Discovery of Passion!

Sometimes I wonder whether the educational system in India allows every individual to start the search of their Passion. Discovery of passion plays an important role in quality of life as its with passion that you enjoy bliss and happiness in life. But, the irony is Interests and passions can be discovered only when you are exposed to diverse thoughts, ideas and subjects. And here we got to stick to one stream which would most probably be the most happening stream and you tend to become narrow in focus on your pursuit of top paying job. We are drilled with the importance of money and security in life and we work like ants to achieve it. Jobs here are more for sustenance rather than for passion. How much resonance we found from history here.. Since Ages India emphasized on material gains i.e., Artha (Wealth and Power) over the other Purushardhas.. That's the way we still lead the life here. For me, Increased exposure to diverse cultures and thoughts will make a person more adaptable, flexible and open to new ideas and it aids in finding the way to your passion.

Biased towards Action...

I just read about Ms. Anita Roddick, The woman behind The Body Shop who made it big. I am pretty impressed. Here in daily life I meet a lot of people who speak of things which they can do rather than trying to do them.. Later they blame it on the situations and all those factors which are beyond control. Sometimes I feel like saying, Boss if you want to be led like a feather in wind...No probs go ahead with it.. But don't cast aspersions on situations as they are the same to everyone. To take an action one has to act and to act you need to be committed to your convictions. I would say be biased towards action, that's where you stand for yourself.

Seeking Grassroots Experience....

Here I would say that one has to embrace life and experience the work from the grassroots level.. Being in IMDR, when I entered the college, I was involved in a selling NGO products.. I had trouble imagining myself selling handmade folders, candles on road. I was a bit embarrassed even to get myself acquainted with the idea, but later when I started doing it, I realized how valuable that experience is. Its not always where you get to sell a handmade greeting card to a guy owning a Mercedes! None of your Management fundas work over there and you absolutely have to be yourself.. It taught me the value of simplicity, humbleness and gave me a glimpse into the interaction pattern of people. What an experience, where you enjoy the bliss of contributing to charity while learning through such down to earth sales! Now I understand the dignity of work and I don't hesitate to talk to strangers. Infact now I don't mind going to any place as it made me stand against the fear of uncertainty, for every tough experience is an opportunity to learn.

Indian Identity in the Global Context

That's the title of the symposium where I spent this weekend mulling over several issues contesting one another. Personally, I would say there are multiple identities of a specific person which play a role based on the context. Like for e.g. I may be an Indian in America and a management grad infront of an interview panel... Well, identity is just a framework through which we tend to understand a person or an entity, But does this serve the purpose? Not always! What does India stand for? It means different things for different people.. It may be a land of spirituality, or a land of beautiful women or a place of software professionals, everyone has a unique idea..In such case what does India stand for in Global Context? Still thinking...

Why Introspection?

We are living, dynamic beings...Ever growing....Nothing about us is meant to be static. Welcome this with open arms, moment to moment. Go ahead and explore what you have to... I agree that I have a lot of environmental influences working on me. Of course why not, I don’t prefer to exist in vacuum. So, you make certain decisions as to what to pursue or what you are passionate about and what you can renounce. If I am aware of my choices, the effort I put springs from heart and hence what I do reflect my inner self. Hence I believe introspection and awareness are key to quality of life!

Educational System out here.....

There is nothing to be taught but there are values that can be extracted. The basic thing is that here the education system has been a sort of assembly line, and hence the thought process has been in a manner that everything is to be done in a step-by-step method. But the real education comes when something is experienced. We need not do the real important things in life. I think that all the important things happen on their own. In many ways I have been driven. Not because there is an inner calling but there is a driving force that pushes me in a slot. The major thing has been the career choice. This was one in which I was thrown into.

Then the question arises that do we make the decisions or the system makes it? The first thing that arises is, what is a system or society? System is what we want to see it. It is a set of assumptions. System is a context. It is a sight that is determined by us. No two people see the same thing in the same way. They always see it differently because their context is different. Here people make their career choices based on their parents’ expectations.. Now they actually don’t own their aspirations and hence thus start living for others which actually kills their real self.

We create a context; hence, we can change it. But this is to be done in the light of awareness. For taking a decision there should be an evaluation of choices. There is nothing wrong in following a choice. But the truth is that we have been so protected that we do not know that we are exercising a choice.

Herd Mentality n Relationships!

Its always easy to go along with the herd and let your decisions made by others. Now the million dollar question is why I want to be in the herd? The real culprit is the barter system in the society which is nurtured in the home. Remember the days when you get scolding if you scored less in some exam? Don’t you act the way you never wanted just to please another person? Now why all these happens? Its because you want to be secure, you want to feel loved and needed and you think that the other person would do that if you mould yourself with his or her expectations..

Now tell me, then are you being true to yourself? Haa, here comes the guilt cycle. Because you will start lies and cheating as you will want acceptance from the other person and also your own personal freedom, and hence it makes you guilty.. Here this guilty feeling makes you angry, frustrated as you feel that you are incompetent or incomplete as you cant fulfill the other person’s expectations on you. Wow! Now you will start judging yourself by things you do or things which you cant do.. But tell me, are actions a measure of the person? Is it necessary to get good gift to feel loved?

Relationships, What do they mean to me? They influence my life in great deal and for me they are a means to discover myself as life is not about living like a hermit, right? Happiness lies in being true to oneself and to the relationships I value, that's where the essence of life is!

Life at IMDR!

IMDR stands for Institute of Management Development and Research, its the first management institute in Pune, India. Now why am I talking about it? I am a student of IMDR pursuing my Post Graduate Diploma in Management out here.. Its an institute where I people can express themselves openly and getaway with it. A place where you can be yourself and still learn and grow. A place which believes in humility, simplicity and the power of thoughts. I simply love this place as it stands for the values it espouses. A home for me indeed!

Indian Epics

I just wondered of the great epics called Ramayana and Mahabharata..People in my home pray them and stock them. But what exactly does this literature stand for? For start, they reflect Indian heritage and give a glimpse into the ideology of people at that period of time. They talk of Aryans struggle to conquer the natives and speak volumes of the war they had..

Coming to the Gods portrayed: Rama and Krishna.. Funnily they don’t adhere to any norms or values.. See for Krishna, he is cunning, intelligent.. And Rama, called maryada purushottama, right? Is he justified in killing Vali? All this shouts at the face that power is important in life and attain it by whatever means.. Typically I feel that Rama and Krishna were personification of what ever the people that existed at that period of time.. Though personally I feel that Karna or for that matter Duryodhana to be more moral than Krishna… Ok, too much for judgments.. Now you must be wondering whether I am mocking the people or their culture.. I am just trying to understand objectively rather than trying to be a humble follower who meekly accepts the existing beliefs.. I just get puzzled when people blindly follow the culture and heritage without even questioning the underlying beliefs.

My Favorite Book.."Gone With The Wind"

Set in Georgia during the American Civil War, it is the story of strong willed Scarlet O'Hara, her life and three marriages and her determination to keep her family's property of 'Tara' despite the savage consequences of the war. Book deals with many issues but what moved me is the clarity and the depth with which the emotions are portrayed.. I couldn't relate to the period or the political frame at which the story is set, still I could connect with Scarlet O'Hara and her materialistic mentality and the situations which lead such personality. A truly magnificent novel which proves that emotions are universal!

What's this Guilt?

As someone says, Guilt is a personal admission that I am conditionally Lovable. I think we create guilt when there is no need for it. And it is one emotion which is absolutely unnecessary for existence and it is that emotion which degrades the quality of life. I feel this Guilt again does not come form within my mind. At times I don’t find myself wrong anywhere but the society is hell bound to make me confess and realize that I made a mistake. This is again and idea that I feel is brought up from the society. The society has decided a threshold, performing below which makes me guilty and my performance above that threshold is appreciated by the society. Guilt for me is the fight between what I want to do and what this society wants me to do. Now if I conform to the society I feel guilty as I am not what I want to be.. If I didn't, I feel guilty as I couldn't fulfill the expectations of others placed on me.

A letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son’s head master...

I published this because I liked the beauty of expression and the gravity of the essence....

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the united states of America (1861 - 1865) is one of the world's great statesmen for all time. Here is a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the head master of his school in which his son was studying, a letter so typical of the man who bore malice towards none and had charity for all.

“ He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero: that far every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader...

Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. It will take time, I know a long time, but teach, if you can, that a dollar earned is of more value then five of found.

Teach him, to learn to lose...And also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, if you can, teach in the secret of quiet laughter.

Teach him, if you can the wonder of books...But also given quiet time wonder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hillside.

In a school teach him, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat...

Teach him to have faith in his own idea, even if anyone else tell him they are wrong...

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough.

Teach him to listen to all men...But teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good one that comes through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tear.

Teach them to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidder but never to put a prize tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes the fine steel.
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have some sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order, but see what can you do... He is such a fine little fellow, my son! Dad"

Poems and Poems..

Author: Laurie Picotte
Poem Title: Leaving
Poem:

Leaving is the hardest thing I ever had to do,
but what hurt the most to me was having to say goodbye to you.
Will be still the same the next time that we meet,
or drift apart and change like two strangers on the street.
Time can only tell us what will lie ahead,
but will time fill my vacant heart just like when we met.
The tears finally fade and my feelings disappear.
If anything at all, this I have always feared.
Now that I've left you, will I ever learn,
Always knowing deep inside, that I can never return.


Author: Laurie Picotte
Poem Title: STRANGER

Poem:

Each day that passes by I come closer to the end
The time when we will say good-bye to what we had back then.

What I thought would make me happy is breaking up my heart
It's a battle of emotion that's tearing me apart.

I made a promise to myself that I intend to keep,
but how can I go on with this pain that is so deep.

It was hard to get to know you and I'm still not sure I do;
but one thing is for certain I really do love you!

Through all these times of trouble we came upon this place
the path where we will have to part and choose our separate fates.

Guided in our journey by the Angels from above,
We will meet again someday; my dear sweet lost love!



Author: Laurie Picotte
Poem Title: WILL YOU BE THERE

Poem:

When time comes to a stand still and the world come to an end,
will you still be there for me from now until then.
When the moon never beams and the sun no longer shines,
will you still love me more and more as days go by.
The way I feel about you the world cannot compare,
please don't ever leave me I need you there.


I got these poems from onlinepoetry.com. I am touched by the depth of emotions they portray.