, we are not 100% clear about what we're trying to say, and talking is really our way of processing our thoughts.
   
   In this regard, don't rely too much on the words communicated, per se. Instead, look at the sub-text - such as the facial expressions of the person, the tone of the voice, the body language, the choice of words, and so on. What is the person trying to say? What do you think he/she is feeling? What is he/she thinking behind his/her words? Combine this with what he/she is saying to you and you'll get a lot more out of the conversation.
6. Clarify to ensure you got what the person is saying
   At every stage of the conversation, clarify to ensure you got the message right. This can be done by simply paraphrasing what he/she just said, in your own words. Sometimes we may take away one message when it's really something else, and it's not good to assume without clarifying first (see #4).
   
   What I do is I'd interject every now and then and make 1-2 clarifying statements, such as "Ok, so what you're saying is that ..........., right?", in which the person simply needs to say "Yes" or "No". This helps ensure everyone is on the same page before any more new information is shared.
7. Ask Questions
   Questions are highly important in any conversation. Firstly, there are things which the person does not share (either because he/she thinks you already know them or because he/she thinks they are irrelevant) that you can only uncover by asking questions. Secondly, questions lets you get more information about specific areas you are unclear about, such that you get a better picture of what the person is saying.
   
   My conversing style involves a lot of questions, especially at the beginning of the conversation. This is because because I see this as the "understanding" or "information gathering" phase. Rather than overshare at the start, I prefer to understand the person and get a good grasp of who he/she is, then share my point of view. This has worked very well in my communications with others, as others quickly ease into their natural persona and open up about what they want to talk about. Because of this, it has allowed me to easily connect with others and develop meaningful relationships - which is what we want to achieve at the end of the day.

Six Easy Networking Tips for Introverts

I’ll confess up-front; I’m an introvert. I spend a lot of time on my own – and I find it tiring to be around lots of other people.

Being an introvert actually works out pretty well for me. I’m a writer, so a big part of my day involves sitting at my computer, working alone. When I do work with other people as a writing coach, it’s usually one-on-one (I can cope with one other person!)

Of course, I can’t spend the whole of my life alone or with just close friends and family. In both my professional and personal life, I get out there and meet people from time to time. And I’ve learned a few tricks along the way. If you’re an introvert – if you feel shy and awkward in a room full of strangers – then here’s how to make it easier for yourself:

#1: Get to Know People Beforehand
One of the many things I love about the internet is that it makes it incredibly easy for me, an introvert, to strike up a connection with total strangers. When I’ve been to networking events, I’ve found it incredibly helpful to have some established friends there already.

How do you find people who’ll be at the event? Try:

• Forums or similar on the event’s website
  
• Twitter – search for the name of the event
  
• Blog posts – is anyone you know going?
  
• Facebook – the event itself may have a page
  
• LinkedIn – will any of your contacts (or their contacts) be attending?

Obviously, this one’s easier if you operate in a pretty geeky world (I hang out with a lot of bloggers and writers...) but more and more people are getting online, in all sorts of professions.

If you’re going to a very large event, like a multi-day conference, you may want to make specific plans to meet up. You could even arrive a bit early so you can get a meal with a friend or a small group of friends before the event itself starts.

#2: Go Prepared
If you’re attending a new event, you might have all sorts of worries about how to get there, what it will be like, who’ll be there, and so on.

I’m always less anxious when I feel well-prepared, and I expect the same will apply to you. That means:

• Find out the dress code in advance. There might not be one – ask friends/colleagues who’ve attended before. Err on the side of over-dressing ... though if you’re in a suit and everyone else is wearing jeans, you may feel a bit awkward.
• Take a pen and small notebook. As a writer, I carry these with me anyway – but they’re useful to have on hand in all sorts of situations.
• Take business cards. You might have stock ones from work, but if you create your own cards, try to make them interesting. I use Moo.com to create cards with several different designs – that way, my new contacts can pick whichever one they like best. It’s a great talking point and much more interesting than thrusting a boring black-and-white card at someone.
• Carry breath mints, a comb, makeup, deodorant etc. Be prepared to make last-minute touch-ups to your appearance before you go into the event. You’ll know better than me what you’re likely to need!
• Take a map (or know the exact address). Allow a bit of extra time to get there, too, if you’re going somewhere new for the first time.

#3: Start a Conversation Straight Away
Have you ever been standing around awkwardly, trying to get up the courage to go and speak to someone? The longer you wait, the harder it is! When I was a student, I made a point of speaking in the first ten minutes of any class – that way, I found I was much more confident about contributing as the class went on.

The same applies to networking. As soon as you arrive, find someone to chat to. It’s often easy to strike up a conversation in the registration queue, for instance. Questions like “Have you been to this before?” can be a great way to get someone else chatting.

#4: Look for Someone Else Who Seems Shy
It can be very hard to break into a big group of people – especially when they all seem confident. Look for anyone on their own – perhaps standing in a corner, or loitering uncomfortably on the outskirts of a group. They probably feel just as shy as you do, and they’ll almost certainly be grateful if you go and engage them in conversation.

You don’t need to say anything scintillating to start chatting: a comment about some aspect of the event (the food, drinks, weather, decor) can be an easy way in, or you could simply ask “What do you do?” or “What brings you here?”

#5: Don’t Talk Too Fast
Many of us talk fast when we’re nervous. You might have to make a conscious effort to slow down – especially if you have a strong accent. (You may not think your accent is strong, but consider the people you’re networking with: I’m from the UK, and I occasionally have to repeat myself when I’m at events in the US.)

If you find yourself talking too much:

• Ask open-ended questions – encourage the other person or people to talk too
  
• Avoid interrupting people or finishing their sentences for them
• Get a glass of water to sip while talking (go easy if you’ve got an alcoholic drink...)

#6: Don’t Over-Analyze Afterwards
Have you ever come back from an event and cringed, thinking “I should never have said that” or “He must have thought I’m an idiot”?

Lots of introverts do this. We have a tendency to over-think and over-analyze things. I’ve seen blog posts and tweets by other introverts who were fantastic to chat to ... but who’re worried that they somehow screwed things up.

Even if you say something a bit daft or make some mistake, chances are, no-one even noticed. Don’t beat yourself up about it. The important thing is that you went to the event, and you had a go at networking – next time, it’ll be easier.

Chitragupt Samaj - Dawat Puja

Chitragupt Samaj - Dawat Puja

According to Hinduism, Brahma is the creator of the universe.  He has created plants,animals, sea, mountains and the human being.  Mythology states that humans created from the 'mouth' portion of Brahma were Brahmins, those from arms were 'Kshatriyas', those from the thighs were 'Vaishyas' and those from the feet were 'Shudras'.  He asked 'Surya' to take care and protect the universe and himself went into deep meditation for ten thousand of years.

Thereafter when he opened his eyes he saw an illustrious man with broad shoulders, eyes like a lotus, long neck and carrying a pen and inkpot in the hands.  Brahma asked that man who he was. The man replied that he was born out of Brahma and asked to give him a name and allocate duties.  Brahma told him that as he was born out of his body (kaya) he would be classed as 'Kayastha' and he would be called by the name of 'Chitragupt' on the earth.  He was asked by Brahma to perform his duties of keeping an account of every person good and bad deeds in the offices of Dharma Raj, supposed to be situated in 'Yampuri'.

Chitragupta was also blessed to produce his progency.

He had twelve sons and named as follows:-

Srivastava, Surajdwaj, Nigam, Kulshreshth, Mathur, Karna, Saxena, Gaud, Asthana.  Ambasht, Bhatnagar and Bulmik.

Thus as the story goes 'Chitragupta' was the progenitor of us, the Kayasthas, and it is therefore our duty to worship him and offer our Prayers.


Puja Process
Place of worship is first cleaned. Seep chalk & Swastika is drawn on the ground or on some wooden board.   A satia is drawn and is decorate by drawing lines on all the four sides. On this the god or goddess to be worshipped is placed. Vermilion is applied on the foreheads of god or goddess idols or photograph.

Earthen lamp or any other type of lamp is lit. In the pooja Vermilion paste, rice, aepen & water in small vessel is kept. These preparation are done little ahead of conducting pooja.
For performing pooja the ring finger is used for dipping and sprinkling water, vermilion, aepen. First the pooja is performed with water then aepen and roli (vermilion) then little rice is touched to the eyes and offered to the god or goddess.
The pooja offerings are done three time each (Sprinkle water ,aepen, roli and chawal )three time each.

Use Your Whole Mind to Get to Greatness

Written on 7/1/2011 by Peter G. James Sinclair . Peter is ins in the ‘heart to heart’ resuscitation business and inspires, motivates and equips others to be all that they’ve been created to become. Receive your free copy of his latest eBook Personal Success Blueprint at – http://www.motivationalmemo.com and add him on Twitter @PeterGJSinclair – today!

‘Abraham Lincoln’s principle for greatness can be adopted by nearly all. This was his rule; whatsoever he had to do at all, he put his whole mind into it, and held it all there until that was all done. That makes man great almost anywhere.’ – Dr. Russell H. Conwell

I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t born to simply melt into the mass called humanity. You and I were born for something more than to mesh into the fabric of the family called mankind. We have been born for greatness. Not for the selfish satisfaction of fulfilled ambition, but rather for the addition of significance and contribution to the breathing multitude called homo sapiens.

And here are two powerful ways to ensure that greatness shall be our portion as we follow in the footsteps of the great man Abraham Lincoln.

Put Your Whole Mind Into It
Concentration. Focus. Application. Dedication. Commitment.

All of the above are key words to equip you in the process of putting your whole mind into it. When I sit in one of my favorite chairs, as I am now doing, writing this article, while listening to music being pumped out of my iPhone and into my ears via earphones, I am totally engrossed for an hour or two creating but one thing - ‘magnificence’.

That’s what it takes.

I lock myself away, in a sense, from all distraction and put my entire mind into the process of creating yet another piece of writing that will change a life – yes a life in Kenya, Paraguay or Spain. Maybe even change another life in London, New York or Beijing.

Why do I do this?

Because my life was changed dramatically as I sat and read the words of Peter Daniels while I locked myself away for 3 days in a motel room in search of my destiny at the age of 28. And then in my thirties I was introduced to the great Ralph Waldo Emerson as I discovered his original volumes in the basement of a local university’s library.

I remember crying as I read and devoured each page – for I was a man desperate to live above the ordinary. I was determined to discover my destiny. I was drowning in the company of the status quo and knew that deep within me was something more.

The words written by these men saved my life, saved my marriage, and saved my sanity.

And then through the ups and downs of the years – through failure and success – they have sustained me. Why? Because these men chose to, at one point in their life, ‘put their whole mind to it.’

Hold It All Until It Is All Done
This is why I have, waiting for me on my office desk, a blank sheet of paper filled with a list of just 6 things that I need to do each day, that will move my life and my business forward.

It is a prioritized list.

I start with the most important thing on that list and do not move on to number 2 until I have completed number 1. Once number 1 is done I strike it off. I then commence with number 2 until completion and then strike it off. To strike off is to establish progress and provide a sense of fulfilled satisfaction. And so on until number 6 is in my sights and also struck off completed.

Before I turn off my computer though, I take out a fresh sheet of paper and write my list ready for tomorrow. If for some reason I didn’t complete any tasks written on my list I simply transfer it to tomorrow’s list, and once again prioritize.

But the power is in the completion – holding it all until it is all done.

I teach this principle to everyone who works with and for me, and thus production is multiplied exponentially as a direct result of that established discipline.

Can you think of anything else that makes men and women great?

Motivational Memo: To be great is to cause others to be grateful.

How To Maintain Healthy Habits When Traveling

[Clint Cora] Written on 7/31/2011 by Clint Cora. Clint is a motivational speaker, author and Karate World Champion. See his free 3-part Personal Development Video Series on how to expand your comfort zone to conquer even your most daunting goals in life.

When I learned that Jay White, the founder of Dumb Little Man, frequently travels in his sales career, this immediately brought back memories of my own business travels during my years in pharmaceutical sales. I was traveling 25% to 50% of my time on overnight trips, sometimes for an entire work week.

Although there are great health tips on this awesome blog, I’m sure that for those of you who travel on business and even for everyone else who has gone somewhere on vacations, you will agree that it’s often quite a challenge to maintain healthy habits while away from home. Many people end up either gaining weight or losing weight after their trips and I’m not talking about desired weight changes either.

So here are some tips that I’ve learned to adopt during my travels to help you stay healthy while away from home.

Get Proper Nutrition

While it’s much easier to follow a healthy balanced diet with home cooking, it’s often very challenging if you have to eat out for all of you daily meals during travel. Here are some ideas that may seem obvious, but I'd challenge you to think back to your last business trip. How many of these did you really follow?

* Avoid hotel breakfasts loaded with fat and salt (sausages, bacon, pastries, fried potatoes)

* Start your day with fresh fruit, yogurt and cereals

* Definitely pass on fast food breakfasts but don’t skip a healthy one

* Stay with lighter fare lunches especially if attending conferences all day

* Find good salads and lower fat, whole-wheat sandwiches for lunch

* Don’t overeat at dinner, especially at buffets (or you’ll feel it back in your hotel room)

* Minimize the amount of fried, fatty foods at restaurants

* Drink lots of water with your meals and limit alcohol (hangovers during travel are no fun)

* Don’t overdo the trips to the coffee shops during the day

* Avoid junk snacks - pick up some fresh fruit at local grocers instead

* Pack enough multivitamins to last your entire trip as inexpensive diet insurance

Exercise On The Road

As I remember all the big meetings and conferences I’ve attended, it’s incredible just how few travelers stay active on the road. With overeating and inactivity, it’s no wonder why many travelers end up gaining weight. So here are some tips to stay active on the road.

* Use the hotel/cruise ship gym as even 20 minutes on a cardio machine will help prevent travel weight gain

* Do laps in the hotel pool if there is one (always pack your swimwear)

* Use the hotel gym weights even if you have to modify some usual exercises

* If the neighborhood around the hotel is nice and safe (ask the concierge), take a brisk walk outside

* If no gym, do basic calisthenics plus low impact cardio inside your hotel room

* Although tempting to socialize into the wee hours, get adequate sleep

It’s Possible To Keep Healthy During Travel

So it is indeed possible to keep healthy during your travels. Although you may have to take some extra efforts to get the proper nutrition and enough exercise in during your time away from home, much of the challenge comes from the fact that you have to do what most other travelers will not be doing. You will be among a minority who do eat healthy and take time in the gym. But don’t worry about what others are doing as it is your own health that matters.

Happy travels and if you have additional tips on how to stay healthy or are willing to share some of your challenges while away from home, please leave your comments below.

Was Mom Wrong? Maybe You Should Play with your Food

If your mom was anything like mine, there were always lots of rules when it came to meal times. One of the biggest no-nos in our house was ‘playing with your food’.

While I get where my mom was coming from in terms of waste, mess and that we should be respecting our food, now that I’m all grown up, I’ve realized there are times when playing with your food may actually be beneficial.

Food can be one of life’s great pleasure. But there can also be a lot of anxiety around healthy eating, not to mention the guilt that comes from over-indulging in crap. And given that we must eat every day, if we aren’t careful, it can become a chore. Another task that must be checked off.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. Maybe your mom was wrong? Here are 7 good reasons you should play with your food.

1. Play encourages mindful eating.
If we play with our food, our attention will be in the moment giving us a chance to appreciate what we’re eating rather than mindlessly munching away. This mean we will be more likely to really enjoy and find pleasure in our food. How many times are do you find yourself with a bag of chips and in front of the TV? Handful after handful you devour these things simply because your attention is elsewhere.

2. Play makes mealtime fun.
Taking a more light-hearted approach to food can make a real difference to how much fun you have at dinner. And it doesn’t mean you need to toy with your food on the plate.

For example, try coming up with more creative names for dishes to bring a little sunshine and fun into meal times. In our house we have ‘mermaid pie’, rather than boring old fish pie. And this brings out the story of my friend’s grandma.

When she was a child, she told her dad that the fishermen in her village had been filling her head with tales of mermaids. Her dad’s response was ‘Yes, they would see plenty of mermaids through the bottom of a whiskey glass’. This prompted her to head down to the sea shore with a glass in hand in search of illusive creatures. Too cute.

3. Play helps us connect with our loved ones.
It can be difficult to reach out and nurture our closest relationships if we are stressed and uptight around the dinner table. Some shared laughter and a bit of silliness with broccoli or broad beans can really bring the family together.

4. Play encourages creativity and exploration.
By making the decision to introduce some fun into meal times, we are opening ourselves up to more creativity and an exploration of the wonderful world of food.

It can be easy to fall into a rut with our food. There’s nothing like eating the same old thing every week to give us food boredom. A little playfulness will encourage us to eat a wider variety of foods, which can only be a good thing both nutritionally and psychologically.

5. Play helps us relax.
After a long day at the office, we can all benefit from a bit of play both preparing and enjoying our evening meal. No only does it give us a chance to unwind from the day, it prepares us for a well earned, rejuvenating sleep.

6. Play reduces over-eating.
By playing with our food we become completely engaged with what we’re eating. This makes it much easier to recognize when we are full and stop eating when we should, rather than mindlessly gorging and ending up overstuffed again.

7. Playing with your food gives you an excuse to bake!
Slurping on noodles can bring hours, OK minutes of joy. Letting the juice from a perfectly ripe watermelon run down your arms is fun even without the wonderful sweet taste. But baking in general, and making cookies in particular, is where playing with your food really comes into its own.

Creaming butter and sugar, folding in flour, bashing chocolate into submission so you have the perfect chunks, forming your dough into cute cookie shapes. And all that before we even think of getting to the eating part.

So when I’m finding myself in need of a little more play, I know its time to bake. These salted chocolate chip cookies are my current go-to treat. I'm off now..! :)

Is Willpower Alone Working For You? If Not, Read This

ow often have you tried to achieve a goal that requires a lot of willpower?

How often have you failed?

So many goals can feel almost impossible, because they need a constant commitment to changing our usual ways. If you’re trying to lose weight, get out of debt, cut out the procrastination or even brush your teeth twice a day, you’ve got to keep on making the right choices – and it’s all too easy to let a moment of weakness derail your plans completely.

Exercising willpower or self-discipline takes up a lot of energy.
I’m sure you’ve had the experience of starting several new goals at once (perhaps in January) – trying to get fit and quit smoking and cut your spending and read more books. Chances are, you didn’t manage to stick with any of them – your willpower was simply stretched too thin.
So, are you doomed to fail? Of course not. You just need to make sure you’re using your willpower the right way.

How Habits Work
Unlike willpower, habits don’t require a massive amount of energy. They’re automatic – like taking a shower in the morning or putting on your seat belt when you get into a car. You barely think about them.

When you’re using your willpower to make changes in your life, you’re going against many of your established habits. For instance, if you’re trying to lose weight:

* You’re cutting out the usual doughnut with your morning coffee
* You’re switching from a fast food lunch to a healthy sandwich
* You’re trying to exercise in the evenings, instead of flopping in front of the television

The problem is, it’s all too easy to let things slide. If you stop at the coffee shop every morning, those donuts will be there, tempting you. If you have to walk past three fast food outlets to get to a store that sells healthy sandwiches, there’s a good chance the lure of a burger and fries will be too much for you. And once you’re at home in the evening, how likely is it that you’ll get up from the sofa and go out to the gym?

Use Your Willpower to Set Up New Habits
Instead of fighting your habits, turn them around.

It’s much easier to use your willpower once to set up a good habit than to keep on struggling again and again to overcome a bad habit.

For instance, if you want to save $100 per month, then don’t force yourself to write out a check every time. Instead, set up an automated transfer from your bank account – that way, the money will go out without you lifting a finger. It becomes more effort to not save than to save.

When you’re trying to establish a new routine, do your best to find ways to break old habits. Don’t stop at that coffee shop, intending to order a skinny latte (chances are, you’ll end up with a full-fat cappuccino and a doughnut). Instead, cut the coffee shop out of your routine altogether. Go to a smoothie bar instead, or take a thermos of coffee with you.

Here are a few other ways that you can use willpower once to make a new habit easier than an old one:

* Freeze your credit card in a glass of water – so that you have to melt the ice before you use it

* Clear all the junk food out of the house – so that if cravings strike at 9pm, you won’t be able to dig into your candy stash

* Block any websites that you waste time on – so that you can’t just flick to them in moments of boredom

Sometimes, you might not be able to use willpower just once – but you can try exercising willpower at the start of the day (when your motivation levels tend to be higher). For instance:

* Put food in a slow-cooker in the morning – so that a healthy meal is waiting in the evening

* Throw your gym kit into the car – so that you can drive to the gym on your way home

* Set your alarm half an hour earlier – so you’ve got time to work on a goal or project that’s important to you

Maybe some of these suggestions have sparked off a new idea for you, or perhaps you’ve got your own way to use willpower effectively. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Ah.. Its 04:00 AM... MOM is awake

Ah.. Its 04:30 AM ...



Oh Mom is already awake.. She's in Kitchen..Now she will ask me to get up & finish my Home work.. Ah..also i have to look if Vinu ba has completed his homework too.

Lucky guy, he gets the chance to sleep till 06:00 AM.. Y does mom wakes me so early in morning?? :(((



Oh.. Its 07:00 AM.. Wow.. we had chapatis with Tea in breakfasti.. again Vinu ba & Papa had have completed their brkfast first.. but luck I to share breakfast with Maa...



Oh its 08:30 AM.. the boring speech at school.. See Vinu ba is reading "India is my Country" so good, look how proud he looks.. I still remember the day when Maa taught me this....



Maa is in her class taking attendance.. I am in Maa's class "Maa, i forgot my pen at home.. Can i borrow yours?".. Wow .. I got Maa's pen..



Oh.. Its 01:30 PM.. Its lunch time.. Mom would be waiting for me in her class. Hurry up, we got only 30 minutes to finish the lunch..



Asusual, Vinu bas has left one chapati in lunch box.. he will get a nice trashing at home in evening.. lolzzzz :) :)



Its 05:00 pm.. Ah, our backs are aching.. These heavy school bags.. Y donot dey have a time-table at school..



Wow.. See Maa has prepared Tea. yippe, now we will get those salty biscuits.. I will snatch few of Vinuba's..



Its 05:30 Pm, Maa is going for Tuition s.. Maa is a great teacher yaa & is very discplined.. Lolz, now we have complete 3 hours to do masti..



08:00 PM, Maa has not yet come.. let me check till the end of the Lane.. Oh, its very dark,let me run back to home..

Its 08:30 PM.. maa has not yet returned.. :(((((

Oh no, Vinu baa is asking about maa.. arrey, see he has started crying.. I too started crying.. Where are u Maa?

Ah. see Maa has come.. Maa has come.. She cuddles both of us.. Happy to see u back maa.. We got tensed..



09:00 PM: we just finished our dinner.. Papa has gone to sleep... SHE CUDDLED US IN BOTH HER ARMS.. we kissed her Gud night.. :))))))))))))))

This was our life.. We never imagined our life without you Maa.. We still miss your gud night kiss.. & we still gaze at the door for you to return..

13 Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes That Transformed My Life

Written on 7/27/2011 by Peter G. James Sinclair . Peter is ins in the ‘heart to heart’ resuscitation business and inspires, motivates and equips others to be all that they’ve been created to become. Receive your free copy of his latest eBook Personal Success Blueprint at – http://www.motivationalmemo.com and add him on Twitter @PeterGJSinclair – today!

It was well over a decade ago, and a time in my life where I desperately wanted to discover the very purpose I had been planted on planet earth. I knew that I had something of significance to offer others, but yet didn’t know what it was.

I had an inkling that it had something to do with my natural ability to create words. From the age of 14 I had begun to shape lyrics for my original songs that I composed. I loved to read and write poetry, and so day in and day out I found myself sharpening my talent on the grindstone of consistency and practice. Deep within me I knew that I had books in me as well. Little did I know that those skills would one day take me into the world of the blog.


I had written three books and had been rejected by publishers and literary agents all over my country. And yet I pressed on with another creation. Ultimately I have successfully self published a number of books to date and even assisted three other authors get into print with sales in both my own country and the U.K.

My Personal Search For ‘Liquid Gold’
One of the ways that I sustained myself during this ‘desert’ period of my life was by planting myself physically in my local university library in search of ‘liquid gold’. I was voraciously searching for mentors whom I could draw upon as I was creating my own voice and unveiling my personal uniqueness.

And in my search through the tens of thousands of volumes that were presented to me as I walked through the doors of that library, I stumbled across a man whom I had seen quoted time and time again in other books that were in my personal possession, and his name was Ralph Waldo Emerson.

To my joy, I found his original volumes in the depths of the library’s basement, and it is there that I visited day after day and week after week until I had read nearly everything he had ever written. I took notes and created my own personal summary through the eyes of someone seeking inspiration, motivation and a sense of worth. I didn’t like or necessarily understand everything that he wrote because he had written in another century and used the language of his times. But there were moments when his heart penetrated my very own – and his words burnt deep into the very depths of my soul.

So here are just 13 of his quotes with some short commentary from myself as I now return, after many years, to dwell in their company and share him with you.
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men – that is genius.

It is amazing how what I write resonates with the hearts of men and women from all around the world. Writing in one sense is a selfish endeavor, because we write for ourselves in most cases – but the beauty of writing for yourself, and even at times about yourself, empowers your readers as they face the very same challenges and seek answers to the same issues. And let’s face it – that it is the nature of human beings to love a good story.
Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Through the years I have had to learn how to trust myself. I have stepped out in business, published books, created blogs and online courses not knowing whether or not they would succeed – but when you do that there is a strength that is implanted deeply into your heart – an inner vibration that creates music – and that music is aligned to your passion. And what a wonderful place it is to reside.
Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.

Identify your strengths and then make your strengths strong. This is a principle that has stood me in good stead for many years now. When you identify your personal uniqueness and then proceed to operate your life from that center, then the world becomes your oyster. That’s where the magic happens. That’s where the opportunities come. That’s where the finance flows. That’s where the resources rise to the surface.
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.

To be happy with who you are – therein is peace. To be true to your inner compass and to the principles that build a strong life – filled with integrity. That enables one to be able to sleep at night and to never have to look over one’s shoulder. The ability to say ‘no’ because of your principles is a powerful weapon for good in your life.
Like the wounded oyster, he mends his shell with pearl.

This is where bitterness is transformed into betterness. This is where rejection is changed into a trajectory forward. This is where another ‘no’ is one step closer to the ‘yes’ that we are in search of. This is where forgiveness overcomes harm and love covers a multitude of sins. Longsuffering. Patient. Kind.
Always do what you are afraid to do.

Fear is terrified of action. We cannot escape the tentacles of fear – but we can remove their power by being a man and woman of action. Operate as one whose tribal cry is ‘Do it now!’ and ‘Action cures fear.’
What is the hardest task in the world? To think.

Now what a great thought. But this is where periods of solitude are required to hop off the treadmill of life as it were. Thinking is hard work, and yet so rewarding. Whenever I think I create but one thing – ‘magnificence!’ How about you?
Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they are executed.

The execution is of prime importance. We must be inspired into action or else we remain unmoved and unchanged. Thinking forms the foundations for the construction of great edifices. Once you have thought, then roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Divine persons are victory organised.

I never consider losing. It’s not in my make-up. I have a catch-cry, which I declare in the midst of my day – ‘I will find a way!’ But alas someone comes along and says that it is impossible and that I will never make it. I stuff my fingers in my ears and continue to say but one thing – ‘Nothing is impossible to me because I believe – and I will find a way.’
Humility is the secret of the wise.

The great men that I know personally are those who walk in humility. I have seen rich men who are not humble and yet I witnessed poor men who know no vestige of humility within their bones. And yet I have met others from both ends of the spectrum who reflect a spirit of humility - in all that they do and say – and they light up my life.
Thus the so-called fortunate man is one who…relies on his instincts, and simply does not act where he should not, but waits his time, and without effort acts when the need is. If to this you add a fitness to the society around him, you have the elements of fortune.

Timing is everything. Success comes when there is a collision between preparedness and opportunity. If you can supply what is needed by society – provide an answer to their question, a solution to their problem, food for the hungry, and education for those who wish to learn – therein lies your fortune.
Here are the two capital facts, genius and drill.

Each of us has been born with a genius. There is something that each of us do very well. It has been assigned to us, and yet many of us ever really pause in life to discover it deeply and then apply the other necessary ingredient. And that is drill. That is practice. That is taking that which is good and making it great. That is pursuing your niche. That is unveiling your uniqueness. That is finding your voice and learning how to vocalize - not like everybody else - but your way. That requires you to at times to swim upstream, to go against the flow, to stand out in the crowd declaring – ‘here I am, and here is what I offer to create a much better world – that is now better because I have not hidden my gift – and have risked rejection by bringing it forth in public.

And a final word from Emerson:
The enthusiast always finds the master, the masters, whom he seeks. Always genius seeks genius, desires nothing so much as to be a pupil and to find those who can lend it aid to perfect itself.

I found my master deep in the depths of that university library.

Why?

Because in the words of the master himself, ‘the enthusiast always finds the master, the masters, whom he seeks.’ Oh yes and that I did – because Emerson introduced me to all his friends from throughout all the ages, and we have had and will continue to have a wonderful time communing with each other - both now and into eternity.

How has Emerson impacted your life, or have there been others whom you could recommend?

Motivational Memo: To become a master we need to put our feet in the footprints of the whom have gone before us.