What is growth mindset, and how can it be developed?

Experiencing boredom is a natural part of the human experience, and it can actually serve as a valuable indicator of our mental and emotional state. When we feel bored, it may be a sign that we need to rest or recharge or that we are not engaged enough with our environment or activities. Rather than dismissing boredom as a negative emotion, we can use it as an opportunity to reflect on our needs and make positive changes in our lives.

It is common in individuals of following categories  

1. Housewives, 

2. Students who are not challenged or engaged in their studies, 

3. Office workers who have repetitive or unstimulating tasks,

4. Retirees who may feel a lack of purpose or direction, 

5. People who are isolated or have limited social interaction, 

6. Individuals who are in a rut or feel stuck in their current situation, 

7. People who have experienced significant life changes or transitions, 

8. Individuals who are not pursuing their passions or interests. 

The reason for Boredom can be listed can arise from a lack of stimulation, routine, or not having enough engaging activities to do. 

Monotony/Bored with Routine: 

A teacher may bring boredom to students if she sounds monotonous. Teacher who brings exitement, curiosity to the subject and brings activities based class is able to engage students efficiently. 

Our daily tasks  such as washing our face, brushing our teeth, or eating breakfast must be looked upon as opportunities for mindfulness and self-care. Rather than simply going through the motions, we can approach taskswith intention and gratitude. We can also find ways to challenge ourselves and learn new things, such as trying out a new recipe or incorporating physical activity into our daily routine.

Following mindful eating method by closing eyes and experiencing the food in all the possible manners: its taste, its odour, feeling the its texture of the food with fingers and observing a the food particle in and out before taking a bite. 

One can meditate while performing the routine task, experiencing the power the task is creating in each cell of the body. 

Adding more efforts to the task, performing the routine task using the different hand or changing the sequence in which one does it daily.

Another ways can be Mix up the routine. Try doing things in a different order or at a different time of day. For example, if you always start your day with exercise, try switching it up and doing it in the afternoon or evening instead.

Add variety. Look for ways to add variety to your routine, such as trying new recipes for meals, listening to different music while you work, or taking a different route to work.

Set new goals. Identify new goals that align with your values and interests. This could involve learning a new skill, starting a new hobby, or pursuing a new career path.

Collaborate with others. Seek out opportunities to work with others, whether it's on a group project at work or joining a sports team. Collaboration can bring new perspectives and energy to your routine.

By focusing on the ways in which one can improve selves and lives through our daily routines, we can cultivate a positive mindset and a sense of purpose.

Furthermore, we can use our routines as a foundation for setting goals and achieving success in other areas of our lives. By prioritizing our self-care and well-being, we can build the resilience and discipline needed to pursue our passions and reach our full potential.

Ultimately, by embracing a growth mindset and finding meaning in our daily routines, we can transform our lives and achieve greater fulfillment and happiness.

While it is natural to feel bored or stuck in a routine, there are several strategies that one can use to overcome these challenges and find renewed motivation and engagement:

Seek out new challenges and opportunities for growth. If you find yourself feeling bored with your current tasks, try to find ways to challenge yourself or learn something new. This could involve taking on a new project, learning a new skill, or volunteering for a new responsibility.

Break up your routine. If you feel stuck in a rut, try to mix things up by changing your schedule or environment. This could involve rearranging your workspace, taking a different route to work, or trying out a new hobby or activity.

Find meaning in your work. Sometimes, boredom can stem from a lack of purpose or connection to one's work. Try to identify what motivates you and find ways to connect your work to a larger purpose or goal.

Take breaks and practice self-care. Taking breaks and prioritizing your well-being can help you recharge and find renewed energy and motivation. This could involve taking a short walk, practicing mindfulness or meditation, or engaging in a relaxing activity.

Embrace a growth mindset. Rather than viewing repetition or reworking as tedious or boring, try to see these tasks as opportunities for growth and improvement. By focusing on the positive aspects of your work and embracing a growth mindset, you can find renewed motivation and engagement in even the most mundane tasks.

Bored with nothing to do: 

It is obvious for individual to be bored if the individual does not understand what he has to do in his spare time. 

Explore new hobbies or interests. Use this time to try out new activities that you have been curious about, such as painting, writing, or playing an instrument. This is a great way to discover new passions and talents.

Learn a new skill. There are plenty of online resources and courses that can help you learn a new language, programming, or other valuable skills. Take advantage of this time to invest in your personal or professional growth.

Connect with others. Reach out to friends or family members and spend time socializing or catching up. Alternatively, you could join a club or group that shares your interests or passions.

Volunteer or give back to your community. Use this time to volunteer at a local organization or find ways to give back to those in need. This is a great way to make a positive impact and connect with others.

Practice self-care. Use this time to prioritize your physical and emotional well-being. This could involve taking a relaxing bath, practicing yoga or meditation, or engaging in a soothing activity such as reading or listening to music.

Ultimately, by approaching your free time with a sense of curiosity and purpose, you can find meaningful and fulfilling ways to fill your days and combat boredom.

Bored with Someone around:  

When you find yourself bored around someone who doesn't share your interests, it can be helpful to approach the situation with an open mind and a willingness to find common ground. Here are a few strategies that can help:

Engage in active listening. Even if you don't share the same interests, you can still learn from others by actively listening to their perspectives and experiences.

Find common ground. Look for areas where your interests overlap and use those as a starting point for conversation and connection.

Share your passions. Even if the other person doesn't share your interests, they may be curious about them. Sharing your passions can help to spark conversation and create a sense of connection.

Explore new activities together. Try to find activities or experiences that you both enjoy, whether it's trying a new restaurant or going for a hike.

Be open to learning. Even if you don't initially find the other person's interests compelling, be open to learning more about them. You may be surprised by what you discover.

Remember, building relationships takes time and effort. By approaching the situation with an open mind and a willingness to learn and connect, you can overcome boredom and build meaningful relationships with those around you

Bored due to lack of appreciation:

When you find yourself bored due to a lack of appreciation, it can be helpful to shift your focus from external validation to internal motivation. Here are a few strategies that can help:

Set personal goals. Instead of relying on external recognition, set goals for yourself that align with your values and passions. This could involve learning a new skill, completing a project, or making progress towards a personal milestone.

Practice gratitude. Take time to reflect on the things you are grateful for in your life, including your accomplishments and the people who support you.

Focus on intrinsic motivation. Find ways to cultivate intrinsic motivation, such as by engaging in activities that bring you joy or by setting challenges for yourself that allow you to grow and develop.

Seek feedback from trusted sources. While external validation shouldn't be your sole focus, seeking feedback from trusted sources can help you to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Celebrate your successes. When you achieve a goal or make progress towards a milestone, take time to celebrate your success and acknowledge the hard work and effort that went into it.

Remember, while external validation can be motivating, true fulfillment and satisfaction come from within. By cultivating intrinsic motivation and focusing on personal growth and development, you can overcome boredom and find fulfillment in your work and your life. 

Bored due to Lack of purpose or motivation:

When you find yourself bored due to a lack of purpose or motivation, it can be helpful to take a step back and reassess your goals and values. Here are a few strategies that can help:

Define your values. Take time to reflect on what is truly important to you in life, such as your relationships, your health, your career, or your personal growth.

Set meaningful goals. Identify goals that align with your values and that inspire you to take action. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Create a plan. Break down your goals into actionable steps and create a plan to achieve them. Set deadlines and hold yourself accountable.

Find inspiration. Seek out sources of inspiration and motivation, such as books, podcasts, or mentors. Surround yourself with people who share your values and who support your goals.

Embrace challenge. Embrace challenges and obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning. Use setbacks as motivation to work harder and smarter towards your goals.

Remember, finding purpose and motivation takes time and effort. By identifying your values, setting meaningful goals, and embracing challenge, you can overcome boredom and find fulfillment in your work and your life.

Become dependent/ take help:

Sometimes, taking help or becoming dependent on others can be a great way to overcome boredom and improve performance. Here are a few strategies to try:

Delegate tasks. Identify tasks that you can delegate to others, whether it's at work or at home. This could involve assigning responsibilities to a colleague or hiring a cleaning service to help with household chores.

Seek support. Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues for support and advice. Share your challenges and ask for help when you need it.

Collaborate with others. Look for opportunities to work with others on projects or tasks. Collaboration can bring new perspectives and energy to your work and help you stay engaged and interested.

Outsource tasks. Consider outsourcing tasks that are not your core strengths or that you don't enjoy. For example, if you don't like doing your own bookkeeping, consider hiring an accountant to help.

Invest in self-improvement. Use the time you free up by delegating or outsourcing tasks to invest in your own self-improvement. This could involve taking a course, learning a new skill, or pursuing a hobby.

Remember, becoming dependent on others can be a great way to overcome boredom and improve performance. By delegating tasks, seeking support, collaborating with others, outsourcing tasks, and investing in self-improvement, you can stay engaged and interested in your work and your life.

Magic of getting purposely bored: 

Getting purposely bored may seem counterintuitive, but it can actually be a helpful strategy for overcoming boredom. Here are some ways to intentionally embrace boredom:

Do a boring task intentionally. Pick a task that you know is boring and commit to doing it for a set amount of time. This could be folding laundry, organizing files, or cleaning the bathroom. By intentionally doing a boring task, you may find that you become more mindful and present in the moment.

Unplug from technology. Turn off your phone, computer, and other electronic devices for a set amount of time each day. This can help you disconnect from the constant stimulation of social media and email and allow you to be more present in your surroundings.

Go for a walk. Take a walk in a familiar location, and challenge yourself to notice something new or different. This can help you appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the world around you, even in familiar places.

Practice meditation or mindfulness. Set aside a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness or meditation. This can help you develop the ability to focus on the present moment, even when you're feeling bored.

Remember, intentionally embracing boredom can help you develop a greater appreciation for the small moments in life and allow you to find joy in the ordinary.

Taking breaks:

Taking breaks is a great way to overcome boredom and maintain focus on tasks. Here are some tips for effective breaks:

Schedule breaks into your day. Plan to take regular breaks throughout the day, ideally every 45-60 minutes. This can help you stay focused and productive, and prevent burnout.

Engage in a different activity. During your break, engage in a different activity that you enjoy. This could be reading a book, taking a walk, or chatting with a friend. The change in activity can help you reset your focus and energy.

Practice mindfulness or meditation. Taking a few minutes to practice mindfulness or meditation during your break can help you relax and clear your mind.

Step away from technology. During your break, try to step away from your phone or computer. This can help you disconnect from the constant stimulation of technology and allow you to be more present in the moment.

Remember, breaks are essential for maintaining focus and productivity. By taking regular breaks, you can overcome boredom and stay energized throughout the day.

Do what you like/ have me-time:

Engaging in activities that you enjoy or having "me-time" can be a great way to overcome boredom. Here are some tips for finding activities that you enjoy:

Try new activities. Experiment with new hobbies or activities that you haven't tried before. This could be anything from taking a cooking class to trying out a new sport.

Focus on your interests. Think about the things that you enjoy doing and find ways to incorporate them into your daily routine. For example, if you love reading, set aside time each day to read a book.

Connect with others. Join a club or group that shares your interests. This can be a great way to meet new people and find new activities to enjoy.

Take time for yourself. Set aside time each day to do something just for you. This could be as simple as taking a bubble bath or going for a walk in nature.

Remember, doing things that you enjoy can help you overcome boredom and improve your overall mood and wellbeing. By taking the time to engage in activities that bring you joy, you can recharge your batteries and tackle your daily tasks with renewed energy, enthusiasm

and generate growth mindset.

Understand personal traits/ uncover the passion/ reinvent self/ engage in spiritual activities:

Each individual has a unique talent installed within. All one needs to do is find the right visions to detect them. Sometimes one may be able to open personal traits independently, while sometimes, someone may need the help of a coach or a mentor to understand personal characteristics. Once one learns unique features, one can get to know one's passion. And when one works for passion, there is no boredom created.

Meditation can help one connect with their inner self and gain clarity on their personal traits and passions. It allows one to quiet the mind and focus on the present moment, helping them gain a better understanding of themselves and their true desires. Additionally, seeking the guidance of a coach or mentor can provide valuable insights and direction on how to uncover personal traits and pursue one's passions. Reinventing oneself and engaging in spiritual activities can also be effective in overcoming boredom and finding a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Surround yourself with the right things and people:

Surrounding oneself with positive and supportive people can also help to uplift one's mood and stay motivated. The best example here can be of a potterman, he has the same mud from which he can make cigrate spouts or he can choose to make pots. Based on the choices made, the  mud has the life. This can be done by joining a community or group with similar interests, attending events and activities that align with one's values and goals, and spending time with loved ones who uplift and inspire. Additionally, surrounding oneself with the right things, such as inspirational quotes, uplifting music, or calming scents, can also help to create a positive and motivating environment. Engaging in spiritual activities, such as meditation or prayer, can also provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Connect with the environment:

Another best way to overcome boredom to take a break and move out to an open space, maybe a terrace to watch the blue sky or to watch the twinkling stars, visit a garden or visit a water body.  Being in nature and connecting with the environment has been found to have many positive effects on mental health and can help reduce boredom and stress. It allows for a break from the daily routine and can bring a sense of calmness and relaxation.

Freshen up:

Refreshing oneself physically by taking a quick shower or a face wash or a face massage, or a body massage, or a head massagecan also help improve mental alertness and focus, which can in turn combat boredom.

Do multitasking:

Multitasking is indeed riskier as multitasking causes reduced focus and confusion. But sometimes, waiting for the output from a single task may lead to boredom. Hence in such a situation, it is better to multitask. 

Females are the best multitasker, e.g. female does multitasking while she does household chores, including cooking, cleaning vessels, laundering, and feeding kids. 

The smart cell phones have facilities to switch the window option and enable one to switch between activities. Switching from one application to another without shutting the entire application has brought convenience. This justifies the fact that multitasking is valid in today's time.

Often I have observed that when I conveniently categorize tasks that can be multitasked. I have achieved my targets, and I have remained engaged. Also, the boredom created by the time required for task A to be completed is eliminated. Further, the feeling of being a loser or failure or depression of not achieving the target achieved in time disappeared.

While multitasking can be a solution to overcome boredom, it is important to note that it may not be the most effective way to complete tasks. As you mentioned, it can lead to reduced focus and confusion. It is important to prioritize tasks and focus on completing them one at a time, rather than trying to do multiple things at once. However, if you do need to multitask, it is helpful to categorize tasks that can be done together, as you mentioned. This can help you stay organized and focused.

Dare to Live without your passion/ Career breaks are OK

Are you attached to your passion?  If so, you need to detach yourself from your passion.   🥰  

The pandemic of corona (Covid 19)  has hit all of us since the past year 2020! 

We all have bombarded ourselves with slogans like "work is worship", "My work is my passion", etc. 

But now, with the pandemic, we have observed that certain areas of work are shut... people have moved from passion A to passion B, C, D.... and so on... i.e. we saw engineers selling vegetables, fruits, etc., on the streets.

Was this move of changing the profession not necessary?

Such a change of shifting minds to work in the new area was highly recommended to thrive self and families. Because people have lost jobs, specific work sectors have been shut down. 

Why have people accepted such a shift in their careers? 

Just because the money was energy, and fuel for living, people took to shift their works. 

Schools, colleges, tutors, and temples all started online.

Such the challenge of shifting from one work area to another is nothing new to certain people, including pregnant women. In our country, women lose their job or do not get a job if they are pregnant.

Or sometimes, even a male or female gets kicked off their jobs due to many reasons... 

People who lose their job certainly work on getting acquainted with new skills and shift from their profession A to B or so on...

To thriver in their life.. even though they are passionate about their work, they leave their passion and take another subject area and try to rebuild their passion.

Is it not interesting....when we were in school, we had seven subjects ...history, geography, etc.... to help us realise our passion for...

So why can't we think about leaving our passion A and trying to create our interest in passions B, C, D, and E...

 

The idea behind this write-up is to make you realise that "Your only passion should not kill you; your only passion should not depress you or make you miserable".

While having a passion is important for personal fulfilment and satisfaction, it should not come at the cost of one's mental and physical health. It's okay to take a break from one's passion or even pursue other interests if it helps to maintain a healthy balance in life. It's also important to recognize that passions can change over time, and it's okay to explore new interests and find new passions. The key is to find a balance that works for oneself and to prioritize self-care and well-being.

Yes, I am talking about being opportunistic ..... I am pitching a thought in you ... to stay without your passion ...I am saying let not your work define you..... explore new areas... realise your new passion. 

Think out of the box,...be creative...don't limit yourself to one thing...it is not an end ...

The journey of life is too long...

Think of things when you have no option but to give up your passion... It may be due to unpredictable circumstances...

Be ready with plans B, C, .....

This article is meant to help the readers understand the importance of detaching oneself from one's passion if it becomes overwhelming or detrimental to their well-being. It's essential to explore new areas and try to develop new interests if the current passion is no longer feasible or enjoyable. It's okay to have a plan B, C, or even D in case of unpredictable circumstances. Ultimately, self-love and self-care should be prioritised to maintain a healthy and fulfilling life.

Love thy self...!

Happy Labours day! Jai hind, Jai Maharastra, Bharat Mata ki Jai! 

#writerfromchallenge #powerwriterschallenge #pujapuneet #harishmarnad #postingchallenge #lifecoach #writingcommunity #lifeisgood #motivated #india #narendramodi_primeminister #positivevibes #inspiration

"The Voyage for a New Writer"

     The Voyage for a New Writer

The human mind together denoted as conscious and sub-conscious gets thousands of thoughts. Of these thoughts few are important and others are transitory ideas. The important thoughts are formed when one acts or reacts to thought with emotion. Emotions are acts, experiences, views or opinions shown by an individual. Emotions start right from being in the womb, to being an infantile, adolescent or an adult, till one leaves the body. Infantile cries to grab attention and mother easily find the cause of her baby crying, these are the emotions between mother and a child. Similarly, a departed partner may have longed to meet his/ her partner is another set of emotion which an individual may convey via a song, poem or a message.

Keywords: write-up, skills, writing, passion, overcoming fear

Objective:

The objective of the present write-up is not to create mere motivation which is temporary but it is written with an objective to help the readers to pursue a carrier as a writer. This write-up will empower its readers to attain a real, tangible changed life rather than simply wishing for a change in life to happen. It will facilitate to create a belief in individuals that they can write themselves and eradicate the fear of being a writer. As in the following article, I will not speak magic but the logic behind the voyage of a new writer. So, I want my readers to keep reading till the end and not miss any points

Who can be a writer?

Orson Scott Card has quoted that, “Everybody walks past every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any” this thought helps one picture the difference between a writer and most people. To be a writer one does not need any title, like the ones who are non-working or the ones who have lost jobs due to any kind of crisis can be a writer. Further, any individual who is willing to or knowing to place, churn, elaborate, punctuate the thoughts in the correct way can be a writer. Someone having knowledge of the subject, or is ready to change the fundamental way one thinks, or is devoted to following a mentor (an individual experienced in writing) can be a writer. Someone who is willing to follow the guidelines of writing (discussed in the later part) or someone who can gather various opinions by reading, listening or watching people and is able to deliver personal opinion can attain the voyage to be a writer.

There is no magic:

It is said that each one of us is an envelope of tremendous potential and one has to work on the skill one wishes to flourish with by training oneself and practicing constantly in the same direction with consistency and perseverance to develop a skill. Practice and only practise can make one perfect. Aspects like, stars and destiny are not the answer for everything. Moreover, becoming a writer is not an overnight process. It does not happen in a few days or few weeks or neither is it a few months process. It is definitely not a pre-destined game. These days many people claim to mentor people for developing their writing skills in say a month I personally suggest one should not follow such mentors because this can make one handicap as one has to be dependent on the person where one will have to pay hefty charges to the person further, one cannot sustain in the game of writing with such a mentor-ship. Writing is a skill where one has to be devoted under the guidance of the correct mentor and being open to learning from the mentor at an individual pace by revising and understanding the pattern of revisions made. With devotion, the writing skill can get imbibed into one’s heart, which thus can never get splashed away. Just like nurturing an infantile for its transformation into an idle human-being, becoming a writer needs hard work and time.

Jane Yolen has quoted, “Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without the exercise, the muscles seize up”.

Steps to decide ones writing niche:

To start anything, one needs to select a niche, which can be a complex process. To simplify the process to choose a niche for writing the following steps can be followed:

1.         Identify one’s interest and passion: For knowing one’s interest and passion one can try new things, understand what really interests one. The kind of subjects one likes to spend ones free time on defines one’s interest. Further doing meditation can assist one to create awareness and help one realize and develop one’s potential.

2.         Identify problems one can solve: Today everyone seeks help. If one is an expert in a subject, one must think about how one’s knowledge can be of help to someone, through one’s writing.

3.         Check the thoughts or feelings: When a thought or an emotion is around one, how one act towards the thought or emotion creates an experience which can be of great value.

How to be a creative writer:

Writing must not be a copy and paste job. Simply copy-pasting job will be categorized into plagiarism. There are different types of plagiarism (https://www.bowdoin.edu/dean-of-students/judicial-board/academic-honesty-and-plagiarism/common-types-of-plagiarism.html).

To avoid plagiarism, and to be a creative writer:

1.             Write your own experience: Write after experiencing the subject.

2.         Observse others thoughts in your niche: by reading, listening or watching and then put up own views on the observed thoughts.

3.     Write being in someone else’s shoes: think how some-one else would act for a particular emotion or a thought, it implies one must practice to keep dual views on a thought.

4.     Write after different activities performed or write after experiencing different emotions: write after listening, watching or reading someone, write after meditating, or write after visiting a place, or after returning from work, or after relaxing as each mood, or each experience creates a new pattern of writing.

Dealing with the same topics:

When a writer selects his/her niche, there may be thousands of text available on the same topic but that does not really matter. Each one has their individual style, each story has different characters. Many times in school days, the class were given a topic for an essay or for speech but each student comes with their own thoughts. The essay or speech of an individual becomes different even though the topic remains the same. So, no need to worry if you have a topic or niche which is covered by many. It is your effort to put the topic differently by reading all the articles on the same topic and framing the topic as per individual experience.

Why should one write?

There is a quote: Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic fear which is inherent in a human situation – Graham Greene.

Benefits of being a writer:

1.         Writing is one’s skill-set, personal ambition. The writing allows one to build an individual image, personality or a brand. It helps one bring orderliness and gives a chance to position oneself as a different individual rather than a mediocre life. Writing can help one to live a life where every moment is truly loved and enjoyed and thus it can become one’s hobby to write and create a turning point in one’s life. All this can be suitably related to the quote by Henry Miller, “Writing is its own reward”.

2.         Writing is a channel or a media to communicate with mass. Writing allows an individual to contribute to the welfare of society by sharing one’s knowledge and experiences; thus, writing can be a tool to help or guide others. Writing can assist one to start one’s career as a speaker, trainer or coach.

            Writing is a skill which one does for oneself. Writing can help an individual to remain engaged and free one from worries that are far beyond one’s control (like having lost a job/ or having identity crisis/ or females on maternity leave or individuals who not allowed to work due to sudden disability).

 

Guideline for writing:

1. Know the language:

It is important to have the knowledge of the language that can assist in phrasing correct sentences, use suitable words and arrange the sentences in the correct order. Articulating good phrases with simple words helps the reader to understand the article easily. Placing the sentences in the correct order creates a follow or a link for the reader wherein the reader finds the interest in reading, creates meaning for a reader. For this one has to revise the write-up by self a minimum of three times for its grammar check, sentence phrase check and make use of synonyms. There are software’s available to help a writer get the grammar corrected which can aid in better writing, but most often, it is better to personally get the article checked, as there are pros and cons of the software. ‘Better is to learn the language and the grammar well’.

Note: “Frist draft is just you telling yourself the story”- Terry Pratchett, “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere”- Anne Lamott.

2. Learn to accept:

Someone better than self:

Accept the fact that there will be always someone better writer than oneself, no need to panic, if there are mistakes in your write-up. One has to keep a belief that I am the best, but also remember that there can always be someone better than self.

No one thinks the same, and there will be critics or conflicts for your thoughts in the write-up, always learn to improve by solving the critics, rather than taking them as threats and fearing to face them.

Personal opinions can be timely and can be changed with learning.

The humbleness to accept others opinions can help one improve on the mistakes done in the write-up.

Understand and accept personal Limitations associated with writing and seek help:

One must also, understand and accepts one's limitations linked with writing skills. For example, someone may be weak at grammar, or some-one may be weak at paraphrasing or one may be weak in language editing or writing despite taking classes. Once one knows ones weakness one can seek help from the experts in the area to improve on writing skill.

Take opinions:

Everyone needs help and people are always ready for giving help. Always welcome the comments, or ask for help to edit or revise the write-up which can worth, before sending the write-up to the publisher (Book/ Journal). In certain cases including writing a blog where there is no reviewer and the writer has no boundary to get the write-up published the writer must revise the article thoroughly at a personal level and by seeking help from the close by circle before publishing and be open to receive comments from the readers. One must handle the comments or revisions required in a tactful way.

3.  Keep the impetus:

To keep the impetus of writing, a writer must follow a disciplined schedule for writing which can help the writer keep with the impetus. The writer must understand the personal moods or schedule, that allows the writer to write and must follow the schedule. Also, the writer must follow other thoughts by reading; listening or watching that can help construct impetus for writing.

4. Avoid distraction:

Today social media is becoming popular and handy; time can easily fly away replying to a single message, every comment can be a cause of dopamine release and can distract one from one's target. The writer must be careful with the popping message, it is better to keep all the message alerts silent. The writer must prioritize daily work based on urgency and decide upon the times of socializing.

Further, way to avoid distraction is to be organized. Being organised means keeping only the tools that are necessary while writing.

Also, the writer must practice organizing ones thought list by maintaining a log of the write-up: as on-going write-up, completed write-up, and to begin with write-ups. Maintaining a log can help the writer to be focused and less distracted with the multiple thoughts the writer has to write-on.

5. Use tools for writing:

The tools may be a handy mobile phone, with no popping message alerts or a laptop or a physical notebook. Because possessing a handy writing tool can help one to “write what should not be forgotten”- Isabel Allende.

6. Track the time for writing:

Writing is a mysterious, never-ending process, as every-time any-one who reads a write-up can find that changes will be required to be made in the write-up. Importance of deadline can be understood by the fact that most of us got home-work during school summer vacation, however most felt it important to enjoy the vacation and do the home-work during the last weeks or days’ time. Hence, the writer must track the time for completing a write-up.

Once the writer gets to know that there is a correct mood and sufficient time, the writer must use it to write so that the write-up gets completed within a time limit.

7. Track the points to be covered in a write-up:

Any thought can have a huge number of sub-points. The more one thinks more one can elaborate a thought. Hence to be on track with the time and to be specific to the topic a writer must narrow the points to be included and elaborated in a write-up.

8. Fencing self:

Overcome the fear:

I will be able to write? Language is a problem for me. What will others think? These are a few questions that may bother a writer. Writing is a platform for reaching millions and it means one has to risk one-self to failure, defeat or even public discomfiture. Naturally, all these factors are obstacles for a writer, giving the writer a sign of danger which can make a writer transfer self in a safer precinct and lead a mediocre life by discontinuing, stifling one passion to write and questioning one's confidence. My personal note to the writers is that at a particular point, one has to apprehend that the only way one’s life is going to change is if one makes choices to bet oneself for the change and chase the dream of being a writer. It is a universal fact that even the boldest and bravest fears the darkness or a thud. But if one can break the fear and rise above the fear, the achievements in life increase. Fear is thought, each individual at a point is confused consolidation of beliefs, experiences, thoughts, emotions and one has to learn to manage these consolidations by meditation, facing them all and never giving up. However, if one still fears than one must fence one-self by not looking back again as explained in the next paragraph. 

Publish only when you are confident about your write-up: 

One must remember that a certain degree of fear is important, and one must use the fear as a tool to be perfect in writing by rechecking the article as many times as possible before publishing the article.

'Not to look back again':

The write-up is made based on the thoughts that evoked to the writer at the moment. With time the thoughts may change and hence the thoughts made earlier may not seem correct with the time. The best way to deal with this pattern of changing thoughts with time is ‘not to look back again- is a fence to move on’ it means once a write-up is written it must be permanent and one must not to peep into any kind of comments obtained on the write-up and only next write-up must spring up after the one written as add-on or amendment to the current write-up. ‘Sometimes, it is better to close one's eyes and not look back for the things that one has already written’, because some-times a write-up may not be up-to-the-mark and the comments one may receive on the write-up may be perplexing and looking back and pondering on the comments obtained on published write-up can be distracting and can cause hindrance for one to move on to the next level. It must have been your personal observation with the best seller books that you have read was having certain errors, hence better practise is to 'not look back'. And remember a quote by Sadguru, "If you have to have deep insights into your life, other peoples opinion of you should not mean anything to you".

I end my write-up using an encouraging quote, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”- Toni Morrison

PS: I hope with this write-up I am encouraging you to be a writer. I request you to like, comment and share the write-up within your circle to inspire each one for writing.

The present topic can be elaborated further, however, keeping the interest of the readers in view the present article has been narrowed. 

Yogita Labrath.

 

"Embracing the Power of Comfort Zone: Achieving Growth and Development"

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It is always recommended to work out of your comfort zone for appropriate growth and development. However, one always works, consciously or subconsciously, in the comfort zone so as to avoid discomfort. It is important to work in the comfort zone to avoid stress but not at the expense of growth due to the fear of change or due to fear of discomfort or procrastination. On the contrary, one should try to attain2 the maximum by staying in the comfort zone, getting motivated to achieve from it and being ready to handle unpredictable discomforts. The following article highlights the importance of being in the comfort zone, how to efficiently utilize your comfort zone, and how to create comfort. Further, the article explains to the readers the well-known idiom "how and why to rock one's own boat in the middle of the sea". The article is based on teachings given in Sadguru, Jaggi Vasudev’s- 'Inner Engineering Course: 'how and why to accept things as they are’ and also based on individual know-how.

Keywords: Build personality, likes, dislikes, Inner Engineering, Sadguru, acceptance

Factors for Comfort

When things occur as per one’s expectation, or things that create peace, relaxation, happiness and joy depict comfort.

Social media, family and society influence one to create an ideal lifestyle and comfort zone. 

A pleasing view, a beautiful home, a beautiful office, comfortable arrangements- a comfortable chair, neat working desk, updated gadgets, having sufficient or bonus income, having sufficient to eat or having an additional favourite dish after a meal are examples of tangible components creating comfort.

Living in a good society, having good relations, excelling in a career, having good health, and sufficient sleep or extra sleep can be counted in the list of intangible components creating comfort.

Factors for Discomfort

The factors that are against one’s expectation or that create stress or irritation, or aggression depict discomfort. 

The factors include unpleasant ambience, being cornered, failing in endeavours, having enemies, insufficient resources, bad relationships, an ill-health, uncomfortable arrangements, difficult guidelines, unfulfilled desires, being in a new team or a new place or doing work in an area where one is not specialised in, or if one is unable to find suitable opportunities or if one has to do repetitive work, or if one is overloaded with work, or if one has disagreement in views can cause discomfort.

Importance of comfort zone

The comfort zone is the place where one wants to live in. An appealing surrounding brings positive impact and happiness and enhances work efficiency. 

The upbringing, social network and the resources available to a person play a crucial role in building personality, building passion and also help one to gain success in endeavours. 

Making correct choices related to a profession or partner creates a comfort zone and prevents one from the struggle, which is an outcome of wrong choices and helps one to face and sustain in the undertakings. 

The comfort zone brings focus and aids in specializing in a subject, similar to a horse whose eyes are shielded to allow a focused view.

Further, a comfort zone improves one's sustainability because, in a comfort zone, one tries to resolve setbacks and does not give up.

Drawbacks of being in the comfort zone

However, being in the comfort zone, if one is not exploring or is avoiding new things, the comfort zone becomes a killer to one's abilities. 

Because performing a routine task, limiting oneself to a defined work area, being dependent on a particular thing, failing to find alternatives, or exploring new things is like following the phrase ‘pond is the limit to the frog’  may bring saturation and hinder one's growth. 

Further drawbacks of being dependent on one defined working sector make one inflexible. They may bring a 'pause' when there is a lack of opportunities in a particular work sector or when one has to leave the job for any reason in the sector. One may thus keep getting frustrated watching the closed door (pause) and may fail to realise that the next door may open.

Having a pause is important. It helps one analyse self and evolve. However, if the pause becomes too long, it may create negative emotions like social fear, fear of entering a new work area, the anxiety of “what will be my image if I choose a different work area”,; or may even lead to suicidal tendencies. One should work, see alternatives, seek help, and get mentored to tackle the 'pause'. As it is said, "when one door shuts, the next door is always open. Only one has to remember to look at the next door rather than wasting time observing the shut door".

Utilize the comfort zone

In order to be strong for facing untold discomfort. 

One must take a few steps each day while in the comfort zone. One must develop and practice a good habit daily, as 'drops together help to fill the bucket'. 

One should explore and invest in new work sectors where slowly one may build interest, and hence create new opportunities and get secured from the 'unpredictable pauses'. 

In other words, one must learn to rock one’s own boat in the middle of the calm sea'.

Advantages of being in discomfort

One understands the value of comfort only when one faces discomfort.

While working to create comfort, the discomfort assists one in surfacing one's talents and skills and strengthens one to tackle the discomfort.

Creating Comfort

Sometimes comfort zone may get created by themselves. For example, a parent creates comfort for a child, or a manager creates a conducive environment for his employees, or society or government works to create comfort for their people. Such obtained comfort are blessing gained by good deeds/ karma one has done in a past life or in the present, and one must value such comfort and work to retain such obtained comfort.

But, knowingly or unknowingly mixture of good and bad karma occurs in one's life. Hence, the discomfort becomes part of one's life. And one has to work to create comfort. Creating comfort is a process which is linked to one’s ability, interest, and tolerance. 

Find the cause of discomfort

Check if it is possible alone or if one needs a helping hand to create comfort. 

To create comfort: 

   --> Think alone to find ways

   --> Seek help by discussing with someone  

   --> One can ignore, let go, forget and forgive.

  --> One can re-work in a different way in case of failure.

  --> Meditating and chanting create good vibrations and help one cut bad karma and eventually helps one create comfort. 

  --> Reading, uttering, writing or listening repetitively to one's desires creates vibrations and aids in creating positive thoughts, makes one strong and helps one to attain desires and eventually helps one to create comfort (please follow Sadguru's guided meditation on achieving goals- from his Inner Engineering program app for better results).

--> De-socialise, forget the influencers, 

--> Erase the definition of the perfect or ideal life.

--> work at your own pace. 

--> compete with self.

Learning to be at peace or in comfort in spite of dis-comfort helps one to:

a.) Improve Tolerance Level,

b.) Create A Flexible Natured Personality,

c.) Understand the Feelings Of the Front Person,

d.) Break the Barrier Of Likes And Dislikes,

e.) Accept Things As They Are,

f.) Overcome Failures, 

g.) Accept Challenges As An Opportunity,

h.) Build A Strong Personality

i.)  Face the unpredicted discomfort.

Conclusion

In the comfort zone, work efficiency is high.

Each one tries to be in the comfort zone or works to create a comfort zone when there is discomfort. Comfort zone brings sustainability. 

One must be thankful and confident to say about being in the comfort zone. 

One must value the comfort zone, and one must work, explore one's potential, create new opportunities,  discover one's niche, and prepare oneself to face the untold discomfort caused in life while being in the comfort zone. In other words, "one must remember to rock one's own boat in the middle of a calm sea" and seek the boundless sky as “Pond is limited to the frog, but an intelligent should seek the boundless sky”. 

Also, one must note that each one has a unique story. In other words, "There is always a unique and beautiful way out for every discomfort to transform into comfort".

Stepping out of our comfort zones is often touted as the key to personal growth and development. However, it's important to balance challenging ourselves and seeking comfort to avoid stress and burnout.

Our comfort zones are composed of both tangible and intangible factors, such as pleasant surroundings, good relationships, and a fulfilling career. These factors contribute to our happiness and productivity, and help us handle setbacks and challenges.

On the other hand, being too comfortable can hinder our progress and prevent us from exploring new opportunities. By sticking to routine tasks and limiting ourselves to a single area of expertise, we risk becoming stagnant and missing out on potential growth.

To maximize the benefits of our comfort zones while avoiding stagnation, we can take small steps to develop good habits and explore new areas of interest. By gradually building up our skills and knowledge, we can expand our comfort zones and be better equipped to handle unexpected challenges.

Moreover, facing discomfort can actually be an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. By acknowledging and accepting our discomfort, we can learn more about ourselves and develop resilience in the face of adversity.

Ultimately, we should strive to find a balance between comfort and discomfort, and actively work towards achieving personal growth and development. By embracing the power of our comfort zones and seeking out new challenges, we can unlock our full potential and live fulfilling lives.

"Pursue Dreams, Manage Stress- A Happy mother"

 

In the world today where both males and females have equal right to chase their dreams and make them true, the new mothers have to put in some extra effort. This article brings in the regime of a new mother, stress triggers for a new mother, and technique for stress management and to be happy. It will enlighten the readers with the teachings of Sadguru’s (Jagadish Vasudev) “Inner Engineering program”, to help new working mothers to accomplish their dream of being passionate about being financial sufficient.

After becoming a mother, the baby is the priority above personal precedence’s. But one has to also perform a certain compulsory task and also get involved in work to sustain financially.

Managing the home, taking care of personal hygiene and health are mandatory activities for a mother. Exercising, meditating, cooking, cleaning, maintaining grocery, taking an adequate amount of sleep are included in ‘compulsory predicted tasks’ (Image 1). The activities such as a sudden plan of a family program or a visit of a relative or a friend or certain government documentation work where it is uncertain as on how much time will it take or sudden falling ill of a family member and taking care of an unwell family member can be counted in ‘compulsory unpredicted tasks’ (Image 2). Activities like pursuing a hobby are not mandatory but are important as they bring fun, freedom and frees one from stress can be included in the category of ‘voluntary and predicted task’. While certain activities like a marriage of a distant relative can be included in ‘voluntary and maybe predictable or unpredictable task’ (Image 3) and can be avoided.

 

      

Image 1: Compulsory predicted task

  Image 2: Compulsory unpredicted task

 

Image 3: Voluntary predicted task (Hobbies)

The time of feeding the baby, playing with the baby, teaching a task to the baby, taking the baby for sightseeing, taking care of baby’s hygiene, a vaccination day or any other emergency are the tasks where the mother needs to attend the baby and cannot perform any other task. Such tasks can be categorized as ‘mother’s attention time’.

There are times when the baby sleeps and needs no attention but mother's presence is needed for feeding, patting and rocking the baby timely so that the baby feels secure, sleeps longer and peacefully. Under these circumstances, the mother can perform her tasks which require concentration. Such a task can be included in the category of ‘mother’s me time’. The tasks including office work, meditation or a hobby can be completed during this time. 

The time when the baby is engaged in playing by themselves and the mother simply is needed to be around for the baby’s safety while performing her mobile activities can be categorized as ‘mother’s mobile time’. The mobile activities include cooking, cleaning, etc. which require movement.

Apart from the predictable regimes, there are some unpredictable regimes (Image 4). Depending on the age of the baby (in months), the baby’s sleeping time, feeding time, activity time varies. The sleeping time of baby reduces with baby’s age which can increase the stress levels of the mother. Further, baby can wake up anytime, may get hungry anytime, may need cleaning any time and also, may need complete attention any time. A mother must be aware of the discussed uncertainties in the regime and confront the stress. This is where Sadguru’s Inner Engineering program comes into the picture. This program discusses "Accepting the Present as it is", which is a mantra for happiness and helps to confront stress. Thus, the new mothers should work in the direction of accepting reality as it is and try to accommodate her career dreams, happiness and self-fulfilment while being around the baby. This will not only facilitate the new mothers in shaping the baby’s initial months by nurturing the baby with all their time, love and affection but will also facilitate the new mother in not forgetting the women she is, her independence and in retaining herself the way she wants.

A new mother can manage her stress, retain her self and take care of the baby without losing her true self (perusing her dreams) by adopting the following measures-

I. Categorizing and prioritizing task (As explained in above sections)

A.) Compulsory predicted tasks, B.) Compulsory unpredicted tasks, C.) Voluntary and predicted task, D.) Voluntary and maybe a predictable or unpredictable task, E.) Mother’s attention time, F.) Mother’s mobile time, G.) Mother’s me time. A mother must prioritise compulsory tasks and not refrain if the timeline for voluntary task gets extended.

II. Get suitable toys: Having suitable toys and teaching baby to rightly play with the toys can engage the baby in activities which can help baby to build her cognition and help you perform other activities.

III. Singing songs or rhymes for baby: Singing songs or rhymes helps to enjoy her time.

IV. Taking power naps while making the baby sleep. The power nap can help in improving energy levels.

IV. Meditating for a minimum of 20 min while the baby is sleeping. Meditation can help new mothers to relax and improve work efficiency by reducing sleeping time for mothers. Meditation can be chanting a mantra or can be chanting simple ‘AUM’ (Meditations: Sadguru’s inner Engineering Program).

V. Maintaining strict hygiene conditions including keeping the floors, premises clean, cleaning baby’s toys, cleaning milk bottles regularly using bottle sterilizer can help to maintain babies health and reduce doctors visit. Also using disposable diapers instead of re-usable cloth diapers, making use of suitable anti-rash creams can be can help in maintaining hygiene for baby. Additionally, mosquito repellent can be used to protect the baby from mosquitoes.

VI. Get all electronic gadgets charged: Charging the electronic gadgets while doing the mobile task will allow a mother to work using a laptop/ mobile being close to the baby. This will help the baby to have a sound sleep as the baby frequently checks if someone is around them during the course of their sleep. Also, charging appliances will allow the mother to work in any corners and at any times, regardless of the charging points or power cuts.

VII. Maintain a minimum of five milk feeding bottles: Using five milk feeding bottles per day will help a mother to have sufficient me time as baby needs feeding while sleeping as well and feeding the baby while baby is asleep helps to prolong baby’s sleep time.

VIII. Use bottle sterilizer equipment Using automatic bottle sterilizer equipment instead of boiling bottles in an open vessel aids to save energy (time, fuel). Use a thermos bottle: Using a thermos bottle helps to keep the warm water ready for use when required for making the baby’s milk or baby’s feed. And can thus allow an efficient ‘me time’ for mothers. Also, using warm water for baby is required for the health of the baby.

IX. Feed and rock the baby while the baby is asleep: Feeding baby or rocking baby in arms (in case cradle is unavailable) or holding close in arms while the baby is asleep

X. During ‘me time’ work being next to baby, so that baby can be patted or given feed when required and hence mothers can prolong baby’s sleep.

XI. Accept that are and will be several uncertainties: There will be several uncertainties in both mother and baby’s regime which should not become stress triggers for the new mother.

XII. Mothers must write down the valuable ideas when they strike and plan to execute ideas stepwise in ‘me time’

XIII. If possible live in a joint family or hire people for assistance: The extra helping hands can help a working new mother to be emotionally balanced, be efficient in her activities and be a beautiful mother to the baby.

Thus, a new mother can provide the best care to her child as per her motherly instincts and continue with the activities that she loves (apart from taking care of her child) by making small changes in the day to day life and “ACCEPTING THE REALITY AS IT IS”.

Following are a few selected links  

Links for Sadguru's inner Engineering program: https://isha.sadhguru.org/inner-engineering-online/overview. Links of hygiene materials for baby safety and to easy work: floor cleaning 360⁰ mop https://amzn.to/3iNj6Gl, 5 L liquid floor disinfectant: https://amzn.to/3g4xwQT, wet wipes for baby: https://amzn.to/2DQuFxV, liquid handwash anti –germs after cleaning baby: https://amzn.to/2CwIyAq, Sanitizer spray for the room: https://amzn.to/30ZZzwq, hand sanitizer: https://amzn.to/2YaRyTD, baby moisturizer: https://amzn.to/3h4sogB, Baby bottle cleaning liquid odour free: https://amzn.to/3aBgbhd, Glass bottle cleaning brush set: https://amzn.to/3hci3zq, https://amzn.to/2Q0bZy7, Thermos bottle: https://amzn.to/34b7NDO Links for selective baby toys for building cognitive abilities of baby: https://amzn.to/3kMgkTL, https://amzn.to/3g8WWwp, https://amzn.to/3g8WWwp, https://amzn.to/310YfJA, https://amzn.to/3awOwOe, https://amzn.to/2Ef9Ag4. Links for baby diapers: https://amzn.to/2CzBTWd, https://amzn.to/313w9h5, https://amzn.to/2EeWHmc Links for baby feeding plastic bottles: https://amzn.to/3kSUWvV, https://amzn.to/3g1JBWY, Link for breast feeding pump for collecting milk https://amzn.to/310WxId, https://amzn.to/3haItBO Link for baby bottle sterilizer: https://amzn.to/2CzBTWd, Alexa: https://amzn.to/317YJ0s

Acknowledgement:

I would like to acknowledge Sadguru’s Inner Engineering program to make me realise to “Be certain in uncertain times by accepting the present situation as it is".