Blog

When we consume antibiotics, we need them.
Right now!

We don’t need vitamins right now.
If we consume them though, we may not need antibiotics in the future.

Good books, thoughtful conversations, observing and learning, are vitamins.

We don’t need them right now. However, if we have them, we may not need to have the urgent need for antibiotics in the future.

A vitamin a day keeps antibiotics away!

How to not get affected by criticism?

Is it even possible to not overthink it?

Whenever we are affected by criticism, an important reminder to ask ourselves is – how do we feel when the opposite happens? How do we feel when we hear praise?

Because if we feel really good when someone appreciates us, we unconsciously hand over the remote control to our emotions. That remote control will determine our state of mind for good and for the bad.

To not get affected by criticism, start with not getting affected by praise.

Calmness is power.

“Guruji,” a disciple asked his master, “I want to be as enlightened as you. What is something that you do that could help me get there?”

The master replied with ease, “When I’m hungry, I eat. When I am meditating, I am there. When I’m sleepy, I sleep.”

Perplexed, the disciple asked respectfully, “That is what I do too, how is it different?”

“When I’m eating, I’m only eating food, not thinking about the next task for the morning or the next meeting,” the Guru explained.
“I’m focused right there, neither in the past, nor in the future.”

Presence is the present of the present.

“Be here now.” – Ram Dass

You responded impulsively.

Had no choice.

The matter happened in a spur of a moment.

That, although, is far from the truth.

Between every stimulus (angry human, instant challenge, etc.) and every response (responding with more anger, feeling fearful) there lies a window of 0.25 second.
And in that window, lies our opportunity to choose.

We can choose anger. Or be calm.

We can choose fear. Or be strong to face the situation.

We can choose nothing. Or we can be aware that we have a choice.

Every impulsive decision was not an impulse.

It was a result of giving up the choice to think and respond.

Maybe you’ve opted for a course because your family wanted to.
Or you are still struggling to decide.

Maybe you feel lost in your job.

A lot of people feel this emotion because they feel they have to “settle” down in their 20’s.
You don’t have to!

20’s are meant for exploring, trying out multiple things, and most importantly, never settling.

It’s okay to not know what you need to do.
It’s okay to know that you don’t know.
It’s okay to do something different than what is mentioned in your degree.
It’s okay to not be okay when things are not okay.
It’s perfectly okay (read: important) to pursue your happiness.

The best way to spend your 20’s is realising there is no best way to spend your 20s.

Want to learn a new skill, but don’t have the time?
Want to double your business, but don’t have the time?
Want to network with people, but don’t have the time?

Here’s a question: Who has more time than us?
NO ONE!

All of us have the same 24 hours that you and I have.

Perhaps what we need is to choose where our energy is best spent.
Perhaps what we need is to change where our energy is drained.

“We don’t need more time. We just need to decide.” – Seth Godin

1. Sleep 7+ hours
While it’s “cool” to skip your sleep, our brain’s most development happens only when we sleep.

2. Eat healthy at least 3 times a day; avoid sugar/fried
You won’t see the effect of junk food on your body in your 20s, however, it starts hitting badly once you hit your 30s.

3. Read 15 minutes every day
One of the life changing habits for me!

3. Exercise/Walk 5 times a week
In a healthy body lives a rich mind. Period.

4. Do nothing for 5 minutes everyday – no phone, book, music, person.
Just you, sitting by yourself.

6. Schedule distraction time (of an hour) in a day for social media.
It helps you not get attracted to that “forbidden fruit” and actually look forward to “wasting” your time!

One of the biggest mistakes I made was thinking I will keep my parents happy with the money I make.
I will send them on vacations, buy them things, and make their life comfortable.
But the busier I got, the less happy they were, despite all the things they now had.

The truth is that we have much less time with our parents than we think.
Our parents are going to die, and we have no idea when.
Sadly, we do not have all the time in the world.

So call them.
Tell them you love them.
Thank them.
Spend time with them.

Because all that our parents really want is us spending more time with them.

True relationships do not need things to grow.
They need time.
So be sure to give your loved ones this time.

Productivity expert David Allen invented this rule.

Essentially, our mind always keeps unfinished things in focus.

If you have to complete something but you haven’t done it yet, your mind will keep on distracting you.

It will keep telling you in some way that the work is not done.

So the 2 minute rule says that if you can do something in 2 minutes, do it.

Don’t add it to your to-do list.
Finish it at that time and remove it from your checklist.

You build momentum, reduce your mental load, and sharpen your productivity.

It has become fashionable to startup today.

In the world of Shark Tank, everyone thinks they should start their own business.
Worse, people think that those in a job are losers.
They have sold their soul.
They have become part of a rat race.

That’s a lie.

A corporate job early in your career can shape you up meaningfully.

1. It gives you financial stability. Which sets up a good foundation.
2. It teaches you the power of planning, of systems, of processes.
3. It shows you the magic of teams and how your individual contribution at a micro level comes together with that of several others, to create impact at a macro level.

What is the one thing you have learnt from your job?