As we are ready to fly into the new year next month, may I ask you what are your new year resolutions for 2024? No, hold on… let me reframe that. What are your year-end resolutions for 2023? Rather than aspiring for all the wonderful changes that you wish to make starting from 1st Jan 2024, how about pondering about what changes you can start making over the month of December 2023 so that you enter 2024 in your best avatar? #31isthenew365

Thoughtful Thought

“Just as the skin needs vitamin E to glow, the mind needs vitamin I (introspection) to grow.”- Dr Mehernosh J Randeria

NLP Quote Corner

“A lot of people are doing life and not living life.”- Richard Bandler

One Minute NLP – Unconscious Actions

Do these kind of thoughts cross your mind?

– Why did I do what I did?

– How could I make this decision despite knowing the pros and cons?

If any of the above thoughts are ringing any kind of bells in your mind, you are not alone.

The reason why we do what we do is anchored to our perceptions, which then take the shape of beliefs, and from there on begins the trail of unconscious actions.

Yes, these actions can be called ‘unconscious’ because we rarely dare to unbox the beliefs behind our actions. In this journey of life, awareness is the speed breaker of your actions, and beliefs and perceptions are the signboards.

My question: How many beliefs have you questioned while taking certain specific actions?

Meta-Magic – The Watermelon Method to Happiness

“I have seen the richest of rich people, yet their eyes don’t sparkle with joy. Tell me, Master, what is the secret of happiness?” When Japanese master Tao Su was asked this question by his disciple, his first response was a silent smile. A smile that bespoke the serenity in the unknown.

The disciple, however, failed to read that and scratched his head while waiting for an answer.

“Would you do as I say?” Asked the master while giggling a bit. The disciple nodded a desperate yes.

“Go to the town and buy the biggest watermelon. Carry it on your head without using the support of your hands, and come back here while balancing it. The condition is to walk back home instead of returning through any vehicle.”

The disciple’s eyes widened in surprise. His mind began weighing the results and trying to connect the dots, but he abided by whatever the master had instructed.

After finding the most enormous watermelon, the disciple followed what the master said and was mocked by many. Some labelled him mad, considering why he was not using his hands. Some tried to ask him, but he kept mum. This landed him as the clown for the town, and many kids mimicked him and laughed their hearts out.

The disciple was initially perplexed and annoyed and even cursed his master for making him undergo such kind of insults. Later, while walking, he began enjoying the walk and joined the chorus of joy and laughter with others.

When he reached back to the master, the master beamed with joy and asked about his experience. The disciple, in response, laughed and said that initially, he was feeling annoyed. Still, he never knew when it converted to joy.

The master replied, “Dear disciple, our life is like that. You might be carrying that heavy problem on your head and trying to balance in life. Many people will sneer at you in those moments, but if you keep your calm and focus on the process, you will be happy.”

My question to you is – How much attention are you giving to the watermelon on your head?

Hook From The Book

“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.”

― Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Movie Motivation

“Jab hum khud ko samajh lete hain na, tab aur koi humare baare mein kya sochta hai, fark nahi padta” (translated to: “When we truly understand ourselves, it doesn’t matter what others think about us.”) 

My question to you is: How aware are you about your own self?

This Week’s Winning Post

What makes you emotionally reactive

See you next week!

Thoughtfully Yours,