Morning Thought

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Indeed, what one thinks in the morning shapes up one’s day. By “one’s day”, I mean the thought patterns for the day which define how one would react to situations. Situations, obviously are quite beyond one’s control. But the responses to the situations aren’t – they can definitely be controlled to suits one’s goals.

One very powerful way which has worked for me to regulate responses and build mindfulness is the “Morning Thought”. It is not an original concept. Several experts have already shared deep insights on what I refer to here as the “Morning Thought.”

Very simply, “Morning Thought” is what one consciously thinks first thing in the morning. I stress here on “consciously”. So far as I am concerned, as soon as I wake up, my chattering mind is all over the place – having just got free from its wild dream-world and into the cage of conscious existence.

A few years ago (no idea when), I realized that to regulate the day and make it productive, one should make the day’s plan early in the morning. I got into the habit of mentally listing out the tasks or activities for the day and my strategies to attend to those tasks. I would mentally list out priorities, set mental (or mobile) reminders as required. This helped me a lot to keep my focus for most part of the day and I realized the importance of the “Morning Thought”.

But planning the day’s activities only helps to manage one’s material life.

The next version of the “Morning Thought” I adopted (maybe a year back) was of gratitude. This is an undoubtedly powerful thought to keep one happy during the day. Telling oneself that it’s a great day and mentally (or verbally) thanking God / the Universe for the little and large pleasures and comforts (home, kids, family, car, food, greenery, rest, job, money, etc.) is a wonderful way to calm the mind for the day. I continue my practice of saying thanks to everything in the morning.

About three months back, I came across another very significant “Morning Thought”. Surprisingly it came in a management course I undertook.

I digress here to state that one thing I respect about the West is that they work towards building up spiritual practices into day-to-day material life. A lot of management techniques reflect inner practices of developing peace and spreading joy. I personally believe that spirituality should be practice-able by every person while doing their normal activities.

So back to the “Morning Thought” which I use now.

It is: “What kind of a person do I want to be today?”.

This is then followed by a detailing of the question – some options which could come up are:

• Calm and Peaceful
• Focused on work
• Kind
• Grateful
• Happy
• Relaxed

This then extends to how the chosen aspect/s would reflect in the day’s situations. For e.g.: “I will be a calm person under work pressure” or “I will maintain focus on completing all pending work and relax later” or “I want to be kind to my family and co-workers today”.

As long as the thoughts are positive, it will steer the day to happiness and contentment.

For me, this one thought – “What kind of person do I want to be today” – sets a great direction every day. It is a paradigm shift from activity-based thinking to character-based thinking. The “Morning Thought” is powerful, potent. It is also a way of ensuring that one’s mind is under control from the start of the day.

Family Fun and Bonding

This was an exercise I really loved. As on many occasions, it was initiated by my ever-enthusiastic daughter – Stuti.

We were having dinner. Most likely my mother would have said something reflecting under confidence in herself. (Some people having this habit of under-rating their wonderful life – but that’s a different topic to write about).

Stuti doesn’t like people becoming negative and would not let this go by. I was sitting next to my mother. Stuti asked me to say something good about my mother.

One thing about my daughter – you can’t say “No” to her for 2 reasons:

1. She generally asks for the right things.
2. If you say no – she will gently, sweetly and persistently make sure you end up saying “Yes”.

It’s funny about family – while we may appreciate each other, we don’t express it. It’s generally taken for granted – the morning coffee, the timely food, clothes washed and stacked properly, whole days spent to get the month-end salary, the laughter – so many such day-to-day occurrences.

So, when Stuti persisted that I say something good about my mother, I thought (for maybe a minute) and I said a couple of lines about her balancing work and family when I was a child. It didn’t really change my mother’s perception (old impressions don’t fade quickly). So Stuti passed on the baton to my wife, Subhashree, who was sitting next to me. By the time she had finished, Stuti brought up the full scheme – everyone was to tell something good about everyone else.

We all fell in line and it was a great 15-20 minutes spent over the dining table. Six people telling each other what’s good about them. We didn’t get up even after we had finished eating as the round robin scheme was still continuing.

A lot of positivity was generated that night. It was an exercise which reinforced several beliefs and strengthened the familial bonds.

I would recommend every family to do this – maybe even on a regular basis and I do hope you see how much it makes a difference over time.

Knowledge is Only for One Who Seeks It

People have a tendency, a liking to share what they know. It feels nice, gratifying actually.

The methods vary from person to person. Some are emphatic, some are matter-of-fact, some do it to show-off, some do it with under-confidence, some do it with kindness, some with the stick. No matter what the style, sharing of one’s knowledge is a natural tendency of humans. It helps in overall evolution of the human race. It in an integral part of the human ecosystem.

Information is the basis for knowledge. Information is a fact or situation.

Knowledge is distilled from information. It evolves after the person processes the information with his or her perspective and makes conclusions. The process of converting information to knowledge is also influenced by others. But the final take is always of the person who uses the information.  Thus, a nuclear scientist uses information on nuclear reactions to create the knowledge useful to make either a power plant or an atom bomb. It’s a question of perspective and intent.

Information thus processed to knowledge can do many things to people – make them arrogant, humble, silent, talkative, able to forget and forgive, vindictive, all those contrasting things.

Our world today is greatly driven by information. It’s a flood, a deluge, rather. It’s too much for a person to handle. Yet the addiction for more information is strong. More the supply, greater the demand.

Along with information, gets passed knowledge created by people with their own perspective and intent. In the flood which rushes in, it is difficult for people to discern what is information and what is opinion. People end up taking in knowledge of others unwittingly. A large contribution, of course, is from social media. Other’s opinions are taken as facts and these borrowed opinions influence one’s thinking.

However, what I’m trying to say here is that the knowledge that one acquires is exclusively his or her choice. While there is access to vast stores of information and knowledge on the Internet, people only take what they are attracted to. A person is drawn to that he or she wishes to see. No amount of coaxing, forcing, presenting, requesting makes someone take in knowledge he or she did not seek out.

That is the really funny thing about knowledge. It can’t be pushed down someone throat. One only picks up that knowledge which he or she is seeking.

The crux of the matter, while there are enough messages floating on the positive side of things, the general tendency is to take in huge amounts of negative sentiments. Its futile to expect people to lap up what they do not intend to. This is the greatest challenge to positivism. Even if one person is trying to spread positive thoughts, it really depends on the whole lot of others whether the thought is really carried forward.

It’s necessary that each person does his or her bit to spread positivism. Doing it without expectations is the best that one can do. A good thought will find its way to one who needs it and one who seeks good thoughts will come up the same. It’s beautiful the way the world works with everyone doing their part in this huge cosmic design.

What Happens, Happens for Good

This story, shared with me by my wife, has been one of the most important learning in my life. I’ve presented it in ballad form to make it interesting.

 

A King there was, a mighty ruler,

A minister served him with all his wit.

The two were together in every task they could,

The minister said always, “What Happens, Happens for good”.

 

It was the minister’s life mantra,

And he said it every time when things went wrong.

The King did not object nor accept this,

He let the minister say as his own wish.

 

A war broke out with the ruler nearby,

Terrible was the ensuing fight.

The King and his minister as they were wont,

Fought side by side, showed bravery worth vaunt.

 

They won the war, our King and his consul,

But woe, a weapon hit the King at the end.

His left hand was hurt severely,

It had to be severed away, the war cost our King dearly.

 

Sad he was and he bemoaned the loss,

The minister came to console his Lord.

The king wailed “It has happened as it not should”,

The minister replied calmly “What Happens, Happens for good”.

 

The King towered with rage at the his aide,

“A great loss and you are pleased with it,

You are no well-wisher of mine,

If you think this loss is fine.”

 

In his anger, the King sentenced,

The good minister to the prison.

There he stayed, yet the man did not brood,

As always he said “What Happens, Happens for good.”

 

The minister cast away, the King went on alone,

To manage his affairs and all was well.

Till a day, the King went to hunt for sport,

With able people from his court.

 

And while he chased a grand game,

He strayed away from his men.

A tribal group finding him all alone,

Seized him and put him before their own throne.

 

The tribal king, in might and haught,

Was pleased with the catch of his men.

“Our Goddess will be pleased when we sacrifice you,

Foremost amongst men, this fate I bestow you.”

 

“You will be our sacrifice on her altar,

You will die and we will prosper”

Our King went numb in mind and soul,

How he wished, his arm was whole.

 

That night, the tribals sang and danced,

Around the King tied to a pole.

The time for the sacrifice neared,

This is the end the King feared.

 

The tribal priest came to the altar,

He saw the King and cursed his own.

“O King of mine, we cannot sacrifice this person,

It will only our state worsen!”

 

“And why not?, cried the tribal king,

“A royal sacrifice will please our Goddess.”

“It would have if the sacrifice was complete,

This man is without a hand, the sacrifice would be a cheat.”

 

In disgust did the tribal king,

Release our King and sent him away.

He rushed straight to the prison where,

The minister was spending his days in prayer.

 

“O friend, I was very wrong,

My lost arm has saved me today.

If my arm was whole, I would have a sacrifice,

For saving my life, my arm has been a small price.”

 

So spoke our King and released the minister,

As was his nature, he simply spoke his mind.

“I am glad Sire, you have understood,

What Happens, Happens for good”.

 

“You are wise and patient”, said the King,

“And have proven your mettle.

But tell me what good do you take,

For being in prison for none of your mistake?”

 

The minister smiled his benign smile,

And spoke with all calm and peace.

“Had I been not in this jail,

I’d have been on your hunting trail.

 

We would have been together caught,

By the unruly tribal lot.

Being whole of body by God’s grace,

I’d have been chosen for their sacrifice.”

 

The King bowed to the minister’s wisdom,

He re-instated him to all glory.

The King found peace as he understood,

What Happens, Happens for good.