LIFE TRANSFORMATION

LIFE TRANSFORMATION

LIFE TRANSFORMATION

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

Life transformation

You are right! Life Transformation is challenging, yet very interesting to engage with.
Ultimately it some thing worth to achieve in our own life.

This article explains the meaning of Life Transformation, its significance, the possible hurdles on the path to achieve the same, the secrets that can be practically adapted.

Life transformation

Nature of life varies from individual to individual.  Primarily, life is commanded by the four  natural instincts of life - Food, Survival, Procreation and Sleep. These are basic characteristics of animal life, no doubt. And being at the next level of evolution we always seek some thing beyond and above these basic instincts.   This is reflected in the fact that  we human being always try to seek, express, and share happiness with others on the path of fulfillment in life. 

And achieving fulfillment in life itself is not the ultimate goal.  Even having achieved the fulfillment in life, one faces the problem of what next?

And this path is built on various stages of transformations in our life.  And achieving each stage  in  life  is the most difficult yet rewarding phenomena  of transformation in life.

Life transformation

Change and Transformation- The Difference

Change in our own actions is brought about by using external factors - for example, academic, financial and social status etc. With respective abilities one can bring about a change in life.

We often use to say "Oh, yes, I am fed up with this routine life. Need some change." For this purpose, at least once in a year, we plan grand tour, odyssey, pilgrimage,quest, safari, excursion etc. 

In the corporate world also, training camps, seminars, conferences are arranged  to provide their employees   some sort of change from their routine life to ensure their vigor is maintained to keep them engaged in their tasks fruitfully.

Transformation is related to essentially positive aspects that involves identifying, adopting, and modifying own beliefs and bringing them in practice to achieve significant results in own attitude and behavior and consequently overall up-gradation and ease in our life.

Transformation also indicates holistic improvement in our  attitude, approach and experiences of own life.

We often learn the wisdom that it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their kids are raised in such a manner that they are placed in life at higher levels - that of educational, professional, social, financial, family and so on. And that this is a significant step in achieving fulfillment in life.

Likewise, we must learn the wisdom that it is the responsibility of every individual to seek transformation in own life for achieving that coveted  sense of fulfillment in life.

Life transformation

When Does One Realizes the Need to Transform own Life?

Life is very challenging.   Being  too much engaged in tackling day to day life makes one unaware of the things other than those he is engaged with in own daily life.  Consequently, one is inclined to believe that life means only those things he experiences and feels on daily basis. And that there is nothing beyond and above that.

Many occasions, one feels that in spite of having every thing in life, - good education, job,lovely spouse, children,wealth,, there is some thing lacking in life.

Even there are individuals who have made enormous wealth in life, they wonder what to do with this wealth?  They are also worried that their wealth should not fall in wrong hands.  And that they must do some thing to ensure that this wealth be applied for some charity works.  Yet, they are not sure what to do? Whom to consult?

And thus, a stage is reached when questions like "Why Life Does Not Make Any Sense?"  "Why Life Does Not Have Happy Moments only?" arise in the mind.

This is what is known as spiritual awakening.  At this stage, one starts searching for ways to get connected with the divine universal force.

And one starts thinking for better life.

At this stage, a seeker is born. This is a stage when an individual is determined to transform his own life and starts searching the effective ways for achieving the same.

Life transformation

How Long It Takes To Transform our own Life?

In the contemporary lifestyle, every one wants instant result.  But if one is serious about achieving transformation in life, it is advisable better not to expect instant results on this challenging path.

In this challenging exercise, discarding old undesired habits and replacing them by new desired habits is inevitable.  And we know very well, old habits die hard.

Achieving transformation in life involves our own determination, consisting of putting efforts to bring about transformation by way of identifying and modifying  life values and practicing them in daily life  as also many personal sacrifices related to our old habits, temptations, shortcuts.  

We must not forget that transformation achieved by sheer hard work,  personal sacrifices is sustained for a longer period.

When we achieve transformation in our life, it also brings about significant transformation in the life of our near and dear ones.  This is reflected in the standard of living, extent of peace of mind, happy and healthy atmosphere in the family, being connected with own near and dear ones and that coveted feeling of always being in touch with the divine universal force which a religious person addresses as God.

What is Internal Transformation?

Identifying  the old, outdated  and unwanted beliefs and values in life and replacing them by newly identified beliefs and values in life that are essentially helpful in bringing about the desired transformation in life is what is internal transformation. This internal transformation guides one's thought pattern, the nature of our behavioral attitude.

How Internal Transformation is Connected with External Transformation?

Our beliefs and life values are build up right from our childhood. And our thinking and behavioral attitude is based on these beliefs and life values.  And the same is reflected in our actual behaving in our day today life.

When internal transformation happens, external transformation naturally takes place without any deliberated attempts from our side.

How To Maintain Ideal Life?

The secret of an ideal life is having a perfectly healthy life. Let us see what is a perfectly healthy life.

Healthy life indicates -

• sound physical health
• sound mental health
• spiritual progress

Physical Health is most important. We must remember- Health is Wealth!

For this, sufficient exercise is needed - Surya Namaskara (sun salutation), morning walk, Pranayama, breathing exercises, asanas (postures) etc.

One must be aware of-

• own diet - both quality and quantity.  We must eat at least four morsels less than actually required. 
• half the capacity of the stomach should be filled with solids, a quarter of the capacity with liquids and the rest be left empty for the free movement of gases.

Mental health is equally important but unfortunately not much attention is paid to the same.We need to be careful what we feed our mind.  We must be extra-careful of each and every media our mind is exposed to. It means we must be cautious about what we feed our mind while engaging in activities like reading, watching tv, surfing the internet etc.

For this purpose, one must know what is mental bath and its importance to maintain healthy mind.

We must remember  that healthy mind ensures healthy body.

Spiritual Progress- About spiritual practice one becomes aware late in life, say in fifties plus.  One should get awareness of the same at the earliest to achieve progress on the path of spirituality which is a step to achieve fulfillment in life.

What are the signs of perfect health?

According to me, a person can be said to have optimal health status if he -

• is able to follow the basic instincts of life - ahaara, nidra, bhaya, maithuna (ie food, sleep, survival and procreation) effectively.
• has ability to feel happiness and express happiness.
• is not dependent on medicines on regular basis.
• has a healthy mind.
• is independent both mentally and physically.
• has ability to engage himself in positive acts.
• does not need help from others.
• is able to help others.
• is able to go to sleep at the scheduled time and to get up in the morning as he decides.
• once having awakened in the morning does not simply spend time lying in the bed.
• exercises his mind control to have optimum level of food and sleep.

Having ensured perfect health, next step is self-realization.  This process has strong analogy with the modern management technique of SWOT analysis.  

Generally, every one  does not understand the concept of self awareness. So let me explain in detail.

Awareness simply means being aware of things we are connected with, (mostly outwardly things).

In day-today activities, one interacts with the things both he knows and knows nothing. Yoga Nidra, in this context, introduces this self awareness very effectively. And one feels really amazed having so many internal organs, systems, that generally one is not even aware of!

It is an interesting fact that while playing our thumb gets hurt and we suddenly become aware of the existence of our thumb.  Till then, we are not even aware of this reality.

In short, unless some thing happens, we do not become aware of the related things.

For effective and easy daily interactions one must be aware of one's self (self aware) and also aware of the things one is interacting with.

One interesting example is giving respect - we do respect people on different counts - due to authority of the person, due to the person's status -family,social, political and so on - due to the person's muscle power etc.

It is interesting to mention that generally we are aware of other's  potential strength to cause harm to us. And hence we are on the alert while interacting with such people.

At the same time, we also must be aware of own strength, weaknesses, potentials before deciding to enter into any kind of interaction with others.

Therefore, it is essential to develop self awareness.


At this stage, the seeker starts making self inquiry such as -

• What am doing? 
• What is my potential strength? 
• How can I develop them? 
• How can I apply them in daily life? 
• What are my weaknesses? 
• How can I eliminate them? 
• Why I am restless? 
• What are the causes thereof which should be overcome? 
• Where can I get proper guidance for the same? 
• Should I look inward or outward? 
• What is transformation in life? 
• How can I achieve it?

Life transformation

What Are Possible Steps For Achieving Transformation in Life?

Following steps are promising-

• Self Analysis.
• Understanding and accepting the need for having transformation in life.
• Have determination of achieving transformation in life.
• Identifying the values and beliefs presently one is holding.
• Analyzing them vis-a-vis their practicality in the life.
• Identifying the values and beliefs that need to be discarded.
• Identifying the values and beliefs that need to be accepted and practiced. 
• Identifying and tapping the sources of information that will strengthen the newly adopted values and beliefs. For this, a seeker can come across various books on the subject- for example -  Get Savvi, Inner Engineering by Sadhguru, What If This is Heaven?, Ikigai.  In fact, there are a number of books available on the subject significant for able readers.
• Engaging oneself in the meaningful company of sources of wisdom - they can be a spiritual Guru, Books, Old Scriptures (which one should not ignore in an attempt of projecting own image of being a modern fellow).  Quality reading. The purpose is to hammer our own mind with the thoughts, values and beliefs that are going to play important role in achieving transformation in life.
• One must not forget that acquiring knowledge when implemented becomes wisdom. And wisdom learnt must be practiced in life on the path of seeking transformation.
• Persuasiveness and consistency in putting efforts therefor is of paramount importance. There should not be lethargy in this respect. In fact, one should be merciless in this respect.
• Must discard old, unwanted (bad)habits and replace them by the required and supportive habits that will support one's own mission of achieving transformation in life.
• Be prepared for personal sacrifices in the form of luxury, convenience and other such temptations.
• Have patience.  It is not instant coffee.  Wait till the right and appropriate time.
• Go step by step.  There is no short cut in the path of achieving transformation in life.
• Do not insist on a Guru in the external world.  One can find the best Guru in own self.
• One must practice strict self-discipline.
• Set the proper goals.
• Adopt the proper way for achieving the set goals.

Life transformation

What are the Possible Hurdles on the Path of  Achieving Transformation in Life

When one becomes seeker of achieving transformation in life, it is better to be aware of the possible hurdles on the path of achieving transformation in life.

• Lack of determination and preparation.
• Lack of hard work.
• Lack of preparedness to go through sacrifices of personal liking.
• Old undesirable habits.
• Succumbing to the temptations in life.
• Failure to identify proper ideal life values.
• Failure to adhere to the discipline in life.
• Being too liberal to the self in relaxing the newly acquired practices.
• Allowing the self to become topic of the town regarding seeking transformation in life.
• Failure to engaging the self in the company of wisdom in the form of quality reading,and tv, internet and social media.
• Failure to identify the peripheral things and ignoring the things at the center.
• Having misconceptions - like trying shortcut to success.  This is due to lack of sarasar vivek ie power of discretion. Remember- Goals achieved with hard work, personal sacrifices, are sustainable in the long run. 

Whatever written above is out of my own personal life experiences (and that of others also), observation, learning  (this is a continuous process) and being particular to practice the wisdom learnt in the life.

If a common man like me can do this much, any body can do the same easily.

My ardent and able readers are most welcome to read, share this article in any form/social media with their near and dear ones.

Readers are requested to comment on this article to enable me to improvise further.  I know it is a continuous process.

Thanks.

Next time .......

ART OF THINKING FOR BETTER LIFE

ART OF THINKING 

Art of Thinking 

For Better Life

THINKING EFFECTIVELY

THINKING EFFECTIVELY

Art of Thinking

Meaning of thinking as given in the dictionary is a process of considering or reasoning about some thing.

Thinking is a natural function characteristic of mind. 

This process of thinking by mind  is a continuous one  regarding the world being perceived and the relations with others. 

 A LABORER

A TIRED LABORER

A worker is compensated with a meager daily earning, though facing risk of accidents.

A speaker is compensated with an honorarium.

\

A professional thinker gets  annul package of millions though working in an air conditioned corporate environment. 

Art of Thinking

Our sense organs cannot be expected to stop their function, for whatever reasons. Similarly,our mind cannot be expected to stop thinking. Because thinking is a continuous natural process except while in sleep.

Experts have estimated that the mind is engaged in thinking about 70,000 thoughts a day.  The average works out to around 3000 thoughts per hour. 

TOO MUCH THINKING !

Art of Thinking

The origin of thoughts may be interests, attaining vested interests, judging objects and relations, planning and proper planning, coordination of the resources for execution and so on. 

Besides, there are thoughts which are  good for nothing. Or thoughts which are harmful not only to the individual but also to the human kind.

The guiding force in this entire process is the mind which uses the five sense organs as means to perceive the world around that includes objects and relationships.

The  main factor that activates this process is the basic instincts of life ie food, sleep, survival and procreation.

And the intensity of thinking depends on the importance given to the above basic instincts. Take for example, food.  There are vegetarian, non-vegetarian and vegan foods. We also know that there are different types of cuisines depending on the geographical locations.  And the modifications and additions is a continuous process.

VEGETARIAN FOOD

NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD

VEGAN FOOD

The next stage is achieving vested interests. Consider a case of bank robbery or for that matter any criminal plot.  We can imagine how much planning work is involved - and of course, the required thinking.

When we hear some thing about criminal plots, we can imagine the extent to which the process of thinking is involved, not only by criminal elements but also the law enforcing agencies.

CRIMINAL PLOT

Art of Thinking 

The further stage is seeking,expressing and sharing happiness in life. Our most of the thinking process is aimed at this achievement.

 SEEKING, FEELING, EXPRESSING AND SHARING HAPPINESS

The Art of Thinking 

We  human being always seek happiness in life.  Unfortunately we are unaware of the significance of discovering happiness in small little things in life.

Naturally, for seeking happiness, lot of thinking is involved besides the hard work and personal sacrifices as also time factor involved. 

And  feeling of happiness, expressing, and sharing with our near and dear ones leads to achieving our fulfillment in life.

HAPPINESS EXPRESSED AND SHARED

Art of Thinking 

Readers can easily recall the experience of having palpitation even at the thought of suddenly seeing, speaking and touching the opposite gender friend, who had a special status in their heart. And yes, that was treated as the most romantic feelings !

But as we grow in age, this palpitation is interpreted in a different way. And it can have health implications.

Why  the art of thinking deserves importance in our life?

By developing and applying this art of thinking one can live  better life.

I remember while I was learning motor driving, we were four students of various ages, teenage to a senior person in his sixties.  Initially we were very tense.  On the first day, I could see sweat drops tickling down the back of the neck of each student driver.  Even I felt all my muscles tensed and sweat tickling down on the back of my neck.  But after a few sessions, we picked up the ease and comfort to be able to converse normally with one other and the instructor.

Similarly, while learning riding a bicycle, initially we feel it is the bicycle that is riding us. But gradually we learn to ride and control the bicycle with ease and command.

This is typically learning a skill that becomes perfect with practice.

If we understand any process we are concerned, with error and trial, we  develop a skill for that.  And application of such well developed perfect skill enables accomplishment of the process in an efficient, flawless and a smooth manner that too with ease and comfort. It becomes as good as a reflex action.

Having realized the significance of  need to developing  skill of optimum thinking,  ie neither too much nor too less,  applying the same in own life is an art of thinking.

Art of Thinking 

Thinking  needs a lot of energy and one gets exhausted too much. Therefore, we must take care to avoid unnecessary thoughts for saving  mind energy.

The unnecessary thoughts are mostly related to our own past and future.  The thoughts related to the past are comparisons and complaints and those related to the future are worries.

If these thoughts are avoided and mind allowed to get engaged only to the present, huge energy is saved that could be applied in fruitful thinking. Additionally, peace of mind is assured.

Another aspect is that different thoughts come in mind one after the other.  To avoid this, the method of concentration is advised.  While concentrating, our mind is engaged only with the concentrated object.

CONCENTRATION

Art of Thinking 

Continuous engagement of mind in thinking leads to agitation of mind.  And agitated mind has negative impact on physical health. This leads to concerns for our near and dear ones also.

Therefore,while giving importance to own physical health we must equally be cautious of our mental health.

Our mind is cluttered with so many thoughts which are useless, aimless, unnecessary, undesired and load of burden.  Therefore, we must remove all such burden on our mind.

CLUTTERED THINGS

For this reason, we must take de-cluttering action regularly so that our mind is not engaged in unnecessary thinking process. And thus ensure that our mind is clean, light, healthy and free. 

Therefore, it becomes important to develop  the art of thinking for better life.

Too much thinking ?

For this, we must try to -

• provide rest and relief to our mind

Real Freedom

• minimize our thought process

Is it necessary to think on this topic?

• find the ways and means to ensure we have peace of mind.

PEACE OF MIND

• stop any thoughts entering our mind.

For this, chanting of mantras is advised. 

ROSARY *

Art of Thinking

I was once listening to a discourse on YouTube by Swami Anubhavanand Saraswatiji explaining the method of chanting of God's name.

Chanting of God's name should be like enjoying a chocolate, he said. 

While speaking on the art of thinking, he gave analogy of  chewing a chocolate.  We enjoy it. And we do not simply eat it. Like chocolate, we should enjoy chanting name of God.  He even demonstrated right method of chanting.  He explained that after reciting once, when a thought tries to enter our mind, we should chant the name of God again.  Any thought is thus prevented from entering our mind.   By practice, the duration of 'no thoughts in mind'  can be increased gradually. 

The significance is that by this practice, energy of mind is saved considerably that can be made available for fruitful essential thinking. 

Also this optimum activity enables our mind to become alert, more active, full of enthusiasm that further enables  utilizing vast potentials of our mind.

Another method suggested by Swami Anubhavanand Saraswaitji was to stop using words while thinking and see what happens.  I tried and found that mind instantly becomes empty. It is very surprising. Try it!

• meditation is another effective way wherein one reaches the stage of no mind no thoughts. As explained by Swami Anubhavanand Saraswatiji, meditation should happen and no efforts should be needed for that.

MEDITATION THAT HAPPENS, NOT DONE !

Now, having understood the basic idea of the art of thinking and its significant potentiality to achieve a better life, it is in our own interest to develop and implement the same in practice to realize better life, before advising about it to others.

And we must not forget that simply reading and learning is not enough !

Because learning from experience is wisdom.  And such wisdom if not practiced and simply advised to others turns in to philosophy which is just worth discussing.

Art of Thinking 

Dear readers, I am sure, you must have found this article significant and helpful. And that you, having learnt about this, may find further your own ways to apply the same on the path of desired transformation in life.

And this learning and practicing wisdom in life is a continuous process. 

Next time ........

NOTE ;  ALL PHOTOGRAPHS EXCEPT MARKED * COURTSEY : pxhere.com

HAPPY DIVALI 2019!

HAPPY DIVALI, 2019!

HAPPY DIVALI 2019 !

HAPPY DIWALI 2019 - DIVALI BEST WISHES !

HAPPY DIWALI WISHES,  ALL MY DEAR READERS !

LET THIS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BRINGS US LIGHTS OF SOUND HEALTH, WEALTH AND WISDOM.

HAPPY DIVALI WISHES

AND WE SHALL BE ATTENTIVE  AND LISTEN TO OUR OWN SARASAR VIVEK !

-Narasinh Purohit

GET SAVVI - REVIEW

GET SAVVI - REVIEW

A REVIEW OF “GET SAVVI” – a book by RITA CHOWDHRY-

The book “Get Savvi”, by fantastic author and even savvier Rita Chowdhry, a brand new read, was presented for me to review. And being a Lifestyle Blogger, whenever possible, I follow quality reading with insights into life. This helps me to learn more about transformation in life and this is a continual process. Therefore, I was very eager to read and review the book.

The Author is motivated to write this book by the loss of her mother, who is her first love and teacher in life.

The Author has been working for more than three decades with variety of people in professional and personal development, teaching, coaching, training and mentoring environments in helping others to grow and transform their lives, to be the best they can be and to succeed.

At least once in life there is spiritual awakening and one feels it important to revaluate what one is looking for in life, where to find the most happiness, and what kind of success one has achieved. And for that purpose, one needs to “Get SAVVI”.

The Author shares with the readers her own journey to becoming SAVVI which is really insightful and inspirational.

The book is exploration of the lessons she learnt through her own personal trials and tribulations, the impact her professional experiences have had on harnessing the core principles to a fulfilling life.

The book in itself is a symbol of the Author’s immense desire to communicate with a wider audience and to inspire and help others to achieve the desired transformation in life.

The book follows three characters, Zara, an unfulfilled wife, Jay, a successful businessman and Arun, a self-entitled son, on their respective journeys to self-discovery and what that means for their subjective satisfaction.  All based on real clients the Author herself has worked with, she presents a nurturing and respectful approach to finding what one values the most and being better for it. 

Apart from these, several real life cases of successful and achievers in different fields of life are discussed in details – their hard work to fulfill their dreams, their adhering to the life values they have chosen in spite of challenging circumstances and the effective way-out they have discovered leading to their fullest fulfillment in life. And have also realized that this is a continual process.

It is contrary to the common misunderstanding that successful and achievers, having great wealth, have no problems in life. And therefore they get more engaged in various activities which involve trying to do justice by helping eradication of poverty in the society, providing health services to the poor, free education and other such charity works serving humanity. 

The Author strongly believes that success is achieved in many forms- personal happiness, loving relationships, good health, career satisfaction, wealth, charitable acts and nurturing spiritual life.

Being a true Teacher, the Author intends to share the importance of these principles with the readers who get confronted in life with questions like -

• Why life is like this?
• Is this state of affairs going to be for ever?
• Who will decide the fate of my life?
• Why I should be blamed every time?
• Am I responsible for all this state of affairs?
• Can something be done?
• What can I do?
• What exactly should I do?
• Should I seek guidance from somewhere? And from whom?
• Why my spouse is behaving like this?
• How to communicate with my spouse effectively?

And slowly, more specific and significant questions may be arising in their mind –

• Why do I fail?
• Can I avoid my failures?
• Why success is so far away from me?
• Will I be able  to achieve success at all?
• Have I effective strengths?
• Have I enough strength to tackle the situation?
• What are my possible weaknesses?
• How can I overcome them? 

Such questions lead to self awareness.

And there are also questions that haunt the achievers and successful in their respective fields –

• I have everything I can desire. What next?
• What am going to do with all my gains and achievements?
• What if this huge wealth I have created falls in wrong hands?
• How far I should go on earning?
• Is this all one can achieve?
• Why I feel stagnated?
• Is there something beyond and above this?
• If yes, what is it?

The Author answers all such questions in a painstaking yet purely academic manner in the form of sharing the interactive sessions with the main characters in the book. The fact that some of these characters are even real life achievers and leaders in their own fields makes the book significant and interesting.

As stated by the Author in the Introduction, this book is a guide to becoming SAVVI, through:

• Self-awareness;
• An Achiever's mindselt'
• The power of Verbal communication;
• Being guided by the best Values for you and
• Seeking Inspiration and inspiring others

In this book GET SAVVI, the Author explores the five principles of her SAVVI framework.  In her extensive experience as a coach, working with individuals and businesses, the Author has many clients like Zara, an unfulfilled wife, Arun, a self-entitled son and Jay, a successful businessman struggling to find a healthy work-life balance, to achieve a more fulfilled life.

This book charts the true stories of people, who have made transformative journeys guided by SAVVI principles: of real-life SAVVI people, who epitomize these principles, or who have achieved success in the face of adversity. 

And the readers, whatever their life stages and levels be, may easily get connected with the above characters.

It is significant that the Author has made use of real-life case studies of successful achievers epitomizing SAVVI principles. They include politicians, billionaires, and the individuals who have achieved success in the challenging circumstances. The Author discovered that all those successful achievers in different individual, family, social status levels follow the five principles of SAVVI framework.

Fortunately, having realized the significance of these five principles, and having implemented them to become the best and the most fulfilled version of herself in every aspect life, the Author has not stopped there.  Her aim of coaching individuals about how to control their mind positively, and how to use pain as a force for happiness and success is noticeable and praiseworthy. 

She firmly believes that having realized the significance of these five principles and having implemented them in practice, the readers also can become the best and the most fulfilled version of themselves in every aspect of life.  

The abbreviations are very interesting and meaningful – like SAVVI, DISC, GRIPP, SMART Goals, and I found the same very helpful in having clear understanding of the complex nature of the knowledge imparted.

The Author’s knack of effective teaching while imparting the knowledge to the willing student is evident throughout the book in display of necessary diagrams, models, flow charts. And the readers with academic inclination, having been kindled with enthusiasm to assimilate easily the ideas at a glimpse, surely will find it very useful. 

The most interesting and significant chapter I find is “Creating a Family Charter”.

To quote the Author- Having shared values gives families a collective identity, and helps them to occupy their shared space and time more harmoniously and productively. What’s more, members of a family with overlapping, agreed-upon values can support one another in striving to live according to their respective individual values and beliefs. Having a set of shared values creates a built-in compass that keeps each family member aligned and focused as part of the family unit.

GET SAVVI

I am sure, readers will read this chapter again and again. It has so much insight, significant on the path towards attaining transformation in life, as sharing with family members, acknowledging and honoring the same in life is a continuous process.

In our Indian culture, there are values which are held high in the family tradition, although they are not written anywhere visibly. The senior members of the family are well aware of and tend to hold high these values at any cost.  However, the younger ones learn about the same only in the challenging circumstances that may endanger the family values that leads to disaster. The basic reason being the strong belief that “everything need not be told now and again”.

There are famous quotes of the authorities in various fields relevant to the points being discussed, like Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein. Robin Sharma, Pele, Michelle Obama, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs,  JK Rowling, Barack Obama, Roy Disney, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sadhguru and so on, and certainly the unmissable and our own Mahatma Gandhi.

Further, the Author has shared her own personal life, especially watching her mother and mother-in-law take their last breaths which made her reflect and take action to enter the business world. 

Her personal loss and her training as a coach acted as a catalyst to overcome obstacles giving her courage to form her own coaching company that offers a blend of training, coaching and profiling. The Author also supports private clients, particularly women and minority ethnic groups to help fulfill their personal and career goals and promote positive changes. 

However, the Author could have included more real life cases representing blue collared and white collared class, lower middle class and middle class individuals. Because the individuals belonging to such classes of society may not even be aware of reading hobby. Such class of the society far away from reading will be able to receive suitable guidance and help from the SAVVI readers. Because, such readers know well that gaining wisdom is not enough but it must be implemented and shared with others to achieve fulfillment in life. That is what Mother Nature expects us – to bloom and help others to bloom.  

GET SAVVI

For the readers who do not want to miss the opportunity of learning wisdom earned through life experiences that enable them achieve the  desired and coveted transformation in life, this is a must read book.

I am sure, having successfully achieved the stages of Get SAVVI, for the quality readers the next steps are –

·       to Implement and achieve desired transformation in life and

·       to Share among the near and dear ones and the peers.

 towards becoming SAVVIIS.

I reckon this book as one of the best I have come across recently on the topic of Achieving Transformation in Life

And I will not be surprised seeing the book tagged # 1 BESTSELLER

RATING: 9.5/10

Review of ‘GET SAVVI’ by Narasinh Purohit, sarasarvivek.blogspot.com

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

image courtesy : https://pxhere.com/

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

Recently I came across the term second-had stress. While learning about the same, I stumbled upon the subject - WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT?

I was attracted to this topic and as is my practice, I started reading and learning on the topic.  And as you know, my dear readers, it is always better to share own learning with others. Because in that process we learn more and more.

Well, let me start.

A neuron is a  specialized cell of the brain that transmits signals to other nerve cells.

Oxford Dictionary meaning - A mirror neuron is a brain cell that reacts both when a particular action is performed and when it is only observed.

Mirror neurons are important and significant in the process of imitation which is an essential aspect  in the process of learning.

Thus, mirror neuron prompts us to reflect body language, facial expression and emotions of others spontaneously. (Remember, when we see some one yawning,  mirror neurons get activated and we also yawn, unknowingly.)

Also,  when a smoker happens to  see some one smoking, feels immediate strong urge of smoking.

Same things happens when we happen to see some one eating delicious food, or enjoying drink, we do experience the urge to do the same thing.

The reason is that our mirror neurons get activated to make us feel the strong urge to imitate the behavior of others observed by us.

The mirror neurons enables us to become empathetic to reflect the emotions of others. The intensity of this reflecting depends on the relationship of the people involved.

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

Mirror neuron system -

Mirror neuron system is a group of neurons which are specialized in reflecting the actions and behavior of others.

Remember ?- Monkeys  have tendency of imitating what they see ?

Yes. Monkeys are well known to imitate what they see.  In that sense, the mirror neurons in monkeys seem to be very dominating. If we tease a monkey, it will tease us back.  If we take a stance of attacking, it imitates our action and  threatens back to attack us.

I remember a story of monkeys I had heard in my childhood.

The story of the monkeys and a cap vendor -

There was a cap vendor going to the town passing through a jungle. He was carrying a box containing hundreds of caps to be sold in the market. As per the old tradition he was also wearing one stylish cap. On the way in the afternoon, as he felt hungry, in the jungle he stopped under a sprawling tree and thought it better to have his lunch he was carrying with him, take a nap and resume his travel.  After lunch,while relaxing, he naturally fell asleep for a short while. When he got up, he was shocked to find that his bag containing the caps was lying open and the bag was almost empty.  He wondered where the caps had vanished when he heard noises coming from above the tree.  And there were those monkeys wearing the caps they had picked up from his bag. They were all wearing the caps in the same way the vendor was wearing. And all of them were looking curiously at the vendor.

The vendor was surprised.  Yet, now the main concern of the vendor was how to retrieve the caps from the monkeys sitting on the tree branches.  He first requested the monkeys with his folded hands. The monkeys promptly reacted imitating his action, folding their hands while sitting on the tree branches.

The vendor was very much disturbed.  Next he pleaded and bowed before them saying to return the caps to him.  The monkeys imitated his actions without leaving their positions.  The vendor tried various ways only to get frustrated observing that only thing the monkeys do was to imitate his actions.

Being a human, of course, he was smarter than them.  He thought for a moment and then all of a sudden he removed his cap and threw it in the bag lying beside him.  All the monkeys, yielding to the prompting of their  strongly activated mirror neurons, imitating his actions, threw down the caps they were wearing on their heads towards the bag. And the vendor sighed out his relief at once and retrieved back all his caps to be sold in the town market and put them securely in the bag.  And left them with a shrewd smile on his face.

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

Mirror neurons and second-hand stress

When our near and dears or colleagues in work place share their feelings of emotional tensions, stress, sadness, our mirror neurons get activated and we also feel their emotions, stress, sadness.  This has potential to lead to major stress build up which has potential to harm our health which requires medication to prevent its harmful consequences.

Well, this being a different subject requiring some study, regarding the second-hand stress, next time.

Mirror neurons play important role in human life.

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

Mirror neurons and child development -

In our childhood, we still remember, we used to imitate our father - standing in front of the mirror, applying and brushing shaving cream on our cheeks - or imitating his dressing style - or imitating mother and instructing our-self how to eat properly etc.  Such memories are unforgettable.

A child readily imitates the table manners of own siblings and parents. The younger one without anybody's prompting, imitates and follows the actions and behavior of the elder brother or sister. It is because of this reason, we see many cases wherein in a family all the siblings become doctor or engineer.

Mirror neuron lets us to learn through imitation.  When we smile at a child, the child smiles back. A child observes and imitates which has its own importance in the process of own growth. Mirror neuron helps a child to imitate what is observed.  In this process, a child is able to imitate what it observes.   Thus, mirror neurons play important key role in child development.

Mirror neurons and our daily life -

It causes second-hand stress in our life.  Mirror neurons get activated in the following way -

• when we happen to see some one yawning, we do feel like doing the same and yes, we do the same without any sufficient reason.
• when our friend, colleague, and near and dear one comes and expresses own sad and unhappy experience,  stress, we also get, unhappy and stressed.
• when there is laughter in the group we are interacting with, we also enjoy the experience of laughter. You know the saying - laughter is contagious.
• when we decide to follow certain practices aimed at attaining and maintaining good physical health, we are advised to find similar minded people and pursue our goal in the groups.

Mirror neurons and the teaching profession -

• A good teacher is careful to present positive and healthy emotions
• A good teacher is aware how students imitates them.
•  Physically demonstrated examples are easily picked by the students.
• Using the imitation process, good habits can effectively be imparted to the students.
• A good teacher is aware that he is the most likely role model for a number of students who follow his body language, his overall personality which they try to imitate.
• A good teacher is aware that what his students see, they will imitate the same.

Mirror neurons and parenting -

Responsible parents are careful -

• to behave responsibly in the presence of their young children
• to project love, care and compassion to the children which through activating mirror neurons children imitate and pick up the same in their natural behavior. 
• to project ideal values in life while interacting with their children.
• to have good manners which through imitation children pick up naturally.

Mirror neurons and role models -

• Every teen is expected to have a good role model to follow as the mirror neurons in the teens get activated and prompt them to imitate the characteristics of the role models in their own life.
• Students are advised to follow ideal role models from fields such as education, science,teaching, national leaders, defense personnel with intention that by activating their mirror neurons students try to imitate and follow them. In this process, students can achieve highest standard of achievements in life. In the process of imitation, students put extra efforts to imitate and follow their role models.
• We observe many teenagers who get dictated by their activated mirror neurons to imitate the behavior and lifestyle of their role models. In the process such teenagers find immense satisfaction.
• For this reason, one is always advised in young age to have a good role model to follow.

Mirror neuron and porn industry -

• Recent estimates show that the porn industry is worth $ 10 Billion !
• Watching porn movie the mirror neurons get activated and the person watching porn thinks that he is having the  sex experience.  Even there is physical reaction of sexual arousal in the person watching porn movie.
• It is found that mirror neurons get activated by the act observed and also in automatic physical response to the act observed.

WHY ARE MIRROR NEURONS IMPORTANT

Dear readers, I am not savvy on the subject, I am aware, but I always tend to share my learning through experiences with my avid readers. 

I hope you have found this article worth and may share with your near and dear ones.

Your comments are most welcome to enable me to improve further.

Next time .......