Lynne Azarchi

LYNNE AZARCHI is the
 Executive Director of the Kidsbridge Tolerance Center in New Jersey. It is
 the only youth-oriented tolerance center in the US. The center focuses on
 providing an immersive learning experience for children from kindergarten to
 eighth grade around the strategies of bullying prevention, diversity
 appreciation and respect. In this interview with
 EMMA IVATURI,
 Lynne talks about Kidsbridge, key principles that every classroom carries,
 and the importance of empathy in a learning environment.


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 Q: What are the origins of Kidsbridge?
 



 LA: Kidsbridge
 was started twenty years ago by a young man whose mother was a teacher. He
 started the organization in her honor, realizing that more than ever before
 there was a need to teach children and educators diversity appreciation and
 bullying prevention. We started with the concept of a multicultural museum to
 teach children about respect and kindness, and ten years ago the museum
 opened. It is now called the Kidsbridge Tolerance Center. Since then, we have
 built upon the original concept with activities that address kindness,
 respect, sensitivity to people with disabilities, victim empowerment for
 bullying, and being an UPstander.



 As the years have passed, we have adapted in order to keep up with the fact
 that society and kids are changing so quickly. As a result of our research and
 assessments, our activities have improved a lot. For example, we had a Kid
 Heroes room, but then learned from our research that not every kid feels that
 they can be a hero, so that activity evolved into being about personal
 strengths and working with others as a team. Other activities have evolved
 from teachers’ comments or parents saying something.



 By listening to people, and supporting our activities with research, the
 Kidsbridge activities are now research-informed and evidence-based. We can
 show statistically significant improvements in empathy, empowerment, and moral
 reasoning as a result of our programs. We do assessments and make sure each
 activity is effective.


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 By listening to people, and supporting our activities with research,
 the Kidsbridge activities are now research-informed and
 evidence-based.
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 Q: What is an UPStander, and how do you encourage every child to be
 one?



 LA: We start with
 personal strengths. Kids self-identify with the things they’re good at, so we
 help them discover how those individual strengths can be used in some way to
 be an UPStander. Not everyone can be a leader, but they can help others as a
 follower or a supporter. We have an activity where we provide strategies and
 tactics on how to approach a bullying or name-calling situation.



 We’re hoping that when kids come to the Center feeling, “I can’t do this, this
 is too scary, I’m not prepared,” they will practice skills and tactics. Then
 they will start to think about the challenges in advance, so that when an
 UPStander opportunity arises, they are ready. Then they can work together with
 their peers and adults.



 With teachers, we arm them with the latest research and activities, so that
 they can create caring classrooms. Anybody can be an UPStander.



 Q: What are some of the principles you use when working with
 children?



 LA: Many schools
 have assembly programs and classroom programs to address bullying, but the
 research indicates that these programs don’t work. I call it “finger wagging.”
 So, what happens in an assembly, if you say, “Okay, bullies, stop bullying!



 Targets, go tell an adult. UPstanders, intervene”? I think that kids already
 know the right things to do, but they’re not practiced in them, and they’re
 afraid to do them because of peer pressure. So this is why our pedagogy is
 very effective.



 The pedagogy of Kidsbridge is small face-to-face group discussions and
 activities – no electronics, interpersonal – because that’s how kids learn. So
 they learn from our activities, our scripts, our wonderful facilitators, and
 they also learn from each other.



 We work with The College of New Jersey’s Psychology Department. The college
 students administrate pre- and post-surveys, and the data are analyzed in the
 psych lab, so that we know whether our activities are working or not. We hone
 our activities as a result, and they are now evidence-based. We see a
 statistically significant improvement in attitudes like empathy, empowerment,
 moral reasoning, stereotype awareness and religious diversity.



 Last semester, we did a Heartfulness and Mindfulness activity with the kids,
 and we are very proud to include this activity. Why? Because research says
 that children are increasingly under stress and that’s very upsetting.



 Having statistically analyzed the effects of the program, we can proudly
 report that the Heartfulness and Mindfulness activity significantly reduced
 stress. The results show that the survey participants demonstrated significant
 improvements in three aspects: Observe, Accept without Judgment, and Act with
 Awareness. The results imply that this new program is beneficial for both
 middle and elementary school students.



 Q: What are some of the benefits teachers have reported in their
 classrooms?



 LA: Children report
 that they feel more comfortable standing up, that they know what to do next
 time, and that it’s not as hard as they thought it would b e .


Here are some quotes from teachers:


 “The students were engaged, on task, and the group was organized. The
 facilitators maintained control and continued to enforce objectives. The
 assignments opened up their eyes to diversity and bullying prevention.”



 “The activities were great for this age group. They learned how to speak to
 others, and who may be different. They also came up with ideas on how to help
 others. I love Kidsbridge! Please come back.”



 “The students really enjoyed the heart and mind role-play. The breathing
 technique was wonderful. Nice calming activities.”



 “The objective was achieved. The facilitators tapped into their background
 knowledge and experience with mindfulness and meditation. The students
 responded well and were fully engaged.”


I found the teachers loved these mindful activities.

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 We see a statistically significant improvement in attitudes like
 empathy, empowerment, moral reasoning, stereotype awareness and
 religious diversity.
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 Q: What are some essential tools for children to develop so they can face
 the challenges in this day and age?



 LA: Let’s
 consider the types of problems we see today. Increasingly, Muslim children are
 bullied and harassed. Of course, they get support from home, but we’re hoping
 to teach them and their teachers how to respond when they’re teased and
 bullied, using some of the strategies.



 We have taken strategies from The Youth Voice Project by Charisse Nixon and
 Stan Davis, who researched what works for kids: Make a joke, walk the victim
 away, make a distraction, go to an adult. So we really focus on strategies
 that are useful for Muslim children, gay children or children of color, as
 bullying and cyber bullying are especially increasing for these children.



 It’s also important to energize the teachers, so they feel confident with a
 teacher’s guide and follow-up activities to take back to their classrooms so
 as to create a caring community.


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 And with the increase in bullying and cyberbullying, (and the pressure of
 increased testing), Heartfulness and Mindfulness are even more important than
 ever today. The kids are more often online, anonymous, and some of them feel
 fearless in being mean online. Kidsbridge recognizes how important
 Heartfulness is in providing our children with tools to calm down, breathe and
 focus on what is important, so they don’t feel overwhelmed or hurt themselves.


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<h4 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-illustrations-by-arati-shedde">
 Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE
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Can learning empathy prevent bullying?

Lynne is an authority on the new science and consciousness, an award-winning author, and the architect of the Intention Experiments. A highly sought after public speaker, Lynne has also appeared in many documentaries. She is editorial director of What Doctors Don’t Tell You, and is consistently listed as one of the world’s 100 most spiritually influential people.

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Lynne McTaggart

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">LYNNE McTAGGART is one of the central authorities on the new science of consciousness, and the award-winning author of seven books, including the internationally bestselling The Intention Experiment, The Field, The Bond, and The Power of Eight. Here, Lynne is interviewed by PURNIMA RAMAKRISHNAN about the transformative power of intention, the profound impact of group intention, and the potential for individuals to create significant change in their lives and the world.</h4>&nbsp;Q: Lynne, welcome. You are known for your pioneering work in the science of intention in <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-journey-of-total-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">consciousness and healing</a>. You’ve explored this science behind intention so deeply. Can you share how you personally define the power of intention?&nbsp;LM: Okay, well, first of all, it’s important to understand that our thoughts aren’t locked inside our heads. They’re trespassers, and they can go out and affect other people and things. We’ve seen that from countless studies on everything from single-celled organisms to human beings. In my own work, I’ve seen that we can affect everything from making plants grow faster, to purifying water, to lowering violence in war-torn and violent areas, and even healing people of things like post-traumatic stress disorder. And I’ve seen it in big groups and small groups. Essentially, thoughts are energy, just as everything else in the body is a collection of energy and energy fields of different varieties. And those thoughts can go out and affect things.I see an intention as a focused thought. You and I are having about 80,000 thoughts a day, and most of them are undirected, most of them are negative. And they oftentimes undermine our life because we’re focusing on negative outcomes, instead of intending for what we want.So, I always teach intention as a respectful and very specific request to the universe. And I find it gets amplified in small and large groups.Q: During your intention experiments, have you encountered any surprising results? Are there poignant moments, epiphanies, which have made you stop and think? What has defined or redefined your expectations of these intention experiments?LM: I think many of the peace intention experiments really surprised me. I wasn’t at all sure they were going to work when we started in 2007. We started with simple things, trying to affect the light emissions of a leaf. And then we moved on to seeds, trying to make them grow faster. And then we moved on to water, trying to purify water, then trying to lower violence in areas.My first experience of something mind-blowing was the seed experiments. I did my very first seed experiment in 2007 when I was speaking in front of an audience in Sydney, Australia. I worked with the University of California’s Dr. Gary Schwartz, a noted psychologist who has a special laboratory with the Laboratory for Consciousness and Human Evolution. He prepared four sets of seeds, each set with 30 seeds, and had his team photograph them and send them to me. And I showed these to the audience and allowed them to select one of the four seeds to send an intention to. So we sent an intention to seed group A for ten minutes. After we were done, I called Dr. Schwartz and told him we were done, but I did not tell him which seeds we sent the intention to. I told him as that was the cue for him to plant the seeds.Five days later they measured the seeds. After they’d measured them, I unblinded the study and told them which seeds we’d sent an intention to. And lo and behold, those seeds grew taller than any others.We did this five more times in different locations with different-sized audiences. And every single time the seeds that were sent an intention grew taller than the controls. But here’s the fascinating part—I was with my audience in Sydney, Australia, and the seeds were back in Tucson, Arizona, 8,000 miles away. Plus, we weren’t sending an intention to the seeds themselves, only to a photograph of the seeds, a symbolic representation of the seeds. So I realized from that very early time that we essentially create a psychic-internet when we make an intention in a group scattered around the globe. That I could see over and over again with the other intention experiments.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Essentially, thoughts are energy, just as everything else in the body is a collection of energy and energy fields of different varieties. And those thoughts can go out and affect things.</h4><hr>Another one that blew my mind was a Sri Lanka peace intention experiment we ran in 2008, when Sri Lanka was in the midst of a 25-year civil war. We did a peace intention for 10 minutes a day over eight days with 15,000 people participating from around the globe. Now, during that week, to my alarm, violence went up rather than down. And I had a professor of statistics doing the analysis. It then plummeted after that. But a more interesting thing happened. The government won a few decisive battles during that week that turned around the entire course of the war. For some time, both sides had been at a stalemate. Then, within a few months, the government was able to take back the north, which was held by the rebel forces. And a few months later, that 25-year intractable war was over.Now, did we do this? Well, it turned out that during the week of our intention pivotal battles occurred, and that was cause for an extraordinary surprise. When you do one experiment like that, it means nothing. There are too many variables in a war. But when you keep doing it and keep getting results, as we’ve done with peace intention experiments, they start becoming interesting.For instance, in 2017, we ran an experiment to lower violence in St. Louis, Missouri, officially the most violent place in America. And we chose a neighborhood called Fairground that was the most violent of all. We had very accurate police data. I once again asked Dr. Jessica Utz from the University of California to analyze data from several years beforehand to six months afterward, to look at the effect of our intention. She found that violence had been going up in all areas of St. Louis, and continued to go up everywhere except the neighborhood we intended where violence went down by 43%. And so it’s happened over and over again.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp" alt="intention-revolution2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp 110w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp 353w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_intention_revolution2_38d89b0431.webp 529w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I always teach intention as a respectful and very specific request to the universe. And I find it gets amplified in small and large groups.</h4><hr>Perhaps the one that amazed me the most is an intention experiment I did that same year, at the end of 2017, with eight Arab cities and a large audience of Israeli Jews. I had special equipment so we could put cameras in eight different locations in Arab cities. Each different Arab city had an audience there. And the ninth camera was with an audience of Israeli Jews. I asked them all to make an intention to lower violence in an area of Jerusalem that was suffering from a high degree of violence.Before that, I had to broker the entire thing, as nobody was speaking to anyone else. They started talking, because I could call on the different places. They would talk to me, and then they would also communicate with the people in all the other locations. And they started sending love to each other, they started sending “Your God is my God,” talking about beautiful visions of people coming together from both sides. There was a big love fest. I found that every time I put together polarized and hated enemies, they seemed to come together after these intention experiments.Since 2008, I’ve run 41 intention experiments, and 37 have shown measurable significantly positive effects. I also surveyed the people involved, and for those who responded, about 40% have reported more peace in their own lives. They’re getting along better with estranged partners or parents or children. They’re getting along better with bosses and coworkers. They’re feeling more love for everybody, and around 50% consistently report they feel more love for everyone they meet.Essentially, they’re hugging strangers and peaceful things happen in their lives. Also, about one-third have reported an improvement in a health condition or a downright cure. So that is the biggest and most amazing effect, the mirror effect of these intentions: the people who are sending intentions are being healed as much as the targets.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">So that is the biggest and most amazing effect,&nbsp; the mirror effect of these intentions:&nbsp; the people who are sending intentions&nbsp; are being healed as much as the targets.</h4><hr>Q: I was blown away by the seed experiment. How has the scientific community embraced this, or conversely, what are the challenges you’ve faced to try to share this with them?&nbsp;LM: I'm not interested in the scientific community because they aren’t going to accept it. Scientists are supposed to be explorers and very few of them really are. There are a lot of reasons for that. People lose their positions at universities for stepping out of the accepted paradigm. So I don’t need to convince scientists. There are enough scientists who are true explorers, who are fascinated by my work, and who have helped to measure the work.I work with people at prestigious universities to run the intention experiments—Princeton, Penn State, University of California, University of Arizona, and others in Europe. I choose people who are open-minded enough to do decent research.There are skeptic organizations who attack my work, but they attack it in the flimsiest of ways. My book, The Field, had more than 400 solid scientific references. I had interviewed exhaustively—frontier physicists, biologists, etc.—and had them check every last fact in that book to make sure I had written it correctly. The skeptics have said the book was based on nothing more than Star Wars, which is just incorrect, close-minded, and ignorant.So, I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in getting this information out to people so they can understand that we have extraordinary capabilities waiting to be unleashed, and we are very different from what we are told in mainstream orthodox science.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp" alt="intention-revolution3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp 214w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_intention_revolution3_b56b5be71b.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Orthodox science is only 300-plus years old, and new studies and discoveries are being found in universities, in little pockets of academia here and there, that are completely transforming the way we think about ourselves and our world. And we’re far greater than we’ve been told!Q: Thank you for that very candid response. For someone who’s intrigued by your work, who’s curious about your work, and who wants to start applying this <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/how-to-manifest-peace" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">power of intention</a> in their own life, how can they begin?LM:&nbsp;They can join my community and my website. When they join, they receive some basic tools and information about how to do intention and how to form a group. They can also read my books. <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-intention-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Power of Eight</a>, the last book published on this topic, has basic descriptions of how to do intention in a group. For people who really want to learn more, I have a whole series of foundation courses.I also have a <a href="https://lynnemctaggart.com/courses/intention-masterclass/the-power-of-eight-intention-masterclass-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">year-long masterclass</a>, my kingpin course, where I work with people live and interactively for a year. Participants start working in groups after six weeks, and each group meets once a week. Under my instruction, they use intention for relationships, for health and healing, for finances and career, and for life purpose. There’s specific information and instructions, and I coach them throughout the year.So there are all kinds of things at all kinds of price points, including free, and every intention experiment is free. I feel everybody should be able to participate.Recently, Gaia released a documentary about my work with large and small groups, The Power of Eight, plus the intention experiments. They interviewed the various scientists who’ve worked with me, and numerous people who have had extraordinary healings with The Power of Eight, too. And it will culminate in an intention on February 1, 2025. I’m going to have a live audience at Gaia’s headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, and we’re also going to livestream it around the world.It's an invitation. So everyone can take part by going to <a href="https://lynnemctaggart.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://lynnemctaggart.com</a>, where there are instructions.Q: I am really looking forward to it.To be continued.

 Unleashing our extraordinary capabilities

The intention  revolution

Madhu is a long-time Heartfulness practitioner and trainer, who works at Kanha Shanti Vanam in PR and security, and as a personal secretary to Daaji. Earlier, he worked in the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh’s office and has won numerous award in public service

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Madhusudan Reddy

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<h4 style="text-align: justify;">MADHUSUDAN REDDY&nbsp;explores the role fear plays
 in holding us back from success. He also shares some tips on how to overcome fear and develop courage and
 confidence.</h4>
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Everybody wants to be successful, but we succumb to things that are hurdles on the path
 of success. Though our hearts aspire for success, there is always some fear consciousness deep inside that keeps
 pulling us back. So if the fear is removed at the outset, we will come closer to success.
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">The whole world&nbsp;sometimes kills your enthusiasm. 
 In those times it is better&nbsp;to follow 
 your inner voice than listen to others.
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We have fear of failure, fear of enormous future. We fear people may ridicule us – that
 either we are too old for the job or too young and immature, that we don’t have the required qualifications or we
 are inexperienced, that we lack the intelligence. Thinking that we are inadequate in some way, most of us lose the
 opportunities we have in hand. When we hide behind such pretexts, opportunities are closed to us.
How to get rid of fear and fill yourself with courage? Take time and question yourself:
 What is the cause of my fear? Why am I taking shelter behind these pretexts? If you want to be successful, taking
 risks is unavoidable. So how to take those risks now?
The whole world sometimes kills your enthusiasm. In those times it is better to follow
 your inner voice than listen to others.
When you are in complex situations, even if others discourage you by saying it is
 useless, continue to try. Think on your own. Once you understand the facts thoroughly and take the risk, it can pave
 your way to success. But make sure that on your own you try to understand the situation. Once you understand the
 situation thoroughly, you will be able to take the right decision and never lose the opportunity that you have.
You may as well fear quick success, not failure, because if you want to multiply success
 it is unavoidable that you will face failure. Do not lose courage when you fear the loss of face you may have. You
 may fear that you will lose your reputation, or you may not have courage to speak in a meeting because you think
 everybody will laugh at you. Instead say to yourself that the future is full of best prospects, that you will
 certainly reach the goals you cherish, that you will face any kind of situation courageously, and then you may
 witness everything happening in your favor.
Gradually courage will become a part of you, and there will be no place for fear, anxiety and negativity inside you.
 Even when there is a challenge or a problem, you will not need to develop courage afresh. All fears and doubts will
 disappear. We are all inherently powerful but somehow we are discouraged by what others say.
If you observe carefully, all power is within you.
All the help that you require is also in you.
If you think you are successful, you will become successful.
If you think you are a failure, you will become a failure.
So chose what you want to be.
What is courage?&nbsp;Courage allows us to transcend all kinds of fears – fear of death, fear due to discomfort in
 the body, fear of hunger, fear of insults, fear that others may disagree, fear of evil powers, fearing other’s
 anger.
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<h4>From Fear to Courage</h4>
<ol>
 <li>When the mind is pure you will naturally feel courageous. When you lose this
 purity many things create fear.</li>
 <li>If you believe in yourself and respect yourself, you become courageous.
 Self-confidence removes fear. Instead of thinking about weaknesses, focus on your strengths.</li>
 <li>Subtle intelligence works like a medicine that cures diseases. Try to acquire the
 self-knowledge that removes fear. Constant practice helps to overcome all sorts of challenges.</li>
 <li>Develop right thinking and you will not even fear death. Lord Krishna in the
 Bhagavad Gita says, “Duty if done without any desire even in a small way will protect us from the greatest
 fears.”</li>
</ol>
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Cultivate a pure mind, a moral life, self-confidence and mental restraint in daily life,
 in order to live happily devoid of fear. Courage can take you to heaven in a moment. Do not run away from the
 difficulties in life; difficulties&nbsp;run away and vanish when you&nbsp;face them boldly.
Desire, anger, greed, pride, illusion and envy create a lot of fear, taking frightening
 forms and restricting consciousness. They do not allow you to reach your goal. In the ancient texts they are
 compared with poisonous animals such as sharks, cobras, crocodiles and scorpions. In order not to be influenced by
 them, do some spiritual practice that will enable you to digest all these poisons. Then you can get to that urn of
 immortality, the nectar. Face your enemies within.
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Use the tears of your eyes to cultivate your
 dream. 
 Convert that which is burning you into a lamp and 
 encourage the heart to share the light. 
 Wake up! Your destiny is calling you. Fear nothing.
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Life is a struggle for everyone. Success lies only in that struggle. Set your first step
 on the mountain; take things head on; have a strong hold on your way to the goal. Those stones that stop you can be
 your foundation. Mold those who chase you to grow to move forward.
Use the tears of your eyes to cultivate your dream. Convert that which is burning you
 into a lamp and encourage the heart to share the light. Wake up! Your destiny is calling you. Fear nothing.
If it is day, the sun says, “I’m there,” if it is night, the moon says, “I’m there,”
 blessing us with the necessary courage. Therefore, when fear knocks open the door of courage.
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When fear knocks

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<h4>MADHUSUDAN REDDY explores how success comes through discipline, and provides
 simple effective ways of cultivating that discipline in daily life.</h4>
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Beautiful dreams, pure thoughts, a simple personality, and sustained self-confidence are
 important qualities of every successful person in this world. But beyond these qualities, that which guides every
 human life, from the most famous to the simplest, is discipline. In this era, when the world has become a global
 village, the stark reality is that we are witnessing a progressive deterioration of discipline, discrimination, and
 values.
Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens, and youth is the backbone of any country. Are
 our student communities and youth losing their vitality?
Nature is the first school of any human being, and teaches so many lessons in life: for
 example, the skill of a spider in weaving its web; the patience of ants in constructing an anthill; and the way a
 mother bird teaches her babies to fly. Behind all this is discipline-filled action. There is no life that does not
 involve discipline. Rewards, awards, and accolades are not the things that make us recognized by this world. If Sachin
 Tendulkar and Lionel Messi have such huge fan followings today, it is because their personal discipline has made them
 who they are.
Some people argue that success can be achieved through talent without discipline, but
 that sort of success is temporary. So if discipline is critical to reach the shores of success, why do we lack it?
 Here are some thoughts:
Our lack of meaningful relationships in this age of the nuclear family, single-parent
 families, and internet-based living.
Our education system is mostly confined to book-reading and churning out students as
 rank-producing machines. We have not yet developed a value-based education policy, although the UN has done so and
 people are now waking up to the need for it.
Many youth have gone headlong into the addictive culture of social media, ragging, drugs,
 alcohol, and sex, forgetting their goals and aspirations.
Where respect for mothers, fathers, and teachers was earlier cherished, they are no
 longer automatically respected. They need to earn respect. Everything is being challenged.
Every day we read about so many crimes in our newspapers: students attacked by acid,
 others who are victims of ragging etc., and all these actions are symptomatic of a lack of discipline and respect for
 others. Students come to the cities to become IAS or IPS officers, but they forget their goals, having no thought for
 their parents’ hardships. They are attracted to the open urban culture, but even if society needs to change, is it the
 best way?
Think about it. If you try to demonstrate against corruption, as an ordinary person,
 nobody will listen to you. If you give instructions as a disciplined officer, however, things can happen in no time.
 It is discipline that made Gandhi a Mahatma in the eyes of the world. Edison was a successful person because of
 discipline.
A boy who had a newspaper run went on to become Abdul Kalam, the President of India.
Discipline was vital to their success. Discipline is not just for securing success in
 examinations, but it is the prime quality to achieve anything in life. Here are some ways to cultivate that
 discipline:
Let your everyday routine start with discipline. Say you plan to wake up every day at
 4:30 a.m. For two days, you wake up with the help of an alarm. On the third day, make a commitment to automatically
 wake up at 4.30 a.m. without the help of the alarm.
Time is of the essence. Recognize how much time you are wasting, and work to make the
 most out of every minute in a day.
Time cannot be saved like money and needs to be utilized properly.
Reduce your dependency on distractions Examples of these include the 5 Cs: Cinema,
 Cricket, Cable, Chatting, and Cell phone.
We are the product of the people with whom we surround ourselves. It is important to be
 with people who motivate us to be our best.
Forget about your weaknesses. Keep trying. If there are no results, don’t feel
 disappointed. Even if success is late, the happiness that comes out of it is everlasting. Even if the path is full of
 thorns, overcome them with your efforts; forget about problems when you are on the way to achieve. The world itself
 will be following you, glorifying you.
All the best.<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/secret_success2_2453aab2c1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T05:21:26.529Z" />

<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by MADHUSUDAN REDDY</h4>
<hr>

The secret of success

<img class="has-img-center" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/ritual_gold_1_992f055845.jpg" />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">In conversation with MADHUSUDHAN REDDY</h3>
<h4>At a young age, MADHU has already made a difference in his native Telangana, India. He is a modern-day karma yogi,
 dedicated to the service of others.</h4>
Q: Madhu, tell us why you have chosen a career in
 social service. 
MR: I have always been passionate
 about social service and involved in service activities since my student days. I am also a founding member of a couple
 of service organizations – the Hrudayaspandana Foundation and Pariniti Unite for Rural Development (PURE).
The aim of the Hrudayaspandana Foundation is to help poor people receive quality medical
 services to treat severe life threatening diseases, with special focus on heart problems. PURE provides holistic
 services to village dwellers, from improving their farming practices to quality education and hygienic lifestyle.
During my student days I convinced many people about the importance of organ donations,
 and out of those 15,000 went on to pledge eye donations. I also organized several blood donor camps and primary
 medical camps in urban and rural areas, in collaboration with the NTR trust and the Red Cross. In addition to this, I
 participated in social responsibility campaigns and found lifetime donors for over fifty orphaned children.
Q: How did you get into this work?

MR: From my childhood I have been
 fascinated with helping the needy. This brought me into service activities from a young age. During my school days, I
 would spend my savings to pay for the needs of very poor children. Later, I started participating in service
 activities in collaboration with NGOs.
Now I have started a couple of NGOs with the help of many friends and well-wishers.
 Through the Hrudayaspandana Foundation, we have organized successful heart surgeries and vascular intervention
 treatments, and through PURE, we have adopted three villages in Telangana and are putting all our efforts into
 improving the standards of education and lifestyle of the children and women. We plan to extend our participation into
 women’s health and agriculture extension activities.
<img class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/service2_df1aa7734a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T09:50:23.066Z" />
Q: Tell us more about the village you have
 adopted.
MR: PURE has adopted the village
 of Chegur, in Rangareddy District. Our first initiative is to upgrade the government schools so that they are on par
 with any corporate school.
The first school has been decorated and reorganized in line with the beautiful village
 of Shilparamam (a famous arts and crafts village created in Hyderabad), and the teachers, staff and students are very
 excited about their new environment. We distribute two school uniforms, geometry boxes, school bags, notebooks and
 shoes to all 650 students of the school.

<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">God created us equal, but situations might have
 intervened to make us less fortune or more fortune.
 I feel that it is very important for us to demonstrate
 our true brotherhood and share what is with us.
</h5>

<hr>
PURE has also provided those facilities that are found in corporate schools, including
 clean drinking water, clean toilets, a good kitchen, smart boards for every classroom, modern computer labs and
 science labs, with the latest furniture for staff and students. The school grounds have been planted with many plants
 to make the environment greener and contribute to a healthier, happier learning environment. With a firm will to offer
 a high-quality education, digital classes have been organized. To expand the vision of the students, guest lectures
 are being organized by experts from various fields.
We plan to employ teachers to encourage and prepare the students for higher education in
 the near future. The second phase of development will begin once all the schools are upgraded.

<img class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/service2_df1aa7734a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T09:50:23.066Z" />

Q:What has helped you personally to develop a
 caring, sharing attitude towards others who are less fortunate than you?
MR: Some incidents from my
 childhood provoked me to be more caring for those who are less fortunate than me. God created us equal, but situations
 might have intervened to make us less fortune or more fortune. I feel that it is very important for us to demonstrate
 our true brotherhood and share what is with us. This is the only thing that gave me true joy during my childhood.
Q:If you were to give three tips to people on how
 to develop love and compassion for others humans, what would they be?
MR: I believe that compassion is
 in the character of every human being. We just need to get rid off greediness. When we realize that we are from one
 creator, we understand that there is a divine relationship among us. Then we experience true joy in serving other
 human beings. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of
 others.”
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Interviewed by ELIZABETH DENLEY</h4>
<hr>

A life of service

<h4
 id="h-madhusudan-reddy-shares-some-ideas-on-how-to-approach-our-goals-so-that-they-become-more-achievable-he-also-explains-a-way-to-respond-to-success-and-failure">
 MADHUSUDAN
 REDDY
 shares some ideas on how to approach our goals so that they become
 more achievable. He also explains a way to respond to success and
 failure.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Victory and success are melodious events in everyone’s life. Success can
 be understood as a smile emanated from the innocent strings of our
 heart. The perennial freedom we experience in life is a clear symbol of
 success.



 Sheer hard work and determination are glittering reflections we can
 observe from the history of successful people. Despite many challenges,
 they overcame all their problems and remained as a mountain amidst the
 sea. They could withstand the pressure of turbulent waves and reach the
 destination of success.&nbsp;



 The American industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, joined the steel sector as
 a laborer at 11 years of age and rose to the top level. He also helped
 100 other people to become billionaires. His determination helped others
 grow. A famous musician once received a standing ovation from the
 audience, who surrounded him afterward to share its appreciation. One
 lady approached him and said that it would have been marvelous to have
 had such skill bestowed upon her by God. The musician replied, “It is
 not an impossible task, nor did I bring it along with me at birth.
 Practice with focus for ten years and you will become a perfect musician
 like me. The only thing required for this is practice.”&nbsp;



 So, invest hard work to give shape to your dreams. We can excel if we
 put in hard work. If we fail to reach the expected results, we can try
 to refine our efforts, introspect upon our mistakes, and see to it that
 they do not recur in future. We move forward in the direction of
 attaining our goal.&nbsp;



 If there is no chance to improve the results, we can tutor our mind that
 we are benefited only up to this extent.&nbsp; If that is done, we
 prevent the experience of depression. We remain energetic despite
 half-baked attainments.&nbsp;



 Phased efforts will yield good results. Put in all-out efforts and leave
 the result to God. Fill your heart with this feeling, as thinking about
 the results will consume valuable time.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Working hard is good,
 but the
 source of that hard work is thought. Fill your mind with good
 thoughts, and you are bound to receive good results.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Work hard, and believe in hard work to achieve your goal. When the
 results come, don’t club your analysis with the elements affecting the
 work. Defeat is also a lesson. There is no need for overwhelming joy
 upon success and depression upon failure, nor a need to attribute them
 to other factors. &nbsp;Real victory lies in receiving success and
 defeat with equal breath.



 Don’t waste minutes, because many minutes make an hour, hours make days,
 days make months, and months make years. Wasting time has its own
 adverse impact on performance. Utilize time properly and become
 victorious.



 Working hard is good, but the source of that hard work is thought. Fill
 your mind with good thoughts, and you are bound to receive good results.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />



<img alt="success2-700x905" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/success2_700x905_45cb4b1efe.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:16:09.153Z" />



<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 There was once a person who was very frustrated in life. He reached
 Delhi Railway Station filled with depressive thoughts that death was the
 only solution to his problems. Because his train was late, he turned his
 attention to a book stall, and in his loneliness he noticed one book. He
 thought, “Let me finish reading this book before I leave this world.” He
 selected a page randomly from that book, and as he read he found a
 change – his feelings and face were bright. A magical power surrounded
 him. His joy knew no boundaries.&nbsp;



 That journey to his village began shaping him into a great personality.
 This person, who went from ground zero to become a great social
 activist, was none other than Anna Hazare. He received laurels by
 developing his village as an example to other villages in the world.



 Do not focus too seriously on failures. They are quite natural. They add
 beauty to life. How can we imagine life without failures? Struggles give
 us strength. Where is the melody of life without these struggles? Do not
 feel belittled by failure. Try a thousand times. Even then, if you come
 across failure, try again, so that success is eventually yours.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Feel your goal as your
 life, and think deeply on it. Invite
 dreams on it, work on it, and try to fill every muscle and nerve
 of your body thinking about your goal. That creates a path to
 success.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 All the power of the universe is within you. We close our eyes with our
 own hands, then cry that darkness exists. Be aware that darkness does
 not surround us. Simply remove your hands so that, right from the
 beginning, you can experience the illuminated world. There is no
 darkness.&nbsp;



 We label ourselves as worthless, weak persons. Do you know how many
 capacities, innumerable strengths, and potential magics are embedded
 within you? Where is the scientist who knows our full human potential?
 Only a microscopic part of it is hitherto seen. So don’t try to degrade
 your personality. How will you come to know how much more is yet to
 surface? Behind you, there is a sea of power. Those who realize this
 become victorious. Visualize the process of evolution from an ameba to a
 human being. Who created this? Is it not your own self-determination?
 Still, do you say that your self-reliance is without any power? The
 strength that brought you up to this level can further improve your
 personality. The character that strengthens your self-determination is a
 quintessential element.&nbsp;



 We all aspire for one thing in life, victory. We do not invite defeat in
 either our intellectual or our spiritual paths. But only a few taste the
 flavor of success, though everyone invites victory. Some of us
 experience middle-level success, while many experience defeat. First,
 decide what you want to become. Then, put in your all-out efforts. It is
 important to note that mistakes are committed by everyone, not only the
 people who experience defeat. The defeated ones leave the work at a
 point where they observe it to be critical.



 We may commit mistakes now and then with the sheer ambition of reaching
 the goal successfully. Such mistakes have no impactful effect on us,
 because we never think they won’t come in our way. We have witnessed and
 studied many wars in history. They armies experienced defeat on both
 sides. Successful persons are always above the feeling of victory or
 defeat.&nbsp;



 To achieve success, you need focused direction, effort, and
 self-determination.&nbsp; Success is yours if you fix the trajectory of
 your focus and your journey. Try to understand and realize what you want
 to achieve. Find ways and means to reach that goal. You can reach it no
 matter how big it is. Divide the goal into sub-goals and allocate
 definite timeframes, whether one week or one month, and complete the
 tasks. Then you will come out victorious.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<img alt="let-success-be-yours" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/success3_ver2_700x917_a0dca73a0d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:18:20.306Z" />

Let success be yours

<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h4>
 MADHUSUDAN REDDY
 share some insights on the
 value of concentration in bringing about success in any field, and also how to cultivate it.
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



“All strength is within you.&nbsp; Believe in this.&nbsp; Do not think you
 are weak.&nbsp; Stand up and express the power within you.&nbsp; The only weapon to express this is
 ‘concentration’.&nbsp; Please note it.”



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h3>What is
 concentration?</h3>



To create love and interest for the goal you select is concentration. It is also enthusiastic eagerness and
 curiosity. If you do not evince keen interest in the work you select, will you concentrate?&nbsp; It equally
 applies to education. The happiness and enthusiasm reflected in your personality will amplify your capacity. You
 can achieve success in any field with the help of improved levels of concentration.



To enhance concentration, develop absolute love for your goal, followed by education, industry, and maintaining
 control. There are no magical or mystic tactics available. Searching for an easy track to boost concentration
 can be compared to lighting a lamp to see the darkness. It is illogical and ridiculous to assume that
 concentration will be created without enthusiasm.



Recently, a few people have said to me, “I am not able to recall anything I studied.” Concentration and memory
 are interdependent. Variability in levels of remembering can be directly attributable to dithering and
 differential concentration levels.



Slapdash interest is the prime reason for loss of concentration. We watch a movie or a cricket match on
 television without any disruption or pause when we love to watch it. We don’t show the same interest when
 watching programs we don’t like. “Liking” and “disliking” play a crucial role in determining the level of
 concentration.&nbsp;



<h3>How to
 concentrate&nbsp;</h3>



To achieve healthier concentration levels, cultivate the seeds of good thoughts and deeds in the garden of your
 heart strings, by tidying and weeding out unwanted thoughts.&nbsp;



To evolve good thoughts in your mind, follow the thrilling stories of great people.&nbsp; It will push you
 gradually in a forward direction.



<hr class="vertical-space1">


<div class="block-image">
 <figure><img decoding="async" width="700" height="509" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/concentration2b_700x509_f1d9f02c61.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-27T10:20:51.956Z">
 </figure>
</div>


<hr class="vertical-space1">



It is not possible to invalidate all the thoughts in your mind at once.&nbsp; Even if you stop thinking for one
 moment, it is an achievement. So, catch hold of some good thoughts from the beginning. Then endeavor hard to
 accomplish success in your chosen areas.&nbsp; You will experience tremendous happiness when you notice that
 unwanted thoughts are tossed out of your mind. This experience of happiness is unparalleled.



To achieve all this, try to learn yogic meditation.



Concentration happens when you thwart your mind from numerous distractions. Immense power is generated in your
 mind once you can concentrate. The power is spawned from within you.&nbsp;



Concentration is possible when you focus on one thing. Then you will not feel overtaxed with work. Start by
 attempting it. Automatically, the practice will become a habit. Through continuous industry, you will raise your
 level of concentration.



Your mind has great strength and power. Just as the rays of the sun passing through a lens can ignite a fire,
 your mind also can surpass your expectations when it is concentrated on the field of your choice.&nbsp; &nbsp;




Initially I believed that aggression must exist to achieve my goals. But with age, that idea has gone out of my
 mind. Aggression takes away strength; only with a quiet and undisturbed mind will you achieve the preferred
 results.



Our shastras remind us that extravagance in anything is hazardous and unproductive, whether it is eating in
 excess, sleeping in excess, or talking in excess. Great people have achieved success only by devoting time in
 silence.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 To achieve
 healthier concentration levels, cultivate the seeds of good thoughts and deeds
 in
 the garden of your heart strings, by tidying and weeding out unwanted
 thoughts.&nbsp;
</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



You may observe that control of your tongue is very crucial in achieving anything. You will control your mind if
 you control your tongue. It will greatly help you to achieve your goals with increased levels of concentration.




Simply, concentration is the power you provide your mind to make sure it thinks along the lines you desire. Try
 to increase your levels of concentration while listening in class or at work, the same way you concentrate on a
 movie or a book you really like.



<h3>Education and
 learning</h3>



While learning, increase your focus toward the content you read and listen to. The mind needs to be aware, and
 for this it is important to keep your mind clean, just as you keep your surroundings hygienic.



Then, apportion a certain amount of time to reading your book – an hour, for example – and completely devote your
 time toward that content only.&nbsp; It is not effective reading if you are hasty and simply refer to the
 contents.



Concentration is required for both referring to and reading a book. Referring to a book may result in a certain
 level of understanding, whereas a complete reading may result in a much deeper understanding. This deeper
 understanding will enhance your interest in reading further. If you have questions, or require clarification,
 discuss with others.&nbsp;



None of us like all things. All colors do not attract us. Similarly, school students may not demonstrate equal
 interest in all subjects. Nevertheless, it is important to try to give attention to them all, keeping the future
 in view. If you start reading with interest about a subject you have neglected, you may develop a fondness for
 it.



A well-known person who demonstrated these qualities of concentration was Vikram Sarabhai, the physicist and
 astronomer who is regarded as the Father of the Indian Space Program.&nbsp; He conducted research on cosmic
 rays, gravitational force, and various planetary motions. In reply to a question posed by a journalist regarding
 the secret behind his success, he replied that it was possible only with sheer determination and concentration.




<hr class="vertical-space1">


<div class="block-image">
 <figure><img decoding="async" width="500" height="559" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/concentration3_2260c7c78c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-27T10:20:39.561Z">
 </figure>
</div>


<hr class="vertical-space1">



So, even a great scientist says that his work is possible only with the concentration! Some students become
 scared of studies, foreseeing difficulty, and the fear ringing in their minds will take away half their zeal to
 study and work. It is the prime reason for a decline in concentration. If we allow depression, complaint, and
 frustration into our minds, progress will decline. Meditation, physical exercise, and yoga are very important
 ways to maintain a sense of well-being and enthusiasm.



The major foes to concentration are living in the past and anticipating the future. We often do this. So try to
 remain in the present and concentrate on your agenda – success will be yours.



By concentrating all these powers, we can unearth all the knowledge in the world. We just need to be aware
 how to know. There is no limit to the talent of human beings. Simply learn how to focus it on a single
 point. That is the secret behind all this.

The first step to success

<h4>MADHUSUDAN REDDY is passionate about the future of the children of India, and urges parents to take the time to love and shape them so that the whole country may benefit.</h4>India has such an ancient tradition of respecting elders, parents, and teachers.&nbsp;But unfortunately, we are now witnessing a situation contrary to that culture.&nbsp;The reason is our own neglect. A famous quote says, “It’s easier to bend a plant than a tree,” which means something that cannot be bent in the budding stage can never be bent. Parents and carers have the role of teaching their children values, like respecting elders, cooperation, aptitude toward learning, maintaining discipline and peace from early childhood, but it requires time and patience.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Parents and carers have the role of&nbsp; teaching their children values, but it requires time and patience.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Today, parents find it hard to spend 4 to 5 hours a day with their children, so the children feel alone. As a result, they are drawn to many enticements and unwanted cravings. Then, parents also suffer. In contrast, what happens when parents give their children what is good for them? What happens when they support them in all matters and provide guidance and advice?&nbsp;Let me tell you a story. A couple went to Taj Hotel with their daughter for lunch. They ordered vegetable soup for her, but when the soup arrived the girl said to her mother, “Mom, I can’t drink this soup.” Her mother called the waiter and requested him to bring mushroom soup instead. The waiter brought the mushroom soup but the girl said that she couldn’t drink that either.&nbsp;The girl’s parents chided her harshly. The girl was sobbing and said, “The soup is very hot, how can I drink it without a spoon?” The parents had scolded her without understanding her difficulty, and the reason was lack of communication. No matter how small the problem, if children learn to open their hearts and talk, they can successfully solve many problems in life.&nbsp;An English child says, “I can achieve anything.” An American child and a European child say the same. Can our Indian children say the same? Even the parents of our children can’t say that. In other parts of the world, parents instill confidence in children from the beginning. It can be said we do not have that here.&nbsp;Parents have a great psychological influence on their children. What happens when they rebuke them, pointing out that they are not good at studies, they are they are not coming first? From childhood, parents, carers, and teachers confine their minds to a limited sphere by saying “you can’t do this, you can’t do that,” so enthusiasm melts away. Not every student can secure first place. Does it make the others worthless or insignificant? Children may prosper in many areas.&nbsp;So look to your children’s talents and skills. They may not all do extremely well in studies, but they may become good artists, singers, poets, sportsmen, or politicians. Guide your children in the direction where their interest lies. Explain to them gently. If you think their direction is not correct, also speak gently so they understand you better. Then let them decide. The world’s greatest intellectuals like Einstein and Thomas Alva Edison were expelled from school. Everyone can do something creative – that is the secret of our creation.&nbsp;Many parents spend large amounts of money for their children’s education, anticipating a bright future. Do they also attempt to know what habits their children are adopting while studying? Ninety percent of parents fail in this.At first, habits are delicate like a spider’s web. As time passes, these habits bind us like iron fencing and steel ropes. So, it helps to inculcate good habits from childhood. To nurture them, parents must also follow them. Personal and social cleanliness, discipline, punctuality, working with a sense of cooperation, respect for elders, kindness and humility in behavior are some of the fine qualities to be adopted from childhood. Mostly, it is parents’ responsibility to inculcate these in their children. In Japan, some institutes are also taking the responsibility, giving proper training from childhood to produce good citizens. Schools there are also traveling on the same path.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Our_childrens_Future2_d8b0dc47c1.jpg"></figure>Today, many people think that intelligence and virtues are inherited, and that without them it is impossible to achieve success in any field. Knowingly or unknowingly, parents and teachers plant such ideas in the minds of children. Truth be told, children brought up under the guidance of the best teachers can reach a high level in any field. And the best teachers aren’t those who possess doctorate degrees or awards. It is enough that they love as a mother loves and understand the subject. If a teacher gets angry and blames the students for every little thing, what will be the future of those children? Today, 70 percent of teachers take good care of students who flourish well in their studies and ignore those who are lagging behind. The foundation of a child’s future is not stable when it is built with such insecure bricks. It is better to develop the talent of each child in their specific field.&nbsp;Many parents feel their responsibility is over when their children start school. Sometimes they shower love and give money when it is asked for, without asking why that money is required. Sometimes they get angry and do not help their children. Some parents compare their children with others and belittle them for falling behind, damaging their self-confidence. The behavior of parents is perplexing for children and has a strange effect on their minds. Gandhiji said, “There is no school equal to a good home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.”Appreciating and rewarding good work are good traditions, but showing love to children does not mean letting them behave as they like. Restraint is essential in the process of shaping children. When they are disciplined for their mistakes, they will realize those cautions are for their good, and will not be dissatisfied with the way they are treated. Parents need not be too strict nor too lenient, avoiding extremes. &nbsp;We see envious behavior in children now and then. If a mother appreciates one child, the other feels jealous. So, when parents give everything on an impartial basis, be it food, love, or care, their children will feel happy.When parents show a loving and empathetic attitude, and become worthy of admiration, children imitate them. Children are full of potential to channel their inner capacity in the right direction according to the love and moral guidance given to them by their elders.&nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Children are full of potential&nbsp; to channel their inner capacity &nbsp;in the right direction according to&nbsp; the love and moral guidance&nbsp; given to them by their elders.&nbsp;</h4><hr>A mother’s love is extremely important for the healthy emotional development of her children. Among those who observed this was René Spitz. He brought to light the death of 34 children in an orphanage, explaining that “The children have all the facilities they need, except a mother’s love.”&nbsp;Today, children develop a lot of mindsets and values from movies and TV serials. If the parents are viewing the TV, the children will follow suit. It is not that everything on the screen is bad, but experience shows that it fails to bring about a desired change in people.&nbsp;The tender hearts of children are like fragile seeds. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to see such tender hearts blossom like jasmine. And the development of any country depends on the strength of its youth. So think about your children and spend time with them.&nbsp;

Our children’s future

Mahatma-Gandhi.jpg

Mahatma Gandhi

Needs not greed

Real wealth

Mahek is a psychologist at the Turning Point Rehab, Surat, India. She holds a Master’s in Forensic Psychology, London, has worked at Birmingham Prison, and after practicing CBT at victim support NHS, UK, she moved to India.

Mahek-Pathan.jpg

Mahek Pathan

MAHEK
 PATHAN
 explores the physical, mental, emotional, and social impacts of
 addiction on individuals and their families. Mahek is a psychologist
 with the Turning Point Rehab. She holds a Master’s degree in Forensic
 Psychology and has worked in the UK prison system. After practicing
 CBT at victim support in the NHS, UK, she moved to working in clinical
 psychology in Surat, India.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 The Personal and
 Social Impacts of Addictive Behaviors



 People suffering from addiction experience many different life
 complications. When they start abusing drugs and alcohol on a day-to-day
 basis, they have physical health complications, such as
 liver cirrhosis, heart problems, lung diseases. I have seen clients
 coming in who have lost a crazy amount of weight, because of daily
 consumption of drugs and alcohol.



 There are also a lot of
 mental health issues, like depression,
 anxiety, substance-induced psychosis, where they experience
 hallucinations or paranoia. I see people experiencing PTSD,
 post-traumatic stress disorder, as well. Alcohol and drugs actually have
 a very great impact on both physical and mental health.



 Addiction also leads to spiritual bankruptcy. I have seen clients who
 have been raised in a decent household, never lied, never cheated, never
 done anything wrong, then once they become addicted, they lie to their
 parents, and steal money from their homes. It creates a lot of problems
 with interpersonal relationships among family members.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />
 <img alt="thriving-addiction2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thriving_addiction2_378055a6d3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:50:56.561Z" />
 
<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 I have seen people getting violent, physically aggressive, abusive, and
 negligent after abusing alcohol and substances. Even when they are not
 abusive, they have a role to play in the family, and negligence can also
 have a severe impact. Addiction is a family disease; if it impacts an
 individual, it impacts the entire family.



 When clients complete a rehab program, it’s better if they stay in the
 recovery phase for some time. But it’s very difficult for their families
 to believe that they are recovering. When a client goes home, family
 members often say things like, “Look what you’ve done.” This adds to
 their problem, especially for those suffering from PTSD. It’s very
 complex. It affects the entire family dynamic. As Dr. Deshpande says,
 “Love, care, and empathy really work wonders for the entire family.”



 The Role of
 Rehabilitation



 Addiction is a chronic disease. It is something that must always be
 managed as long as one is alive. As soon as the clients admit they need
 treatment, there are different forms of therapies available.



 Rehabilitation seems to be the best treatment program, because it helps
 not just to physically abstain, because the substances are not
 available, but also provides a safe space for the person. Rehab is a
 place where there is motivation, and where a counselor is always
 available.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img alt="thriving-addiction3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thriving_addiction3_068e42b7dd.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T10:51:54.613Z" />
 
<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 After the detox comes counseling sessions, group therapies, and family
 counseling sessions. Even after the client has completed the
 rehabilitation program, support groups and meetings really help.
 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, hypnotherapy, etc., also work
 wonders. Even after a client has completed a rehabilitation program,
 regular counseling sessions will help them understand deeper inherent
 feelings, thoughts, and processes.



 People who are addicted usually suppress their feelings. So, we teach
 our clients to express their feelings in a healthier manner so that they
 don’t have to depend on substances to deal with them. I think this helps
 to maintain their recovery for a very long time.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center"
 id="h-we-teach-our-clients-to-express-their-feelings-in-a-healthier-manner-so-that-they-don-t-have-to-depend-on-substances-to-deal-with-them-i-think-this-helps-to-maintain-their-recovery-for-a-very-long-time">
 We teach our clients to
 express their feelings in a healthier
 manner so that they don’t 
 have to depend on substances to deal with them. I think this
 helps to maintain their recovery for a very long time.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 I also understand that addiction is actually about personality. It’s not
 about the substances. A lot of people use drugs for recreational
 purposes, but only certain people get hooked. An addictive personality
 has the tendency to get hooked, so they also find substitutes for the
 substances as well. For example, if they try to leave alcohol they may
 get hooked on cigarettes. I have seen a lot of clients who have actually
 changed their addiction to something more positive, for example, social
 work. They engage and engross themselves in something that is more
 rewarding and has a positive outcome on their lives.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4>

<hr />

Thriving after addiction

Mamata, a long time Heartfulness meditator and trainer, is the social media editor for Heartfulness Magazine. In addition to her work as a content editor and creator for Heartfulness, she also owns Yellow Door Communications, an agency that helps companies bring their brand narrative to life through social media and content creation. Mamata is based in London, United Kingdom.

Mamata Subramanyam.jpg

Mamata Subramanyam

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
 oh, there i am – lost
</h2>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 years ago, i began a very long game of hide and seek. i
 looked in every nook and i scavenged every cranny to try and find where
 i might have been hidden.



 i thought i was concealed behind the fast-fading highs of
 success. i was adamant that i existed in the hearts of those who
 never stayed.



 in my blackest state of loneliness i had given up all hope, and
 believed I was lost for good. in that dungeon of rock bottom a voice
 that sounded suspiciously like my own made its way through the
 cracks of my beat up, battered soul.



 kindly, but firmly she whispered to my heart: “my dear, you have looked
 everywhere, when all along, you were here.”



<hr class="vertical-space1" />


<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h2 class="has-text-align-center">
 oh, there i am – found
</h2>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="400"
 height="518"
 alt="oh-there-i-am-2"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/oh_there_i_am_2_a873fdbc53.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T05:44:36.473Z"
 />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 a few days ago i glanced into the mirror and was surprised to
 find a stranger peering back at me. who was this girl eyes
 bright with joy, smile full with excitement, spine straight with
 confidence, spirit strong with conviction?



 those brown eyes are shaped like mine. and that smile belongs
 to me. when she stretches her spine i grow taller. the more she
 speaks my spirit grows bolder.



 the deeper i go the more i am surprised to find i was never
 going to be found in any nook or cranny i was hiding in me all
 along.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM</h4>

<hr />

Oh, there i am

<h4
 id="h-mamata-venkat-looks-back-over-the-last-year-which-has-been-full-of-tragedy-and-finds-the-moments-of-light-and-laughter-that-bring-joy-and-celebration-to-life">
 MAMATA VENKAT
 looks back over the last year, which has been full of tragedy, and finds the
 moments of light and laughter that bring joy and celebration to
 life.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Here are a few statistics I recently heard on an episode of the
 Hidden Brain podcast:&nbsp;


On average, children laugh 300 times a day.

It takes adults two and a half months to laugh as much.

Adults stop laughing around the age of 23, once they reach working age.


 I’m an adult (theoretically). I laugh a lot, don’t I? I think I do. I think I
 laugh many times a day.


Actually, I don’t.&nbsp;

What is stopping me from laughing more?


 And why does it take difficult moments to realize how much we take joy,
 laughter, love, and people for granted?


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="I-take-laughter-granted2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/I_take_laughter_granted2_b1b4adb621.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T10:46:43.598Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This realization sticks with me harder than ever in a year our family has been
 hit with several successive months of sudden loss. It has been overwhelming
 trying to make sense of the grief that we never, ever, expected to experience.



 As you slowly start to shake off the shock and heaviness of loss, you
 resurface to find that simple things like jokes, humor, and laughter still
 exist. They are still allowed to exist. And every moment that you get to soak
 in that joy from laughter feels almost medicinal, a soothing reprieve from the
 pain that reminds you that, yes, even in the midst of deep, overwhelming
 sadness, you are still allowed to be happy.



 Laughter has been the light we have let in during a year that has often been
 quite dark. It has come in many forms:



 In the staring contests I have over entire weekends with my young cousins, who
 will giggle at just about anything.



 In a story my dad shared shortly after my grandfather’s funeral, about the
 time my grandfather waved merrily to a driver who was giving him the finger
 because he thought it was a friendly American gesture.



 In the heated board and video games that my nephews pull me into, which have
 me cracking up because of their smack talk.



 In the inside jokes shared over the phone amongst friends that keep us
 satisfied until we can all be together again in person.



 In the Friends reruns that my niece and I enjoy, which still make us
 laugh in all the same spots.



 In the moments my mom and I dance around the kitchen to our favorite ’90s
 country songs that have us sharing twin snorts because she always forgets the
 lyrics.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img alt="I-take-laughter-granted3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/I_take_laughter_granted3_1_8ee7f53d87.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T10:50:07.794Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 I will allow myself to laugh with the innocence of a child,
 straight from the heart, with abandon and without
 fear, with gratitude for every person in my
 world, and full of appreciation for simple humor,
 joy, and celebration of life.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 This last year has so painfully and beautifully cracked my heart wide open and
 has taught me to let the light in and appreciate every moment to its fullest.
 I can’t speak for everyone, but I know I often take the simple things for
 granted.&nbsp;



 Forget the adult statistics; I will never, ever, take laughter for
 granted again! I will allow myself to laugh with the innocence of a child,
 straight from the heart, with abandon and without fear, with gratitude for
 every person in my world, and full of appreciation for simple humor, joy, and
 celebration of life.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4>

<hr />

I take laughter for granted

<hr><h4>MAMATA VENKAT shares her experience of attending an extraordinary event near Hyderabad, India – the inauguration of a vast new meditation center in honor of 75 years of Heartfulness.</h4><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KSV_6_4796cabe05.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T13:06:09.098Z" alt="a-new-era">On a cool, windy morning on Tuesday, January 28, the Hyderabadi sun slowly cast its light over 40,000 Heartfulness practitioners quietly sitting together in meditation at Kanha Shanti Vanam Ashram. Heartfulness was celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first organization, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, with the inauguration of the world’s largest meditation center. This was to be the first of three separate seminars – the first from January 28th to 30th, the second from February 1st to 3rd, and the third from February 7th to 9th. All in all, 100,000 people attended the three seminars. Seekers from around the world had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this momentous occasion. In the days prior, they came in waves, filling up the newly-constructed dormitories with suitcases, laughter, and a readiness to absorb the subtle meditative condition that was pervading the dusty Indian air.On the inauguration day, Daaji was joined on stage by Yogrishi Swami Ramdev, the co-founder of Pantanjali Ayurved. Swamiji Ramdev sat peacefully with Daaji as he conducted meditation sessions over the course of the three-day celebration, and also demonstrated his extensive knowledge of Ashtanga Yoga to the audience. He shared a few yogic techniques with the audience, explaining the purpose of each, and encouraging the practitioners to utilize them in times of need. He later expressed his enthusiasm and joy to be part of the celebrations.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KSV_2_45eb58ff6a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T13:06:54.300Z" alt="Daaji-Swami Ramdev">At the end of his visit, he said, “Though I am leaving physically, Shri Ram Chandra Mission will be in my heart, mind, and soul forever. And those who have not yet come to this spiritual path, they, too, will eventually find this because it is the very goal of life.”During the second seminar, the ashram was graced by the presence of a number of government dignitaries, including the President of India and the First Lady, Ram Nath Kovind and Savita Kovind. A long-time practitioner of Heartfulness, President Kovind expressed his appreciation for the growth of the Heartfulness movement:“I am glad to see that Shri Ram Chandra Mission has been promoting both individual change as well as social change. The Mission is promoting the great ancient tradition of Raja Yoga, meditation in the modern world. This campus, Kanha Shanti Vanam, presents a model of holistic living.”<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KSV_4_5c0f481536.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T13:07:48.802Z" alt="Daaji-Ramnath Kovind"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KSV_3_8845bf7de6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T13:08:50.708Z" alt="a-new-era">Kanha Shanti Vanam Ashram has experienced significant evolution in the last year, evolving into a beautiful and peaceful utopia that is enjoyed by all. Visitors not only have the chance to utilize the meditation facilities to deepen their inner condition, but they also have ample opportunity to explore each part of Kanha’s 1,400-acre grounds, including the Yatra Garden, many organic vegetable and herb gardens, medicinal gardens, the HFNlife shopping area, Fausto’s Italian Restaurant, the extraordinary children’s playgrounds, the cottage industries, and Books &amp; More, Kanha’s central bookstore. In the evenings, everyone was treated to musical performances from both classical and modern artists.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/KSV_5_affe5f3d22.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-07T13:09:42.815Z" alt="a-new-era"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Article by MAMATA VENKAT</h4><hr>

A new era

<h3 style="text-align: center;">GENERATION NOW</h3>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>MAMATA VENKAT celebrates the season of romantic love and reminds us of the
 importance of self-love for a successful relationship.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
Let me preface this article by saying that I am no expert when it comes to love and
 relationships. My experience with love comes from years of watching corny (yet satisfying) romantic comedies filled
 with escalating conflicts between two main characters that an audience knows are destined to be together, and a few
 personal, immature experiences with “love” that ultimately ended up being fantastic learning lessons.
It’s February, the month of Valentine’s Day. Stores burst with red and pink cards and
 chocolate boxes and mushy signs of love. Televisions play commercials of fresh-faced partners surprising their loved
 ones with engagement rings from jewelry stores with discount deals. And couples are all abuzz making plans with
 their significant others for the most love-filled day of the year.
I am at an age in my life when many of my close friends are either in serious
 relationships, are engaged or married, or are settling down and starting families. Phone and texting conversations
 are now filled with sleuth-y discussions on when a significant other might propose based on a hint that they dropped
 about a trip in January; single friends ask coupled friends how they knew their partners were “The One,” then weigh
 the pros and cons of getting on dating apps versus arranged marriage; and pregnancy announcements with
 cleverly-crafted captions and colorful gender reveals now fill my Instagram feed. This phase of life was inevitable,
 and yet I am surprised by how suddenly it has crept up around me.
I am the single friend that often asks her coupled friends how they knew they were ready
 to be in a relationship or get married. I collect data from everyone – from my parents’ thirty-year relationship, to
 my best friend’s nine-month courtship, to the friends that went from high school sweethearts to a family of four.
 And while all of them have vastly different stories of how they knew their partner, there is one common thread in
 all of their answers: in order to find love with someone, they first had to find love within themselves.
No relationship is successful, my friends and family always say, if you can’t be your
 own person, develop your own perspective, and become fully comfortable in your own independence. While the current
 “self-love” movement can often feel somewhat saccharin, there is so much validity in it – in learning as much as you
 can about yourself and creating settlement in that before trying to engage with another person.
<img alt="love-and-relationships" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/love_relationships2_ff5c72dd11.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T06:33:47.537Z">

I am guilty of not focusing on myself enough. In the past, whether it be in a romantic
 relationship or in friendships, I have been known to give and give and give and, in that unhealthy process, lose
 myself. I’m sure many of us have been in this boat, or are currently in this boat, and are unsure of how to make the
 change.
So how do we break this cycle? I’ve been trying to do a better job of “dating myself”:
I go on walks by myself.
I spend full days alone cooking, reading, researching, and
 meditating.
I write in a diary, often asking myself questions that I
 would ask a partner or a friend.
I visit spots in New York City on my own, and challenge
 myself to do things by myself that I would normally do with friends.
I put extra effort into my practice of Heartfulness, which
 ultimately allows me to feel the most connected to myself.
These small moments of self-love are enough to allow me to continue to do more research
 on myself, to understand what I want and what I need, and to ultimately make those wants and needs the foundation of
 my individual. The more I learn about myself, the easier it feels to hold my own ground and not feel consumed by
 other people’s perceptions and perspectives. And I know that the more solid I feel as an independent individual, the
 healthier of a contributor I will be to any relationship.
So, in this sweet season of love, I hope we never forget to take interest in ourselves
 even when it feels challenging and to give ourselves love first in the best and most positive ways.
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by MAMATA VENKAT 
 Illustrations by JASMEE RATHOD</h4>
<hr>

Love and relationships

<h4>MAMATA VENKAT shares 6 simple time management tools you can apply that will help combat the stress that comes with balancing multiple priorities at work.</h4><hr>I burst into tears the other day after a long day at work. A few projects hadn’t worked well, roadblocks prevented me from moving forward on some tasks, and I hadn’t slept well the night before, leaving me exhausted and spaced out. Normally, these things wouldn’t overwhelm me, but combined, they made me feel like a hare-brained mess, and I questioned my ability.Unmanageable days are normal. Often I pile work, stress, and emotions so high that by the time I realize how overwhelmed I am, the pile is already quickly falling around me. If only I had enough arms to catch everything! Knowing that life will always throw several things at me, I decided to be preemptive about the way I handle the stress of it. That way, even when I can’t fully anticipate chaos, at least I will be inwardly still, prepared to handle anything. As my mom always reminds me, it often comes down to time management.So here are 6 simple hacks that can help preempt even the most stressful days, if you practice them consistently:&nbsp;<h4>1. Have a regular routine.&nbsp;</h4>While disruptions are normal, there are things about our routine that we can control. Small things, such as waking up at the same time, having three to four hours in the morning before we start work, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time. All these will help set your internal biological clock and make your body feel more at ease.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/eat_5ba01cbc4b.png?updated_at=2023-04-10T08:01:14.742Z" alt="eat"><hr><h4>2. Schedule 30 to 60-minute work blocks, then take a 15-minute break.&nbsp;</h4>Especially because of remote work during the pandemic, the pattern of working without taking breaks has become normal. This unhealthy pattern can lead to faster mental and physical burnout and lower work productivity. Scheduling dedicated work blocks, then schedule a 15-minute break to get up, stretch, hydrate, and give your mind a rest.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/stretch_26ab6ab7dc.png?updated_at=2023-04-10T08:02:41.328Z" alt="Stretch"><hr><h4>3. Reduce meeting times.&nbsp;</h4>Have 15, 30, or 45-minute meetings, so that you leave time to manage deliverables. My days can be filled with back-to-back meetings, forcing me to work late into the night to complete my actual work.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/reduce_meeting_time_5f68028549.png?updated_at=2023-04-10T08:03:57.961Z" alt="reduce_meeting_time"><hr><h4>4. Get your steps in!&nbsp;</h4>Don’t take your body for granted. The less you take care of your physical health, the more worn out you will feel. Even 10 minutes of exercise a day can make a huge difference. Try scheduling your work breaks around some exercise.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/exercise_0faef2ff90.png?updated_at=2023-04-10T08:05:27.139Z" alt="exercise"><hr><h4>5. Make mental health a habit.&nbsp;</h4>Mental wellness is just as important as physical wellness. Exercises like meditation will help you to regulate the emotions and thoughts that create stress, anxiety, and other negative reactions, so it is easier to meet tougher days in a more balanced state.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditate_678a835dc9.png?updated_at=2023-04-10T08:06:41.951Z" alt="meditate"><hr><h4>6. Sleep, sleep, sleep!</h4>Do you operate with the incorrect assumption that you can function on little or no sleep? Sleep is <a href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/sleep-2/">critical to purifying and restoring your system</a>. Try to get the recommended 7 to 8 hours sleep each night.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_90e9fbbf5e.png?updated_at=2023-04-10T08:08:09.596Z" alt="Sleep">&nbsp;

6 simple way to make your workday more manageable

<h4
 id="h-mamata-venkat-manages-external-communications-and-public-relations-for-anthem-s-global-chief-information-office-through-personal-reflection-she-talks-about-how-negative-emotions-especially-anger-have-driven-her-to-consistently-invest-time-in-her-whole-health-and-well-being"
 >
 MAMATA VENKAT
 manages external communications and public relations for Anthem’s
 Global Chief Information Office. Through personal reflection, she
 talks about how negative emotions – especially anger –have driven her
 to consistently invest time in her whole health and
 well-being.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Several situations helped me realize I was doing a terrible job of
 putting myself first. In my twenties, I couldn’t see how unhealthy some
 of my relationships were until I quit them; at one moment I couldn’t
 manage my anxiety, and nearly lost a job because of it; my body felt
 exhausted when I didn’t nourish it with food and sleep; I felt burned
 out because of work stress and anxiety; and I was generally trying to
 exist. But the realization of how little time I was investing in myself
 did not come from any of these specific moments. Instead, it came from a
 feeling that still surprises me: anger.
 

 
 The isolation of the pandemic forced me to do some self-reflection that
 helped me own and rectify my shortcomings, but in parallel came the
 realization that my baseline emotion was often deep anger. I was angry
 at everything: at friends and family who had said hurtful
 things to me months or years ago; at times when I had been too scared to
 stand up for myself, letting people walk and speak all over me; at loved
 ones whose constructive criticism I took too harshly; at the pandemic
 for pushing me out of New York City; at everyone else for everything,
 because it was easier than trying to change myself.
 

 
 I would spiral through thoughts, all with the end goal of wishing that
 people who had walked all over me would come back, fix how I was
 feeling, and give that positive energy back to me. I wanted
 them to invest in me the way I had been willing to
 invest in them.
 

 
 I would hear how negatively I’d speak to myself, constantly shaming and
 reprimanding myself for being human. I could never speak to my best
 friend in the critical, deprecating way I would speak to myself, so, why
 was it okay?
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 By “being your own best friend,” you’re less inclined to
 live your life based on other people’s standards.
 Instead you are motivated to live the life you 
 have always wanted.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 There was a period when I attended regular therapy sessions (I highly
 recommend them). I spent several sessions venting my frustrations about
 others, and my therapist would patiently listen and validate my
 feelings. But when I was ready to really listen, she said to me:&nbsp;
 

 
 “Remember that game kids play, hot potato? Someone would play music, and
 kids would pretend to throw an invisible hot potato from person to
 person, and whenever the music stopped, the person holding the potato
 was out? Blame is like a hot potato. It’s fine to toss it from person to
 person, but the music has stopped, and right now you’re the one who is
 feeling the burn. And if you’re still feeling the burn, that means it is
 your responsibility to figure out how to stop it.”
 

 
 Wellness experts and Instagram influencers are constantly posting photos
 and videos captioned with 2200 characters of self-love and self-care
 words intended to motivate us to set aside our insecurities, seize the
 day and “be your own best friend.”&nbsp; By “being your own best
 friend,” you’re less inclined to live your life based on other people’s
 standards. Instead you are motivated to live the life you have always
 wanted.
 

 
 As someone who regularly posts lengthy motivational captions on my own
 Instagram page, I’d be a hypocrite if I balked at any of these
 ubiquitous self-love posts. However, I still feel uncertain when I read
 or write such posts, like there is a part of me that is looking for the
 validation that I am allowed to put myself first. Can I really invest
 energy in myself? Am I allowed to do that?
 

 
 This is a discussion I have been having with colleagues and friends–
 especially my female friends. Many of us still feel that internal
 tug-of-war of enabling others’ needs and perspectives versus empowering
 and honoring what feels natural to us. Why do we have such a hard time
 putting ourselves first? And why does it take a real struggle for us to
 realize that we have been depleting ourselves?
 

 
 For me, a lot of it comes from a people-pleasing mentality that is both
 cultural and innate. I often operate with a fear that if I don’t do what
 is asked of me, or what the people I care about expect of me, then I’m
 failing. That is where I have derived a lot of my value. That is also
 where I have derived a lot of my anger.
 

 
 For years I have minimized my inner voice so much that when I finally
 was able to see a 30,000-foot view of my reality, the only thing that
 felt in my control was putting blame on everyone and everything else.
 That anger consumed me so much that it took me a long time to recognize
 that the better, healthier solution was to be present for myself.
 

 
 So, how am I learning how to be my own best friend? It’s a work in
 progress. These are five things that have been helping me feel a little
 closer to my most authentic, natural self:
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="700"
 height="1754"
 alt="5ways-your-own-friend-infographic"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/5ways_your_own_friend_infographic_700x1754_ce1ec4f3bc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T13:08:14.714Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Get to know yourself. Figure out what makes you feel
 whole. Allow room for growth. Allow room for change.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 My therapist gave me the hot potato metaphor when I was twenty-four. I’m
 almost thirty now. I still carry that wisdom with me in the moments I’m
 inclined to play the blame game rather than take responsibility for my
 own growth.
 

 
 Your relationship with yourself is the most constant and important
 relationship you’ll ever have. It may take time to realize that, but
 when you do, start the work. Get to know yourself. Figure out what makes
 you feel whole. Allow room for growth. Allow room for change. You are
 allowed to put time and energy into yourself. You don’t need
 permission. In fact, you just should.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="224"
 height="162"
 alt="5ways-your-own-friend3"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/5ways_your_own_friend3_1c10f0c21b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T13:09:16.232Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

Listen to the influencers: 5 ways to be your own best friend

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <spanundefined
 >MAMATA VENKAT opens up about the
 challenge of finding self-compassion and self-acceptance in a world of
 judgment and criticism. She also offers 10 tips from her own experience
 about how to cultivate a self-nurturing approach to life.
</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h3 style="text-align: center">
 <spanundefined style="color: #c7a10a"
 >FINDING YOUR COLORS AMIDST THE BLACK AND WHITE
</h3>
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <spanundefined
 >I want to challenge all of us with a question: Why are we so good at
 being kind to the people we love, but not to ourselves?
 


 <spanundefined
 >Whenever a friend calls me to vent, to talk through a mistake, or to
 self-criticize, I am always prepared with an arsenal of compassionate
 phrases:
 “It’s important that you aren’t so hard on yourself.”
 <spanundefined
 >“You are not a bad person.” “It wasn’t a mistake – it was a learning
 lesson.” “You are an amazing person, and you will grow from this.”


 <spanundefined
 >I soothe, I comfort, I take away blame. I remind them of their worth. I
 encourage them to accept responsibility for what could be better, and at
 the same time to remember that it is okay to be human. I tell them that,
 in every situation that seems black and white, there inevitably is always
 color.


 <spanundefined
 >
 And yet, when the roles are reversed, and it is my turn to feel the weight
 of an error, the cut of an insecurity, or the (completely normal) wetness
 of tears triggered by the overwhelm of figuring out life, I only view my
 world through that black and white lens. I spend hours – sometimes days –
 mentally punishing myself for even the slightest mistake, without leaving
 any room to let the light of Grace in. By not giving myself compassion, I
 limit my ability to create balance, and my world becomes even more
 colorless.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<img
 alt="creating-balance2"
 class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance2_18307e0365.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.345Z"
/>
<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 <spanundefined
 >
 Many of you may probably identify with this. How do we find that healthy
 balance of trying to create our best journeys while simultaneously finding
 the right salves that can quickly smooth the inevitable internal bumps and
 bruises that appear along the way?
 


 <spanundefined
 >I imagine that the forced isolation of a global pandemic has exacerbated
 this for many of us. We have all spent nearly a year attempting to wade
 forward through uncertainty, while at the same time we see the need to
 face ourselves and our shortcomings that need work. Marry all of this with
 physical distancing, lots of global uncertainty, and the usual myriad of
 day-to-day stresses, and
 <spanundefined
 >it becomes even clearer that the need for both balance and
 self-compassion is at an ultimate high.


 <spanundefined
 >
 So in a year when we all deserve a little slack, are we actually giving
 ourselves the Grace and compassion we deserve? In other words: amidst all
 of the black and the white, both internal and external, are we actively
 searching for color?


 <spanundefined
 >I am the first to admit it: I am no artist. Even my stick figures could
 use some work. But I always appreciate a good metaphor, and thinking about
 things that make the dark moments brighter always helps me to create
 balance.
 


 <spanundefined
 >So what does “finding your colors” look like? Here are 10 tips that have
 worked for me:
 

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance4"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance4_cc45b28dc7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.042Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Own the bad moments
</h4>

 <spanundefined
 >They happen, and it’s okay to make a mistake and to own it. It’s okay to
 feel sad, angry, hurt, or miserable, and to own it. It’s okay that we have
 bad moments. They don’t make us weaker or minimize our worth. They simply
 make us human.
 

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance5"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance5_ed4bb38ae2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:35:25.519Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Speak to yourself the way you would speak to your friends and family
</h4>

 In hard moments, take a step out of your mind for a moment, and speak to
 yourself the way you would speak to your best friend. Would you approach them
 with judgment, irritation, or harsh criticism? Or would you give them honesty
 with kindness and compassion? It is important that we recognize our
 responsibility to be a friend to ourselves as much as we would be a friend to
 others.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance6"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance6_4b85d2c596.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:35:25.497Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Reframe “mistake” as “learning lesson”
</h4>

 I have found that when I look at a misstep as a mistake, I have a tendency to
 be even harder on myself. When I instead choose to look at that misstep as a
 lesson to be learned from, not only am I less likely to be self-critical, but
 I am also more inclined to grow from that moment, and to not repeat it.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance7"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance7_f9746aea0b.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:35:25.499Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Take the compliment
</h4>

 Many of us have a tendency to shy away from a compliment. We brush it off
 without embracing it, thinking that we either don’t deserve it, or that it
 will make us arrogant to accept. These days, when someone gives me a
 compliment, I am working on hearing it, pausing to accept it, embracing it,
 and simply saying thank you.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance8"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance8_93eea12701.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:35:25.500Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Give yourself the compliment
</h4>

 Own when you have earned it. If you do a good job on a project, at school, at
 making a dish, or doing something as simple as taking out the garbage, pat
 yourself on the back and give yourself the “good job” you deserve – it is
 completely okay to do this.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance9"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance9_389179b3ef.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:35:25.518Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Throw judgment out the window
</h4>

 In the Heartfulness practice, we often talk about attitudes that are poison to
 our spiritual growth, such as prejudice. Judgment, whether is toward ourselves
 or toward others, is a poison to our growth. The more we foster it, the harder
 it becomes to learn and move forward.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance10"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance10_68ed2e485a.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.040Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Create self-compassion practices
</h4>

 Are there practices that help you feel more grounded in yourself ? For me,
 those practices include meditation, writing in a diary, going for a walk to
 think, and singing. When I need additional affirmation, I often write positive
 words on Post-It notes and stick them around my room. All of these practices
 help me feel closer to myself, and help to heal those moments of self-doubt or
 self-criticism. Find a few practices that help you to feel closer to yourself,
 and allow those practices to center you during difficult moments.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance11"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance11_9783ac372e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.123Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Have vulnerable conversations
</h4>

 Over the years, I have found that having conversations with friends and family
 who are experiencing similar feelings is a helpful way to clear out self-doubt
 and self-criticism. It can be hard to open up and be honest with people about
 insecurities, negative thoughts, or feelings, but by treating this like a
 practice, the easier it becomes, and the more we find healing by relating to
 other people.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance12"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance12_0957bc6a37.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.186Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Push yourself in healthy ways
</h4>

 Something I am trying to do is not to let tough moments derail me – be it a
 mistake or moments of insecurity. Instead, own it and push forward. In the
 past, if I would goof up at work, I would immediately start the process of
 self-deprecation, which would cause a lot of anxiety and find me repeating my
 mistakes. It has taken practice and intentional work to arrive at a place
 where I can own a mistake, be gentle with myself about it, and immediately
 figure out a solution so I can actually learn from the past and not repeat it.

<h4 class="text-center my-5">
 <img
 alt="creating-balance13"
 width="75"
 height="75"
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance13_9a09bee1cc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.109Z"
 />
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Make space for gratitude
</h4>

 The best way to combat the negative is with the positive. In the last couple
 of years, I have tried to find different moments to acknowledge gratitude,
 whether that is in a diary, on pieces of papers, or in words shared with the
 people I care about. While it can be easy to wallow in the bad, it is
 healthier for our mind, body, and soul to focus on what is positive.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<img
 alt="creating-balance3"
 class="w-100 lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/creating_balance3_7a4f53be88.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T13:34:30.343Z"
/>


 Much of this is easier said than done. All of us have our own unique journey
 to take on the path to self-compassion and inner security. As individual as
 our paths are, there is one thing all of us have in common: We all have the
 ability to create color in our lives. We just have to make the choice to do
 so.

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 style="text-align: center">
 Article By MAMATA VENKAT Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL
</h4>

<hr />

Creating balance

<h3 style="text-align: center;">GENERATION NOW</h3>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h4>MAMATA VENKAT shares some practical tips on how
 to create habits out of New Year’s resolutions, and generally how to bring about effective change in your
 lifestyle.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
The start of the New Year often feels like a period of rebirth. It is a reset of the
 clock, a fresh start that allows us to take inventory on the status of the past year, to celebrate its wins, and to
 honor areas of growth and improvement that can be carried into the following year. December seems to be the prime
 month for everyone and everything, from family members to friends to commercials to self-care articles, to ask us the
 ever-pressing and slightly stressful bold-lettered question: “What is your New Year’s Resolution?” 
I am what I call a “recovering resolution-making over-enthusiast.” In the past, every
 time the last week of December came around, I would evaluate my year and write up a very lengthy, very unrealistic
 resolution list. I was determined to stick with it. Come January, I would successfully go gung-ho on my list for a few
 weeks, only to find myself quickly burning out on my goals. March, April, May would fly by, and that long resolution
 list I made back in December would find itself in a corner of my life collecting dust. Discouraged, I would forget
 about my goals completely, resolving that next year would be the year that I tackled all of my resolutions. It took a
 few instances for me to realize that there were two issues with the way I was handling things:
I was doing too much, and expecting too much, all in too little
 time.
I was looking at my resolutions as insurmountable mountains that I
 needed to climb, instead of simply as habit building.
That’s all resolutions are really: habit building. I needed to build my habits in the
 same steady way I built my meditation practice, gradually, with ease, and intentionally. Once I reframed resolutions
 as habits, it became easier to take them off the pedestal and implement them into my routine.
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/start_newyear_right2_ec5bae5802.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:29:37.649Z" />

Here are a few tactics that have helped me build habits throughout the year
<h4>1. &nbsp;Define what your goal is and why it is
 significant. </h4>
What is the purpose of your resolution? Why is it significant in bettering your life? Write it out. It helps to
 understand what it is that you are trying to achieve
<h4>2. What steps can you take to get there? </h4>
Instead of jumping right in, write out actionable steps that you can take to achieve your goal. When I started to
 incorporate meditation into my routine, I first started with five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the
 evening. As I grew comfortable with those five minutes, I kept adding on an additional five minutes until I could sit
 for 30 to 40 minutes. Taking those steps helped to build the habit and improve upon it.
<h4 style="text-align:center;">
 <img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/start_newyear_right3_ef4348b46e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:31:40.123Z">
</h4>
<h4>3. What does success look like for this resolution at one month, three months, six
 months, nine months, and a year?</h4>
What progress would you like to see in yourself with this habit throughout the course of the year? Mile marking goals
 helps to set easy points of achievement throughout the year.
<h4>4. Track your progress.</h4>
Tracking your progress allows you to be accountable for your progress. A few years ago, I took up bullet journaling,
 a record-keeping method that allows you to design how you want to track your goals and to-do lists. I used this method
 as a way to record how I was doing with each aspect of the Heartfulness practice. When I saw how it helped me to keep
 up with my meditation practice, I started to use bullet journaling as a way to manage all of my habits.
<h4>5. Be flexible and allow your goals to change as you and your year changes.
</h4>
Part of habit building is allowing your goals to change and adapt with you as you grow throughout the year. We often
 have a fixed vision of what our end results should be and get frustrated when those expectations don’t meet reality. I
 am learning how to allow for flexibility with those goals, as they evolve in the same way I do.
<h4>6. Willpower, willpower, willpower.</h4>
No goal can be achieved unless you take interest in yourself and apply willpower toward its success. Commit to your
 goal, and don’t stop until you achieve it.
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/start_newyear_right4_6e0bda02ff.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T04:32:34.856Z" />

<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by MAMATA VENKAT</h4>
<hr>

Start the new year right

<h4>MAMATA VENKAT mourns the devastating effect of the virus in New York City, yet is completely moved by the way we are all stepping up and taking care of each other. It is showing us what we take for granted, and how much we value the simple things in life.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
I’ll be completely honest. I stared at a blank Word document for a long time as I tried to compose my thoughts to write this. How can anyone even begin to describe the way the world feels right now? The coronavirus has robbed all of us of any semblance of normalcy. The majority of us are now indefinitely locked down in our homes, while our brave healthcare researchers and workers, including my incredible parents and the majority of my family, risk their lives day in and day out to do their normal day jobs and also treat the overwhelming wave of patients battling the coronavirus, and also frantically solidify a cure to end what has to be the most challenging era of fear and uncertainty that most of us have ever faced.
Sometimes I feel like we are living in a dystopian novel, trapped in an alternate universe without an exit route. Each day, the news becomes increasingly darker and ambiguous, not providing us with any relief of when this situation might end as each country takes every measure possible to curb the spread of this virus. Colleges and universities have moved online for the rest of the year; malls and movie theatres are shut down indefinitely. Business after business takes hit after hit. And social distancing has made many of us feel lonelier than ever: friends and family can only see one another over video chat, if at all, increasing anxiety and depression rates as people get the call to self-isolate and work from home.
My beautiful New York City is currently the epicenter of what feels like a bio-war. Doctors and nurses live away from their families as they work themselves to the bone; hospital beds are running out so fast that the lush green lawns of Central Park are now dotted with white medical tents so healthcare facilities can have more treatment centers for patients; and Times Square, with all of its Broadway shows closed indefinitely and its people-less lanes, is the quietest it has ever been. I don’t know when my home is every going to feel like home again.
This virus has been a rude awakening of all of the things I take for granted: the simplicity of going to the grocery store; taking the Subway to visit my best friend; going to concerts; hugging my mom. I recognize my privilege during this time: I am lucky enough to be safely nestled at home with my family, to be able to work from home, and to take walks and get fresh air when I need it. So many of us aren’t so lucky.
Many of our friends, family members, neighbors, acquaintances, and even enemies and strangers are struggling right now. People have lost jobs, lost homes, and heartbreakingly lost loved ones. Self-quarantine and social distancing have literally uprooted so many lives. But in a time when all of us could theoretically only be looking out for ourselves, I am completely moved by the way we are stepping up for one another.
I was scrolling through Twitter the other day when I read a tweet that at first absolutely broke my heart, but then filled me with so much joy and hope. A man was celebrating his 67th birthday, but because of the coronavirus he was forced to isolate and celebrate alone. When he posted on Twitter asking for a few birthday wishes, the world stepped up, not only showering him with well-wishes and happy returns, but also asking him for his address so that they could send him birthday cards and balloons and treats so that he didn’t have to celebrate by himself. I burst into tears when I read the responses to this man’s tweet.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">In a time in when the majority of us 
cannot be together physically, 
the global community has come together 
to say that ‘together’ is exactly what we need to be.</h5>
<hr>
There have been so many other wonderful moments of kindness, community, and generosity just like this one. People are sewing masks and personal protective equipment for the doctors, nurses, and medical professionals who are risking their lives on the frontline every day to fight the virus. Communities are supporting their local small businesses and restaurants, and those restaurants are turning into grocery stores in order to provide food for people who are struggling financially. CEOs and other business heads are cutting their salaries in half or more to ensure that their employees can keep working.
I have seen people express their grief over losing their job on social media, only to have hundreds of people immediately respond to them with temporary job opportunities to help them pay the bills. Health and wellness businesses have moved their operations online, allowing people to take classes online for free or at discounted rates.
Friends and family members are reaching out to one another to check in so that people feel a little less alone. People are standing out on their balconies applauding our healthcare workers, or singing with one another, creating irrevocable bonds with strangers they probably never thought they’d meet.
We are all directly impacted by the spread of this virus, and yet, we are all stepping up and taking care of one another. These moments of positivity, these sweet acts of kindness, stand out to me more than any grim statistic or news piece. In a time in when the majority of us cannot be together physically, the global community has come together to say that ‘together’ is exactly what we need to be.
<hr class="vertical-space1">
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by MAMATA VENKAT 
Illustrations by JASMEE RATHOD</h4>
<hr>

Together is exactly what we need to be

<h4>MAMATA VENKAT has learnt a lot about herself from playing tennis. Especially, it has taught her to let go of imperfections and move forward in a healthy way towards continuous improvement in all aspects of life.</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1">
I was twelve years old the first time I stepped onto a tennis court, reluctantly encouraged by both my mom and my cousin to take up the sport as a way to strengthen my college eligibility and build my stamina, and also face my aversion of trying new things.
Fun fact: I’m not good at trying new things.
I was skeptical, stubborn, and totally terrified as I walked onto the court for the first time, gripping my dad’s dinky old Head racket in my right hand and my water bottle in the other. And when coach Kent smacked that first ball at me and my return shot embarrassingly soared way over to the other side of the court, I became even more determined to hate tennis and prove that my mom and cousin were wrong.
Spoiler alert: I fell in love with tennis.
Tennis carried me through my teenage years, giving me a sense of confidence that came from feeling strong. When I started playing high school tennis, it also fostered a camaraderie amongst girls my age during a period when we wrongly thought we needed to compete with one another. And I just loved being on the court. I loved inhaling the smell of brand new tennis balls, hearing the sound of the racket smacking a forehand or a volley across the net. I loved the feel of my feet zigzagging across the court as I moved to hit my opponent’s spinserve, the high-fives that my doubles partner and I would share when we won game, set, match. To this day, a tennis court always feels like home.
But I had one major problem on the court: I had trouble letting go.
Raise your hand if you’re really hard on yourself. So it’s not just me, right? Okay, good.
Consistency is key when playing tennis – after all, it’s the only way to keep a match going, to challenge your opponent and wear them down enough that you might have a shot (no pun intended) at winning the point. For the most part I was good at being consistent. But there were also many moments when I’d miss a serve, hit the ball into the net, smack a shot out, or just plain miss the ball completely. And of course, I had to move on to the next shot, while my mind was focused on the error I had made. Mentally, I would beat myself up, wondering why that shot hadn’t been perfect, or why I still wasn’t a good tennis player after all these years. And immediately, my performance would decline. As a (mostly) doubles player, that mentality not only affected my game, but also my partner’s, who had to spend her energy lifting me up and picking up my slack because I was having trouble recovering.
And here’s the thing: I would do this in nearly every area of my life! Whether I made an innocuous error at work, said something that unintentionally hurt a friend or family member, or missed a shot on the court, all I did was hold on to that ‘mistake’, which kept me stuck in my head, filled me with anxiety, and ultimately made it very difficult for me to move forward. It has only been in the last year that I have learned to cut myself some slack. But I still have days when I allow myself to worry too much, even though I know I haven’t done anything wrong.
I’ve done some digging in the last couple of years to try and understand why I’m so hard on myself. I realized that it is because I expect nothing less than perfection from myself in everything. The problem with setting such high expectations is that, more often than not, I and the people around me will end up disappointed.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">I’m human. I’m going to make mistakes. 
The more I recognize that and give myself grace, 
the healthier my relationship is with myself, 
and the stronger my relationships are 
with the people I care about the most.</h5>
<hr>
To help me overcome this problem on the court, my mom would remind me of how Maria Sharapova handled blunders. She would walk behind the baseline, adjust her racket strings, tuck her hair behind her ears, then walk back to the baseline with renewed resolve. She left her mistake behind the baseline and kept moving.
“And that,” my mom would say to me, “is the only way you’re going to win.”
Applying that mentality improved my tennis game significantly, but it’s also a metaphor that is relevant to all aspects of life as I work on not being so hard on myself. I can already see vast improvements. But I’m human. I’m going to make mistakes. I am not always going to be the perfect person, daughter, sister, best friend, acquaintance, worker, or meditator. The more I recognize that and give myself grace, the healthier my relationship is with myself, and the stronger my relationships are with the people I care about the most.
All of us are doing our best, but giving ourselves grace even when we slip really helps. Let’s keep lifting one another up.
<img class="has-img-center lazyload" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/baseline2_22d2cb78b5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T07:30:53.503Z"/>

<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by MAMATA VENKAT</h4>
<hr>

Leave it behind the baseline

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<h4>
 MAMATA VENKAT SUBRAMANYAM explains how heart-based meditative practices have helped her turn feeling
 lonely into savoring alone time.
</h4>
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, a Swiftie, as I am unashamedly proud to be, then
 you can relate to the feeling of hearing her songs and knowing she
 just&nbsp;gets it. The opening notes of a song draw you in like a kid
 in a candy store, the lyrics hit and, “BAM.” Sugar rush. Somebody, something,
 is finally able to put words to the hodgepodge mess of feelings clouding up
 your brain. And she does so to a tune that becomes irrevocably tattooed into
 your synapses, rendering you a little annoyed, yes, but mostly (and most
 importantly)&nbsp;seen.&nbsp;


 I have had many of these revelatory moments with Taylor Swift songs. In
 general, music can be cathartic, and artists like Swift who are very
 lyric-driven can provide us with camaraderie in those deep, dark moments when
 we feel like no one else can understand what we’re going through. In other
 words, those moments of loneliness.&nbsp;


 I have often felt lonely throughout my thirty years of existence. I feel so
 grateful to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family, but, like many of
 us, I have experienced that deep, longing sensation of something missing. I
 can be in a room filled with people and still feel alone. My experiences with
 depression and anxiety have often put me in states of self-isolation, and I am
 guilty of being so reliant on figures and concepts outside of my own intuition
 that when those external reliances aren’t steady or accessible, I lose my
 grounding. I’m not sure how to function without them.


 These are very real understandings that have emerged over the last several
 months as I continue to encourage myself to do the inner work and really grow
 into my individual. Through these realizations have come many truths, but as I
 listened to a new Swift song called, “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” one truth
 became glaringly visible.

The ending lyrics punched me the hardest:

 You’re on your own, kid Yeah, you can face this You’re on your own,
 kid You always have been.


 I realized that I didn’t know how to&nbsp;be&nbsp;with myself. And in
 order to create happiness, it was important that I learned how.&nbsp;


 There are a number of psychological reasons why I struggle with being with
 myself. What I have come to understand now is that feelings of loneliness
 persist because I have not been treating myself as a friend. I haven’t engaged
 with myself with curiosity to understand my likes and dislikes, to feel out my
 interests, to do work beyond the surface to understood who I truly was. I have
 become so used to allowing others to dictate my direction that I don’t know
 how to lead myself.&nbsp;


 The reality is this: while we are surrounded by friends, family,
 acquaintances, even enemies, the only constant in our lives is ourselves. And
 the best way to combat feelings of loneliness is to spend intentional time
 becoming friends with ourselves, the way we would with anyone close to
 us.&nbsp;


 There are several things I have been doing recently to create this inner
 friendship – journaling, reading more books, diving into concepts that had
 peripherally piqued my interest – but it’s really been meditation that has
 helped me the most in turning feeling lonely into enjoyment of alone
 time.&nbsp;


 Heartfulness meditation is a really lovely way to build that inner friendship,
 because the focus is meditation on the energy of the heart. Our hearts are our
 seats of intuition; it’s where our inner voice resides. That inner voice often
 becomes clouded by the illusions of our thoughts, created by stress, anxiety,
 the expectations we set for ourselves, the voices of other people, and other
 complexities. When we don’t regulate those thoughts, those illusions become
 our reality, and that reality often leaves us feeling out of control and, yes,
 lonely.&nbsp;

<hr class="vertical-space1" />
<hr />
<h4 class="text-center">
 Heartfulness meditation is a really lovely way to build that inner
 friendship, because the focus is meditation on the energy of the heart.
</h4>
<hr />
<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 How do we avoid that illusion-driven reality? By consistently tuning into
 our heart and listening to it. The more time we spend with our inner
 intuition, the more we get to know ourselves. The more we get to know
 ourselves, the stronger our relationship with ourselves becomes. And the
 stronger that relationship becomes, the less lonely we feel.&nbsp;


 So yes, you’re on your own, kid. But it doesn’t have to be lonely. Here are
 three simple Heartfulness techniques that you can adopt to strengthen your
 inner voice and, in turn, strengthen the relationship you have with yourself
 so alone time can become more enjoyable:&nbsp;

<h4>
 RELAXATION
</h4>

<figure>
 <img
 alt=""
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/relaxation_icon_18141781fe.jpg"
 />
</figure>


 What:&nbsp;A&nbsp;5 to 7 minute guided technique&nbsp;that
 releases tension and relaxes each part of your body.



 When:&nbsp;This guided relaxation technique can be done
 right&nbsp;before&nbsp;you meditate, or in moments when your body is feeling
 tense or anxious. If you are having trouble sleeping, you can also lie down
 and walk through this technique, relaxing each part of your body until you
 feel yourself falling asleep.



 How:&nbsp;Try it with&nbsp;<a
 href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmwqL34FCjA"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >this guided video</a
 >.


<hr />

<h4>
 MEDITATION
</h4>

<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="169"
 height="165"
 alt=""
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/meditation_icon_54b5fe73c9.jpg"
 />
</figure>


 What:&nbsp;A simple suggestion to become absorbed in the
 light in your heart.



 When:&nbsp;Ideally, first thing in the morning for 10 to 30
 minutes before you start your day. It can also be done at any other time.



 How:&nbsp;To&nbsp;<a
 href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDClb-yjNdQ"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >meditate on the light in the heart</a
 >, try it with this guided video.



 If you find your mind drifting to other thoughts, treat them as if they are
 clouds passing in the sky, witnessing them but simply letting them pass. To
 learn how to manage those thoughts, check out the next section, Cleaning.


<hr />

<h4>
 CLEANING
</h4>

<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="169"
 height="165"
 alt=""
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/cleaning_icon_01c281a225.jpg"
 />
</figure>


 What:&nbsp;An active technique of letting go of complexities,
 impurities, and any negativities that build up over time. This technique is
 beneficial for reducing thoughts during meditation, for minimizing anxiety and
 stress, and for eliminating those pesky thoughts that often plague us before
 we fall asleep (no more counting sheep!).



 When:&nbsp;Cleaning is generally done at the end of the day’s
 work for 10 to 30minutes,as a way to release the mental and emotional weight
 of the day.



 How:&nbsp;To try this&nbsp;<a
 href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgqTUIu_Qs"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener"
 >cleaning technique</a
 >, follow the instructions in the guided video.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="text-center">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

You’re on your own, kid

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">MALLIKA REDDY is the Founder of Canceled Plans, a sustainable clothing line and top podcast in India. In one episode with MAMATA SUBRAMANYAM, the two of them discuss the importance of mental wellness, tools to strengthen mental fitness, and the importance of taking responsibility for your own light.</h4>Q: Hi Mamata, a while back, you were on a one-way path to becoming a doctor (your family is full of medical professionals), but that didn’t happen. It was a canceled plan.&nbsp;MS: Yeah, that’s been my biggest canceled plan, because for so long that was the one-way trajectory I was on. Everyone thought I was going to be a doctor. I thought I was going to be a doctor, even though I didn’t want to be one. Halfway through college, I wasn’t doing well in pre-med classes, and it was not because I didn’t have the interest or the intelligence to do well. My own mental health issues plus not being naturally good at those subjects was a combination for disaster.I’m grateful to my mom, who saw me struggling and saw that it wasn’t what I wanted to do. She said, “Okay, maybe you should try something different.” There were a lot of disappointed people, including me, as it was who I thought I was supposed to be for a long time. That vision was molded by so many people, and it was all I knew as my identity. I still struggle, because it derailed everything.Q: That couldn’t have been easy. How did you navigate that decision? You said you were struggling with mental health back then.&nbsp;MS: As a child raised in the U.S. with immigrant parents, there is a part of me that is built to become my parents' dreams. That is not at all a knock against immigrant parents in the U.S. with dreams, but it’s a lot of pressure on them and their kids. We’re finally getting to a place where society has language for it. Back then, I was so compliant, and even the idea of stepping out of that shell was terrifying, because it had been an unsafe comfort zone for so long.I’ve dealt with anxiety for most of my life. I now know that a lot of that anxiety has to do with the people pleasing mentality I have, whether because of things that happened to me as a child or because of my own inherent nature. If I don’t do what I think others want me to do, I feel myself internally collapsing, and that causes my anxiety levels to go through the roof. On top of that, I didn’t know a world outside of medicine. Even though I stepped into a degree I really loved, I didn’t know which direction to go, or who I was.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/shining_inner_light2_2b633eb087.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I’ve dealt with anxiety for most of my life.&nbsp; I now know that a lot of that anxiety has to do with&nbsp; the people pleasing mentality I have,&nbsp; whether because of things that happened to me as a child&nbsp; or because of my own inherent nature.</h4><hr>Q: Thanks for sharing that so honestly with vulnerability. It is taken for granted how easily that comes out, but it’s hard to say when people are listening. You have clearly done a lot of inner work, because it shows in the kind of self-awareness you have when you speak.&nbsp;What has been your journey to make mental health a priority and take care of yourself? And how did meditation come into your life?&nbsp;MS: I started to really consider my mental health when I moved to New York in 2015. I didn’t have words for the intense panic attacks I had at work. There were a lot of things going on in my personal life, and it was reflecting at work. I went on big emotional rants to my friends about the feelings I was having. I really didn’t understand until recently that the reason I vented so much to my corner of trust was because I thought it would heal me. They would give me a solution, or this person or that relationship (no matter how toxic) would heal me.&nbsp;I didn’t realize what I know now, which is that even when someone else does the damage, the power was always mine to begin with. The light was always within me. Even though it is unfair that someone else or circumstances damaged me, there is something empowering about owning the responsibility to take back and strengthen the light. First it shines inwardly, then it can shine elsewhere. It’s actually taken me until this year, until marriage, to realize that.&nbsp;When someone breaks an arm, hits their head, or cuts themselves, it is okay for them to talk about it over and over again. But if you say, “I feel anxious,” or “I’m dealing with depression,” everybody cringes. They can listen for a few minutes, but then it’s too much.&nbsp;After getting myself out of some really unhealthy spaces, I knew I had the tool of meditation, which I’d taken for granted. I was born and raised in the Heartfulness meditation tradition, and I always knew it was going to be a cornerstone in my life, but I didn’t use it the way I could have.&nbsp;Once I hit rock bottom, though, I knew that to take care of myself I had to practice what I was preaching. I needed to apply the meditation practice to myself before teaching it to others (I became a trainer in 2015). So, taking care of my mental health in combination with meditation became critical to me.So many people have said to me, “You talk too much about your anxiety,” “You talk too much about your mental health.” It affected me so much that I almost stopped talking about it. But if I stop talking about something that needs to be talked about, that’s one less person to advocate. I sound annoying and sometimes I’m on a soapbox, but it’s something that needs to be advocated for.I recognize the privilege of all of this; of being in a position to potentially be a doctor, having the support of my parents, etc. But, despite the privilege, I’ve learned that it’s okay to struggle and be figuring myself out, especially if what’s going on in my head isn’t aligning with what needs to be. &nbsp;Q: What advice do you have for someone who is struggling with mental health, with anxiety, with being in the world?&nbsp;&nbsp;MS: Something that drives me nuts is when a friend, a loved one, or anybody says, “Oh, it’ll all work out,” or “It’ll just be fine,” or “Everything happens for a reason,” when I express how I feel. Those things might be true, but it doesn’t stop the stress, the frustration, or the loneliness in the moment. While your experiences with breakdowns and rock bottoms may be different from someone else’s, your feelings are valid. It is terrifying and lonely, and very few people really understand what you are going through.&nbsp;But one person is always going to understand, and that’s you! The best lesson I’ve learned this last year is to show up for myself. You are your own friend. The same way you show up for anyone else, you must show up for yourself. The beauty in that is you return back to your own light that has always been there; you just have to remind yourself of that.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The best lesson I’ve learned this last year is to show up for myself.&nbsp; The same way you show up for anyone else,&nbsp; you must show up for yourself.&nbsp; The beauty in that is you return back to your own light&nbsp; that has always been there;&nbsp; you just have to remind yourself of that.</h4><hr>Help for everyone looks different. I did therapy for a long time and it really made a difference, and journaling, going for walks, and meditation have helped me, but they might not be for everyone. So, find the things that you like. Be willing to do the work. Be willing to set promises for yourself and keep them, because the only person who’s going to suffer otherwise is yourself.&nbsp;There are many days that are hard; it can be hard even to get out of bed and function. Those things are valid, too. On those days, keep at least one small promise to yourself, whether it’s making a cup of tea, writing in your journal, or going for a walk. Find a way every day to stay connected to yourself.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/shining_inner_light3_d3f54ea387.jpg"> Q: That’s great advice, thank you. It’s going to help a lot of people understand what their options are, and the little things they can do to get started.To listen to the full episode, visit <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/772Ab2SsGdM2nWR2BFbZis?si=c7d8b4d0ec564050">https://open.spotify.com/episode/772Ab2SsGdM2nWR2BFbZis?si=c7d8b4d0ec564050</a><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM</h4><hr>&nbsp;

Shining your inner light

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">MAMATA SUBRAMANYAM reflects on her own processes of change, and realizes that there is an easier way to move forward-one that doesn’t involve self-recrimination and instant gratification. She explores incremental change, minute by minute, embracing the messy process that goes with it, and sets herself a brighter vision for how to live her life.</h4>&nbsp;I have big, lofty dreams of whom I believe I can be.I constantly envision myself as a bright, confident, perfectly-coiffed woman in imaginary high heels (I’m only 5’2) who walks with intention and speaks with humility, who has no flaws and no insecurities, and is loved by everyone.In my head, I am the ideal career woman who works her behind off, who aces every project, who never runs out of steam. In my head, I will be a boss lady like my mother, make witty jokes like my brother, get stuff done at the same pace my dad does. In my head, I am the perfect wife my husband will never regret choosing, the one who is always balanced and never stressed, the one who makes him laugh and makes all of his hard moments easy. The one who does everything so perfectly that he can’t help but brag as I sit on the pedestal we built together.In my head, I am the best, best friend; the one who always says the right thing, sends the right gifts, makes everyone feel the most seen, valued, and appreciated. I imagine myself as the light everyone gravitates to, the one who can be everyone’s everything, the one who never makes a single mistake, the one who can do no wrong.But that bubble of a fantasy easily bursts when I see the dozens of unread emails with unmet deadlines sitting in my inbox, the blue notifications of text messages I have yet to respond to from friends, who are probably wondering if they did something to make me mad (you didn’t).I have saved lists of recipes I tell myself I’m going to make, only to lose steam and yet again press “order” on my staple Chipotle meal. I don’t hold my own like my mother, I don’t make witty jokes like my brother, and I certainly don’t work the way my dad does. I have cried three times this week to my husband about my insecurities. Those insecurities put voices in my head that make me question if he is happy that he chose me.And I see her so clearly, the woman I know I can be. If only I could break the cycles of bad habits that hold me back, if only I could stop being complacent, if only I could stop being a ridiculously outdated version of me. My twenties are coming to an end, and every day I feel I have nothing to show for them.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Like any good, reliable mirror, the answer was right there in my reflection, just waiting for me to look close enough to find it: change is not a leap.</h4><hr>As I make the same mistakes over and over again, as I watch in furious envy as other people grow and change and accomplish and succeed, as I leave yet another to-do list unchecked, and though I know the ability to change is only in me, what do I find myself doing? I anxiously worry if I am well past my prime, if my thirties will be a knock-off version of my twenties, in which any success won’t be taken as seriously because I’m not as young anymore, if it’s actually too late for me to be anyone, anything.I keep making the same mistake of wanting to get from point A to point Now by trying to bypass the in-between. When it comes to bringing those dreams out of my head and into reality, I freeze. I get excited about doing the work, but become daunted about diving in, letting all my insecurities and complacencies get the better of me and talking me out of moving forward. I freeze.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/secret_to_change2_d8e3be705b.webp" alt="secret-to-change2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_secret_to_change2_d8e3be705b.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_secret_to_change2_d8e3be705b.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/secret_to_change2_d8e3be705b.webp 450w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;And then I sit in a large self-made pool of self-pity and self-aware shame, mentally hurling envious anger at the people who have the courage to create their own destinies while being perfectly aware that I am fully capable of making my own dreams a reality, if only I weren’t so fearful or lazy.&nbsp; If only I weren’t in my own way.Today, as I shamefully walked away from another dream I knew I could have achieved, if only I had put in the work, I put a metaphorical mirror up to my heart and asked myself two hard, hard questions:What is stopping me from changing?&nbsp; And what can stop me from ever asking myself this question again?Like any good, reliable mirror, the answer was right there in my reflection, just waiting for me to look close enough to find it: change is not a leap. It cannot be a leap. Over time, change can be measured in leaps and bounds. But to get to that leap, to get to that bound, you first have to take it step-by-step.Change must happen minute by minute, otherwise I am setting myself up for failure. I can no longer expect that by simply making a thought suddenly I’ll change. I can no longer waste a single second. I have to be willing to put in the work to make it happen. Every self-encouraging thought, every forward action, every plugged-nose-closed-eyes deep dive in between point A and point Now must be done with the clear, firm intention of never going back. It must be done with the full bravery to see myself, flaws and all, with a determined acceptance that while those flaws will take time to fill and smooth, the result will be worth it.And it’s time that I recognize my strengths. If I really own the bright parts of me that shine brighter than my flaws, I can let the beauty of those bright parts fill and smooth out the cracks.To create change—real, hard, messy, good, positive, ever-evolving change—I have to be willing to wade through the in-between. I understand that now. I realize I have to do that work to unwind and rewind the in-between, otherwise I’m not really aiming for change: it’s a rustier, burned-out version of who I am now.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We are complicated, creative, incredible, messy, broken, fixable, wonderful canvases that are subject to change, if we allow that change.</h4><hr>Change is minute by minute.We are complicated, creative, incredible, messy, broken, fixable, wonderful canvases that are subject to change, if we allow that change. It can be a hard ride, but I’m learning that change can be a fun rollercoaster.If we are willing to let it be.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/secret_to_change3_723064ab82.webp" alt="secret-to-change3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_secret_to_change3_723064ab82.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_secret_to_change3_723064ab82.webp 450w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/secret_to_change3_723064ab82.webp 450w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

The secret to change: take it minute by minute 

Manav Dave

<h4
 id="h-manav-dave-is-looking-toward-a-hopeful-future-thanks-to-the-inspiration-and-action-of-the-gen-zs-and-despite-the-challenges-they-face"
 >
 MANAV DAVE
 is looking toward a hopeful future, thanks to the inspiration and
 action of the Gen Zs, and despite the challenges they face.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Take a second to think about this current moment in time. There is a lot
 to process. In the past two years alone, the Covid pandemic has managed
 to expose the cracks in our social, economic, and political systems, and
 has left us wondering whether there is anywhere left to go from here.
 

 
 But the situation has also led to uncovering some very unlikely heroes.
 While the powers that be are combatting our problems with old and
 ineffective solutions, a new generation of heroes has emerged to create
 the world we deserve. Whether it is through harnessing the potential of
 the Internet and social media, or changing the frameworks and
 definitions of equity and equality, one thing is for sure: the next
 generation is ready to make change, and is not afraid to shake things up
 along the way.
 

 
 From the youngest woman of color to serve in the American Congress, to
 the youngest person to win a Nobel Peace Prize, this past decade has
 been full of firsts. Another important first to acknowledge is the
 Internet. From the first email sent in 1971, to Facebook in 2004,
 Instagram in 2010, and most recently, TikTok in 2016, this generation
 has been raised on the Internet and has managed to harness its potential
 to communicate effectively, and create and organize mass movements for
 change.
 

 
 One of the first examples of technology bringing people together was
 Facebook during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 to overthrow President
 Hosni Mubarak. Since then, the use of social media to mobilize change
 has become more effective, with Greta Thunberg using Facebook to
 encourage Fridays for Future climate strikes, and the rapid escalation
 and coming together during the Black Lives Matter movement. This
 generation uses the powers of technology to their advantage.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 One thing is for sure: the next generation is ready to make
 change, and is not afraid to shake things up along the way.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Gen Z, the group of people born from around 1995 to 2010, is said to
 have the highest diversity in terms of race, class, and gender identity.
 Combined with increased access to digital platforms, this has led to a
 generation that is changing the way we look at tolerance, equality, and
 equity. Some of the social issues that matter most to Gen Zs are
 equitable access to healthcare, racial equity, and climate change,
 showing a shift from a self-serving mindset to a humanitarian one.
 

 
 This is not to say that this generation is without demons. The Internet
 comes with its own set of dangers, and Gen Zsare sometimes inhibited in
 their ability to form real-world connections and sustain the impact
 created by mass mobilization. Behavior trends like cancel culture and
 social media frenzy often make it difficult to understand the
 dimensionality of an issue and find a proper solution. If Gen Zs are
 truly going to bring change, they will need to channel their enthusiasm
 and passion, and also develop the maturity and depth of understanding
 required to create a long-standing, sustainable, and equitable impact.
 

 
 From Greta Thunberg to Amanda Gorman to Malala Yousafzai, they are
 making strides in every area – environmental activism, art, racial
 equality, and education for all. They are ready to use what they have
 and know to bring a magnitude of change that has never been seen before.
 More importantly, they are hopeful, and not taking no for an answer.
 

 
 To sum it all up, as Greta Thunberg said, “We can no longer let the
 people in power decide what is politically possible. We can no longer
 let the people in power decide what hope is. Hope is not passive. Hope
 is telling the truth. Hope is action.” And above all, what the next
 generation promises is hope for a better future.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="652"
 height="378"
 alt="why-the-next-generation2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_the_next_generation2_51319c1ea7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T14:00:09.089Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

Why the next generation will take us where we need to be

Manilal Roopa is a retired educator and facilitator. He lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He became a Heartfulness trainer in 1991, and continues to work in this role.

Manilal-roopa.jpg

Manilal Roopa

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">MANILAL ROOPA lives in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is retired after a career as an educator and facilitator for over 50 years, and continues to work as a Heartfulness trainer, which he has done for over 30 years. As a “colored” under Apartheid in South Africa, he has been through much and seen a lot of social change during his life, radiating peacefulness and love throughout.</h4>“As-salamu alaykum.” May peace be upon you. “Wa alaykumu s-salaam.” And may peace be upon you too.Over two billion people around the world exchange this beautiful greeting. It is in Arabic and uttered by every Muslim several times a day. Over a quarter of the world’s population are greeting each other with this prayer for peace. I am honored that many of my Muslim friends greet me this way.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/may_peace_upon_you2_7f98656f90.jpg"></figure>Over a billion Hindus greet each other by joining their palms and saying “Namaste,” meaning “I bow to the Divine in you.”Over three billion Christians refer to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace,” and many say the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi:&nbsp;Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:&nbsp; where there is hatred, let me sow love;&nbsp; where there is injury, pardon;&nbsp; where there is doubt, faith;&nbsp; where there is despair, hope;&nbsp; where there is darkness, light;&nbsp; where there is sadness, joy.O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek&nbsp; to be consoled as to console,&nbsp; to be understood as to understand,&nbsp; to be loved as to love.&nbsp; For it is in giving that we receive,&nbsp; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,&nbsp; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.&nbsp; Amen.My silent prayer is that more and more of us embrace this idea of peace every day of our lives.&nbsp;Daaji, the global guide of Heartfulness, encourages us to send out subtle suggestions daily into the universe:Everything around me is absorbing peace; the air, the oceans, the trees, the structures, the animals and humans. All are radiating peace.All humanity is becoming peaceful, showing more compassion, more kindness, and more love.The world may be in turmoil, the antithesis to peace: Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in Sudan, Palestine, North and South Korea, the riots in France, and political turmoil in several countries.&nbsp;Our past is replete with similar chaos, skirmishes, invasions, and wars. What we are witnessing is not new. A few centuries ago, European countries were constantly at war. Furthermore, in as much as religions advocate peace and harmony among all, the spread of some major religions are premised on brutal conversions.Babuji, the founding spiritual guide of Heartfulness, summed it up poignantly:“Religion divides, spirituality unites.”The term peacefulness is nuanced on the noun peace. It connotes more than individual peace – a world full of peace. As our hearts become full of love, serenity, peace, gratitude, and humility, our world will be transformed into a world of peacefulness.Om Dyauh Shantir-Antariksham Shanti Prathivi Shantir – Apah Shantir Omshadayah Shanti Vanaspatayah Shanti&nbsp;&nbsp; Vishve Devah Shantir Brahma Shanti Sarvam Shanti Shantireva Shanti Sa Ma Shantiir-Edhi Om Shanti Shanti ShantiIt means, “O Supreme Creator, may there be peace in the sky, may there be peace in all the celestial regions, may the earth be at peace. The water, the medicinal and nutritious herbs, the trees and plants all be at peace. Let there be peace in all the elements of nature. Let everything in which You exist be at peace. Let peace reign everywhere. Finally, may that glorious peace abide in me. May there be peace, peace, peace.”This is a prayer for peace uttered by over a billion Hindus.&nbsp;With half the world’s population praying for peace every day, I envisage a state of peacefulness reigning in the hearts of humanity in the not too distant future. May more and more of us embrace this idea of peace every day of our lives.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/may_peace_upon_you3_c7d6ddc31e.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">With half the world’s population praying for peace every day,&nbsp; I envisage a state of peacefulness reigning in the hearts of humanity in the not too distant future.</h4><hr>&nbsp;

May peace be upon you

Dr. Kulkarni is an orthopedic surgeon from Pune, India. He is the Associate Director of the Heartfulness CME Program, and a dedicated professional with expertise in counseling, training, and consulting. He interprets time management through the Eisenhower Matrix, offering practical ways of energizing our time.

Dr. Manish Kulkarni.webp

Manish Kulkarni

<h3 style="text-align:center;">STRATEGIES FOR MAXIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY AND WELL-BEING</h3><h4 style="text-align:justify;">DR. MANISH KULKARNI is a busy man! So he has created an approach to time management that allows him to focus on what’s important and disregard what’s not.</h4>Time is an infinite space and can create miracles. Twenty-four hours of time is always a stretchable period. We can accomplish much more in less time and practically nothing in maximum time.Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time—what time we spend on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. When we see good time management, it requires an important shift in focus, from activities to results. Being busy is not the same as being effective or productive. Good time management allows you to work smarter, not harder, so you can get more done in less time.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Why is it difficult to manage time?</h4>The main reasons for poor time management are:<ul><li style="text-align:justify;">Lack of prioritization</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Absence of optimal organization&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Procrastination</li><li style="text-align:justify;">Distraction</li></ul>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/energise_your_time2_caced6e7d8.jpg" alt="energise-your-time2.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_energise_your_time2_caced6e7d8.jpg 222w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_energise_your_time2_caced6e7d8.jpg 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_energise_your_time2_caced6e7d8.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we start managing our time and benefit from it,&nbsp; we feel more in control of our day.&nbsp; We become more aware of the time we spend on unproductive activities&nbsp; and realize we want to spend more time on productive activities.</h4><hr><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Benefits of proper time management</h4>When we start managing our time and benefit from it, we feel more in control of our day. We become more aware of the time we spend on unproductive activities and realize we want to spend more time on productive activities. So we naturally become more productive in our work, and in our daily activities. We are able to focus longer on what we are doing and, more importantly, we make time for meaningful activities.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Five helpful pointers for time management</h4><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>Start your day early by arriving early at work.</li><li>Plan your day the night before.</li><li>Prioritize tasks.</li><li>Take care of yourself right from the start till the end of the day.</li><li>Take small breaks in between daily activities, which energizes your time.</li></ol><h4 style="text-align:justify;">Using the Eisenhower Matrix</h4>Dwight David Eisenhower was a former US President who developed a matrix to divide your daily activities according to important and not important, urgent and not urgent. Based on these divisions, a daily chart can be divided into four quadrants to highlight:<ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>The most important and urgent work that needs to be done right now.</li><li>Non-urgent but important work which can be scheduled at some later time.</li><li>Urgent work that is not important, which can be delegated to someone else, and</li><li>Non-urgent work that is not important, which can be removed.</li></ol><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/energise_your_time3_bd62f74695.jpg" alt="energise-your-time3.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_energise_your_time3_bd62f74695.jpg 158w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_energise_your_time3_bd62f74695.jpg 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>But in our day to day activities, we often spend more time doing non-urgent, unimportant tasks, and when we decide to focus on the urgent and important tasks the day is nearly over and we are tired. So the Eisenhower matrix is a great tool.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Ways to energize yourself</h4>Leo Tolstoy once said, “The two most powerful warriors in life are patience and time.” How can we positively jump start our day? One way is with a simple gratitude list. This list can also be done prior to going to sleep. A second way is exercise, which stimulates endorphins, enhances cognitive performance, and kickstarts the day with a feeling of accomplishment. And a third way is to recite positive affirmations or intentions, which will help you affirm yourself and the work you are going to do.They also help improve personal relationships, enhance decision-making capabilities, and prevent missed opportunities in the haste of the day. You can accomplish much more.Create an achievable and realistic list of goals for a day, knowing your limitations. Share appreciation for others, and also appreciate your own deeds. It helps you to live an optimal life.For all this to work out, adjust your mindset. Train your mind to try new things, to adapt to changes, and to face new challenges. Take time for growth. And that’s where Heartfulness Meditation comes into play: “The whole exercise of fine-tuning the heart with the mind is through meditation on the heart.” (Daaji)When we take the time to refine our hearts, we can save so much time, as the heart takes care of the mind.&nbsp;

Energize your time

Margaret Mead

Thoughtful committed citizens

Human potentialities

Margaret has been a Heartfulness trainer since 1994. She is Professor Emeritas, University of Colorado, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is known for her research on Parkinson’s disease, and her current work looks at the impact of Heartfulness on the well-being of health professional students.

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Margaret Schenkman

Maria is part of the Presencing Institute and U-school for transformation, which focuses on societal systems innovation. She is a co-host for Deep U retreats, an inner transformation accelerator, and a Heartfulness trainer. Maria is initiating a regenerative project in Portugal for global well-being.

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Maria Daniel Brás

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">MARIA DANIEL BRÁS met up with VANESSA PATEL in February 2024 at Kanha Shanti Vanam, where Maria was co-conducting a 4-day immersive experience in Deep U, along with Vasco Gaspar and Stanislas Lajugie. They blended knowledge and tools from various heart-centered, awareness-based, and trauma-informed approaches, to enable connectedness and innate inner wisdom. Vanessa was a participant in the workshop, and invited Maria to share more about her experiences.</h4>&nbsp;Q: I’ve just completed the Deep U retreat with you, Vasco, and Stan, and I came to realize that you are fully trained in Theory U and have worked with Otto Scharmer. Can you explain a little more about what that is?MDB: I work at the Presencing Institute, which was co-founded by Otto Scharmer and the MIT Sloan School of Management teachers. He wrote the book, Leading from the Emerging Future, with Katrin Kaufer on how true change happens in the world. It doesn’t go directly from problem to solution; you need an inner journey to get there. That’s why it’s called Theory U. You stop to see what’s around you, and you stop downloading the old patterns so you are ready to see the new. Like artists who keep looking at a landscape for many hours, then stop, go within, and something emerges from that space. That’s how creativity works.Otto and colleagues interviewed many people, multi-level innovators from all sorts of professions, and they found that this is how the real process of transformation happens. We may say it’s new, but it’s actually replicating what we already know from the past.The Presencing Institute is focused on outer transformation, how to reinvent the systems that we have in society, like finance, education, governance, etc. It gives changemakers the tools for free under Creative Commons. It’s all about elevating consciousness.It’s connected with Heartfulness as well. Deep U, in particular, is a program that focuses on the inner journey, and on transforming, changing, and opening our inner system. Then, we are ready for outer transformation.Q: It helped to access the inner system, to what lies deep within, and that emerged through some of the exercises we did. It helped my spiritual process in that it gave me glimpses into parts of myself I hadn’t really thought about. That was a revelation for me.MDB: It definitely gives us more awareness into our unconscious patterns in our day-to-day lives, either because we are meant to be that way because of our nervous system, or because of what happens in our minds.Then we create the layers, the blockages that stop us from being able to connect with others and ourselves in a different way. Sometimes, we are very critical of ourselves. It’s really about being aware of those layers and being able to take decisions to remove them, for example, by doing practices like Heartfulness Cleaning and other techniques, and also by doing therapy. Without those layers, we can be better toward ourselves, toward others, and toward nature.Q: How many of these Deep U workshops have you done so far?MDB: This was the seventeenth one, and the first in Asia. Most have been in Europe, and one in the US.Q: Do you design such programs for corporates?MDB: That is a major part of Vasco’s work.Q: I hope you do many more. It’s a very interesting approach—a blend of spiritual techniques, and techniques based on psychology and self-exploration. What kind of feedback have you had so far? Have you seen shifts in people?MDB: The participants are the best people to answer! We have heard very beautiful things. One that stood out was someone who said, “It was the first time I was able to be myself.” That is strong. We are very grateful for that.Q: As you said, this program helps to remove barriers, and shows that it’s okay to be yourself and not apologize for it.MDB: We create a safe space together. We hope people feel safe enough for that opening, and through the tools and technologies we share, they find ideas on how to do that for themselves.Q: That was a big part of my own experience. Not only did I feel safe and very supported, it was almost a sacred space that enabled me to explore myself. Can you tell me a little bit about your own spiritual journey? What brought you to where you are now?MDB: I don’t know exactly when it started. As a child I was at a Catholic school, because in Portugal the main religion is Catholicism and we had sessions at school to learn about Jesus and God. I remember even at the age of five questioning the stories we were told. I had a kind of crisis at that age, thinking that God needed to be different, because why was there so much suffering? I remember the moment clearly. I was angry, because I was thinking about my grandmother, who was a victim of domestic violence. I thought, “Is this the God that they speak about?” And I decided I didn’t believe in religion.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Deep U is a program that focuses on the inner journey, and on transforming, changing, and opening our inner system.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp" alt="deep-u2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u2_85a5d28001.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;At the same time, several times a day, not only when I was in need, I was speaking to an entity that was bigger than myself, and hoping that being would listen. I was very fortunate to have an inner voice that somehow knew what to do. But I wasn’t super aware of it. That came much later and now I am aware of it.Heartfulness Meditation is a recent practice for me. My husband Vasco was meditating, but I had a very rational mind because of the lack of trust I felt about God. I took refuge in science, and everything that couldn’t be explained was hard for me to believe. When Vasco became a Heartfulness trainer, he offered to introduce me to the practice. He didn’t tell me anything about how it worked, but at the end of the first session I started to cry and said, “Thank you for cleaning me.” After the second session, I said, “I know where the light is.” These words came out of me, I don’t know how. Since then, I have been meditating.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp" alt="deep-u3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp 505w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u3_8ecac52ec9.webp 505w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">I was very fortunate to have an inner voice that somehow knew what to do.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Q: What were your takeaways and insights about this particular Deep U retreat that we just did? There was more of a spiritual approach to it than you have done previously.MDB: Yes, that’s correct. In every program we introduce people to Heartfulness, that’s the main purpose. But here in Kanha, it’s obvious. Just being in this environment is transformational. We can take ourselves deeper, faster, potentially more than in other programs we have done. The transformation is always part of it, but here Heartfulness is so present, including through the volunteers who helped us create the experiences.Usually, a workshop is intimate, with around twenty participants; here, there were almost 100. It was an experiment to see if it would work. The ecosystem and the volunteer attitude that exist here are beautiful. They represent how we can live from a different place than we usually live in our society, especially in the West. Sometimes those concepts are forgotten, and seeing everyone so involved is beautiful. People realize how many hearts need to be open to do this work.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Just being in this environment is transformational.&nbsp; We can take ourselves deeper, faster,&nbsp; potentially more than in other programs we have done.&nbsp;</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp" alt="deep-u4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u4_ba3dc18474.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Q: That is special, to acknowledge the people who were involved in the background, who were facilitating the daily flow of activities.MDB: And of course, the participants meditated together with others in the meditation hall and listened to Daaji speak. Spirituality is directly presented here, whereas in programs in the West, sometimes it is in the background, sustaining everything. We can’t always talk directly about spirituality, as some people might not be ready for it. This program has given glimpses of how to speak about it.Q: So that gives you the opportunity to offer more. Can you explain the concept you introduced in the workshop of giftivism, paying it forward? Is it that whatever you feel you received you are putting forward to somebody else who can benefit from it?MDB: That was actually an inspiration from the very first program. The first time I came to India, we stopped in Kanha for twenty-four hours. It was barren land at the time. We went to Ahmedabad for a retreat with Nipun Mehta called Gandhi 3.0, on “kindorism,” the opposite of terrorism. We didn’t know what to do with it. It was such a restructuring of our way of being, our Western society, where you always give something in exchange, right? It was so beautiful, and changed us. We really wanted to implement it in our program.So Deep U became an incubator for the kindness factor. For example, we involve people who have done the program to stitch the little felt hearts every participant receives and gives to others. There are people gifting their time and their knowledge. We invite people to pay it forward. The program doesn’t have a fixed price; everyone is invited to give a donation or volunteer their time, or give whatever multiple form of capital they have. It’s not transactional. It’s important to keep the chain going, because if we keep kindness to ourselves, then what is the impact?&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp" alt="deep-u5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp 505w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u5_834a8742b4.webp 505w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">While it’s important to be kind toward ourselves,&nbsp; we can expand and have an impact in the world.&nbsp; Kindness touches people,&nbsp; and they are transformed by it.&nbsp;</h4><hr>While it’s important to be kind toward ourselves, we can expand and have an impact in the world. Kindness touches people, and they are transformed by it. That’s why Deep U is an incubator for kindness and for pay it forward. It’s all about service that gives rise to hope and doing it for the next person. I feel very grateful and blessed because these programs are embedded in a sense of service, and that’s a beautiful way to live.Q: That stood out. So did the fact that participation in each workshop exercise was a choice: “Let me invite you to take part if you feel you are ready.” That invitation was so important, especially for those who are hesitating. The approach was so soft. Sometimes we forget that people are not always ready to leave their safe space and dive into unfamiliar territory, yet they feel pressure to participate despite their reservations.MDB: It’s like our meditation. The subtle approach gets a better response than the harsh push, right? Everything is an invitation. If someone is not ready, it’s okay. Maybe later they will be. But they need to feel safe and that they are not missing the train.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u6_d937db362f.webp" alt="deep-u6.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_deep_u6_d937db362f.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_deep_u6_d937db362f.webp 505w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/deep_u6_d937db362f.webp 505w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">It’s like our meditation.&nbsp; The subtle approach gets a better response&nbsp; than the harsh push, right? Everything is an invitation.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Q: You said you had an inner voice growing up. We’re so used to being told that the voice is outside. We don’t know to listen to this little voice until, in your case, as an adult you became conscious of it and started listening to it.MDB: I think it was because I was an only child and spent a lot of time alone. Also, my cousin and I grew up together. He’s three months older, and he has a sister. They were always fighting, whereas I found peace being by myself. In those moments alone, I heard the voice inside more clearly. It wasn’t always loud; almost like a gut feeling, and that kept me in balance all these years. It made me seek the person within for guidance.Q: What’s next for you and the Deep U team?MDB: This retreat happened as an invitation from Daaji and the feedback has been good. We are receiving requests to do it again, here and in Europe. We are open to invitations to see where they lead us!Q: Thank you so much Maria, it’s been such a pleasure.MDB: Thank you Vanessa.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>&nbsp;

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