FAST

With each passing era we observe that the world has become more FAST paced. We see it in the simple everyday tasks we perform be it the pace at which we walk, read, eat. We also become more aware of the things happening on the fast lane when we talk about the speed of processing of our computer, the speed of the internet, the speed of the latest supersonic jets or the latest vehicles. The reality is that we want to be in the FAST lane for it is there that we Find Acceleration Speed Thrust that enthralls us.

Being fast is much valued quality at work and in life. When one is fast in executing tasks, more can be achieved in less time. The fast trains are a an integral part of the commuters life line in the metro cities. Fast food is the new age food fad indulged in by the young and the old, the yuppie and the old foggy. In the hurly burly of life speed dating has provided hope to those who have no time for the old fashioned time consuming dating process. In the work place, the number crunching is dramatically speeded up by the new age computers while the information an any and everything is available at the press of a button thanks to the speed of the net connections and the algorithms that drive search engines. 

There is a down side to speed too. Notice the pace at which the statutory warnings are read out at the end of a baby food or a financial services advertisement; completely incomprehensible. Pick up the daily news paper to scan the numerous stories that  highlight accidents and deaths related to over speeding. Perhaps closer home the puritans decry the T 20 format of cricket for art and style is thrown out of the window in the pursuit of achieving quick runs in the limited overs. Errors and mistakes are an inevitable consequence of being recklessly fast.  The quick success that many a young star has achieved is alas often accompanied by the perils of living in the fast lane; substance abuse and other vices often threaten their careers and their reputation.

A long time ago in Alice in Wonderland, the author Lewis Carroll had aptly put it when a character in the book articulates the words ‘ Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.’ This is truly a fast paced world for we are destined to Find Acceleration Speed Thrust all around us. 

Action Points:

1. Combine the fast paced thrill of the good old days and get hold of a top and recreate the magic of spinning the top. To get in touch with the newer version of it ask some kids for their beyblades and have a go with it. Did you enjoy the pace, the speed and the spinning of the top and the beyblade?
2. Here is a picture that conveys a thousand words (courtesy the internet). Write down when and why you will adopt the pace of either of the two objects in the picture

.

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Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

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SHINE

Look around you right now and try catch your reflection on some object around you (other than a mirror) and invariably you would be searching for something that is sparkling clean and shiny. Even if you have a mirror handy, it is essential that it be clean and shiny for you to get a good image of yourself on it. Even in the humdrum of everyday life, your attention will always be drawn to something that shines, sparkles, glistens because it radiates pleasantness, newness and is strongly coveted. A simple act of us dusting and cleaning at home is aimed at creating such an ambience and the resultant SHINE is nothing but the outcome of what you set out to achieve -  Seeing How Instant Newness Emerges

Quickly look around you and identify 3 objects around you that can do with a big of cleaning and get back its original shine. (Maybe it is window panes, could be the telephone instrument, it could be your leather bag or shoes or wall clock….) Use the appropriate cleaning agent could be polish, soap and water, maybe a coat of paint or polish or the right agent to polish up the sliver and brass wares. Some of you would perhaps have stopped reading this and already given in to the urge to clean up now so that the objects shine and you get to savor the instant newness that emerges.

Have you noticed that when things are shiny, it draws your attention, gives you a sense of pleasantness, soothes your  charged up emotions and the worth of those objects subtly goes up in your estimation. Are you the proud owner of numerous medals, trophies and curious. Over the years the original feeling of joy and euphoria that you experienced when acquiring it may have dimmed. It is also possible that no one ever seems to notice it and perhaps it may have become an eyesore too. The simplest thing to do to restore both the artifact and your own morale is to go on a spring cleaning exercise and let each object SHINE. You will immediately experience and See How Instant Newness Emerges not just in the object but also within yourself.

Action Points:

Have a schedule for cleaning and maintenance. Why wait for the festival season to get going? Don’t forget that some of the things that need cleaning are located at a height e.g. The ceiling fan, the portraits and photographs, the light fittings etc. By merely dusting the upper part of the tube lights and bulbs the room can be lit up manifold.

How about helping out an elderly neighbor or the old age home nearby or your local library sparkle and shine? It must be done voluntarily and if possible get others to pitch in too.

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

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

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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.

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

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

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LISTEN

Communication is perceived as the life line of the human society. Communications encompasses a wide canvass in terms of styles, languages, variety etc.  Yet uniformly, the backbone of all communication remains one’s ability to LISTEN for it is then that we Let Interest Sustain To Enlighten Now. If we learn to appreciate the value and importance of listening, we would have become better communicators, more socially acceptable, have a wide social and friends circle and above all learn to value and respect all those whom we come in contact with.

Why is it that many of us are poor Listeners? The answer lies partly in our ignorance but mainly in our impatience and biases. Here are a few pointers to understand why we fail to LISTEN and we can then work on improving our listening skills by ironing out our personal limitations that we become aware about.

The misconception that talking holds the key to communication. Nothing is as ill conceived as the notion that the whole business of being an effective communicator lies in being able to talk incessantly. Alas, the notion is taken to ridiculous lengths especially when people meet in social circles, at meetings and definitely when one is in the company of friends and relatives.

Our craving to react rather than respond. The ego often tempts us to rebut, refute, allege, deflect, dissect and digress when we are at the receiving end of a communication. As a result, our mind is focused on immediately reacting to what we perceive to have heard or understood and the victim in the human folly is the power we could have held over the communication if we cared to listen.

Distractions that do not let us focus on listening. Apart from the physical conditions like extreme climatic conditions or poor sound quality or other noises that distract, we can be distracted by our limitations of understanding the contents e.g. Our disinterest in science and math’s. When we are distracted, we are focused on letting the communication directed at us come to an end so that we can escape from the suffocation, pain and monotony that we endured. Obviously listening has no chance to rear its head when we are simply shutting ourselves from the proceedings.

Comprehension of the communication becomes challenging. When the communication is liberally peppered with jargon, technical terms and a lot of philosophy the receiver of the communication is often left perplexed and bemused.

Personal limitations e.g. Prejudices, impatience, quick temper etc. When we participate in a communication process with a prejudiced idea or view point or when we are forced to participate in a process which does not hold our interest or if one is an agitated state of mind, listening would be a near impossible task. Our mind is already preoccupied and absorbing anything would be well nigh impossible.

So how does one try and improve one’s listening skills?

Be aware. A quick look at the points listed above and its relevance to us as an individual would quickly make us aware as to where we need to focus on in order to improve our listening skills. For starters talking less and learning to respond rather than react would dramatically enhance our listening skills.

Be motivated to listen. This is tougher than it seems because every communication situation would be different and finding the right motivation would test our creativity and our will power. To be motivated to listen one needs to find a reason to listen. One good way to be motivated is to visualize yourself as an important participant in the communication process. Another way is, to engage in the communication process with the hope of finding a suitable benefit in the communication e.g. the speaker / writer gives very good examples or shares very good anecdotes.

Prepare to listen. Students in particular or those going for a seminar would greatly benefit if they read up on the topic that will be the focus of the communication. Even a casual participant in the communication process can make an attempt to be prepared by proactively thinking, researching, collating information on the topic of the communication that they would be part of.

Paraphrase, clarify, jot down. Not every bit of the communication is relevant or important. The context, the individual motivation and the perceived benefit of the communication would vary from individual to individual. However every individual can actively listen and gainfully participate in any communication process by summarizing or paraphrasing and clarifying the messages. It works best when one takes the effort of jotting it down and subsequently revising it.

In conclusion it is clear that developing the ability to LISTEN is a key human learning that would be extremely useful to every individual because it allows one to Let Interest Sustain To Enlighten Now.

Action Points:

1. Take a sea shell and press it to your ears and concentrate and try and perceive the sound emitting which mimics the sound of the ocean.
2. If you reorganize the alphabets in the word LISTEN you will get another word that would give you the best hint on how to be a better listener. Can you identify that word?

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

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com