Entries Tagged 'Meanings & Explorations' ↓

In a meeting today morning we were discussing about how we have notions and judgments about everything. And how that makes it difficult to talk to someone or do something.

E.g. many people have a notion that they can not speak in public. This opinion, becomes the truth for them, and they never speak in public. In reality, it’s just an opinion!

I was thinking about this and realized there are so many things in my life that I think are hard to achieve. That will take a lot of efforts. But then something else happened!

What if I replace “hard” with “new” in my thinking. Instead of thinking this is hard, how about thinking that this is new?

And that caused a major shift! Made me feel much lighter and gave me a lot more power to deal with the situations!

What would happen to you, if you replace “hard” with “new”?

I was talking to Dave this morning, and he said a very beautiful thing:

The two edge sword of loving what you do, is you don’t mind doing a lot of it.

Dave is our client and partner in RIA projects and I was discussing with him about recreation, growing business and marketing. Got many insights, especially on marketing a product! I think we are going to consult with him for marketing our next product

Data can be enlightening! What would happen if you started tracking these things?

1. How much money you spend per month?
2. How long you spend talking to your family per month?
3. How much time did you spend working on the thing you say is your “passion” last month?
4. How far you walk every day? How much do you exercise?
5. How much you read NOT from a computer?
6. How much time you spend organizing your life (bills, etc)?
7. How much time do you spend commuting?
8. How much time you actually work at work?
9. How much time you spend watching TV per month?
10. Which of your goals you accomplished last year?

When I started thinking about them, I was saddened! But I am going to keep the list alive and review it every month!

This list is taken from Ramit Sethi’s blog, with minor edits! Thanks Ramit!

Ashok sent an inspiring article: Are we working or serving?

One evening a scholar was addressing the participants on the concept of work culture. One of the participants asked the following question:

“I am a senior manager of Materials Department and I joined an organization 25 years ago as an Engineer Trainee and over the last 25 years I have gone through every experience in the organization.

During the initial part of my career, the job was very challenging and interesting.

However, all those exciting days are gone since I do not find my joy any more interesting because there is nothing new in my job. I am now feeling bored because I am doing a routine job.

However, Sir, I am living in the same house for over forty years, I am the son for the same parents for over forty five years, I am the father for the same children for the past ten years and the husband for the same lady for the past twenty years !( the toughest job!)

In these personal roles I do not feel bored Please tell me why I am bored of the routine in the office and not in the house?”

The response from Scholar was very interesting and convincing. He asked the executive the question: “Please tell me for whom does your Mother cook?”

The executive replied that obviously the mother cooks for others.

Then the Scholar said that the mother “Serves” others and because of this service mindedness, she is not feeling tired or bored. But in an office, we “Work” and not “Serve”. Anything we consider, as service will not make us feel bored. That is difference between Serving and Working.

He asked the executive to consider his work as service and not merely a work!! This was a very interesting analysis!! Whenever you put a larger context around your work and see a broader meaning for your work, you will take interest in your work and it will make a very big difference in your internal energy.

Attitude Matters!!!

If you think you are working for the organization you will get frustrated. If you feel you are doing a service and getting some service charges you will feel happy. After all -doing what you like is freedom but liking what you do is happiness! It is just a paradigm shift that is required!

“What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.”

A few days ago, I went to see a play called Ilhaam with office friends and Nikita. The performance was at Prithvi, and I felt it was just the right place to see the play. Sitting in the second row of the auditorium, less than 10 feet from the actors, I got into the play.

The Mumbai Theatre Guide had the following preview for Ilhaam:

A man… Standing on the edge…Eager to take that leap…into his childhood…Yet a fear holds him back…the fear of losing his past & present.

Because he remembers the boatman who was stoned out of the village for talking to a bird and the beggar whose beautiful songs nobody could hear.

Because, at least once, we have all called him mad. That half naked man who shambles down our street, clutching his whole life in a sack and muttering god-knows-what to himself.

Because he knows that those who were dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn’t hear the music.

The acting was very good, but I was touched by the concept. The cliched thought that those whom we call mad, think the rest are mad, was very evident. But the sheer joy in simplicity and the ease of being a child came out powerfully. Manav Kaul, the writer & director has done great job with dialogs as well. Check out two:

• Paida hua tabhi to shant kua tha. Phir khilaune dale, thode patthar dale. Bacha tha to dusro ke expectations dale. Phir pani hi nahi bacha.
• Park me meine ek nirash aadmi ko dekha. Mein us aadmi ko to nahi janta tha, lekin uski nirasha ko janta tha. Meine apna haath badhaya. Usne haath tham liya. Woh mujhe to nahi janta tha, mere hath badhane ko janta tha. Hum dono saath chalte gaye. Hum ek dusro ko nahi jante the, lekin saath chalne ko jaante the.

By the end of the play, none of us could figure out the meaning of Ilhaam, but were in awe. Here’s what I found around the web:

• Kashaf/Ilhaam (unveiling of arcane knowledge)
  Kashaf, or Ilhaam is the stage where man starts getting information that most people are unable to observe. In the beginning, this condition occurs suddenly without personal control. With practice, the mind gets so energized that it can get this knowledge by will. (on wikipedia)
• The literal meaning of the word Ilhaam is to swallow or drink. But when this word is used for God it would mean revelation or sending word. AuhAllah would mean that God sent an angel and sent revelation through him. Ilhaam is used for the converse of God Almighty with men. It is called Ilhaam because it descends upon the heart of the person concerned and it descends very quickly and with a glory of its own, and even though other people may be near the recipient, they remain unaware of what is happening. (from Al Islam)

I enjoy thinking abstract and non linear. Sometimes this can be absurd. But this way of thinking gives me solutions to the most difficult problems. Madness is revelation.

Watch the play if you can!