30 Day Blogging Challenge: How have You Changed in the Past 2 Years? - Post 2

How have You Changed in the Past 2 Years?

 

 

Yes I have changed a lot in the past 2 years.. in fact.. I had to change myself to be able to live my life with zest every moment by learning and unlearning many things. I'd call these Life Lessons and I thank my Master and all my friends and my close loving ladies for taking me to this calm and peaceful state that I'm enjoying today. Let me elaborate a bit.

 

 

1. Creating a good image and pleasing others doesn't work: Until my wedding, I was an extremely palpable and soft woman who would not like to assert herself in front of people, who would not enjoy this assertion. I'd prefer to do it, if no one would get hampered or upset in the process of this assertion. Why? I am a very peace-loving person and I hate complications and complex people to the core. So I prefer not to ruffle feathers. 

Also, I always wanted to create a loving image of myself in front of others and please others.

 

But gradually I realized that creating a good image and pleasing others don't work.

 

If you're a good person, people will love you no matter what.

And those who know or gel with you, will remain beside you come what may.

 

2. Be yourself: And so I decided to be myself - I promised to myself one day that this habit of mine - of not ruffling feathers so that others are upset, needs to be changed. And I told myself - that I need to be myself, express myself often and be unashamed about it. Else I'll have to be content with living someone else's ideas and that I'd just not do. Since I fiercely believe in and practice the 'Live and let live' policy.

 

3. Dont worry about others' perception of you: Another change that I willingly implemented in my persona - was not to think about how others will perceive me or my actions. Now I do as I like, live as I want and say what I feel, without blinking an eyelid. Am no more bothered if someone dislikes me for being assertive and living my life on my terms. Because it's just ONE life and you live only once.

 

4. Past is in the past: Lastly, I have consciously weaned myself from clinging onto the past. And worrying endlessly. However, old habits die hard ain't it? But then I always tell my myself - that I need to use my energy to believe and not to worry. And live every moment because there's no guarantee that I will live the next moment.

Sharing the changes that I have undergone so far, leads me to believe that I have not just changed, I have transformed... in every sense of the word. I attribute these positive changes to the transforming incidents in my personal life. These incidents have changed my perspective towards life, rocked and altered my beliefs and forced me to adopt positive changes in my personality. After all Life is all about change and change is constant, don't you agree? 



30 Day Blogging Challenge: Weird Things You Do When You're Alone - Post 1

Weird Things You Do When You're Alone

 

Hmmm... I hate sharing my secrets. But I have no choice now do I? When am alone I do quite a few weird things such as:

 

 

1. My dream was to become a successful and popular journalist (news reader). And I harboured this dream ever since I turned a teenager. So as soon as my parents left home to complete their tasks, I would take the day's newspaper and read out the news loudly, pretending to be a news reader of an AV channel. 

 

At times, I would also shadow act as a journalist reporting from an accident site, live into the studio, or interviewing people, that is being beamed live to the viewers. 

 

2.  Another weird habit was to pretend that I am a top-notch actress, who has won a National Award and is being talked about highly, everywhere in the country. My favourite pastime was to pretend that after winning the coveted award, I have been invited to an interview on a TV channel, where I'd talk about my plans, current interesting projects and future aspirations. :)

 

I loved doing these two acts very much. Now of course I do not have the time to do such things as I prefer taking a nap, reading a good book or listening to my favourite songs, rather than indulging in such stupid pretensions.

 

Or may be, I have matured enough to understand that these are just pipe-dreams and it's useless to waste time and energy doing such silly things.  

30 Day Blogging Challenge: A Reason to Blog Often

To address my bad habit of not blogging regularly, I have decided to take a 30 Day Blogging Challenge. I loved the topics listed in the picture below, which happens to be my plan of action henceforth. So stay tuned to read more in this blog:

 



Of course the posts will be a bit of personal tone, but then what the heck! :)

Daily Motivation Vol. 5

No. 31

Work kept me quite busy for these 2 days which is why I could not post here. I am in an extremely good mood these days and I do believe these motivational quotes that I share with you nowadays, is working it's magic.

Another reason am quite happy, satisfied and relieved with myself, is I am slowly inching towards my investment goals and living a stress-free life. Why stressed you ask? Well, until I began investing systematically, I constantly felt that am wasting time and money. I felt guilty when I spent money for shopping, eating out and blah blah.

But not anymore. Now I can spend one rupee knowing too well that am not just spending; am investing first and then spending for myself. Yes I completely follow Warren Buffet's simple formula for living a good and secured financial life:

Expenditure = Income - Savings/Investments

Try implementing it. It is a sure shot of way a stress-free life.

On that note here's the quote for today which am sure you all will relate to and agree unanimously. :)

Thought of the Day:

Positive mind.

Positive vibes.

Positive life.

 

Have a blessed day and a great weekend people! :)

 

What's Your Plan for 2015?

No. 30

During the party I attended this Saturday (read about it here), we had an interesting round of discussion. We were 7 of us and during the endless talks, one of the guys came up with an awesome topic to discuss about. You can call it a game or just a chit-chat about yourself.

 

Here's how the game went!
Each of us had to talk about our goals, wishes or dreams that we wanted to accomplish during the new year that's just round the corner. And the deal - is you could only talk about your goals, wishes, dreams or plans. You cannot talk about a goal, dream, wish or plan that may require someone else's involvement, not even your spouse.

It was kinda interesting thing to talk about. Since there were 3 couples, it was an interesting game to play. My husband did not talk about his wishes, goals, dreams or plans because he doesn't believe in planning. He loves to live this moment and let life take it's course.
When my turn came, here's what I said:

1. Since we are about to hit the 5 year mark as a couple in January 2015, all of my well wishers have been very insistent about my motherhood. My mom has been repeatedly telling me that it's high time.

As soon as I said this, the guy who had proposed this game, pointed out that this goal cannot be included since it is related to my husband as well. I could only talk about my personal goals etc. ;)

2. Second plan I talked about was - my investment plans. 

Let me tell you the context behind this goal of mine. Of late, I have realized that I'm spending more than I earn and that I'm wasting money also. Consequently I began reading personal finance blogs since the last 3-4 months to learn how the financially literate manage their money.

Some of these blogs put forth some amazing ways of managing, saving, investing and even earning more money through interest and dividends. I came across some golden advice about how to save money automatically, without any effort to be put in, each month.

In addition, some smart financial experts also offered advice on how to maximize returns, and how to gather more money (by way of investment) with a paltry investment.

All these golden advices led me to believe that despite the huge expenses and inflation, I too can save money in a very simplified manner and that simple investments is the key to a happy and secure financial life.

So, based on these advices, I drew up a financial plan for myself. And I'm determined to accomplish my financial goals early next year.

These were/are my goals for 2015. What are yours? Have you thought about them. By the way would you call these 'new year resolutions'? :)

Daily Motivation Vol. 4

No. 29

The speaking up (read this and you'll know)  has been a great thing to do really. Not only it helped me to express myself, it also liberated me of useless worries, and negative and limiting thoughts. So yeah a huge thumbs up to me. :) And I shall speak up in this way henceforth always, promise!

Now that the issue has been buried, I'm feeling way better. Am relaxed and in complete control of things.. what a wonderful phase this is to be in. This makes me think.. if I could be unfazed by the little troubles of life, much like the monks, it would have been the best thing or quality to possess really.

Much in line with my cheerful mood and relaxed mind today, let's dive into today's positive thought. Again I need to master the quality, that today's positive thought conveys.

Because I do have the tendency to worry and get angry about the past, and worry (again) about the unknown future. I do realize that by worrying so much all I'm doing is taxing my mind and getting stressed unnecessarily. I will try to avoid doing this and implement the same before 2014 ends.

Here's today's positive thought:

Thought of the Day:

Today forget your past,

forgive yourself,

And begin again.

 

 

 

 

Wonderful thought isn't it? On that note, I wish each one of you have an awesome day. Let's make this day fruitful and happy for ourselves and our dear ones. :)

 

 

Pic Courtesy: Google Images



Daily Motivation Vol. 3

No. 28

This weekend was very hectic. Saturday night was pretty long for me... partied with friends till 4am in the morning and then Sunday morning had to wake up at 10 am as I had an invitation to attend a baby shower.

Nevertheless both these experiences were soo very different. Saturday night was replete with leg-pulling, jokes (that at times were bordering on the adult kind of jokes) and Sunday morning was thoroughly traditional and familial in essence.

Anyways during both these days, things at work were worrying me a bit and needless to mention, this morning too those worries are creeping stealthily into the mind. And bam this beautiful quote comes up! Just what the doctor ordered for me...

Thought of the day:

When it comes to being gentle, start with yourself.
Don't get upset with your imperfections.
Being disappointed by failure is understandable,
but it shouldn't turn into bitterness
or spite directed at yourself. - St. Francis de Sales

 

 

PS: Yeah no pic of the thought today.  



Daily Motivation Vol 2

No. 27
 

Here's another gem of a line I found two days ago.

​And t

his is definitely on my To-Do list this year, since I begin to fret if anything goes off the radar.

At times I'm guilty of worrying about the unknown, the future... and once I begin to worry I just cannot stop myself from diverting my trail of thoughts... :)

In fact I'm contemplating visiting or talking to a counsellor about this, if self-help doesn't work according to my satisfaction or expectation levels.

Thought of the day:

(Note to Self)

Don't use your Energy to worry. Use your Energy to Believe.

Pic Courtesy: Google Images

Daily Motivation Series: Vol 1

No. 26

Of late I have realized that I need to perk myself up and for this all I need is a motivational moving thought right early in the morning.

So from now on, I will be posting thoughts that will motivate me, help me to stay focused and fire my determination.

Here's the first one. Note that this is all for myself. And in the process, if this helps you wee bit, then I'll be glad.

I just loved this one... it instantly stirs you. And I strive to do this, will you? :)

Thought of the day:

Turn your can'ts into cans and your dreams into plans.

 

 

 



Pic Courtesy: Google Images

Down Memory Lane of This Blog

No. 25

I was reading through the earlier posts of this blog ( I mean mine own blog). And all of a sudden, I stumbled onto these lines below, that I had written when my dad was very much with us.

  

I miss my dad's constant guidance... given a chance I would love to discuss about the world politics with him... coz we always seem to agree on each and every little thing...

 

While reading I accidentally realized that the black and white words can be so figurative, literal and suggestive all at once. When I had written these lines, I meant I want to be with him, beside him and in his vicinity.

 

Today when I look at these lines or if I have to re-express the emptiness inside me, due to my father's eternal absence, I could just copy-paste these lines and it would convey the message exactly the same way!

 

Quite queer this language is, aint it?

 

PS: My father and me shared an amazing bond, a soul connection and we were like Siamese twins always! His sudden departure on March 22nd 2013 still leaves me directionless, teary-eyed and insane. I still cannot fathom what happened, what went wrong and why did it happen to me and my mom.

 

Now all I wish is for him to come back and be a part of my life once again... that's all.

I spoke for the First Time

No. 24

Writing here after a long long hiatus. Well it's just my Geminian traits, you know. I couldn't figure what to write about, got very busy with the regular humdrums of life and was constantly looking for something special to write about.
Now you wonder, so has something special happened? Yes not something, well... hmmm quite a few things happened that were special. And today I'm going to talk about one of them.

We all fondly remember about our 'Firsts' don't we? First watch, first crush, first love, first car, first house, first affair (you ask why did I segregate love and affair here... simple you can love many things apart from a human, but a love affair is always with a human ;), first book (authored), first baby, first salary and so on... Yeah there could be sooo many firsts.. My husband can go on and on seriously on this topic. And he maintains all his firsts with great love and care. I digress... coming back to my first today on Oct 31, 2014.

Yes today on Oct 31, 2014, I mustered the courage to speak up at work. The story goes like this... yesterday I had my mid-appraisal and as usual I was not satisfied with the outcome. It hurt me and demotivated me. All through the rest of the day and night, the words rang in my ears and seared me from within. So much so that in the morning, before coming to work, I decided to write to my boss about the actual reasons - the facts, the problems, challenges and frustrations I had faced. And after hitting the 'Send' button, I experienced a huge sense of relief.

It was soo liberating to have written what I felt all night through, to have put in writing what I have been experiencing during the challenging project. To have done that I have never ever done or thought of before!

To speak back, to explain my perspective and to point out the actual problems... yes I had never done it before at work... There were many reasons of not doing it.. fear of being 'marked' out, fear of being judged, fear of untoward and ugly consequences. But not any longer. Now I don't care anymore because I have told myself either you suffer in silence or speak up. Keeping quiet fearing the consequences is not my cup of tea any more. Because I'm done with it. So long I have kept quiet and nothing happened. Now  let's see what happens after speaking up. :)

So cheers to me, my newfound sense of Freedom. Cheers! And yes cheers to my coming back to this space. Henceforth, I will write more and more to express my feelings even more.