“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” - Maya Angelou

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

“Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.” - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” - James Michener

________________________________ __________

*Please note that due to high volume of emails, replies to this email can not be handled individually. If you need an individual response, please direct your mail to info@seechangeworld.com

______________________________________________________________

Pure Mind

“A pure mind finds its direction within because it is centered.”

(C) Shri. Kamlesh D. Patel - President, Shri Ram Chandra Mission - http://www.sahajmarg.org

Priya, a media executive in her late 20s, is constantly in the hustling mode of getting things done. It does not matter if it is Sunday or any other festive holiday. Whatsapp, for every Indian, is a Priya’s medium for constant communication too. Following up with the team and updating clients about work progress means the phone is just like an extended part of her body. Working from home hadn’t decreased her productivity by one bit. 

Suddenly yesterday, WhatsApp just went off. As with every tragedy, the first stage is denial. She restarted her wifi, then switched on to mobile data, and restarted her mobile phone, but still no luck. She then realised that other sites were working, which means her internet connection is working properly. The issue is with WhatsApp. As usual, she ran towards Twitter to check, and it was filled with memes about WhatsApp not working. 

She started checking her phone every two minutes, hoping WhatsApp would start working. But sadly, it didn’t. She sent SMS and mail for important pending communication and then kept her phone aside. She picked it up after two minutes and then again checked if it was working, but it wasn't. She did this for the next 15-20 minutes before finally accepting that WhatsApp was not working. 

Keeping the phone in her bedroom, she came out into the living room. All that was going on in her head was how much time WhatsApp would be off and how bad the situation would be. She just lied down on the sofa, relaxed a bit, and had her lunch. 

Finally, after two hours, WhatsApp started working, and her WhatsApp was flooded with messages. She got into her firefighting mode to solve problems. But to her surprise, there weren't any. She checked it again. A few required her to revert, but a prompt revert was not required. After replying to a few messages, she put the phone aside and a realization hit her—work continued without her constant intervention. 

She prided herself on replying to every message within minutes, but was that really needed? Was the sense of urgency that she always had in her mind, which caused her stress and anxiety, really needed? It wasn't as she had seen. A wave of relief washed over his body. She decided to just be away from the phone for a few more minutes and enjoy this feeling. 

Debrief

I just cannot leave my laptop, I have to check WhatsApp continuously, I have to pick up every call when my phone rings etc. Except for your role, which is customer care or emergency service, these things are not true. 

I am not denying the fact that your work is important, but all of it is not urgent, so let go of the anxiety and worry of reverting to things quickly. Also, stop judging people and assuming they are lazy when they revert to your message a few minutes late.

“Laugh my friend, for laughter ignites a fire within the pit of your belly and awakens your being.” - Stella McCartney

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” - Nicolas Chamfort

“In all of living have much joy and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed not just endured.” - Gordon B. Hinkley

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” - Oprah Winfrey

Life is Like That

Say It With Flowers

A man stops by his local florist shop to buy flowers for his new girlfriend. He asks the proprietor, "You know the expression, 'You should say it with flowers'?"

"How about three dozen of my finest roses?" the florist asks.

"Make it a half dozen roses," the man answers. "I'm a man of few words."