Enhance Life

6 Life Lessons Hollywood Repeatedly Tries To Teach You

2009-07-10T20:51:00.000+06:00

Movies are usually given credit for the movie’s plot or the director/cast or the value of the story itself. Rarely, do we commend a movie for the lessons learned.
To me every film no matter what it is about holds a potential wealth of thinking. There are some life lessons that Hollywood repeatedly tries to throw at you. Here are a few, I have noticed.

1. Every Experience (Good And Bad) Contributes To Who You Are & What You Know

As seen in Slumdog Millionaire, Abandon, Harry Potter

2. It's Never Too Late!

As seen in 40 Year Old Virgin, Righteous Kill , Revolutionary Road

3. You Have To Be Smarter Than Your Opponent

As seen in Wanted, Shooter, Dark Night

4. Every Decision You Make Can Have A Profound Effect On Your Life, & The Lives Of Others.

As seen in Max Payne, Seven Pounds, Home Of The Brave

5. You Need Other People, Period

As seen in Kun fu panda, 21, Oceans 13

6. Reality Can Shift Your Plans And You Have To Be Willing, Able & Ready To Change

As seen in You, Me & Dupree, Ratatouille, The Pursuit Of Happiness,

Any other lesson you might have noticed?

How Twitter Accidentally Suspended My Account & How I Got It Activated In 2 Hours!

2009-07-06T18:18:00.004+06:00

I use TwitterFox (Firefox plugin), for my tweeting and unlike other days the twitter icon on the bottom right status bar of was red, and there were a pop-up message. “Can’t login with username EnhanceLife”

I thought it might be my ADSL connection which, usually keeps bailing out on me. Simply to verify, I tried logging into my twitter account. To my horror, the image on the left of this post was what I saw when I typed http:/Twitter.com/EnhanceLife

It was a generic suspended page which directed to the “policy” page. After reading all the rules and regulations, I was positive that I had not violated any rules. The more I read through the rules, I was getting more irritated since I had no clue why my account was suspended!

Next, I searched the good Google to see whether I could find any information on how to get the account activated. Then after digging through some articles, I came across the Twitter blog, which had a post which said they were restoring accidentally suspended accounts.

Earlier today, we accidentally suspended a number of accounts.
We regret the human error that led to these mistaken suspensions and we are working to restore the affected accounts. ...

I didn’t want the twitter team to take their own time and restore my account so I sent a notice to the Twitter support team. This is what it read..

My account (@EnhanceLife), has been suspended since a few hours ago. I did read the terms and conditions and I am confident that I did not violate any rules.

Investigating further I found from your blog that by mistake several accounts have been suspended.
Being a software developer myself, I understand that these things happen to the best of us. I hope measures are taken to activate my account (@EnhanceLife) as soon as possible.
Thank you

Of course, I was not this calm! Believe me there were certain words that came flowing through to my finger tips, which my mother would not approve of!! I could have written all that. However, I figured..

1. Twitter admitted the mistake
2. Twitter confirmed they were working to restore the account
3. They must have already received several offensive emails regarding the accounts being suspended.
4. The person/team who made the flop, must be already feeling terrible and probably got a good dose from Twitter management.
5. Others in the Twitter team must have been annoyed that they had extra work, because of “someone else’s” mistake.

Lastly, I knew the chances of how quick I would get the account activated, would mostly depend on how I write the message!

Guess what, the calm and thoughtful message helped. The Twitter team restored my account in less than 2 hours(I still hear that some accounts are not restored). Thank you Twitter team.

Were you also one of the victims of this as well? Have you gotten your twitter account activated by now?

This whole incident made me realize that we depend so.. much on yahoo, Google, facebook etc.. it hard to imagine what our lives would be like without it… even if it’s for a while!

Jumpstart Your Initiative, You Have Waited Long Enough

2009-06-29T21:05:00.006+06:00

We all have a desire to "make a difference"; to make improvements in our lives (may be even others lives). Yet, for a various reasons, when it comes to taking initiative many people face a magnitude of challenges.

I bet you already have what it takes to get yourself moving, but chances are there are some barriers that are inhibiting your progress. Given below are some worthy points on intensifying your initiative, from the book, Personal Brilliance, Mastering the Everyday Habits that Create a Lifetime of Success.

You don’t have to be inspired to begin

It’s a common belief that you have to be inspired about a project or idea to get it going. Of course, being inspired can help a lot. Inspiration and initiative are a little like the controversy over whether the chicken or the egg comes first! Do you agree?

Give yourself permission to move forward

If you know that you have a good idea or a plan that will work, give yourself permission to move forward with the plan. Waiting for others to join you in your initiative can slow the wheels of innovation and drag out the process. As you build momentum, others will naturally want to jump on board.

Meaningful motivators feed initiative

If you don’t have a good reason to accomplish a particular goal, you probably won’t do it. Compelling reasons are the fuel that initiative needs to grow and thrive.
What are your compelling reasons?

Shorten the time line between your idea and your first action step

Many people have the tendency to put off that first step in favor of conducting more research, increasing their education, and basically trying to learn everything they need to know before they begin.
If toddlers viewed the idea of standing up and walking the way many adults approach
taking a first step, most people would still be crawling!

Live by your word

People who accomplish what they set out to do, keep their word to themselves and to others. Make a firm commitment to yourself that you will keep your promises, no matter what.
The only permissible exception is your being truly too sick to get out of bed. Without living by such a strict standard, our lives can become a series of justifications and rationalizations.

Is initiative something you struggle with as well? Or does it come naturally?

7 Different Types Of Punctually Challenged People. Which One Are You?

2009-06-24T20:03:00.007+06:00

Some of us are annoyingly late despite our best intentions and many years of trying to improve!
I have read many books on subject, but Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged by Diana DeLonzo was a no-nonsense book, with many "A-HA!" moments! It is a must read for the punctually challenged. (Don’t take my word for it, read the Amazon reviews for the book.)

Reading Diana’s book I began to think differently about time and what could be achieved in a specific amount of time. I also learned that there are many different personality and character types associated with being late. Many of which we can relate to personally!
Which character type can you relate to the most?

1. The Absent-Minded Professor

Someone who is caught up in his own world, and never thinks about time. A person who forgets most things and can be distracted very easily.
They are usually slow and leave their things here and there (ahem…). They often jump from one activity to another or get lost in what they are doing.

2.The Rebel

A person, who truly hate stereotypes, everyday rules and schedules. By being always late they try to resist authority and underline their courage of breaking the laws.

3. The Indulger

A person who wastes time doing unimportant things and lacks self control. They don’t have a good concept of time and always put important things off that leads to chronic lateness.

4. The Rationalizer

A person who is very often late for work or meeting, but always justifies such behavior by various outside circumstances. Such people hate being reminded about their being late because they do not acknowledge their responsibility for lateness and blame everything or everyone but themselves.

5. The Evader

Someone who always feels the necessity to control own environment, and this idea makes him/her anxious. Such people have problems with self-organization, and their inability to do the things properly makes them feel helpless and stressed out. At that, the Evaders’ own needs or routine takes precedence over their being on time.

6. The Producer

A very busy person who tends to squeeze incredible amount of tasks into every minute and do several things at the same time. They are always late because they can not properly schedule their time and have to go on doing something they have planned.

7. The Deadliner

Someone who truly enjoys running behind the schedules and looks for a crisis to get motivated and win the battle. However, it always leads to being desperately late.

So, which character type can you relate to the most? Leave a comment and let me know.
I am the type where discipline is the main problem; my mom is the type who rationalizes away how her tardiness affects others; and my dad is the Absent Minded Professor!

When Confronted With Criticism You Don’t Really Want To Hear, What Should You Do?

2009-06-15T20:46:00.002+06:00

It’s that time of the year where I need to carry out appraisals for my team members. This is by far one of the hardest parts of my job responsibilities! Do I hear you ask “Why” ?

Just like clay is molded in to pottery, we are all shaped by the feedback we receive from those around us. The way a person perceives criticism, will have a powerful impact on their future reactions and how they feel about themselves.

So, how you keep your pride and career intact, when you are getting a dose of criticism you’d rather not hear?

1. Listen (Withhold Immediate Reaction!)

If you’re like most people, you won’t like to be criticized! You might feel you are not being appreciated. You might feel that it’s a blow to the ego. Your natural reaction might be to defend yourself or lash back.

This is exactly what I thought….when I initially started my career. I suppose I was lucky I had good mentors, who persistently showered me with constructive feedback. As time went by, I began to realize what Randy Pausch said in his bestselling book The Last Lecture

And when it was all over, one of the other assistant coaches came over and said, yeah, Coach Graham rode you pretty hard, didn't he? I said, yeah. He said, that's a good thing. He said, when you're screwing up and nobody's saying anything to you anymore, that means they gave up. And that's a lesson that stuck with me my whole life: when you see yourself doing something badly and nobody's bothering to tell you anymore, that's a very bad place to be. Your critics are your ones telling you they still love you and care.

2. Identify The Intent Of Criticism

People will always have opinions about what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. And yes, it sometimes stings, in unbearable ways.

The question you need to ask yourself “WHY is this person criticizing me?”
Is it to prove they are right?
Is it because they are annoyed/angry with you?
Or are they criticizing your actions? Do they really have your best interest, in grooming you to be better?

Criticism can be a powerful tool when used with the intent of helping, improvement, or offering solutions. It’s helpful when someone – in a friendly manner – offers an honest opinion about you that fosters improvement.

3. Clarify

Does what is being said, make sense to you?
Is there a mismatch of expectations? What you expect, and what they expect?
Can you recall situations that might align with the criticism? If you are confused or unclear, ask for examples.

4. Assess The Criticism

Can you acknowledge the criticism and except your imperfections? Do you disagree? If you disagree, in a calm manner state your reasons and work with the other party.

How useful is the criticism? Something you were aware of? Something you never realized before?
What's the extent of impact? Major, minor, good to have, negligible etc

5. Figure Out The Kind Of Support You Will Need, To Improve

Can the person giving you negative feedback, help you get on track?
Can you manage to improve on your own?
Do you need training in certain areas?

6. Make An Action Plan

Once you figure out the kind of support you need, put together a plan of action. Set goals for the time period and make sure to follow through. Also, make a note of how progress can be measured.

7. Life Must Go On

Usually, when you are criticized, self doubt seeks in. Depending on the type of person you are, you might be “stuck” in the criticism for days or even weeks; you might keep thinking about the criticism, until it start to affect all areas of your life!

So, don’t dwell too much on the criticism. Remember that there are other areas where you are good or even excel at.

I would like to hear your thoughts on how you handle criticism. Leave a comment and let me know…, do you immediately react? Do you dismiss the criticism?

How To Re-focus When You Lose Focus

2009-06-08T08:44:00.003+06:00

Lately, I have noticed a common theme amongst a few people I know. It seems we are all struggling with the same issue – the ability to stay focused on a single task for a
prolonged period of time.

Focus is what you direct your attention to, what you allow into awareness.

Focus is a blend of intention, discipline and skill. It can be achieved by anyone who is willing to put forth the necessary effort.

Focus is something that must be fought for (it doesn’t happen just because you want it to, either!) Most often, it depends on why we lose focus.

Reason 1: Activities Don’t Interest You

Sadly, all tasks we do(or rather have to do!) are not equally enjoyable. If you find your mind wandering frequently during disliked tasks, this is a focus barrier well worth breaking through.

How to re-focus:
13 Ideas To Make Boring Jobs Bearable And A Little More Interesting
Have Powerful Reasons
8 Stress-Busting, Spirit Lifting, Body-Boosting Ideas To Brighten Your Day With Music

Reason 2: Too Many Concurrent Tasks

Sometimes, we find ourselves working on a number of concurrent tasks at any given time.

How to re-focus:
Get More Done In Less Time
Learn To Prioritize & Say No Where Required

Reason 3: Interruptions & Distractions

Beeped and pinged, interrupted and inundated, overloaded and hurried: that’s usually part of our daily routine. We are constantly bombarded by things competing to attract our attention.

How to re-focus:
Regain Control When Distractions Are Eating Your Time
Regain The Hours Television Steals From You

Reason 4: Difficulty In Managing Work Life Balance

Other people will have wants and needs that don’t always coincide with your own. As we attempt to balance the various areas of life, we become more stressed out than ever before.

How to re-focus:
How To Achieve Life Balance Amidst Chaos
Are You Constantly At The Mercy Of Circumstances?
Minimize Stress, Maximize Success!

Reason 5: Emotionally Drained

It’s perfectly OK to get frustrated, angry, etc when circumstances don’t line up as you’d prefer.

How to re-focus:
Tired & True Ways Of Recovering From Setbacks
Getting Past Your Past
The 5 Emotions That Drag Us Down Or Shape Our Destiny
Give Yourself An Attitude Tune-Up

Reason 6: Too Tired

Sometimes we don’t have the energy we had before and often find it slow to get back.

How to re-focus:
7 Ways To Revive Your Tired Body And Stay Energized
9 Healthier Ways To Forget The Stresses Of Your Busy Day

We spend millions of seconds doing certain things, and yet it takes only one second to lose direction. So it does take practice to master the art of remaining focused. You can see results at the end of the day when you accomplish the things you most wanted to do, rather than feeling your day was empty because you were distracted by things you consider less important.

7 Impressive Traits Of Power Talkers

2009-05-11T21:56:00.007+06:00

The way you speak greatly affects how you are perceived in meetings, during phone conversations, and in all your daily one-on-one relationships. Effective communicators are perceived as more “powerful” than their less verbal counterparts.
In my mind, power talkers are highly articulate, skilled wordsmiths. They are considered strong, dynamic, confident and convincing. I did some research on this for my personal learning, and thought of compiling their characteristics as a blog post.

1. Power talkers speak assertively.

Assertiveness is defined as “confidently expressing what you think, feel and believe—standing up for your rights while respecting the rights of others.”

When I initially read that, I thought it was overly simplistic! Keeping that in mind, I tried using the “assertive” approach in my daily conversation. I must admit, it’s a lot of work! When you are caught up in the moment, none of these come to mind!
In an effort to remember it more thoroughly, I found out that assertive communication can be characterized by a basic four-part message:
1. Nonjudgmental description of the behavior to be changed.
2. Disclosure of the assertors’ feelings.
3. Clarification of the concrete and tangible effect of the other person’s behavior on the assertor.
4. Description of the behavior that would be more satisfactory.

Example:
Instead of saying, "You're always interrupting my ideas!"
They say, "I'd like to be able to tell my ideas without interruption."

2. Power talkers use affirmative language.

They talk positively. When they want something, they use words that communicate precisely what they expect to happen.
Example:

Instead of saying, "If you finish the report tonight, we'll all celebrate by going out for a drink."
They say, "When you finish your report tonight, we'll all celebrate by going out for a drink."

3. Power talkers speak decisively.

They get straight to the point and say exactly what they mean. Decisive speakers project credibility and confidence.

Example:
Instead of saying, "I think this will probably solve your needs. Hopefully, this will give you what you are looking for."
They say, "This is going to fit your needs exactly. I know this will give you exactly what you want."

4. Power talkers avoid fillers.

I have written a previous post on using fillers such as uh, umm, and well.. etc (Please read this post, if you haven’t already). Fillers communicate uncertainty and a lack of confidence. Indeed, it is a hard habit to break. You have to pay special attention to identify these words in your speech. I would know! I am struggling with this myself!

5. Power talkers avoid irritators.

Irritators are phrases that annoy the listener while conveying vagueness, uncertainty, and incompetence.

Example:
"I know I'm not communicating this clearly, but you know what I mean,''

6. Power talkers accept responsibility.

Power talkers avoid the language of victimization. Rather than blame others when they speak, they take control and accept responsibility for their circumstances.

7. Power talkers try not to be overly polite.

Obviously, politeness has its place. However, if you are too polite, you may be perceived as timid. Also, if you seem to have doubts about what you have to say about your subject, your audience won't be far behind.

You Are Insane! Yes, No, May be?

2009-05-04T21:06:00.002+06:00

It might be just for playful banter, in anger or perhaps in ridicule.. but mostly certainly someone must have told you, “You are insane!” at some point in life. I know a few people who get a dose of this, multiple times for a given day! :-0)

I suppose everyone is given some spark of insanity (some, use it to great advantage! ). Anyway, quotes given below are what people wiser than me, have said about the subject!

"Sanity is madness put to good use." ~George Santayana

"Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world." ~R. D. Lang

"The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well." ~Joe Ancis

"Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage." ~Ray Bradbury

“Part of being sane, is being a little bit crazy.” ~Janet Long

"Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you." ~Carl Gustav Jung

"In a mad world, only the mad are sane." ~Akiro Kurosawa

"Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense." ~Steve Landesberg

"Insanity is hereditary: You can get it from your children." ~Sam Levinson

"Insanity is the only sane reaction to an insane society." ~Thomas Szas quotes

Hope these brought a smile to your face… Have a good day!

8 Common Mistakes Made, After A Mistake Was Made

2009-04-15T19:08:00.006+06:00

Everyone makes mistakes, true.. but sometimes we get ourselves into very sticky situations! The reasons vary but when you make that mistake, and you know (most often) that you should have known better.

1. Not admitting the mistake

You should inform the parties in concern about your mistake. It will reflect badly on you, if someone else discovers it. Worst yet, if someone else tells the parties in concern.

2. Deny that it ever happened (/Cover up the mistake)

You may fear that the response might be loss of status, ridicule, humiliation etc. Yet, even the most cursory study of political and corporate cover-ups in recent years will show, concealment uncovered inevitably does more damage than the original error.

3. Not taking steps to “fix” or alleviate the effects of the mistake

Example,
You accidentally deleted several important records from the database.
When you go to your boss to confess your mistake, have a plan on how you can correct it. Are there backups, what alternative measures can be taken etc

Of course, depending on the extent of the mistake there may be very little you can do to rectify it. Often, showing true remorse with a humble apology goes a long way.

4. Blame factors outside your control

There may be relevant contributory factors such as the long hours you have been working or the fact that you didn’t receive some information you needed, and it may be relevant to mention these, but don’t use them as pillars to hide behind.

5. Attack other people for their mistakes

More common with siblings at young age! Some, never seem to grow out of it!

6. Beating yourself up over the mistake

The fact that you made a mistake does not negate all the accomplishments and successes you have achieved. Don’t drag yourself down by constantly going over and over the mistake. Obsessing can’t undo the mistake or rectify it. Resolve never to make that mistake again and move on.

7. Not learning from the mistake

Carefully evaluate why you made the mistake? What can you learn from it? A mistake has value only if you learn from it.

8. Not taking measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again

What can be done to prevent the mistake from happening again?

Anything you would like to add to the list?

References
1. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
2. Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average

Writing Effective Meeting Notes : Take Your Note-Taking Efficiency To New Heights!

2009-04-09T22:12:00.002+05:00

Often I get pulled into unavoidable (sometimes unbearable) corporate experiences, called meetings. Some days, it seems like that only thing I have done is attend meetings! There was a time I used to scribble something on a notebook. I called it my meetings notes. (Basically, I had an accumulation of unprocessed meeting notes.)

The “wake up call” occurred one day when I spent about 20 minutes trying to find a “meeting note page”, on a meeting I attended about a month ago! Worse part was that I couldn’t remember a single thing from that meeting. (Things did fall into place when I finally found the particular page though!)

If you attend many meetings, track many projects, etc the benefit of note taking will be painfully obvious and taking meeting notes becomes a survival skill, naturally!

Yet, I am surprised at how few people bother to take notes in meetings.

Why Bother With Meetings Notes?

1. The value of the meeting (in most cases) is the action taken after everyone's left the meeting room. Effective meeting notes make the difference between a productive meeting and a waste of the whole group's efforts.

2. Taking notes prevents you from zoning away into the ceiling tiles! It is a way to stay more alert and be actively involved.

3. Notes make a platform for creativity.

Pen & Paper or Electronic Notes?

Recently, I put down my pen and paper and started using Microsoft OneNote. My reasons being
1. Since I have been in front of a computer all my working life, I type faster than I write. Now my notes are more comprehensive, as I am able to cover more details than before.

2. The ease of templates. From Status meetings to design meetings to …, I just have to fill in the blanks in the appropriate template.

3.It’s searchable; I am able to retrieve what I need in a few seconds.

4. Unlikely to get “lost”. With the notebook/paper, I sometimes, forget and leave it in some meeting room! The sad part is, I only realize it either when someone kindly brings it to me, or I need it for the next meeting. So having the laptop, simplifies this without a doubt.

Yes, the results have been uplifting. However, I still prefer the flexibility paper gives me to create diagrams and freely position my notes on the page. So based on the type of meeting, I use both in combination.

The process

Here are a few questions that will generalize what needs to be noted.

1. Which date was the meeting?
2. What type of meeting was it?
3. Who were the participants?
4. What was the purpose of the meeting?
5. What were the topics discussed?
6. What decisions were made?
7. What were the action items and who was responsible for each?
8. Will there be follow up meetings? What needs to be addressed in those?

For a long time I was taking meeting notes without a clue of how to go about it. Through the years I have refined “what” I take as meeting notes. As with many skills, good note taking skills take time to develop!

If you put these into practice you will find yourself more efficient and effective. It will definitely have a positive effect on your productivity.
Do you already have a habit of taking notes? What do you prefer? Pen or electronic?

9 Healthier Ways To De-stress

2009-03-24T19:52:00.000+05:00

Stress is an experience all of us go through. Sometimes, a certain amount of pressure is essential to help us meet life’s challenges, release creativity and fuel our continued personal growth.
It is the reaction to excessive demands of time, energy, intellect, emotions, attention or even love, placed upon us. We may feel physically or emotionally drained while needing to keep going faster and harder. Prolonged periods of
stress deplete us and may be hazardous to our health.

Different people are comfortable with different amounts of stress, and how you cope varies from person to person and even from time to time. One day you may feel totally calm and laid-back, able to cope with everything thrown your way, while on another occasion the slightest extra pressure will overwhelm you, turning you into a crumbling wreck.

In my opinion, the key to successful stress management is to obtain the right balance between pressures you can handle and the overload that drags you down. In a perfect world, we gear up emotionally and physically to deal with an event, and once it passes, we return to "normality". Perhaps, that's how it's supposed to work!
But you and I know that often, it doesn't happen like that. As a result, I am still learning to deal with the beast on a daily basis!

Despite all well intended articles on “How to get over stress”, I don’t think that it’s something that can be totally eradicated; Stress is something that can be CONTROLLED and reduced. (This is my personal view, what are your thoughts on this?)

Stress can be made worse by...

Self expectations (Too much work? Money problems?)
Other people’s expectations (Too little time?)
Worry
Fear
...
You list here

Adverse effects of stress

1. Being impatient with people
2. Taking our frustrations out on others
3. Causing unnecessary conflicts because stress is clouding our judgment
4. Stress can cause problems to our physical and mental health if it continues for a long time (insomnia, headaches etc ).
5. If you are stressed out, you won't be productive and won't be much good to anyone!

What can be done...

The effect that stress has on your body depends entirely on how you handle it. No matter how awful your circumstances, no matter how emotionally fried you think you are, there is usually way through it. The problem is we don’t see it, at that particular time!

1. Talk about your problems with your loved ones, your family and closed friends.
Sometimes stress doesn't seem so bad if you can talk it over with someone. I have come across situations where I realized that “big deal” was not such a “big deal”, after talking to someone. Don't bottle up your problems, they will become a time bomb and difficult to deal with as time goes by.

2. Ask for help when you need it.
If you can't do a job alone, ask a co-worker or your supervisor for help. If no one knows the load you have, it’s unlikely for anyone to help or deduce the load.

3. Eliminate energy drains
Most energy drains come in the form of people. Some people in your life could be toxic to your success: people who are negative, who frustrate you, who sabotage your efforts, and who try to hold you back. When you are surrounded by people who take energy from you, rather than give you energy in the form of support, the result is more stress in your life! By seriously evaluation your personal relationships you may be able to find more energy and reduce stress.

4. Tune your mind to positive
The way you think has a major effect on whether the stress you experience is beneficial or harmful. Some people are lucky and have learned a positive outlook on life from an early age. Others need to work hard to change the way they think. By thinking positive rather than negative thoughts, you can look on a stressful and difficult situation as a wonderful chance to learn new skills and acquire new experiences rather than seeing it through the fear of failure.

5. Aim to stop being an idealist or perfectionist
Accept that things can go wrong without it necessarily being the fault of yourself or others. Don’t automatically look for someone to blame.

6. Say No!
Setting limits...saying no to some tasks can help make you more productive and successful with the tasks you choose to take on.

7. Get more Sleep!
Sleep deprivation is chronic in our culture. When someone feels tired, it is not easy to deal with stress situations. Not having a good sleep is affecting every aspect of our day and can make any problem seem worse than it really is.

8. Massage
For many people stress relief is at their fingertips! Massage is one of the oldest alternative therapies relaxation and alleviation of tension.

9. Meditation
Meditation simply requires you to stop thinking(about your life, problems etc) and just be. By focusing your mind on a particular object or vision, you can screen out distractions and induce a state of profound relaxation and serenity which can reverse the fight-or-flight response.

Whether you like it or not, stress will always be around us. The question is how to best deal with our stress? What's your strategy?

How To Regain Control When Distractions Are Eating Your Time

2009-03-03T07:52:00.005+05:00

I made my “To Do List” (for today) last night. The list was clear and prioritized. When I woke up this morning, I promised myself that I will “somehow” complete the “MUST DOs”. It’s almost dinner time… I can’t believe I have only finished one task.

How many times have you awoken in the morning, resolved to put in a full day of work, and then marveled at how little work actually got done? (If you're like me, the answer is "too many times!")

Looking back at my day, I realize that motivation or the “To Do” List itself was not the problem. As much as I hate to admit it, distractions/interruptions were the main contributory factor.

Avoidable distractions Vs “Allowable” distractions

We get distractions because we allow ourselves to be distracted. Surely, there is a clear distinction between distractions that are unavoidable and those we should allow. A sick child, a crisis situation at work etc. are distraction that we should allow. More often than not, it’s not these types of distraction that eat off time!

This post is a recap of the most common “avoidable” distractions we face in our day to day life.

1. Physical distractions

Feeling Hungry
This is the most common distraction for me! Often, when I am in the middle of a task I feel like “I need to have something to eat”! This results in poor concentration as well.
So I make it a point to grab something before I engage in a task. As a precautionary measure I keep some snacks on my desk. The same could be said about keeping yourself hydrated. Instead of going to the water cooler with your glass every hour, try filling up a water bottle at the start of the day.

Feeling Sleepy
It is hard to focus when you are sleepy or stressful due to lack of sleep. It is recommended that you sleep for 6-8 daily. However, occasionally there might be days where where sleep becomes a luxury. If so, you might find 7 Ways To Revive Your Tired Body And Stay Energized After A Sleep Deprived Night useful.

Not well
If you are sick, you should get some rest and seek necessary medical assistance.

2. Mental distractions

Your own mind distracting you!., another “popular” time drainer.

You remember something that you were “supposed” to do.
Write it down and ignore it for now.

Boring Task
When you’re doing something you enjoy, time goes by quickly and you get it done. When faced with a boring task, there are ways to make those tasks bearable and a little more interesting.

You are caught in an emotionally draining dilemma, fueled by worry and fear.
I have been in this situation many times and I can tell you that there is no “quick fix” for this one!
Getting through these types of distractions require some “action” on our part, to “tackle” the dilemma.

3. Environmental distractions

Family interruptions
If you are working on something from home, this is very likely to happen. For various reasons, a family member may approach you when you are engaged in some work. I generally feel bad to tell them “go away”, so I am a victim of these interruptions regularly.
I have found that telling them, “Please don’t disturb me until ..” works. (to a certain extent!) I also try to schedule my work around the “family itinerary”, so I am interrupted less. The other option is to leave the house (don’t know how practical it is though)!.

The price of staying “connected”
Telephone, email, AIM, twitter, facebook etc …This one is arguable. I know that some people manage to work around these, while others find this to be a major distraction. I fall into the later. I do my best to get “offline” when I want to concentrate fully. (Yes, as I write this post I am offline!)

“Workspace” distractions
Do you sit close to a window with a “nice” view of the “outside” world? How is the desk organized? Do you have sufficient space?
Surrounded too much noise? Consider listening to your iPod or any other music player. (Some people would find music distracting as well!)

Chances are, you're your own worst enemy when it comes to distraction. What steps do you normally take to minimize distractions and stay focused?

How To Cope, The Next Time You Are Caught In Verbal Hurricane

2009-02-18T07:39:00.004+05:00

Arguments, are inevitable in life. There are times, when people don’t agree with what YOU want; what you do; what you say. In most situations, you can probably resolve the disagreement in an amicable manner. Other times, it brings out the worst in people.

Here are some tips to help you cope, the next time you are in a heated discussion.

1. Don’t let those words escape

During a verbal hurricane, your temperament usually boils over. You will have offensive things bubbling up in your throat, threatening to burst out of your mouth!
If you go ahead and say it anyway, you might regret it when you have calmed down. Or maybe, you agonize what you could have said. You might be able to apologize once the whole thing blows over, but you can't take your words back.

2. Ask yourself, “Is this really something worth arguing about”

By all means, I am not asking you to be a headless chicken! Sometimes, our ego gets in the way and somehow we NEED to prove that we are right! Arguments can stem from the prettiest of discussions. If it all started from playful banter, don't let it get out of hand.

3. Listen… (without interrupting)

It’s a natural human tendency to interrupt. Make an effort to be patient and let the other person finish the sentence. When you don’t let the other person speak, they tend to get frustrated.

4. Try to prevent any misunderstandings

Many arguments start where one person communicates in a fuzzy or unclear manner, which leads the other person to feel disrespected or hurt. Paraphrase what you have understood to prevent misunderstanding, miscommunication or incomplete communication.

5. “Package” your opinion/view point

Choose your words carefully. Try to stay away from sarcasm, insults etc.

6. Stay Calm

Try not to get “provoked”. Just because the other person raises the voice, doesn’t mean you have to. This is where your temperament will be tested. You can keep completely calm and dominate a conversation without even raising their voice.

What you NEED to remember, when you Don’t Remember the above!

When caught up in a heated conversation, it’s likely that you will not remember any of the above mention tips.
What you need to engrave in your mind is
* Your point of view is NOT the ONLY one (everyone should have)
* The way you argue, will determine how well the issue is resolved.

Are you finding yourself in a more disagreements than you prefer? How do you manage to stay calm through it all?

Leadership: 5 Facts Leadership Gurus Don’t Tell

2009-02-09T17:44:00.003+05:00

Leadership: the leader, the supervisor, the boss, the manager.. These titles (and others) describe people who are responsible for getting things accomplished by acting trough others.
Leading can be a daunting task. In some ways it can be positively thrilling. Just as the freedom, responsibility, and respect start to lift you to cloud nine, the paranoia, fear, and anxiety can bring you crashing back down to earth!

I have been a student of leadership for many years and even today, I am still learning! While I have read many books on the subject there are some things, leadership gurus’ don’t cover, as much as we want them to.

1. The ‘F’ word isn’t easy

For most people, firing is not an easy thing to do. Those you must discharge, may have worked at a job for a long time. They may or may not have done their best. Either way, firing can mean they have loss of money, prestige, security and sense of self-worth. Still, if you are going to be true to yourself and to your organization as leader, you have no choice.

2. Leadership is lonely

The scariest down side of the whole thing is the isolation. People do not become leaders because they want to have more dark days of isolation!
One of the hardest times for a leader is when you have to keep your own counsel and make a difficult decision. It may be decision that is received with dismay and resentment, but you are not at liberty to give your staff the complete picture.

3. “Freaking out” isn’t an option

Learning to pull yourself together and gain control over these emotions and actions before they bury you….
This is a tough one. No matter how bad it gets, no matter what kind of day you’re having, you have to hold yourself together.

4. You don’t need to be an expert in everything

It used to be thought that leaders grow into their jobs because of the technical experience and product knowledge they acquire at each step. However, in this age of technical specialization, it is virtually impossible to be more of an expert in everything that those you lead in most leadership jobs. This means that the technical knowledge is far less importance then is how you train you belief system.

5. To lead, you must first win minds

The higher you go, the more you’re under scrutiny from those beneath you who think they can do your job better and those above you who think they are paying you too much (in most cases).

A good deal of leadership in the wining of victories, in everything you do, has to do with your ability to win the minds of the people around you. If you can do this, you’ll not only lead successfully, but you’ll be successful in achieving your goals and objectives.

Is Heavy Thinking Ruining Your Life?

2009-02-03T18:17:00.003+05:00

The mind is like a vehicle! It’s given in good condition with sufficient fuel! The way you steer the wheel (THINKING!) , can lead you to “wonderful treasures” or “destructive destinations” ever known to mankind.

Perhaps, the world would be a better place, if more people spent time “thinking” about circumstances, consequences, decisions BEFORE taking action. Anyone you can think of? politicians, media folks, Ex-s … ahem..

What about you? Are you a moderate thinker? Heavy thinker?

How do you know, when heavy thinking is gradually ruining your life? The simplest answer is that it paralyzes you in certain functions of your daily lifestyle.

You can’t get that problem or situation out of your mind (a distraction, obviously!)
You thought about all angles, but it still does not make sense.
You think that if you spend enough time thinking about it, you will figure it out.
Over stress yourself and occasionally those around you.

At some point in life, we all go through these phrases of heavy thinking. However, if it is a part of your everyday routine, where you....

Run things that happened to you over and over in your head
Think “I should have said this”, “I could have done this”, “I wonder what he/she thinks of me”
Then… it will become a problem.

Heavy thinking can lead to..

Worry By over thinking things, you make them more and more complicated in your mind. It can turn something fairly simple, into a big pile of worry!

Over-caution All the “what if” questions can sometimes lead to negativity.

Doubt Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worse of all, they doubt themselves.

Indecision When worry, over-caution and doubt come into the equation, making a decision can be a daunting task.

Things to do when over thinking takes over the mind

If you have already tried praying, meditating, exercising, here are a few things to remember.

There are some things, despite your best effort you will not be able to change it. You may not LIKE it, but you must ACCEPT them, and move on.

It’s near impossible to find a “exact point” where you will have “everything figured out”.

Try not to constantly relive situations and wish you had made different choices.
Things may be hard and difficult. You mind has the ability to make it even harder!
Set a deadline for decisions that you postpone. For example, over this week-end I will decide on …..

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.~ Lord Buddha

“Thinking” is something that is common to each of us. How do you manage to strike a balance between making the “right” decision and not letting heavy thinking get in your way?

Ways To Regain The Hours Television Steals From You

2009-01-21T21:36:00.004+05:00

A few days ago I read in a newspaper that on average, a person spends about 30 hours a week watching television. Furthermore, this average was 20% more for the holiday season.

The article reminded me of my teenage years, where I spent more than 7 hours a day watching episode after episode. Eating in front of the television, homework in front of the television…. At the time, it seemed like the “best drug” I ever found!

A decade later, I am proud (& relieved!) to say that I am not that person anymore! The transition didn’t happen overnight and it wasn’t easy. I thought of sharing my insight on how I managed to regain those hours.

When an innocent hobby/habit becomes a problem

When engaged in watching television, time “goes by” quickly (unless the program is very boring!). Can you recall a moment where you sat down to watch one episode and then saw highlights of the next program and thought “might as well watch this one too”. Before you know it, an hour has passed; and then another and another…. So, once you are ready to get yourself out of the couch, it’s time to sleep. Or you have fallen asleep on the couch itself!

Although watching television can be a great way to unwind after a hectic day, laugh out loud, or even learn something new, it is, generally, the biggest time vampire in modern society. It took several “not so good” grades to make me aware this!

Evaluating a “healthy” level

Take a few minutes and write down all the shows you watching during the week. Don’t cheat! Write ALL, even the shows you would not admit to watching! For each show write how long it is. Add up the total hours. Is the number too high? Or are you satisfied?

How many times have you decided NOT to do something (socialize, study etc) because something you liked was coming on television?

Reasons why we watch television

The reason for watch television may vary from person to person. It might even be a more than one reason. These are a few reasons I can think of, for the moment.

1. Tired.. want to relax
2. Don’t want to spend “alone” time, alone!
3. A diversion from your life (television has you believing that life’s troubles are over in 22 or 42 minutes plus commercials!)
4. Have nothing better to do – bored
5. To increase sociability
E.g:
All my friend talk about the latest heroes episode at lunch
I find it difficult having conversations with people who say “Did you watch…?” or “Do you watch…?”

The bitter truth

Other people are being paid to do what they love (acting, directing, producing etc!)
You are watching other people, do what they love!
Why spend most of the time watching other people live their lives?

Why it’s so… difficult

24 hours a day, 365 days a year… . There are hundreds of channels, catering for every conceivable taste.
“I’ve felt very compelled to give up TV for, like, a year now, and I just don’t, partially because I adore some of the shows on TV”…. Sounds familiar?

If you can’t totally eliminate watching television….

Most of us have always had TV in our lives so it is hard to imagine life without it. So what can be done, without giving it up entirely?

1. Watch ONLY want you WANT to watch, WHEN you want to watch!
Look back at the evaluation exercise you carried out before.
Decide on the programs you really want to watch.
Perhaps, it will be a good idea to rent those television series. It will prevent you from channel hopping and “settling” from watching “what’s on”

2. Use television as a reward
For example: If you finish writing a report, cleaning the house etc
Once you have finished doing what you intended to reward yourself to a few hours of television.

3. Find new ways to occupy your time
How does one get to a point where they are too busy to watch television? “I am way too busy to watch television”
May be a new hobby, a project .. surely there must be something that you always wanted to do but never got around to it?

4. Multi-tasking
I don’t recommend this for important tasks. Perhaps, you can have the television on, while doing choirs, exercising etc

Have there been occasions where you realized that you have to cut down on television? Were you able to do so?

Tired & True Ways Of Recovering From Setbacks (Making 2009, Better Than 2008!)

2009-01-13T07:33:00.004+05:00

Throughout a person’s life, they are faced with numerous obstacles, and challenges of different types. There are times, when you want to say to life: “Please give me a break. Just give me a chance to catch my breath.” But life doesn’t listen. Sometimes, as soon as we raise our heads, it knocks us back down. Can you relate to a time in your life, perhaps even now.....,

Does it seem like no matter what you do, things just don't seem to be working in your favor?

My life in particular, has not been an easy walk in the park! But through all, I am still moving! (May be not at the exact pace I wanted… though)
A wise friend once told me,
“After you have been knocked down or pushed back by life, you should acknowledge the setback, understand why it happened, and then make a leap ahead of where you were when you were hit. That’s how to become the person you always wanted to be.”

It turned out to be good advice! Along my journey, I have learned a few things that I think can enrich the above statement.

Take a Snapshot of Your Life from a Helicopter
Shift your view point. There is more than one perspective on a situation. Question yourself; get in proportion. How much will it matter in 10 years time?

When Everything Goes Wrong, Make Something Else Go Right
When something goes badly that you can't change, it can seem like everything is going wrong. Instead of giving up, you can make something else go right.
Do something - anything - that gives you a little charge. The idea is to think, say or do a number of things that you’ve found through experience charge you up a little.

Recognize The Importance Of Attitude
It’s one thing to be positive when things are going well, but it is something altogether different when life catches you on the blind side.

You can control your attitude towards the situation you find yourself in. Avoid any tendency to view yourself as unfortunate victim battered by circumstance.

Acknowledge What You’ve Learned And Your Effort
No matter how bad it is, no matter how much it hurts, how much money you lost….the lesson you learned from it is FAR more valuable, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.
Sometimes, is not about having success in everything that you do; it is the effort that counts! Abandon the notion that the game is only worth playing if you win. Acknowledge that you’ve done your best, even if you have failed to produce favorable results.

Keep A Record Of Setbacks Overcome
I don’t fancy keeping a record of the setbacks that occurred in my life. However, it’s a tool I used for future setbacks! If I can recall these incidents in my mind I know that, “If I got through that I can get through this too!”
Take Refuge In Religion
There are times, despite our best efforts there’s nothing we can do to make the situation better. I don’t know whether you believe in religion or have faith. But I am just going to say it anyway. Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Don’t Lose Belief
A setback is emotionally tiring and debilitating. Sometimes it leaves you feeling inadequate and not good enough. So, believe that good things ARE going to follow; great things WILL occur when you get up, dust yourself off, and go at life… with renewed determination and courage. All the best!

The Only Way To Stay True To New Year Goals

2009-01-05T08:02:00.003+05:00

When talking about new year goals some people are skeptical. I was too… up until a few years ago. The main reason I didn’t believe in setting new year goals is because I didn’t follow through. Sure, I would be excited about it in the month of January. February, a little less.. By March.. its slipping away.. April.. it’s a forgotten memory!

I was reluctant to set such goals because
1. I couldn’t stay committed
2. I would be disappointed (with a dose of guilt!)

On the other hand, setting new year goals

It inspires you to do something.
Helps you decide what you want to achieve.
Increase your energy levels.
Helps you remain in control of your life.
Gives you a reason and value for your existence.
Eliminates the irrelevant and unimportant.

As I grew older (and wiser!) I realized that new year goals are similar to every other goal we set in life. Needless to say that the time period is a year!

The problem… I was going with the flow and just setting new year goals for the "sake of doing so". Now, I am more “cautious” in setting goals. If I don’t have the desire and passion, to see it through it does not make it to my new year goals. At the end of the day.. the question is….

How Badly Do You Want it?
Bad enough to ask yourself EVERYDAY for the rest of year, “What are the most important things I can do today to take me nearer to my goal?”
Bad enough to be self motivated?
Do you want it bad enough, to MOVE from thinking to DOING?
Bad enough to make sacrifices? when everything else is so tempting?
Do you want it bad enough to get rid of procrastination?

If the answer is “No”, its time to re-visit the goals ;-0)

Do you believe in setting new year goals? How do you keep plan to keep yourself on track?

Welcome 2009: Are You Ready?

2009-01-01T07:20:00.008+05:00

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. ~ Pope John Paul

Let’s make 2009, the best year ever ;-)

Remembering Hallmark Moments Of 2008

2008-12-30T21:46:00.000+05:00

Most of the yearly review posts I read (on other blogs) indicated that they had a fairly traumatic 2008(economy etc). This post is a recap of my life this year and what I hope to achieve in 2009.

The Good..

I learned a new instrument. I can now play the guitar without driving my neighbors crazy!
I am more confident with my driving, than I was a year ago.
I now weigh 45Kgs. (I was consistent with my exercise routine and lost about 10Kgs within the year.)
I started weaving ideas for a book.

The Bad…
In many areas, I was “playing it safe”. Looking back, I believe could have taken more “calculated risks”.

Lessons learned!
As I have mentioned in the my About page, what I write here is based on my incidental gleanings. 2008, has indeed been an eye opener!

A few noteworthy things I personally came to understand and believe in (…the hard way) this year…

Never let anyone persuade me for a “third chance”.
Never make someone a priority, who makes me an option.
However good or bad a situation is… it will change.

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.~Hal Borland

I am thankful…
I’m immensely grateful for all the people who helped me get through several difficult periods of this year.

My Goals for 2009
I am generally a very “private” person. I had to really squeeze my neck to publish this post! I wanted to list this out here, so that I will feel more accountable for it. I plan on reviewing these goals on the last week of December 2009!

Writing: Complete the first draft of my book
Health : Stay true to my exercise routine (no matter how busy!)
Finance: Find ways to double ROI
Love : Take a leap of faith!
Career : Broaden my technical expertise
General : Stop worrying about how big a challenge is and focus on the best way to achieve it.... in stages!

As the last post for this year, let me leave you with this. If you could have one wish come true for the coming year, what would it be?

Wishing YOU a Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T08:59:00.004+05:00

May the JOY of Christmas fill your heart with happiness today
May the HOPE of Christmas light your path and guide you on your way
May the PROMISE of Christmas help to show God's boundless love for you
May the blessings of Christmas fill your heart now and forever...

2008 Wind Down Of Enhance Life

2008-12-20T21:24:00.000+05:00

I am going to uphold the tradition I started 2 years ago and continue with my nominees for this year as well.

Most commented post - Over Spending & Impulse Buying: 8 Reasons Why You’re Not To Blame

Most linked post - Overworked & Overwhelmed? Achieving Life Balance Amidst Chaos

Most visited post -12 Words and Phrases That Automatically Kill Your Self Image

My Favorite post - Career: 62 Tips To Make Your Job Terrific (Lessons Learned)

Debatable post - Expectations: Is It A human Weakness?

Blogging post - 6 Things Simon Cowell (Of American Idol) Would Say About Your Blog!

Humor post - Humor Edition: What Dr.Phil, Britney Spears, Einstein (& Others) Had To Say To…

Health post - 8 Skinny Habits To Loose Weight Naturally

Book review post - Who's Pulling Your Strings

‘Such is Life’ post - Are You Constantly At The Mercy Of Circumstances?

Living simplified post - DVD Clutter: How To De-Junk A DVD Collection

Career post - 7 Career Advancing Tips To build An Impeccable Relationship With Your Boss

Finance post- Money And Processions: Breaking Free From The Materialism Trap

Many thanks for your all your comments, contributions and, most of all, continued interest in Enhance Life. I enjoy writing it and it's always great to hear that other people enjoy reading it :-)

Please leave a comment and make your vote heard!

Getting Past Your Past, Is It Really Possible?

2008-12-15T22:07:00.006+05:00

Wonderful memories, regrets, mistakes, learning experiences, fun, unforgettable people…. All these and more, make up our past.

“Oh, get over it”, “Let it go”, “move on”…..
Self-help books mention this; may be your friends/loved ones have said it. However, anyone who has a “burdened past”, know how difficult it is.

May be you are still holding on hoping it would last....
May be you are in denial about everything that went wrong...
Just may be..... you were too late ...
..............

Anger, hatred, bitterness, resentments and thoughts of revenge are heavy weights that slow a person down. Allowed to fester, these negative feelings can consume increasingly larger portions of your life. You realize that to be healthy, productive, and successful, you can't stay stuck in it either. So what do you do about it?

1. The past is only alive if you keep it alive

Having said that, I am fully aware that no one is capable of just snapping fingers and erasing the past. Only the characters in the Heroes TV series can do that!
However, no matter what your past burdens are, you need to be able to walk away from them, instead of letting them control your present. Take the lesson you learnt, and learn not to do it again. What happens in the past is exactly that, passed, and you must learn to live for now.

2. Don’t shackle yourself with regret.

We have regrets, feelings of guilt, wishing or thinking we should have done this or that differently. I am sure that you have a list of "should of's" and "could of's"; you may think that if you acted differently or made another choice, that somehow situations might have turned out better. That could be true, but nothing can change the past.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.~ Anonymous

3. Appreciate yourself as a tested survivor

Think of all of the times that you have struggled and pulled through! For some of us it is easier to see it as the end and give up, however that goes against pretty much everything that we have stood for up until now. You see, survival is a natural instinct and the reality that you are still here and still alive shows that you have this natural instinct.

4. The future CAN be better than the past

When your past seems overwhelming the inner voice says, "I've failed then so I'll fail now," or equivalent. Being a pessimist doesn't fetch you anything. It only looks good & glamorous only in movies!

Learn from the past but don’t assume that your past automatically equals your future. Fill this life with anticipation. Expect great things will happen to you!

You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.~Charles F.Kettering

Getting past your past, Is it really possible?

The past is a tricky thing. It has shaped you; it has made you who you are today. If it was difficult or painful, you can't just cut yourself off from it. Some scars remain for life. I don’t think that we really "get over" our past. (Just my way of thinking. You are free to disagree or have a different opinion. There is a reason why this post is filed under – Think tank)
To me, “getting over it” doesn't mean forgetting the experience. It simply means going through the process of dealing with the situation, to the point where it can no longer create a block or problem for me.
The question is, 'do you love yourself enough to just let it go?'

Finally…No matter what has gone before, your future and how you feel about it will be a direct result of what you do from now on. It is being shaped right now, moment by moment, as the consequences of your desires, thoughts, dreams, actions, and words begin to crystallize.

7 Effective Uses Of Quotes That Will Make You Memorable, Motivated & Healthier

2008-12-09T21:18:00.004+05:00

If you have been reading Enhance Life for a while, you would have noticed by now that I am a quotes fanatic! From the response I received for inspirational quotes that get me through the toughest of days, I realize that I am not the only one!

What may be less evident to you is exactly how you can use them to improve your daily life. The next time you read a great quotation, do more than just think it is it very good. Decide to use one of the seven ideas below, to help the wisdom of the quotation benefit you and those around you.

Using Quotes To Make Yourself Memorable

1. The making of a remarkable gift
Did I mention that December 2nd was my birthday! I got a fabulous gift (let’s not go into details.. ahem..). The gift itself was both expensive and useful; I was more touched by the note that came along with the gift! Needless to say it had a great quote, that made my day!
So yes, quotes are a great way to express gratitude, love , admiration, or respect for a person. Believe me, quotes have a way of adding an essence of magic, even to a extra special gift!

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.~Maya Angelou

2. Add to the email signature
Most people generally include their name, contact information etc at the bottom of every email. Consider using a quote that is thought provoking, funny or one that expresses a belief or value.
By doing so, you are giving others a glimpse of your personality, something to think about and at the same time you are differentiating yourself from the crowd.

3. Using quotes in presentations, documents

In order to be irreplaceable one must be different ~Coco Chanel

Many presenters opt to include the quotations in presentations. The “right quotation” can enhance your speech and leave you memorable in the eyes of your audience.

Using Quotes To Keep You Motivated (/Sane!)

4. Add an inspirational desktop wallpaper
What do you see when you first turn on your computer? Some of us probably have a desktop wallpaper of the hottest movie or video game… Or maybe a favorite actor or singer. If such wallpaper motivate you to get things done.. then leave it as it is! If not, consider adding an inspiring quote as the desktop wallpaper. Notice the difference!

5. Humorous/motivating wall hanging
The environment in which you work has a profound effect on your level of motivation. Aside from appliances and office furniture designed to help make our workplace a better place, there are some small items that unconsciously push you into get things done. One of the most popular office items that many employers use in putting workers in a good mood are framed motivational quotes.

Using Quotes To Stay Healthy

6. Meditation
Find an inspiring quote and use it as a seed for your thoughts when meditating.

7. Carve some quotes to your memory!
Are you someone who gets angry often? May be you feel depressed now and then? Try repeating a soothing quote in such a situation.

Do you have any creative uses of quotes that you like to share?

Are You Constantly At The Mercy Of Circumstances?

2008-12-01T20:26:00.000+05:00

We just began the last month for this year. I don’t know about you, but I feel like the past couple of months breezed by, too soon! In a few weeks, we will be celebrating yet another new year.

I know a lot of people (including myself) had high hopes for this year. May be you set out by defining goals and objectives. Have you achieved what you set out to achieve?
Now, when you read that question what goes through your mind? Is your mind filled with all the things that went wrong in your life that resulted in a less fulfilling lifestyle? Does your response start with "No, because?"

So what about me? Am I on the right track? Hm…There are areas in my life that I am fairing well beyond my expectations. Then, there are other areas, I haven’t even begun to get on track.

Crap happens to everyone!

We live in a world where things happen that are out of our control, people do things we don’t like, and we get things thrown at us, that we didn’t ask for. When derailed by circumstances, even a positive person will find it difficult to remain positive.

Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays
We all have an unbelievably strong will to survive. So there’s no doubt that irrespective of the current circumstance we will eventually dig ourselves out of it.

However, by the time that happens, it might be too much of an emotional rollercoaster. You would have wasted loads of precious time, and sometimes health may have suffered as well.

Quit blaming your star sign and make the most of circumstances
You might not be able to choose your initial circumstances, but you can choose your attitude toward your circumstances. Sometimes the situation you are in is so tough, that you just cannot work your way out of the problem. You HAVE TO think your way out of the problem.

A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.~Hugh Downs

Regardless of what aspect of your life you may be struggling with; you CAN totally change any undesirable circumstance. First, you have to believe it. Many people have absolutely no confidence in a better future; they accept things just the way they are as if they have no way of changing a thing.

I can’t promise you that it’s going to be easy. I am someone who believes that we can control of how we interpret and respond to circumstances. As easy and straightforward as it might sound, this requires a lot of work!

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” ~Don Juan

In the end, all that matters is that you have enough ambition, enough passion, enough drive to see what you want, visualize the success, and make it happen.

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."~George Bernard Shaw

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