Author: Anirvan Chakravarty

Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself!
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What is your ultimate aim in life?

What is your ultimate aim in life?

Is it success, fame, or wealth? Or is to achieve spiritual enlightenment? Or is to leave a positive impact on the world?

Ok, you have achieved success, fame, and wealth.

You have also reached the stage of spiritual enlightenment.

And yes, you have done something that leaves a positive impact on the world.

But at the end of the day, if you remain unhappy then do all these achievements make any sense? In fact, at the core of all these aspirations is a single, fundamental desire: Happiness!

Happiness is a universal goal that every human being seeks. It is the driving force behind all our actions, the reason why we wake up every day and pursue our dreams.

Do you know happiness is so crucial to our well-being that it has been recognized as a fundamental human right by the United Nations?

But then what is happiness, exactly?

Many people mistake happiness for pleasure or momentary joy! They believe that happiness is something that can be bought or achieved through external means, such as wealth, power, or material possessions. However, these sources of happiness are often fleeting and temporary, and they can soon lead to feelings of emptiness or dissatisfaction.

True happiness, on the other hand, is a state of being that comes from within. It is a sense of contentment and fulfillment that is not dependent on external circumstances. It is a deep and lasting sense of well-being that is not easily swayed by the ups and downs of life.

So, how can we achieve this kind of happiness?

The answer lies in developing a positive mindset and cultivating inner peace. We must learn to accept ourselves as we are, to embrace our strengths and weaknesses, and to be grateful for the many blessings in our lives.

Another important factor in achieving happiness is finding a sense of purpose or meaning in our lives. This can come from pursuing a career that we are passionate about, volunteering for a cause that we believe in, or simply engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment.

So, do not worry…be happy!

Cheers!

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Are You Resilient Enough?

Are you resilient enough?

Do you bounce back after having a setback?

Does failures make you more resilient and better prepared to achieve success?

Resilience is essential for personal growth and success, as it allows individuals to face challenges and overcome adversity. In a world that is constantly changing, resilience enables individuals to adapt and thrive, even in the face of uncertainty and stress.

For individuals, resilience is important because it helps them to cope with stress and adversity, and maintain a positive outlook even in the face of challenges. When individuals are resilient, they are better able to manage stress, overcome obstacles, and maintain their mental and emotional well-being.

How can you be more resilient?

Factors that Influence Resilience

Personal Characteristics: Personal characteristics such as optimism, a positive outlook, and a strong sense of self-worth play a critical role in resilience. Individuals who are optimistic and have a positive outlook are better able to cope with stress and adversity, and maintain their mental and emotional well-being.

Life Experiences: Life experiences, such as childhood experiences and exposure to stress and trauma, can also play a role in resilience. Individuals who have experienced stress and trauma in their lives often develop stronger coping mechanisms and a greater capacity to withstand stress and adversity.

Support Systems: Support systems, such as family, friends, and community, play a critical role in resilience. Individuals who have strong support systems are better able to cope with stress and adversity, and maintain their mental and emotional well-being.

Coping Mechanisms: Positive coping mechanisms, such as exercise, mindfulness, and seeking support from others, play a critical role in resilience. These coping mechanisms can help individuals to manage stress, overcome obstacles, and maintain their mental and emotional well-being.

How can you be more resilient?

Building Resilience

Building resilience is a process that requires individuals to develop specific skills and attitudes. Here are some strategies for building resilience:

Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment. When individuals are mindful, they are better able to manage stress and maintain their mental and emotional well-being. Mindfulness can be practiced through activities such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises.

Develop a Positive Outlook: Developing a positive outlook is critical for building resilience. Individuals who have a positive outlook are better able to cope with stress and adversity, and maintain their mental and emotional well-being. A positive outlook can be developed through activities such as positive self-talk, gratitude practices, and focusing on solutions rather than problems.

Seek Support: Seeking support from others is critical for building resilience. Individuals who have strong support systems are better able to cope with stress and adversity.

Pointers to keep in mind

Self-awareness: Understanding your emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values.

Mindfulness: Cultivating awareness of the present moment and reducing stress.

Positive self-talk: Reframing negative thoughts and beliefs into positive ones.

Social support: Building and maintaining healthy relationships with family, friends, and community.

Problem-solving skills: Developing effective strategies for coping with challenges.

Flexibility: Being open to new perspectives and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Healthy habits: Taking care of physical and mental health through exercise, nutritious eating, and adequate sleep.

Gratitude: Fostering a positive outlook by focusing on what you are thankful for.

Sense of purpose: Finding meaning and fulfilment in life through personal values, passions, and goals.

Persistence: Maintaining determination and perseverance in the face of obstacles and setbacks.

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Are you interpreting it correctly?

Are you interpreting it correctly?

Are you?

Really?

Many times when we look at things, events, or people, we generally form an opinion and impressions based on our interpretation of them. And that might be entirely different from the actual reality of those things, events, and people!

Most of the time our interpretations are based on our beliefs, values, and our thought process. And we try to fit in things, events, and people based on that. And based on the interpretation, we react, respond, and behave accordingly.

Why do we interpret things incorrectly?

Some of the reasons include biases, misinformation, our past experiences, and most importantly the emotional state that we are in then.

If you see this from a broader perspective, most of our problems relate to this misinterpretation and this is especially true when it comes to our relationship with others- personal and professional.

Give it a thought!

The way I deal with it is by having a more positive mindset/outlook. Instead of looking at the negative aspects of things, I try to find the positive (good) side that might not be very obvious.

So, the next time your boss is after you to complete the task in time or wants you to do it better you know how to respond! Or for that if your spouse/parents tell(s) you to eat well or spend more time with children then don’t take it as a ‘nagging’ but…  

As they say “All human knowledge takes the form of interpretation”.

Cheers!

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Why You Can’t Change?

The Key to Change lies with YOU!

“I am like that…I cannot change!”

“We have been doing this for years…!”

“Why do you want to rock the boat?”

Often, we hear this from the people around us or we might use or have used these phrases.

So, how true is that?

Not at all true!!

Why you cannot change when the change can do you much better compared to the harm the status quo is doing to you? And you can change at any point in your life…  

You might have been doing it for years but if it is not producing results or not meeting expectations then what is the use of continuing to do the same thing over and over again?

You need to rock the boat if the boat is not taking you anywhere!

Yes, as simple as that!

The bottom line is that we need to change…change for the good.

Change the habits that are harming you, change your friends if they don’t make you happy, change the environment if it does not let you grow…and lastly, change your old self if you are not happy with yourself.

Embrace the change!

Fall, fail, and hurt yourself…but in the end, you will be thankful to yourself and feel proud that you dared to change the status quo.

Do not reach that stage where the pain of maintaining the status quo becomes much more than the pain of embracing the change!

Cheers!

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Keep Going!

This too shall pass…don’t give up!

Keep going!

You must have heard it many a times!

But many a times situations are such that it really becomes difficult to keep going!

So, how do we keep going then?

Simple…just keep going!!

Now, that ‘keep going’ can be even following your normal routine without taking any action. In fact, ‘not taking any action’ is also a form of ‘action’ as you are just not sure what action to take! When you have multiple stakeholders to take care of and if it is really tough to act without any idea of the what the results would be…what action can you take?

But that is the beauty of life and the challenges that it throws all the time!

So, the best option is…still to keep going.

How?

Continue doing what you have been doing (follow your normal routine) and at the same time, pause whenever you can, and look at the bigger picture of what is happening around you. Try to find out where is the issue or the real mess. Pinpoint the major obstacle(s) and attack it (kill it) first. Every problem has a solution howsoever big it may appear or actually might be. Giving away or giving up is the simplest solution and the most stupid one. 

Keep going…you are getting there!

Cheers!

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Stick to Your Goal!

Do you have clear goals?

Do you stick to your chosen goal?

It would be a pity if you don’t do so!

Many people lead a miserable life of regret with frustrated ambitions bubbling in their heart because they tamely allowed their own opinion and thoughts to be overruled and set aside from their cherished dream or desired goals.

You will hear many people say with a sad tinge in their eyes…”If only I had stuck to my decision…if I had trusted my own decision and then followed it with persistence to finish, I might have amounted to something and would have been much happier…!”

This the saddest truth of their life…their stories of ‘might have been…’.

But why it happens?

Because such people lack the power to take firm and quick decisions and then to stick to them. They feared and then wavered. Their mind was always in a flux. And hence, they could not arrive…

To achieve your goal, you need to decide quickly and effectively. It is the hallmark of a master mind! Men of unwavering decisions and whole-hearted actions are the achievers.

Say a firm NO when required and a YES with all your vigor when you are sure about yourself. If you are always in a state of dilemma or have a wavering mind, you will arrive nowhere.

All great stories happened because someone took a courageous decision…

Cheers!