Friday, December 16, 2011

Bend, Don’t Break, with the Wind


Having lived by the ocean for many years, I’ve observed the strength and beauty of the tall palm trees that grow at the water’s edge. These stately giants are able to withstand the hurricane-force winds that uproot and destroy many larger, older, and more majestic trees. What is the palm trees’ secret to staying in one piece through huge, devastating storms? They bend almost down to the ground at times, and it’s that ability that allows them to survive. The Tao invites us, too, to be resilient, elastic, and pliant when we face the powerful winds that are part of life. When destructive energy comes along, allow yourself to resist brokenness by bending. Look for times when you can make the choice to weather a storm by allowing it to blow through without resistance. How does this work? Be willing to adapt to whatever may come your way by initially allowing yourself to experience that potentially destructive energy, much like the bending tree in the hurricane. When criticism comes, listen. When powerful forces push you in any direction, bow rather than fight, lean rather than break, and allow yourself to be free from a rigid set of rules—in doing so, you’ll be preserved and unbroken. Keep an inner vision of the wind symbolizing difficult situations as you affirm: I have no rigidity within me. I can bend to any wind and remain unbroken. I will use the strength of the wind to make me even stronger and better preserved.

Namaste.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Remember Where You Came From


Before merging into form, we were a part of God, with all the inherent qualities of a Creator who sends forth abundance, creativity, love, peace, joy, and well-being. The spiritual dimension calls to us in this material world of beginnings and endings. When we listen and allow it to, Spirit guides us to something greater than our life as a physical being. When I let myself align with Spirit, I have a feeling of contentment, but more than this, I experience joy. I’m able to receive the vibrational energies of my Source—call them voices, messages, silent reminders, invisible suggestions, or what have you—they’re vibrations of energy. I’ve learned to get my “self” out of the way and remove resistance to the free flow of this spiritual energy.

Spirit doesn’t dwell on the impossibility of anything—that is, it doesn’t focus on not being able to create, on things not working out, on expecting the worst, or on being stuck in place. When I’m in-Spirit, I want my present moment and thoughts to align perfectly with what I desire to share. I want to offer an experience of inspiration to my audience, so I don’t give a speech thinking, I’ll probably disappoint them. I choose to think that if I stumble or forget something in the middle of my talk, the inspiration to get me through it will be there. When I sit down to write, my desire is to invite Spirit to express through me, and I encourage ideas to flow freely. I’m connected in-Spirit, expecting to be the instrument of my spiritual Source.

When we remember that we’re always connected to Source, we can summon the well-being of God. Each and every one of us represents God or Spirit revealing Itself here on our planet. Experiences of being in-Spirit are available to all of us. Remember that your life is bigger than you are. Dedicate your life to something that reflects an awareness of your Divinity. You can begin by committing to at least one daily experience where you share something of yourself with no expectation of being acknowledged or thanked. For example, before I begin my daily routine, I go to my desk and choose my gift for that day. Sometimes, it’s just a phone call to a stranger who’s written to me, or perhaps I order flowers or send a book or present to someone who has helped me in a local store. It doesn’t matter if this activity is big or small—it’s a way to begin the day in-Spirit. Make a silent dedication to encourage and express your Divine nature.

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Just Say "Thank You!"


Most of the people I’ve met or observed who are at the top levels in their chosen fields have these attitudes of gratitude and “radical humility.” After all, when so many high achievers reach for their statuette or championship trophy, they say, “First I’d like to thank God.” It’s almost as if they can’t help themselves—they’re so grateful for their accolade, but even more than that, they know that there’s a Force in the Universe way bigger than they are that allows them to act, sing, write, compete, or design. And if weadopt this kind of an attitude, we’ll inspire others to do the same. If we practice gratitude as opposed to maintaining an attitude of entitlement, we’ll automatically extend inspiration wherever we go. Being grateful helps remove the influence of our egos, which is certain that we’re better than everyone else. An attitude of gratitude allows us to adopt the radical humility that’s very persuasive in helping others connect with the Spirit that unites us all.

Without exception, I begin every day of my life with an expression of gratitude. As I look in the mirror to begin my daily ritual of shaving, I say, “Thank you, God, for this life, for my body, for my family and loved ones, for this day, and for the opportunity to be of service. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Gratitude and humility send signals to all who meet us that we’re all connected to something larger than life itself.

Namaste.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Where Spirit Lives


Everyone has a favorite spiritual setting, a natural place that speaks to your heart and thereby to your soul. Surrounded by nature’s majesty, it’s easy to feel the presence of Spirit and reconnect with the love that supports all life. Wherever you live, you’re only a few hours (or even minutes) away from a natural setting that will revive, refresh, and inspire you. What scenery do you love—the shelter of the forest, the expanse of the desert, the peace of a mountain meadow? Give yourself permission to get away so that you can camp in the outdoors, swim in a river, lake, or ocean, ride on horseback, or ski down a mountain. While you’re making plans, take a walk in the park, breathe deeply, hug a tree, notice the natural world that surrounds us, and I guarantee you will feel closer to the real person inside.

Namaste.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Are You Present?


Have you noticed how often we use up the present moments of our lives, the very precious currency of life, consumed with a longing to be someplace else, doing something else? Or we waste present moments feeling guilty about the past or apprehensive about the future. Slipping away from the present happens because we are living our lives with an attitude of depreciation rather than appreciation. We can ease this dilemma by learning to pay attention to what’s going on in the inner world of our thoughts.

A great hallmark of mental wellness is the ability to be in the present moment, fully and with no thoughts of being elsewhere.Our present moment is a mystery that we are part of. Here and now is where all the wonder of life lies hidden. And make no mistake about it, to strive to live completely in the present is to strive for what already is the case. You can either make use of these precious moments in a state of appreciation, which is to be here fully now, or in a state of depreciation, which is to wish to be anywhere but here. When all is said and done, now is all there is, and all there ever has been.

Here are some suggestions for enjoying your present moments:

  1. Notice when you are wishing you were somewhere else and bring yourself back to a state of appreciation for where you are. Remember that not being fully immersed in the present is nothing more than a habit that you have the option of breaking right now, in this moment!
  2. Discard thoughts of depreciation. When you find yourself depreciating anyone or anything in your immediate present moment space, see if you can substitute a thought of appreciation. For example, rather than being bored by a conversation, shift your thoughts to, “I am going to spend the next few moments just loving this person for who he is, and nothing more.” This removal of judgment brings you back to being fully in the present.
  3. Take time to meditate. Meditation is difficult for many people because their thoughts are always on some distant object or place. One form of meditation is to label the thought as it appears and then choose to let it go. This practice helps you first become aware of your thoughts, which many of us need to do, so that we can return to the present moment.
  4. Practice enjoying each phase of your meal (and your day!) for itself, rather than having your thoughts on dessert while you are consuming the appetizer. The essence of the entire message here is to be here now. Is there really any other place to be?
  5. Namaste.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Success Secrets


One of my secrets for feeling successful and attracting bountiful abundance into my life has been an internal axiom that I use virtually every day of my life. It goes like this:Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change. This has always worked for me.

The truth of this little maxim is actually found in the field of quantum physics, which, according to some, is a subject that’s not only stranger than you think it is, it’s stranger than you can think. It turns out that at the tiniest subatomic level, the actual act of observing a particle changes the particle. The way we observe these infinitely small building blocks of life is a determining factor in what they ultimately become. If we extend this metaphor to larger and larger particles and begin to see ourselves as particles in a larger body called humanity or even larger—life itself—then it’s not such a huge stretch to imagine that the way we observe the world we live in affects that world.

Think of this little journey into quantum physics as a metaphor for your life. Your feelings of success and your experience of prosperity and abundance depend on your positive view of yourself, your life, and the Universe from which success and abundance come. Changing the way you look at things is an extremely powerful tool. Start by examining how you look at things. Is the Universe matching your way of looking?

Namaste.

UDAAN


THE IMAGE OF THE YOUTH TODAY


“RUIN & MISERY MARK THEIR WAYS, AND THE WAY OF PEACE THEY DO NOT KNOW.”- The bible


It is logical to ask why. What causes the youth of today to strike at the face of law & order, to lash out at their parents, friends and enemies alike with hatred, jealousy, and indecency to such alarming degrees?What has so dramatically caused our youth to become callous and hedonistic that material pursuits have become the call of the day?If we grapple with these questions for a while, we know that it is nothing but the perpetual erosion of moral absolutes from our culture which has resulted in such mayhem.When youth do not have a personal value that separate the right from the wrong, wheat from chaff, there is nothing to prevent them from treading the path to a cold disregard for values a human life holds.Restoring the moral absolutes to the fabric of our society is pivotal to the solution of dealing with the leviathan of immorality but not the entire solution.We must not only ensure the youth from getting immersed in a culture that glorifies hedonism, violence, illicit sex, drugs and other evils but also allow them to experience love and nurture of a caring family and companionship of true friends.Our youth must learn what it means to honor and respect people & property and value life. And this was how udaan took birth into the minds of few young students, all of them being like your next door kids but still desiring to make a difference in the society..

UDAAN-A SMALL INSIGHT

Udaan is a surge towards the open sky of love, faith, hope, courage, dignity and undying happiness...we the Youth are the foundation of the society and if the foundation remains weak, decadence is just a matter of time. Hence, to attempt to provide solutions and to firefight the imminent collapse of the future is what udaan is all about.It’s an Endeavour to help our friends recognize the beauty of life – it’s a big heart that cares for you, a small mind that understands & provides answers to your problems & questions. It is a medium to lend you a hand and show you the right path. It’s a weapon to destroy the fear deep rooted in the hearts of the youth, a ray of hope for the hopeless, a friend that shares your burdens and cares. Udaan - “it’s a step at a time” towards a better and glorious tomorrow.

VISION STATEMENT

Udaan a youth organization aspires “to impact this generation positively & challenge them to live spotlessly pure lives, sustained by integrity of character and nurtured by spiritual and moral values”

MISSION STATEMENT

Udaan –a youth organization, works to broaden the perceptions of the youth s about life and its worth.It aims at comprehensive growth of the youth to wake up to their potential and channelize their vast reservoir of energy to bring down the insurmountable.

OBJECTIVES OF UDAAN

· To create awareness among students about basic human values and principles of life.
· To develop an overall personality of the youth by emphasizing on sensitive and emotional intelligence.
· To inculcate strong ethical moral and spiritual values in students.
· To help students learn character defining qualities like tolerance, adjustment & decision making.
· To provide the best possible counseling to the students, to help solve their problems.

PROGRAM METHODOLOGY

Almost 3 years of our going research, training and experience have gone into the methodology that Udaan adopts, to reach out to the youth. it includes:
· Udaan introductory session: Consisting of ice breakers, games, choreography, etc. interspersed with a briefing of the history of udaan.

· Natak: Professionally scripted and performed plays such as loose control, enlightment, crazy 6.5, looking into the problems and issues students are facing.
· The interactive session: A discussion forum between the professionally experienced team of udaan. Counselors and the students taking up the issues bothering the students like relationships, time management, stress management, career choices and so on.
· Enactment: Udaan provides a platform for the students to showcase their talents and their creative flamboyance/flair to think up ideas, script plays, write songs and poems on some contemporary issues.
· The big jam: The time of fun filled singing and music with ‘Electrika’- the udaan band.

STUDENT COUNSELLING

We normally think of udaan counselors as someone to whom students go to when things are not working the way we think or believe they should. These are all good concepts but we find that youth interaction create awareness about self realization i.e. purpose of life. After all the purpose of learning is, learning how to get through life, hopefully in one piece and in harmony. The emphasis on youth interaction and udaan counseling is to help individuals find out who they are , their purpose, their gifts, and help them walk in the path that of a human being with strong ethics and ethos . We our own self are the best teacher and once a person is connected with their purpose and their calling they will not be happy or content with anything else outside. Individuals and students are able to learn far faster than in normal teaching settings as the focus is on purpose of life as the center of all things. Once purpose is at the center, things are in balance. Once balance is obtained individuals and students are able to learn more, retain more, and learn to become a part of the solution. This is true for children, youth and adults. One is just a little bigger than the other and perhaps older, but the needs are the same.

UDAAN HELPLINE CENTRE

Udaan counseling center (a counseling center for youth issues) started on 1st July ’08 at head office’ vidhyut nagar. A team of energetic youth under the guidance of renowned physiatrist, counselors, experienced lecturer solves issues. Udaan deals in various issues students face, few pertinent problems are: emotional, career, family and friend, study related, sexual, behavioral adjustment, tension and depression, memory, physiological, lack of concentration, drug rehabilitation.Careful listening is the largest part of what udaan counselors do. We make sure students must share the problem areas in their own terms and help them define what they wish to do next. We actively offer suggestions for further ways of investigating or begin to resolve the problems; sometimes we are less interventive and let the work proceed more at the students pace.Udaan Basic counseling is offered free of charge to students as part of the udaan- a youth organization designed to help them make most of their life. If students need more specialized or more intensive support than the udaan counseling center can refer to an outside service. Some of these are free of charge; others do take a charge.In present scenario, seeing a counselor doesn't mean you are ill. However, where there are some symptoms of illness - depression, anxiety etc. - counseling can be helpful. Counselors will not treat you as a sick person, but rather as someone going through a bad time.Udaan counselor profiles are:

Name of Counselor -Field of Expertise

Ajay Krishna sharma -Study and time management
Aswani khandelwal body -building , nutrition n diet
D.P.Madhu -career counselor
Dr. Sanjay agarwal -Law and dispute related issues
M.L.Goel -Over all student behavior
Nitin pal singh -art of living teacher
Rampal vidhyabhaskar- Moral n social values
Ravi goenka -public speaking n spoken eng
Surkesh sir -company law, managment eng
Vrindavan das ji -Spiritual guru

LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU

With its growing size of operations and the expenses & costs involved in propagating the ‘Vision of Udaan’, we strongly feel that the pocket money of the members and donations from some like-minded individuals would not suffice. Today we look forward for the continued support and encouragement of many more individuals and organizations alike, so that Udaan may not die out of financial constraints but keep touching hearts and changing lives of many more youth.
ALL FOR ONE
cheerz!!