Golden Buddha!

Dear Champions,

In 1957 a group of monks from a monastery had to relocate a clay Buddha from their temple to a new location. The monastery had to be relocated to make room for the development of a new highway through Bangkok.

When the Crane began to lift the clay Buddha, the weight of it was so heavy that it began to crack, to make things worse it also began to rain. The head monk who was concerned about the damage to the Buddha decided to lower the statue back down to the ground and cover it with a large canvas to protect it from the rain. Later that evening the head monk went back to check on the Buddha.

He shined a flashlight under the canvas to see if the Buddha was staying dry. As the light reached where the statue had cracked he noticed a gleam shinning back. He decided to take a closer look at this gleam of light and wondered whether there was anything underneath the clay. He got a chisel and hammer and began chipping away at the clay. As he knocked off the clay, the gleam grew brighter and bigger. After chipping away for many hours the monk finally stood before an extraordinary solid gold Buddha.

It turns out that several hundred years before, the golden Buddha had been covered in clay by monks to keep their precious treasure from being looted by the Burmese when they attacked Thailand. Although the Burmese killed the Monks in Thailand, the secret of the golden Buddha remained intact until it was rediscovered in 1957.

Like that Golden Buddha many of us have allowed the gold within us to be covered by the clay of fear and other factors that don't allow us to shine and keep the beauty within us trapped. Somewhere along the way between the ages of two and nine, we begin to cover up our golden essence and develop low self esteem because of the things we experience and because of the things that are said to us and the negative meanings we associate with our experiences that cause us to undervalue ourselves.

Like the Monk we must grab our chisel and hammer and chip away the clay of low self esteem so that we can discover our true essence again.

Why Science backs Optimists!

Want to live longer?

Invest in a pair of rose-tinted glasses and boost your optimism. In the past it’s been reported that optimism can impair your health (and business), which as an incurable optimist I’ve found incredibly hard to fathom. However, a recent study has concluded that thinking positively keeps your heart healthy.

Conducted at the University of Illinois, the study examined more than 5,100 adults, and found that people who have upbeat outlooks and a positive approach in life have remarkably better cardiovascular health

Leading the study, Professor Rosalba Hernandez, said that those with optimism at its highest levels have two times the odds of being in supreme cardiovascular health against their pessimistic counterparts, and that optimists have remarkably better cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

I’ve always been optimistic about optimism. In the early days of Virgin, I was nicknamed ‘Dr Yes’ by the team in a friendly dig at my eagerness to always try new things. Optimism has paid off in dividends for our business. Throughout the Virgin journey, many of our most successful ventures have been driven by optimism. I cannot count the times we said yes when we were told by the experts to say no. 

“Optimism takes courage and strength, because it is an act of defiance in the face of status quo, mediocrity and reality… Vision, perseverance and grit--These are the hallmarks of the optimist who gets things done.” 

Optimism spurs positivity. People thrive in positive environments. Happy people are confident people, and confident people make things happen. So alongside the healthy foods, gym memberships and time spent with your loved ones, make sure you add a dose of optimism to your life. Not only will it keep your relationships, business and brain happy, but your heart too. 

Sir Richard Branson

http://t.co/kH3hpMiz16

Worth Reading...

Once Krishna and Arjuna were walking towards a village. Arjuna was pestering Krishna, asking him why Karna should be considered an unparalleled Donor & not him ?

Krishna, turned two mountains into gold.

Then said, "Arjuna, distribute these two gold mountains among villagers, but you must donate every bit of it ".

Arjuna went into the village, and proclaimed he was going to donate gold to every villager, and asked them to gather near the mountain. The villagers sang his praises and Arjuna walked towards the mountains with a huffed up chest.

For two days and two nights Arjuna shovelled gold from the mountain and donated to each villager. The mountains did not diminish in the slightest.

Most villagers came back and stood in queue within minutes. Now Arjuna was exhausted, but not ready to let go of his Ego, told Krishna he couldn't go on any longer without rest.

Then Krishna called Karna and told him to donate every bit of the two gold mountains.

Karna called the villagers, and said "Those two Gold mountains are yours. " and walked away.

Arjuna sat dumbfounded. Why hadn't this thought occurred to him?

Krishna smiled mischievously and told him "Arjuna, subconsciously, you were attracted to the gold, you regretfully gave it away to each villager, giving them what you thought was a generous amount. Thus the size of your donation to each villager depended only on your imagination.

Karna holds no such reservations. Look at him walking away after giving away a fortune, he doesn't expect people to sing his praises, he doesn't even care if people talk good or bad about him behind his back. That is the sign of a man already on the path of enlightenment".

Giving with an Expectation of a Return in the form of a Compliment or Thanks is not a Gift, then it becomes a Trade.

" Give without expecting anything in Return.

Givers Gain 

Who is stopping YOU??

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:

Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the cafeteria. In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself. The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room. The more people reached the coffin, more the excitement heated up.

Everyone thought: Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!

One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.

There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: IT IS YOU.

You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.

The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself.

Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don’t be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses: be a winner, build yourself and your reality. The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed. The world and your reality are like mirrors lying in a coffin, which show to any individual the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success.

It’s the way you face Life that makes the difference!

Have a Positive week ahead!!

20 Best Quotes for Epic Achievement!

#1. Dream Big. Start small. Act now.

#2. Victims make excuses. Leaders deliver results.

#3. Clarity breeds mastery.

 #4. Education is inoculation against disruption.

#5. A problem is only a problem when viewed as a problem.

 #6. All change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.

 #7. If you’re not scared a lot you’re not doing very much.

#8. Where victims see adversity, extreme achievers see opportunity.

#9. The project you are most resisting carries your greatest growth.

 #10. Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.

#11. Criticism is the price of ambition.

#12. Potential unexpressed turns to pain.

#13. Ordinary people love entertainment. Extraordinary people adore education.

#14. Your daily behavior reveals your deepest beliefs.

 #15. The only failure is not trying.

#16. Focus is more valuable than IQ.

#17. To double your income, triple your investment in self-development.

 #18. Your excuses are nothing more than the lies your fears have sold you.

#19. An addiction to distraction is the end of your creative production.

#20. Life is short. Be of use

Unintentional Negativity!

Few days back during my evening walk I overheard a man shouting to his wife, while she was trying to cross the road with her daughter,

“Ek din tum dono ko koi gadi wala uda dega” (One day a vehicle will hit you both!!)

The said gentleman had already crossed the road with his son. The wife was visibly humiliated and ashamed, but the husband continued the rambling.

It left me wondering is this Care or Love?

How often we wish for terrible things for our loved ones unintentionally? The sad part is that the universe listens to all our commands and creates such situation in future.

So one day the lady will actually meet with an accident as the husband forewarned but wished for her. The rambling husband would proclaim after the accident “See this is what I have been telling you all along”.

And that’s how we invite terrible things in our lives by unintentionally wishing for it.

So friends be wise and control such negative unintentional comments and wishes. Especially when talking to kids don’t curse them on what they will do or not do in life.

Life is a beautiful gift, Positivity and Gratitude have the power to make it even better!

Wish you a very Positive week!

16 Simple Rules for Living a Successful Life!

Is your day-to-day life full of stress and chaos? Are you scrambling to find a peaceful moment in the day when you can put your feet up and relax? Are you rushed, stressed out and ready to call it quits.

Why is that so? Who is responsible for it? Why have we made it so difficult?

The solution is simple: simplify your life. It’s the implementation part that is hard, but here are my top tips to help with that:

#1 Believe in yourself, but be aware of your limitations

The first step to accomplishing all your goals and making your dreams come true starts with this simple realization that you are human: you are not perfect and you can’t do everything alone.

Always keep things realistic. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you find it hard to move; trust yourself to deliver what you need to, but also be prepared to cut yourself some slack.

•        Own up when you make a mistake

•        Set goals, and enjoy the journey

#2 De-clutter & simplify

You have a thousand different things screaming for attention: Deadlines, presentataions, Sales closing, Inventory, and products health. You have to organize your calendar and make room for more appointments; make time to socialize; help the kids with homework.  

Let’s get one thing straight—you cannot accomplish anything unless you get yourself some of the clarity that comes from creating space in your life, in your relationships and your environment. You need to reduce, cut back, simplify—only then will you stop the feeling of being overwhelmed and rushed.

•        Give anything you haven’t used for the past 3 years to charity

•        Get organized

•        Enjoy the concept of enjoying without owing, and appreciating without acquiring

#3 Use everything in moderation

This is something I live by, be it work, socializing, family commitments, overeating, shopping, or watching too much TV—it helps with every single thing. Embrace the philosophy of “having enough”: there’s no need to go to extremes, so exercise common sense and learn to curb any obsessive behavior.

•        Spend less money than you make

•        Watch your diet

•        Watch less TV

#4 Keep things in perspective

I admit there will be times when nothing will go your way, and you will find yourself fighting battles, fixing problems and minimizing damage all day long. We all have those days, and it is too easy to get caught up in the drama. Get a handle on things: this, too, shall pass.

Your child will get better soon, the noisy neighborhood parties will end, business outlook will improve (Achche DIN), and there will be actual days where you tick off all the items on your to-do list.

•        Don’t sweat the small stuff

•        Have an open mind

#5 Treat others how they want to be treated

You might end up getting in trouble if you try treating others how you want to be treated, instead of how they would like you to treat them. For instance, if you are not a phone person, you might not call your friend because you assume that they feel the same way you do, which may not be the case.

Try to be sensitive to the needs of others, and occasionally going out of your way to do something for them.

•        Try not to judge

•        Be generous; try to do something nice for somebody on a regular basis

#6 Family first

As I keep repeating to you all…keep it sorted

1.    Your health

2.    Family

3.    Job

How important is it to you that you spend time with your family? Are you making sure that your work doesn’t prevent you from doing just that? What sort of arrangements have you made to make it happen? You don’t have to stop living your life for your family members, but you’ll feel far less guilt if you priorities and make time for them.

#7 Pay attention to the moment

Stop thinking about what happened in the past, or worry about what might happen in the future. Live in the moment and learn to savour each one.

#8 Have a positive mindset

You are what you think all day long. If you have nothing but negative thoughts racing through your ahead, then that’s what you are going to get, so try shifting to a more positive outlook on life. You will be surprised to see that whatever you wished for will start to manifest itself around you.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” ― Henry Ford

#9 Educate yourself

The most interesting people are the ones who take an interest in life and never let go of the “beginner’s mind”. They discover learning opportunities and continue to grow, both personally and professionally.

Be a life-long learner. You don’t have to get old to become wise.

•        Read good books

•        Try to learn something new every day

•        Take courses in subjects you enjoy

#10 Be passionate about something

There are some people who are so bursting with energy and vitality that others feel compelled to listen to them, and feel drawn to them. Passionate home cooks, budding interior designers, gourmet chocolate lovers, antique collectors, Fitness freaks —just try asking them a question about their interest and they will talk your ears off.

You want to be that person: someone who’s full of love for something significant. Have one meaningful hobby that encourages you to follow your passion, and you’ll begin each day looking forward to something special.

#11 Always be reflective

Do you ever think about yourself in moments of solitude? What makes you, you? What makes you tick? What bores you to death? What sort of things do you dream of? What can’t you get over? What regrets do you have of your past? Take some time to think about those things and you’ll understand yourself more clearly and deeply. You’d be surprised at the life-changing impact such reflection can bring.

•        Consider doing a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or another personality assessment to develop true understanding of your self

#12 Surround yourself with supportive people

3 things can change your life: friends, books & your thoughts. Choose them wisely.

•        Avoid naysayers and party-poopers

#13 Banish the word “perfection

Listen to what you tell your children: always do your best and forget about the rest.

•        You are expert enough

•        Strive for excellence, not for perfection

#14 Fix it, or deal with it, but stop whining about it

Nobody likes a person who complains all the time. If you look around you, you’ll see many people who have been dealt a bad hand, but are making the best of things.

•        Don’t blame others for your problems

•        Don’t make excuses

•        Don’t be overly sensitive

•        Don’t be a drama queen

#15 Remember things that you are grateful for

Try this exercise: whenever you are feeling low, make a list of all the things that make you happy, joyous, and grateful. A beautiful family, adoring kids, kind friends, health, happy home, a job that pays the bills, surprise dinner prepared by a loving spouse, a blog, favourite books and keepsakes, unexpected Rs 100 note in your jeans pocket. Everything counts.

After you’ve done this, consider what has happened to the feelings of doom and gloom: it is impossible not to be cheered up after remembering all the fantastic things you have in your life. Be grateful, and always make room for more happiness.

#16 You can have it all, just not at the same time

There is no greater truth than this: you cannot have everything at the same time. You have only 24 hours in a day and need to take care of your relationships, work and spirit. On any given day, the focus will shift: some days your children have to go to after-school care because you have an important meeting, while other times work has to take a back seat because of a sick child with a high fever. Sometimes you just need to chill with your girlfriend because it has been ages since you last took a break.

You don’t have to do everything all at once, and life doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple living is mindful living.

Happy practicing..    

    amit