Here For A Good Time Not A Long Time

Featured3 Comments

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“And the sun is shinin’ in this rainy city
And the sun is shinin’, ooh, isn’t it a pity
And every year has its share of tears
And every now and then it’s gotta rain

We’re here for a good time
Not a long time
So have a good time
The sun can’t shine every day”
We’re here for a good time (not a long time) – Trooper

Who is the happiest person you know?

If it isn’t you then it’s time to dig deep and start the new year with the intention of figuring out what needs to change this year for you to be happy.

Is it more money that will make you happy? Getting married? A family? Better relationship with your spouse/partner? A good job? Having a lot of friends? A promotion at work? Losing weight & getting fit?

Guess what, once you achieve all that you want, you will want something more to make you happy.

I have learnt that happiness is a choice. If you are not happy now you will always be chasing happiness. You already have more than you need. Everything is relative.

The home you live in which you think is too small is the dream home for someone who lives in a room with a bunch of other people and so on.

The happy ones are the ones who have learnt to first be grateful for what they already have and those that are doing things to help others. You can’t take anything with you when you die so share and care while you are here.

I realize that I have more years behind me than ahead of me, so I want to make a difference in this world and live a meaningful life while still enjoying life and doing things I love.

You are only here for a short time so do the things you love, be grateful for what you have and help when you can.

Happy New Year!

“Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.” – Art Buchwald

“Be The Peace You Wish To See In The World!” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I am not particularly interested in saving time; I prefer to enjoy it.” — Eduardo Galeano

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” — Mother Teresa

Blowing With The Wind of Change

Leave a comment

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“The world is closing in
And did you ever think?
That we could be so close?
Like brothers
The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change”
Wind of Change – Scorpions

Lately, it feels as though the winds of change are blowing strong, leaving life spinning out of control and there seems to be nothing we can do to stop this roller coaster.

In moments like these, I sometimes feel hopeless and helpless but then I remind myself that nothing is permanent and this too shall pass.

It is difficult not to get sucked into the drama and chaos going on around the world. It can play with your mind and quickly get you into a negative mindset which can then quickly spiral down to despair.

As negativity takes a hold, you will notice that it seeps into other areas of your life. This is when you need to make a conscious effort to change things to offset the pessimism and shift your mindset.

I slip on my headphones, lose myself listening to upbeat music, dancing to its rhythm. I watch lighthearted comedy films and read or listen to inspiring books.

I meditate and journal and release negative thoughts by pouring them onto paper and setting them free. Spending time with friends and family uplifts me too.

I have been making a conscious effort to detach myself from my thoughts and instead of hanging on to them, letting go of them and trusting that it will all play out as it needs to in the end.

We come into this world with nothing and will leave with nothing and everything in between is temporary. I remind myself that am safe in this present moment and the present moment is all that I am guaranteed.

I remind myself of the wonderful people and blessings in my life. I turn my attention to those who are spreading kindness and making a positive impact in the world. By shifting from despair to gratitude, I begin to feel lighter, and a sense of harmony and flow returns to my life.

When I find myself back in this state of calm, I can release my anxiety, let go of my fears about the future, and fully surrender, trusting that everything will work out as it’s meant to be.

“Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.” – George Weinberg

“Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.” – Roy T. Bennett

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu

“Courage is as often the outcome of despair as of hope; in the one case we have nothing to lose, in the other everything to gain”. — Diane de Poitiers

Like A Rolling Stone 

Leave a comment

Blog by Lata Advani Viseu

How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

So many of life’s challenges and suffering come from our attachments, yet letting go of results, material possessions, and people is difficult for most people.

We all want to be happy and avoid getting hurt, yet we constantly put ourselves in situations that set us up for pain.

We bank our happiness on other people or on material possessions and hang on to them for dear life afraid of losing them.

When there is a loss, a breakup, death, we feel helpless and get caught up in grief.

The job that you gave years of your life to suddenly is gone or the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with is no longer there for you.

Fires, natural disasters, wars can all change you and break you or make you stronger. It is in those moments you realize what is important to you. When you lose everything beyond your control, the suffering is immense.

When you make a conscious choice not to be attached to anything…because as we all know, nothing lasts forever, it can be freeing.

When you live in fear, regret, or are afraid of disappointments, you allow the outside world to control your life. If you let go of control, you let happiness in and detach from the outcome.

Reaching that state of being is challenging because during our younger and prime years, we are preoccupied with accumulating. As we grow older, we start to recognize the fragility and impermanence of everything in life.

The sense of freedom that arises from living in the present, savouring each moment without clinging to it, and knowing it will eventually pass but that you’ll be okay, is truly a wonderful feeling.

“The root of suffering is attachment.” — Buddha

“If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.” – Lao Tzu

“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” – Dalai Lama

“A burning passion coupled with absolute detachment is the key to all success.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Detachment does not mean non-involvement. You can be deeply involved but not entangled.” – Jaggi Vasudev

www.mindvasana.com

You can do magic

Leave a comment

“I never believed in things that I couldn’t see
I said if I can’t feel it then how can it be
No, no magic could happen to me
And then I saw you

I couldn’t believe it, you took my heart
I couldn’t retrieve it, said to myself
What’s it all about
Now I know there can be no doubt

You can do magic
You can have anything that you desire
Magic, and you know
You’re the one who can put out the fire”
You can do magic – America

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

The start of new year is a chance to wipe the slate clean and begin fresh. This year instead of focusing on what you want to lose or gain, how about focusing on what you already have? 

Magic happens when you appreciate what you already have in your life. The more you see the beauty in every area of your life, the more things you will attract into your life. 

When you operate from the energy of lack, envy, jealousy, judgement or fear, you will be continually chasing and comparing yourself to others. The more negative you feel toward someone, the more of that energy you will attract for yourself. 

Stop waiting for something in the future or for someone to make you happy. When you are happy, you will attract people, things, opportunities that you never dreamed. Every thought you have creates an emotion, so happiness is a choice. 

We complicate life but life is simple. What you give you get. Let go of expectations and outcomes and instead focus on how you want to feel. Do things that bring you joy. 

Let others live the way they want to and stop judging them. Everything you judge, you are judging from your perspective. Live authentically, true to your passions and yourself and let others do the same.  

Happiest are those that choose to see the good in every situation, the ones who expect and accept that life is happening for them not to them. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Even things that seem like negative experiences are lessons that needed to be learnt. 

I have been on this journey of living my best life for quite a few years and have dabbled in many different things.  I have learnt that mindset is very important. How you look at things creates the emotions you feel and, leads to the actions you take in any situation.  

I have learnt that letting go of things that I cannot control and staying in the present moment are the keys to peace of mind. 

This year expect magic in your life and see it unfold even if you are not sure you believe in magic. 

“There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein 

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl 

“Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

“All human beings have magic in them. The secret is to know how to use this magic.” – Sybil Leek 

“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” – Bertrand Russell 

I am what I am

3 Comments

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Don’t try to change me
Or rearrange me
Don’t try it
Accept me for the way that I am
You know I love you
Oh, how I love you
But you got to understand
That I am what I am

I see you look at me
With those wondering eyes
You seem to ask yourself why
I do the things the things that I do
Oh, I can’t seem to get through to you
So don’t try to change me
Or rearrange me”
Don’t Try to Change Me – Shalamar

Why is it so hard to let them be?

Why do we make excuses for our loved ones? Why do we try to mould them to think the way we do? Why do we want and expect them to act a certain way or stop acting a certain way? Why do we feel hurt or sad when they refuse to do what we want them to do?

Why do we try to control their actions and behaviours so that our friends or family think positively about them? Why can’t we just let them be? No one can change unless they are ready to change. No one can push anyone to change.

As I was thinking of this topic, I came across Mel Robbins post promoting her book, The Let Them Theory, the premise of which seems to be about accepting people exactly the way they are without judging them or trying to change them to be more like whatever you think is the ideal way.

How peaceful life would be if we were not anxious about how our loved ones acted or reacted. We want our friends and family to love them, so we try to control their actions but when that does not work, we feel hurt. We cannot control how anyone reacts, so letting go of expectations is the answer to living a life free of anxiety.

This also applies to the workplace and in every area of your life. You do and be your best self and let go of expectations. The folks that care about you and love you will also accept you as you are because they want you to be happy.

Sometimes we may not agree with one another, but each person is an individual with their own experiences and desires, so all we can do is accept their choices and let them know that they have our love and support. Live and let live is the key to living a happy life.

As the new year approaches instead of making a long list of resolutions that will probably only last a few weeks, why not decide to stop judging or expecting others to be who you want them to be and instead allow them to do and live as they please?

“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.” – Brian Tracy

“Unconditional love teaches us the power of letting go and allowing others to be free to follow their own path.” – Paulo Coelho

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” – Laozi

“When you love someone unconditionally, you accept them for who they are, flaws and all.” – Brené Brown

“Unconditional love means not expecting anything in return but cherishing the happiness of the person you love.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

We All Been Playing Those Mind Games

2 Comments

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“We’re playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth

We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil
Doing the mind guerrilla
Some call it magic the search for the grail”
Mind Games – John Lennon

You are always playing mind games with yourself.

One moment you are feeling blue and a friend calls and you chat with them for a few minutes or a couple of hours and they hang up and ask you how you are doing now and you realize you have totally forgotten what you were feeling blue about in the first place.

Your mind plays tricks on you when you allow it to do so. It can take you to a place where you want to drown yourself in sorrow or it can take you to a place where you are so focused on the present moment or planning for a fun event in the future. In the end the choice is yours, how long you want to stay in that space.

Your thoughts control your emotions and the meaning you give that thought produces the emotions you feel and that affects the quality of your life. If you can learn to control your thoughts you will be able to control your life.

Some things that have helped me over the years are: meditation, keeping a gratitude journal, listening to music, dancing, journaling, nurturing great relationships with family, friends and colleagues.

For some this may seem like a lot of work so, even if you did just one thing like the gratitude journal, you will find you are attracting more of the things you are grateful for and the cycle will continue and you will begin to notice the synchronicities and feel in flow with the Universe, wondering why you are so lucky.

I had also years ago decided, to expect things to work out instead of trying to protect myself in case I may be disappointed about something I was hoping for does not work out the way I wanted it to.

Now I just believe everything will work out the way it is meant to work out. If I am disappointed, then I will feel the disappointment and all the emotions at that time instead of worrying about it twice, once in my mind and once when it actually happens.

Change the mind games you play with yourself, we are all mind benders and it is up to us to decide what mind games we want to play or how we want to bend our minds to live the life we want to live.

“You have two choices: to control your mind or to let your mind control you.” — Paulo Coelho

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.” – Buddha quotes

“The meaning you give to an experience determines how you feel in that moment” – Tony Robbins

“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open” – Frank Zappa

“You can either leave something for people or leave something in people” – Ann Lemont

Cause thinking of you jumbles up my mind

Leave a comment

Blog by Lata Advani Viseu

“I don’t walk down through the village or other places
That we used to go to all the time
I’m trying to erase you from my memory
‘Cause thinking of you jumbles up my mind

I love you too much to ever start liking you
So, let’s just let the story kinda end
I love you too much to ever start liking you
So, don’t expect me to be your friend.”
Don’t expect me to be your friend – Lobo

Sometimes you meet someone, and they jumble up your mind in a good way and then there are other people that jumble up your mind in negative way.

You may know someone who just rubs you the wrong way and every time you hear their name your mind jumbles up in a bad way. When you meet another person with that same name or even of the same nationality, you immediately classify them in a negative light because of your bias. Isn’t it strange how certain people have that effect on you?

In the same way, there may be songs that you listen to that take you back to happy times and then there are other songs that remind you of sadder times in your life. Music has such a huge impact on us and can instantly change your emotional state. Sometimes we can use songs in place of words that are hard to say to a person.

Some lyrics dig deep into your soul and have so much impact on us. A passionate speech by a leader can drive followers to do things they normally wouldn’t consider doing for any reason.

Books have that same impact, words on paper or digitally can bring you to tears or to laughter. Words can be used to hurt, spread rumours and false information or they can educate and entertain us.

Ultimately, we have a choice as to how we want to use words whether in our speech, the music we listen to or books we read. What you think about, you bring about, so pay attention to how you speak to yourself and to others.

“The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.” -Unknown

“All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” — Elton John

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” ― Maya Angelou

“Music is the soundtrack to every good and bad time we will ever have.” ― Alex Gaskarth

www.mindvasana.com

At the Edge of the Ocean

1 Comment

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“So give me a sign that we can start over again
Let’s go for a ride, could this be where it begins?
And all this time, you held it inside somewhere
So throw me a line, we can weather the storm ’til the end

And I run ’til I meet the sun
And I run until I reach the seas
At the edge of the ocean
There’s a place to start over again
At the edge of the ocean
Holds a place, we can start over again”
Edge of the Ocean – Stick Figure

Every moment is a new beginning, and you can start anytime. All you need to do is decide to change something and take the first step. It is never too late to start over and you are never too old to start something new or to start over.

Starting over or beginning something new can be scary or it can be exciting. You get to decide how you want to label it. The energy that you emit when you are excited about something is totally different from when you are afraid.

You can apply this to anything whether it is a new job, a new country or a new skill.

Last week I signed up for guitar lessons and had my first lesson. It was so exciting to begin to learn something new as I pictured myself being able to play some of my favourite songs someday. I was so envious of my friends that can play the guitar and other instruments and so I finally decided to give it a shot.

If you are in the midst of change or new beginnings, think of all the things that can go right instead of focusing on all the things that can go wrong. This will give you that excitement to look ahead and make plans for the future. Nothing in the past is ever lost, they just become beautiful memories.

In the recent past, I have had some friends and family members that have lost a loved one and adapting to life without their loved one has been hard for some of them. When they ask me how I am able to move on and live life to the fullest, my answer is, the best way to honour their memory is by being happy. That is what they would want for you, and you would want the same for them if roles were reversed.

Life is precious and you only have one shot so do what you love or love what you do. Mindset and attitude will make change either easy or stressful depending on how you decide to label it. My motto is have fun every day, don’t just wait till the weekend. You only live once…at least in this lifetime!

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol

“We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.” – Harrison Ford

“There is nothing permanent except change.” – Heraclitus

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

Secrets that you keep

1 Comment

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I hear the secrets that you keep
When you’re talkin’ in your sleep
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you’re talkin’ in your sleep
When I hold you in my arms at night
Don’t you know you’re sleepin’ in a spotlight
And all your dreams that you keep inside
You’re tellin’ me the secrets that you just can’t hide”
Talking in your sleep – The Romantics

What secrets are you keeping?

Do you have any secrets in your past that you are hiding? Are you ashamed of something or do you feel responsible for or guilty about something?

Feelings of shame, guilt, fear, anger which have not been acknowledged and resolved can make you sick. “You’re only as sick as the secrets that you keep” – Sophie Gregoire.

Your emotions can affect your body as well as your mind. If you have unresolved feelings or trauma, they can manifest into physical symptoms.

Almost everyone has kept a secret, but will revealing it always relieve the burden?

Not always but storing it in your body is not the way to deal with secrets.

Suppressed emotions can cause anxiety, depression and other stress related diseases. Some people may turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain.

Whatever your preference, it is important to feel the emotions, acknowledge what you feel and find ways to resolve them before they create any autoimmune diseases.

Studies have shown that psychological and physical stress have been implicated in the development of diseases. When you experience a lot of stress, your body releases stress hormones which can cause inflammation and weaken the immune system.

There are many ways to release pain. Some people may find that writing their feelings in a journal or having a good cry helps. Other may find punching a bag, running, swimming, dancing or talking to a friend or therapist or just plain screaming into a pillow helps. In some cases, seeking professional help makes a lot of sense.

Not all secrets are bad. If you do have secrets that bring back happy memories, feelings of joy, enjoy them and go back to that happy place often because those feel-good hormones can also affect your mind, body and emotions in a positive way.

In conclusion, while secrets are a natural part of life, it’s essential to discern which ones to keep and which to release. By doing so, we can navigate a path toward emotional wellness and a healthier, more fulfilling life.

“You’re only as sick as the secrets that you keep” – Sophie Gregoire.

“When a secret is revealed, it is the fault of the man who confided it.” –Jean de La Bruyère

“If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.” – Khalil Gibran

“It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.” – Oscar Wilde

Everybody’s Got a Hungry Heart

1 Comment

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart

Everybody needs a place to rest
Everybody wants to have a home
Don’t make no difference what nobody says
Ain’t nobody like to be alone”
Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen

Everybody’ got a hungry heart…we are always yearning for more and more things, thinking that material things will bring us happiness. A bigger house, a bigger title, more money so that when we have all the material things we desire, we will finally be happy and successful.

Success and happiness are really a state of mind. Happiness does not come from having a lot of money. True happiness comes from being grateful for all that you have now and, appreciating all the wonderful intangible aspects of life.

What is the point of having material wealth if there is no love in your home or if you are too ill to do the things you want to do in your life? Money helps to some extent but does not equate with success or happiness in life.

The pursuit of happiness and success is a personal journey, unique to each of us. To me, success is having balance in all areas of my life and appreciating and being grateful for all that I have in my life.

Happiness is freedom to do what I want when I want to, happiness is good health, great relationships with my family, friends, colleagues.

Happiness is having fun and finding joy in every day, not waiting for the weekend to be happy.  

Happiness is being kind and helping others when I can. Happiness is realizing that strangers are just friends waiting to happen. Happiness really is a state of mind. 

The more grateful I am for all the wonderful things in my life, the more things I have, to be grateful for. Over the years I have learnt that what I think about I bring about. Our mind is so powerful, it is listening to us every moment.

Life is short and no one will remember us a couple of generations from now so do what makes you happy, be yourself and your tribe will find you. Those who care and love you will accept you for who you are and the rest…does it matter what they think?

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Suess

“Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.” Lou Holtz

“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.” Vivian Komori

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius

“Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out of it alive.” Elbert Hubbard

I heard it through the grapevine

2 Comments

“Ooh-ooh, I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Ooh-ooh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I’m just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey, yeah

You know that a man ain’t supposed to cry
But these tears, I can’t hold inside
Losin’ you would end my life, you see
‘Cause you mean that much to me”
I heard it through the grapewine – Marvin Gaye

Life can be full of rejections and although painful in the moment, they usually turn out to be for the best because they teach you lessons that you needed to learn.

When you look back at your life, you will realize what you once thought was rejection was really protection. Whether it was rejection in love, or a dream job or dream house that fell through, it ended up taking you through a different path which you probably did not anticipate.

It is best to try not to let your past, blackmail your present, to ruin a beautiful future. Think of these as life lessons instead of rejections.

You may have thought you found the dream partner and it was going to be forever, but people go through different experiences and change and outgrow each other. Some stay on in the marriage because of the kids, finances, beliefs or a million other reasons.

There is no perfect person and there is no right or wrong because we only see things from our beliefs and our perceptions. Whatever environment and society you grew up in, created certain beliefs which from your perspective became the right one and that is how you judged the situation.

In hindsight you learn that no one can make you happy and there is no one person that can be everything to you.

I remember this great dialogue in a Hindi movie called “Dear Zindagi” (Dear Life) where Kiara asks Dr. Khan if there was such a thing like a perfect relationship…one soul mate? His response…

“Why just ONE soul mate..

You can have a perfect Coffee soul mate with whom you enjoy having coffee,
you can have a perfect Gossip soul mate with whom you share the day’s gossip,
you can have a Musical soul mate with whom you share and enjoy the same taste in music..
you can have an Intellectual soul mate, with whom your intellect level matches and you can discuss ideas and thoughts easily..
you can have a Romantic soul mate, with whom you share a romantic relationship.
Why put the burden of so many emotions on ONE relationship!”

Rejections faced when starting out in your chosen career path can sometimes be a blessing. You may have gone to school to study to be an engineer or an accountant but were unable to get a job in your field, so you took the first job offer that came your way to pay the bills. You realized that you loved what you were doing and made a career out of it.

You may have been laid off from your job and struggled for months before finding something that you had not ever considered as a job option. In those moments of helplessness, staying positive is hard but the only thing to do because what you think about, you bring about.

When you think negative thoughts about something or someone, you attract the very same negative energy and vibration for yourself. When you are grateful, positive and happy, you attract more of the same for yourself.

The simplest yet the hardest thing to do is to stay in the present. You only feel anxiety and fear when you are thinking of the past or when you worry about the future.

In this moment you are safe so every time your mind wanders to the past or future, consciously bring it to the present because your present is going to create the future that you want.

Keep practicing this and one day you will notice you are a different person, more at peace, happier and not needing to control everything. Living life becomes easier when you let go of attachment to the past or the future or even a situation or a person. You have everything in you to know what you need, to live the life that you want to live.

“You can’t change your past. The only thing you can change is your perspective of your past!” – Dr Jeffrey L Gurian

“The biggest problem any of us ever face is our own negative thinking.” – Robert Schuller

“Negative thinking definitely attracts negative results.” – Norman Vincent Peele

“One cannot be prepared for something while secretly believing it will not happen.” – Nelson Mandela

“You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.” – Joyce Meyer

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot

Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

3 Comments

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Don’t let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it’s always someone else I see
I’d just allow a fragment of your life, to wander free
But losing everything, is like the sun going down on me
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John and George Michael

Nothing ever stays the same forever. There will be good times and bad times, happy times and sad times. Nothing is ever guaranteed in life except change and death.

I know some people are going through challenging times and are desperately seeking a way out of their current situation. At this moment, they believe there is no way out and their future looks bleak and hopeless.

All of us in the past have likely gone through some rough patches, when we believed there was no way out and nothing seemed to be working. The only thing that kept us going was the hope that things would somehow turn around, maybe a miracle or a saviour would appear.

Eventually, we found our way through the situation and learnt some hard lessons and grew from the experience, not taking anything for granted anymore.

If we could remind ourselves during the lows in our lives that this too will be over, that nothing stays the same forever, we could find some solace, trusting and believing that it was temporary and that better times were around the corner.

The simplest way and yet one of the hardest things to do, is to realize that even in the toughest of situations if we stay in the present moment, not thinking about the past or worrying about the future, we are safe in this current moment.

There are many things we have no control over, but we have control over our attitudes and our perceptions. No one can make us happy; it is up to us to decide how we look at things.

What we think about we bring about. Even in the toughest of days there is always something to be grateful for.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor E. Frankl

“When I hear somebody sigh, ‘Life is hard,’ I am always tempted to ask, ‘Compared to what?'” – Sydney J. Harris

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” – Oprah Winfrey

“If you do not change direction, you might end up where you are heading.” — Lao Tzu

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost

I was feeling so logical

1 Comment

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle, oh, it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily
Oh, joyfully, oh, playfully watching me
But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh, responsible, practical
Then they showed me a world where I could be so dependable
Oh, clinical, oh, intellectual, cynical”
The Logical Song – Supertramp

When did you settle and accept that this was going to be your life? Did you have other dreams or, are you living and loving what you do for a living?

Did your loved ones tell you to be logical, responsible, practical or did they tell you to follow your dreams and do what you love and find a job that makes you happy?

In this competitive world where wealth equals success, you are not encouraged to follow your passions. As the years go by, and once you are stuck in a 9-5 job, it gets harder and harder to make a change.

You get caught up in the routine of life and years later you look back with regrets. You still need to pay your bills, so you keep working at a job you either like or dislike.

If you want to limit any regrets, you first need to understand what the biggest ones are and take steps before it is too late. It does not mean you have to give up on your job or move to an exotic location of your dreams, although you certainly could.

A little self-reflection and listening to that inner voice when you sit quietly without any distractions will guide you to move in the direction of what gives you joy.

If you can find your passion while you are young and pursue it, you won’t have to work a day in your life because you will be living your dream. It is never too late or a bad thing to make a big decision, especially if it is leading you to your passion or to what makes you happy.

What other regrets may you be able to fix before it is too late? Make a list of all the regrets you want to avoid or fix, before you find out that there is not enough time to do anything about those regrets.

Then make a list of things that bring you joy, big and small and keep adding to this bucket list and checking them off as you accomplish them. Don’t wait for someone else to make your dreams come true or to make you happy.

“It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.” – Eckhart Tolle

“What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” – Bob Dylan

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” – John Lennon

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” – Vincent van Gogh

I Can Buy Myself Flowers

3 Comments

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Started to cry, but then remembered
I can buy myself flowers
Write my name in the sand
Talk to myself for hours
Say things you don’t understand
I can take myself dancing
And I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better than you can”
Flowers – Miley Cyrus

Life throws many curve balls throughout our life and some of these curves can break us or make us stronger.

You can have a wonderful, happy life and suddenly disease and death or some other cause can take your loved one away from you.

It is hard to not get attached to things and people but really what are you afraid of losing when nothing in the world actually belongs to you?

If we can accept that we come into this world alone and will leave alone, we can feel the grief, but not let it break us. This detachment then will make it a little easier to bear any loss.

We are born to love, to experience life, to feel the emotions and yet accept that everything will come to an end whether by choice or by fate. The only person we have control over is ourselves. We are stronger and capable of more than we think.

If we can stay in the present, stop ourselves from living in the past and stop worrying about the not guaranteed future, life will be a lot easier because all we really have is NOW.

If we stopped depending on someone else to make us complete, to save us, to fulfil us and instead remember that we can buy ourselves flowers, life will be a little easier to navigate. All you need to do is decide and, in an instant, you can change your life.

Let go of things you cannot control and free yourself from attachment to things and people, especially the things you love because nothing ever lasts forever, just the memories, sometimes even that can fade.

I believe our purpose in life is to be happy, do things we enjoy, make happy memories with our loved ones as long as we can, use whatever gifts we possess to help others, make a difference and live in the present.

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but our thoughts and feelings about it.” – Eckhart Tolle

“When nobody wakes you up in the morning, when nobody waits for you at night, and when you can do whatever you want, what do you call it, Freedom or Loneliness?” – Charles Bukowski

“We are all one. Only egos, beliefs, and fears separate us.” – Nikola Tesla

“Your children will always be your whole world, but you’ll never be theirs in the same way”. – Anonymous

“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.” – Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese-American poet

One Way Ticket to the Blues

2 Comments

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
One way ticket, one way ticket
One way ticket, one way ticket
One way ticket
One way ticket to the blues

Choo choo train
Truckin’ down the track
Gotta travel on it
Never comin’ back
Ooh got a one way ticket to the blues”
On Way Ticket – Neil Sedaka”

The journey of life has no return ticket, at least not in this lifetime.

Life only guarantees you a one-way ticket. If you don’t learn it early enough, you will eventually realize that there is no return ticket. Life will pass you by in a jiffy if you don’t pay attention.

Although we cannot do anything about the one-way ticket, we can control how we decide to live our life.

I have learnt that no one is responsible for my happiness. It is up to me to decide how I want to live and how I want to look at life.

They say what you think about, you bring about. Life is what you make of it. It is not what happens to you but how you react to life. Two people having the exact same experience can react differently.

Siblings living in the same household, with alcoholic parents can have the exact opposite reaction to alcohol. One could become an alcoholic like their parents and the other could decide they never want to touch alcohol because of what they saw and experienced.

Once you realize you are the one in control, it is up to you to make sure you are aware of your thoughts and mindful of the words you say to yourself and out loud.

Last week I took a couple of days off from work and took a 4-day Immersive course which ran over the weekend as well. It was the Silva Immersive Training. Jose Silva was a Mexican immigrant to the States who created the Silva Method.

To help his 10 children do better in school, he experimented and found techniques to help them excel in school. He was so successful that other kids came to learn from him and eventually adults as well. There are now over 12 million Silva graduates world-wide.

There is one technique I want to share with you. Every time you have a negative thought, or you hear or say something negative, immediately say “cancel cancel” and replace it with a positive thought.

Your mind is listening to every thing you think and say. It does not differentiate between reality and imagination. It takes things literally. When you say things like “pain in the neck”, guess what, your subconscious mind is listening and delivering it to you.

If you want a happier life, keep track of your thoughts. It is impossible to have two opposing thoughts so if you are having a bad day and are feeling down and you want to change it, you must make the conscious effort to change your thoughts.

Change your thoughts, change your life!

“We Don’t See Things As They Are, We See Them As We Are” – Anaïs Nin

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but thought about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking.” – Eckhart Tolle

“Happiness depends on your mindset and attitude.” – ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

“Happiness is a state of mind. You can be happy or you can be unhappy.” — Walt Disney

www.mindvasana.com

Could Have, Should Have, Would Have

1 Comment

Well, I won’t back down
No I won’t back down
You could stand me up at the gates of Hell
But I won’t back down
No I’ll stand my ground
Won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won’t back down
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

As we move forward to another year, what are you willing to let go as this year comes to an end? What load are you carrying that is holding you from moving forward?

It is only when you sit down and ponder that you realize all the baggage you are carrying forward year after year.

This December, let go of envy, let go of fear, let go of anger, let go of guilt, let go of hate, let go of expectations, let go of the could have, should have, would have, let go of everything that is dragging you down.

The last few weeks have been dragging me down watching all that is going on in the world. I stopped watching mainstream news altogether, but it is hard to shut your eyes to everything without feeling guilty and helpless to change anything.

As I live in my own little bubble, I plan to do what I can to stay positive, to be grateful for all the blessings in my life, to work on myself, help where I can and hope that in 2024 there will be a shift in the world and we can all live in peace. Wishful thinking maybe but if there’s no hope, there’s nothing.

For some of you that have been carrying other kinds of personal baggage, how many more years do you plan to carry that load? At any moment you can change your thoughts and beliefs and let go of the hold other people or memories have on you.

A new year is like a blank slate to start the year right, not that you have to wait till the new year but still symbolic for most people for a new beginning and a chance to start fresh.

Don’t look back, don’t back down and lighten your load as you move into a new year.

“You can only lose what you cling to.” — Buddha

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” — Herman Hesse

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” — Oprah Winfrey

“Never love something so much that you can’t let go of it.” — Ginni Rometty

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” – Rumi

The Slow One Now Will Later Be Fast

Leave a comment

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin’
And the first one now
Will later be last”
For the times they are a-changin'”
The Times They Are A-Changin – Bob Dylan

Sometimes it takes a long time to change, and other times change can happen in an instant. One thing I know for sure, change is the only constant in life. Nothing ever lasts forever.

Sometimes you change over time, and you don’t even notice, then one day you look back and realize you are a different person.

I remember there was a time when I was afraid of the number 17. Every 17th of the month, I would dread it as I thought it was unlucky for me.

When my daughter was born, I decided I did not want to instill the same fears in her, so in an instant I made 17 my lucky number.

Everything changed after that, and I started attracting things that were good on that date. Nothing had changed except my perception.

Sometimes though, you have no control over things, especially if you are dealt a rotten hand in life and you feel hopeless and helpless.

In those times all you can do is hang on to hope that things will turn around for you and that there are people who care and will do everything in their power to support you. Hope springs eternal knowing change is inevitable.

“The slow one now will later be fast and the first one now, will later be last.”

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”— Angela Davis

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”— Mother Teresa

“There is nothing permanent except change.”— Heraclitus