What Makes You Come Alive?

Hi, My Final post for this week. I like to leave you  with a positive thought.

Here’s a great way to think about the process of figuring out what you want from life. Imagine that I presented you with a blank canvas and asked you what it represented.

No matter how much you analyze and think about this canvas, it’s impossible to determine what it represents because you have no reference points to work with.

On the other hand, imagine that I gave you this canvas and asked you to figure out what it represented.

This time you’d be able to join the dots to reveal a star – Clearly, it is the dots that make all the difference.

The process of figuring out what you want from life is similar. Sitting in a room and trying to come up with a ‘life plan’ rarely works. It’s like staring at the blank canvas – You have no reference points to work with.

The secret to figuring out what you want from life is to gain some additional dots on your life canvas. In the real world, these dots come from experiences.

Each time you have a new experience you gain an additional dot on your life canvas, and once you have accumulated enough ‘experience dots’ you can often join the dots and identify your true passion.

Here’s an example that illustrates this process:

John had read dozens of personal development books and attended his fair share of seminars. He felt he had a good understanding of how to set goals. The only problem was – John didn’t really know what he wanted.

In an attempt to clarify his goals, John spent many hours trying to decide what he should do. However, after expending a great deal of emotional energy, he finally realized that it was impossible to sit down and ‘figure out’ life.

Instead, what he really needed to do was to get out of his room and collect some new ‘experience dots’ for his life canvas.

For John, this was the turning point.

Instead of trying to figure out his overall life plan, he made the liberating decision to just explore different things that interested him.

He joined a local film club simply because he’d always loved old movies. He also did an introductory computer course at his local library because he wanted to learn more about the Internet.

After accumulating a wide range of seemingly unrelated new experiences, John was able to look back and join the dots to discover that his true passion was to create his own Internet business focusing on classic films, actors and memorabilia.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.

Because what the world needs are people who have come alive”

So today, if you’re not quite sure what you want from life, here is what I’d suggest:

(1) Stop trying to sit down and ‘figure out’ life – it really doesn’t work
(2) Give yourself the freedom to explore your interests and accumulate life experience and thereby gain additional dots on your life canvas.
(3) Over time, you’ll be able to look back on your life experiences and join the dots to identify your true passion.

I hope this approach releases you of the burden of having to try and ‘figure out’ life and that you enjoy finding what makes you come alive.

Have a great weekend.

Are you Upset or Disappointed Today?

I was really down yesterday, lost my temper, yelled a bit, cursed a bit, Being down with a viral flue, unable to utter few words due to tonsillitis, my wife also down with the flu and an attack of the wheeze, drove around town without using the A/C in the car, got a bit frustrated. Sounds Familiar? So what did I achieve by being frustrated? Nothing!. Well at least I am being honest to accept my mistakes. So I thought of sharing these few words of encouragement with you today.

Every day, we have opportunities to get upset, be frustrated or get offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour, and it ended up taking three. Life is full of inconveniences, but even though we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control our reaction.

I heard somebody say, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.”

We should always go out each day with a positive attitude, full of hope and expecting God’s favor. But at the same time, we should recognize that most days are not going to go exactly as we planned. Remember, we were created to live in peace. Peace is our position of power. If you get stressed because you got off schedule or upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, you’re are giving away your power. Instead, make the decision to release those offenses and disappointments so you can live in peace and enjoy the day as a blessing God prepared for you!

So Cheer Up! As a colleague of mine would always say,

Life is like a cocktail, you need to sip it to enjoy it. Take each day at a time, Live life to the fullest, Hope every day will be a great day.

Success City

One of the most important lessons you can learn on your road to success is that failure is not a final destination, but rather a place you pass through on your way to achieving your goals.

Here is a picture to show you what I mean:

This simple picture illustrates a number of very important points about the relationship between failure and success:

1. There is only one road to Success City

2. The road to Success City passes through FailureVille

3. One of the main reasons people never reach Success City is because they are so afraid of driving through FailureVille that they never begin their journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

So what does this mean in the real world?

It means that failure is not the opposite of success as many people assume. On the contrary, failure is an important part of achieving success. In fact, it is usually through the process of trying and failing that we learn the lessons we need in order to ultimately achieve our goals in life.

My favorite quote regarding the relationship between failure and success comes from the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan:

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

When you understand the fact that success lies on the other side of failure you will be much better prepared for the journey that leads to achieving your most important life goals.

A Story on Trust

Here's an inspirational story I would like to share with you about trust.

One day, a mountaineer was going up a very high mountain.

He was so proud; he was climbing all by himself.

It was very dangerous to climb up a snowy mountain all alone, but he was so proud, he believed he didn’t need anyone.

By nightfall, common sense dictated that he set up camp. But he kept climbing because he wanted to reach the summit quickly.

But in his exhaustion, his foot slipped.

And he found himself free falling through the air. He closed his eyes and saw flashbacks of his life.

All of a sudden, he felt a jolt—and violent pull around his waist. The rope tied around his belt saved him!

In total darkness, he was now hanging onto his rope.

And he shouted, “God, if you’re up there, save me!”

Suddenly, he heard a voice say, “If you believe that I can save you, do what I tell you to do…”

He answered, “What should I do?”

The voice said, “Cut your rope.”
“Wha…what?” he said.

“Cut the rope and let go,” the voice said.

After a few moments, he shouted again, “Is there anyone else up there?”

The next day, mountain climbers saw his limp body, hanging by the rope, frozen to death. The curious thing about what they saw? He was hanging only 2 feet from the ground.

Moral of this story:
Let's try not to be so proud even in the point of death. Many people are like that: They trust in their rope more than in their God. They trust in their money, in their abilities, in their connections, in their intelligence more than in their God

Dear Mom & Dad: Advice to Parents from a 13 year old

Happy week to everybody.

My wife came across a book of poems written by our son Darren when he was 13 years of age. (He’s 18 now). I have selected one that is very close to my heart, It’s titled “Advice to my parents”, which I would like to share with you today

Dear Mom and Dad,

It’s not the same as before,

Rock music, drugs and wild parties, all may seem easy to conquer and explore.

Be not afraid, as neither my love for racing nor the new game of love I found, will not lead me astray.

The tolerance and patience, you have molded me with, will be my shining star.

Computer games or Internet, Hot chicks or rocking parties, none of them will corrupt me.

As your son’s got self-discipline and I shall behold the memories of childhood as time flies away.

The moral of this post.

We live in a society where values are not in abundance. Many kids lack discipline and respect for elders. My wife and I have spent a lot of time with our kids to teach them humility, respect and discipline. I may not have Millions in the Bank, but I am blessed with 2 awesome kids and a great wife, and I feel like a million bucks!

“Good influences will create good teens, just as much as bad influences create bad teens”

Don't forget your thank-you's,PLEASE!

This is something that lacks in abundance. This I believe is an issue with attitude, cultivated by the environment one is associated with.

I would like to share this wonderful story with you today!

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received."

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them."

I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed. "How is it that? There's no work going on here?" I asked. "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments. "How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked. "Simple," the angel answered. "Just say, "Thank you, Lord."
"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

• "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world."
• "If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy."
• "And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
• Also...."If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."
• "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world."
• "If you can attend a church meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death ... you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."
• "If your parents are still alive and still married you are very rare."
• "If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you are unique to all those in doubt and despair."

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

Have a Great Weekend!

The Last Lecture - The Randy Pausch Story

I am sure most of you have heard of Randy Pausch, a 47 year old, Computer Sc. lecturer from Mellon University, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2008. He wrote a book titled 'The last lecture" before he died. It became one of the bestsellers in 2007.

What a legacy to leave behind… 

In a letter to his wife Jai and his children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe, he wrote this beautiful "guide to a better life" for his wife and children to follow.

May you be blessed by his insight.

Personality: 

1. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
2. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment 
3. Don't overdo; keep your limits 
4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does 
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip 
6. Dream more while you are awake 
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present 
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you 
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Community:
15. Call your family often
16. Each day give something good to others 
17. Forgive everyone for everything 
18. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6 
19. Try to make at least three people smile each day 
20. What other people think of you is none of your business 
21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
22. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do. 
23. GOD heals everything 
24. Do the right things 
25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change 
26. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up 
27. The best is yet to come 
28. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful 
29. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it 
30. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy. 

While you practice the entire above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with and people you live with, not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you.
Remember,
Good things are for us to share.

Are You Late?

This is such a big issue with many I know who are never on time for anything. This clearly shows their lack of professionalism, which also shows how disorganized they are, Some of them even forget or get late in paying their bills/credit cards payments on time.

I most often than not manage to be on time and get the things done that I need to do today, without postponement. I believe, ‘It’s not how, its why’. Being on time is easy, or doing it now or today is easy. If you really want to!

Let me share with you few reasons on one important topic “being late” and why it is bad, whether it’s for business, and personal, family or social commitments:

1. It shows lack of interest, commitment or passion. Why would anyone hire a person who is late for an interview? Or do business with someone who can’t keep the first commitment? How could a relationship be a priority if our appointments with our loved ones are the first to be compromised?
2. It demonstrates lack of respect for other people’s time. How do you feel when you somehow manage to show up on time, and then have to wait for the other person?
3. It sets the wrong example for our family, friends and co-workers – especially for people who look up to us e.g. our children, students or subordinates.

Now some tips on how to be on time:

1. Give importance. Decide to be on time and what I need to get done today! Don’t participate in anything half-heartedly.
2. Plan ahead. Be realistic! Example: “How long does it take to get ready and get there. Expect the traffic and other things to go wrong.”
3. Positive affirmations. Telling yourself, ‘I am always on time’, "I must do this today!" works better than ‘I am always late!’ I will try to do this today!

“I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.” (Charles Dickens)

Are you like Rocks, Pebbles or Sand?

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

Moral of the Story!

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

What I learned

I've learned - That you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned - that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned - that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned - that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned - that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned - that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it.

I've learned - that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned - that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned - that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned - that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I've learned - that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned - that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned - that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned - that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned - that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many years you've lived.

I've learned - that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed you.

I've learned - that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned - that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I’ve learned - that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned - that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned - that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned - that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned - that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.

I've learned - that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned - that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned - that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I've learned - that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned - that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.

Tomatoes

A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft.
The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.

"You are employed" he said. "Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as the date when you may start.

The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email".

"I'm sorry", said the HR manager. If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."

The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round.
In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.

5 years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US . He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan.

When the conversation was concluded the broker asked him his email.

The man replied, "I don't have an email."

The broker answered curiously,” You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e mail?!!" The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!"

Moral of the story:

M1 - Internet is not the solution to your life success.

M2 - Just because you internet, and don’t work hard, you cannot be a millionaire.

Have a great weekend!!

Do You Have Integrity?

Sometimes I get so sick and tired of associating with people who lack integrity; society is full of such "garbage". Manipulation, lack of Integrity is probably the key to this “Garbage” and I am sure many of you are compelled to deal with them on a daily basis.

I would like to start with the true definition of the word “Integrity”- It means having the  quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness”

Integrity is the quality of having high moral principles, being reliable and trustworthy. it is also being sincere and being trustworthiness nothing can guarantee social stability and confidence among people like being honest, it is considered one of the basic foundations on which societies are built. The moment it disappears, distrust and lack of cooperation take its place in the heart of people.

Our planet is in trouble due to a lack of integrity - a lack of high moral principles that are in alignment with who we really are in our souls. Why is there such a lack of integrity? What is the issue underlying a lack of integrity?

As the quote above indicates, how we THINK determines our level of integrity. When we are addicted to thinking thoughts that create fear and a habit of being a manipulator, we may end up behaving in ways that lack integrity.

Why would we want to think thoughts that create fear and why do we manipulate people? Because this is what our programmed mind - our wounded ego self - knows and thrives on.

Our wounded self - which is our ego programmed mind - learned many ways to protect us from the things we feared and could not handle as little children. We might have learned to lie to protect the truth. We might have learned to steal to get what we wanted. We might have learned to have temper tantrums to get our way. 

This will not change until people change their thoughts. What if people thought thoughts based on truth and caring? What if the following thoughts were the norm?

"Being kind to myself and others empowers me and gives me the strength to stand up for what is right - both for myself and others."

"There is enough for everyone to have what they want and need. Abundance is a law of the universe."

"Behaving in ways that are in alignment with the spiritual values of compassion, kindness and caring - which is who I really am - brings me great inner peace and joy."

Obviously, people who operate from these thoughts rather than from the thoughts of their ego-wounded selves are the people who lack integrity.

As long as people operate under the false belief that happiness lies in getting what they want externally, rather than in whom they choose to be in the world, they will be lacking integrity on their way to getting. Only when they finally see that deep inner peace and joy comes from being in alignment with their inner spiritual values will they consistently behave with integrity.

Many feel praying , going to church, mosque or any place of worship, many times a day or a week, and doing a little bit of charity, can cover up all the lies, cheating and manipulation. What Bullshit!

Get a reality check!

What's in the mind does not matter, But what’s in the heart that matters the most!

Are you Special?

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.  

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

You are special!

Don't ever forget it!

Advice from Abraham Lincoln

A letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the Headmaster of a school in which his son was studying.

It contains an advice, which is still relevant today for executives, workers, teachers, parents and students. Hope this will help you.

To,

The Headmaster

He will have to learn, I know,

That all men are not just,

All men are not true,

But teach him also,

That for every scoundrel there is a hero,

For every selfish politician,

There is a dedicated leader!

Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend,

It will take time I know but teach him if you can,

That a dollar earned is of far more value than five found!

Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning

Steer him away from envy, if you can

And teach him the secret of quiet laughter

Let him learn early, that the bullies are the easiest to lick!

Teach him if you can the wonder of books

But also give him time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,

Bees in the sun and flowers on the green hillside

In school teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat!

Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,

Even if everyone tells him they are wrong

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people

And tough with the tough people!

Try to give my son the strength, not to follow the crowd

When everyone is getting into the bandwagon!

Teach him to listen to all men,

But teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth,

And take away the good that comes through!

Teach him if you can how to laugh when he is sad

Teach him there is no shame in tears!

Teach him to scoff at cynics,

And to beware of too much sweetness!

Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest of bidders,

But never to put a price tag on his heart and soul!

Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob

And to stand and fight if he thinks he is right!

Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him,

Because only the test of fire makes fine steel!

Let him have the courage to be impatient,

Let him have the patience to be brave!

Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,

Because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind

This is big order but see what you can do

He is such a fine little fellow, my son!

Yours sincerely,

Abraham Lincoln