Sriram Raghavendran.webp

Sriram Raghavendran

<spanundefined>My dear daughter,

 With instant communication, the art of letter writing is lost on today’s
 generation. Of course, there has not been much need for us to write letters
 to each other, save the year and a half when I was in London. We chose the
 easier path of just speaking on the phone, but in doing this, something is
 lost. The thoughtfulness that goes into a letter, the opportunity to reread
 the contents, savor and cherish the written word for the time to come, is
 something that instant communication can never offer. There for the moment
 and gone forever.


 When my father was leaving for Tanzania for a period of a year, he made a
 mere mention that we would write letters to each other. And we did, perhaps
 once in a couple of weeks. It taught me how to write letters. To articulate
 one’s thought in a cogent manner is not easy, and it is something that can
 never be achieved when we speak in the spur of the moment. I do hope that we
 will maintain this tradition when you go over to your college in the coming
 weeks.


 <spanundefined
 >Here, in the serene environment of a retreat center, I have been reflecting
 on many things. In such places of retreat, when one goes on a long walk,
 things become much clearer. I am going to try and pen my thoughts to you,
 and hope that it will be of value to you.


<hr />

<h5 style="text-align: center">
 On deeper reflection, I can only conclude that
 the lack of an external force or pressure
 to perform should be substituted
 by an inner urge to excel.
 External expectations should be
 replaced by our own expectations.
 
</h5>
<hr />

 In the last couple of days, I have been worrying as to how we have fared in
 our role as parents. Of course, there can be no certainty, and no one answer
 can satisfy – one can only feel their way to this answer. Have we allowed a
 misplaced sense of affection to cloud our emotions? It is said that love and
 discipline should go together. But I wonder <spanundefined
 >how to get the balance right? It is very much like those two taps, one for
 hot water and one for cold. Is it possible that we have turned down
 discipline and let in too much love? Of course, the other way could only
 have been worse. Let me try and communicate my reflections in this
 letter.


 <spanundefined
 >Einstein said, “Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.” There is no
 substitute for hard work. In today’s competitive world, it is fairly normal
 for parents to run rough-shod over their children, with success as the only
 measure of parenting. Of course, we have been blessed with better sense than
 that. The question is, what should substitute this external drive to
 success? On deeper reflection, I can only conclude that the lack of an
 external force or pressure to perform should be substituted by an inner urge
 to excel. External expectations should be replaced by our own expectations.
 Of course, when it comes to our own expectations, we call them goals. We
 need to set lofty goals for ourselves, and in striving to achieve that is a
 life well lived.


<hr />

<h5 style="text-align: center">
 How to inculcate self-discipline? We can push ourselves to the goal, but it
 becomes a tiresome exercise. Taking a genuine interest in reaching the goal
 does wonders, for it inspires us on our journey.
</h5>
<hr />

 I recall the scene where the Cheshire cat tells Alice in Wonderland, “It
 does not matter which way you go, you will get somewhere, as long as you
 walk long enough.” Without goals, we are lost. The best talent is wasted.
 The goal should be well thought out, particularly long term goals. It does
 not make sense to change direction every other day, for such a course
 guarantees hyperactivity with no outcome. But, do goals alone lead to
 success? Clearly not. One other ingredient is critical to the recipe, and
 that is discipline.


 The best form of discipline is one that stems from within. When I do
 something because I want to do it, it cannot go wrong. But external
 discipline, of which we see much in the world today, is only imposition, if
 not slavery. The moment the pressure is off, the person goes off course. How
 to inculcate self-discipline? We can push ourselves to the goal, but it
 becomes a tiresome exercise. Taking a genuine interest in reaching the goal
 does wonders, for it inspires us on our journey.



 <img
 class="has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/letter_mydaughter2_img_8a4420a057.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T11:27:39.578Z"
 alt="letter-mydaughter2"
 />



 As parents, we have taken our foot off the pedal when it comes to pushing
 you towards your goal, but have we failed to imbibe in you the inner
 discipline to work towards that goal? It is for you to ponder over this
 question, and not for me to guess. Discipline is hard to imbibe in today’s
 world, in which instant gratification is everywhere. How to remain focused
 on the long term goal, and choose that over the pleasures of the moment? How
 to prioritize the future over the moment? I do not know the answer, but I
 can only say that a person who lives for gratification in the moment does
 not get very far. Discipline is the difference between the mediocre and
 great. Of course, discipline does not mean that we do not have fun. It has
 to be a healthy mix of making our journey joyful, but never forgetting the
 goal itself.


<hr />

<h5 style="text-align: center">
 Discipline is the difference between the mediocre and great. Of course,
 discipline does not mean that we do not have fun. It has to be a healthy mix
 of making our journey joyful, but never forgetting the goal itself.
</h5>
<hr />


 These are my reflections, but it does not mean that I have mastered this
 art. I am disciplined in some things, but in many others I suffer from a
 lack of discipline. I recall a conversation with my uncle when I was in
 college, all of 19 years old. I had woken up that morning at 9:00 a.m. and
 was reading the newspaper with the toothbrush in my hand. He gave me a
 lecture on discipline, mentioning that no one ever became anything without
 it. He said, “Getting up early in the morning and having a routine that is
 driven by self-discipline is a basic ingredient to getting anywhere in
 life.” I scoffed at him, playfully argued with him, thinking that I knew
 better. After the passage of 26 years, I am still suffering the
 consequences. I have not given up, and am still working on this. In fact, I
 have told myself that if there is just one trait that I develop in the
 remaining part of my years, then, that will be to sleep on time and to get
 up on time. Buddha said that the chain of desire can be broken anywhere – I
 feel that self-discipline can be easily fixed by just one act – going to bed
 early, and many other things will automatically fall in place. I can only
 hope that you are wiser than me and will learn the rigor of self-discipline
 at a much earlier age that I do.


 <spanundefined
 >The innate abilities that we are born both with are a blessing. In some
 sense, we cannot claim them to be our own. It is a blessing that you have
 been born with so much talent, depth of understanding and a spirit of
 inquiry. Of course, you have also developed yourself in terms of attention
 to detail and diligence in doing a job. Going back to the point about
 inspiration and perspiration, I can only say that the perspiration is
 something that we can rightfully say is ours. And that comes with
 discipline.


 I find that when I speak on the spur of the moment, it does not come out
 properly, and even if it does, there is no receptivity on the other side.
 For both parties to have a cool and wise head in the heat of the moment is
 too much to ask for. I hope that I have been able to articulate what I
 wanted to say in this letter.


 Soon enough, you will be in a college, though we do not know which one yet.
 Irrespective of the outcome, this subject is of value, and hence my wish to
 write to you.
 


 <spanundefined
 >We are going to miss you terribly, but I guess that it is part of growing
 up. And I should grow up as well.


<hr />

<h4 style="text-align: center">Article by SRIRAM RAGHAVENDRAN</h4>
<hr />

Letter to my daughter

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<h4
 class="block-heading"
 id="h-sriram-raghavendran-shares-some-wise-words-and-personal-experience-of-managing-peer-pressure-when-he-was-at-college"
>
 SRIRAM RAGHAVENDRAN
 shares some wise words and personal experience of managing peer pressure
 when he was at college.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 There is this beautiful story of two men sawing a large log of wood. As they
 sat on the shores of a river, one man on each side of this log, pushing and
 pulling at the saw for a long time, for the log was a large one. A
 passer-by stopped to watch what was going on, observed for several minutes,
 and suggested, “You know, if I may say so, I think your saw is blunt. Why
 don’t you take a few minutes to sharpen it?” The men looked up at the
 onlooker with incredulity and said, “Can’t you see how much work we have? How
 can we afford to take time off?”



 Life today is increasingly demanding. The pressures of our environment
 relentlessly bear down upon us, but do they have the same effect on everyone?
 Why is it that one person buckles under pressure, whereas another copes
 well?&nbsp; It is a moot point.



 Strain is what a given environment imposes, but stress is what is felt by the
 individual. For the same level of strain, one person handles it with aplomb,
 whereas another is completely stressed out. The environment is the same, the
 levels of strain are the same, but one person is better equipped to deal with
 it. How to develop this inner ability? The answer is simple – sharpen your
 saw!



 There are several tools we can use, namely, the body, the intellect, the mind,
 and the heart, amongst others. Exercise takes care of training the body, and
 education takes care of training the intellect, but what about the mind and
 the heart? When the mind is trained and develops the ability to focus, it’s
 functioning becomes regulated; and when the heart opens and is able to
 intuitively feel its way through situations, we become more equipped to deal
 with our lives. This is precisely the role of meditation – to regulate the
 mind and open the heart. Not that the strain becomes any less, but we have now
 enhanced our abilities so that we do not feel as stressed anymore.



 This is the beautiful path that spirituality beckons us towards. Change
 yourself, and your experience of the world changes forever.



 I had the good fortune of starting meditation at the age of sixteen. I had
 just finished school, and was about to step into college, out of the protected
 environment of my home, and into the big wide world where I had to fend for
 myself.


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<hr />

<h4 class="block-heading has-text-align-center">
 I decided to live my life by my rules to be in control of my own destiny. And this piece of wisdom has guided me at every stage of my life.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Settling down to life in a student hostel, with two room-mates in an extra
 small room, was not easy. But what made it more challenging was the ridicule I
 drew from one and all when I would meditate in that rather hostile
 environment. I was the butt of their jokes. I would get angry, but what of it?
 It felt good to meditate, but I hardly had enough understanding to be able to
 discuss the subject or defend the act. And even if I had, my room-mates did
 not have the maturity to have a rational discussion on the subject.



 On the other hand, the hostel was an unrestricted environment, and all kinds
 of opportunities to develop negative habits presented themselves. Peer group
 pressure was building. To conform to various demands would mean that I would
 be accepted, “one of them,” whereas not to conform could mean that I would be
 an outcast. It was a significant strain, and I bore the brunt of this
 onslaught. So I was troubled on both sides – I invited ridicule by practicing
 meditation, and feared falling out with friends by not conforming to their
 demands.



 I have always had the habit of taking a very long walk when I am troubled.
 Solutions to the most difficult problems seem to present themselves when
 physical activity is combined with bodily strain, putting the mind at ease.
 What should I do? Risk being rejected by my friends? Give up my beliefs and
 convictions for the sake of being accepted by others?



 A peculiar image struck me during this long walk – I saw a dry leaf falling
 from a tree. It had no direction of its own, save the pulls and pushes of the
 wind. The message was very clear – if I were to lead my life by the rules of
 other people, I would be like that dry leaf, pushed hither and thither by the
 whims and fancies of every puff of breeze. That day, I decided to live my life
 by my rules to be in control of my own destiny. And this piece of wisdom has
 guided me at every stage of my life.



 Funnily enough, once my mind was made up, it was a wonder how soon the
 environment settled down. When my friends understood that I did not care if
 they accepted me, I was not left out. It was clear to my room-mates that I was
 not going to respond to their ridicule, so it stopped! This allowed me to
 discover yet another truth, “The easiest way to give up a habit is never to
 pick it up.”


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<hr />

<h4 class="block-heading has-text-align-center">
 Illustrations by VIRINAFLORA
</h4>

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<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Peer pressure

<h4>SRIRAM RAGHAVENDRAN shares a personal story of crisis, courage, and the clarity that gave him a solution in a life and death situation.</h4>My career took me to work in a paper mill in Africa for a year. The factory was in the middle of a dense forest, 750 kms from Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. The facility was self-sufficient, providing food and accommodation, and there was no need to step outside the premises. In fact, we were advised not to venture into the forest since it was full of wild beasts and considered dangerous. We all took this as a dictum and rarely ventured out; even when we did, we would never lose sight of the factory gate and return as quickly as possible.One evening, a friend and I were taking a stroll that took us to the factory gate. We walked outside and came to a small stream. Usually, we would have turned around and walked back, so perhaps it was the engaging conversation or the confidence in each other’s company that made us cross the stream without thinking. We walked a little on the other side of the stream, but when we looked back we realized we could no longer see the factory gate. It was the moment when alarm bells started to ring.“It is difficult to find your way back in a forest.” We had heard this a million times, but never really understood it. Now, we were experiencing it. We turned around and walked back, but could not locate the stream. Every tree looked just like the next one, and a few minutes later we were unsure if we were retracing out steps correctly. Conferring with each other made it clear that we were lost.Dusk was setting in, and we knew that in 30 minutes it would be pitch dark. With the chirping of the birds, the unrecognizable sounds of the forest grew louder in our ears. My friend was beginning to panic, and I felt a growing chill.I had been practicing Heartfulness for about 20 years at the time, and many times I had wondered what effect this daily practice of meditation had on me. The effect is so imperceptible that we sometimes assume it has no impact at all. Of course, there was no thought about the impact of meditation at that moment, only an awareness about my situation and my inner state. While I was experiencing anxiety at the conscious level, there was also a sense of calm within. I was worried but not flustered. I instinctively sat down to gather my thoughts, not furiously searching for a solution but quietly reflecting on what was to be done.Within a couple of minutes, the fog lifted. I looked around, found a suitable tree, and climbed it to a height of 25 feet. This additional height gave me the perspective to see the lights of the factory in a distance and locate the stream. In our attempts to walk back, we had strayed farther away from the path. With this clarity, it took us only a few minutes to reach the stream, cross it, and walk back to safety.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">As we practice meditation for years,&nbsp; we develop a sense of calm,&nbsp; the noise in the head tones down,&nbsp; and our inner strength grows,&nbsp; though we rarely perceive any of this amidst our busy lives.</h4><hr>I took a long silent walk alone that night (within the factory premises this time!), reflecting on what had happened that day. Though the drama had lasted less than 20 minutes, it felt so much longer. The gravity of the situation struck me. We had certainly faced a crisis, a moment of life and death.How do we act in these moments of desperation? Do we keep our heads or do we lose them? It depends very much on how we have prepared ourselves to deal with life. As we practice meditation for years, we develop a sense of calm, the noise in the head tones down, and our inner strength grows, though we rarely perceive any of this amidst our busy lives. The way I behaved that day, the depth of response, the resilience in keeping a cool head while facing a moment of truth, offered a revelation on the residual effect of meditation over the years.Each meditation is like depositing a penny every day in your piggy bank. You do not think about it but just keep doing it. Inevitably, you will come face to face with moments of crisis. You may worry and fret, and it will eat into you. If you have been diligent in contributing every day to your own piggy bank, you will open it to find a treasure inside, beyond your wildest dreams.<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/perspective2_295109dd6b.jpg" alt="perspective2.jpg"><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL</h4><hr>&nbsp;

Perspective

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">SRIRAM RAGHAVENDRAN remembers a childhood incident that helped him understand how we perceive pain and suffering, and how we can unlock our potential.</h4>&nbsp;As a child, one activity I relished was to play with my friends on the street. This would typically occupy the entire evening, and I would return home well after dusk. The exact activities did not matter. That we did it together mattered.&nbsp;One such evening, when I was about twelve years of age, I fell down while playing with my friends. I immediately got up, brushed the dust off my clothes and continued running around. When I returned home two hours later, my mother stared at my legs and asked, “What happened?” I looked down and saw that my knee was badly scraped, blood had oozed out of the wound reaching my feet and had dried up as well.&nbsp;I recall clutching my leg to cry, for I could feel the throbbing pain in my knees. The injury seemed to come alive the moment I noticed it. The day passed, and I forgot all about this incident until a few years ago, when the memory popped up out of nowhere.&nbsp;When I reflected on this small, insignificant incident, several questions came up:&nbsp;Why did I not experience the pain while playing, after scraping my knee?&nbsp; Why should I feel the throbbing pain the moment I realized I had scraped my knee?&nbsp; Can there be pain without suffering? Can there be suffering without pain?This reflection led me to appreciate the difference between pain and suffering. Pain is what is there; suffering is what we consciously experience. On that evening, the pain must have been there from the moment I scraped my knee, but there was no suffering because I was not conscious of the pain. It is in the consciousness of the pain that we suffer.Physical pain, hardships, relationships, conflict: there are very many things that trouble us in life. There is no getting away from the pain these things cause. We need to pay attention to the issue causing the pain. But it seems that we can pay too much attention, or too little.&nbsp;Too little attention delays the resolution of the problem, extending the pain. On the contrary, the more we brood and obsess over a problem, the bigger it seems to get, blowing up the suffering. I sometimes end up making a problem so big that I find myself left with no energy to do any work. By moderating our attention and swinging into surgical action, the problem is solved quickly.Where attention goes, energy flows! Through our attention and attitude, we can make a mountain out of a mole hill or a mole hill out of a mountain.When someone inquired of Babuji (one of the Heartfulness guides) about his stomach ache, he replied, “Now that you have reminded me of my stomach ache, I can feel the pain!” It helps to focus on things that inspire us, elevate us, motivate us, to work on things that deliver tangible results, and moderate the level of attention given to the things that trouble us.One of my favorite quotes is, “Always look toward the light. For when we turn away from the light, we see our own shadow.”The key to reducing our suffering and unlocking our potential is the way we manage ourselves on the mental and emotional plane. A greater level of awareness to understand what we are going through, the agility of the mind to redirect attention, a developed will to swing us into action rather than brood, all make us productive, effective, and happy. These are some of the attributes I have developed through a regular and systematic practice of Heartfulness.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">AI generated image</h4><hr>

Where attention goes, energy flows!

Srividya has been with the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram for close to 10 years. She conducts group classes as well as individual therapy classes as a yoga therapist and Consultant. She is learning Vedic chants for healing.&nbsp;

srividya-varadarajan.jpg

Srividya Varadarajan

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">VALENTINA TSAREV, SRIVIDYA VARADARAJAN, UTTARA VENUGOPAL, and UMA NATARAJAN are all yoga teachers who have experienced the benefits of yoga and Ayurveda at a young age. Here they share some key features of their use for health.</h4><h3>Health according to Ayurveda, and the relationship between yoga and Ayurveda</h3>Valentina, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta: Charaka was one of the greatest Ayurvedic doctors and Vedic scholars, and he asked, “What is health, and a healthy person?” He described a healthy person as one whose doshas are balanced. The three doshas – vata, pitta, kapha – define our personal constitution. Also, one whose digestive fire or transformational fire, agni, is balanced; one whose dhatos, body tissues, are in balance (we have seven vital tissues in our body); one whose malas, wastes, are eliminated normally; one whose indriyas (senses), manas (mind), and atma (soul or the self) are calm and clear. Such a one is called swastha purusha, a healthy person.Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences, and they share the same spiritual goals. They require us to connect ourselves to the true self – a healthy person has a healthy physical body, a healthy mind, and a healthy spirit. There are two goals to Ayurveda: one is to protect and maintain health throughout the lifespan, and the second is to cure diseases, disorders, and imbalances in the body and mind. The main focus is the prevention of diseases and the promotion of positive health. In order to reach the main goal of our life, to find our true self, to find Christ Consciousness, we need to be healthy.<h3>Yoga as therapy</h3>Srividya Varadarajan, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram: There is a prevalent idea that yoga is about convoluted postures, and fit and slim people. But yoga is more than physical fitness – it is essential for us to perform our duties, take care of our responsibilities, etc. The body should not be an impediment toward our spiritual growth, so it’s important that we are physically fit, but the influence goes much beyond that. While doing asanas is important, asanas are only one part of yoga. Yoga is beyond that. We practice asanas with the breath, the practice of pranayama, because all that works at the level of the prana in the body, which is the life force. The prana in our body is responsible for all the functions. So by doing asana and pranayama, the balance improves, which in turn makes all the functions work better. Any abnormality in the functions of the body will be corrected because of the prana circulating inside the body. So this is the therapeutic reason for yoga.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_and_ayurveda2_06b0b85fdc.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If you practice yoga regularly, the flow of your prana is going to improve and help your organs function better. And your mental health will also improve; you will be happier, not anxious and stressed out, and you will live life smoothly.</h4><hr><h3>Creating a healthy mind</h3>Uttara Venugopal, Yogavahini: Yoga is much more than asanas and pranayama. It is a way of living. Yoga has many, many tools, including meditation, making choices, speaking the truth, living with cleanliness, not harming anybody, and being happy and content with whatever we have. Some of these tools have been taught to us when we were born in our families, and later we learn asanas and pranayama, especially when we’re unwell these days.So, today we are talking about mental health. Take, these two or three years of Covid. It was a huge catastrophe, and people are still struggling with what Covid has done to them. Either they have been affected by the illness directly, or the fact that the whole world was turned upside down. It’s safe to say that almost everyone was extremely troubled. At the other end of the spectrum, individuals have lifestyle difficulties. For example, if you are bent over a computer typing or coding every day, you hardly get up to move. This lifestyle will definitely lead to physical difficulties like back pain, your slept will be affected, and you will have digestion issues. A sedentary lifestyle may lead to diabetes. And all of these are going to affect your mental state.&nbsp; If you practice yoga regularly, the flow of your prana is going to improve and help your organs function better. And your mental health will also improve; you will be happier, not anxious and stressed out, and you will live life smoothly. Your body and your mind will not stop you from doing what you need to do. Work for yourself, for your family, provide. It’s definitely going to help your mental health. &nbsp;<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Yoga has many, many tools, including meditation, making choices, speaking the truth, living with cleanliness, not harming anybody, and being happy and content with whatever we have.</h4><hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_and_ayurveda3_766c985967.jpg"></figure><h3>Yoga and good health</h3>Uma Natarajan, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta: Twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with a women’s health ailment, and the doctor said that there was no choice but to remove my uterus. This came as a big shock to us. When I approached my first teacher she said yoga could help. So, along with the medication I also practiced yoga, and then I became a yoga teacher. It has given me confidence and faith; faith follows from practice, my teacher would say. Twenty years on, I have not had my uterus removed, and I’m functioning well.I’ve personally experienced that yoga can work on your internal organs, along with medication, and after some time the medication is not needed. When you’re committed to the practice, it helps on both the physical and mental levels.&nbsp; I used to be a high achiever and get very angry and anxious about winning at everything; there was always a fear element in me, always uncertainty. But after practicing yoga and meditation in the Sivananda discipline, I started feeling calm and composed. There was an automatic reduction in anger, greed, jealousy, hatred; you witness them slowly fade away from you, and positivity comes without much effort. If you commit to the practice, you will experience all this on your own. When I’m teaching, the students also receive the same energy. My teacher always says that what you have, you can pass on, and receive the same kind of benefit.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_and_ayurveda4_7db693eb2e.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">The five points of yoga – proper exercise, asanas; proper breathing, pranayama; proper relaxation, savasana; proper diet, vegetarian and sattvic; and meditation and positive thinking. So, you can apply these five points of yoga every day, to every aspect of life. You can practice yoga every moment, just remembering.</h4><hr><h3>How long does it take for yoga to be therapeutic?</h3>Valentina: Swami Vishnudevananda, the founder of the Sivananda organization, was sent by his master Swami Sivananda to the West, to spread yoga. He was traveling in North America and trying to teach yoga the way he taught in the Himalayas, but it didn’t quite work because of the different energy, different people, and different lifestyles. So, he came up with the five points of yoga – proper exercise, asanas; proper breathing, pranayama; proper relaxation, savasana; proper diet, vegetarian and sattvic; and meditation and positive thinking. So, you can apply these five points of yoga every day, to every aspect of life. You can practice yoga every moment, just remembering. You are not thinking about the benefits, but whatever you do, you can practice asanas or meditate, or chant, say prayers or mantras, exercise useful awareness. Once we bring awareness to our practice, we bring yoga to our life.And remember the main goal of Ayurveda is to find our true self. If we just focus on benefits, wondering how long it’s going to take, we are going away from our yoga practice, back to our senses, back to our physical body; how good do I look? etc. Once we withdraw all the senses and bring full awareness to the practice, that’s when we start to get real benefits. And those benefits help us on the long journey to our true selves. &nbsp;<h3>Common ailments treated by yoga therapy</h3>Srividya: The prevailing common problems are musculoskeletal issues due to a sedentary lifestyle, working so many hours; too much time on a smartphone leading to a lot of neck issues, back issues, spinal issues, and knee pain. Yoga therapy is different from physiotherapy, because although we give movements, we also work at the breath level, we work with prana, we work at the level of the mind. Other problems include acidity, asthma, wheezing, irritable bowel syndrome, and since the pandemic, in the younger generations, there are a lot of anxiety and depression issues.We use all the subtle tools of yoga, not just postures. At Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, we address each student individually to find out the physiological and mental condition of the student. We assess them depending on where they live, what kind of work they do, how much time they have for practice, etc., because sustained practice is very, very important. If I tell people to wake up every morning at 5 a.m. and do one hour of practice, it’s not going to work for everybody. We consider all these factors and offer an individual specific program dependent on the student and their ability. It’s a holistic approach. We ensure that we teach them well so that they will practice on their own, daily, which is the most important thing. Ultimately, the goal is prevention, to prevent future suffering. That’s how we try to empower the students.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/yoga_and_ayurveda5_4559b95251.jpg"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Yoga helps you live well in community, your energy helps other people, the way you interact with friends, your spouse, your parents, your children. It makes things a lot more harmonious and less difficult, that’s for sure.</h4><hr><h3>Yoga for all ages and levels of health</h3>Uma: Step by step, more flexibility develops, deeply into yourself. Yoga is applicable to people of all ages and all levels of difficulty. For example, if you cannot do double leg raises, teachers will tell you an adapted way of doing them, folding one leg and lifting the other leg up slowly. When the flexibility develops you will be able to do it perfectly. The teachers at Sivananda are trained to understand each and every student, their health constraints, their ability constraints, and accordingly, they teach.Everybody can practice yoga, and everybody can feel the difference in themselves. If you keep on practicing, you will feel the benefits, and when you have experienced the benefits, like me, you become committed to the practice.<h3>Beyond health</h3>Uttara: Practicing yoga doesn’t stop you having problems in life. Rather, it gives you the strength, the energy, and the foresight to cope with them very well. When something impacts you, you won’t react and let it affect you as badly as it could. You don’t get sucked down.Yoga also teaches you to understand yourself better, to see where you are at any point in time, and to go someplace better. For example, practicing yoga regularly has impacted the way I cook. Now, that may sound like a silly thing, but I’m feeding people better food. My practice impacts so many other people too. Very importantly, it helps me maintain and develop better relationships with others. None of us live in isolation. Yoga helps you live well in the community, your energy helps other people, the way you interact with friends, your spouse, your parents, your children. It makes things a lot more harmonious and less difficult, that’s for sure. And who doesn’t want to live like that?&nbsp;<hr>To watch the whole discussion, go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAS9kqnbbtw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAS9kqnbbtw</a>

Yoga and Ayurveda for health

Stanislas is a civil servant of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of France. He has worked in many countries and enjoys making meditation fashionable wherever he goes. He has developed a course on the science of meditation for universities and corporates.

Stanislas.jpg

Stanislas Lajugie

<h4>STANISLAS LAJUGIE explores modern psychological theories of managing emotions, and even better, how to let go of our past emotional patterns and step into a simpler, happier future through meditative practices.</h4><hr>Are you super smart, successful in many aspects of life, but your heart is unhappy? When this happens, all your achievements will not be satisfying enough.Or let’s take another example: have you tried to take a decision while feeling angry, jealous, fearful, or even euphoric? One single emotion and your entire thinking process is in jeopardy!Emotions play a central role in our lives for better or for worse.Modern times require that we learn to manage our emotions to navigate with an even keel through life’s ups and downs. We will explore how to move toward emotional regulation, and even step into the future of emotions!<h4>Emotional Regulation</h4>In the 1990s, Peter Salovey from Yale University described emotional intelligence (EI) as “The ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.”Daniel Goleman popularized EI and classified it into 5 components:<ul><li>Self-awareness</li><li>Self-management</li><li>Motivation</li><li>Empathy</li><li>Social skills</li></ul>Awareness – self-awareness, awareness of the others, and awareness of the environment – is at the core the 5 components of EI. This means being aware and adapting to the situation. The quality of awareness and the capacity to adapt were praised by Daniel Goleman in his book Emotional Intelligence, Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (1995), which has been a treasure in all professional environments.In essence, this type of emotional intelligence, which is very useful, consists in managing emotions that have arisen in the past, that are affecting our behavior in the present.Heartfulness proposes a different approach: to neutralize the past conditioning and step into the future of emotions.<hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/future_of_emotions2_608271f3f0.jpg?updated_at=2023-03-27T09:50:22.146Z" alt=""><hr><h4>Step into the Future of Emotions</h4>What does that mean? Let me give you an example. A while back, I had to meet a customer in another part of the city. I was running late, drove fast, and had a car accident. It shocked me. The next day, I had to drive, and the fear of driving was there. I drove slowly, but manage to reach safely. And the next day, it was the same. The next month also. After a month, I nearly forgot about this fear. So, my concept of fear evolved based on a series of new “past” experiences.The theory of how emotions work has been debated for decades by psychologists, neuroscientists, philosophers, and evolutionary biologists. In essence, some postulate that emotions are innate, that a particular area of the brain is associated with a particular emotion, while recent research supported by neuroimaging technologies reveals that our mind connects different parts of our brain to make sense of emotions based on past experiences. So our emotional understanding is based on past experiences and emotions.Now, if they are constructed, they can be also deconstructed. Our emotional concepts can be tweaked and changed by new experiences.Here is the beauty of the brain and meditative practices. For the brain, whether I have my eyes open or closed, experiences have the same impact on brain changes. What does it mean? I can intentionally close my eyes, practice the Heartfulness Cleaning technique to tweak, transform and master my emotional concepts. I don’t have to wait for new experiences, or be a victim to past emotions. I can step into the future of emotions!<h4>Can You also Step into Your Future Self?</h4>In this question, Lisa Feldman Barrett is referring to a Buddhist notion of the “self” as a false construct, a clinging to a set of ideas that are made up. She suggests that by tweaking the ideas we have about ourselves, and changing predictions, it is possible not only to change future experience but also to change our “self.” Barrett goes on to say that if you are interested in doing this, try meditation.Heartfulness Cleaning gives us a means to remove our emotional burden and gain <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-art-of-gratitude" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">emotional balance</a>. Heartfulness meditation, which focuses on the source of light emanating from our being, can allow us also to heighten our quality of existence to the highest levels.As Otto Scharmer and Bill O’Brien once discussed, “The success of an intervention depends on the interior condition of the intervener. … What counts is not only what leaders do and how they do it, but also their “interior condition” – that is, their inner source.” They are speaking of the quality of consciousness.<hr><hr><h4>Heartfulness Cleaning gives us a means&nbsp; to remove our emotional burden and gain emotional balance.</h4><hr><hr><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/future_of_emotions3_4fc194fe0a.jpg?updated_at=2023-03-27T09:51:44.806Z" alt=""><hr><h4>Having ways to make sense of negative emotions,&nbsp; and how to respond to them, seems to result in an&nbsp; increased capacity for emotional regulation.</h4><hr><hr><h4>Emotional Granulation</h4>Research suggests that higher emotional granularity, that is, the ability to distinguish the specificity of emotions, results in increased capacity for emotional regulation, which is particularly important when it comes to managing negative emotional situations.Kashdan, Barrett and McKnight (2015) share a study where a fear of spiders was treated using three different approaches:<ol><li>Cognitive re-appraisal where participants were taught to describe spiders in a non-threatening way, e.g., “Sitting in front of me is a little spider and it’s safe.”</li><li>Distraction, where participants pay attention to something unrelated to their fear of spiders.</li><li>Categorization of sensations with greater granularity, e.g., “In front of me is an ugly spider, and it is disgusting, nerve-racking and yet intriguing.”</li></ol>The third approach was found to be the most effective in helping people with a fear of spiders to observe and approach spiders. Research suggests that higher emotional granularity has positive benefits, particularly in situations that engender negative emotions. Having ways to make sense of negative emotions, and how to respond to them, seems to result in an increased capacity for emotional regulation.Lisa Feldman also observed that noting down positive experiences, and enriching our vocabulary of positive emotions, supports the weaving of a positive mindset.Heartfulness journaling supports the development of this capacity to observe and enrich our vocabulary of experience, especially if we pay more attention to feelings as prescribed in the Heartfulness practices.<hr>

Step into the future of emotions

<h4
 id="h-stanislas-lajugie-is-a-diplomat-and-a-heartfulness-practitioner-and-trainer-he-specializes-in-offering-corporate-programs-on-science-and-meditation-and-shares-with-us-here-how-meditation-can-help-beat-stress"
 >
 STANISLAS LAJUGIE
 is a diplomat and a Heartfulness practitioner and trainer. He
 specializes in offering corporate programs on “Science and
 Meditation,” and shares with us here how meditation can help beat
 stress.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 I am sure everyone knows what stress is, yet I would like to propose the
 following definition: stress is a state of mental and/or emotional
 strain due to external or internal circumstances. It doesn’t mean that
 stress is negative. Actually, we need stress. But we only need positive
 stress, the good stress.
 

 
 We call this positive stress “eustress.” Responding to positive stress
 helps to increase our focus and concentration, our capacity to engage
 and perform well, and even create a feeling of satisfaction and
 happiness, since we are performing well.
 

 
 The problem starts when we are exposed to very high levels of stress or
 for very long periods of time. Then, eustress becomes distress, and it
 is harmful. Before understanding how distress is harmful, let’s look at
 the different types of stress.
 

 <h4>
 Types of Stress
 </h4>

 
 The first type of stress is the “to do list.”
 It is when we feel the pressure to complete a certain number of tasks in
 a limited timeframe. Remember post-it notes?
 

 
 The second type of stress is caused by a sudden accident or fearful
 event.
 It may be dropping a cup of coffee, bumping into someone, or a car
 accident.&nbsp;
 

 
 The third type of stress is due to deep fear or trauma
 – perhaps a serious sporting accident, a war, the loss of a loved one,
 abuse, etc.
 

 
 The cause of the trauma does not even have to be a real physical event.
 Many are symbolic, like meeting your boss, seeing your dentist, the fear
 of speaking in public, the fear of being abandoned, the fear of not
 being loved, or the fear of being judged by others.
 

 
 The fourth type of stress is the fear of not being able to cope with
 the increasing speed or bombardment of life. We are exposed to more demands, more responsibilities, more noise,
 fewer resources, less time, and less money. And we are expected to have
 a smile on our face all the time!
 

 
 We are often continuously exposed to multiple types of stress, resulting
 in a chronic stress condition, which is very harmful to our well-being.
 

 <h4>
 Stress, Health, and Well-being
 </h4>

 
 Research shows that people who are stressed are less likely to have
 healthy eating habits and to exercise, and are more likely to smoke.
 According to the American Institute of Health, 75-90% of all visits to
 the doctor are for stress-related problems. The American Institute of
 Stress estimates that work stress accounts for 52% of stress, 28% is
 from personal problems, and the remaining 20% is from juggling between
 personal and professional lives.
 

 
 No wonder the WHO has declared stress as the epidemic of the 21st
 century! The European agency ESENER has reported that 79% of managers
 are concerned about stress in their workplaces, but fewer than 30% have
 procedures in place to deal with the psychosocial risks. The most common
 causes of work-related stress are job insecurity (72% of respondents),
 long working hours or excessive workload (66%), and being bullied or
 harassed at work (59%).
 

 
 43% of the costs due to stress are direct: sick leave and accidents. 57%
 are indirect, such as brain drain – all the intelligent people leaving
 the company.&nbsp;&nbsp; Another interesting phenomenon is
 “presenteesm.” The employee is there, sitting behind his desk, but they
 are not performing!
 

 <h4>
 The Problem
 </h4>

 
 There is no magic pill you can take to remove stress, but I believe that
 there is a simple solution for this big problem.It is in understanding
 the biology of stress, and then using simple techniques to reverse the
 process.
 

 
 When our senses capture and identify a significant threat, we adopt the
 fight-or-flight response, which is triggered by the amygdala in our
 midbrain. Then there is a chemical reaction, which has three
 consequences:
 

 
 First, the blood of the viscera is pushed to the periphery
 – to the limbs – to boost the energy in the arms and the legs, to “fight
 or fly.” It also means that the inner organs are now living on their own
 energy reserves, which are also limited.
 

 
 Second, the immune system is on hold.
 Therefore, we have a higher propensity to fall sick, especially in
 stressful moments.
 

 
 Third, the blood in the brain moves to the more primitive
 parts,
 especially the amygdala, rather than the prefrontal cortex, which is
 dedicated to rational thinking, analysis, and decision making.
 

 
 To put it in one sentence:
 My brain CEO goes AWOL!
 I am simply unable to think. Not because I don’t have the intelligence,
 the knowledge, the expertise, and the experience, but because my brain
 is not in a position to think! Research from Yale reports that
 continuous exposure to high levels of stress also affects our memory.
 

 <h4>
 The Solution
 </h4>

 
 The simple technique of
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmwqL34FCjA"
 >Heartfulness Relaxation</a
 >
 can help. By relaxing all the limbs of the body, we return to a neutral
 and natural state of functioning. We focus on the heart, which brings a
 state of psychophysiological coherence – coherence between the mind and
 body of the person – which is optimal for functioning.
 

 
 By connecting with the heart, we also establish heart–brain coherence,
 which is very conducive to higher cognitive activities, according to
 research.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 By connecting with the heart, we also establish heart–brain coherence, which is very conducive to higher cognitive activities, according to research.&nbsp;
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 But the benefits of meditation are much greater. The research of Dr.
 Richard Davidson also shows that people who are stressed develop brain
 circuitries&nbsp; similar to people who are depressed. They are related
 to the right prefrontal cortex. These people tend to always focus on the
 negative, ruminating on the same types of thoughts. In contrast, happy
 people and meditators develop brain circuitries related to the left
 prefrontal cortex, which plays a critical role in emotional
 intelligence. They are able to disregard negative information and keep
 their attention on the activities they choose.
 

 
 To sum up, stress is very much a part of our daily life, affecting our
 physical health, our brain functioning, and the way we think. How
 healthy are our choices in how we use it and respond to it?
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

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

 <hr />

Stress

<h4>STAN LAJUGIE explores decision-making, and how to keep getting better at it. The results may surprise you, as the biology shows that not much of it depends on thinking!</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Forrest Gump is the story of a fairly simple man; so simple that people often
 thought he was stupid and made fun of him. He loved running and chocolate, and
 if we look at his entire life, he only took good decisions! He always followed
 his heart. As Idriss Aberkane says in Free Your Brain, can we say
 that a person who only takes good decisions in their life is stupid? No,
 right? At the same time, we can see many intelligent people taking wrong
 decisions! So, we come to understand that decision-making is not about
 thinking. It is about feeling.



 Decision-making is a critical aspect of our lives. At work, we are paid to
 make decisions, and the decisions we make design our destiny. Our mind is a
 critical instrument for making decisions, but very few people pay attention to
 the process. To understand the biology of decision-making, here is an overview
 of the 4 steps:


<h4>
 1.
 Security
 check
 –
 quick and
 dirty
</h4>


 First the information is checked by the mammalian brain, especially the
 amygdala, the part of the midbrain that is in charge of identifying threats
 and opportunities. Simply put: am I going to be eaten, or am I going to eat?



 When there is perceived danger, the <a>amygdala </a>triggers the
 fight-or-flight response, which Daniel Goleman, the author of
 Emotional Intelligence, calls an amygdala hijacking. The limbic brain
 overrides all other parts of the brain to mobilize maximum resources for
 attack or defense. The blood moves to the limbs and the mid and back parts of
 the brain, not to the prefrontal cortex, the CEO brain, which is dedicated to
 analysis and rational thinking. As a result, reactions and outbursts replace
 rational thought. Thus, decisions taken during or soon after an amygdala
 hijacking are likely to be based upon strong emotions not rational thinking.
 Someone who is operating mostly from this state of mind can be described as a
 reactive-compulsive decision-maker.



 When the situation is safe, we move to the second stage of decision making.



 2. Analysis and
 rational thinking – intelligent and slow



 The information passes to the prefrontal cortex, where we evaluate all the
 pros and cons of the situation. This is where we harness all our rational and
 analytical capacities. Deep thinking demands a focused mind. The more
 distracted we are, the shallower our reflections. The shorter our reflections,
 the more trivial they are likely to be. A reader’s mind typically wanders
 anywhere from 20% to 40% of the time while reading a text. Not surprisingly,
 the more our mind wanders, the worse the comprehension (Daniel Goleman,
 Focus).



 Besides, the rational thinking process is very slow! In the “Iowa Gambling
 Task” (Bechara et al., Science 1997), participants were told to
 gamble with four decks of cards. Secretly, two were biased so that they would
 tend to win, and the other two so that they would tend to lose. Throughout the
 game, their Skin Conductance Response was measured, and every 20 cards the
 experimenters asked participants what they knew about the game, and how they
 felt about it.


Here is what they observed:

<ul>
 <li>
 After 80 cards, participants had observed that two of the decks were better
 than average and two were worse than average.
 </li>
 <li>
 After 50 cards, participants expressed a hunch, a feeling that they liked
 two of the decks more than the other two.
 </li>
 <li>
 After 10 to 30 cards, participants sweated more when reaching for the bad
 decks than when reaching for the good decks. They began to pick more from
 the good decks, even though they didn’t give any indication that they were
 consciously aware of the nature of the game or their shifting behavior when
 asked.
 </li>
</ul>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="700" height="567" alt="" class="mx-auto d-block lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/was_forrest_gump_stupid2_700x567_3c5043a732.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:12:12.095Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Conclusion: we are capable of having physiological responses and feelings that
 change our behavior even before we are consciously aware of them. Conscious
 thinking and understanding is slow.



 In the professional world, too much emphasis on decision-making can lead to
 analysis-paralysis. This is inefficient and delays decisions! It requires a
 third step.



 3. Inner knowing –
 authentic and unspoken



 Decision-making does not stop at the prefrontal cortex. It requires a third
 step to confirm the information, or the decision, with our inner knowing.
 Different parts of the limbic brain may be involved, including the brainstem,
 the basal ganglia, the hypothalamus, the anterior cingulate, and/or the
 insulate.



 Daniel Goleman highlights that the best business decisions are not based on
 the numbers and facts available, but on something beyond. It requires that we
 tune into the brain circuitry that manages our entire life’s wisdom and
 emotions. The tricky part is that this circuitry does not connect to the parts
 of the brain that think in words. They give instructions through feelings. So,
 in order to make a good decision, we need to tap into our feelings. This is
 often what people call their gut feeling.



 What if our mind is too busy, with too many thoughts, or just wanders here and
 there? What if we are not trained to pay attention to feelings? How will we
 listen to our inner voice of wisdom and take good decisions?



 4. Wisdom and
 intuition – wise and wizard



 Research by Dr. Igor Grossman shows that self-distancing practices such as
 meditation on an abstract object, like the source of light in the heart, is
 conducive to wise reasoning. Heart-based meditation leads to heart-brain
 coherence, which is conducive to higher cognitive activities. When we practice
 a self-distancing meditation, we recognize the limits of our knowledge, and
 the possibility of change. As a result, we consider others’ perspectives, and
 search for ways to integrate these perspectives. Decisions are wiser and more
 sustainable.



 Other studies from Rollin McCraty, Ph.D., and Dean Radin, Ph.D., show that the
 heart plays an important role in intuition. The heart responds 1.5 seconds
 before the brain does, and indeed before any other part of the body. Even more
 surprisingly, the heart responds on average 4.6 seconds before the stimulus
 itself! This is called precognition, as it appears as a sixth sense,
 responding before the five senses perceive, and before thinking happens.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
 <figure>
 <img decoding="async" width="700" height="567" alt="" class="mx-auto d-block lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/was_forrest_gump_stupid3_700x567_ace9af07c0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T11:14:01.195Z" />
 </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 To sum up, we have seen the main 4 stages of decision-making. In a nutshell,
 decision is mostly about feeling. Heart-based meditation not only sensitizes
 us to feeling, but also supports wisdom and intuition, improving
 decision-making skills.



 We are often told that in the world of competition there is no place for
 feelings and the heart. Well, biology says otherwise!


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

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

<hr />

Was Forrest Gump stupid?

<h4
 class="block-heading"
 id="h-stan-lajugie-explains-the-science-behind-focus-and-attention-and-the-role-of-meditation-in-helping-us-develop-these-vital-mental-skills"
 >
 STAN LAJUGIE
 explains the science behind focus and attention, and the role of
 meditation in helping us develop these vital mental skills.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 When we focus on one object, the brain mobilizes its resources to
 identify the target. Once identified, it has its aha moment, and it
 requires time to redirect them toward the next activity or target. This
 is called the attentional blink.
 

 
 Helen Slagter at the University of Amsterdam found out that a 3-month
 intensive meditation course can shorten the attentional blink and
 improve the accuracy of attention. This suggests that meditation can
 help in developing a high level of awareness and a greater capacity to
 manage our limited resource of attention. This was observed when
 performing both repetitive and new tasks, meaning mental agility.
 

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 Unfocused 50% of the time
 </h4>

 
 Richard Davidson found: during sharp focus, key circuits of the
 prefrontal cortex synchronize with the object of attention1
 in a state he calls “phase-locking.” As we focus on what we are
 learning, the brain maps that information onto what we already know,
 making new neural connections. We become more efficient at
 understanding, learning, and memorization.
 

 
 The ability to stay focused on one target and ignore everything else is
 due to the brain’s prefrontal circuitry, which boosts the strength of
 incoming signals to concentrate on what we want and dampens those we
 choose to ignore. Also, focus demands that we tune out our emotional
 distractions. So those who focus best are relatively immune to emotional
 turbulence, and remain unflustered in a crisis.
 

 
 Whereas, when we lack focus, we store no memory of what we are learning.
 We are also more prone to mental or emotional agitation.
 

 
 A research study done in 2010 by Killingsworth and Gilbert2
 found that:
 

 <ul>
 <li>
 47% of the time participants of his study were doing one thing, but
 thinking of something else, drifting into mind wandering.
 </li>
 <li>
 People were less happy when their mind was wandering than when they
 were not.
 </li>
 <li>
 It is not unhappiness which makes us unfocused, but lack of focus
 which leads to unhappiness.
 </li>
 </ul>

 Let’s try to understand why.

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 Negative by default
 </h4>

 
 Neuroscientists have discovered that when people are doing nothing in
 particular, their brains are still very active. It is the autopilot mode
 of the brain known as the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is
 associated with:
 

 
 Self-referencing: personal information and memories, future goals, and events. In short,
 me, myself and mine, worrying what I have done or what I should do.
 

 
 Social comparison:
 me and others, wondering what others think of me, or what would they
 think of me, if am I better or they are better, etc.
 

 
 Rumination:
 repetition of the same thoughts.
 

 Do you sometimes see yourself in that state?

 
 No wonder a wandering mind causes unhappiness! Our thoughts may not be
 our friends!
 

 <h4 class="block-heading">
 Mental training
 </h4>

 
 While it is good to be able to focus well, sometimes being too focused
 can be an obstacle. We may miss the trees for the forest. To understand
 how this works, watch the video at
 <a href="https://youtu.be/ubNF9QNEQLA">https://youtu.be/ubNF9QNEQLA</a>.
 

 
 Regular practice of meditation supports both the development of
 high-resolution focus and the ability to zoom out to a broader
 perspective. The ability to switch between micro and macro is important.
 This is the type of awareness that we naturally develop in Heartfulness
 Meditation.
 

 
 Meta-attention is our awareness of paying attention.
 After directing the attention to one object, we may have difficulties
 holding it there, as it may drift away. With awareness of that attention
 we can gently bring it back to our original activity. And this is
 exactly what we practice during meditation.
 

 
 Judson Brewer found that the DMN is less active during meditation,
 enabling a greater ability to refrain from worrying.
 

 
 He also found that the DMN was easily deactivated when practicing
 meta-attention or focusing on feelings, which also develops naturally in
 the Heartfulness practice as we bring our attention to the heart.
 

 
 Even better, in regular meditators, the DMN was not only deactivated
 during meditation but also after the practice, which suggests a change
 in baseline brain activity.
 

 
 During meditation, we activate parts of the brain related to sensing,
 feeling, and being in the present moment. We are free of mind-wandering
 thoughts and fully engage in what we are doing. This supports
 performance and a sense of happiness.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 During meditation, we activate parts of the brain related to
 sensing, feeling, and being in the present moment. We are free
 of mind-wandering thoughts and fully engage in what we are
 doing. This supports performance and a sense of happiness.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt=""
 
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thoughts_friends2_3b0e1bf5c3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T06:42:29.118Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 In other words, we change our daily consciousness from an “interpretive
 world” of worrying about the past or future, interpreting what others
 think, and ruminating on these concerns, to an “experiential world” with
 our attention grounded in the present, moment to moment, experiencing
 what is happening.
 

 
 The suspension of mind chatter frees us from worries of all sorts, and
 allows us to fully focus on the present moment and performing our
 activities. This leads to a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness.
 

 
 To sum up, focus is at the base of performance and mental and emotional
 stability.
 

 
 Unfortunately, it is easy to be unfocused nearly 50% of the time, and
 this mind wandering leads to a sense of unhappiness.
 

 
 Fortunately, meditation helps us to turn off this default functioning of
 the brain, so that we are present in the moment. Heartfulness practices
 support such transformation as it naturally trains us to develop focused
 attention, meta-attention, and tuning in to our feelings.
 

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 1 Goleman, D., 2013.
 Focus, The Hidden Driver of Excellence, Harper USA.
 

 
 2 Killingsworth, M.A. and D.T. Gilbert, 2010. A wandering
 mind is an unhappy mind, Science, Nov 12, 330 (6006): 932.

Are your thoughts your friends?

<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h4>
 STANISLAS
 LAJUGIE challenges the myth that we make most of the decisions in our lives. Why do we keep
 encountering similar circumstances, relationships, and problems in life? Why is it so difficult to change our
 behavior? He explains why, and also how we can transform ourselves.
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h4 class="has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color">Who Is Running the
 Show? Your Conscious Mind or Your Subconscious Mind?</h4>



In his book, The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles, Dr. Bruce
 Lipton explains that 95% of our daily cognitive activities and decisions are managed by our subconscious minds,
 meaning that only 5% are managed by our conscious minds. One reason is because the prefrontal cortex, the part of
 our brain dedicated to attention and conscious awareness, is only a small part of our brain, which can process only
 a limited amount of information. Translated into data, it can process the equivalent of 40 bits/second, while the
 subconscious mind can process 40 millions bits/second. Quantitatively, the subconscious is one million times more
 powerful!



And the subconscious mind is mostly formed during the first six years of life, whereas the development of the
 prefrontal cortex is not complete until the age of twenty-five. The subconscious mind acts like a hard disk,
 downloading all the information we absorb from around us. This process is dependent to a large extent on external
 circumstances. Actually, at that young age there is no faculty to discriminate, as the prefrontal cortex is not
 fully developed. Therefore, aware or not, willing or not, good or bad, whatever comes is recorded. And the
 information we receive in that stage of super learning determines our belief system. This becomes the basis of the
 subconscious mind or the operating system from which our conscious mind operates.



<h4>What Is the Power of
 Positive Thinking?</h4>



Dr. Lipton invites us to do the mathematics:



<ul>
 <li>95% of decisions versus 5%; and</li>



 <li>40 millions bits/sec capacity of processing information versus 40 bits/sec.</li>
</ul>



So to be consciously positive is not very powerful, because the subconscious mind can always control or sabotage our
 intentions.



Even when we consciously have a positive thought, like “I want to be healthy, successful, happy,and have a fulfilling
 relationship,” who is really pulling the strings? The subconscious mind.



What if our early childhood environment was not positive? What if we were told, “Don’t do this,” “Don’t do that,”
 “You don’t deserve it, you are not good enough,” and these are now our subconscious beliefs?



And, do you want to live a life governed by a subconscious mind that was mostly built during the first six to seven
 years of life, and was deeply influenced by external circumstances?



<h4>Negativity. Is It Worth
 It?</h4>



To add fuel to the fire, we are wired to be negative, as we explored in “<a
 href="https://www.heartfulnessmagazine.com/are-your-thoughts-your-friends/" target="_blank"
 rel="noreferrer noopener">Are Your Thoughts Your Friends?</a>” Negativity sticks to the brain, while positivity
 flows like water through the brain. The amygdala, which plays a key role in our defense system, is primed to label
 experiences negatively. It takes five positive experiences to undo a negative one. People will do more to avoid loss
 than receive gain. We update our appraisal with information that confirms these negative experiences. We ignore,
 devalue, or alter information.



On top of this, our modern environment is becoming ever more stressful and violent. There is an increasing exposure
 to violence through multimedia. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that by the age of 18 the average young
 person will have viewed around200,000 acts of violence on television – clearly not so supportive for building a
 positive subconscious mind!



In his book, If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy?, Dr. Raj Raghunathan found that 60 to 70% of his
 students’ spontaneous thoughts were negative, even though 60 to 75% of them expected their thoughts to be positive!




On average, we have 70,000 thoughts a day. If 70% of them are negative, that means one negative thought every 2
 seconds! Would that not affect our consciousness,decisions, and the ways we interact with other people?



We can all ponder over our childhood.Whether or not we were lucky enough to have a positive joyful childhood,we can
 all learn how to bring about positive deep inner transformation.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Whether or not we were
 lucky enough to have a positive joyful childhood, we can all
 learn how to bring about positive deep inner transformation.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<h4>Keys for Inner
 Transformation</h4>



Returning to Dr. Lipton, he fortunately mentions some ways to remodel our subconscious mind:



<ul>
 <li>Heightened awareness to realize the play of the conscious and subconscious mind, e.g.through hypnosis,</li>



 <li>Developing new habits, as the subconscious mind learns through repetitive actions day after day,</li>



 <li>A strong will: every time we become aware of a situation, we can willfully move toward the direction desired,
 and</li>



 <li>Meditation.</li>
</ul>



<hr class="vertical-space1">


<div class="block-image">
 <figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="858" alt="" class="has-img-center lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/who_is_running_the_show2_8b53612fcc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-26T08:33:32.659Z">
 </figure>
</div>


<hr class="vertical-space1">



He also highlights the effectiveness of bedtime meditation as prescribed in the Heartfulness practices. Just before
 sleeping, we naturally access our subconscious mind. By meditating on the heart, we immerse ourselves in heartful
 meditative states, inviting our subconscious mind to absorb the feelings and qualities of the heart – love,
 compassion, courage, tolerance, respect, appreciation, generosity, kindness, patience, etc. – and this continues
 throughout the night while we sleep. We give ourselves a chance to enrich our subconscious mind with values and
 beliefs that support conscious positive thoughts.



If you sleep eight hours a day in a life of 80 years, that is 26 years of sleep! The practice of bedtime meditation
 will utilize that time to enrich the mind to your best advantage and well-being!



To put it a different way, if you want authentic conscious living, be happy, joyous, and positive. Make your
 subconscious mind your friend!



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations from RAWPIXEL.COM</h4>



<hr>

Who is really running the show?

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h4>
 STANISLAS LAJUGIE
 explains how we can cultivate the habit of happiness, even though our
 nervous system is wired for negativity. He gives us 3 simple steps to
 cultivate a happier disposition.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Let me ask this question: 10 things happened to you today – 9 good, one bad.
 Which one do you remember and share with your family members once you are
 back home? The bad one, right?
 

 
 Negativity sticks to the brain, while positivity flows like water through
 the brain. Hence, happiness may not always be natural or easy to cultivate.
 We need to learn to take in the good! You can watch this
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foYqdGapEuI">video</a> by Dr. Rick
 Hanson to learn more about this.
 

 <h4 >
 40% Margin of Happiness
 </h4>

 
 Sonja Lyubomirksy, Distinguished Professor, University of California,
 Riverside, defined happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or
 positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good,
 meaningful, and worthwhile.”1
 

 
 She conducted a meta-analysis of over 200 studies on the effects of
 happiness, and observed that happy people have stronger health, longer life,
 and better careers; plus they are more creative, have stronger
 relationships, and even have healthier cultures and communities.
 

 
 If happiness is so beneficial, she wondered why we are not excelling in it!
 In her article, “Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable
 Change,”2 she found that:
 

 <ul>
 <li>
 50% of happiness comes from our genetic baseline, i.e. how predisposed we
 are to happiness. This is related to biological and personality traits
 which do not change much through life. We cannot do much about them.
 </li>

 <li>
 Only 10% comes from external factors, e.g. our health, bank account,
 relationships, new phone or tablet, new boss, etc. That surprisingly low
 percentage is due to the phenomenon of habituation. We tend to revert to
 our happiness baseline, whether an important good or bad event happens to
 us. For instance, if you win the lottery, you will tend to come back to
 the same level of happiness after one year.
 </li>

 <li>
 40% comes from intentional activity, i.e. our choices. Thus, the quality
 of our mindset is responsible for 40% of our happiness. This is actually
 where we can contribute to a happy life.
 </li>
 </ul>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img alt="create-the-habit-of-happiness" class="lazyload has-img-center" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_habit_happiness2_3bf718f3f5.jpg"/>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="text-center">
 Whether or not we were lucky enough to have a positive joyful childhood, we can all learn how to bring about positive deep inner
 transformation.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 While most people spend the majority of their time improving their material
 life, which is accountable for only 10% of happiness, we have a 40%margin of
 happiness that is dependent on our choices.
 

 
 We cannot take happiness for granted! Happiness is intentional, effortful,
 and trainable. How can we develop this mindset and cultivate the habit of
 happiness?
 

 <h4 >
 Learn to Take in the Good
 </h4>

 
 Dr. Rick Hanson explains that the brain has the natural tendency to retain
 negative experiences and forget positive ones as a survival mechanism.
 Therefore simple positive thinking strategies are not the answer.
 

 
 Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change its structure and
 functioning due to its activities. Positive neuroplasticity consists in
 intentionally engaging in those activities that develop positive changes of
 the brain. In short, we need to learn to take in the good!
 

 
 In his book, Hardwiring Happiness,3 Hanson suggests 3
 steps to ensure long-lasting transformation and to learn to take in the
 good:
 

 
 Pause:
 take distance from negative information. Focus: on positive experience and let in positive feelings. Absorb: savor the experience by feeling the thoughts, emotions and sensations
 associated with the positive experience.
 

 
 The longer that experience is held in awareness, and the more emotionally
 stimulating it is, the more neurons wire-in those pathways. By letting the
 moments spread across the emotional and mind-body system, small shifts are
 created, and overtime this weaves positive experiences into the fabric of
 the brain.
 

 
 This is exactly what we are doing in the Heartfulness practices. We meditate
 on the heart, and this trains the brain to absorb positive feelings and
 experiences associated with the heart – love, compassion, care, kindness,
 appreciation, harmony, patience, courage, and many more qualities that
 support happiness.
 

 
 We may only have a 40% margin of happiness, so let’s take up that
 opportunity. We can cultivate the habit of happiness.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img alt="create-the-habit-of-happiness" class="lazyload has-img-center" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_habit_happiness4_c06ec92baf.jpg"/>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="text-center">
 We meditate on the heart, and this trains the brain to absorb positive
 feelings and experiences associated with the heart – love,
 compassion, care, kindness, appreciation, harmony, patience,
 courage, and many more qualities that support happiness.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <img alt="create-the-habit-of-happiness" class="lazyload has-img-center" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/create_habit_happiness3_e0da34f079.jpg"/>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 

 
 1 Lyubomirsky, S., 2007. The How of Happiness:
 A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want. Penguin Putnam, USA.
 

 
 2
 <a
 href="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/LSS_2005_fcaf27a724.pdf"
 >https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/LSS_2005_fcaf27a724.pdf</a
 >
 

 
 3 Hanson, R., 2013.
 Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and
 Confidence. Harmony, USA.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />
</div>

Create the habit of happiness

<h4>STANISLAS LAJUGIE offers us some very clear research on sleep hygiene, explains why it’s important to get a restful night’s sleep, and definitely convinces us that it’s not a good idea to miss a few hours.</h4><h4>A good night’s sleep or a nightmare day</h4>Sleep is the silent hero. Executive thinking, characterized by nimble mental processes, adaptability, and innovation, depends upon the rejuvenating embrace of sleep.Yet, sadly, the significance of sleep is often underestimated in our modern education systems and professional lives, both the quantity and quality, though history repeatedly reminds us how sleep deprivation can have extreme effects on our health and mind. In fact, it has been used as a form of torture throughout history.In 16th century Scotland, at the height of the witch-hunts, women who allegedly practiced witchcraft were captured and put on trial. The hunters needed a confession before a conviction, and thus “waking the witch” was born. Accused women were deprived of sleep for days, after which they would begin to hallucinate and experience psychotic episodes. Their “talk” was recorded as confessions.&nbsp;During World War II, the Japanese operated approximately 175 camps where sleep deprivation and other torture methods were used to extract information from both military personnel and civilians, while the British Army had the London Cage, a well-known center for interrogating prisoners of war, which used various harsh techniques, including sleep deprivation. During apartheid, South Africa used sleep deprivation as a torture method until 1994, and the U.S. military allegedly until 2009.&nbsp;So, sleep deprivation has a long history as both a means of interrogation and a form of torture. Some groups have reframed it as an “enhanced interrogation technique.” Despite not leaving physical marks, the United Nations recognizes it as a form of torture, defining torture as causing “physical or mental” pain or suffering. Sleep deprivation can lead to hallucinations, psychosis, schizophrenia, and the utterance of irrational statements, making it a concerning and inhumane practice.While witch-hunts stopped, sleep deprivation has widely spread across the globe.1 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes sleep deprivation as a “public health epidemic,” with an estimated 50 to 70 million adults in the United States with chronic sleep and wakefulness disorders. A recent study in the Netherlands found 27.3% (21.2% of males and 33.2% of females) reporting that they had some type of sleep disorder. Polling based on a validated questionnaire revealed that 32% complained of experiencing general sleep disturbances while 43.2% said they suffered from insufficient sleep. Throughout developed nations, two-thirds of adults fail to attain the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep disorders afflict approximately 50% of individuals over the age of 55, impairing both the initiation and maintenance of sleep.2&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_wake_witch2_ac896739a0.webp" alt="why-wake-witch2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_why_wake_witch2_ac896739a0.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_why_wake_witch2_ac896739a0.webp 437w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_wake_witch2_ac896739a0.webp 437w," sizes="100vw"></figure><h4>Every hour counts!&nbsp;</h4>Why wake the witch and torture yourself? Change of lifestyle and lack of good information on sleep could be the reasons, at a heavy cost! Let’s venture into the repercussions of sleep deprivation that infiltrate all facets of our being.&nbsp;1. What is the impact of being deprived of one hour of sleep?&nbsp;An annual global experiment called “daylight saving time,” involving 1.5 billion people across 70 nations, provides a stark hint. Each year, on the Monday after clocks spring forward, hospitals see a 24% surge in heart attacks. The reverse occurs in the fall, with heart attacks dropping by 21%, offering the gift of an extra hour’s sleep.3&nbsp;There was an experiment in a U.S. school that shifted the start time from 7:25 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., which meant that students enjoyed 43 additional minutes of sleep. Their standardized test scores (SATs) improved by eight to 25%.42. What could happen if you sleep six hours a night?&nbsp;If the average sleeping time is eight hours (from the seven to nine hours normally advised by the World Health Organization), this is equivalent to a shortfall of two hours. The Surrey Sleep Research Center5 found that 711 genes were disrupted in students who slept for six hours per night for one week, compared with those enjoying a solid eight-and-a-half hours sleep. Among these, half surged into overactivity, including genes linked to chronic inflammation (a precursor to cancer), cellular stress, and factors fostering cardiovascular illnesses. On the flip side, genes fostering stable metabolism and optimal immune responses were stifled.3. What about five hours of sleep a night?&nbsp;Research6 from the University of Chicago unveiled that when healthy young males were limited to five hours of sleep weekly, they experienced a stark reduction in testosterone production and testicle size. This alteration effectively aged them ten to fifteen years in terms of virility. Diminished testosterone not only dampened sexual activity, but also invited fatigue, hampering focus and mental acuity. Women weren’t spared either, as less than six hours sleep a night disrupted hormone production vital for menstruation and fertility, even elevating fertility problems by 80% due to erratic schedules.4. What about four hours of sleep a night?&nbsp;Dr. Michael Irwin from the University of California7 observed that a solitary night of four hours’ sleep eradicated 70% of natural killer cells circulating in the immune system. Imagine the toll after a week, not to mention months or years of sleep deprivation.5. No sleep at all for a night?&nbsp;Randy Gartner is from San Diego, California. He holds the world record of time without sleep from 1964 when he 17 years old, for a period of 11 days 24 minutes!&nbsp;Missing 24 hours of sleep can lead to effects similar to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent, impairing decision-making, judgment, perception, memory, and coordination. Symptoms typically improve after getting some sleep.In a revealing experiment, participants divided into well-rested and sleep-deprived groups (kept awake all night) were tested on learning capacity. After two nights of recovery sleep, the sleep-deprived group displayed a 40% memory deficit, struggling to absorb new information. Learning-related hippocampal activity was observed in those who slept, while the sleep-deprived exhibited minimal learning engagement. Sleep deprivation had literally frozen their memory processing. Working very late before an exam day does not seem to be a good idea!Another study involving two groups of young adults—one sleep-deprived and one well-rested—showed that the sleep-deprived participants displayed over 60% amplified emotional reactivity in the amygdala, the fight-or-flight center. Simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex, associated with rationality and decision-making, struggled to temper emotional triggers. The result was heightened irritability and emotional turbulence.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_wake_witch3_0b34e8b192.webp" alt="why-wake-witch3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_why_wake_witch3_0b34e8b192.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_why_wake_witch3_0b34e8b192.webp 437w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_wake_witch3_0b34e8b192.webp 437w," sizes="100vw"></figure>6. 36 hours without sleep?Bodily functions such as appetite, metabolism, mood, and stress level can be disrupted. Effects include extreme fatigue, hormonal imbalances, decreased motivation, risky decisions, inflexible reasoning, and speech impairments.7. 48 hours without sleep?&nbsp;The immune system becomes compromised, increasing inflammation and decreasing natural killer cell activity.8. 72 hours without sleep?&nbsp;An intense urge to sleep emerges. Cognitive functions like multitasking, memory, and attention severely decline. Emotional stability suffers, causing irritability, depression, anxiety, and difficulty processing emotions in others. Perception becomes distorted, leading to hallucinations and illusions.9. Longer periods of sleep deprivation?&nbsp;Cognitive, emotional, and perceptual functions progressively worsen, ultimately impacting overall well-being.A prominent contemporary challenge is the delayed onset of sleep due to lengthy work hours, late-night calls, digital distractions, etc., making more and more people affected by sleep diseases.&nbsp;So, what constitutes a restful night’s sleep? We’ll find out next time!<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_wake_witch4_0dc3cb0f70.webp" alt="why-wake-witch4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_why_wake_witch4_0dc3cb0f70.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_why_wake_witch4_0dc3cb0f70.webp 523w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/why_wake_witch4_0dc3cb0f70.webp 523w," sizes="100vw"></figure>To be continued.<hr>References:1 Chattu, V.J. et al, 2018. The Global Problem of Insufficient Sleep and Its Serious Public Health Implications. Healthcare (Basel) ; <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fhealthcare7010001.">https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fhealthcare7010001.</a>2 Black, D. S. et al., 2015. Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med, Apr;175(4):494-501.3 Wallker, M., 2017. Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams. Scribner Books,&nbsp;4 Mateika, J.H. et al, 2002. Impact of Sleep on Learning and Behaviors in Adolescents, Teachers College Record, 104(4):704-726.5 Effects of insufficient sleep on circadian rhythmicity and expression amplitude of the human blood transcriptome. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110(12): E1132-41. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1217154110. Epub 2013 Feb 25.6 Van Cauter, E. et al, 2007. Impact of sleep and sleep loss on neuroendocrine and metabolic function. Horm Res, 67, Suppl 1:2-9. &nbsp;doi: 10.1159/000097543. Epub 2007 Feb 15.7 WIrwin, M.R., 2015. Why Sleep Is Important for Health: A Psychoimmunology Perspective. Annu Rev Psychol, 66:143-172.

Why wake the witch? 

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Following up on last month’s article, STANISLAS LAJUGIE shares details about our sleep patterns and what is needed to create a really healthy sleep routine.</h4>&nbsp;<h4>If you want to follow your dreams, go to sleep early</h4>In the 1950s, after conducting experiments on rats that were later confirmed on humans, scientists discovered that we did not have a continuous and consistent pattern of brainwave activity during sleep. Instead, the brainwave patterns fluctuated between periods of higher-frequency waves, similar to wakeful brain activity, and periods of low-frequency waves, typical of deep sleep.The sleep periods resembling wakeful states were characterized by rapid and irregular eye movements, and dreams. This type of sleep was called rapid eye movement or REM sleep. During the other periods, brain activity was slow and the body completely relaxed with no movement of the eyes. This state was called deep or NREM sleep.During NREM sleep, the body repairs itself. Tissues regenerate, the immune system rejuvenates, and energy levels replenish. The brain consolidates memories and learning from the day, and expels neurotoxins.Indeed, deep NREM sleep is the brain’s cleanup phase. Brain activity and blood circulation decrease, permitting the glymphatic system (clears waste products and toxins from the brain) to facilitate the exchange of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid (ISF) in the brain. During this phase, ISF volume increases by 60%, flushing the brain and eliminating waste.Research reveals that the glymphatic system also aids memory consolidation, potentially explaining sleep’s role in brain health. Prolonged sleep deprivation can impair this, allowing toxic waste buildup that contributes to cognitive decline and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s.The initial stage of sleep and transitory phases are light REM sleep, followed by progressively deeper states. During REM sleep, brain activity heightens, accompanied by rapid eye movement. This phase is characterized by dreams and flashbacks, testing all scenarios, and allowing vital processing and memorization of emotions.The World Health Organization recommends seven to nine hours of sleep for adults, though individual needs may differ. Sleep quality also matters. A fulfilling night’s sleep contains multiple cycles of deep sleep and light sleep, essential for physical and mental revitalization. An average sleep cycle spans 90 minutes, with around four to five cycles in a 24-hour span for optimal rejuvenation. Uninterrupted sleep, devoid of frequent awakenings, is equally crucial.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.09%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_health2_ec4ec69779.webp" alt="sleep-health2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_sleep_health2_ec4ec69779.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_sleep_health2_ec4ec69779.webp 800w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_health2_ec4ec69779.webp 800w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Quality of sleep is not only about how long we sleep, but also when we sleep. The circadian rhythm is the natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and various physiological and behavioral processes in living organisms, including humans, on a daily basis. The main gland that regulates the circadian rhythm is the pineal gland. Located deep within the brain, the pineal gland plays a crucial role in the regulation of various physiological processes, including the sleep-wake cycle and the production of the hormone melatonin.The pineal gland receives signals from a cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus (SCN) that acts as the body’s master biological clock. The SCN receives information about the external light-dark cycle through the eyes’ retinal cells, which then communicate this information to the pineal gland.When darkness falls, the SCN signals the pineal gland to increase its production of melatonin, and the rise in melatonin levels promotes drowsiness and prepares the body for sleep. As morning approaches and light levels increase, the SCN signals the pineal gland to decrease melatonin production, promoting wakefulness. In this way, the pineal gland’s secretion of melatonin serves as a key component of the circadian rhythm, helping to align internal biological processes with the external day-night cycle.<h4>What is your sleep health?</h4>When we sleep has an effect on our circadian rhythm. If we go to sleep after 11 p.m., we will not get the longest duration of NREM sleep, in particular N3 (very deep sleep), the stage most associated with physical restoration and recovery. During N3 sleep, the body engages in critical processes like cell repair, growth, and immune system support, and the brain’s glymphatic system is most active. Deep sleep also plays a vital role in memory consolidation, particularly for declarative memory (facts, events, experiences). Emotional processing and regulation are also linked to deep sleep, helping to modulate emotional responses and potentially reset the brain’s emotional state.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:76.6%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_health3_74a82d1548.webp" alt="sleep-health3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_sleep_health3_74a82d1548.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_sleep_health3_74a82d1548.webp 1000w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_health3_74a82d1548.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">An average sleep cycle spans 90 minutes, &nbsp;with around four to five cycles in a &nbsp;24-hour span for optimal rejuvenation.&nbsp;</h4><hr>Sleeping early supports metabolic functions and helps regulate hormones involved in appetite control, metabolism, and stress response. Disrupting these processes by sleeping late can potentially lead to metabolic imbalances and increased stress.Melatonin secretion increases in the evening, promoting sleepiness. If we’re awake and exposed to light when our bodies expect darkness, melatonin levels may remain elevated, leading to feelings of fatigue, and a mismatch between our internal clock and external environment. Instead of feeling energetic in the morning, melatonin presence may persist, making it difficult to wake.Not getting the necessary NREM sleep can contribute to mood disturbances, like irritability, mood swings, and potential mental health issues.In summary, when we consistently go to bed after 11 p.m., we miss out on the critical early-night NREM sleep stages, which can have a cascading impact on various aspects of our health and functioning.If you need to make adjustments to your sleep schedule, it’s recommended to do it gradually over a period of time, to allow your body to adapt to the changes.<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Meditation: a gateway to enhanced sleep and brain function</h4>To become a sleep champion requires a healthy lifestyle: going to sleep early and for long enough, a balanced work life, regular exercise, reduced coffee and tea consumption, a timely and light diet.Additionally, meditation brings many benefits for sleep quality and brain functioning, including stress reduction1, enhanced sleep quality2, circadian rhythm alignment3, and daytime vitality4.<h4>Moral of the story?</h4>The lesson is clear: sleep’s intelligence far surpasses our comprehension. Ignoring it could hasten our journey toward an early end. In the grand mosaic of existence, sleep is not a waste of time for the busy, but a vital need. Our physical and mental well-being dance to its rhythm, and meditation may well be the conductor guiding us to harmonious rest.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:70.55%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_health4_bd4a8ed853.webp" alt="sleep-health4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_sleep_health4_bd4a8ed853.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_sleep_health4_bd4a8ed853.webp 400w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sleep_health4_bd4a8ed853.webp 400w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;References:1 Jindal et al., 2016; Tang et al., 2015; Winbush et al., 2007; Ong et al., 2008. 2 Black et al., 2015; Gong et al., 2016. 3 Burke et al., 2015. 4 Colzato et al., 2015; Mrazek et al., 2013.&nbsp;

How is your sleep health?

Stephen is co-founder of the LifeWorks program of mindful well-being at Stanford University, faculty of Fielding Graduate University, and president of Nichibei Care. He received a doctorate in psychology from Harvard and was professor at the University of Tokyo. His books in Japanese and English include When Half is Whole and Multicultural Encounters.

stephen-img.jpg

Stephen

<h5>STEPHEN MURPHY-SHIGEMATSU opens his heart about the sacredness of the death of his grandmother.</h5>
 <hr class="vertical-space1">
 “She waited for you,” the priest told me. I believe she did.
 It had been a long trip to get there and Obaachan had been on a long journey in this
 world. My grandmother was 111, though the priest pronounced her 113 by the Buddhist way of counting age, adding
 one for the time in the womb and another on New Year’s day. Her old body had finally broken down and I couldn’t
 just let her go, so I went to Japan.
 With a heavy feeling that this was my last time to see her I made the long trip
 across the ocean. When I finally arrived in her room and saw her, my heart sank as she appeared to be
 unconscious. I stared at her for a while thinking that I had come for nothing. But when I called her,
 “Obaachan,” she opened her eyes and looked into mine. “It’s me,” I said. “Stephen.” She recognized me and her
 eyes closed. We did this a few more times before she appeared to fall into a deep sleep. Wanting to get away for
 a moment from the enormity of the situation I went outside into the falling&nbsp; darkness wandering through
 neighbourhoods filled with sights, sounds, and scents of home – fish grilling, television news, students
 bicycling home.
 When I returned her condition had markedly changed. The nurse said that she was
 rejecting food and even water. The doctor was called and after&nbsp; examining her told me that she was nearing
 the mountain top – an unfamiliar expression but one I instantly understood. He left the room and I waited alone
 by her side. The only sound was the rhythm of her harsh breathing. After a few hours I grew weary and fell
 asleep.
 <hr>
 <h5 style="text-align: center;">.… the original meaning of dharma, which she explained as a 
 way of being for each living thing, to be discovered and accepted. 
 I needed to accept who I was, be grateful for it and 
 responsibly do what I could with what I had, which was a lot.</h5>
 <hr>
 A short while later I awoke to a strange silence. I knew that it was over. Her long
 time in this world had ended.
 As I gazed at the lifeless body I recalled the time that I lived with Obaachan in my
 youth. Everyone marvelled at her seimeiryoku, her vitality, and I&nbsp; was fortunate to have absorbed some. She
 taught me about the beauty of Buddhism, and the original meaning of dharma, which she explained as a way of
 being for each living thing, to be discovered and accepted. I needed to accept who I was, be grateful for it and
 responsibly do what I could with what I had, which was a lot.
 Obaachan also talked about the beauty of Jesus Christ. She insisted that my father,
 who never professed to be a Christian, was actually Christlike in many ways. I knew him as a man scorned by
 society as a fool, and Obaachan affirmed that he was indeed a fool. But she called him “Obakasan” – a wonderful
 fool, foolish enough to try to live by ideals and the highest values, for which he suffered severe consequences.
 
 The funeral ended with family members placing flowers on Obaachan’s body, especially
 around her face, before the coffin was closed. We then moved to the crematorium. We watched as the body was
 rolled into the oven and the switch turned on. I had a strange sense of detachment; none of this was&nbsp;
 horrifying. I sensed no life in the body, no Obaachan. Whatever form she was now in, it clearly was not attached
 to that body.
 I wondered if she was now with God and remembered asking Obaachan, “Where is God?”
 She pointed to her heart and said, “God is here.” Then she pointed at my heart and said “God is there too.” I
 understood that God is in all of us.
 <hr>
 <h4 style="text-align: center;">Article by STEPHEN MURPHY-SHIGEMATSU</h4>
 <h5 style="text-align: center;">Photography by RASMUS MOGENSEN</h5>
 <hr>

Arigatou: Beginning & ending with thanks

Stephen_Covey.jpg

Stephen R. Covey

Strength lies in differences

SteveJobs.jpg

Steve Jobs

The lightness of being a beginner

<h2 id="h-emilie-mogensen">Emilie Mogensen</h2>

Emilie is Danish born with design and spirituality in her DNA. Besides being a designer, she holds an Inner MBA, a Masters in conscious business and entrepreneurship, from NYU. She is on a mission to enhance unity, compassion and heart centered entrepreneurship in modern life business endeavors. 

<h2>Steve Macadam</h2>

Steve is a senior executive and conscious CEO who was the President of EnPro, and is a director on the boards of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Valvoline Inc. He is committed to ethical behavior, sound corporate governance, profound people engagement, and long-term decisions for the greater good.

Steve-Macadam-Emilie.jpg

Steve Macadam and Emilie Mogensen

<h4
 id="h-emilie-mogensen-attended-steve-macadam-s-module-as-part-of-the-inner-mba-and-she-is-deeply-inspired-by-his-way-of-building-authentic-communities-steve-is-an-mba-from-harvard-a-baker-scholar-and-currently-an-independent-director-for-louisiana-pacific-corporation-and-valvoline-inc"
 >
 EMILIE MOGENSEN
 attended
 STEVE MACADAM’s module as part of The Inner MBA, and she is deeply
 inspired by his way of building authentic communities. Steve is an MBA
 from Harvard, a Baker Scholar, and currently an independent director
 for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Valvoline Inc.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Although I have been on a sincere spiritual path for 29 years, I tend to
 be very impatient. When I feel inspired or see a need for change, I
 often find myself wanting to execute before thinking. This tendency led
 to extreme boredom at school, and it has stayed with me throughout life.
 At the same time, I believe it is what makes me move forward as an
 entrepreneur and in life. I am a “street achiever,” often rather
 fearless, with a strong drive. It serves me well most of the time,
 especially when my actions come from within, based on wisdom, or from
 knowledge inspired by great thinkers and entrepreneurs.
 

 
 I share this to emphasize how much I appreciated Steve Macadam’s module
 at The Inner MBA immersion program. If I had to choose one
 module as the most useful take-away, it would be Steve’s on how to build
 authentic communities. I feel the future call for these authentic
 communities and synchronicities whispering to me, “This is true,” and
 hope to share why.
 

 
 Steve has a very practical approach, and his messages resonate with the
 go-getter entrepreneur in me. His model has worked successfully at
 EnPro, where he was the CEO. I am not the right person to go into the
 corporate story of EnPro, a publicly-traded US company with 8,000
 employees; what makes my heart sing is to investigate the essence of
 human beings – in this case, Steve Macadam.
 

 
 Steve shares that building authentic communities is often based on the
 visions held by very passionate visionaries. They can be organizations,
 businesses, schools, or grassroots movements. It seems to be essential
 that someone holds the vision firmly in order for the communities to
 expand.
 

 
 Steve’s model of building authentic communities is simple and based on 4
 phases:
 

 Phase 1, the pseudo community

 Phase 2, the chaos community

 Phase 3, the emptying phase

 Phase 4, the authentic community

 
 Before diving into this, let’s explore what is a community and what does
 it mean when something or someone is authentic.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="546"
 height="600"
 alt="building-authentic-communities2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/building_authentic_communities2_1a53533246.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:26:12.527Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 To be “authentic” means to be genuine and real. It’s about
 alignment between what happens inside and what is
 expressed outside.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 “Community” refers to a group of people with shared interests, whether
 those interests are based on culture, spirituality, values, customs, or
 identity. Communities may share a geographical space, like a village or
 a church hall, or they may connect virtually, such as an online social
 network.
 

 
 Characteristics of a community include friendship, support, growth,
 shared attitudes, interests and goals. Some communities form naturally,
 such as those in specific geographical locations, while others form
 consciously with a shared purpose and goal.
 

 
 For example, a Heartfulness community is a gathering of people who wish
 to practice Heartfulness in a convenient and supportive space: a space
 where people can be themselves, meet with others, share experiences, and
 gain support and understanding. Essentially, a Heartfulness community
 provides the space for people to meditate together, share stories, and
 find love and support.
 

 
 To be “authentic” means to be genuine and real. It’s about alignment
 between what happens inside and what is expressed outside. Authenticity
 helps us feel safe. We are more aware of what is going on, instead of
 having to second guess and use various strategies to get what we need.
 

 
 I feel this is one of the most needed traits for humanity. It’s worth
 exploring how we can become better at being authentic together, at work,
 in spiritual communities, and elsewhere. In fact, I feel it is one of
 the missing links in our eagerness to co-create a more compassionate
 world.
 

 
 The most powerful message from my conversation with Steve is that there
 can be no authentic community without conflict.
 

 
 As someone engaged in a spiritual community, this can be difficult to
 embrace. I think many spiritual seekers tend to be pleasers by nature –
 we thrive in peace, and that is honorable!
 

 
 But can we try to dive deeper, and cultivate communities that fill us
 with even deeper connection and meaning? Talking to Steve helped me to
 learn that we can speak our own truth from a place of sovereignty and
 dignity, while holding space for others, especially when we don’t agree
 with them.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 We can speak our own truth from a place of sovereignty and
 dignity, while holding space for others, especially when
 we don’t agree with them.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Next month, I will explore the four phases of the model Steve used at
 EnPro with remarkable results. EnPro is a multiple bottom lines company,
 placing equal value on people, planet, and profit, where the CEO reads
 fairytales to the workers, and everyone is allowed to express their
 inner truths. It comes from a very authentic place in my heart to share
 how Steve has inspired me to build and expand authentic communities. I
 hope it will inspire you too.

Building authentic communities

<h4
 class="block-heading"
 id="h-emilie-mogensen-attended-steve-macadam-s-module-as-part-of-the-inner-mba-and-she-is-deeply-inspired-by-his-way-of-building-authentic-communities-steve-is-an-mba-from-harvard-a-baker-scholar-and-currently-an-independent-director-for-louisiana-pacific-corporation-and-valvoline-inc-in-part-2-of-the-series-they-explore-the-4-phases-of-building-authentic-communities"
 >
 EMILIE MOGENSEN
 attended
 STEVE MACADAM’s
 module as part of The Inner MBA, and she is deeply inspired
 by his way of building authentic communities. Steve is an MBA from
 Harvard, a Baker Scholar, and currently an independent director for
 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Valvoline Inc. In part 2 of the
 series, they explore the 4 phases of building authentic
 communities.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h5 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 “The next Buddha may take the form of a community – a community
 practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community
 practicing mindful living.”
 </h5>

 <h5 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 —Thich Nhat Hanh
 </h5>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 We are exploring Steve Macadam’s model on how to build authentic
 communities. The model is simple and based on 4 phases:
 

 
 Phase 1, the pseudo community
 

 
 Phase 2, the chaos community
 

 
 Phase 3, the emptying phase
 

 
 Phase 4, the authentic community
 

 
 Phase 1, the pseudo community, is artificial, not real.
 Steve explains that this phase is often where most companies and
 organizations are stuck for long periods and some people seem to be okay
 there. But the bottom line is that the community can thrive much better,
 and some people break away from those communities that don’t offer space
 for authenticity.
 

 
 This leads us to Phase 2, the chaos community, where a
 lot of people leave and some stay back, and often insist rather strongly
 on maintaining things “as they have always been.” We see this a lot in
 the world today, where the “great resignation” is a hardcore reality for
 many companies. People are simply no longer willing to put their jobs
 and positions above their personal well-being. I believe this is an
 unavoidable result of decades, even centuries, of the individual trying
 to fit in at any cost.
 

 
 This fitting in often comes from a very strong need to feel a part of
 the group and not to stand alone, which is a very sweet and innocent
 quality of the human heart – the need to be with fellow beings and to
 connect. But the question to ask is: do we really connect? And do we
 really thrive if we constantly value the profit of the company, the
 peace of the room, over our inner most truthful need of being allowed to
 feel okay just as we are?
 

 
 I am writing this article with a funny sense of insecurity, as I know
 the Heartfulness Magazine is a multicultural magazine, with readers from
 around the world, with different backgrounds, cultures, and religious
 beliefs. I respect this and want to honor everyone’s feelings. Some
 cultures believe strongly in putting the group’s needs over the
 individual, which a part of me does as well.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4phases-community2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4phases_community2_700x523_03be816d90.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:46:45.011Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 So why am I so drawn to Steve’s model? Because another part of me is
 truly thirsty to step into a new world and a new expression of myself:
 of being able to hold space for others, and not feel threatened nor hurt
 when someone holds a very different opinion than me.
 

 
 It seems to be part of an evolutionary plan that we are in the midst of
 a paradigm shift. The fact that we have seen numerous communities
 breaking up, families breaking up, friendships breaking up, companies
 breaking up, shows me something is in deep transformation in our
 societal structures. We are in the middle of a collective “community of
 chaos,” phase 2.
 

 
 We travel through Phase 3, the emptying phase, to move
 from chaos to Phase 4, the authentic community. Phase 3
 is where Steve allows all the workers to express themselves, through
 listening to fairy tales and through mindfulness exercises. He
 emphasizes how important it is that the CEO, the leader, faces the
 people within a circle, sitting on a chair at the same height as the
 others in the group. A sense of equality must be present, so everyone
 can express their feelings and everyone can practice holding space for
 one another.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 A sense of equality must be present, so everyone can
 express their feelings and everyone can practice holding
 space for one another.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 This means to leave the thinking part of consciousness, and truly listen
 with the heart and the entire body. The heart holds our compassionate
 qualities, while our body is the container of a lot of hidden trauma. We
 tend to want to bypass the unpleasant feelings, as we don’t like to feel
 uncomfortable.
 

 
 This is where “emotional intelligence” comes into the picture.
 Demonstrating emotional intelligence is actually very simple. It is the
 ability to stay present in our own and other people’s emotions and
 feelings. It is not about understanding them, and certainly
 not about giving advice. It is about being able to hold a
 certain tune of someone’s instrument, even though we might prefer to
 play on other tunes. It requires the confidence to be brave enough to
 allow the unpleasant stream of consciousness to move through the energy
 body, without holding onto it or pushing it away. It’s an exercise in
 letting energy move through the physical body and the energy body, and
 letting it go when it’s ready to pass.
 

 
 I asked Steve to elaborate on the importance of strong and visible
 leadership in the emptying phase. He shares that it is crucial that
 everyone leads themselves from within, and nobody feels they are “being
 watched” by someone in power.
 

 
 I ask a bit further, wanting him to share some insights about how
 important it must be to have very defined frameworks around this in a
 community. It is very sweet how Steve is really not into top down
 leadership, as one could imagine a CEO in a publicly traded US company
 could be. He emphasizes the importance of a free and open environment,
 where everyone can express their truth. However, he ends up agreeing
 with me that a skillful leader is required to facilitate these community
 meetings, where everyone can empty their inner feelings and share their
 truths.
 

 
 He shares how we can benefit from being in a large circle, together,
 then some breakout sessions can take place. This is not something new in
 my own communities, and I have often felt it to be rather boring. Again,
 my impatient entrepreneur mentality! Steve shares with me that the
 typical entrepreneur is often the person who breaks out from
 communities. I resonate with that. Some sort of “don’t care, move on”
 thought pattern in my head.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 It requires the confidence to be brave enough to allow the unpleasant stream of consciousness to move through
 the energy body, without holding onto it or pushing it away. It’s an exercise in letting energy move through the physical
 body and the energy body, and letting it go when it’s ready to
 pass.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 A part of me is sad about this, because I truly wish to be a part of
 authentic communities, not just doing things my way. I feel split into
 these two sides. One is afraid to lose my go-getter power if I have to
 succumb to a group. It truly is faster to get things done on my own.
 Another part of me wants to be part of a group.
 

 
 I ask Steve how to deal with this, and his answer makes so much sense.
 “This is exactly what you have to share in the group,” he says. I feel a
 strong sense of healing when these two rather different personalities in
 me meet and shake hands.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Most human beings are 
 people with strong intentions for a better world, for compassion
 and peace. And what a human heart needs most is to feel allowed and contained in whatever process it is going through.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Back to the emptying phase, our community meeting, and sharing in small
 groups. What struck me with Steve’s model is that he guides us to come
 back after the breakout session and share together in a slightly
 different way than I am used to. What we share in the plenum is not what
 we discussed, but how did it make us feel to share in the breakout
 session? What struck us? How did we feel sharing? What were we good at
 sharing? This is brilliant in my eyes! Because most human beings (at
 least the ones reading this magazine) are people with strong intentions
 for a better world, for compassion and peace. And what a human heart
 needs most is to feel allowed and contained in whatever process it is
 going through.
 

 
 And who really wants to blame others? Not many! But sometimes we can’t
 stop blaming a certain person, a leader or a group, unless we are
 allowed to be acknowledged for the pain we have felt in the pseudo
 phase. The very fact that we share how sharing made us feel creates an
 authentic community, because we start showing more interest in how we
 feel, instead of what we think and say.
 

 The key takeaways from Steve’s model:

 
 To move from pseudo community to authentic community, each of us must
 demonstrate strong inner leadership.
 

 
 People in decision-making positions must practice asking what he calls
 “powerful questions.” Here are some examples: Why are you not
 feeling safe in this community? Why do you not like the way things
 are? What is your contribution to the very thing you address? What
 is your contribution as a leader?
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4phases-community3"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4phases_community3_e175ebee65.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:47:20.643Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 A true leader is someone who cares about having a
 positive impact on others, through role modeling rather
 than teaching or giving advice.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 
 Steve is not a top down leader, which truly makes me want to follow him
 and ask him for advice. He emphasizes that a true leader is someone who
 cares about having a positive impact on others, through role modeling
 rather than teaching or giving advice.
 

 
 Once the emptying phase is processed in a compassionate way, facilitated
 by leaders who are able to hold their vision and allow space for
 everyone to unfold their inner leader, the authentic community emerges
 from deep within everyone. It offers deep meaningful relationships, a
 sense of belonging, and loyalty to the respective organization or
 company.
 

 
 Thank you Steve for this wonderful opportunity to explore your
 experimental ways and to learn from you.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Illustrations by ALONA SAVCHUK
 </h4>

 <hr />

The 4 phases of community

Subhangee is a college student from Kolkata, India. Her story won second prize for college students (19 to 25 years) in the Heartfulness International Essay Competition 2021.

Subhangee Ghosh

<h4
 id="h-subhangee-ghosh-is-a-college-student-from-kolkata-india-she-tells-the-inspiring-story-of-her-father-who-overcame-all-obstacles-of-childhood-blindness-to-help-others-this-story-won-subhangee-second-prize-for-college-students-19-to-25-years-in-the-heartfulness-international-essay-competition-2021">
 SUBHANGEE
 GHOSH
 is a college student from Kolkata, India. She tells the inspiring story of
 her father, who overcame all obstacles of childhood blindness to help
 others. This story won Subhangee second prize for college students (19 to 25
 years) in the Heartfulness International Essay Competition 2021.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 To some people he is their God, to some he is their hero. He effortlessly
 plays the role of brother, friend, husband, etc. And to me he is my
 larger-than-life father, whose capacity and willingness to help others never
 ceases to amaze me.



 At the age of 10, my father lost his eyesight in an accident. Overnight he
 became a burden to his family. Incidentally, my father has become successful
 and has come so far in life because of an act of kindness by one of his
 relatives. He likes to tell people that he considers his blindness to be a
 blessing in disguise because otherwise he would never have helped so many
 people. And he tells me that teaching is his passion and helping people his
 obsession.



 Throughout the years, my father has helped countless visually-impaired boys
 and girls in different capacities. By profession he is a teacher, and for the
 last ten years he has been the principal of a school for blind children. In
 his professional capacity he has mentored many a boy on career development,
 many of whom have become very successful in life, and guided parents on how to
 understand their child’s special needs. As a result, he has &nbsp;helped those
 children to have a safe and happy upbringing.



 My father is also the secretary of an NGO, which runs solely for the welfare
 of visually-impaired people, providing scholarships for education, and
 establishing a home where blind students can stay free of charge, etc. He is
 like a one-man army when it comes to helping others. He always says that,
 whenever he goes somewhere alone to do good work, someone or the other is
 always there to help him and make his journey smooth. He believes it is God’s
 way of looking out for him.



 In early 2020, my father became gravely ill. When he came home, he told people
 that maybe God saved him because he had some unfinished work. Those words were
 soon to come true. Soon after the pandemic started, my father got a call from
 a blind hawker saying that he was having difficulty in making ends meet
 because he had lost his source of income when the local trains stopped
 running. My father sent him some money. Soon after, a few more people called
 with the same issue, and he did likewise. When the news spread of my father’s
 help, he started getting 100 calls a day from people all having the same
 issue. This made him seriously think about how to resolve this issue. He
 started the program, “Relief Distribution to Blind Hawkers.”



 He approached his friends, friends of friends, other NGOs, corporates, etc.,
 and through his efforts he was able to procure 15,000,000 rupees in cash and
 food items for distribution. In 2020 and 2021 he provided relief to
 approximately 2,000 blind hawkers and their families in 14 districts of West
 Bengal. But my father does not believe in doing things on a small scale. He
 not only gave these hawkers relief but procured for them items to start their
 business again. Also, he organized a free-of-charge vaccination drive for
 blind people who were not able to get vaccinated by themselves.



 And the most praiseworthy fact is that my father has co-morbidity, and he was
 not at all deterred to volunteer in the field. Along with one of his
 colleagues, he went out every Sunday with a minivan carrying the relief
 materials, and directly handed over the items to people.



 Helen Keller was an amazing lady who is one of my father’s inspirations. She
 said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even
 touched, but just felt in the heart.” My father may not be able to see it, but
 I believe he feels the respect that people have in their heart for him, the
 pride his family feels in their heart for him, and the love and admiration I
 have in my heart for him.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 “The best and most
 beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor
 even touched, but just felt in the heart.“ Helen Keller
</h4>

<hr />

The most beautiful things

Suhas-Ramakrishnan2.jpg

Suhas Ramakrishnan

<h3 style="text-align: center;">From the Travel Bag of a Solo Biker</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">SUHAS RAMAKRISHNAN is a quintessential biker, who
 loves to venture on his beloved Harley. In one of his recent expeditions, he finds inspiration at the famous Uluru
 in Central Australia. Through one of the most punishing deserts on Earth, this expedition is as much about courage
 as it is about perseverance and unwavering self-belief. Suhas also shares some valuable tips, especially for those
 bitten by the solo travel bug.</h4>
&nbsp;
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><img alt="on-the-go" class="img-float-right has-img-center-in-mobile"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/SUHAS_RAMAKRISHNAN_2d0a6ad1c1.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:36:05.782Z">
</h4>
More often than not, we tend to forget that we need to venture out into the open, which
 helps us have a different perspective to life!
Mid last year, while I was flying out of Australia, I looked down from my window and saw
 this glorious red rock glowing in the late afternoon light. It planted the seed in my head of traveling to Uluru on
 my Harley. In my last solo expedition from Sydney to Perth, between the East and West Coasts of Australia, I had
 covered a distance of approximately 7,000 kms. But this time it was going to 
 be over 8,000 kms of the unforgiving Australian desert. I slowly started working towards it, as each and every
 detail of my journey needed to be laid out and meticulously planned.
I wanted to do a round trip from Sydney, covering the legendary Australian outback and
 seeing the World Heritage site of Uluru and the Kata Tjuta National Park. I wanted to push my boundaries, ensuring
 that this trip was more challenging than my previous one. And what better way to do it than being alone on the road,
 with my bike, in the middle of nowhere!
Life according to me is a celebration: the more you celebrate, the more there is in life
 to celebrate. So I decided to “celebrate life” under the stars, close to one of Australia’s most recognizable
 landmarks – Uluru.
<img alt="on-the-go" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Onthego2_ab0fc3830d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:37:57.814Z">

I have always enjoyed the mental focus and solitude of riding a motorcycle. You have no
 distractions and can really enjoy the moment, and be in tune with nature with the pleasure of living in the here and
 now. Riding a motorcycle enables the perfect relationship between rhythmic movement and internal stillness, drawing
 out the physical force like no other.
I had named this trip “The Mile Muncher” from the day I started working on it, as I was
 going to have to travel an average of 500 kilometers on a daily basis. In my previous ride, I only had to ride from
 east to west, but this trip covered all four directions, starting west from Sydney, going north from Port Augusta in
 South Australia, traveling east from Tennent Creek in the Northern Territory, and south from Rockhampton in
 Queensland back to Sydney. The total distance was 8,312 kms (5,165 miles) spanning 17 days.
<img alt="on-the-go" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Onthego3_dc3aab62b7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:39:11.189Z">

I was told before I embarked on the expedition, by a few seasoned travelers, that some
 stretches were really dangerous owing to the cross winds that are a normal occurrence in the deserts of central
 Australian. Along with the winds were the ever-present and iconic road trains, without which the roads are pretty
 much empty. I also geared up for the frequent sand storms, thanks to the mining that happens all through the desert.
 Along the track were the usual mix of kangaroos, emus, camels, livestock and birds of prey, especially the famous
 wedge-tailed eagle, which has an approximate wing span of 9 metres when in flight.
Every single ride that I’ve completed till now has taught me some important life
 lessons, the most important one being that not everything goes according to plan, and how ever much you plan, things
 happen which are outside your control and comfort zone. The only way to get out of sticky situations is to fall back
 on those lessons that are forcibly taught. Like they say “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes
 from bad judgment.” So there is always something to celebrate in every situation, as it teaches us to reach new
 heights in whatever we are trying to accomplish.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, 
 and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself!</h5>
<hr>
<img alt="on-the-go" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Onthego4_4f1ec74f5f.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:39:58.470Z">

I didn’t do too many things different this time around, just kept it simple. Laying out
 all the particulars and planning the travel to the finest detail provided the foundation on which the broader
 aspects of my ride were built. Once the route was finalized, I started planning accommodation and also making sure
 there were enough places to see nearby after each day’s ride.
More than the physical effort that it takes on these kinds of expeditions, I would say
 the effort is psychological, as the mind tends to always look for negatives in every situ-ation. This particular
 phase during my preparation was more challenging. Staying positive through the days of build-up and focusing only on
 one goal, which was to come back home safe and sound with a lifetime’s worth of memories, was among the things I did
 before embarking on my ride.
<h4><img alt="on-the-go" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Onthego5_600bf2ef71.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:40:46.367Z">
</h4>
Here are some tips that may come handy while solo traveling:

Always keep an open mind for whatever situation you
 might get into.
Never lose focus of the goal, no matter the
 adversity. Even if you lose a couple of battles in between, make sure the war is won at the end, because when you
 are on the road not everything goes according to plan and you need to be very flexible and do whatever it takes to
 reach the next milestone.
Set yourself a target or an assignment each day, as
 this keeps every single day interesting. After the completion of that task, the sense of accomplishment will make
 you feel more connected and fulfilled, and you will be more motivated for the subsequent day’s travel. This is a
 very important mental exercise, especially while traveling solo, as you are likely to lack motivation as a result of
 missing human connection.
Last but not least, solo travel gives you the space to
 think and deal with stuff like self-doubt and emotional baggage, that you inadvertently tend to push to
 the back seat while trying to get on with your normal life. I think it is a great catch-up time with your own self,
 which invariably results in more clarity in your life.
Nonetheless, travelling is like a drug: sometimes you find yourself in the middle of
 nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself!
<h4><img alt="on-the-go" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Onthego6_c2201884a3.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-06T07:43:05.980Z">
</h4>
Adapted from an interview originally published at <a
 href="http://www.bohotraveller.com" target="_blank"
 rel="noopener noreferrer">http://www.bohotraveller.com</a>. 
 Read the full interview at <a
 href="https://www.bohotraveller.com/blog-global/insanity-revisited-solo-biking-expedition-on-the-worlds-harshest-desert-australia"
 target="_blank"
 rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.bohotraveller.com/blog-global/insanity-revisited-solo-biking-expedition-on-the-worlds-harshest-desert-australia</a>

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

On the go

Sukriti is the founder of Doctor of Happiness. She is an artist who is helping young people with depression and other mental conditions through her art and online platform. Her Instagram account tagline is “A Reservoir of Hope & Encouragement.” She helps youth handle peer pressure, and the burden of being politically correct all the time, feeling it to be the need of the hour.

Sukriti-Vadhera-Kohli.jpg

Sukriti Vadhera Kohli

<hr class="vertical-space1">
<h3 style="text-align: center;">AN ART ESSAY</h3>
<h4>SUKRITI VADHERA KOHLI is the founder of Doctor of Happiness, helping young
 people with depression and other mental conditions through her art and online platform. Here she speaks with VANESSA PATEL about what inspired her to open up this forum, and what a difference
 art can make to our well-being.</h4>
Q: Hullo Sukriti, can you please tell us about yourself
 and your organization, Doctor of Happiness?
SVK: When I started teaching, about 10 years back,
 I was interacting with a lot of young people. My students were aged 18 and 19, and I realized there were a lot of
 mental health issues in the country. Our students are facing a lot of pressure, and the pressure isn’t just about
 studies, it’s from multiple, complicated situations that young people are dealing with. To say that “College life is
 the best life” and “Youth is the best time” may not be true for everybody.
I began thinking that there has to be something that can be done for the mental health
 of Indian youth. I don’t have a psychology background; I am an artist. When I was in school, I was also in a very dark
 space and art helped me cope, so the thought came to me, “Why can’t I create a platform?” Before this, there were so
 many things I wanted to do but they never worked out. It took me three years to come up with the idea that art can
 inspire people. Can art be the reason for people to become hopeful?
So on January 2, 2018, I started my first online post and the idea was to reach out to
 as many people as possible. I also researched and discovered that there are a lot of artists working on mental health
 all over the world. They were doing a lot of dark stuff and I felt, “What is the point if I’m already in a dark space,
 and I see a dark illustration and I’m pulled into it? It doesn’t help. In fact it pulls me back.” So, consciously I
 decided that I would not use colors in my illustrations, only black and white in a minimalistic way. I would say
 something very profound in a simple way, so that it didn’t complicate, it didn’t overwhelm, it didn’t create more
 anxiety, it was not gyan, only something which would bring smiles to faces. I make a conscious effort to make positive
 art. It is very difficult, actually, for a subject like mental health. I had to really rack my brain and research a
 lot.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">I make a conscious effort to make positive art. 
 It is very difficult, actually, for a subject like mental health. 
 I had to really rack my brain and research a lot.
</h5>
<hr>
Q: You use art to tell a story or convey a message. Your
 illustrations also have a quirkiness, although that doesn’t take away from the somber topics you’re addressing. How
 do you inject that little bit of lightheartedness and still make the point?
SVK: It’s really a big challenge, but I believe one
 thing: unhappy people make other people unhappy, and happy people make other people happy. To be very honest, with the
 challenges we face in life, it’s difficult to be happy all the time. To make art like that I need to become happy
 first. I’m a mother of a six-year-old, I have my family to look after, I have my work to do, so sometimes it’s a
 challenge to make myself happy.
But I’ll tell you one thing, the secret lies in dealing with daily problems. Because I
 cope with them I know how hard it is, and I overcome them and illustrate that. Whatever I’m dealing with I’m
 illustrating, so the quirkiness comes from the fact that the problems are there but I’m going to overcome them. I have
 illustrated many books, but for the first time in many years I have been able to use art for something that creates
 value in other people’s lives.
My quirkiness remains the same, but what I create for Doc of Happiness is very profound.
 Sometimes, even I am encouraged by my illustrations – when I look at something I have made 6 months back.
<img class="lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sukriti2_aad048749d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T03:44:39.839Z" />

Q: I don’t see your work touching on anything topical or
 political because that’s an entirely different subject.
SVK: Well, I want to work purely on mental health,
 but I do sometimes touch upon what’s going on and how to survive it. For example, when all the protests were going on
 around the country, a lot of people with anxiety were not okay to participate. And that was seen as a sign of
 cowardice. I wrote a blog and so many people responded. I supported them not to let anyone convince them they were
 cowards. It was their choice; they could still be at home and support the process. So, while I don’t really illustrate
 on those topics, I do have interactive sessions regarding what is going on right now.
Q: You’re helping them to handle peer pressure because
 there is so much burden on the youth to be politically correct all the time.
SVK: Yes, absolutely, and it is the need of the
 hour.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">My quirkiness remains the same, 
 but what I create for Doc of Happiness 
 is very profound. Sometimes, 
 even I am encouraged by my illustrations.
</h5>
<hr>
Q: Your Instagram account tagline is “A Reservoir of Hope
 &amp; Encouragement.” How does this help you to connect with your followers?
SVK: I wanted to create an online platform which is
 a reservoir of hope. And when I went for the recent Spokenfest in Mumbai, I had so many followers come to me – people
 with whom I had interacted through direct messaging, but who I didn’t know. They told me that when they’re in a really
 dark place, they search Doc of Happiness and look at my illustrations, and that is their online reservoir of hope.
Nowadays we are using our mobile phones constantly, our eyes are always on the phone. So
 when there is a space like Doc of Happiness, which is not negative or gossipy, and it’s not just humor, it’s something
 meaningful, then I see that it is a reservoir of hope. It was the followers who told me this, so I only recently
 changed the description. Earlier I thought I illustrated to empathize and give hope. Now I realize that it’s actually
 beyond that. There is a bank of goodness lying somewhere which anyone can tap into whenever they wish, like an ATM.

A lot of my followers get in touch with me through direct messaging and, let me tell
 you, there is so much loneliness out there. Even though they may have many followers on social media and many real
 life friends, deep down they feel very lonely. They don’t have anyone to express what they’re feeling.
<img class="lazyload"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sukriti3_b00bef44d7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T03:46:33.229Z" />

Q: There are more deaths today through suicide than from
 wars, murder and natural disasters put together. With depression becoming so prevalent, how effective is your reach
 amongst the youth? Is social media a legitimate means of seeking and finding support?
SVK: I’m not a psychiatrist or a psychologist. I’m
 a complete believer in medical science, but I also believe that with medical science we need some kind of meditation
 philosophy, some kind of support system. When we put both together then we can solve things. Whenever I talk with
 someone who is going through a mental issue, I request them to consult a doctor. And because they trust me – of course
 I have to build that trust – they may approach a doctor. There are people who have started therapy as a result.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">I also believe that with medical science 
 we need some kind of meditation philosophy, 
 some kind of support system. 
 When we put both together 
 then we can solve things.
</h5>
<hr>
As long as Doc of Happiness is helping people overcome their fears, and removing the
 stigma, then it is working, even if it is online. My dream is to one day create a place where people can check in and
 really take care of themselves through organic foods, meditation, prayers and art or music therapy. I’ve never seen a
 place with this concept anywhere in the world, so maybe someday I will be do it, because nothing is impossible.
Young people are lonely and they’re seeking. I’m learning every day that people are
 wanting help, and they are waiting; they are not closed to the idea. I used to think people were closed to advice, but
 everyone is seeking answers. I conducted a workshop on mental health at a college in Mumbai. I told them that I wanted
 it to be an interactive session, so I encouraged the students to ask me questions about their mental health. Not a
 single person put their hand up. I asked them to take a piece of paper and write their question on it, without putting
 their name. At first, I got two questions, then slowly they trickled in, and by the end the session had to be
 extended. I realized that just because they didn’t have the courage to ask me questions, it didn’t mean they weren’t
 seeking advice, or that they were fine. I know that people are ready.
I’ll tell you a crazy thing – twelve top publishers have refused to publish my book
 because they feel it won’t work. I wanted to make a book that costs only 100 to 120 rupees so that anyone can buy it.
 Illustrations do work. So, I decided to self-publish and started printing diaries. My orders are not stopping, which
 means that there is a real demand. Maybe someday the book will also get published; I don’t know how long that will
 take but I’m in no hurry. I’m observing these things and really reflecting. People want to know, but publishers don’t
 understand because there’s still a stigma. It happens the minute I mention mental wellness.
That’s why I responded to you, because I feel your magazine truly understands the need
 and knows there’s a demand. It may be slow, it may be at a snail’s pace, but even if one percent of readers are
 encouraged from your magazine, you’ve achieved the purpose. If you save one life, you’ve done it.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">People connect to real life experiences, 
 people connect to things 
 which are spoken from the heart.
</h5>
<hr>
Q: How much of your own life experience has led you to use
 this means of creating awareness and reaching out to individuals who find it difficult to open up about their mental
 issues?
SVK: I have been invited to conduct workshops on
 mental health at various colleges and students usually message me or ask me to talk at these festivals, so one leads
 to another and it becomes a chain reaction. After my sessions, faculty members usually tell me that even they can
 connect with what I was saying, or they tell me to take a session for the teachers and staff. There is so much stigma
 attached to mental health issues that people feel only a psychologist or a psychiatrist is eligible to talk on the
 subject and they make it very technical and scientific.
I think it’s about the heart. People connect to real life experiences, people connect to
 things which are spoken from the heart, and then I think maybe together we can remove the stigma from it.
<img class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/sukriti4_9f11854ed2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-05T03:47:29.304Z" />

Q: In most parts of the world, women hold a secondary
 social status across all economic backgrounds. How can we encourage the women in our life to tap into their inherent
 potential?
SVK: I had made an illustration for Women’s Day in
 2019 where I showed a woman peeping inside her own self and light is coming from within her. What I meant to depict is
 that we really need to believe in our own potential. All these years we’ve been conditioned to believe that we cannot
 survive in our own light. So, I think we need to tap into this inner potential, and start believing that we are
 capable enough to overcome anything. There is no other way. Male bashing will not help – we need to realize our own
 potential. We can keep blaming, but we must believe we are good enough. Also, I know a lot of men who completely
 understand, so let’s not make it generic. I feel we need to look deep within and ask, “Am I enough?” When all of us
 are able to answer this with a yes, then we will overcome it.
<hr>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">To me, it is paying a debt 
 of gratitude to my mentor, 
 because I have survived with 
 the help of his writings and my art.
</h5>
<hr>
Q: You are a mentor to many people. Do you have a mentor,
 someone who you look up to and wish to emulate? What is it about that person that inspires you?
SVK: I practice Buddhism and I’m most inspired by
 the writings of Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, a Japanese philosopher who is also an author and a photographer. He is somebody who
 has had many dialogues with people all over the world regarding world peace, and his writings are a reservoir of hope
 for me. So, if Doc of Happiness is a reservoir of hope for others, he is my reservoir because his writings point me in
 a positive direction, they show me what is correct and incorrect, and how can I improve myself, again through his
 life. So, yes, he’s my mentor, and I have written to him about this platform. To me, it is paying a debt of gratitude
 to my mentor, because I have survived with the help of his writings and my art. Doc of Happiness is truly for him.
Instagram &amp; Facebook: @docofhappiness
<hr>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Art Essay by SUKRITI VADHERA KOHLI 
 Interviewed by VANESSA PATEL</h4>
<hr>

Doctor of happiness

<h4>
SUKRITI VADHERA KOHLI
is an artist whose mission is to encourage people to discover
well-being. Here she shares her own experience of being courageous, and
how that courage has led to happiness in her family. &nbsp;
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="451"
 height="600"
 alt="dog_and_a_small_boy1"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy1a_bf94feb6d5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T09:53:34.487Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
Courage comes in all sizes
</h4>


I have never been a dog or a cat person or, let’s put it this way, an
animal person. I have been fearful of dogs owned by my friends and
family members, and never once thought of overcoming that fear. The same
was true for my husband until our son came into our lives. During the
Covid lockdown, his desire to have a pet became stronger than ever. The
fortunate or unfortunate part was that this six-year-old never threw a
tantrum or insisted; rather, he prayed his way into our hearts.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="600"
 alt="dog_and_a_small_boy"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy2_d477dba7e4.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T09:55:19.689Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


Every night for two years, Eklavya prayed with all his heart for his
future dog and for his fearful parents to somehow agree. And just when
our hearts began to melt, he expressed his desire to adopt and not buy a
dog. Completely taken aback, we warned him, “Your dog won’t be as
good looking when he’s no longer a puppy!” Pat came the reply,
“Mom, dad, looks don’t matter!” I think that was our final melting
point. Just like that, our hearts changed, and we adopted an Indie
puppy. Tintin is now a happy, naughty, seven-month-old pup, and very
much a part of our family.&nbsp; This experience teaches me every day
that happiness requires courage, sometimes in small doses, and other
times in large quantities.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
Courage is not the opposite of fear
</h4>


Anyone living with fear can tell you how unhappy they feel. In order to
truly become happy, we have to break the shackles of fear. Mental
courage is the willingness to steel our minds and hearts to try
something difficult, knowing that the outcome is uncertain, yet still
being willing to continue in the hope that it will get better.&nbsp;Just
like the old me, a lot of people associate courage with
lion-heartedness, and if they are fearful, they assume that they’re not
courageous. But this thinking is mistaken. Courage is not the lack of
fear. If courage were simply fearlessness, then all serial killers are
probably more courageous than most of us.&nbsp;Nelson Mandela once said,
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph
over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who
conquers that fear.”



I have an honest confession to make – I am afraid of our puppy most of
the time, but somehow find the courage when I need to put my hand inside
his mouth to remove toys and other objects.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="600"
 alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy3_1_c86785ffcc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:09:42.416Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
Where to find courage?
</h4>


Just like hope and compassion, courage lies within us at all times. We
might have to dig deep, but it does exist. How do we access it?


<h5>
To begin
</h5>

<ul>
<li>Believe in yourself more than your fears. </li>
<li>
 The next and crucial thing is to take that first step.&nbsp; Try this small exercise: for a month, try and say yes to the
 opportunities that look scary and then watch how you respond. You
 will be surprised.
</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>
 Bravely overcoming one small fear gives you the courage to take on the
 next one.
</li>
</ul>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="486"
 alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy4_1_6490ee141e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:21:30.118Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="486"
 alt="dog-and-a-small-boy4"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy5_1_b58be38dda.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:22:21.951Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="634"
 alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy7_1_fa7ec5c697.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:23:59.132Z"
 />
 
</figure>
</div>

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="486"
 alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy6_58856c6082.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:04:31.460Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<h4>
Lead a happier life
</h4>


Taking that step of saying yes to Eklavya has benefited me in more ways
than one:


We were able to set an example for our son.


Choosing courage equipped us with the ability to empower him to do the
same.



Being courageous in the midst of fear honed our character, making us
stronger.



Embracing courage increased our sense of happiness. We have had so many
happy moments with Tintin.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="465"
 alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy8_db2239f6ae.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:06:13.477Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


To sum it up, courage is the willingness to move forward, despite the
fear, worry, and anxiety that might be threatening to overwhelm us.



One of the best ways to be courageous is to face fear head-on but refuse
to allow it to paralyze you. If you let it, fear has the power to stop
you from being happy, moving forward, taking risks, or even owning a
dog! Learn to become courageous so that you can live a regret-free,
happy life and show others that it’s possible to do the same.&nbsp;


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
<figure>
 <img
 decoding="async"
 width="502"
 height="465"
 alt=""
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/dog_and_a_small_boy9_1a70d3de22.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T10:12:56.029Z"
 />
</figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Art by SUKRITI VADHERA KOHLI</h4>

<hr />

About a dog and a small boy

Sulochana is from Chennai, India, and studies at the Heartfulness International School, Omega Branch. Her passion for writing is fueled by her zeal for reading. She has been learning Hindustani music for five years, and is a part of the Creaplay Theater group at school.

sulochana-santhosh.webp

Sulochana Santhosh

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">SULOCHANA SANTHOSH is a young and inspired writer who reminds us of the need to care for our ocean and the environment in general. What are you doing to make a difference?</h4>&nbsp;Saturdays are days meant for sleeping in. Lazing around. Days where you eat your favorite breakfast in bed (hopefully), not days where you wake up at 5 a.m. and participate in a beach clean-up.Hi! I’m River and I’m 12 years old. My family runs Save the Seas Campaign. Boring! I know! And yes, my name is actually River. My older sister’s name is even worse (according to me). It’s Ocean. The strange thing is, she actually likes her name. No, she’s not a weirdo, she’s a people-pleaser. Lately, she’s been obsessed with saving the seas and whatnot. My parents were so excited when she announced she was going to help them with their campaign this year that they decided this Saturday beach clean-up would be a celebration to welcome her into the campaign.Anyway, fast forward to “B-day” (Get it? Beach-day, never mind). It was a tug-of-war from the get-go. I absolutely refused to get up, and my parents left Ocean, their commander-in-chief, to wage this battle. All I can say is that it was 5 a.m., and she should have expected she wouldn’t win. Once I was finally up, our parents made us walk to the beach as a good warm up. Can you believe it?Now came the actual war. The second we reached the beach, I told my parents that I would be working alone in a far-away corner. They tried to get us all to work together, but they soon realized they were fighting a losing battle and gave up. Once I was in my corner of the beach, I thought to myself, “Great! Now I can just fool around in the water instead of cleaning the beach.”&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/once_upon_saturday2_29a49ae36d.webp" alt="once-upon-saturday2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_once_upon_saturday2_29a49ae36d.webp 156w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_once_upon_saturday2_29a49ae36d.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_once_upon_saturday2_29a49ae36d.webp 750w," sizes="100vw">&nbsp;As I got into the cool water, however, I noticed something, a seahorse stuck in a plastic bag. At that moment, I felt a pang of guilt. I knew I couldn’t let the poor thing suffer and had to help somehow. So, I swam under the bag, undid the knot, and set the seahorse free.As I turned to leave, I heard a squeaky, high-pitched voice say, “Thank you, that was kind. People like you are the only reason I haven’t given up on humanity yet.”&nbsp; I nearly jumped out of my skin as I stammered, “Y-you c-can t-talk?”&nbsp; The seahorse just looked at me, disappointed, as he sighed, “Of course I can talk. I always knew humans were ignorant creatures.”Still barely understanding what was going on, I asked him, “Wait please. Was the sea always this polluted?” “Well, the noticeable pollution of the seas started around the late 1400s all over the world, and although there were protests by many people, on and off, it was only recognized as an actual threat around the 1960s and the 1970s.” “And is this the case all over the world?” “Yes, as runoff and whale hunting are the <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/3-natural-ways-to-harness-the-power-of-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">water pollution</a> threats from Asia, ghastly oil spills are mostly from the Middle Eastern countries and the Americas. As for excessive fishing, littering, and garbage dumping, well, all of you are to blame for it.”“Oh! I sincerely apologize on behalf of everyone. What can we do to help?” “Seas are the birthplace of all ecosystems as life originated here. So, by saving them, we are essentially saving ourselves. The good part is, lots of people have started to realize that our seas need saving. So, if we all come together to save our seas, there is still <a href="https://heartfulness.org/magazine/a-diy-guide-to-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hope for the future</a>.”---“River, get out of bed! We’re going to be late!”&nbsp; Wait, what? “Didn’t we just come back from the beach clean-up?” I asked befuddled. “What? River, we’re going to be really late if you don’t get up asap!”&nbsp; I jumped out of bed and started getting ready. “All right, all right, I’m up.”Ah, so was that all a dream?“River, this is the most energetic I’ve ever seen you,” joked the commander-in-chief, Ocean. Today wasn’t going to be a war.As I was thinking about my dream, I was left with this thought:The magnificent, glistening sea, Infinite in wisdom and beauty, Through its abundance and variety, Never stops giving, Giving us all she has, So, tell me, when will we give back? Oh, mother sea, I bow down to you With gratitude, humility, and apologies&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/once_upon_saturday3_443c49ef73.webp" alt="once-upon-saturday3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_once_upon_saturday3_443c49ef73.webp 156w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/small_once_upon_saturday3_443c49ef73.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/medium_once_upon_saturday3_443c49ef73.webp 750w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

Once upon a Saturday

Suraj is currently an MBA student at UC Berkeley Haas. He has been a consultant for large government clients and studied engineering at Georgia Tech. Suraj is a storyteller at heart, and is a blogger and public speaker. His aspiration is to create ripples of change in the communities he’s in.

Suraj-Seghal.jpg

Suraj Sehgal

<h4>Back in 2015, while a college student, SURAJ SEHGAL explored friendship, and came up with 4 ways to be a better friend. They are timeless in their wisdom and will help you cultivate a giving attitude toward others.</h4>It wasn’t until I came to college that I began to appreciate my friends and what it meant to have a friendship. When you are suddenly&nbsp;surrounded by people everywhere, and are&nbsp;also given more duties&nbsp;and responsibility, the day-to-day tradeoff between investing in friendships and expending effort&nbsp;on classes, work, and organizations becomes&nbsp;much more tangible.&nbsp;For me, this helped me realize some important aspects of friendship that have helped me grow.Whether you are trying to make new relationships or maintain old bonds, below are a few simple ways in which you can improve that balance and grow to become a better friend:<img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/be_a_better_friend2_6cb9f0b45f.jpg" alt="be-a-better-friend2.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_be_a_better_friend2_6cb9f0b45f.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw"><h4>1. Show up</h4>Whether it’s an event that your friend has planned or just a trip to the grocery store, being present is a powerful way of showing that you care. Even just seeing someone’s face over several occasions&nbsp;can go a long way in making them seem familiar.<img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/be_a_better_friend3_d5c2eb8bd7.jpg" alt="be-a-better-friend3.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_be_a_better_friend3_d5c2eb8bd7.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw"><h4>2. Reach out&nbsp;</h4>When&nbsp;you remember somebody you haven’t spoken to in a while, take a moment to reach out to them. It takes no more than a minute to text someone a “How are you?” or a “Let’s catch up!”, but in a world where everyone knows hundreds of people, taking the time to reach out with a simple hello can make you&nbsp;stand out. After all, don’t we all like to be remembered?<img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/be_a_better_friend4_de7dc34532.jpg" alt="be-a-better-friend4.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_be_a_better_friend4_de7dc34532.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw"><h4>3. Accommodate</h4>For many of us, with our busy lives, busy jobs, and constant work, we often find it very&nbsp;difficult to see the relevance of talking to anybody&nbsp;who is not&nbsp;actively present&nbsp;in our day-to-day&nbsp;activities.&nbsp;We become so absorbed in our&nbsp;mundane tasks that we often forget those people&nbsp;who have helped to&nbsp;make our experiences&nbsp;worthwhile. When someone is making an effort to reach out to you, try to accommodate. Recognize how much effort the other person has been making by letting them know that you notice how much they have been giving to you and try to give back as much as you can.<img class="image_resized" style="width:25%;" src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/be_a_better_friend5_e35f831567.jpg" alt="be-a-better-friend5.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_be_a_better_friend5_e35f831567.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw"><h4>4. Appreciate&nbsp;</h4>Many times, we forget that along with our families, our friends have shaped much of who we are today. Take a brief moment to look within and acknowledge&nbsp;who has had an impact on you. Whether it has been because of a deep&nbsp;conversation or a passing compliment, if someone has helped to change you or your perspective, take the time to let them know – it has the potential to mean more than you can imagine.&nbsp;We all meet each other for a reason, and it is important to appreciate that&nbsp;everyone plays a&nbsp;role&nbsp;in our development and growth, whether it is&nbsp;the professor&nbsp;who taught you&nbsp;discipline or the grade school bully who helped&nbsp;you develop patience.Ultimately, there is no formula for being a better friend. Maintaining friendships and good relationships is a continual process that takes intention, love, and time. And while we may never be perfect friends, with some planning and better understanding, our little efforts can go a long way in helping uplift those who have helped us on our journey.First published in Heartfulness Magazine in November 2015<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">Illustrations by JASMEE MUDGAL</h4><hr>&nbsp;

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