The wine and the song like the seasons have all gone

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time
We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song like the seasons have all gone”
Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, there are days when I cannot help but think that nothing lasts forever.

Leaves turn different shades of gold and red and then suddenly the trees are bare. Another season is done, and another year will soon be gone.

I try not to think about it too much but every now and then it crosses my mind about people in my life. Who will still be here this time next year and who will be gone? Will we all meet again on the dark side of the moon someday?

All the petty conflicts seem pointless in the grand scheme of this journey we call life. We are here for a brief amount of time, and we get to choose how to spend it. Is it worth holding grudges, judging each other, letting our ego get in the way of relationships?

I believe in karma and that our every action has a consequence. What you give you will get in return in some form. The more you see the good in people and situations, the more you will attract the same.

Our thoughts create our reality so whatever we believe and perceive is what we draw to us. Send out good vibrations and get ready to receive the same. We may not be able to control many things, but we can control our reaction to things.

At any moment, we can decide to change the channel of our thoughts just like using a remote control to change to another channel. If we go with the flow, trusting the Universe, knowing that everything will work out the way it is meant to and let go of control, then we can have faith and let go of our fears.

We cannot change the past, however, we can transform our future by focusing on the NOW. What we believe, think, do in the present is what creates our future, and the future therefore is now.

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”

“Forgiving and not forgetting is, not forgiving in the first place”

“The way you see an individual in your mind is the best they can be in your presence”

“Reality is just perception”

“Nothing in life has any meaning except the meaning that you give it”

“People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.”

These quotes are taken from the internet

www.mindvasana.com

Living in a World of Smoke and Mirrors

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

Deep in my heart, deep in my mind
Take me away, take me away
This is my word, dream maker, life taker
Open up my mind

All I believe, is it a dream
That comes crashing down on me?
All that I hope, is it just smoke and mirrors?
I wanna believe, oh But all that I hope, is it just smoke and mirrors?

Smoke and Mirrors – Imagine Dragons

We are all living in a world of smoke and mirrors. What is real and what is false? Have you ever wondered how many different versions there are of you out there?

You, like me, I am sure, behave differently when you are happy than when you are afraid, sick, tired or even hungry. Whatever you are feeling at that moment is, metaphorically speaking, the one answering the front door and reacting to the situation at hand.

It’s a different version of you in front when you are doing something you enjoy and a totally different you when it is a task that you hate doing.

You are likely different when you are with a friend than when you are interacting with your boss or with your parents or with a stranger. So, which one is the real you?

The many versions of you that you show the world, are all you, but it is all a smoke and mirrors game that we play according to our beliefs, perceptions and intentions.

Every person that you interact with sees a different version of you too because of their own perceptions and beliefs.

Generally speaking, we are all a little bit of everything. Some may love us while others may loathe us depending on our interactions with them and their perceptions of us.

We are all flawed and instead of seeing each other as human, sometimes we tend to judge each other for maybe something someone said or did at a moment in their lives but that’s no longer true or something they believe anymore.

People change and grow and learn all the time. We waste precious time and emotions being and staying angry instead of trying to accept that not everyone shares our point of view and that does not mean they are all bad.

As we grow and mature and evolve, we realize that life is too short to waste, to hate, judge and control. We only have a finite amount of time on this earth and then we are gone from this physical realm, so leave good vibes and memories for those who cross your path. Forgive and forget the petty conflicts and let go of your ego.

We were meant to be happy and although we cannot control anyone else, we always have a choice of how we react because that is the only thing we can control.

Once you integrate all the different parts that make up “You”, you can choose who you want answering your front door because you are in control of you.

“Everything is about belief, whatever we believe rules our existence, rules our life” – Don Miguel Ruiz

“The more I see, the less I know for sure.” – John Lennon

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – ― Carl Gustav Jung

“Humans see what they want to see.” – Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

“The outer world is a reflection of the inner world. Other people’s perception of you is a reflection of them; your response to them is an awareness of you.” – Roy T. Bennett

www.mindvasana.com

There Is No Problem Only Solutions

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“People askin’ questions
Lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there’s no problem
Only solutions

Well, they shake their heads
And they look at me as if I’ve lost my mind
I tell them there’s no hurry
I’m just sittin’ here doin’ time
I’m just sittin’ here watchin’ the wheels go round and round”
Watching The Wheels – John Lennon

As the years go by it feels like we are watching the wheels go round and round, year after year. Seasons change, another candle on the birthday cake, a child is born, and someone dies. The cycle of life carries on.

Some go through the motions of living while others search for meaning. Some live in the past, while others worry about the future. Happy are those that can live in the present.

Life can be so simple, yet we complicate it so much. My take on how to live a simple joyful life:

  1. Be grateful for everything, whether good or bad. Some were just lessons you had to learn. 
  1. Smile – it can literally change how you feel and how you make others feel. 
  1. Spend time with people that are optimistic and happy, those are the people that are happy wherever they go, they never complain.  
  1. See the good in people. What you see in others is the energy you will attract into your life. 
  1. Create daily habits. You make your habits and then your habits make you. There are no shortcuts to living the life you want. 
  1. Make a bucket list of things you want to experience or do. 
  1. Let go of attachments, one of the hardest things to do. 
  1. Travel and experience life instead of accumulating material possessions. 
  1. Have fun, do things you enjoy. Life is meant to be lived joyfully. Listen to music and dance or do whatever it is that makes you happy. 
  1. If you are starting out now, find a career that is meaningful to you. You will be doing it for a long time. 
  1. Let go of any guilt or shame that you are carrying. Forgive yourself because if you knew then what you know now, you would not have done what you did to cause that guilt. 
  1. What other people think of you, is none of your business. They only see you from their own perspective. 
  1. Let go of things you cannot control and focus on the things you can control. 
  1. Stop blaming people or situations and stop playing the victim. Nobody owes you anything. 
  1. I believe any emotion that we feel, affects every cell in our body. To be physically, mentally, emotionally healthy we need to take care of our thoughts and our beliefs. 

The list could go on and on but you already know what you need to do to live your best life.

“Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark.” Jay Danzie

“Smile from your heart; nothing is more beautiful than a woman (person) who is happy to be herself.”– Kubra Sait

“When you smile at a stranger, there is already a minute outflow of energy. You become a giver.” — Eckhart Tolle

¨It seems to me that what we call beauty in a face lies in the smile.¨- Leo Tolstoy

www.mindvasana.com

I Hope You Dance

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance… I hope you dance…”
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack and Sons of the Desert

When we were younger, we worried about what other people thought of us, not realizing that people were not thinking of us, they were too busy being concerned about themselves.

As we grow older, we realize that life is too short and precious to be living seeking other people’s approval. Everyone of us is unique with different likes and dislikes. What brings joy to one person may not be another person’s cup of tea. It is still hard for many of us who worry about other people’s opinions or feelings at the expense of our own.

The thing I miss most after Louie’s passing, is our going out dancing almost every weekend for years. When I went on a cruise with a friend last month, I decided I was not going to care if I was the only one dancing. When I was younger, I would have been too self-conscious to get up and dance unless I had a partner to dance with and there were other people on the dance floor.

This time when the music came on whether it was by the poolside where the band was playing Caribbean beats or at Bolero, the Latin Lounge, or Dazzle where a band was playing pop songs, or at the Blaze night club where there was a mixture of all kinds of music playing, I danced every day, sometimes with my friend Wanda and other times by myself.

What is it that you love to do but would not do because you worry what your partner, kids, friends, or parents or even strangers would think or, disapprove, or even imply that you should act your age?

People only see us from their perception and every person that knows you sees a different version of you. It is not easy to please everyone so why not be true to yourself and do the things that bring you joy? Those that truly love you will let you be you and not try and change you or mold you in their ideal version of how you should be.

I saw this post the other day:

“How to Win at Life:
Step 1. Let people do what they need to do to make them happy, mind your own business and do what you need to do to make you happy. The End.”

Other quotes that relate to this topic:

“The rule is you have to dance a little bit in the morning before you leave the house because it changes the way you walk out into the world” – Sandra Bullock

“In life it’s important to know when to stop arguing with people and simply let them be wrong” – Anonymous
“Listen, smile, agree and then do whatever the f**k you were gonna do anyway” – Anonymous

“Life gets a whole lot more beautiful once you start living for yourself and accept the fact that you cannot please everyone” – Anonymous

www.mindvasana.com

Sweet Smell of Your Perfume

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Hey, where did we go?
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playin’ a new game
Laughin’ and a-runnin’, hey, hey
Skippin’ and a-jumpin’
In the misty morning fog with
Our, our hearts a-thumping and you
My brown-eyed girl
And you, my brown-eyed girl”
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Certain smells, songs, words or images trigger us and take us back to the exact place when we first experienced that moment. If it was a happy memory, it lifts our spirit and makes us happy. If it was a bad experience then it could trigger us in a negative way.

There are certain people too that trigger us or we trigger them. It could be your mother, father, child, colleague or sibling. Anything they say makes you instinctively respond in a way that you would not respond to anyone else that way.

It could be a subconscious trigger that we are unaware of or past traumas that we have not dealt with. When we change our perception and realize that what people say and do is not in our control and that we can only control our own reactions, then we can find ways so that people no longer trigger us.

“Take a deep breath, resist the urge to act impulsively, name how you feel, put your ego aside, think through the consequences then respond.” Dr. Weiss.

Even just taking a deep breath and naming what you feel will slow down your impulsive response. For deep unconscious/subconscious changes hypnosis works very well.

Nothing anyone says or does is about us. People only respond from where they are at, what they are dealing with and feeling at the moment.

Every thought you have affects your cells in a positive or negative way. The mind and body are both connected. If you eat healthy and workout but are negative, judgemental or pessimistic, studies have shown that it can affect your health in a negative way. The more positive associations you make, the happier you will be.

Listen to music, do things you enjoy, accept everyone as they are, see the good in people, expect the best, count your blessings, appreciate yourself and just be happy. Life is too short to be anything else. We only have a finite amount of time here on earth in this physical body. Live it to the fullest!

“You will be amazed at how things magically fall into place when you let go of the illusion of control.” – TheMindsJournal

“When you focus on the good, the good gets better.” – Motivational Life

“Whatever is triggering you, is on you.” – Richie Norton

I love Piña Coladas and Getting Caught in the Rain

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“And she said, “Oh, it’s you”
Then we laughed for a moment
And I said, “I never knew”
That you like piña coladas
And gettin’ caught in the rain
And the feel of the ocean
And the taste of champagne”
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

I love Piña Coladas, or rather, I like anything that contains coconut. Mangoes with coconut, pineapple with coconut, coconut water, coconut based sauces and drinks, coconut chocolates, basically anything with coconut. Coconuts take me back to memories of beaches and cool ocean breezes. Maybe that is why I love the Piña Colada Song so much. More on that later.

I remember, the first time I went on a cruise, I was looking forward to having my Piña Colada in a poco grande glass which is the cocktail glass used to serve Piña Coladas, but when the bartender brought it in a plastic glass I was so disappointed. Is it not amazing how when we have an image of something in our minds to be a certain way, it is disappointing when it turns out to be anything else?

The Piña Colada Song reminds us too, that sometimes we expect people to behave a certain way and when they don’t, we are disappointed.

I have learnt that we are all imperfectly perfect. If we really got to know each other, shared our deepest thoughts, we would realize we are all the same and connected in some way. We are all here for a short time and none of the petty stuff matters in the grand scheme of things.

I have found that although it is hard to change our beliefs and our thoughts, there are many different modalities out there that can help change our unconscious/subconscious beliefs to live a life with less anxiety, fears and negativity.

The first seven years of our life are the most important and critical to who we become the rest of our life. From 0 to 7 years of age, children operate in the Theta state which is a state of hypnosis, downloading whatever they hear, experience or see and that stays with them for the rest of their life.

To change any negative experiences that we have had in our childhood that have affected us into our adult life, the fastest way to change them permanently is through hypnosis. There is this misconception about hypnosis, that it is evil or scary but we all go through a form of hypnosis or trance at least twice a day, once just before we fall asleep or when we are just waking up.

When you realize that your thoughts become things, that the words you speak, the thoughts you think, they all create emotions in your body that affect your physical and mental well-being, you know you have the power to change your life for the better.

An experienced Hypnotist puts you in this trance-like state that bypasses your critical faculty to make those changes permanently and to remove any blocks you may have so that you can live your best life.

You can also do it on your own through repetition, mentally replacing any old limiting belief with a positive one, journalling, meditation and many different ways. Working with a professional Hypnotist, Mind-set Coach, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Coach or other Practitioners is by far the fastest way for lasting change.

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” – Margaret Mead

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” – Captain Jack Sparrow

www.mindvasana.com

A Brilliant Ball of Clay

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

Everybody is Kung Fu fighting,
Your mind becomes fast as lightning
Although the future is a little bit frightening
(Little bit frightening)
It’s the book of your life that you’re writing
(Life that you’re writing)

You’re a diamond in the rough,
A brilliant ball of clay.
You could be a work of art,
If you just go all the way.
Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

I love when I come across songs that I have not heard in years. Nostalgia hits and takes me back in time. I find myself looking for meaning in songs, as if waiting for some sort of a message.

Some songs remind us that we are all diamonds in the rough, a brilliant ball of clay that needs to be chipped away so that we can turn out to be works of art.

We were born perfect, we knew exactly what we wanted and what we had to do. We instinctively cried when we were hungry or in pain, we smiled when we were happy and loved, we were perfect just being us.

As we grew older, our parents, teachers, care-givers and society instilled in us their views of what was right and wrong, how to feel and act and slowly, we were moulded to fit in our environment.

Whatever we learnt from birth to seven years of age was forever imprinted in our subconscious.
It laid down the foundation of how we interacted with the world.

We continued with life, expecting to live on forever, wanting more and more. Then one day we realized, we have less years ahead of us than behind us. Every moment we are gifted is a moment less we have remaining. That is when we start realizing what is important to us in life.

Many of you, like me, probably have also realized that you cannot be truly happy when one area of your life is going great but you have neglected another area of your life. I have come to the realization that balance in every area of life is key to living a happy life.

When you come to that realization, you already know what you need to do. It is so simple and yet so hard to do. It is the daily routines that add up to the big things you want to achieve.

The other thing that I have realized, is that, our thoughts become things. Every thought you think, releases some type of chemical. When you think positive thoughts, when you are happy and optimistic, the brain produces serotonin which creates a feeling of well-being.

Jealousy, anger, hate and other negative thoughts and emotions, increases cortisol levels and influences our immune system in a negative way. When you come to this realization, you become more aware of your thoughts and begin to pay attention to your mind-set.

I find whatever I focus on, I get more of, so I choose to think positive thoughts. When a negative thought crosses my mind, I acknowledge that feeling and then try and see the positive in the situation as soon as I can.

Good relationships are important and once you accept that we are all different, it is easy to get along and accept others just as they are without judgement.

My plan is to live life focusing on the now, knowing, if I take care of today, I hopefully will not have to worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. We only have today.

All we have is one life to live and the sooner we realize that nothing lasts forever we can live life to the fullest in the Now.

“A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.” –  Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

“The mind is everything.  What you think you become.” – Buddha

“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” – Dennis P. Kimbro

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson

www.mindvasana.com

Together We Can Take It To The End Of The Line

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Turn around
Every now and then
I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by”
Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler

Have you, like me, ever felt that time is running faster than ever? So little time to do all the things you want to do? One thing for sure, as I get older, the less I worry about what other people think of me.

I wish I had realized when I was younger that everybody was busy thinking of themselves and not me. So much time was wasted worrying about what other people thought. I have learnt that it is impossible to please everyone because everyone is looking at the world through their own perspective.

Every single person knows a different version of you and their perceptions of you are seen through their own lens. People may judge you or criticize you and, whether they think positively or negatively of you, it really is a reflection of themselves.

So take those selfies, chase the sunsets, dance when you hear the music, move to another country if your heart so desires. Be kind and tell people when you like something about them. If you like a poem someone has posted, take a couple of minutes to write a few words of encouragement. Not saying anything is saying something.

Share your art, your poem, your music with the world. Be free and let go of your ego. Life is too short to worry about what other people think. There is no other person exactly like you who can do things like you do. Every one of us is special in our own way. Your words or art may not resonate with everyone but if it makes you happy keep creating. Do it because it makes you happy.

Everything will end one day for each one of us and maybe we will all meet on the other side of the moon. Until then, how about we all do our little bit to be kind instead of being right and live life to the fullest. It is never too late to become who you really are.

“We grow old and die because we see others grow old and die” – Adi Shankara

“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

“It might have been done before, but it hasn’t been done by you!”- Elizabeth Gilbert

“But never delude yourself into believing that you require someone else’s blessing (or even their comprehension) in order to make your own creative work.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

www.mindvasana.com

Listening to the Wind of Change

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Listening to the wind of change
The world is closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers
The future’s in the air
Can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change”
Wind of Change – Scorpions

The world seems to have gone insane for some time now. There are so many things we have no control over and there seems to be no end to it any time soon. The only thing we can be certain about is uncertainty.

You, like me, probably feel hopeless and helpless sometimes with all the fear and uncertainty in this world. You may have done what you could in your own small way; donated money, written to politicians, spread the message on social media and more, to help in some way.

We know that nothing lasts forever, and this too shall end but there will always be external challenges that will make us feel helpless and anxious. How do you protect yourself so that you can handle any stress that seems to constantly show up in life?

Things like meditation, listening to positive podcasts, reading books, working out, yoga, walking in nature, writing down your thoughts, gratitude, dancing, playing with pets and spending less time watching or reading the news, are some ways to focus on things that you have control over.

You may not be able to change the world but if you change your world and how you show up in it, it will be a lot easier for you to be happy and at peace in any situation.

When you have balance in every area of your life; your health, your relationships, your career, financial freedom and, can be of help to others, plus strive to become your best self, that is what brings happiness, peace of mind and true success.

You may not have everything now but if you strive to learn, grow and evolve to become our best self, you are making progress. The little step that you take daily is what will get you there.

So, what do the smart ones do and what do I wish I had started doing decades ago?

For work, they do what they love so that it does not feel like work. Their career feels like play. The sooner you find out what you love, the easier it will be to eventually make your living doing what you love.

They learn and grow and, instead of criticizing and judging others, they are curious and learn from everyone. They are continuously learning by reading, taking courses, listening to podcasts and any other way they can.

They take care of their health and ensure that they stay fit by making it part of their daily routine. It is so easy to look back 20 years from now and wish that you had taken better care of your health.

They learn what they can about budgeting, investing and finances. The younger you start and learn all you can on how to grow your wealth, the less you will have to worry about in the future.

They value relationships and accept everyone for who they are. They know that no one is perfect and are kind and respectful to all. They forgive when they think they have been wronged because they know that carrying hate only poisons themselves.

There are other things that many smart successful people do, like making time in their day to go within to meditate or silence their mind, write down what they are grateful for, write down their goals, celebrate their successes and learn from their mistakes.

They don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future because they know that the present moment is all there is and what they do now is what their future is going to bring.

They remember that we come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing, so they are detached to outcomes. They focus on their daily habits and try and stay positive under all circumstances because they know, without hope, there is nothing.

The positive vibes you give to others, comes back to you in many ways. What you think, say, do, reflects back in your life. The more people you touch in a positive way by being kind, thoughtful, caring and understanding, the more positive energy will be reflected back in your life.

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” — Carl Jung

“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” – Confucius

“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.” — Wayne Dyer

“Patience is the mark of true love. If you truly love someone, you will be more patient with that person.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

“When you love someone, you love the person as they are, and not as you’d like them to be.” — Leo Tolstoy

“Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.” – Isaac Newton

www.mindvasana.com

Seeking Shelter from the Winter Blues 

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu 

“Hello, darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence”
The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

The winter blues from time to time, gets me down and I wonder if these long dark nights will ever end. Day after day, night after night, on and on they go.

To change my state of my mind, I decided to listen to some music and write my monthly blog on the way we think and live our lives.

It is always interesting to study people and realize how different we all are and yet so similar too.

Are you a control freak? Do you plan everything exactly the way it is supposed to go and when it doesn’t, how do you react? Do you go insane and lose control, get angry?

Or are you the kind that goes with the flow? You may have a goal and a plan but if things don’t go exactly the way you expect it to, you quickly adapt and accept and go with the flow.

Do you stop yourself from doing things you might enjoy because you think people will judge you or make fun of you?

Or do you follow your heart? Do you dance because the music moves you or, play a musical instrument because you love to, even though you may not be great at it?

Are you impatient? Do people irritate you because they are not as fast or smart as you? Do your parents annoy you because they are so “slow” or they “embarrass” you by being themselves?

Or are you patient and, as you mature you understand that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, that no one is better, just different and you accept everyone as they are.

Do you live by rules and traditions passed down from generation to generation that give you no joy?

Or do you question things that no longer make sense and are brave enough to change and live by your own new rules, evolving and accepting that things have changed?

Do you judge others, feeling all superior, thinking your way is the only right way?

Or do you recognize and accept that although we have different beliefs, we are all one race, the human race?

Are you impulsive? Do you dive into things and then regret doing so? Do you get yourself into situations and then get left with the guilt and shame?

Or do you think things through and ponder the consequences before acting? If you do make a mistake, do you forgive yourself and move on?

There are always two sides to everything, and the choice is ours as to how we want to live, whether we want to control life or sail with the tide.

I have realized that we are only here for a short while and instead of being right, it is better to be kind. Life is too short to hold grudges and the negativity that we carry only poisons us.

After the Winter, Spring will come, and the cycle will continue with or without us. We don’t know whether we have a day, a month, a year, a decade or more ahead of us. Once we are gone, life will still go on so make the most of it while you can and let go of guilt, fear and hate. Live life to the fullest doing things you enjoy.

“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

“Be realistic. Plan for a miracle.” ~ Wayne Dyer

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

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

www.mindvasana.com/blog

Here We Go Again

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash

Here we go again…with another New Year dawning, we can only hope that there will be bright sunshiny days ahead for all of us. The last couple of years have been rough for many but after the rain, I know the sun will shine again.

No New Year’s Resolutions for me, but it is symbolic, as one year ends and another one begins, to want to start fresh, to make up for last year’s promises that were not kept, to do better next year.

If there is anything that I have learned, it is that I can set all kinds of goals, but the devil is in the details. It is the little things that I do daily that will help me achieve my goals. I am not sure when it finally clicked but instead of setting lofty goals every year, I made some really small changes in several areas of my life and focused on doing them daily without thinking of the next day.

I started with meditating for one minute because I could not focus or concentrate longer than that. I realized that starting small and taking it one day at a time worked best for me.

I decided to let go of fear and judgement and just write. If anything, I did it to remind myself how far I had come, to let go of shame, guilt and mistakes of the past and, in the process encourage others to do the same.

It has been over five years and eight months since I wrote my first blog. I admit, in the beginning it was a struggle, and the first few blogs were not that great but slowly they got better, and it felt great when people told me that it resonated with them.

It is never too late to start anything. It took me over ten years of going to school part time and working full time to get my degree in Business Management. I took a few courses every semester and eventually it was done a decade later.

All I know is that once you decide on something, you have to take the first step and not worry about the end result because you will eventually get there if you persist.

It takes only a moment to make a decision to change. In one second you can decide to stop playing the victim, blaming someone else for your sorrows, making excuses and instead take responsibility for your own life. Sometimes that is all it takes to make a bold decision to change something.

Some things that I do daily which have helped me stay sane these last couple of years are; meditate daily, write at least three things I am grateful for daily, journal my thoughts and feelings, exercise, listen to inspiring podcasts, read or listen to audio books, take online courses, listen to music, walk or, dance if it is too cold to walk outside. I also keep a list of small and large items on my bucket list and scratch them off as I complete them.

We all know what we need to do to live a healthy balanced life; eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, find ways to let go of stress, have a positive mindset and all the other good stuff. I believe that in the end everything will work out for the best, so we need to hang on to hope and trust that the Universe always has our back. In the meantime, all we can do is our share by working on the little things daily to get us to where we want to be at the end of the year.

Life is too short to worry about what other people think. Do what makes you happy and if you change your mind and want to do something else, just do it.

Wishing you all a happy, peaceful, and successful year ahead. Thank you for taking the time to read my blogs.

“People do not decide their future, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures” – F.M. Alexander

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” —J.P. Morgan

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” —Brad Paisley

“Each year’s regrets are envelopes in which messages of hope are found for the New Year.” —John R. Dallas Jr.

Lucky You, Lucky Me

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

I keep hanging on,
waiting for the wind to change
I watch the sun go down,
and I keep hanging on,
waiting for my lucky day
waiting, for my lucky day
Waiting for My Lucky Day – Chris Isaak

Do you consider yourself lucky or does bad luck seem to follow you everywhere?

I have been thinking about this for some time and in the last few weeks I have been coming across the word “lucky” frequently which made me think about writing about this topic.

It reminded me of a documentary that I had watched a few years ago, about a man who considered himself the unluckiest man, but I could not remember the details of the story. The next morning, I saw a post on a Facebook group detailing the exact same story. Lady luck was smiling down on me and giving me the go-ahead to write about it!

The story goes, to make him feel lucky, the unluckiest man’s friends decided to set up ways to make him feel lucky and filmed him.

They placed a hundred dollar bill on the ground so that he could find it, but he walked right past it. They made it easy for him to win in several ways, but he kept walking past without seeing the items placed strategically for him.

When his friends stopped filming and told him that they had done everything to make him feel lucky but he kept missing the signs, he responded by, “You see! That’s because I’m so unlucky!”

You will notice that when you focus on the negative and think of yourself as jinxed or unlucky, you somehow bring about more unfortunate or unlucky events in your life. At other times you miss opportunities even when they stare you in the face because you label yourself as unlucky.

When one bad or negative thing happens in your day and you say, “this is the worst day of my life, everything is going wrong”, have you noticed that you prove yourself to be right and you begin to get more of those things that seem to go wrong throughout the day?

Unless you consciously make an effort to stop those thoughts and instead focus on what is going right, you will continue to attract “bad luck”.

Many years ago, I consciously decided to be grateful for everything in my life, even those events that I would have considered bad in the past, I now think of them as lessons learnt and things to be grateful for.

When I decided to focus on all the things, I had to be grateful for, I immediately felt like I had begun to attract lady luck. Now when things don’t go the way I would like them to, I can quickly pivot and change my thoughts and let go of the fear, anger, hurt or whatever emotion I am feeling.

At times it takes a lot longer, and I need to write down my thoughts or talk to someone about it when I feel hurt and then I let go of those feelings because I know they are harmful to my body as well. Most of the time I can let go of those emotions in an instant and forgive and forget.

If you want to attract good luck in your life, first set an intention to be lucky. I repeat in my mind daily that I am lucky and good luck follows me everywhere.

When things seem like they are not going the way I want them to, I remind myself of the fable “Good Thing, Bad Thing, Who Knows.” (what you think is bad now can turn out to be something positive in the future).

Forgive yourself and others and let go of any guilt you may have of things in the past because when you hold on to guilt and shame you will find it hard to believe you deserve good luck.

Let go of things you cannot control and go with the flow. Trust that the Universe always has your back. To change my negative thoughts, I find three things I am grateful for as soon as I become aware of those negative thoughts.

With another year unfolding, start fresh by writing down your goals or your bucket list, small and big, then imagine the feeling you would feel when you accomplish each goal.

Spend time with positive people who lift you up and focus on the good. Find your tribe and keep them close.

I find that when I am grateful, I attract more things to be grateful for. Instead of focusing on all the things that are not going right at the moment, I make a conscious effort to bring my focus back on all the things I have to be thankful for.

How about starting the new year by setting an intention to be lucky or even better yet why wait, start right now. Set your intention to be lucky and let the Universe work its magic for you.

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” – Dalai Lama XIV

“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” – Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

www.mindvasana.com

Cycle of Life

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Some of their dreams came true
Some just passed away
And some of them stayed behind
Inside the Sad Café”
The Sad Cafe – Eagles

I remember listening to “The Sad Café” by the Eagles a zillion times as a teenager. It has been many years since I last heard this song and I had forgotten about it but as I was searching for a song for my blog, I came across it again and it felt like I had found a long-lost friend.

I always loved music and I remember buying vinyl or records, as they were called then, where I grew up. I remember later switching to tapes which I listened to over and over again, then spent hours trying to untangle them when they got stuck in my tape recorder.

Music has always been a part of my life, especially growing up in Shillong, where music was so much part of the culture. I always thought anyone who could play the guitar was so cool and wanted to learn how to play the guitar someday.

I few years ago I tried learning how to play the guitar from my daughter who taught herself a few songs, but I quickly realized it was not as easy as it looked, so I am even more in awe of those that make it look so easy.

Songs are like old friends to me. Some will stay in my heart forever even though I don’t listen to them all the time. Then there are songs that I love for a while and then I forget about them. They are like good friends that were there for a reason or a season then are gone.

When a certain song plays on the radio, it can take me back through memory lane to happy times or to a time when I felt like I was drowning in sorrow. Music can lift you up or bring you down if you let it.

This week a baby was born and in the same week someone dear to me passed away. The cycle of life continues, and I go on listening to music old and new, reminiscing about days gone by and creating new memories too.

Sometimes I find it hard to make sense of it all and other times it is so clear to me that to stay sane and happy I must stay in the present. I cannot change the past and I cannot control or predict the future. There is only NOW.

We are all here for a short time so let’s live life to the fullest. Let go of expectations, regrets and things you cannot control. All you have is now and how you live it is what is going to get you to your future. What you think, do or believe today is the future you create for yourself.

Create happy memories, good memories wherever you go.

Here are some songs, artists, bands that brought back memories for me as I was writing this blog. Which songs are on your list?

  • Rod Stewart – I was only Joking
  • Uriah Heep – July Morning, Wizard
  • Dire Straits
  • Moody Blues
  • Eagles
  • John Cougar Mellencamp
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Arcade Fire
  • Coldplay
  • Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
  • Lady in Red
  • Gerry Rafferty – Right Down the Line, Baker Street
  • Smokie – Living Next Door to Alice
  • George McCrae – Rock Your Baby
  • Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb, Wish you were here
  • White Snake – Here I go again
  • Norwegian Wood
  • Creep

“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” – Kahlil Gibran

“Music is good to the melancholy, bad to those who mourn, and neither good nor bad to the deaf.” – Baruch Spinoza

“Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Anderson

“How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspirations?” – Jane Swan

“The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.” – Thornton Wilder

Sometimes I Get Nervous When I See An Open Door

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought, but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart
Cut the cord
Are we human
Or are we dancer?”
Human – The Killers

This is the perfect time of the month and year to let go of things that no longer serve us or bring us joy.

A time to purge things we have not used in a long time or things that are cluttering up our space.

A time to let go of people that suck the energy or life out of us and instead spend time with people that lift us up and bring us joy.

Our life is meant to be in flow, not in constant struggle over things we have no control over. Like the moon that moves through different phases so do we. We can swim or flow through life gracefully or we can hold on to things and people that drain us.

Some people revere the moon and practice rituals during the Full Moon to let go of what does not serve them anymore. They believe that this is the perfect time to surrender and start fresh.

If you have been constantly feeling restless, irritable, annoyed or lost the last few weeks and your mind is playing scenarios of anger, hurt, shame, guilt or fear, why not try some visualizations or rituals to let go of those things to live a happier, peaceful life? You are the only person responsible for how you feel even though you may sometimes feel like you have no control over the situation.

Write down on a piece of paper all the things that you want to let go of, whether it is feelings or people that have caused you pain and suffering and then burn the paper in a bucket, bowl or over the toilet and flush it down. As the paper burns surrender and let go of all those emotions and feel them disappear forever.

If fire is not your thing, another thing you can do is just imagine writing down what you are feeling and putting them in a helium balloon then letting go of the string so that the balloon rises and disappears, never to be seen, along with all the unwanted thoughts and emotions disappearing into thin air.

When negative thoughts play on your mind and you do nothing about them, you will notice that you attract more of the same and the pattern will keep repeating until you have learnt the lesson. Our thoughts are powerful!

A few days back, I went for an Engrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin concert with my lovely young friend, Joni (she’s more like a niece). We had received numerous emails from Ticketmaster that they would not be accepting paper copies of the ticket or proof of vaccinations and would only accept digital copies on our phones.

We made sure we were prepared, had our phones fully charged, our tickets and proof of vaccination on our phones ready in line, waiting to get in.

Just as we were coming up to the front of the line, I thought to myself, what would happen if someone’s phone died, and they cannot access their tickets?

Thoughts are powerful my friends! Shortly after I had that thought and as I was getting ready to show my phone, it went totally grey and blank. I could not turn my phone on or off. We were stuck, with no way of getting in!!

We let the person behind us go ahead of us and moved to the side to figure out what to do. I must say we both remained pretty calm while deciding what to do next instead of panicking.

While we were planning what to do, my phone came back on as if nothing had happened and we were able to get in past the proof of vaccine line right after the person we had let go ahead of us and we waited in another line at the next door to show our tickets to get inside the arena.

Everything happens for a reason because when we showed our ticket, we were told that we had been upgraded to Level 100 from Level 300. If my phone had not stopped working, the person behind us would probably have been upgraded instead of us.

The two lessons that I took away from this incident were, be aware of your thoughts because thoughts become things – choose the good ones, and by always trusting the Universe that things will work out for the best, some way or the other, we were upgraded!

“Surrender is like a fish finding the current and going with it.” – Mark Nepo

Life is too short to spend in negativity. So I have made a conscious effort to not be where I don’t want to be.” – Hugh Dillon

“You only have control over three things in your life – the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take.” – Jack Canfield

“Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power.” — Shirley MacLaine

“You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions and your intentions create your reality.” – Wayne Dyer

“Imagination is everything, it is the preview of life coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein

“Beware of what you set your heart upon…for it shall surely be yours.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Save Time in a Bottle

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

So if only I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save everyday ’til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
And I’d save everyday like a treasure and then
Again and again I’d spend them with you (spend them with you)
Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce

The other day my sister and I were joking about how many weekends we possibly had remaining in life and, that got me thinking about the story of 3900 Saturdays.

If a person lives to 75 years, that is the number of Saturdays (3,900) they have in total. In this story, the man was 50 years old, so he bought 1,300 marbles, equivalent to the total number of Saturdays remaining for him and put them in a clear jar. Every Saturday he removed one marble and as he watched the marbles disappear, it became clear to him what he needed to focus on and what was important to him.

If you are 30 years old, you have around 2,340 Saturdays left. If you are 40 years old, you have 1,820 Saturdays remaining. If you are 50 years old, you have 1,300 Saturdays left and if you are 60 years old, you have 780 Saturdays left. However, if you have great genes, you probably have many more Saturdays left to enjoy.

When you look at life this way, you realize that at the end of each year you have 52 Saturdays less and the number of Saturdays remaining get fewer by the number. That is when you begin to realize that every day must be enjoyed and lived to the fullest whether it is a Monday or a Saturday.

Why wait for a Friday or Saturday night to meet up with friends or go for a movie? Do what you love when you want instead of waiting for the weekend. Pre-pandemic, many times we would go for movies during the week so that it did not feel like we had to wait for the weekend to enjoy the things we liked doing.

Some simple things you can do to make life more interesting and have something to look forward to:

  • Make a bucket list of small and big things you want to do or experience
  • Make a list of places you want to visit (whether they are short road trips or bigger vacations)
  • Join a Meetup group (many are online now) and connect with like-minded people (find your tribe)
  • Go for walks in nature after work with a friend or neighbour or listen to a podcast
  • Put on your headphones and dance if you don’t have anywhere to go
  • Set up video calls with friends and family if you can’t see them in person
  • Just have fun, enjoy life instead of accumulating material things that tie you down
  • Find a job that does not feel like work if possible
  • Let go of guilt, shame and fears. Forgive yourself. Each new day is a chance to start fresh and do better

You cannot change the past and you can only make your future better by living your best life in the present.

Spend time with people that lift you up and do things that bring you joy or you will find that the marbles will quickly begin to diminish from the glass jar of life.

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

“It’s not that we have little time, but more that we waste a good deal of it.” – Seneca

“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” – John Lennon

“It’s being here now that’s important. There’s no past and there’s no future. Time is a very misleading thing. All there is ever, is the now. We can gain experience from the past, but we can’t relive it; and we can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one.” – George Harrison

www.mindvasana.com

Be Water My Friend

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

I said, empty your mind.
Be formless, shapeless, like water.
Now you put water into a cup,
it becomes the cup,
you put water into a bottle,
it becomes the bottle.
You put it into a teapot,
it becomes the teapot.
Now water can flow,
or it can crash.
Be water my friend.
Bruce Lee

Water is powerful. Water can transform from liquid to solid to vapor. It has no shape or form, yet it takes on the form of whatever you put it in. Likewise, the thoughts you fill your mind with, is what shapes your life.

Water teaches us to embrace change and to go with the flow. We can drown in the depths of the deep sea of our sorrow, anger and hurt, or we can glide through life like a gentle stream.

Life is full of ups and downs and many a time we must face obstacles and challenges that we have no control over. The only thing we can control is how we react to any situation. In times like these, we can learn from water and go with the flow, let it wash off our back and keep on going.

Water is also a symbol of life and a reflection of self and of transformation. Water teaches us to be patient and persistent, to slowly chip away at obstacles and when possible, to gently go around them.

I love both the sound of the gentle flow of a stream and the sound of water as it crashes on the seashore. Dripping water can cut through rocks and mountains, or it can glide gently over them and in between the creaks. Water is versatile.

The only thing that can quench my thirst when I am thirsty, is the tasteless taste of water. The feel of water in the shower, symbolically cleanses and washes away all my worries or sorrows daily.

The sound of a downpour and rain splashing on my windowpane on a hot summer day or on a dark, windy night with lightning and thunder, soothes my spirit. The smell of the earth after heavy rains, brings me back to memories of yesteryears…I call it the smell of Shillong.

What I like about water is, it goes where it wants to go. When there is an obstacle in its way, water goes around it. Water is patient and goes with the flow. Be like water my friend.

Some people come into your life like a storm and disappear, while others with their gentle presence flow along with you like a stream through life. Like all rivers that flow into the ocean, we are all connected.

Every person we meet teaches us something we have yet to learn, and we keep meeting people that trigger us because we have yet to learn the lesson we need to learn and once we do, there are no triggers. We become calm like the sea after the storm.

Why is it that the sight of water, whether it’s a stream, a pond, a waterfall, a lake or an ocean makes everything seem like all is right in the world? Water is life. Be like water my friend.

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” — Kahlil Gibran

“As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.” – Lau Tzu

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”― Ryunosuke Satoro

“No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.” – Taoist proverb

www.mindvasana.com

Picking up Good Vibrations: Gentle Wind that lifts her perfume

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Blog Post by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I-I love the colorful clothes she wears
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle wordOn the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me the excitations (oom bop bop)”
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

Have you noticed that when you are positive and happy, you seem to attract good things to you and when you are feeling down or negative, everything seems to go wrong for you?

Albert Einstein said, “Everything is Energy”.

Could it be that the frequency you are vibrating at is attracting things in that same frequency?

The notion is that all matter in the universe is made up of energy that vibrates. This includes you, me, the trees, your pet, the food that you eat and the water that you drink.

Everything is vibrating at a certain frequency and, we are connected through these vibrational waves. The beauty you see in others and in everything around you, reflects back in positive waves to you.

Generally, when you are around positive, happy people your energy feels different than when you are with someone who is always complaining, seeing the worst in people or just being negative about everything.

You cannot control what other people say or do but you can control your reaction and make a conscious effort not to get sucked into their negative energy. 

You can deflect negative energy through many ways and raise your own vibration:

Spend more time in nature and notice the beauty in flowers, trees, the ocean and the mountains.

Do more things that bring you joy and remember to be thankful for the things that bring you joy.

When someone does something nice for you, instead of looking for ways to repay immediately, enjoy the moment. “The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” – Richard Bach

Be mindful in everything you do, who you spend your time with and ensure that your surroundings bring you joy and peace.

I find meditation first thing in the morning paves the way for me to begin the day in a positive frame of mind.

Spend more time with positive people and remove yourself from toxic environments or at least protect yourself by doing things that raise your vibration.

Be generous and giving of our time, your love and your kind words. Choose to be happy and grateful now and seeyour life change for the better.

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” Nikola Tesla

“Everything is energy. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” Albert Einstein

“How you vibrate is what the universe echoes back to you in every moment.” Panache

“Every human brain is both a broadcasting and receiving station for the vibration of thought.” Napoleon Hill

www.mindvasana.com