Tag: Self-awareness

  • Marriage is a beautiful journey filled with love, laughter, and compromise. Whether it’s a love marriage or an arranged one, once you get hitched, you are in for a wild ride. Some of the sacrifices you may have to make might not be easy, but they are necessary to keep the marriage going strong. In this article, we’ll take a look at eight common sacrifices that Indians make after getting married.

    Letting go of passions

    In our pre-marriage days, we all have something that we are passionate about – be it travel, sports, adventure, or collecting things. But after getting married, many of us feel the need to let go of our passions to settle down with our significant other.

    Eating habits

    Food is a big deal in any marriage. You may have to adjust your eating habits to accommodate your partner’s preferences. For example, if you are a non-vegetarian and your partner is a vegetarian, you may have to give up your favorite meat dishes. If you are a north Indian and your partner is from the south, you may have to adjust your diet to suit both of your palates.

    Fashion sense

    Your fashion sense may change after you get married, especially for women. You may feel the need to switch from a more casual style to a more formal and modest one. Observe your married friends, and you’ll notice the difference in the way they dress after tying the knot.

    Spending habits

    Gone are the days of splurging on expensive bikes or clothes without a second thought. After getting married, you may feel financially insecure, and it becomes important to prioritize your expenses according to your income. This means cutting back on frivolous spending to save for the future.

    Friendships

    Maintaining friendships after marriage can be challenging. Your priorities change, and you may have to put your partner first. You can still hang out with your old buddies, but you can’t be in constant contact with them every weekend. Making your partner your top priority is a sacrifice you may have to make for your marriage to work.

    Ex-partners

    Staying in touch with exes after a breakup can cause tension in your marriage. It’s best to cut ties with them and avoid any potential complications.

    Affinity to family

    It’s important to maintain a good relationship with your parents and siblings, but once you get married, your spouse takes precedence. You may have to make the sacrifice of giving them less time and attention to make room for your partner in your life.

    Daily habits

    Finally, you may have to change your daily habits to accommodate your partner. This includes cleaning up after yourself, not wearing the same clothes for a week, and being a responsible partner.

    Making sacrifices for your marriage may seem daunting, but it’s all worth it in the end. A strong and loving marriage is a beautiful thing, and the sacrifices you make will only make it stronger. So, embrace the changes, compromise, and enjoy the journey.

  • Good morning, sunshine! Are you ready to kickstart your day? Do you want to know what separates highly successful people from the rest of us? It’s not just luck or a magical gene. It’s how they start their mornings that sets them apart. In this article, we’ll be discussing the top three things that successful people avoid doing in the morning, and how you can implement these habits in your own life.

    Scrolling Through Your Phone

    Alarm goes off. You reach for your phone. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, for most of us, our phone doubles as an alarm clock, and the first thing we do when we wake up is check it for notifications, messages, and emails. This might seem harmless, but it can actually have a significant impact on your day. When you first wake up, your brain is fresh and relaxed, ready to tackle the day’s challenges. But if you immediately start scrolling through your phone, you’re putting your brain in overdrive and bombarding it with information. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress, and it can set a negative tone for the rest of the day.

    The solution? Put your phone down and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Take a moment to reflect on the day ahead, and think about your goals and priorities. This simple habit can make a huge difference in your productivity and overall well-being.

    Skipping Breakfast

    We’ve all been there. You’re running late, you have a long to-do list, and you just can’t seem to find the time for breakfast. But skipping breakfast is a mistake that can cost you big time. It’s not just a cliche that breakfast is the most important meal of the day – it’s scientifically proven. After a long night of fasting, your body needs fuel to start the day. If you skip breakfast, you’re depriving yourself of food for more than 12 hours. This can cause your blood sugar levels to drop, leading to feelings of dizziness, fatigue, and low energy. And that’s not even considering the fact that your brain needs glucose to process information and stay alert.

    A healthy breakfast can provide the energy you need to power through the day and improve your mood. So don’t skip it – your success may depend on it!

    Failing to Plan Your Day

    Do you have a system for planning your day? Do you make a list of tasks and prioritize them in order of importance? If not, you’re missing out on a crucial habit of successful people. Planning your day may seem like an extra step, but it can make all the difference in your productivity and success. By making a list of tasks and prioritizing them, you’re preparing yourself mentally for the day ahead. This can help you stay focused, keep track of your progress, and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

    You don’t need a pen and paper to plan your day – there are plenty of apps that can help you do it, like OneNote. So make a plan, and take control of your day!

    In conclusion, starting your day right is key to achieving success. By avoiding these three habits, you can set yourself up for a productive, successful day. So put down your phone, eat a healthy breakfast, and make a plan – your future self will thank you!

  • As Indians, we often judge people and things based on appearances alone, without fully understanding the situation. Our brains are wired to make quick conclusions. But when it comes to caste or religion, our perceptions can change in a dramatic way. We may suddenly feel compelled to defend our own caste or religion, even if we are not directly involved. This can lead to taking things personally and not being able to let go until the situation subsides.

    Recently, there were incidents in the state of Haryana involving the blocking of roads and railways, aggressive attacks causing damage to public property, theft from ATMs, and the setting of shops and malls on fire, all in response to the “Jat Agitation” demand for reservation. The national media was covering these events extensively.

    I wrote a Facebook post condemning the incidents and the demand for reservation by the Jats, who are known for being royal and rich, but are neither socially nor economically backward. To my surprise, some of my Facebook friends who are Jats started defending and justifying the protests. One of them even called me to ask if I was following a politician who was speaking out against the demand for reservation. I told them that I don’t have to follow anyone to see that what was happening was wrong and to speak out against it.

    What was interesting was that these friends who were defending the riots were not even participating in the protests. Some of them had previously spoken out against the idea of reservation. But now that their caste was demanding reservation, they suddenly had a change of heart.

    There were a few who spoke out against the riots, regardless of their caste, but the majority of people criticized them for bringing shame to their caste, as if the agitators weren’t already doing that. It’s difficult to understand how anyone could justify blocking a road, let alone the more aggressive acts that took place, just to demand reservation for one caste. It causes inconvenience to innocent people who have no part in this reservation controversy.

    Why is it that our caste or religion is more important to us than humanity and the greater good of people? I can’t help but wonder what would happen if people from ISIS or other terrorist organizations were of the same caste as my friends. They would likely cry every time a terrorist was hanged by the law and protest against it, just like they did for the reservation.

    This is why politicians are able to win elections through their dirty politics of caste and religion. It’s our emotional attachment to our caste or religion that is the biggest obstacle to our country’s development. We are the biggest fools in this conspiracy to keep people divided by caste and religion, but one thing is for sure – we won’t change.

  • Growing up in 2006, my friend Vinesh (or Vinna, as we liked to call him) and I were two young and carefree teenagers who just wanted to enjoy life. Our 12th board exams were fast approaching, and we had to attend Math tuition every day to improve our weakest subject. Our ride was a daily 4 km bicycle journey from our homes to the tuition center.

    Our parents were strict, always reminding us that we had to study hard for the board exams. But for us, being stuck inside with books felt like a prison sentence. So, whenever we could, we would leave home early and return late, just to spend more time outside of the house. We lived in neighboring areas, so our daily commute was always a joint one.

    On the way back home, we would pass by a railway crossing that was often closed to vehicles due to the high frequency of trains on that route. However, being impatient young Indians, we would cross it on our bicycles without any trouble. We would even stop our bikes at the crossing and watch the trains go by, debating on their estimated speeds. Sometimes, we would wait for one or two more trains to pass, just so we could extend our discussions a little longer.

    One day, we got carried away and were so late getting back home that it was already dark. When my parents asked why I was late, I quickly came up with the first excuse that popped into my head: “The railway crossing post was closed for too long. Even between the trains, they didn’t open it. That’s why I am so late.”

    To my surprise, my parents seemed to believe me. The next day, I told Vinna about my clever excuse and how I had managed to avoid trouble. But before I could finish my story, he pointed out the obvious flaw: “We were on bicycles, you idiot. We could have crossed the post even if it had been closed for real. Why would we just wait and watch the trains?”

    I was stunned by my own stupidity and couldn’t believe that my parents hadn’t noticed the flaw in my excuse. Vinna and I laughed and laughed about my foolishness until our stomachs ached. To this day, whenever we talk about that incident, we can’t help but laugh.

    Those really were the days! A time when we were carefree, fearless, and just enjoying the ride. I will always cherish the memories of that time, and the running joke that was born from my childhood excuse.

  • Apologizing isn’t always easy, but it’s an important part of being a responsible adult. Unfortunately, some people still don’t know how to do it properly. If you’re guilty of any of these apology faux pas, it’s time to take note and step up your game.

    First things first, never apologize via messaging. Sure, it’s convenient, but it’s also impersonal and can come off as insincere. If you’ve made a mistake, be a grown-up and face the person you’re apologizing to in person.

    Another big no-no is apologizing through a mutual friend. This is just a coward’s way out. When you apologize in person, your expressions and body language can speak louder than words, so don’t hide behind a third party.

    Some people like to give a long explanation before they apologize, but this is a bad idea. If you’re apologizing, it means you know you’ve done something wrong, so just own up to it and say you’re sorry. No need for a long-winded explanation.

    Another mistake people make is apologizing as if it’s a favor. This is just arrogant and sends the message that you don’t really think you did anything wrong. Remember, apologizing doesn’t make you any less of a person.

    Last but not least, don’t be the person who apologizes in the next lifetime. If you’ve made a mistake, don’t wait around to apologize. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the other person will have moved on and won’t accept your apology.

    In conclusion, apologizing is an essential part of being a responsible adult. It’s important to know how to do it properly, and avoid common mistakes. Remember, if you’ve made a mistake, own up to it and apologize in person with a sincere heart.

  • Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions and not really sure where you’re headed? It’s easy to follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing, but what if you could have your own plan and make your own path? That’s where creating a vision comes in!

    A vision is a clear and specific idea of what you want to achieve in the future. It gives you a sense of direction and purpose, and helps you stay motivated and focused on what’s important to you. Having a vision can also help you make better decisions, set more meaningful goals, and achieve more in life.

    According to a study by the University of Scranton, people who set clear and specific goals are more likely to achieve them than those who don’t. The study also found that people who set goals are more likely to feel satisfied with their lives, and have higher levels of self-esteem and well-being. Another study by the American Psychological Association found that having a sense of purpose in life is associated with better mental health and well-being, as well as a lower risk of depression and anxiety.

    Creating a vision for your life can be a fun and exciting process. Start by thinking about what you truly want in life and what you want to be known for. Think about your values, passions, and strengths, and how you can use them to make a positive impact in the world. Don’t be afraid to dream big and think outside the box. The sky’s the limit!

    Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, it’s time to turn your vision into a plan. Break your vision down into smaller and more manageable goals, and set deadlines for achieving them. Set both short-term and long-term goals, and make sure they are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

    It’s also important to be realistic about your goals and not to set yourself up for failure. Remember that achieving a big vision takes time, effort, and persistence. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t achieve your goals right away or if you encounter setbacks along the way. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

    One of the most important things to remember when creating a vision is that it should be something that makes you happy, fulfilled and not what society or others want you to do. A study by the University of Missouri-Columbia found that people who pursue their passions and interests are more likely to be happy and satisfied with their lives than those who don’t. The study also found that people who pursue their passions are more likely to have better mental health, higher self-esteem, and more positive relationships.

    Finally, it’s important to remember that your vision should be flexible and open to change. Life is unpredictable, and you may encounter new opportunities or challenges that you didn’t anticipate. Be open to new possibilities and be willing to adjust your vision as needed.

    Additionally, it’s important to take care of your mental health along the way. A study from the University of Liverpool found that people who engage in positive activities and have good mental health are more likely to set and achieve goals. This can include things like exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, and practicing mindfulness.

    In summary, creating a vision for your life and setting specific, measurable goals can greatly increase your chances of achieving what you want in life. By being open to change and taking care of your mental health, you will be able to turn your vision into a reality. So go ahead, dream big and make it happen!

  • We all want to be seen as nice and helpful people. We do things for others and try to be selfless. But have you ever stopped to think, why do we want to be seen as selfless? And why does it make us so happy? The truth is, there’s no such thing as being completely selfless. We do things because they make us happy or boost our self-esteem. So, why not embrace our selfish side and be happy about it?

    Sometimes we feel like we have to prove ourselves to others, and it can be a lot of pressure. But what if we didn’t have to prove anything to anyone? What if we could just be ourselves and not care about what others think? That would be pretty great, right? And when we stop trying to prove ourselves to others, we don’t have to brag about all the “selfless” things we do. We can just do them because we want to.

    When we accept that we’re just as selfish as everyone else, we can start valuing ourselves more. And when we value ourselves, we’ll make sure to take care of ourselves and make ourselves happy. And you know what? That’s okay!

    Imagine if you did something nice for someone and they thanked you. Instead of saying “it’s no big deal”, you can say “of course, I’m happy to help” because you know you did it because it made you happy. It’s a win-win situation.

    Being selfish doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s all about how we think about it. So, stop trying to be seen as selfless and start embracing your own happiness. It’s okay to want to feel good about yourself, and it’s okay to do things that make you happy. And remember, sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all instead of bragging about how nice you are.

    In short, being selfish is not a bad thing. It’s just a matter of perception and everyone does it. Embrace it, be happy about it and don’t brag about it. People will love you for it.