ZEST!

 

The last letter of the alphabets today was not an easy task for me to pick up a quote, a lot of words with Z came to my mind, the first thing was zeal, zealous and finally zest, all three is closely linked/related to enthusiasm.

 I was wondering what to write for Zest, so I started thinking what brings in zest in our lives- after a lot of thinking. I looked at the some the meanings from Google and I found Zeal means a strong eagerness, excessive fervor to do something or accomplish, to push and reach the goal and Zest means keen relish, hearty enjoyment and gusto.

I explored further by thinking deeply to understand that zest comes when we want to live up to our complete potential, when there is a goal in life, when we realize, we are here for a purpose. 

Zest also comes when we give ourselves totally and unconditionally to that which does not allow us to sleep. A dream, a cause a purpose that does not allow us to relax, but makes us so passionate that we are all the time thinking about, as if it had caught us like a fire, inflaming our lives bringing in a lot of newness, a lot of energy, positivity bringing the very best in us, thus providing happiness, joy, satisfaction and fulfillment.

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The persons who came to my mind when I thought about this word zest was Jesus because of his passion to do the father’s will on the earth, there is also a quote from the bible, that  says “Zeal for my father’s house consumes me like fire” the passion was so great in Jesus  that he did not mind giving up his life on the cross for all of mankind.

I think of Mahatma Gandhi, the zeal for the country’s freedom was so great that began nonviolence movement and created history in the world by bringing freedom to our country.

Mother Theresa was another person, who with zeal, left her comfort zone and moved out of the convent to be with the poor, as she could not kill her conscience and the deep calling that she felt.

There are many more people in this world, I am sure you will also remember a lot more of people who were and are passionate about their dream.

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I had a passion to help people at an young age, but I did know how to go about, and I am grateful for all the persons, situations, circumstances and every small experiences of my life that led me to be where I am today, in a helping profession.

Life prepared me for this particular stage of my life, as I began to dream and do whatever came my way in terms of working with different types and groups of children, youth and women.

I am confident as I keep responding and being relevant to my life’s call I will finally fulfill the purpose for which I was created.

While I end this post, I want to be grateful to each one of you who are reading this post and all the others who have been, for a brief moment part of my life “thank you for being you” I am glad that if you were not you and I wouldn’t be me” I close with this beautiful quote;

“Associate yourself to a great cause. You may not do the cause much good, 

but the cause will do you a lot of good.” Anonymous

Praying for zest in your life! Keep smiling and be happy!

 

YOU ARE SUM TOTAL OF EVERYTHING …..

I want to dedicate this post to all the A-Z bloggers for having taken up this challenge – I am inspired by YOU today for all the lovely posts. 

For those who have visited my blog - thanks  for commenting, affirming, appreciating and leaving your kind words…. its been Your gift to me.

I want YOU to know how much difference you have made in my life in the last 29 days !

Thanks for helping  me to complete this one month journey with a lot of patience and perseverance.  I want to thank all of you for accompanying me and giving me a boost to my blog.

I hope to continue even though its a challenge…  I am hoping to find alternatives to meet my challenges in ensuring to visit all the blogs as I keep moving on…

The word YOU! Has always been my favourite… most of the affirmations begins with: Y-You are special! You are precious! You are valuable! You are  Irrepeatable ! You are a Miracle ...

Let’s create our experiences that are positive!

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Be Blessed & Be Happy!

  

X - RAY

I was finding difficult to get a quote with X and saw written on a poster for happiness.  It did inspire me specially when dealing with students it is very important to “X-Ray and carefully examine the problems”

Oxford dictionary defines x-rays as an electromagnetic wave of high energy and very short wave length, which is able to pass through many materials opaque to light: x-rays is used to find what the problem inside the body is. .. Helping us to identify a fracture, infections or any other problem inside the body.

The other dictionary defines it as verb “to examine and make image of things, usually prescribed by doctors for patients as part of the treatment.

A similar process happens in counseling session, when a student comes with a lot of problems and confused and is unable to identify what or where is the problem.

While the counselor sits with him patiently listening, without making any judgments with unconditional love and respect.  Together with the student the counselor x-ray and carefully examines the problem, which appears to be out somewhere for the student.

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It takes a long time, a series of session to for them to see their contribution to the problem.  Once they are able to find where the problem is – it becomes easy to look at it, take responsibility for having created the problem, and work towards solution.

 Glad to be part of this challenge, please also visit a few of  other blogger friends…

sunilavigauthor.blogspot.com

jayantathoughts.blogspot.com

momdiary.blogspot.com

cobourgcobbie.blogspot.com

inderpreetkaur.blogspot.com

Be Blessed & Be Happy !

 

WORDS !

I want to focus on WORDS that are so important for all of us, in every relationship.  I have no idea whoever has written this – but I am quite impressed and I have tried using these words in my life and its has made a huge difference.

The first six words “I admit I made a mistake” will resolve any conflict, especially when we are ready to acknowledge, that it is our mistake…. Most of the time we are not willing to admit our mistakes, we will keep on justifying, till it becomes a big fight and in the end, we may win the argument, but may lose a good friend.

The five most important words “You did a good job”  I heard it from my boss at my workplace, and it created magic.  It not only makes one feel good about oneself, but also motivates to perform still better, having a motivated person at work place is a blessing to help the organization move towards success. Affirmations are very important, and who does not want affirmation ?

The four most important words “What is your opinion” – will give us wealth of information from the other person, everyone has opinions and when we initiate this question, we create space for the person to articulate, and share what he/she thinks and it is the most respectful thing to do… when we do this, we include the person in our conversations and also in our plans. Opinions are valuable as we get new insights from listening to others.

The three most important words, “If You Please” is so sweet to hear, especially when we practice this with our spouse and kids, we can get almost every work done through them at home, and it also does wonders  at our workplace.

The two most important words”Thank you” comes with a heart that is filled with gratitude.  It is a must for us to use this word every day, for it adds to our blessings, and its pleasing to the ears.

The least important word is I, which can be the root cause of all problems if it is placed first in relationships.

  

Lets watch our words ! they will turn into action

"Good words are worth much, and cost little."- George Herbert

VIOLENCE ..

We see, read and hear so much on violence, and many a times it appears that everything is solved through violence.  The hero beats up the villain, and some times even murders him/her and the audience is so happy that the hero has put an end to evil.

At home parents think that they discipline their children by using violence in various forms, verbally, other times physically and still at times emotionally and psychologically. They are happy because the child appears to have changed the behaviour because of violence.

In the school the teachers think that they can bring in class room discipline and school discipline through violence and the class remains quite because of fear not because of respect. Then we see so much of violence against women in all strata to society.  I come across even highly qualified women holding executive post but a victim of violence.

Even though it appears that violence has cleared away obstructions quickly, the impact is great for children at home and in the class room suffers psychologically and carry emotional wounds throughout their lives, and some times they give back what they have received.  Children abused go through a lot of psychological issues as they grow, and some times the wounds last for a life time.

Let us put an end to all forms of violence! Do not be silent about this….

There is always a way out! And plenty of resources all around us; say no to violence and if you find in the neighbourhood report to the nearest police station, and connect with the organizations that are working against violence.

  

We can contact: the following for help:

Childline : 1098 which is almost all the cities a toll free number for children in distress

Women’s help line 1091 24 hrs toll free (Hyderabad)

Women protection cell: @ 040 -23320539

Women police station: 040-27853508

YWCA, Sec-bad -040-27801909

Human Rights Law Network: 040-27661883

Bhumika helpline for women: 1800 425 2908

Makro foundation: 040-46004600

 

UNDERSTAND THIS..

Often the greatest truths are the simplest!

We search for God experiences in the most extraordinary places like the temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras.   We also found some many leaders who perform various kinds of rituals and perform miracles and there are huge crowds following them for healing and addressing every other issue in life.

The simple truth is that each of us is divine expressions of life!

When we become aware of our own breath, we will realize our breath as the greatest miracle of our lives!

Being alive is the biggest miracle! The day we discover this aspect, every simple thing that we do in our day to day life becomes divine.

We will encounter the divine in laughter of children, in the sun rise and sun sets, in the stars and everywhere around us, in the poor, the needy and the most ordinary events of our lives !

Be Blessed! &Be Happy!

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!

This is one of my favourite quote of Elizabeth Kubler Ross: so often we find beauty is interpreted with how one appears physically; often judged by the height, weight, color of the skin, shape of the eyes, nose, ears etc…..

The beauty queens of today are adored by the youngsters, who go head over heel wanting to look like their favourite heroines and the beauty models.

The cosmetics company is making great business in selling their products to help people look younger with anti ageing creams, suggesting them to buy soaps, powder and gels to keep their skin soft, supple and glowing.

Fitness experts and fitness centre’s are on rise promising people to help them get into shape, and the girls are going crazy wanting a zero figure, while the guys are working hard for 6pack looks.

I am not against these products or gym centre’s, I am afraid that these products and equipments must not start defining who we are; our beauty is beyond our physical appearance.

Each one of us are beautiful people; with unique set of talents and capacities, we must encourage our youth to be healthy and look at beauty from within.

May this quote inspire all of us to understand and interpret beauty in its true sense !

SMILE & BE HAPPY!

My son Emmanuel who was always smiling !

My daughter Dorothy whose smile makes my day !

Smile and the world will smile with you, cry and you will cry alone – so very true! I believe this saying and I always ensured that I smile and continue to smile all the time in my life. 

So many of my friends and those who know me closely have always complimented me for my smile.

Yes! I love to keep smiling and have learnt that I can get through any situation with my smile. 

Now that does not mean I have no problems in my life - it only means I have learnt to handle every problem with a smile, and it does make a world of difference! 

They say Smile is an excellent medicine for lack of confidence, so SMILE BIG! And it will give you a real boost.

Start smiling and enjoy the miracle now! Studies say that it takes very few muscles to smile and a lot of muscles to frown.

So keep smiling! and enjoy the miracle of now !

RELAX!

One of the most difficult things I struggled in my life is to learn to relax. I loved to be involved and was always busy, I remember even in college, I was so involved in the NSS (National Service Scheme) which kept us very busy, every year we had camps for 10 days and I looked forward for these camps, which focused on adult education, some times planting trees, at other times it would be laying roads or teaching the slum kids.

When I came back from college it used to be the church, I would go for the choir practice, attend bible classes, join the youth group, teach catechism for children (religious instruction) etc.  I continued being so busy with my life, that I never really took time to relax, I was always ready to go out, travel and was interested in getting involved in new areas of work, respond to a emerging issues and even worked in the social sector.

The work that I did occupied so much of my life that it affected me physically; I was getting stressed, tensed and burnt out.  Its then that I begin to value relaxation and realized, how important it is to relax!

Now I permit myself to take regular breaks so that I can come back refreshed and work with joy!

 I have already scheduled my next break! 

 How about you? hope to hear from you ....

Be Relaxed! Be Happy

Quiet moments!

Quiet moments are a blessing for us! For it is in these moments we encounter ourselves, look within and explore what is in us.  You are in the company of yourself. !  Quiet moments in life are precious!

These moments provide space for us  to journey inward.  A journey which may not be an easy one; can bring a lot of discomforts and may even create anxiety, fear and insecurity. Do not give up but take the journey inward, and we will realize it was worth all our effort.  

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We will receive knowledge about ourselves, understand ourselves and also identify our weaknesses and vulnerabilities of who we are.

This knowledge and understanding will empower us from within, giving us new insight in what we could become, when we bring in change, wherever required in our lives.

At the same time it will lead us in affirming our goodness and experiencing the divine within.

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Make time for Quiet moments & Be happy !

PEACE BE WITH YOU!

This was the statement made by Jesus to his disciples who were lost and shattered because Jesus was condemned, put to death and was crucified on the cross.  The Master and their leader who was everything for them is no more now, and this made them anxious, worried and insecure for they were fishermen by profession, and they had given up their fishing nets and followed Jesus.

Jesus appears to them and settles their disturbed minds and hearts stating “Peace Be with You” for me this is a beautiful phrase, very affirming and assuring – to know that all is not lost. Everything happens for a purpose, and each of us are a part of the divine plan.

Peace that is not so common today in our country and in the world – has to begin from each one of us, when we are at peace, our families will be in peace, our neighbourhood will be in peace and our country too will become a peace loving country.  I love this quote of Lord Buddha that says “ Peace is within, Do not look for it outside “

Wishing you PEACE!   Today & always!

Only One Thing to Expect !

May this quote encourage us to be ourselves, especially at a time when we are challenged to follow the crowd and be like everyone else ….. May we find inner beauty that is waiting to be discovered … the purity of conscious and hidden splendor…. This will be our contribution to this earth, unique as we are….. there is no one else like you and like me .. May we find the beauty within and may we find our purpose for existence!

Be Blessed & Be Happy!

Never Speak Without Listening!

To listen is to love, to love is to understand.  We find all around everybody wants to speak and there are very few who are ready to listen.  No wonder today we have dearth of counselors. Institutions are looking for people who can listen non judgmentally with unconditional love. 

They are willing to hire people for listening, because listening does a lot of wonders – when we listen with love, a lot of issues get resolved.  I am happy to work as a counselor and I have trained myself to listen with love – and I have grown so much because of listening.  I love what Carl Rogers, a psychologist who focused on person centered counseling, and client centred therapy says about listening as follows:

“When a person realizes he has been deeply heard, his eyes moisten. I think in some real sense he is weeping for joy. It is as though he were saying, "Thank God, somebody heard me. Someone knows what it's like to be me." Carl Rogers

"Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively."  Carl Rogers

Thank you for listening !