Our understanding of moods greatly affects not only our wisdom and perspective but our overall level of satisfaction as well. Generally speaking, when our mood is high, our spirits are up. When our mood is low, our spirits are down. Moods are like the weather, constantly changing.
When we are in low mood, we think of our dissatisfactions more than when we feel good. We worry!
The fascinating thing about moods is that, to a large degree, we only believe these negative, fearful, and self-defeating thoughts when our mood is low. When our mood is high, we think very differently. We don’t worry as much.
The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low. Try to keep in mind the effect your mood is having on the way you are thinking and feeling. Your understanding of moods allows you to keep your perspective and not take so seriously the thoughts you are having when you are low. Rather than believing in your negative and fearful perceptions, you can dismiss them as being mood related.
When you are in a low mood, don’t make important life decisions. Your thinking and wisdom are not as sound as they will be in a higher state of mind.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Beware of “thought attacks”
We think practically nonstop, all day long, every day of our lives.
For example, you might have a series of thoughts while driving to work “Oh God, today is going to be really horrible. I’ve got six meetings and must finish those two reports by noon. I dread seeing Anil because he will still be angry about the disagreement we have yesterday.”
At this point, essentially only one of two things can happen. You can either take the thoughts seriously, start feeling worried, think about them some more, analyze how difficult your life has become, feel sorry for yourself, and so forth. Or if you recognize what has just happened, if you are consciously aware that you’ve just had a mini “thought attack,” you can simply remind yourself that all that has occurred is yet another series of thoughts has traveled through your mind.
You’re not even at work yet you’re still driving in the car!
This doesn’t mean that your day is going to be trouble-free or that you’re pretending all is well and good. But think of how illogical it is to be having a bad day at work before your day officially begins.
It’s ludicrous – but that’s precisely what most of us do all day long. We have thought after thought after thought. Yet we forget that it’s thought. We treat it as real.
For example, you might have a series of thoughts while driving to work “Oh God, today is going to be really horrible. I’ve got six meetings and must finish those two reports by noon. I dread seeing Anil because he will still be angry about the disagreement we have yesterday.”
At this point, essentially only one of two things can happen. You can either take the thoughts seriously, start feeling worried, think about them some more, analyze how difficult your life has become, feel sorry for yourself, and so forth. Or if you recognize what has just happened, if you are consciously aware that you’ve just had a mini “thought attack,” you can simply remind yourself that all that has occurred is yet another series of thoughts has traveled through your mind.
You’re not even at work yet you’re still driving in the car!
This doesn’t mean that your day is going to be trouble-free or that you’re pretending all is well and good. But think of how illogical it is to be having a bad day at work before your day officially begins.
It’s ludicrous – but that’s precisely what most of us do all day long. We have thought after thought after thought. Yet we forget that it’s thought. We treat it as real.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Ousting Differences
God is the Father of all species and forms of life. Besides that, we take this body as a dress. For example, your white shirt is not you. You are different from the white shirt. Similarly, one may have a body, white or black, but he, as spirit soul, is different from the body. Now, we are taking account of the person who is possessing the dress—not the dress but the person. I am talking with you; I am not talking with your shirt. I don’t look to see whether you have put on a white shirt or black shirt. That is not my concern. I am concerned with you as a living being. This is our philosophy. We don’t take account of the outward shirt and coat. This body, this gross body, is just like a coat, and within this gross body there is a subtle body—mind, intelligence and ego. Within that subtle body, the spirit soul is there. And we are trying to deliver the spirit soul from these two kinds of entanglement, subtle and gross. That is our mission. National and religious movements are more or less on the basis of the outward dress. One is Christian because he is born of a Christian father. Is it not? One is American because he is born in the land of America. We say that we are neither Christian nor American, Hindu, Muslim or Indian. We are eternal servants of God. Try to understand this fact and mold your life in this way; then your life will be successful. This is our program. Simple.
A really educated man does not look over the fleshy tabernacle of a living being but he introspects the spirit within the body. A sane man does not see the dress of another man but he sees the man of whom dress is a covering only.
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A really educated man does not look over the fleshy tabernacle of a living being but he introspects the spirit within the body. A sane man does not see the dress of another man but he sees the man of whom dress is a covering only.
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011
How to React to Criticism?
Do you make the most of criticism? Or do you overreact, missing out on any opportunity to benefit from the feedback?
There’s no question that, for most of us, receiving criticism is not easy. Even when it’s well-intentioned constructive feedback, listening to someone point out an error that you made or a flaw that you have can be very tough to take.
While learning how to accept criticism graciously, and even thankfully, may not be at the top of your list right now, learning how to deal with negative feedback could make a big difference in your ability to advance rapidly in your life.
Research in Expert Performance psychology reveals that top performers in every field learn to view criticism differently than the rest of us.
They see it as valuable feedback and as an opportunity to improve.
Rather than trying to avoid criticism, expert performers welcome it. They seek out coaches and advisors who can give them constructive, sometimes even painful feedback. They then use this feedback as a guide for steady improvement.
To become a top performer, you’ll need to open yourself up to feedback from those around you.
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There’s no question that, for most of us, receiving criticism is not easy. Even when it’s well-intentioned constructive feedback, listening to someone point out an error that you made or a flaw that you have can be very tough to take.
While learning how to accept criticism graciously, and even thankfully, may not be at the top of your list right now, learning how to deal with negative feedback could make a big difference in your ability to advance rapidly in your life.
Research in Expert Performance psychology reveals that top performers in every field learn to view criticism differently than the rest of us.
They see it as valuable feedback and as an opportunity to improve.
Rather than trying to avoid criticism, expert performers welcome it. They seek out coaches and advisors who can give them constructive, sometimes even painful feedback. They then use this feedback as a guide for steady improvement.
To become a top performer, you’ll need to open yourself up to feedback from those around you.
--
Put the glass down!
A professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see and asked the students,' How much do you think this glass weighs?'
'50gms!'.... '100gms!'.....'125gms'...the students answered.
What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?
'Nothing' the students said.
'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the students.
You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?'
'Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress and paralysis and have to go to hospital for sure!' ventured another student and all the students laughed.
'Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?’ asked the professor.
'No'
'Then what caused the arm ache and the muscle stress?'
'Put the glass down!' said one of the students.
'Exactly!' said the professor.' Life's problems are something like this.Hold it for a few minutes in your head and they seem OK. Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache. Hold it even longer and they begin to paralyze you.'
It's important to think of the challenges (problems) in your life, but EVEN more important to 'put them down' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh and strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you leave office today, remember to 'PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY!'
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
"People you associate with will infect your thinking"
People you associate with will infect your thinking
Once, there was a pristine green field that was alive and lush, amidst the extraordinary bloom of springtime. Next to it happened to sit another field. This one was full of weeds, dirt and rough edged stones. This field was a testament to mediocrity and an acute lack of care.
Through the operation of nature's laws, the seeds of the weeds from the mediocre field were slowly blown over to the lush field. And so, day by day, the once stunningly beautiful one - with once awesome potential - succumbed to the influence of its low-grade next door neighbor.
Before the season was through, there sat two fields. Both completely overcome by weeds.
Important lesson:
Your influences and environments matter. The content of what you read/watch/listen will affect your thinking, feeling and willing. The people you associate with will infect your thinking.
John F Kennedy said, “You are the same today as you will be in five years except for two things, the people you associate with and the books you read.”
Once, there was a pristine green field that was alive and lush, amidst the extraordinary bloom of springtime. Next to it happened to sit another field. This one was full of weeds, dirt and rough edged stones. This field was a testament to mediocrity and an acute lack of care.
Through the operation of nature's laws, the seeds of the weeds from the mediocre field were slowly blown over to the lush field. And so, day by day, the once stunningly beautiful one - with once awesome potential - succumbed to the influence of its low-grade next door neighbor.
Before the season was through, there sat two fields. Both completely overcome by weeds.
Important lesson:
Your influences and environments matter. The content of what you read/watch/listen will affect your thinking, feeling and willing. The people you associate with will infect your thinking.
John F Kennedy said, “You are the same today as you will be in five years except for two things, the people you associate with and the books you read.”
Saturday, June 11, 2011
A little tune can make difference
Most people are stuck right where they are. The reason they’re stuck, however, isn’t usually due to circumstances, incompetence, or lack of opportunity, but a simple unwillingness to change, to try new things.
We can make smaller, inner changes on a day-to-day, moment to moment basis – changes in our attitude, reactions, and expectations. I’m talking about being willing to take new risks, and face old fears.
Over and over again I hear people saying things like “I’ve always done things that way” or “That’s just the type of person I am.” These things are said as if they are carved in stone. It is amazing what you can learn by simply opening your mind and trying new things.
Starting today, tell yourself that you are going to do something, however small, a little differently. Perhaps you can be more friendly to the people you work with. Maybe it’s not too late to overcome your fear of asking others to help you, or for their advice whoever you are, whatever you do, there is always something you can do a little differently.
You may find that you love the tiny changes you make and that you can open exciting new doors by making relatively small adjustments. If you’re okay with the changes, you might want to try some other changes as well.
We can make smaller, inner changes on a day-to-day, moment to moment basis – changes in our attitude, reactions, and expectations. I’m talking about being willing to take new risks, and face old fears.
Over and over again I hear people saying things like “I’ve always done things that way” or “That’s just the type of person I am.” These things are said as if they are carved in stone. It is amazing what you can learn by simply opening your mind and trying new things.
Starting today, tell yourself that you are going to do something, however small, a little differently. Perhaps you can be more friendly to the people you work with. Maybe it’s not too late to overcome your fear of asking others to help you, or for their advice whoever you are, whatever you do, there is always something you can do a little differently.
You may find that you love the tiny changes you make and that you can open exciting new doors by making relatively small adjustments. If you’re okay with the changes, you might want to try some other changes as well.
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