TALENT

This post comes at a the most opportune time when we are witness to one of the most talented personalities of world sports, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s extraordinary career graph and phenomenal achievements culminating in his scoring his 50^th  century recently. He epitomizes the crux of today’s post TALENT where he has demonstrated that True Ability Lets Efforts Naturally Triumph.

What is remarkable about his phenomenal success is the fact that he has no real family pedigree or background to boast of. He has carved his own niche by sheer hard work, consistency and self belief. Even more amazing is the fact that he started young but more remarkably seems to be at his peak when most cricketers his age have retired or are on the cusp of retiring. The message for all his fans and for those who hope to emulate him is simple; identify ones real talent, work on improving the raw talent and honing it to a level of expertise and have the self belief to let your natural abilities guide you to the peak of success. 

Each of us is actually blessed with some strength that doubles up as a talent when the energies are directed towards positive goals. Some have natural flair for number crunching and mathematics, others for the fine  arts like writing, painting, dramatics, still others the gift of listening and empathizing and they make wonderful counselors and friends and the list is endless. The difficulty is in recognizing it because most times our modesty prevents us from acknowledging it or our ego blinds us from accepting that we have no flair. The world is also full of talented people who never realized their potential simply because they were not prepared to hone their ability by hard work and persistence. It is vital that we take the effort to fine tune our abilities and master it and even then work on raising the bar. Hard work becomes harder when the going is tough, we hit a personal bad patch and if our confidence is lost and the critics are training their guns on us. That is when self belief will help us regain our confidence restore our pride and allow our abilities to flower and bear fruit.

In day to day life too we can leverage our TALENT in innovative ways be it merely doing our regular work in an extraordinary way or using our gifts to bring good cheer to others or by being simply useful and proactive in crisis situations. That is when we realize that our True Ability Lets Efforts Naturally Triumph.

Action Points:

1. Identify a role model for your self. Now enumerate the talents that the person possessed that you believe was instrumental in them achieving success. Do you know of incidents from the person’s life where he /she overcame many odds to achieve their success? What are the two qualities they posses that you believe would be very useful for you to cultivate?
2. Identify your strengths on the following parameters

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Academic skills
• Human Relations skills
• Creative ability
• Capacity to work

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

HOPE

When things go wrong, quite often we panic, we get frustrated and we despair. The negative emotions add to our anxieties and worries and make it hard for us to see things in the correct perspective. The net result is that we end up being very cautious, very suspicious and find it hard to savor the good moments in life. However instead of getting flustered if we can redirect those emotions by some positive thoughts and energy we will be blessed with HOPE and we will be Holding On to Positive Expectations.

Many times we see an event as something dreadful and irreversible and then we find it hard to focus on the anything positive about the whole situation. Assume a close family member is diagnosed with cancer, our immediate reaction is to visualize the worst scenario where the cancer has spread and the days of the individual are numbered. On the other hand if calmed down and accepted the reality with equanimity, we would examine the matter logically, factually and optimistically looking out for signs of HOPE to which we can cling on to. Yes hope can be generated by taking a cool, calm and unhurried view of events as they unfold, even if they are fraught with colossal bad news. The secret lies in remaining calm and unruffled but being alert to the evolving happenings.

To understand what it means to be calm and unruffled and yet be alert, observe a duck paddling in the water. They glide gracefully on the surface but below the water their fins are furiously paddling. Take a leaf out of the ducks style and adapt it to our own life and presto we have got the hang of the basics of generating hope. When calm we can think more clearly, be more proactive and hang on optimistically. By merely being calm we will reduce our anxiety and possibly think clearly but it still won’t be enough to trigger hope. To trigger hope in us we need to anticipate possible favorable outcomes, discount bad news with some signs of positivity and squeeze out the tiniest ray of hope that may exist in the circumstance.

Sometimes the key to HOPE lies in associating with people who are stronger mentally, naturally optimistic by nature and those who can stand by you in any crisis. Finding such friends is a blessing and you can find them when you seek them out. Sometimes they may seem to be people who are carefree and happy go lucky; others may portray an air of invincibility and arrogance, and there could be others who seem timid and aloof but they have one thing in common; a strong heart and a calm head. It is best if we can emulate their silent trait when in a crisis or else hold on them when in deep trouble and you will miraculously experience HOPE when all seems lost and suddenly you will be Holding On to Positive Expectations.

Action Points:

1. Look back at a crisis situation you faced and recollect the pessimistic thoughts that went through your mind. Now look at how the crisis finally ended; did u panic in vain? Were you calm enough to tackle the crisis with fortitude and HOPE? What was the learning point from that episode?
2. Assume you are traveling abroad and you have been mugged and lost your passport and purse and all valuables. You wake up in a hospital with the cops questioning you. What will be the next 5 moves you will make? Whom will you call first? What will your message be ?

 Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com

MUSIC

Music must have always existed since the time of creation. The melodious chirping of the birds heralding the new dawn and the mating calls of the birds have always awakened romanticism in human beings and brought about a harmonious peace and tranquility to everyday living. We find music in the lashing of the waves on the sea shore, in the pecking of a wood pecker, the pitter patter of rain drops and the creaking of the bamboos in the wind. The MUSIC is felt because the Melody Uplifts Stimulates Inspires and Captivates us.

Over time, man has developed the musical notes and ever since music is an integral part of human existence. Perhaps our ability to appreciate music could be a key differentiator between our world and the animal kingdom. What is noteworthy is that like the seven colors of the rainbow there are seven notes in music irrespective of the style of music or its genre. The ambit covered by those seven notes is humongous and so divine that it has spanned generations, has opened up innumerable styles, brought into focus an array of musical instruments and has even us hope in every situation through Music Therapy. While the vast majority of us would be slightly tone deaf and musically challenged if asked to keep time or sing, all of us have that music inside of us which makes us sway and enjoy the melodies that we favor. Yet, we need to be aware that there is a vast repertoire of music which we have never been fortunate to hear nor enjoy.

Each of us may have our favorite styles of music, our personal choice of singers and songs, we may be partial to certain musicians and musical instruments and we may find it hard to appreciate other genres of music, more because of our perceived bias rather because of a first hand dislike. It therefore is important for us to attempt to listen to as many styles as possible. This takes time and effort but the end result will be well worth it. There is as much ecstasy in Western Classical music as in Indian classical music, in the rock and roll of old and the country music be it of the west or of the east or orient. There is divinity in the chamber music, the choral music, the sufi music, the qwallis, the gospel music and bhajjans that pay obeisance to the divine powers. There is mischief and brazenness in the lavanis, the mujras, the cabarets songs and the raunchy ballads of seafarers. This is juxtaposed by the heart rendering gazals and pathos filled love ballads. There is an alien rhapsody in the music of heavy metal, rap music, trance music and the current rage of remixes.

Every possible human emotion is captured by MUSIC and this should spur us to attempt to enjoy as many flavors as possible. Almost all of us are simply taken in by the deluge of Hindi film music and the regional film music apart from the Western album releases. Music in any form liberates the soul and clears the mind touches a chord in the most hardened person and softens the aches and pains of everyday life. The MUSIC is felt because the Melody Uplifts Stimulates Inspires and Captivates us.

Action Points:

1. Check out the local newspaper and identify the various music performances that you must make an attempt to attend. Currently in my home town of Pune, there is the 4 day Sawai Gandharva Classical Musical concerts featuring world renowned Indian classical musicians and singers. There is also the 3 day Western Band concert featuring 50 bands this week. In the coming week there are two different Christmas carols programs and every week end the Poona Music Society features a Classical performance often of international artistes performing Western Music. Make it a point to attend those styles of music that you really haven’t been exposed to so as to give it your undivided attention and perhaps you may discover a treasure trove. 
2. Make an attempt to get to know performing artistes from close quarters to understand their life style, motivation and above all the effort and practice that goes into each performance. You can also attempt to be part of a choir and may suddenly discover your own latent musical talents. If you can beg/ borrow/ buy a variety of music from friends and make it a point to try and appreciate it. If possible take the help of a knowledgeable person to get a better understanding of the nuances of the music.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

FUTURE

For many of us tomorrow seems a long long way off and obviously the future seems light years away. Most of us are happy simply enjoying the moment and possibly reminiscing about the past and would prefer to merely visualize the future as an unavoidable necessity but a welcome one if it has good tidings to bear. What we don’t really factor in, is the reality that the FUTURE is here and we would be better off if we can Foresee Unusual Trends Usually Rapidly Emerging.

On a personal level, the future offers us hope because it offers us the time, the opportunities and the benefit of experience to better ourselves. We can leverage it only if we are aware of this tremendous boon offered by the future and we resolve to use this boon with conviction, confidence and composure. The first step we need to do is spend time thinking about what we want to do in the future. What are our long term goals, what are the intermediary steps to be taken towards attaining these goals and what changes have we to bring in ourselves in order to cope with the future are questions that beg serious answers from us. These questions presuppose the fact that we are optimistic about the future giving us very positive results. However if we take a pessimistic view point about the future, the chances are that we would be reluctant to even dwell on these important questions simply because we have lost hope and therefore fear the answers. E.g Someone with a debilitating illness can give up on the future or cling on to the miracles of science to give deliverance and hence prepares for it.

On a professional level, we need to anticipate the changes that will impact us because of the rapid pace of changes brought about by science and technology. If we are caught in a time wrap or we are unable to adjust to the demands of the changing world, be it in simple things like being tech savvy or more complicated matters as coping with complex investment products we would be completely overrun by the future. We cannot afford the luxury of ignoring the changing world for we are part of it nor can we brush it aside as being not relevant to us because the impact of the changes that come about affects each one of us. Often we ignore the changes in the mistaken belief that we are incapable of adjusting or adapting to it. The reality is that the changes that evolve in the future will suck each one into it and we either learn to accept it or we will perish.

It is the sociological changes of the future that will pose a bigger challenge for us to cope with, because these changes are more subtle, more potent and more unpredictable. The communication revolution be it the mobile phones or the internet have made social networking more popular online than in real life. The generation next has become more inward looking since they have the communication tools to experience the social needs without the hassle of having to socialize. Unfortunately, this has also made them more vulnerable to psychological problems of net addiction, depression, violence etc. There is also the social and cultural ethos that are slowly crumbling like the institution of marriage, the emergence of live in relationships, glorification of voodoo punks and heterosexuality. These changes too bring in opportunities and are also fraught with risks. That is why we need to accept that the FUTURE is here and we would be better off if we can Foresee Unusual Trends Usually Rapidly Emerging.

Action Points:

1. Outline 3 major changes that the mobile phone / net culture will bring about in your life. Do you think your own productivity has been hampered because of the mobile phone and the internet. How do you cope with the pressures of these unavoidable technological changes.
2. Assume that you have the power to make 3 major changes in your life. Outline the three changes that you would aim for and the resultant benefits you hope to derive from it. Now choose the first change you aspired for and list out the action points to actually attempt to make those changes starting now.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

PRESENT

The greatest gift we have is the PRESENT for it is a Prime Resource Emerging Silently Evolving Now Today. Today as your are reading this remember that you have not just this moment but the numerous moments that make up the day completely at your disposal to use in a manner that will bring you a sense of achievement, happiness and satisfaction. Each moment has so much of potential and it is available to us and freely and comes to us quietly with a million possibilities that keep changing moment to moment. At this moment a phone could divert your attention and you may move away from reading this post or a sudden thought of a pending job will lure you away from this post and thus does each present moment evolve.

The present is perhaps the most valuable resource that a person can be blessed with. It gives each one of us opportunity, hope and the possibilities of change which we can grab inured to evolve and grow. The present moment comes freely, reaches all and passes by silently neither drawing attention to itself nor holding back its bounty from anyone. These are the moments that one should grasp to make, enhance and mend relationships, utilize productively to grow mentally, emotionally, spiritually and materialistically and to bring about change within our selves, the environment around and positively influence the people who we come in contact with directly or indirectly.

To make the best use of the present, it is essential that one is aware of the tremendous power that each moment carries. This awareness will make us ponder, plan and put to use the moments as they charge in. When we ponder over how to use the present we can clarify to ourselves the priorities to be assigned to each moment and thereby evolves a plan. Many of us often ignore this step because it involves us making a systematic study and a firm commitment. We prefer to live moment to moment and therein lies the root cause of our many frustrations, failures and fears. By planning we have systematically put in place the perfect net to catch each moment lest they go waste. The moment caught is useless if we do not proactively utilize it for our own growth and the general good of the society and the environment at large.

Look at your watch or a clock ticking away now. Ask yourself if this is the present moment that had to be utilized in reading this post? If you think you had to do something else at the present moment, you would be feeling a touch guilty; else you would feel that it was the best use of the present that you have made. It is when we can see the PRESENT as a gift from the almighty, that we would value it more and take greater care of it, for it then dawns on us that it is a Prime Resource Emerging Silently Evolving Now Today.

Action Points:

1. Assuming that 8 hours is for sleeping, broadly outline the major constituents of your time usage for the remaining 16 hours in the day under the following categories

• Personal time
• Time at work
• Social Time
• Family Time

1. Procrastination (the habit of postponing things) is one of the major evils that rob us of the present. Right now, jot down at least three learning points from the above post that you would like to implement. Do not give any excuse for not jotting down points because the excuses are the cancer cells that spread the disease of procrastination. If possible also write down your action plan to implement the points jotted down by you. (Now experience the pleasure of having utilized the present very fruitfully)

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

PAST

When we look back on the days gone by, we are overcome with a wide range of emotions. There could be wonderful memories of very happy times and that could be suddenly tempered by some memories of very sad and distressing moments. We can recollect moments of pure ecstasy and recount some of the very scary and fearful moments too. A peep into the past could also trigger those deeply etched moments of tenderness and affection and there could be some starkly contrasting remembrances of embarrassment and humiliation. All in all when we look back at the PAST we see Poignant Associations Standing Testimony to it.

It is commonly spoken of the past as ‘those good old days’ and the younger generation wonder what was so good about those days, which by today’s standards were so primitive and tough. Imagine the past with no computers, no technology, not TV, no mobiles. Imagine a past with no cars, no mechanization, no electricity and no democracy. That our forefather survived the ravages of famine, floods, small pox and similar numerous illnesses seem like a miracle. When seen against the backdrop of the primitive technology that prevailed then, the lack of medical awareness and rampant illiteracy it is very hard to comprehend those times as wonderful days of the past.

Those good old days were times when divorce was a word that was never even coined; where family meant grandparents, uncle aunts, children of all ages all happily living under one roof. In times of great joy and tragedy, family included the whole village who would joyously celebrate and emotionally mourn giving us the comfort of sheer numbers to share our joys and sorrows with. The tough lessons learnt in the school called life, enabled us to get more than just a simple learning; it gave each one an education in living. Life was less complicated, more intimate, by and large stress free and definitely good.

As an individual, the good old days bring forth the nostalgia of the love and affection showered by our parents, our uncles and aunts, our cousins, our neighbors and friends. It triggers a void that we feel of our carefree days in school and college, the pranks, mischief we indulged in and the pride of our accomplishments overwhelm us. There could also be some bitter sweet memories of our first love, our first kiss our broken affairs, our crushes and the punishments and shouting we were subject too. The memories come flooding in and most times we are overcome with emotions about the wonder of those days that will never come back. Yet we revel in slipping often into the PAST for there are Poignant Associations Standing Testimony to it.

Action Points:

1. Make a collage of your old photographs. You can scan it and even make a power point presentation. Try to give some appropriate captions and enjoy the experience of the numerous emotions that are associated with the photographs. Perhaps you can prepare one and gift it to your parents who celebrate their 25th /30th/40th/50th wedding anniversary. Maybe you can give a memorable collage as my niece did for her older sisters 18th birthday gift.
2. Take a walk down memory lane and write down the following:

• The best gift that anyone ever gave you.
• The worst mistake you ever made
• The saddest moment of your life
• The biggest surprise you ever got
• The best festival/ wedding/birthday celebration you ever attended
• The one act someone did for you that touched you very very deeply

 Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog

www.actspot.wordpress.com

LIGHT

Diwali the festival of lights is not just a colorful and vibrant festival but is a celebration that transcends all divides of color, caste, religion, sex, race and any form of inequality. It is very significant that the festival is symbolically characterized by illumination of light, which in many ways helps us see things better, adds color to the environment and spreads cheer all around. When we reflect on this we can clearly see that LIGHT is easily identified as Lovingly Illuminating Gods Heavenly Touch.

Significantly, we use the word light in varied contexts, all of which have a very positive and have a very constructive meaning. One can light up the home or darkened place with the light and one can point to someone we love deeply and say he/ she is the light of our life. Spreading knowledge is equivalent to spreading light. The obvious conclusion one can draw is that light has that special touch that makes it so precious for everyone of us. While sunlight was always taken for granted, moonlight has always evoked romantic ideas, been the ephemeral symbol of love and has been the source of light for savage man during the nights, long before he discovered fire as another source of light. Both the SUN and the MOON have been light sources that stand Eternal testimony to the reality, that they Lovingly Illuminate Gods Heavenly Touch.

The stars have also long fascinated the human race. Over thousands of years, star gazers have used that light source to identify a pattern in God’s plan for this universe. With the constellations illuminating the sky and the North Star guiding the lost way farer and seafarer, the light source became the dominant sign post that celebrated the wonder of God’s creation called night. The distinctive pattern of the star has also made it the obvious choice to represent light on all festive occasions in almost all countries and cultures. 

LIGHT in the form of lit candles or lit lamps, is still the most important item in any auspicious and significant event be it a religious event, a cultural event or a simple birthday. Candle light vigils add to the solemnity of a tragedy and when used in protests signify the abiding pain of the protestors. Notice that the interplay of light is used to convey more than what words can; it is used to denote a connect with our ancient past where fire source was the first artificially created light source, it represents a continuity with tradition despite the progress of mankind and the use of modern laser light based shows as also the laser based technologically advanced medical treatments showcase the immense potential and power of light. It simply reinforces our belief therefore that LIGHT Lovingly Illuminates Gods Heavenly Touch.

Action Points:

1. Draw a star with as many corners as the number of alphabets in your first name. eg. JACK has five alphabets. So draw a star with 4 corners. If the name is AUGUSTINE draw a star with 9 corners. Starting with the top most point enter the alphabets of your name in order going clockwise. This is a personal star of honor you have designed for your self and as tribute to your personal efforts and individual personality.
2. On a clear night spend some time trying to identify the patterns formed by the stars. Take the help of some professional star watchers too and appreciate the wonder of nature and the power in those small twinkling lights millions of light years away. Also look out for the full moon nights and appreciate it. Switch off the lights and then light different types of candles and see the effect of the light. Go for a candle light dinner and enjoy the ambience and the setting whilst enjoying the dinner.  
3. In a dark room light a candle and then using the shadows formed by your hands and fingers create images on the wall. Also do a YOU TUBE search to see  how skilled people can use the interplay of light and shadows to create wonders.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on - 

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now. 

You are also invited to visit our daily inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

A little gift for my readers...

My previous post on GIFT -Give Imaginatively  Freely Thoughtfully actually promoted me to attempt to give my wonderful readers a little GIFT. Coincidentally, while ruffling through some old files and papers I came across this poem which I had written long years ago. I thought it appropriate to share this with you as my little GIFT to you and thank you for your warm appreciation and patronage of my blog.

There are three more reasons for me to share this poem with you
 - the first is that the poem is a humorous one and
 - the second is to give you an insight into my other interests other than churning out ACRONYMS 
 - the third is to give you a peek of my novice side and my evolution over the years.

As usual your feedback, comments and appreciation would be a great encouragement.

Happy Reading !

Excuse me please…

Lady, I have longed to tell you

A fact that you never knew

I am keen to make you wise

And I ain’t telling lies/

The matter is plain and simple

Yet for words I do fumble

Though my heart yearns to tell it

My mind cautions me against it.

I am sure that now you are wondering

And desperately pondering;

Trying hard to elicit what the fact is

That has unfortunately eluded you Miss.

Now I can’t help but tell you

The fact that has come to view,

For, every man is now slyly looking

Excuse me ma’m- your slip is showing!

                                                           B.Jacob

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

GIFT

We often visualize gifts as being something that is tangible and presented particularly on occasions. No doubt this is the most common form of what a gift is and often we are obliged to give gifts as a social obligation and a societal norm. This is also the precise problem with the concept of gifts; it is not a spontaneous gesture nor a purely voluntary expression. More importantly, we are constrained by the concept of tangibility and value more than appropriateness of the gift and the occasion or feeling that must underline the gift giving. The best GIFT is that which we Give Imaginatively Freely Thoughtfully

The most common occasions for gift giving are festivals, weddings, birthdays and send offs. These occasions are often influenced by societal norms rather than pure emotion of love and affection. The real value of the gift is in the feelings that are conveyed by the choice of the gift and the sentiments with which it is given. When we gift it must not be perceive as an obligation or else we do not give a gift thoughtfully. A good gift is well thought out and the receiver’s likes and dislikes considered, the suitability to the occasion clearly understood and the affection and sentiment to be conveyed will be reflected in the choice of the gift.

A gift given without any compulsion is often the most well suited because there are no constraints that limit the choice. If we are bound by the compulsion of returning in equal measure for what we have received or psychological coerced into giving because it is the norm or forced to make a show o giving because it is expected of us, then the tasteless choice of the gift and the poor grace with which it is given negates the very essence of gift giving.

Imagination is the real key to giving gifts. To begin with, a gift need not be really tangible, pricey or colossal. A smile is the most wonderful and spontaneous gift that can be easily shared and treasured by one and all. Empathy and sympathy are too emotions that are priceless as gifts when shared at the right moment with the right people. A thank you card, a letter of appreciation, a note recollecting the wonder years send to a long lost friend are gifts that are priceless for the receiver and really treasured by them more than the diamonds and gold that people consider valuable. Extending a hand of friendship, giving someone in trouble a helping hand, enquiring into the welfare of someone who is ill or in pain, helping an accident victim, spending time with the inmates of hospitals, old age homes, orphanages etc. are GIFTs which we Give Imaginatively Freely Thoughtfully

Action Points: 

1. Make a list of your favorite school teachers, former neighbors, former classmates/ colleagues etc with whom you have lost touch. You will have take the effort of locating these people and then sending them a gift; it could be a tangible gift, a card or letter fondly remembering them, it could be a personal visit or telephone call etc. Pay attention to the response you get, notice your own feelings and emotions and ask yourself if you got a better gift in return for your gift.
2. Make it a habit to take time out to buy gifts for those whom you want to give something. Make it a point to visualize the person, their choices, the likings and dislikes, when making your choice. Make a list of people whom you simply feel like giving a gift because you love them/ appreciate them/ you feel they could be in need of a surprise. Now surprise them with something different and give it spontaneously.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

FEEL

We all have a wide variety of thoughts and they translate into varied feelings depending on the situation and the setting. When you FEEL you are actually Finding Enough Emotional Liberation. One can have a variety of feelings, love being the most predominant one, followed by liking, affection, acceptance etc. on the positive side and anger, hate, irritation, annoyance etc on the negative side. 

Emotions come to the fore only when the thought process is ignited by the need for expression overtly or covertly. While romantics have often highlighted the ‘love at first sight’ theory, the reality is that love is an outcome of a feeling that comes to fore over time. Liking, affection and acceptance follow a similar pattern. Occasionally, anger can be triggered by a sudden tidal way of negative emotion. However most times even the negative emotions are built up over a period of time and then one finds it hard to suppress it and then it comes out in a very expressive way. 

While most feelings are expressed verbally, it is the body language that really mirrors the feeling. The facial expressions, the proximity, the tone, the choice of words, the rate of speech etc. all reflect the feel of the person. Feelings can be expressed in many other ways particularly by way of gifts, cards, flowers etc. when there are positive feelings to be expressed. On the other hand negative emotions are easily understood by the profanity, foul language, use of expletives and loud tone and violent expressions emoted.

When our feelings are made obvious, we are communicating our innermost thoughts, passions and reactions. This is a key need for a human being to unburden, connect  and grow When we unburden our negative emotions we are like a pressure cooker which has to let out steam lest it bursts with the pressure. We connect when we share our hurt and sorrows, spread joy and happiness and express our annoyance and frustrations with those around us and in particular with those who are close to us. In expressing our feelings of hope, ambition, fears, passions and wants we grow in faith, spirit and hope.

As we journey along the pathway of life, we realize that life will always be an emotional roller coaster ride. We have to traverse it by ourselves but the wonderful part is we have enough companions on our journey. If we have to make this long ride smooth, joyous and successful we have to reconcile to the fact that we can never do it all alone. Our companions will help us ensure that we share the burdens, encourage each other, appreciate one another’s strengths and support those who are falling behind. We can give such help and receive it in ample measure only when we FEEL strongly about our journey, our companions and ourselves and suddenly we are no longer inhibited and we Find Enough Emotional Liberation to express what we FEEL. 

Action Points:

1. Introspect and see what are the actions, words and expressions you use when you are very very angry. Also observe which people  you normally choose to vent your ire and frustrations on. (Most times they are people who are very close to you for you unconsciously realize they are more forgiving)
2. How easily do you forgive others? Do you carry a grudge in your heart for long? Are you able to easily say sorry and accept your mistakes? 
3. What is your favorite expression of joy/ happiness and delight. When you express your happiness do you get upset if the others don’t share your enthusiasm or fully partake in you joy?
   

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com

HUG

While a shake hand is the most common form of greeting, it is the HUG that conveys a myriad of emotions without a word being spoken simply because it is a Heavenly Universal Gift. The beauty of a hug is that it transcends emotions, genders, age barriers and cultures. Obviously it has universal acceptance, can be spontaneously exchanged and enriches both parties simultaneously. A hug also has the extraordinary powers to encourage, console, rejoice, comfort and be ecstatic.

When we are overjoyed and want to share our joy our most spontaneous gesture is to hug the nearest friendly person around. This is not just a ritual but a pressing need for both companionship and recognition. The most visible sign of this behavior is on the sports field. When a goal is scored or a point is scored or when a team has won the members, the coaches and support staffs all exude in the joy of their victory and hug each other. A hug is also most noticeable when we are meeting up with friends and relatives after a very long time. See the liberal use of hugs at bus stations train stations and airports. 

Ironically a hug is also the most commonly used gesture on solemn sorrowful moments and to convey sympathy. In fact a hug conveys empathy as no other form of expression. No words are really needed to express feelings of pain, condolence, understanding and oneness as a hug. At funerals a hug is the most universal gesture that packs so much of empathy that the grieved can actual mitigate their sorrow by passing it on in small doses to each one of those present through a hug. Something similar happens when we hug someone who has just been given some terrible news like the loss of a loved one or the confirmation of a debilitating disease. A hug is also confirmation of acceptance of the persons failures, an expression of support no matter what and an epitome of understanding that a failure would not severe a relationship. The team member who misses a free throw, a penalty taker who misses his shot, an athlete who misses the win by a whisker or a favorite team that disappoints are consoled and an expression of solidarity confirmed by a hug by all the team members and fans.  

In normal times a HUG is the best expression of intimacy, closeness, warmth and caring. Hugging a child is perhaps a blissful moment in any one’s life for there is spontaneity and pure delight in that expression. The real beauty of a hug lies in the fact that the HUG leverages the power of personal touch both literally and figuratively to reach to the heart. Hugging your pet, perhaps a dog and seeing it wagging its tail incessantly is a moment of pure bliss as much as hugging your parents or your child for in those moments you are actually HUGGING LIFE ( Love Inside Finding Expression click here http://poweract.blogspot.com/2010/01/life.html to read more on LIFE) and sharing the one of nature’s precious Heavenly Universal Gift. 

Action Points:

1. Touch is one human expression that is never really used because of cultural differences as well as inhibition. A handshake and a hug are two common universally accepted means of literally and figuratively reaching out to a person. When the need arises, use these expressions to offer support, understanding and concern. Remember the lonely people in old age homes and our own family members who crave for the warmth of a touch.
2. Look at equivalent expressions of a hug to understand the power of touch. Chest butting, high fives, back slapping and a kiss are those that come to mind immediately. Use these variations appropriately to touch the lives of all those whom you in contact with, for the world can do with a little more warmth and a touch of love.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com

PEACE

The one elusive gift that the human race craves for is PEACE for it is only then that one can enjoy Pure Ecstasy And Calm Environment. Peace comes about when there is harmony around and that is a real challenge because of the competing stimuli, the opposing ideologies, the nefarious activities of disruptive elements and the lack of trust amongst people. Peace is experience when we are stress free, guilt free and happy. This serene condition is a rarity for it is human nature to fret and fume over things that don’t go our planned way or because of the sudden surprises that fate springs on us.

To enjoy peace of mind one has to work towards ensuring that our value systems, our actions and our attitude is well synchronized and tuned to a positive, proactive and purposeful direction. By and large our genetics, our upbringing and our character would deeply influence our value systems. Our circumstances, our needs and our personal ethics would determine our actions. Our thought process, our self belief, our tolerance levels and experiences in life would have a major bearing on our attitude to life. It is equally important that we are clear about what we seek in life for then we can establish some goals which in turn would make our life more purposeful, positive and encourage us to be proactive. Peace of mind is a natural outcome of such a living. 

We can play a vital role in ensuring that our environment is peaceful and serene.  To that end we must ensure that the setting of the physical, social, economic and political environment is peaceful and calm.  We can play an active role as a vigilant citizen who champions the cause of environment protection, energy conservation and social hygiene. We can be both activists as well as proactive proponents who set an example for others to follow.  By promoting religious harmony, by attempting to bridge the social chasm by not allowing divisions on the basis of caste and creed and by pushing the agenda of national integration we can set the example of peaceful co-existence. We need to be conscientious citizens paying our tax dues diligently, be vigilant about how the tax payers money is spent and be active participants in the democratic process by exercising our franchise. By doing our duty and setting an example we can influence others and at the same time enjoy the fruits of a better and PEACEful external environment.

Ultimately we can enjoy the PEACE that we seek so much by developing our self confidence, standing up for our rights, diligently discharging our duties and setting an example for others to follow. We would then have nothing to fear, everything to look forward to and be optimistic about the future. With no cares and no fears we are left with the opportunity to enjoy Pure Ecstasy And Calm Environment and enjoy the PEACE that comes with it.

Action Points:

1. Examine your own restlessness if any. Ask yourself if it is because of a lack of a goal, lack of self confidence or because of guilt. Rectify the errors that have been suddenly made aware to you. Do you feel the peace and calm entering your being?
2. Take up a social cause eg. Environment protection or Energy saving etc. Find various ways and means to get involved in it. Be completely immersed in it as and when you can. Experience the joy and PEACE that comes out of knowing that you play an important part in propounding your cause.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

SPIRIT

The true worth of a person is revealed in the SPIRIT that he/ she displays when the going is tough and the chips are down. It is in picking up ones self when one stumbles and falls on the highway of life that we See Passion Ignite Response In Time. For many of us setbacks and failures sap our energies, weaken our resolve and tempt us to throw in the towel. At this low ebb in life, we need to review our emotions, regain our confidence and pick up ourselves to fight a fresh battle. It is the SPIRIT within us that will ensure that we can focus on accepting the challenges posed by life and march on with a song on our lips and a prayer in our heart to forge ahead with renewed vigor.

When we are passionate we crave incessantly and it is this craving that acts as the fuel that fodders our desire to succeed. Passion also helps us remain focused on our goals and provides us the motivation to overcome all obstacles and impediments that prevent us from smoothly attaining our goal. In the process it is possible that we try in vain but fail to succeed in our mission and we get disturbed and disheartened. We may also be tempted to give up and pursue some things else in which our heart is really not in. It is at these inflection points that our spirit, powers us with a renewed energy and the spark to gather our wits, recoup our resources and relaunch our efforts to attain our goals.

In pursuing our goals, we are often required to respond appropriately to all situations be it encouraging or demotivating. When the going is good, we need to scale up our efforts in order to ensure that we go with the momentum and give the right thrust to our plans and efforts. If we slacken and hope that things will turn out right, we might overtaken by events or competition and our efforts could be in vain. It is our spirit that will ensure that we are always charged up and fired up to step up the pace. When faced with differences, difficulties and desperation, we need to respond calmly and coolly without giving into the temptation to rave and rant or pass on the buck. This is not easy because when the going is tough, it gets tougher to face the heat. It is the person who let his/ her spirit ignite the urge to respond positively and decisively who will triumph.

When we look around and see the numerous people who have overcome personal, financial and social odds and make a success of their lives, we see it as a triumph of their SPIRIT. The contribution of social reformers, freedom fighters and social activists is a classic case of the SPIRIT coming to the fore to sustain them in their agenda of acting as change agents for the welfare and development of society in general and the people in particular.  Believe in yourself and let your SPIRIT guide you to See your Passion Ignite Response In Time and help you succeed in your mission in life.

Action Points:

1. Make a list of activities that excite you and a list of those tasks that you hate to do but have to because you can’t avoid it. The challenge is for you to find some motivation in those routine / boring/ disliked tasks so that you might have some passion injected into it. E.g. There are many men who hate to shave every day. If they saw the task of shaving as a key component of their enhanced features or if they can visualize themselves as exceptionally likable after shaving they would have a new impetus to look forward to shaving every day.
2. Be aware of disruptive and useless passions that make you unpopular and / or make you ineffective. Make an effort to cut out those passions lest they become more of a handicap than an asset. E.g. Some people are passionate about forwarding every SMS message or emails that they feel must be shared. Or there could be others who are so passionate about their philosophical ideologue or sport or political views that they cannot help but inflict it on any and every audience.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

STRIVE

To attain anything in life one must STRIVE for it and that is when you Start Towards Important Victories Everyday. Often we are confused about how and where to being something, simply because the journey ahead seems too long and arduous. The bare minimum requirement for success is making an attempt. If we don’t even attempt anything, it is impossible for anyone to even remotely taste success. The beginning of any task is the when one actually STRIVES to attain success.

There are opportunities galore around us for us to take advantage off. Yet self doubts, a negative attitude and fear of failure hold us back from even striving to explore those opportunities. The opportunities could come disguised as problems, offers too attractive to be true or very simple openings that have tremendous potential that make us wary of them. What is really needed is an urge to explore chances that seem attractive even if we are unsure about the finer aspects of it. E.g., To get a job one needs to have a CV ready and float it to the right potential employers so that there is a fair chance of getting an interview call. Yet many a time we are casual about the quality an contents of our CV, do not make even cursory study of potential employers and reject possible employers on frivolous imaginary grounds.

Other times we fail to strive simply because of a laidback and casual approach, lack of clarity in our minds about what we want and worse of all because we find our efforts being thwarted by our own kin and kith. Sometimes it is our ego that blinds us to opportunities because we are unable to visualize ourselves striving to do what was never even remotely visualized as our calling. A doctor who wants to become a chef will be dissuaded by the sheer outcry from well meaning friends and relatives. Imagine starting a business as an undertaker. The reality is that death is a certainty so clientele is not a problem. However the profession is not viewed very kindly so we avoid it. Off late there are people entering the agricultural space yet they are seen as deviants for there is a rural bias and a down market tag attached to being a new age agriculturalist.

The challenge for each of us is to overcome the pressures be it self inflicted or piled on by others. To overcome the pressure it is imperative that we become more pragmatic, less emotional and enthusiastically goal focused. That is when we really begin to STRIVE and Start Towards Important Victories Everyday

Action Points:

1. List out 3 bad habits that you want to overcome. Make an action plan to begin working on overcoming it. Begin today. To deter you from giving up the effort share your plan with someone who is equally concerned about you overcoming that bad habit and request that person to prod you, punish you and fine you if you do not stick to your plans.
2. Outline 3 positive goals that you would like to achieve during the year. One could be a financial goal like savings, another could be a personal improvement goal like reducing weight and the third could be something for a social cause like spending time in an orphanage or old age home. Ensure that you are disciplined and work on achieving those goals.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/

SHARE

As children we are often encouraged by our parents and teachers to SHARE and this ensures that we Start Helping All Receive Enough. While some of us felt happy to share what ever we had, most of us were more possessive and declined to voluntarily share our possessions unless cajoled or compelled to do so. Ironically, almost all of us coveted what others had and felt hurt and miserable when we denied those goodies by those who were fortunate to own them. Whether it was a ride on a rickety tricycle or sharing a cricket bat or a piece of cake or some cookies, if someone else had it we felt the urge to partake of it.

The psychology of sharing gives us insights into our own mindsets and behavior patterns. Most times we refused to share because we took pride in not just owning something but took perverse pleasure in denying it to others. It could be the latest gadgets or toys that we might not even know how to use or enjoy but we got a strange pleasure in denying someone else the opportunity to explore the wonders of it. Sharing would also expose us to the risk of getting less of the object be it an edible item or less time to enjoy if it were a non edible item. Very high on our risk parameter is the risk of damage/ breakage or appropriation by the borrower. In fact if we look back there must b so much we have hoarded over the years without either using it or enjoying it and with time the object has lost it relevance or utility or has become outdated an stale. Look at the number of old LP records or spool tapes that we refused to let any one borrow. Are there some pens and stationary that we hoarded for use at a good time? Do you have books that have never ever been opened and read but never given to anyone to refer to either?

Now look back at the times when you were the beneficiary of the largesse of some kind friend or understanding elders who let you partake of something that you could never have owned. Perhaps it was learning to cycle on a friend’s bicycle which you fell of from numerous times scraping yourself and damaging the cycle too. The pain of the fall must have long been forgotten but the pleasure of cycling still triggers a warm feeling inside. Imagine you looking longingly at a doll or a ball that you so desperately wanted but could not afford but most surprisingly somehow your parents managed to gift it to you for your birthday. Also recollect the pleasure you derived from bringing wonder, surprise and awe on the faces of those who benefited from your magnanimous gesture of sharing some of your prized possessions. The most common item that one shares is books (unfortunately reading is no longer as popular today) and that apart perhaps you lend someone a suit for his first big date or a cherished cosmetic to a young lady on her prom night.

When one has to SHARE, it is important that we do it with good grace. There is no fun in sharing grudgingly, unwillingly or reluctantly for the feeling of bad grace pervades and dampens the spirit of sharing. It is equally vital that we share not just from what we can spare but real sharing is giving out of your little. Remember sharing lunch during school days, with friends who craved your mother’s special dishes and you let them eat it all, saying there is more at home for me when you knew that there wasn’t any left. When giving off clothes you have outgrown ensure that it is mended, washed and really presentable. It is worthwhile remembering that when you SHARE you ensure that you Start Helping All to Receive Enough and since what goes around comes around you will soon get your SHARE too.

Action Points:

1. Make a list of all the things you have collected/hoarded/ stored which you do not visualize using in the immediate future. Against each item write down the name/s of someone who will appreciate it or make good use of it. Work out a schedule to share these items that you no longer need. Ensure that you have a big smile and a warm hug when giving these goodies off.
2. Some of the simplest things that you can share include a warm smile/ a pat on the back/ lavish praise/ heartfelt sympathy/ a thank you note/ respectful acknowledgement / volunteering your time and efforts

The answers to the questions in the previous blog dated 4^th August 2010 are

• H _ _ n   (4)   HYMN
• G_ p _ y (5)   GYPSY
• M _ t _   (4)    MYTH
• R_y_h_   (5)   RHYTHM

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/ 

THINK

There have many people who have asked me how I manage to come up with a variety of new and apt acronyms week after week. The answer is simple; you just need to THINK and that means one has to Try Hard to Invite New Knowledge. Last weeks post also had a small exercise as part of the Action Points, where again you had to think a bit and then get the answers. If you haven’t got all the answers make one more attempt before you check the answers at the end of today’s post. What is important is that one makes a good attempt at exercising ones grey cells before one calls it quits. Even more important is that we leverage our ability to think logically, creatively, rationally and philosophically to solve our personal problems; be it one of relationships, personal growth or the challenges posed by daily life.

Logical thinking is what we are most familiar with since most of our lives we spend in logical thinking. We have rules for grammar, mathematics, science and we have similar rules of discipline, decorum and decency, almost all of it following a logical order. Our day to day life is overwhelming influenced and controlled by logical thinking. Most of the problems we are confronted with are first sought to be over come by logical analysis and correspondent logical answers. The problem with logical thinking is that it confines our thoughts to set patterns and it does not have a provision for emotion and feelings to be juxtaposed in the process. Our creative thinking is sparked through the softer side of formal learning like arts, craft, debates, essay writing etc. We nurture our creative thinking by honing the skills by being inventive in playing pranks, finding excuses to escape punishment, by being curious and making new discoveries which open our eyes to new possibilities and by pushing the boundaries of our established thinking into the realms of imagination, fantasies and wishful thinking. E.g. When one blows into a balloon we can inflate it. Someone wondered what would happen if we fill helium gas which is lighter than air into the balloon and suddenly you had balloons that could float in air. Someone decided to see if the balloon was made gigantic in size and filled with hot air if it could take a joy ride using the original principle of the helium gas and soon we had hot air balloons being used to soar up.

Rational thinking mirrors logical thinking but it is generously sprinkled with abundant doses of feelings, sensations, humanness and if required laced with a generous helping of creative inputs. E.g. An eye for an eye logically sounds like a the most appropriate system to ensure fairness to a victim but to the rational mind sounds very barbaric. With a healthy dose of creativity we have established the judiciary system to ensure that the guilty are made accountable and the victims given fair justice. Philosophical thinking focuses on marrying the various types of thinking into a process of self fulfillment. Philosophers study, analyze, explore, and propound the ideal thought process that attempts to capture their understanding of harmonious day to day living. Human nature seeks answers to complex questions like the origin of life, the existence of God, afterlife etc. and philosophical thinking attempts to fulfill that quest.

At various times each of us indulge in these varied styles of thinking. When we desperately seek answers we alternate between these styles rapidly and pick up the answer that suits us. Many a time the answers thrown up by each style contradict each other and confuse us. We are then forced to THINK and Try Hard to Invite New Knowledge that will offer us a clearer path forward.

Action Points:

1. Assume you are in a museum that has some of the finest paintings by the world masters including paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso and Rembrandt. Suddenly you become aware of a fire raging. You can save only one of those priceless works of art. Which one of those priceless treasures would you save? (This was a question posed by a leading newspaper and the best answer they awarded the prize to will feature in the next blog post. Meanwhile you can send in your answers as a comment to this post.)
2. Here are 4 words in English which do not contain a vowel. Can you fill in the blanks and identify the words? The number of alphabets that make up the word are given in brackets.

• H _ _ n   (4)
• G_ p _ y (5)
• M _ t _   (4)
• R_y_h_   (5)

The answers to the questions of the previous blog post dated 26th July 2010 are as under:

2E and 1N on a F = 2 ears and 1 nose on a face
S is B (Hint it is a well known phrase) = Small is Beautiful
5 T on a F = 5 toes on a foot
3 W on a T = 3 wheels on a tricycle
B B B S & T T L S = Ba ba black sheep & Twinkle twinkle little star

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/  is focused on

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/