What I am !

“I am not what I think I am!

I am not what you think I am!

I am what I think you think I am!” – Charles Horton Cooley

I recently stumbled upon this amazing quote. These words have blown me away ever since. It has left such an indelible mark on my mind that it continues to bother me every day. When I first heard these lines, I had no idea what they meant. I had to view the video several times to really comprehend what these words meant.

I paused! I replayed the video! I took a screenshot of the quote.

Believe me! It has captured my mind and feeling like nothing else ever did. I felt like I had been in search of this for a long period of my life. I felt like this is what we are missing today as a society in general and as an individual in specific. We are caught up in the same thought that impacts our personality in many folds. It puts us under pressure in many scenarios. It disturbs our inner peace. It makes us dependent. It makes us decision fatigue. It forces us to sideline our genuine feelings. It derails tons of tasks which are meant to complete.

We avoid being the one who we are. We start judging ourselves unreasonably. We keep on doubting our capacities. We lose many opportunities. We give up on many things which we wished to try and pursue. We pause where we are supposed to move on. We change the path where we are supposed to stick to. We control ourselves where we are needed to speak out. We do not hear out where it is needed to.

I wish people had taught or come across this wisdom years ago. But, this is called life. Somewhere down the line, your surroundings determine your spectrum and possibility of change, possibility of getting closer to such wisdom. Your efforts, struggles, failures, maturity, understanding and rationality bring you close to wisdom.

Yeah! To me, these are not just words or lines or a simple quote, but a pearl of wisdom. I think, this wisdom is universal and people need to know and realise it. Not only mine but also every individual’s lives have been affected by it. We have been so greatly caught up in the perception of perception of ourselves. What and how he or she thinks about me. What and how she or he has an opinion about me.

This idea of thinking what someone thinks about me or would, is so much killing beyond our imagination. We keep on getting affected by other’s thought or opinion each time we take any actions. It is like living in the perception of perception which does not exist in reality. It is our notion that we are bound to take the next person’s perception about us as true and the only way to live and lead our lives.

“Sabse Bura Rog, Kya Kahenge Log”. This is so true. We care so much about others, what they will think of us and what not. In reality, no one has time to think about us. No one cares. No one is going to get affected by your thoughts and actions. No one is truly or even remotely interested in you. People have their own lives and issues to deal it with.

Why do we waste so much of our energy and time to think about others then? Why do we keep on getting affected by them so badly which in turn bears no fruits for us? Why do we change our decisions based on people’s perception which has nothing do with our path? Why are we so afraid of people’s opinions about us?

I think it happens due to our fear of society. We fear so much about our society that we give everything in their hands. We suppose it is the society which decides what is in the best interest for us. We feel parents are right. We feel college and university are right. We feel teachers are right. We feel friends and relatives are right. We feel books and films are right. We feel leaders are right. Finally, every action of ours gets influenced and determined by them at the end.

Isn’t it relevant and genuine to ask what we want truly? It is! Life is too short to live someone else’s dreams. Life is too short to live in people’s perception of ours. We are all unique individuals. No two persons are going to be the same in thinking and actions. Each one’s life is shaped by their own struggles. No one knows how and what they are going through.

To sum up, let us understand the fact that life is ours. Dreams are ours. Failures and successes are too ours. Struggles and experiences shape a person. Risk of living and leading our lives with the rationality far oversights the regret of living in the perceptions of others.

I wish and hope that we, as an individual, live and lead our lives not bothered by perceptions of something or someone else’s but, with the rationality of our thinking.

Love Is What……….!

Love is that a person you love feels free.

Love is that a person you love respects and accepts your decision.

Love is that a person you love breaks down when you hurt or get hurt.

Love is that a person you love finds perfection in your imperfections.

Love is that a person you love goes beyond physicality.

Love is that a person you love believes in you implicitly.

Love is that a person you love believes in your change.

Love is that a person you love is committed.

Love is that a person you love is credible.

Love is that a person you love respects your privacy.

Love is that a person you love believes in  equality.

Love is that a person you love never betrays or cheats upon.

Love is that a person you love loses the battle if it’s against you.

Love is that a person you love never stops caring for you.

Love is that a person you love bears unbearable pain for you.

Love is that a person you love faces all the odds for you.

Love is that a person you love always whishes for your happiness.

What If It’s Not That…..???

How to Survive in Recession As a Working Professional !

We all know that the world economy is experiencing tough times. And, it has almost hit all the major sectors of economy.

As a working professional, let’s see how we can handle/save our job and economical stability.

Blame Vs Underestimated Attitude

It’s important to understand that you’re not laid off due to your poor performance, but your salary burdon on the employer. It’s just like demand and supply mathematics that the employers only care about. You can hardly avoid this lay off. So, let’s not blame or doubt your skills and abilities.

Dignity that matters

When you’re fired or laid off, it’s our normal reaction to request employer to reconsider the decision. And, we should at least make a try to request them once, but must not beg or negotiate for lower salary. Companies well in advance know the situations you’re in and expected reactions of yours. Most of the (around 99%) organisations across the globe don’t care about your post-fired life. For them, it’s all about saving thier MONEY. So, there’s no point of kneeling down and lowering our self dignity. It’s better and practical to accept the reality and move on.

Only option

I know, it’s not easy to digest or handle the situation when you’re laid off suddenly. It disturbs you and affects your whole personal environment. So, rather finding Why me and What happened answers, it’s paramount to move on. More you think about the past, more you delay your next opportunity. So, jumping on the next opportunity is the only way.

Unending opportunities

Though the world economy curve is downward, it’s again rational to look for possible job opportunities. It may or may not be in a similar industry, but as a sensible person, you must focus on getting a new job that at least takes care of your expenditure. Some industries may require your talent. So, let’s not sit idle.

Upskilling

Everyone knows the importance of polishing the existence skills and upskilling new ones, but which and how new skills to learn is a difficult task for many. Your senior colleagues, professional mentors and market study are the only way to take a final call on this. Whatever area you choose to work upon, it must be taken seriously so that you get ready for the next opportunity.

Off beat actions

At one level, such circumstances ignite our hidden desires or lost interests to re-enter in our lives. You might have forgotten or delayed your interests of learning or trying something new in these years, but now can be the time to work upon it. You never know what it would bring for your. It may give an alternative career option or part-time financial support. But, this requires your commitment.

Cold pocket

It’s expected in such times that you should control and manage your money well. Except the essentials, you should show the attitude of cold pocket man. Your every saved penny is your future investment. So, not doing any unnecessary spending is the need of the time.

Freelance

When companies don’t afford a full-time employee, they might prefer outsourcing the work to freelancers. You should find out the possible ways to outsource your services. You can charge less and get onboard multiple clients. But remember, this requires your strong virtual portfolio presence.

Family that stands together

Hard times don’t last forever, but it’s important that you know where your mental support systems are. Your family is the only and last destination where you can stay safe, secure and happy. So, make sure that you’re well connected to your family in these times and stay positive.

Reminder

There are tons of reasons to dig out the causes of recession and its negative impact on jobs. Nevertheless, as a rational and practical human being, you should understand, analyse and make decisions on the basis of reality and not on emotions.
How sustainable career path you choose and keep updated to the changing environment is the true crux of any individual’s professional success.

To sum up,

Frankly, there’s so much to discuss and share on this topic as I’m also one of you and have experienced these times as well.

I hope and wish that my little understanding and experience would help you to manage or support handling the recession.

Sickguru or Sadhguru

(In the context of his ‘Save the Soil’ Campaign)

Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev, better known as Sadhguru, is an Indian yoga guru and proponent of spirituality (as claimed by him). 

Sadhguru, a self-declared spiritual leader, is the most eloquent evidence of our collective consciousness’s failure in general, and scientific temper in particular.

I won’t go into detail about his background because you can readily obtain that information on the internet.

My goal is here to draw your attention to his current ‘Save the Soil’ campaign.

Sadhguru tries to deceive people with his nonsensical and deceptive rhetoric. (Sadly, many don’t think so)

He’s supposed to be spreading awareness about soil protection with his ‘Save the Soil’ campaign by touring across the world on his luxury motorcycle.

Not surprisingly, his supporters believe that this is a Nobel Prize-winning initiative, and that Sadhguru will make a significant difference in soil conservation efforts.

In actuality,

The government, through its laws and regulations, is primarily responsible for soil conservation activities. Farmers, industries and individuals undoubtedly play a vital role in this.

Farmers, however, are left with few options, due to failed government policies and a lack of willingness to change the farmers’ lives and maintain ecological balance.

However, the issue he’s bringing up in the guise of farmer suicide isn’t the real one. Droughts, erratic rain cycles, low market pricing for their produce, and insufficient government policies to support them in times of need are the real culprits, not soil-related concerns for the farmers’ suicides.

The biggest challenges (for soil degradation) include soil-related issues such as excessively irrigated land, which makes soil more saline in nature, and excessive fertiliser use. And also, they’re dispersed in nature around the country.

Climate change-related disasters and soil destruction caused by industrialization are also big contributors.

So, using farmer suicides for one’s personal profit or publicity is thus the creepiest deed one can commit.

It’s no longer a secret that these so-called modern-day Gurus crave continual attention.

They keep on looking for new organism subjects. They are aware of the advantages of such marketing ideas. They understand that people believe that if you package things nicely and come up with a catchy tagline, you’re done. Then you get a lot of attention, money, and fan base.  

Hyper-marketing real-world issues does not fix real-world difficulties.

Thousands of people have been participating in the soil conservation journey all around the world. They do their part from time to time, sometimes, without the help of the government or anyone else.

Today, the number of self-proclaimed religious and spiritual gurus in India and around the world is astonishing.

In many aspects, the religious or spiritual personalities of the past were vastly different. The primary idea/goal of their service or acts was social awakening. Except in a few situations, we can identify and see the selfless service of such religious or spiritual leaders throughout history.

Unfortunately, a new rash of greedy and deceptive people have taken up the mantle of religious or spiritual leaders, despite the fact that they have little resemblance to our previous religious or spiritual leaders.

Whether you believe in God or not, it’s common sense (at least, when you staunchly believe in your God) that we wouldn’t pray to ‘Baba/Maharaj/ Gurus’, etc., whose thinking and conduct are not sensible or founded on logic or reason.

You can also judge these so-called leaders based on their thoughts/views toward women, transgender persons, SC/ST community, and tribals, as well as how they treat them.

Today’s spiritual leaders appear to be overwhelmingly pro-capitalist and pro-establishment. They’ve amassed a substantial amount of property, and some have launched or entered many profitable businesses. This can be exemplified by Baba Ramdev.

It is nowadays normal practice to use people’s religious beliefs for personal gain. These leaders profit from people’s religious beliefs in the name of God.

The sooner people understand that there is no need for a mediator between God and his disciples, the better. (again, at least when you truly believe in your God)

It will also save your time, energy, and money as well.

Unsurprisingly, both the uneducated and educated (millennials) are so enthusiastic about Sadhguru’s so-called noble cause.

When you mindlessly follow someone or become a fan, you gradually lose your ability to think for yourself. In today’s India, the ‘Bhakt’ category is a famous example of this.

Rather than fantasising about Guru’s marketing strategy, the least we can do is make genuine contributions.

Even if you can’t find a way to help a specific cause, you can at least refuse to promote or applaud such creepy initiatives.

Nobody can be the Save Soil (Humanity) Crusader or Messiah on their own. Certainly not these opportunistic.

Choice is ours!

We and Mental Health

“Emotional pain is not something that should be hidden away and never spoken about. There is truth in your pain, there is growth in your pain, but only if it’s first brought out into the open.”

— Steven Aitchison

Anxiety, fear, extreme pressure, addictive behaviors, loss, and sadness, to mention a few, are all common emotions that people experience. 

Many of us, however, are unaware that having these feelings on a frequent basis is not normal. It is extremely harmful to human beings in a variety of ways. It affects our body, mind, performance, profession, relationships, and overall health. It can lead to clinical depression in certain people. It also has the potential to lead to suicidal thoughts.

It’s also disheartening to see that the majority of people are unaware of the significance of maintaining a good mental state. They are unaware that mental and emotional health are just as important as physical health.

According to the World Health Organization, “Depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. People with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early – due to preventable physical conditions.”

While we all face challenges in our personal life, working at a creative firm places a greater emphasis on our mental health. As a result, it is critical that all people who work in the advertising sector take good care of their mental health.

In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on people’s mental health all around the world, and our advertising sector is no exception.

Many people experience mental health problems from time to time. And, in most situations, people are unaware that they are suffering from any of these mental health issues. As a result, it is critical to understand mental health symptoms.

Symptoms of mental illness

The signs and symptoms of mental illness differ based on the condition, the circumstances, and other variables. 

• Prolonged sad or depressed feeling
• Excessive anxieties or fears, as well as severe sentiments of guilt
• Extreme mood swings (highs and lows)
• Withdrawal from social activities and friends
• Inability to deal with day-to-day challenges or stress
• Problems comprehending and connecting to circumstances and people
• Alcohol or drug abuse issues
• Significant changes in dietary habits
• Changes in sex desire
• Extreme rage, hatred, or violence
• Suicidal ideation
• Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate

Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder appear as physical problems such as stomach discomfort, back pain, headaches, or other inexplicable aches and pains.

Let’s look at how we can cope with mental health concerns

• Realizing that it’s not normal

Being under stress or experiencing worry, dissatisfaction, or depression on a daily basis is not natural. Let’s understand this well. Although everybody experiences these emotions, dealing with them on a regular basis is an indication of imbalanced mental health. 

When someone points it out to us, we usually don’t notice. However, if you’re experiencing these feelings on a regular basis, you shouldn’t dismiss it.

So, let’s acknowledge it. 

• Acceptance is the first key to solution

Accepting it is not a sign of weakness. We’re all human beings. These feelings and stages are natural and required for human survival. Our lives are filled with ups and downs. Anyone, no matter who they are or where they are in life, may go through this. 

Also, the sooner we realize that we are dealing with such challenges, the better our mental health will be.

• Sharing it with your loved ones

We’re social animals. We can’t live our lives in solitary confinement. If you’re having any bad thoughts or have been depressed for a long time, it’s best to speak up to someone you trust.

Tell your loved ones that you are experiencing these emotions. Tell your loved ones about your anxiety, restlessness, and any other problems you’re having. You will feel relieved once you have expressed your feelings.

• Seeking help

You might be suffering from a severe depression and be completely unaware of it. Typically, we are unaware of the depth of our sorrowful sentiments. If our sentiments are persistent or we are unsure how to handle them, seeing a doctor is the best option. It is not an indication of a personality fault to seek help. In some way or another, everyone needs everyone’s help.

• Seeing as an opportunity

Consider this a chance to reshape your life in the direction of real happiness and long-term health.

It is the ideal moment to take a close look at yourself, to reflect on your words and actions, and to understand the true meaning of your professional and personal lives. It gives you the opportunity to consider hitherto unimaginable aspects of human identity. It’s worth fighting for and finding out about.

Final words,

Pain, sadness, and grief are unavoidable aspects of life, but they do not have to ruin our life. It is within our power to have a happy and satisfying life. If we want to live a meaningful life with less stress and misery, it’s critical that we believe in change and take a practical approach to every element of our lives. It’s a process, not a task that can be completed in a single day.

Understanding the unpredictability of life is also important since having unrealistic expectations of things is bound to hurt us.    

If you’re going through or experiencing something similar, keep in mind that this might be a rebirth chance, which occurs very seldom and wildly with this priceless human gift. Recognize it, accept it, and share it with others.

It’s difficult to overcome your feelings, but it’s not impossible if you follow the given points above.

If you know someone in your industry or elsewhere who is suffering from any of the mental health difficulties, please provide a helping hand to him or her. Your small gift might save them from a major setback.

# World Mental Health Week #

You are a worth living human being.

We all experience anxiety, pressure, and sadness. It can sometimes lead to clinical depression.

Whatever it is, it causes us a great deal of harm in a variety of ways. It has a significant impact on our body, mind, performance, career, relationships, and general health. It has the potential to lead to suicidal thoughts. Mental and emotional well-being are just as vital as physical well-being.

There is no shame in realising, acknowledging, and sharing your feelings with those you care about. We are all humans. These emotions and stages are normal and necessary for human existence.

Don’t be afraid to express yourself and don’t be ashamed of your sentiments. Remember that recognising it and seeking help takes a lot of guts. We are social creatures.

It is the greatest time to take a thorough look at yourself, to reflect on your thoughts and deeds, and to discover the bigger and genuine significance of your professional and personal lives. It allows you to ponder previously inconceivable facets of human identity. It’s worth battling for and discovering.

Consider this an opportunity to shape your life in the direction of true happiness and a long-term healthy existence.

I went through what I’ve described above over a year ago. I was depressed for a long time but was able to recover without medical help or psychological counselling.To get to where I am now, I had to put in a lot of sensible, practical, and scientific thinking work.

It’s been an incredible voyage of self-discovery for me. It has had a profound impact on my life. Although I did not seek medical or psychiatric help, this does not rule out the possibility that you should. It is all up to you. Seeking help is not a sign of a personality flaw. Everyone needs everyone’s support in some way or another.

I am grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported me throughout the process. If anyone else is going through or experiencing the same way, keep in mind that this could be a rebirth opportunity, which happens very seldom and wildly with this precious human gift. Recognize, Accept, and Share it.

You are a worthy human being.

Love!

“The Parts of the Plants”- A Creative Screenplay for the Children.

Setting: – At the Waterfall of the Jungle – A Fine Shiny Day

A mischievous Kit (Koala) is walking with an axe on his shoulder towards The Holy Tree which stands tall and strong at The Waterfall. The Tree is surrounded by The Waterfall at one side and The Hut at other. Kit’s beloved lady-love Miss. Ollie (Ostrich) is waiting for Kit at the Jungle Mall as they are supposed to go shopping today.                                      

Kit (Happily reached and looking around cautiously)

Axe (Asking curiously)

Why have you brought me here thy master?

Kit (In a happy tone)

Brother! You are going to cut the Holy Tree.

Axe

Hmm! Oh yeah! But thy master…!

Kit (In a loud noise)

No more questions! Let us get on work first.

Axe (Nodding head positively)

Yeah!

Kit (Looking at the down to cut the roots first)

Tree (Suddenly wakes up and starts shouting at the Kit)

Hey, you stupid fellow!  Why are you cutting my roots?

Kit (Annoyed by the voice)

Why do you need so many roots, you old tree? King of the Jungle Mr Lion has ordered me to bring a few of it. So, keep quiet and let me do my duty.

Tree (Speaks angrily)

Don’t you know that the roots are my underground parts; they take the water and food from the Sister Soil and help to regulate my growth? They store food for me. They hold me in the ground and keep it upright. How will I survive without them?

The Hut (Wakes up by the noise and starts laughing)

Kit

Don’t laugh at me, you ugly Hut! You stink, get brushed first.

Hut

Hahahahah! I am not laughing at you. I laugh when I wake up.

Kit (Turning the axe on the stem/trunk)

Tree

Hey! Wait….! Wait…..! What’s wrong with you, Man? Why are you cutting my Stem/Trunk now?

Kit

Mrs Lioness wants your Trunk as she wants to show her to Kids. Now, let me do this.

Tree

Are you mad? I am attached to the roots and allowed to stand upright because of the stem only. It also carries the water and nutrients to the rest of my body. Leaves, flowers, and branches develop from buds on the stem. Stop fooling me, Dude!

Ollie (Leaves the Mall in search of Kit towards the waterfall)

Kit (Climbs on the Tree and now decides to cut the branch)

Tree

Why have you climbed on me? To cut my hands??

Kit

Absolutely, right! Now, take me this one for Mr Tiger.

Tree

Such a gone case you are! Branches grow on the stem. They carry leaves, flower, and fruits, also provide a place for the birds and animals to sit and play the games.

Hut

Cutting the branch?? You Fool. It will fall on me. I will die.

Kit

You and Tree both are old now. You should and must die now.

Axe (Laughing)

Kit (Angrily looking at Axe)

I’ll throw you in The Waterfall.

Waterfall

Mind your business, Mr Liar Kit. I don’t want your stuff.

Ollie (Arriving at the Waterfall)

Kit (Turning eyes on the leaves)

Tree

 Don’t you have any feelings, Kit?? The leaves are my beauty. They grow on small branches. They capture sunlight and manufacture food. Spare them for God’s Sake!

Ollie

Kit! What are you doing there? Come down first.

Kit

Let me take these flowers for you, dear!

Tree

Enough is enough now! Get down fast. The Flowers are the most beautiful and colourful part of mine. They develop near the leaves and are the reproductive part too. They later develop into a fruit which you all taste it very deliciously as you do in the Ice-cream Parlor at the Jungle Mall. 

Detective Z (Zebra) (Slowly gets up and watches Kit’s activity from the window of the hut)

Ollie

Honey! Let our Holy Tree live happily. He is old now. Don’t give him any trouble. He has given a lot of things to all of us.

Kit

Ollie! Let me at least take this fruit for you.

Tree

It is not yet reaped properly. The fruits grow and mature in the flowers. They bear the seed which can be used for planting more trees like me. It is food for many. So, leave it, Kit!

Kit (Cuts the fruit and comes down, tells Ollie to wait there for some time, until he comes back)

Detective Z (Comes out of the Hut and stops Kit)

Mr Kit! Remembered me? I am a Detective Z. You have deceived many so far. You are caught up openly now. I have been on a long wait for you and Ollie to catch for your illegal acts.

Kit (Frightened)

Oops! I haven’t done anything wrong, Sir. I am innocent.

Ollie

What happened, Sir?

Detective Z

Kit was going to sell the parts of The Holy tree to one of The Woodchopper agents. He had told the agent that if he puts any one of the parts of the tree in his house then he would become so rich in a week. Kit was going to take Rs.10000 from him for the same. And as you know as per our Jungle Rule, nobody can cut The Holy Tree’s parts and sell out. Now, he is surely going to jail. I have done a video recording of his act and the policeman is on the way now.

Kit

I am extremely sorry, Sir! Please forgive me. I will not do this again.

I Promise.

Detective Z

It is hard to believe in you, Mr Liar Kit. I can’t help you out.

Ollie

Sir! I will pay the fine but don’t hand over him to the Police. Don’t put him into the jail. Take Rs. 5000 as I have just withdrawn from Jungle Bank ATM.

Detective Z

Okay! Kit! I am leaving you for one last time because of Ollie. I won’t spare you next time.

Kit & Ollie

Thanks for your forgiveness & kindness, Sir!

Which skills you should focus on to avoid layoff?

Unable to understand the Layoff?

The Layoff situation is a product of Economical Slowdown. The low demand, poor quality supply and increased prices of the raw material, high inflation, reform measures deadlocks, infrastructure bottlenecks, institutional rigidities and quality human capital deficit to name a few, are the main reasons for the industry sector leading to cut down its expenditure and minimizing the losses. This eventually leads to a layoff of the employees.

How can you avoid yourself being laid off?

Acquiring the new skills which are in demand is one of the secure ways to avoid being laid off.

What are those skills which put you ahead of the others? How can you learn those skills?

Herein the list of those Career-Saving Skills:

1. Acquire Soft Skills

Your hard skill may not be enough to keep you from being laid off, but if you have soft skills, the employer may hesitate to fire first. In today’s competitive work world, mastering soft skills is more important than ever. Life skills are also known as soft skills. They’re also known as interpersonal or social skills.

Employees do not work in isolation; they work in a social environment. Understanding people’s behavioural tendencies is critical. It gives you a competitive advantage in your professional life. Effective communication, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, decision-making, time and stress management, to name a few, are all essential Soft Skills for employees.

Reading a book or viewing an online video series can help you develop these abilities. You could also enrol in one of the Soft Skills Training Institutes. Remember that reading, listening, and watching will not benefit you unless you practise consistently.

2. Become Versatile at Your Workplace

You may encounter a layoff difficulty if your knowledge base is limited to one subject, and you aren’t well-versed in other things. If you try hard enough to learn all parts of the business at a basic level, your employer will think twice about letting you go.

Participating in the projects of a coworker can swiftly teach you new skills. It also raises your company’s value.

For this, you can turn to a diverse group of people in your domain industry. Make contact with them. Determine your weak points and make a concerted effort to fix them.

3. Maintaining a Good Rapport

You’ll have a lot of individuals speaking for you if your company’s network is strong. It might come in handy during your layoff. Find out how successfully you can strengthen your ties.

Helping others in their time of need and staying by them at their lows or failures may lead to you becoming a reliable friend. It would be beneficial to your personality if you avoided whispering or ridiculing at others. Maintain a high level of moral values at all times. Assume the role of the company’s soft power. A person’s ability to become an asset is a unique trait.

4. Keep Upgrading Your Hard Skills

Hard Skills are learned abilities that are acquired through practise and education. It is a basic prerequisite for a job. It is critical to one’s professional development.

Nonetheless, you should continue to improve and upgrade your technical abilities in accordance with the job profile’s requirements. Get used to modern technology and the changes it brings. If you don’t, you can find yourself on the verge of being laid off.
For this, you can enrol in any online or offline course. Self-study will also put you ahead of the game. The first step in improving oneself is to remain self-aware.

5. Be Physically and Mentally Fit

Your confident and pleasant personality make your work more attractive and appealing to the employer. It gives you an edge to secure your place in the layoff situation.

Except for you, nothing comes first. It will affect your work-life balance in a variety of ways if you are physically unwell and emotionally stressed. Make regular efforts to be healthy on the outside as well as the inside. A regular half-hour workout is the key to achieving it. Healthy eating and a well-balanced diet should remain your primary priorities.

6. Re-skill Continuously

The continually changing work environment necessitates that you learn, unlearn, and relearn abilities. If you adjust rapidly, you will have a significant advantage over your fiercely competitive market competitors.

Continue to be curious about your environment. In the workplace, having an open perspective will always help you get ahead. Examine what and how your coworkers are retraining. Recognize your area of expertise. Make short-term re-skilling goals for yourself.

7. Keep Ready B Plan

Sometimes, you are forcefully or un-forcefully leave a job. If it is sudden, you are more prone to time and energy losses. It also increases its severity when you don’t have career options to carry on. It may give a serious setback in your professional and personal life.

As a result, you should always have a back-up plan for your profession. Concentrate on your other interests and continue to devote time to them. It might come in handy if you’re laid off.
The only thing in the world that is predictable is unpredictability. A strong person’s personality trait is being prepared for any type of adversity in life.

8. Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Employees who are unbalanced at work are more likely to be laid off first. He’s always on the company’s do-not-hire list.

For a variety of reasons, the majority of the workforce is unable to strike a work-life balance. Workload, disputes, and unethical professional behaviour all have a negative impact on your health at home. Having such negative baggage takes away your mental serenity on both sides in the end.

For the sake of your personal life, make sure you argue and participate less. Be more patient and focused on your goals.

9. Knowing Your Rights

It is critical that employees are aware of their fundamental rights. When an employee is fired without following the proper legal procedures, it has a significant impact on him or her.
Make sure you’re familiar with all of the laws that apply to your line of work. In difficult circumstances, having a physical or soft copy of it by your side is always advantageous. It reduces your vulnerability during a layoff.

10. Approaching Life Rationally

For any human being, leading and living a rational professional and personal life is vital. It helps you save time and energy in a variety of ways. It helps you grow as a person in dealing with adversity. The only thing that will keep you sane is your ability to reason. In the end, life is a far more valuable gift than any lost job.

At last but not the least.

These are some of the skills that will be required in the future as well. If you work on it consistently, you will be in a better position to avoid getting laid off. You can have a joyful and successful career as well.

Let us remember, “the excellence far oversights the fear enormity of layoff.”

So keep honing your skills.

Five Lifestyle hacks to stay fit being a professional!

Worried about staying fit as a professional?

You are on the right page then. The fastest-growing digital workplace culture is tremendously changing the individual’s lifestyle in manifolds. The dynamics of the digital world is putting a heavy toll on the professionals who are unable to manage their physical health.

Are you among those professionals who are looking for a perfect solution to balance their work and physical health?

Herein the Golden Lifestyle Hacks to regain your Fitness in the Digital Age as a Professional;

Commitment

Committing to yourself is the first step towards your physical fitness goal. A mere excitement or decision will not sail you through. You can go to bed early and hit the gym for 45 minutes in the morning that would keep you on maintaining your routine. You can also have an indoor workout such as Yoga, Meditation and small physical activities. You can make your life partner or friends as fitness buddies that will make you consistent in the routine. 

Muscle Building or Lean Body

You need to figure it out why and how you want to stay fit. The fitness goals may differ from person to person. Some just want to lose their weight, some go for bodybuilding or strive for a lean shape. In the end, being healthy should remain your fundamental goal if you wish to live and lead a sustainable lifestyle.

Proper Schedule

Visit a fitness club nearby you and dietician for the same. Make a proper schedule for your fitness goals divided into short-term plans. Don’t make heavy or unachieved target plans. A schedule should be flexible in nature. It should excite you every morning. Make sure you are comfortable following it, If not, do make changes accordingly. A daily 45 mins to an hour time for physical care is enough and necessary. 

Diet is the Key

Being a professional, you have to be very cautious and proper in your food. Avoiding junk food is a must. You can carry home boiled eggs, fruits or protein shakes at the workplace. If you happen to eat outside daily, you can order the same online through Swiggy or Zomato food delivery apps. You can have it as per your diet routine. 

Routine Consistency is Everything

If you are a morning workout person, you should sleep at least 7 to 8 hours properly. Going to bed by 11 pm and waking up by 6 am would make a sound call for you. Avoid going for the workout without a night of proper sleep. If you don’t hit the gym, you can do Yoga and Meditation at your home. Morning hours are preferably good for professionals who get so exhausted once they come home. 

To wrap up with a fundamental thing. 

You’ve been pulled away from nature by the digital world. Outdoor visits in the jungle, swimming in a well or a river, trekking camps, and running or participating in short marathons, to name a few, will be crucial components for humans in the future. Make sure that everytime you have a long vacation, you go to a nearby village and become a true kid of nature.

Ravish Kumar the Free Voice

The Free Voice

# The Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner Ravish Kumar the Free Voice #

The heartiest congratulations Ravishji !!!

You have made us proud again by accepting this award with humility and dedicating to all the viewers.Neither I call myself a fan of Ravish Kumar nor do I pretend to be. Over the years, he has not only enlightened me by his thoughts, maturity, understanding and nature but also by his an appetite for life.

He has always disturbed me by his each write-up. He has never forced me to read his writings or watch his TV shows. He has never promoted himself. He has never taken anyone’s side or even encouraged others to do the same.

He’s the man of great humane character. This is what I know about him. This is what I have understood about him. This is what sensible and intellectual people talk about him.

I have been lucky once to break the ice with him in Pune a few years back. He was invited to give a guest lecture on “The Future of Indian Journalism” and I was a part of the inviting team ‘ONAMA’, an NGO. It was amazing to see and know him very closely. His simplicity and curiosity to know the things.

He has always made me cautious and curious. He has always thrown that needed insecurity in my life. His thoughts footprints on my mind are truly immense.

I have always seen and considered myself a social animal. It would be really hard to live without people. Thus, my upbringing and understanding of this world in general and people, in particular, have shaken up and moulded me so diversely. I think a bunch of factors keep on making us. We as an individual keep progressing uninterruptedly.

I’m not a student of journalism or a subtle citric of the same. So, I would not be able to talk about a journalist’s fundamental or core professional ethics as such. But, as a rational viewer, I can surely have some expectations from the journalist.

Indeed! We expect the actual reporting of the events, but at the same time, an unbiased reporting is too equally paramount. Media plays a great role in society’s overall understanding of things. It makes up their minds. It unknowingly forces people to believe in something and vice-versa.

We can cite tons of examples to prove this scene. But, that’s not my intention. There’s one more important thing for me which I deeply sense and feel that the journalist or journalism is not just about reporting, but something beyond that.

I think, it should and must reflect society’s everything. Yeah! I meant everything. It’s a mirror to the society. So, the journalist should try his or her best to reflect the reality of society. He/she should express their opinions and perspectives so honestly.

Ravish Kumar has stood by all this over the years. This passion for our work ethics and service to our fellow Indians never stopped him being abused by fundamentalist. He has been threatened several times because of his true voice.

Nevertheless, his appetite for life continues so openly and bravely. His honest nature, a profound understanding of the things and maturity has moulded me so immensely.

In the end, I would only say that I will not call myself his fan, but a keenly observant and follower of his rational thoughts and Ideas. I hope and commit to myself that; I’ll too strive to live up to my expectations.

“Beauty of Smile”

Years ago….2012……

Though the rainbow has different colours in its feather, it always remains elegant. This is also apt with a smile. A smile has a profound quality to win, hurt, hate, and love someone, yet it remains one of the nicest gifts of nature.

Since, the first breath on this incredible planet earth, we have been smiling with some of the finest gestures. Many of you better know their smile and how they play this game with all who come across to and interact with them. We haven’t been taught how to smile but it’s a natural gift. We hardly think of it.

The smile is just a smile for a majority of us who don’t feel its presence in our lives. No one counts how many times he or she smiles in a day or for that matter remembers its liveliness, at least. I don’t mean we should count our smile. It would be a ridiculous way to do that but I wish to point at its beauty.

Yeah! I call it the finest beauty on this beautiful earth. It is not that we sit back and decide to find out its beauty but it works with simply being curious. I have experienced it for a long time and it has given me eternal happiness and satisfaction.

To me, it has always been being happy most of the times though it has failed many a time. Each one of us has a different idea or source of finding ways to entertain ourselves and remain happy. I am not an exception to this. Today’s globalized world has provided many avenues to celebrate and spend money in search of happiness. Whether it works or doesn’t, it’s is a purely individualistic approach.

I am not bothered with these avenues whether I could afford it or just avoid it. But, it makes a sense for me rather than being a runner of someone else’s race.

Let me be very honest in defining the beauty of the smile. I don’t know whether it will work for all of you the way it works for me or not but can surely say that it will give you pure happiness without paying a single penny.

Years ago, when I realized the impact of smiling at others and getting priceless satisfaction as a reward. It was a different kind of joy altogether for me. I think it came naturally to me. I didn’t force myself to smile. I just received reactions. No matter where I was walking and talking to people but I used to give just a pure smile. I was never waiting for an opportunity to happen something and to start smiling. It was a genuine reflection of my feelings towards the people.

Throughout these years, wherever I met people on roads, on a bus, etc. I always kept my smile ahead.

My smile never waited for words to take place from another end but did its job as a part of inseparable lips. Many people read comic books, listen to music and watch funny videos to take their smile on aboard. But, if we keenly observe, we’ll realize that it is a one-way smile just being at ourselves. Books and TV shows put a smile on your face but we as a receiver do nothing to give back. On the other end, if you smile at a pedestrian you’ll enjoy the joy taking place from both ends. You cannot imagine the pleasure being received when unknown smiles at you too. I never feel that smile wastes my time or dilutes my personality. At the end of the day, we as a social product live with and for the people.

When we get angry, it is the smile which puts us calm. It also proves its significance when someone calls us an ocean of patience. When you look at any person, his or her smile will give us hidden slides of their identity except in a few circumstances.

While closing the eyes on this write up if you feel this is an awkward idea.

Carry these little words with you then.

“When you do the right things in the right way, you have nothing to lose because you have nothing to fear “

# Dilemma of Liberal’s Love #

“Love is a mystery because it fails to explain the cause”

Nearly three years back I had written this article thinking to complete its Part II. I had a beautiful idea of writing it up. Nevertheless, I never thought I would have such a painful, unbearable, hurtful and transformative experience while penning down my feelings in PART II.

I wish I get my feelings and experiences locked up in words soon.

Till then…

Part – I  # Dilemma of Liberal’s Love #

It is absolutely hard to begin with everyone’s never-ending story. A story of everything. Yeah! I just meant everything. Let me confess at first that I don’t have any intention to teach, guide or tell you anything related to LOVE. It would be a ridiculous thing to do that. I’m here to just pen down my version of reality, a Liberal’s Love. This is a pure mine version and need not be the same as yours. I don’t wish to go with the history of these four words and its unprecedented importance in human being’s lives. Over the centuries, each and every medium has done thousands of things to talk about its essence and what not.

There wouldn’t be a single person on this earth who has never been fascinated by these words and its madness. Everyone’s lives are surrounded by it. There are hundreds of questions which are still unanswered that why we love someone. Why that feeling of Love comes. I have a huge list of those Wh questions. Hope, I may find some of soon. We cannot fix “Love” in any frame. It’s like the wind, beyond anyone’s control. It differs from person to person. It differs with each new thoughts and understanding.

I really don’t know, what does a succeeded love mean or is there any such thing. How do people succeed or fail in their love? Happiness and regrets in love. Honesty and cheating in love. Madness and ruthless in love. Beauty and ugliness in love. I’m simply born. Unaware and unable to understand its complexity.

Nevertheless, I have always believed and led my life on what I feel to do and I do what I feel. Being a proud liberal person, this journey of learning, experiencing and exploring has been amazing. Lucky enough to feel and face those strings.

I have had a liking, affection, feeling of being with someone and a feeling of missing someone many times in life so far. But, was I ever in love with someone, that’s a latter part of my talk.

It’s totally different and opposite for all of us that how we fall in love and how it goes on. Memorable for everybody. But, what I felt and experienced is that a Liberal person’s love is quite different and worth looking at.

Stay tuned, will be back soon.