Success Sutras

What is the most common cause for failure? In my experience, there are many such causes. There is no point in discussing the causes, without looking at the cure. After all we do not need to understand how we can fail; we need to understand how we can succeed. So let us take a close look at some remedies for some of these causes.

Be Decisive

Lack of decision heads the list of thirty odd major causes of failure. This is a common enemy that each one of us must conquer. If you study all the successful people (past and present) in this world, you will realize that every one of them had/has the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and changing these decisions slowly (if they do need to be changed at all). Unsuccessful people on the other hand reach decisions slowly, and change them very quickly and often.

Unsuccessful people are easily influenced by the opinions of others. They let the newspapers and gossiping neighbours do the thinking for them. If you analyze people, you realize that every one has a whole lot of opinions to be wished upon any one ready to listen to them. In fact opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. If you are the type who gets influenced by opinions while reaching a decision, you can bid good bye to success.

Improve your memory

A good memory really helps in being successful. There are many fun ways to sharpen, exercise and develop your memory, just as you develop your muscles! These are:

Every night before you fall asleep, try and recall all that you did and saw during the day. Try to remember the names of all the people that you met during the day. Try to recall their addresses.
Improve your power of observation. A great exercise to do this is in a shopping mall! Look at a store window for a while, now walk away, and write down the names of as many objects as you can recall. This method is very convenient and effective for improving your power of observation.

Develop the ability to concentrate. Make an effort to concentrate on your reading. Try to read as rapidly as possible. Choose a quiet environment to read where you are not distracted by noise or interruptions. Avoid fidgeting while reading. Light reading is fun, but reading of serious articles and books help develop your power of concentration much more effectively.
Close your eyes and picture words, names, and numbers that you especially want to remember. It helps if you speak these out aloud.
When you are introduced to someone, repeat the name several times in your mind. Use it as many times in your conversation as appropriate.
Word, name, place, or object associations work well for some people. In this process you memorize by associating a person with something similar or contrasting.

Learn better and faster

· Discard all limiting beliefs about your capacity to learn. If you think that you are a slow learner than that will become your truth.
· Relax so that the information is well absorbed. When we are relaxed we use our entire brain for learning, thus learning faster.
· Create a mental map of what is to be learned. Mental mapping is a great learning tool.
· Read your passages aloud in a dramatic tone. This not only makes learning fun, but helps you absorb material better.
· Listen to some calming music. It works on certain brain areas that influence learning.
· Make learning fun by making a game out of it. This re-activates your child-like ability to learn effortlessly.

Boost your Confidence

Self confidence is one commodity that puts you out there, shines a spotlight on you, and helps you astound the world with your presence. People brimming with self-esteem are the ‘lucky’ guys; but what about those people who still need to figure out a way to develop this wonderful skill.

You must understand that developing self-esteem is no mystical deed. It is not something that has been programmed into your DNA by birth. Self- confidence can easily be cultivated, if you so desire and intend. The cool colleague you so admire at work, has not necessarily inherited this trait. In all likelihood he had to work hard to overcome his shy demeanor, before becoming a self assured ‘dude’.

Knowing your strengths makes you feel worthwhile and boosts your confidence level. So get up and assess yourself. Ask yourself, ‘Who are you?’, and ‘Where exactly are you in life?’ Be honest and brave to take a good look at yourself, but do not berate yourself. Be self disciplined. Analyze your inner critic. Silence him. Don’t let that inner voice tell you that you are not good enough. Don’t ever believe that others are better than you. Pay attention to those thoughts that cheer you up. Pay attention to those thoughts that tell you how good you are. Never focus on your negative aspects. Remember that whatever you focus on, grows in your life. So be careful of what you focus upon. For example if you want to clear CAT, ‘see’ yourself scoring 99 percentile, and hear people congratulating you on your success. Feel confident and excited about your success

Never let yourself be overcome with despair. Use each opportunity to determine ways of improving yourself. Take stock of all your achievements. What have you achieved in life? What are you good at? What talents do you have? What are your special skills? Be proud of your fine qualities and hone them.

Are you afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing and appearing awkward? Are you the type who hangs back from the rest of the crowd? If you are a shy person, you need to overcome that. You prevent people from seeing the ‘real’ you if you let shyness prevail. You need not dominate conversations and hog all the attention; all you need to do is ‘speak up’. Show respect, empathy, and recognition to others. Come out of your shell and learn to be alert. Interact with people. Be open.

St. Francis of Assisi had said, ‘Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly….. you are doing the impossible.’

Do the impossible, and EXPECT success.

Welcome the Change

In today’s chaotic world, nothing seems to be the same anymore. At such times, most of us do not know how to handle things, since one can’t plan for anything. Everything seems so uncertain. One doesn’t know whom to trust and listen to any more. At times like this it really helps to remind ourselves of the timeless wisdom contained in this refrain, “Change is the only constant, everything else changes.”

Change comes in many forms. Sometimes it is like a pleasant breeze that caresses your face on a bright spring morning; such as, when you change from a child to a teenager, and than to an adult! What about the change from being a student to an earning member? Feels good, right! How about changing from being a bachelor to a married person? Sweet change! There are many such changes in our lives, and we thorouly enjoy these changes.

Problems happen when the change comes like a tornado that uproots our life; such as the Wall Street collapse, or Jet lay-offs. Getting a pink slip, death of a near & dear one, serious illness, and divorce etc are changes that can cause havoc in our lives.

It does not matter what the change is all about, and how it enters your life; all that you need to remember and be prepared for is the fact that change happens. Period. You are forever changing. The sooner you accept this universal truth, the better equipped would you be to welcome inevitable changes. It is simply not possible for the life to remain static, as its very nature is to be in a flux.

Have you seen the picture/ image of dancing Nataraja? That image brilliantly displays the nature of the cosmos. It is a dancing universe and every thing (every atom) is in a continuous state of movement or change. So much so that the ‘you’ of this moment is not exactly the same ‘you’ who started reading this column. How is that for ‘change’? The truth remains that ‘everything’ changes.

In the light of the above, how would you deal with change? Please allow the life to just ‘be’. People, situations, events, jobs, and money will enter your life and will leave it. Some of these things may stay on for years and some may stay for just a short while. Let them be. The other name for life is change. Nothing in it is for keeps, regardless of whatever someone might say or think.

The best way to deal with any change is by welcoming it. It may sound like a crazy advice when the change is not to your liking, but once you welcome a change, you will learn to see its newness as an exciting event. Have you ever noticed the wind blowing? If the doors and windows of your house are open when the wind blows, it will open some doors and windows while close some others. Watch this sometime, it is a lesson in living life. When we are open to change, some new doors and windows of opportunity open up for us, absolutely unexpectedly; just like that! Learn to appreciate the fresh smell of change. The newness that any change brings has the power to change your life completely. Use this power to your benefit.

Never ever run after the past or keep harping about it. It is over and done with. Good, bad, or ugly; it is out of your life now, so just forget about it. Do not chase it. The winds of change have blown some part of your life away. Release that part now. Let it go.

It is of no consequence whether you term a change as good or bad. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the fact that your judgment can’t alter the event. If you stop judging an event as good or bad, then it is just another event of your long life. This event is like another event which comes, moves, and changes. It just flows and blows across your life, living its assigned tenure.

Remember that after a storm has blown out, one person still remains and that person is ‘you’. You must remain steadfast during all the ups and downs of life. Deep inside you, in the center of your being, there is one element that is unchangeable. This one thing is your inner core, your true nature; the truth of who you are; your real identity. This inner core is something that you can always count upon for being there for you. This consciousness of your true nature never ever changes. It holds on. It makes your heart overflow with love. It helps you center truth and peace.

So next time when you experience an unpleasant, unwanted change, when the storm blows out (so to say!), enter this deep space within you. It will offer you the shelter that you so desperately seek. It will give you the safety that you are yearning for. It is not that difficult to go there. All you need to do is close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Yes, do it now. Feel your self connecting to your inner awareness. Stay there for a while, accept the change deep within, and wait for the gift that the change has brought with it.

Welcome the change with open heart and it will hand over its gift to you; the gift of newness; new opportunities. Suddenly, change doesn’t seem so bad after all! What say you!!!!!!!!