PICNIC

A PICNIC is a much looked forward to event in families, amongst friends and certainly amongst office mates. The excitement is in the mere thought there is going to be a lot of fun and that there would be Pleasure In Companionship Nurtured In Change. It may sound strange that people who otherwise spent so much time together, occasionally disagreeing, at times annoying one another and certainly interacting most times find a commonality of purpose and expectation in a picnic.

Part of the charm of the picnic arises from the sheer opportunity to escape from the daily grind and drudgery of mundane chores, the realization that there is an opportunity to laze around and the unlimited opportunity to have a variety of games, fun and food. There is also the anticipation of the unknown, the unplanned and a utopian idea of having a blissful time thrown in between too. Ironically, a successful picnic is always well planned and involves excellent coordination too.

While ‘spontaneity’ is key ingredient that adds luster to the fun of a picnic, it must be viewed only as the topping that flavors the entire picnic. Through spontaneity, individuals display their creative side, their hidden talents, open up more freely and allow others to experience a side of an individuality personality that perhaps was never evident. Another important element that is often overlooked is ensuring ‘inclusivity; of all participants. This is tricky as some people are introverts, others are too boisterous and quite a few could be indifferent. Finally there must someone in charge and a certain amount of discipline to ensure that the picnic goes as per plan.

Getting maximum participation, ensuring many ideas are sought and incorporated, providing for diversity of participants wants and needs are paramount to ensure that a picnic is an exhilarating experience where everyone finds Pleasure In Companionship Nurtured In Change.

Action Points:

1. Make your circular for a picnic more lively by being more creative both in its presentation as well as style. Perhaps you have a theme based picnic e.g. A color code for the dress or a style code for the outfits or you can put some conditions that participants must fulfill e.g. getting one round fruit or vegetable.
2. Group people innovatively for various activities e.g. Group them by height or by date of birth (all born in Jan- Mar, April –Jun etc) or by using a mixer game to help warm up as well as make the groups.

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CHEERS

With the holiday season just over, the one expression that underlined the general feelings of people was their cheerful mood. What reinforced this understanding was the numerous parties and get together ‘s in which everyone clinked glasses with the loud refrain of CHEERS and what was evident was that it was a Collective Happy Exuberant Expression of Rapport Symbolized . Yes young or old, friends and acquaintances, noon or night in the true spirit of fun and frolic would pour a drink and the teetotalers would perhaps make do with a soft drink, but uniformly and with great gusto and spirit would clink glasses and exclaim CHEERS.

Whatever the historic beginning of cheers, it is now the accepted norm to convey more than just bohemia and camaraderie for it encompasses gay abandon and is an inhibited expression of the beginning of ecstatic unadulterated fun time. However what makes the expression CHEERS even more significant is that it is a collective expression mostly shared in turns with a partner, thereby confirming individual affirmation to each other and it symbolically reaffirms the rapport one shares with the other. This implies that there are times when people who do not necessarily share a very close relationship or new acquaintances too can easily bond with simple cheers.

In real life everyone hopes to be cheerful all the time. However that is easier said than done. Maybe the word cheers convey the hope that at least briefly, one can hope to be in good spirits and be happy. Ironically this need to be pepped up and cheered has transcended into a whole new arena of professionally trained cheer girls and cheer leaders performing routines to keep sports audiences and players all fired up and excited.  This is perhaps a far cry from the origins of the word cheers, but it never the less retains the broad spirit and message. 

Cheers has also migrated to a new lexicon where sms and emails end with this small but effective closing. In part it conveys wishes of happiness both of the sender as wells as to the reader. In a broader sense perhaps it is used to take away the formal ending and making it more personalized.  Notwithstanding the origins of the word CHEERS, the subtle transition of the expression, the frequent use of it and the uninhibited manner in which it is expressed, eloquently conveys Collective Happy Exuberant Expression of Rapport Symbolized

Action Points:

1. Do write up on one of the many write up on the origins of the word cheers by clicking this link http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/22/messages/526.html
2. For teetotalers the word CHEERS would be a meaningless ritual when in the company of those having a drink. However don’t let that distract you from experimenting with your ability to be a loyal fan and member of a cheer party for your favorite sporting club/ team.

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Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

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STROKE

For the average person, the word STROKE immediately conjures up a terrible image of a heart attack that leads to death. For the less panicky, depending on their favorite game the work STROKE can have a much more favorable image being seen vividly. The word instantly brings to mind some exquisite backhand down the line stroke or a forehand cross court stroke for tennis buffs and for the cricket enthusiast the same word could trigger images of an array of strokes executed by batsmen over the years. The golf enthusiast won’t be far behind either with some exciting and vivid imagination of his/her dream stroke. However, today we shall focus attention on a less well known but widely accepted and exceptionally useful concept of a psychological stroke which in effect could be seen as Stimulus Transferred Regularly Often Kindles Encouragement.

Broadly there are two types of stokes that one is generally aware of; the positive stroke and the negative stroke. However in real life a large number of people go around without getting any stroke. These are the unfortunate people who end up getting No Strokes and live a lonely life, walk around like lost sheep, lack self pride, feel insignificant and victimized and perceive the world to be against them. With this background we can attempt to understand how the concept of STROKEs has both relevance and utility to each one of us in our everyday life. In fact a better understanding of the topic would enable us to enrich our own life and positively impact the lives of the many people around us. 

While negative strokes ( like getting slapped, shouted at, insulted, blamed etc.) are seen as the most avoidable type of stroke, the subtle reality is that getting No Strokes is perhaps the worst emotional and psychological trauma for a human being especially since we are the most evolved social animal. To appreciate this it is essential that we need to understand what a no stroke situation is. Imagine a prisoner kept in an isolation cell. This is normally done to the most dangerous and violent criminal and the idea is the break the prisoner down since as a social animal he/ she need the company of other human beings. While none of us may experience this kind of isolation, imagine the plight of a machine operator working an 8 hour shift or a bus driver seated all alone in the driver’s seat without the benefit of frequent human interaction. Some may have had the experiences of forcibly being isolated when suffering from chicken pox and apart from the suffering from the illness, the loneliness and forced rejection by others may have worsened the trauma. 

When subjected to no strokes, the human tendency is to seek some stroke even if it is a negative stroke. An understanding of this reality can perhaps explain why last benchers in class are often disruptive, naughty and mischievous. This also could provide a clue to why bus a driver keeps blowing the horn or revs the engine of the bus whilst at a traffic signal provoking angry stares and possibly shouts and abuses from others around. 

Ideally every one craves  positive strokes. A smile is the simplest, cheapest and most effective positive stroke. A pat on the back, a word of praise and appreciation are other common means of extending a positive stroke. Positive strokes are of two types. When the stroke is freely given without any expectation it could be called a positive unconditional stroke whereas a positive stroke given with an expectation is a positive conditional stroke. An example of the latter would be a parent offering a reward for doing well in exams or a person obliging another in the hope of getting a return favor latter. Obviously the best possible stroke is a POSITIVE UNCONDITIONAL STROKE for that is when Stimulus Transferred Regularly Often Kindles Encouragement.

Action Points:

1. Over the next 1 week make a list of the different people with whom you had a chance to interact and who gave you strokes and classify the same into negative, positive unconditional , positive conditional and no strokes. For the same list of people and situations outline what kind of strokes you gave or times when you didn’t give any stroke. Examine your emotions for each recording.
2. What kind of strokes would you normally give to the following people

• A widower who is considered a crank neighbor by others
• Your boss or school/ college principal whom you meet on the road suddenly
• Your former girlfriend/ boy friend who you unexpectedly meet at a party
• The person at the check out counter who is slow, confused and obviously not well trained in his./ her job
• A key team member who did not turn up for a match because of an emergency that occurred about which you are not convinced.
• The person who scored first place by one mark over you.

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Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

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LAUGH

One of the most distinctive features of the human race is our ability to LAUGH. Invariably a good laugh as often as possible is recommended as the best therapy for a long, stress free and wholesome life. The essence of laughter lies in its uninhibited spontaneity and its accessibility to all, no matter what the circumstance or time. Laughter is usually reserved for comic happenings, a sharing of a joke or a wit and is the best stress buster if judiciously indulged in. It lightens the mind, frees the heart of anxieties perhaps momentarily and creates a bond between those around even if they are strangers. More than anything else, the strength of a good laugh lies in its positivity, its dynamism and its ability to help people share in the happiness of the moment by   the Loud Appreciation Usually Given Heartily.

Can one leverage the power of laughter? The answer to this question holds the key to the success of many people.  All of us spontaneously laugh when we see a comedy movie, read a good joke or enjoy the funny antics of a clown or some clownish behavior. However successful people leverage the power of laughter to enhance our self esteem, leadership skills and popularity. You too can enhance your popularity rating, improve your interpersonal skills and accelerate the pace of your growth and success by paying attention to the following 3 mantras related to your ability to LAUGH.

Learn to laugh at yourself. There will invariably be times when you become the butt of jokes unwittingly perhaps. One’s ability to laugh at one’s self determines how others view your maturity, your ability to take criticism and your temperament. Those who have perfected the art of laughing at themselves, occasionally use this art to poke fun at themselves and thereby endear themselves to the public at large. Gandhiji for example has drawn attention to his rather shabby handwriting and his ungainly features especially his ears and thereby making himself endearing to his audience. It was Pope John XIII who refereeing to his impoverished family background stated that there are 3 ways to poverty; farming, gambling and womanizing and then he went on to add with a chuckle, my father chose the most boring method of the three.

Ensure sarcasm as a means to evoke laugher is avoided. Sarcasm is actually making fun of others and thereby evoking laughter. The trouble with sarcasm is that its intent is suspect, the target is usually someone who cannot hit back and while there could a roar of laughter, there would be at least one individual who would be seething with rage for being picked upon. Sarcasm as a means to evoke a good laugh is fraught with the danger of others becoming wary of the sharp wit, the hurt to the individual outweighing the peals of laughter and an unspoken heaviness in the atmosphere despite them laughter.

Share, spread and sprinkle laughter wherever you go. There is a popular misconception that most of us are not naturally gifted to contributing to a good laugh. The simplest thing that one can do is heartily laugh at what one finds funny. If possible even compliment the person evoking the laughter. With a little daring you can even share a good joke or make a pertinent wisecrack and lighten up things. However avoid all tendencies to share smutty jokes, forward indiscriminately sms jokes and email jokes and watch out for jokes with racial, religious, cultural overtones. It is also rude to interrupt and tell the punch line of a joke told by another just because you have heard it. Nothing spreads as much cheer and evokes an uproarious laughter as telling a joke on yourself. You can be sure that if you are the butt of the joke you share, there will definitely be Loud Appreciation Usually Given Heartily.

Action Points

1. Think of your three favorite jokes. Can you narrate this in an interesting way without forgetting the punch line?
2. Think of three people who you have a healthy respect for. Is their ability to laugh or evoke a laugh one of their strengths that endear him/ her to you? Can you think of 2 people who are really fun to be with? Can you think of why they are so popular?

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

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now. 

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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

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CLAP

The most universal form of appreciation world over is clapping. It a Clear Loud Appreciative Praise for the person /event/ moment. A CLAP is simple to perform, is often spontaneous, energizes the people clapping and the those receiving it and heightens the moment to a new level. The wonder of clapping is that it cn be engaged in by anyone who can feel the surge of positive emotion be it a child, a teenager, an adult or the old and the infirm.  

A clap is loud, it can be rhythmic, it galvanizes everyone, it conveys a common feeling that cannot be expressed in words and yet is understood by everyone in the same sense. It needs no clue, but can occasionally be ill timed , partial as is the case when you are supporting a team and can be conveniently used even to convey displeasure or disinterest as is done when people indulge in slow rhythmic clapping to shut up a long winded speaker or an unpopular point of view.

On the other end of the spectrum is the standing ovation, where the audience not only claps with gusto but stands up to honor the personality and / or the moment. The longer the thunderous applause, you can be sure that it comes straight from the heart and also indicates that the ecstasy ended too soon. A clap followed by calls for an encore are the ultimate tribute to anyone who is holding centre stage and that is the defining moment for both a new comer or a veteran.

 Action Points:

1. Do we restrain our natural impulse to clap when we feel moved by the performance or the moment (as in the welcoming of the New Year). Learn to be more spontaneous and be the cheerleader and begin the clapping when you know that something is worthy of applause and praise.
2. Are we game enough to acknowledge an extraordinary performance by a competitor? Do we have it in us to appreciate the skill, the talent and the effort? Sometimes we will be forced to recognize that while we have won the battle, the opponent has won the war; do we have the magnanimity to acknowledge this and appreciate it in Public. 

• [Here is a little challenge for you. How many English words found in a standard dictionary, of four letters or more can you make from the letters given below and which must include the alphabet in RED.F E T S N S A. (Special clue you can even make one word using all the alphabets). First write down the number of words you think you can make. Only then start attempting it. Did you exceed your expectations or were your expectations far too short of your performance? Did doubt play an important part in your estimation?  

Give yourself a clap if you get 4 words, a thunderous clap for getting 6 words and a standing ovation if you get 8 words or more.

 (Answers to the above will be posted in the next blog post of 15th February 2010)

 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/