Informative

Soulmates Exist

/ Naveeta Shokeen / Leave a comment

Do Soulmates Exist? When you say the word “soulmate” in front of a group of people, you can almost guarantee that some of them will roll their eyes. The concept that there is a single, perfect partner out there for you—one with whom you will fall in love at first sight and with whom you will never find yourself at odds—is just not grounded in reality.

What does exist, at least for many individuals, is a person with whom you have an innate familiarity, with whom you share a profound connection, and with whom you can develop as a person while you are in a romantic relationship with them. When it comes to connecting with someone and discovering your perfect soulmate, it appears like a dream come true, and if that person is a love partner, you’ve stumbled across something genuinely unique and extraordinary.

What exactly is a soulmate?

Finding someone to share your life with and develop a meaningful relationship with can feel like the realisation of a lifelong fantasy. The idea of having a specific individual who acts as your counterpart would make this whole “thing” a great deal less difficult to deal with. 

Who you ask will determine how you understand the meaning of the term. ‘The concept of ‘soulmates’ and what it means might mean different to different people. It’s safe to assume that the most widespread interpretation of this term is the idea that there is only one person in the entire world who can be your soulmate, and that this one person is the only one who can fulfill all of our needs and desires.

Why is the concept of soulmates debatable?

The idea of finding your “soulmate” can be romantic, but only if you’re doing it with someone you love and who makes you feel really, very good. The concept that your significant other is your soulmate is fraught with controversy amongst professionals for a variety of different reasons. To begin, the idea conveys the disturbing implication that you are incomplete without the presence of another person, which is a problem for several reasons. If you can’t let go of the idea that you and your significant other have a soulmate, you could experience loneliness even when you’re single. 

Then there’s the reality that being in a relationship with someone, even if you’re a perfect fit for one another, will never be an entirely problem-free adventure for either party. We can be misled by the idea of soulmates into believing that once we discover “the one,” everything will be easy and wonderful. In actuality, this is not the case.

Do romantic soulmates exist?

If you are currently single, you don’t want the romantic notion of love that you have in your head to make you close your eyes to potential companions just because they might not appear to be the perfect soulmate fit for you. Being a hopeless romantic can most certainly work against you in this regard. 

On the other hand, there is no reason not to believe in the existence of a soulmate if you are convinced that you have already found this person and if, in addition, you are living a happy and fulfilling life. You also need to keep in mind that whether you find your “soulmate” or not, partnerships need effort on both sides.

How to Identify If You’ve Found One

A soul mate is someone who inspires compassion and kindness in you and brings out the best in both of you. A soulmate is more than just someone with whom you have a certain amount of similarities. A soulmate may not even share many interests or values with you, yet the two of you are still destined to be together. Below find the telling signs that you have got one.

SIGNS YOU FOUND YOUR SOULMATE

Exchange Messages Silently

Soulmates connect intensely on all levels of being, and they can read each other like an open book. They might pick up the phone and contact each other at the same time, or they might feel as though they simply can’t live without their spouse. Additionally, a soul mate is aware of how to react to your emotional cues. They remain nearby when you confide in them, pay great attention to you, and move in to meet your needs. They smile and hug you when you are happy and gently console you when you are hurt.

Tangible Physical Chemistry

Even after many years of being together, holding the hand of the person you believe to be your soulmate can cause a flurry of emotions in your spirit. The energy that you experience is not limited to occurring on a sexual level.

Completely At Ease Around Each Other

When soulmates are together, they instantly click and are free to exhibit their true selves without worrying about being judged. Around each other, soulmates frequently experience a sense of familiarity and ease.

Soulmate Challenges You Like No One Else

Despite what some people may believe, the relationship between a person and their soulmate is not always smooth sailing. A person’s physical appearance or their living circumstances don’t need to be ideal for them to be their soulmate, nor does the existence of a soulmate guarantee that their relationship will be problem-free. In addition to this, we are dependent on our soulmates to assist in our development. We may find that a relationship with our soulmate is tough and that our partner will be someone who pushes our buttons and annoys us at first. This is because soulmates frequently bring with them some of the most difficult life lessons. 

Experience Inner Peace As A result of Their Connection

When you’re with the wrong person, it’s easy to tell since you feel insecure about the relationship and fear that the slightest misstep could cause your partner to withdraw their interest. With soulmates, this is not the case.

And last but not the least, despite having different identities, you and your partner present to the world as one.

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Magic Of Comfort Food

/ dinah1995 / Leave a comment

Food is survival. Over the years, as we have evolved, so have our eating patterns. We all have our own choice of food we love. Some of us like our morning cup of coffee or some tea. Some of us love a bowl of ramen (noodles) or some warm khichadi. Many of us love a freshly prepared Dosai served with hot sambar, chutney, and crispy vada and or a full hot English breakfast served with freshly squeezed juice.

Last time, when you were down or when you got excited, what was it that you craved? Was it ‘Fried Chicken or Fried Rice? Was it Manchurian, Chowmein, Chilli chicken or was it Manchow soup? It could have been Pizza or Pasta. Let me guess, Chicken Tandoori and Paneer Butter Masala. Right! Karimeen Polichathu or Fish Moiley, a hot plate of ChickenBiryani or Parotta and Beef…..Whatever our choice is, comfort food does influence our emotions. Oh! The guilt of calories consumed is not a topic we will discuss right now.

Food is comfort. Period. Many find solace in food. Don’t we all indulge ourselves at times with food? A breakup or a promotion, we just find relief when we have the food of our liking. Comfort foods unleash the hormone that aids in stress relief and feelings of contentment and delight.

Consuming healthy food and maintaining balance in what we eat in a day do a lot of good to our overall well-being. Eating fruits and vegetables and including healthy intervals between meals also do positive things to our body and mind. Home-cooked meals are always better than meals prepared in restaurants or large quantities. Packaged foods that contain preservatives must be avoided and fresh poultry, meat, fish, and greens must be included in our daily food intake. Health is wealth. Only if we have good health are we mentally sane and physically strong. This, as a result, helps aid in focusing, concentrating, and building a successful lifestyle.

Everything starts within… Being positive, feeling good, experiencing good health, being physically active, and loving ourselves; everything starts from within. It is each one of our responsibility to take care of our health and body. Loving ourselves includes maintaining good eating habits and being considerate about what is good for us.

Comfort food is magic. Comforting ourselves with food is alright as long as we follow healthy habits regularly. We can and must at times give in to sweet cravings and junk foods. However, there must be a check on how often we indulge in food that can in the long run prove not so good for our systems.

Choose healthy comfort food. If possible. Choose healthily, eat healthily, and stay healthy! Having said that, the power of comfort food is different. And it is okay to fall of the wagon every now and then. We are human after all. The point is, make sure not to get addicted to the convenience of comfort food.

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Afraid To Die

/ msveenagupta / 2 Comments

Afraid to die and afraid to live! Death is an eternal truth. Every living creature who walks this planet has to perish. Some later, some sooner. Most people fear death, only the degree of this fear varies from person to person. Death is such an intriguing concept that we have an entire scientific study dedicated to learning about it viz Thanatology.Thanatology is a scientific discipline that examines death from many perspectives, including physical, ethical, spiritual, medical, sociological, and psychological.

While some fear may be healthy if it makes us more cautious and mindful, excessive and unhealthy fear of dying is crippling. But one thing is for sure – everyone is afraid of dying. No one in their right frame of mind wants to DIE. 

Fair and acceptable.

What about the people who are afraid of LIFE?

Never heard of it? I am sure you have met some, just haven’t identified them as ‘Afraid to Live’ beings!!

These beings are normal people like you and me. They breathe, eat, sleep and function like everyone else. So what sets them apart?  

What qualifies them as ‘afraid to live’ is their Periculophobia i.e. an abject fear of taking any risk! This phobia is understood to be the result of a traumatic experience post failure of a risk-taking attempt. And I am not attempting to belittle it in any way or form. There are genuine cases of people suffering from it and I respect their resolve to deal with it.

What I am instead talking about are the people, who haven’t taken any risks in their lives merely for the fear of unknown consequences they may have to deal with. These are the people who are so afraid of the consequences that they dodge the risk-taking altogether. They are so risk-averse that, let alone taking risks in their lives, they will try to avoid any decision-making et al. You cannot imagine living a meaningful life without taking life-altering decisions. No decision-making or risk-taking= No real life!

A ‘safe’ life is a rote life.

If you were told that you have a free party coming up tonight only for an hour. You have nothing else to do tonight. Would you attend it? Well of course yes, right? What do you have to lose anyway? You will try to make the most out of it since you have nothing to lose. Would you sit down analysing what is good, or bad, or not up to the mark; or what can go wrong or would you just make the most of that limited time and enjoy yourself to the fullest? Most would do the latter. 

It is the same with life – you have limited time; you either make the most of it or you do nothing. Party ends on time whether you enjoy it or not. There is no second chance or extension of this party called LIFE. 

This set of people that I call ‘afraid to live’ is afraid of taking chances in life. They don’t want to take any leap of faith, even for the dream that they so badly want to achieve. Afraid of spreading their wings to fly into the unknown, they never really experience freedom! They don’t experience what free air under the wing feels like.

They are so paralysed by fear that they set ‘safe’ boundaries for themselves. These safe boundaries are nothing but the tried, tested, and rote rules that society has laid down, which they know keep them safe. What they don’t realize is that it keeps them ‘Imprisoned’ too! 

They have dreams too, but fulfilling your dream requires guts to take decisions you have never taken before. It requires you to be prepared for the unknown that you may encounter. It takes courage to pursue what infuses life in you. It requires you to take risks, and take decisions – the outcome of which you don’t know yet, but you still have to have the daredevilry in you. You need not be the stuntman trying to jump from mountains and breathe fire. Have respect for life and care about it. But fear not to the extent of paralysing yourself into not taking any step forward. If you are not willing to step out into the unknown, how will you ever achieve that Dream? Fear Kills Dreams – and you got to realize this before death kills life! 

This time between your birth and your death – this little time is only what you have in your hands. This is what is called life. A third of this ‘party time’ we spend sleeping, another one-third ‘working’, the remaining one-third is all you have – to grow up, to travel, to love, to commute, to dance, to sing, to have a family, and to pursue your dream. Even if you live 80 years, one-third leaves you with just 27 years to do everything you want to do and can do. Are you prepared to live this life in fear?

Would you die in regret of not living a fulfilling life or would you rather take those chances and see where it goes? What do you have to lose anyway? There is no ‘ever-after’ after death? Would you not LIVE before you DIE? It is okay to be Afraid of Death, but not okay to be AFRAID TO LIVE!

ONE DAY YOUR HEART WILL STOP BEATING
AND NONE OF YOUR FEARS WILL MATTER.
WHAT WILL MATTER IS HOW YOU LIVED.

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Judge Not

/ Naveeta Shokeen / 2 Comments

We seldom put much thought into the reasoning behind why we should not pass judgment on others. We all pass judgment, and most of the time, we are not aware. However, there are other reasons to refrain from passing judgment on other people, many of which are beneficial to ourselves as well. Let’s be honest: Would any of us wish to be aware that other people are evaluating us? 

10 STRONG REASONS WHY NOT TO JUDGE

1. Clear Your Facts First

Whatever the motivations behind your judgment of someone, it’s possible that they were formed on the basis of insufficient information. There is probably much more going on than you realize, and you don’t know the whole story. So, since it’s challenging to get all the information, it might be best to refrain from passing judgment. Holding off until you have all the facts is much more responsible; in fact, it’s one of the finest excuses not to condemn someone.

2. Nobody’s Perfect

One of the primary justifications for refraining from passing judgment on other people is the realisation that none of us is flawless, so why should we assume that anyone else is? Before passing judgment on the actions of another person, you should ask yourself whether those actions are truly so awful. You should also consider whether or not they have motivation for the actions that they have taken.

3. Patience Is The Key

Increasing one’s level of tolerance might be a beneficial trait to cultivate. It’s possible that you disagree with something that another person has done, but even if you do, why not try to let it go as long as it’s not anything truly terrible? Recognize that you are not alone in making mistakes, and do your best to put this behind you.

4. Happy People Don’t Judge!

Happy individuals don’t pass judgment. They do, ok…Maybe a little less than the bulk of the people. In general, we are less able to love ourselves the more we judge others. Indeed, there are countless reasons why we make judgments. Perhaps our friends or co-workers did something wrong, or perhaps it’s just random strangers passing us on the street. Maybe we thought the jeans was too tight or too baggy which made them look silly. Therefore, the first step towards ceasing to judge others is to comprehend its origin, which ultimately stems from our unhappiness. The next time you are joyful, pay attention to how little you care about what other people think, do, or say. You only experience your own happiness.

5. You Draw People Who Are Negative In Nature

Let’s face it, it feels much nicer to assess someone with a friend there. There appears to be solid evidence for making judgments. What does this actually mean, though? Most of the time, it simply means that two people are choosing a common victim to disparage in order to boost each other’s self-esteem. Additionally, there are more effective ways to strengthen your friendship with the other person than using your shared pastime. You shouldn’t want to exhibit this kind of behaviour. Stop making assumptions about other people. Additionally, you want to be surrounded by upbeat, driven individuals who don’t have the time or desire to pass judgment on others. No matter how positive or negative your friends are, you eventually start to resemble them. Avoid choosing the latter.

6. Beware Of Outer Appearances

It is important to remember that things might not be as they seem while passing judgment on people. Even though we may believe that we understand all that is happening, the truth often differs greatly. Recognize that there may be many things going on that you are unaware of and that you cannot know everything that is taking place.

7. No Two People Are Similar

Everyone is unique, so just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean that no one else should. Consider a tattoo as an example. You may not like them, but you are not in a position to criticize their appearance. Others have the right to treat their bodies however they like. We must cease evaluating other people according to our own tastes.

8. Reframe

Consider the possibility that when someone does something you don’t like, they are merely coming up with a different solution than you would. Or perhaps they follow a different schedule than you. You might find it easier to accept their behaviour if you do this. People travel diverse paths in search of pleasure and satisfaction, according to the Dalai Lama. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve lost their way just because they’re not on your road.

9. Look At Your Own Conduct

There are times when we may judge another person for something that we do ourselves or that we have done in the past. For instance, the next time you feel yourself becoming frustrated with another driver and yelling at them, ask yourself, “Have I ever driven poorly?” Naturally, each and every one of us has.

10. Speaks More About You

The best reason to abstain from passing judgment on others is that doing so may reveal more about you than it does about the target of your criticism. Do you truly want others to perceive you as judgmental? If a friend says you do have a tendency to criticize people, it’s time to start being more tolerant.

There are numerous motivations why you should not criticize anyone. Accordingly, start to evaluate your actions if you catch yourself doing so. It is not practical to have that mindset. It goes without saying that we must evaluate others, but we must do so, fairly. Do you believe that others judge you based on how you look or the music you enjoy? Tell me what you’re doing to stop criticising other people.

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Vaastu

/ Pozicool Raga / Leave a comment

A perfect home-ly recipe! If you are an atheist or a non-religious person, there are lesser chances that you may not accept Vaastu or its effects. But from homeowners to those in the real estate or construction enterprises, architects to builders will vouch for this science. Vaastu Shastra is a science of space or building. It advises on space optimisation using the elements focused on earth, fire, air, water, and ether.

This is one of the many stories I have heard. I thought of sharing this with you. A factory on the outskirts of a metro used to be riddled with fights, conflicts, and constant tensions between the management and factory employees. The CEO was struggling to keep the factory up and running – strategizing on expansion as well. He was fed up thinking of ways to appease the labourers and management as well. Finally, he decided to consult an architect outside the company who said that he would visit the site for inspection. As soon as the architect came and started studying the place, he found many construction mismatches and glitches in the structure. The architect who was aware of the management-employee conflicts and tension in the current arrangement found a lot of ill harmony in the atmosphere there. So, using Vaastu, he re-designed and made a new blueprint for the existing site. He suggested the location of the units of the factory be changed and also the office be re-designed. Right after this, the CEO announced to the labour union about his expansion plans and re-building of the factory units, motivating workers to put their best, also mentioning the benefits of the changes. After some resistance and reluctance, the union agreed and the CEO gave a green signal for the re-designing and structural changes. The factory systems started changing, shift timings changed and employee-management relationships began improving too. A lot of things began aligning themselves once the physical changes in the structure began. Once the new establishment came up, the company’s turnover started increasing. The growth trajectory showed positive highs. The above is one of the many instances where Vaastu helped create positive changes in a workplace just by simply re-aligning the elements. 

In a home too, as per Vaastu it is vital to place every object in the house in a certain direction that will enable harmony with all the elements. It makes a huge difference when things are placed in the proper directions. Most homeowners or potential home builders will take the help of an architect with sound knowledge of Vaastu to design a home. Or some may consult a vastu pandit.

So, what is Vaastu?

For the unversed, it is a science used to construct buildings and spaces using scientific techniques. It follows rules, formulas, and patterns for the construction of a house. In other words, Vaastu helps usher harmony and positive cosmic energies into families using calculations of the rainfall, sunrise, and sunset in the area, which will impact the construction of a house. According to Vaastu Shastra (science) and ancient Hindu scriptures like the Mahabharata, the first architect was Vishwakarma who conceptualised Vaastu scientifically to construct the Wax palace for the Devas/Gods. Archaeologists still marvel at the science behind building such strong temples that have survived the worst storms and floods to date. Structures have remained intact without tilting even slightly during the highest-level earthquakes and Tsunamis. No matter how much cynics shove away “myths” behind Vaastu, the vaastav (or reality) is that we have living proof of the positivity and abundance this unique science has brought to our lives. If not for capable architects, most structures would have collapsed by now.

Vaastu is a beautiful harmony of the various elements of nature which constitute any structure. For instance, the Akash/Sky represents the West and symbolizes “expansions and enhancements”. Wind/Vayu represents the East and the Northeast and symbolizes happiness. Fire/Agni represents the South, symbolising power and fame. Jal/Water represents the North, symbolising spirituality and healing. The final element is Earth, which represents the Centre, symbolising stability, peace, and harmony.

It is alright to not believe in this science but those who do believe will vouch for a lot of positive changes that transformed their life.

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Feed Mind Right

/ dinah1995 / Leave a comment

What we consume has a lot to do with how our wellness goes. What we feed ourselves talks magnitudes about how we treat our bodies. Correspondingly, what we feed our brain is as crucial if not more! As a famous quote by Eckhart Tolle goes, ‘all problems are illusions of the mind.’

From listening to the right things to seeing what is good for our mind, from what our deepest thoughts are to what our actions show, from what we read, watch and share: everything has a direct impact on our physical as well as mental and psychological well-being. Downright direct consequence.

In a time where we can easily get swayed by the air of fast-paced technology and evolving social lives, it is so essential to take in what is good for ourselves and let go of what is not necessary – like hatred, frustration, anxiety, fear, negative literature, unhealthy thoughts, and lifestyle… This allows us to stay sane and content in life, ushering in happiness, positivity, and good health.

To begin with, as simple as I can put it across, we may start reading books and texts that unburden us and impart learning and understanding to us. Maybe we should watch films that add value and give us a zest to live. We could listen to wise folks express their life’s amazing lessons and experiences. Maybe breakdown on how we can preserve our future by instilling goodness, sharing ideas, and fresh thoughts, helping one another, smiling, and being grateful for the smallest of things… this way we can construct a difference in our life as well as others around us.

Be a reflection – show the world that good people exist. The world and this generation need healing.

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The Grey Divorce

/ msveenagupta / 4 Comments

Divorce has never been an easy word. It has never been just a word et al. 

It has always been a story.

A story of pain, deceit, heartbreak, lies, indifference, and sometimes even Delight! The emotions attached to Divorce may be different for each one – even for the same couple, divorce evokes different emotions for both estranged partners. It comes with its emotional baggage, financial constraints, societal taboos, and personal agony.

And just as there are different emotions experienced by different people, there may be several reasons for the disunion instead of the honeyed ‘Till death do us apart!’ Whatever the reasons, they always spell trouble and surprise for the families involved. More so when you least expect it. At a time, that we have been conditioned to believe, as the one you need your partner the most. A divorce that comes in your ‘grey’ years – THE ‘GREY’ DIVORCE!

So, What exactly is a Grey Divorce?

Divorces manifesting in long-running marriages, typically beyond 15-20 years are touted as Grey divorces. By this time, you are already touching middle-age and dealing with grey hair…hence the name!

There are many more surprising elements to this Divorce than just the nature and the name. First of all, they happen late in life – which you would often imagine as the settled and wary phase to even think of separation. Secondly, more and more couples are opting to separate than ever before.

And most surprisingly – Women are the initiators of this divorce 66% of the time! (WHOA!! Talk about Women empowerment)

So, what do you think goes wrong … that too, so late in life? Let’s ponder over it a bit.

First Things First – It’s not an impulsive decision. The very reason that the stakeholders have taken so long to mull over it, that they have reached middle-age, is testimony to the fact that it is a well-thought-off act.

Secondly, if the woman has initiated it, you can be sure she has exhausted every option and hope for the relationship’s revival.

WHAT COULD BE THE REASONS THOUGH?

People grow as they age. With life’s many experiences and trials & tribulations, people grow. Unfortunately, they may not grow together but rather apart. This may be heartbreaking but not impossible. Just as people can fall in love, they can grow out of love as well. Relationship familiarity breeds contempt and boredom here. Spouses take each other for granted and forget to show appreciation for each other. This frustration leads to growing apart, in search of acceptance and appreciation. 

Let’s face it. The earlier generations did not have it all hunky-dory in all marriages. But many duplets still survived the ordeal. Some did only because of the stigma they may have to face if they did go the dreaded path. Societal pressure kept them from seeking separation. 

But things have changed over the years. Call it evolution or indifference; now people care much less about what’s going on in your life. The flip side of this all is the rise in the numbers seeking dissolution of the sacred institution of Marriage. Divorce is no longer a Taboo! 

No more stigma=less pressure to stay in an unhappy marriage

Many and many and yet so many people stay put in unhealthy, unhappy marriages for the sake of their beloveds – Their CHILDREN.

Quite understandably so. They brought them to this world. It was a promise they made to their children to keep them happy; take good care of them; provide them with everything they need and see them grow into beautiful humans. For the sake of this promise, they do not want to shake the foundation of this hollow relationship. They are willing to live this lie for the rest of their lives. A relationship that is an Illusion of a ‘Happy Home’ for their children; even if it has nothing to offer for the partner themselves.

By the time the children have grown, the need for keeping this illusion alive has reduced. This is the biggest driver for the exodus – especially for women. For them, this is where they become the ‘Walkaway Wife’. When an unhappy wife suddenly divorces or walks out on her spouse without warning, is coined as ‘Walkaway wife’. 

‘Without warning’ is a bit of fallacy here, as I believe nothing of this magnitude can be without warning. It may instead be the ignorance of the other partner towards the changes in the relationship, that causes the final step to come as a shock. 

Now that the children are independent and probably even understand that the relationship is not in good stead, people no longer feel the need to drag it further and eventually call it quits.

With more financial freedom comes more choices to live a happy and fulfilling life. Many may still try to live the dead relationship just because ‘it’s too late.’ But the ones who are adventurous enough to take the plunge, feel surer about this once they are financially more secure. It could be career advancement or inheritance of wealth or savings – finances do make a difference in this long-term decision.

Even the lack of it can be a reason for the Grey Divorce. Couples who have struggled with debt for a long time or have been constantly fighting about finances often end up divorcing in the golden years.

Yes, this seems unrelated, but surprisingly is a compelling component of the decision-making process to the D-word.

Look at it this way – if you have only a month to live and you are in an unhappy marriage, would you walk out on them to live happily? Well, some would agree… but a majority would rather not take the bait and live content for the rest of the time they have.

Now imagine if I told you that you have 30 years more to live. Would you still live in this unhappy situation or would rather break free and find the life of your dreams? 

BINGO. You would choose the latter!

With life’s expectancy going beyond 80 and 90 years, people in their middle ages do not want to continue in unfulfilling relationships for the coming 30-40 or 50 years. They want to do away with anything not adding to their happiness index. And this is where the grey divorce contemplation creeps in.

You have worked all your life rushing from task to task to make things work in your youth. Children, finances, loans, chores, and everything else have kept you on your toes. Now that the children are grown up and fled your nest to find their own life, you are left with only their memories and no real work to do. You have been so busy with your life that you no longer recognize your partner or your partnership with them. So once your ‘mission’ i.e., your children, has gone, you are suddenly left with a huge void, and life and partner you no longer connect with! What follows next is reassessment and retrospection of your life which many a time leads to a grey divorce.

The reasons could be different for people. But one noteworthy thing is that people are slowly but surely rising to such possibilities. Whether it is good or bad, is a debatable question. It is more of a personal choice and depends on what one is seeking in his/her life. 

One thing for sure is that Divorces are never easy on anyone. If you have shared a big part of your life and youth with someone, they do deserve a second chance. The same reasons that lead to separation could also lead to a reinvention of the relationship. Every relationship needs work, and so does this new-old relationship. Think about it and let your Grey matter overrule a grey divorce!

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Technology Drives Learning Journey

/ Naveeta Shokeen / Leave a comment

The role that technology plays in the learning journey. Our personal and professional lives have become increasingly intertwined with one another as a result of the COVID epidemic. In the aftermath of the epidemic, many businesses continue to operate on a remote basis; some have transitioned to a hybrid model, while others have started to gradually reopen their doors. Over the past two years, the world has undergone a profound transformation. Newcomers to the workforce who entered the workforce during these trying times are having trouble breaking the ice with their teams, having trouble writing the ideal email to their clients, and having trouble responding appropriately to difficult situations. There are a lot of problems like this one where new talent wants to be shown the ropes.

The majority of businesses in today’s world are aware of the significance of knowledge transfer and mentorship, but they are limited in their ability to take action because they rarely put the necessary infrastructure in place to make these types of training and exchanges possible. In the very competitive environment of today, one of the most important differentiators is the knowledge that a business has accumulated during its many years of existence. A survey found that the failure of Fortune 500 corporations to share their knowledge results in an annual loss of almost $31.5 billion. If a business doesn’t have established ways for information to get out, it will be hard for it to stay in business.

According to research, the quality of mentoring relationships, as well as those in which knowledge is shared, can have powerfully positive consequences for young people entering the workforce in several personal, academic, and professional contexts. Thanks to technology, young Turks can interact with mentors all around the world and learn from their experiences. This is particularly helpful since learning and development (L&D) costs continue to decrease.

Technology in today’s world serves as a platform that makes it possible for young professionals, students, and teachers to collaborate on the development of unique educational experiences for others.

Learning experiences can take place regardless of the time or place, and they offer each student or young professional more personalized opportunities for interacting with their peers and the content. This is all thanks to the advancements that have been made in technology, which have created a larger, boundary-less global village. Because of this, the atmosphere is good for open and productive communication, which happens as a result.

Thanks to the advancements that have been made in technology in recent years, both employees and employers now have access to insights that allow them to evaluate their current standing concerning the abilities required for current or future employment.

The Impact That Technology Has Had on
Instructional Methods in the Workplace

People now learn differently as a result of technological advancements. It is currently one of the most important factors in the delivery of our learning solutions. Learning in today’s corporations has been completely transformed as a result of the proliferation of digital tools and media such as gamified learning interventions, animated videos, and online content. Today, anyone with a smartphone can make, change, and upload information that a lot of people can see with the touch of a button.

The process of converting educational materials into digital formats is frequently disregarded or undervalued. A digital learning strategy needs to be developed to adapt the content in such a way that it maximizes its impact, enables improved decision-making, and delivers a better user experience. This is required to create a learning organization. AI-powered learning tools are being used to bring together many teams under a single voice and communication guideline so that the digital learning strategy can be made and carried out.

Five areas of technology rising to the forefront as a result of development and these trends will shape how businesses learn and evolve.

1. LEARNING ENHANCED BY AI
Training programs that are powered by AI make it possible to engage in adaptive learning, in which the learning modules are tailored to the specific requirements of each learner.

2. QUICK RESKILLING & UPSKILLING
To make the switch to working remotely, people needed to learn new skills and get better at the ones they already had. This was so they could use the technology that is needed to support remote working and collaboration.

3. THE USE OF MICROLEARNING
Microlearning is a relatively new method that entails breaking down a skill into its parts and then instructing solely on those parts. According to research, microlearning is beneficial and gives students a boost in their confidence.

4. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
Because of changes in the working environment, an efficient communication strategy has become an absolute necessity to improve the quality of the user experience.

5. LEARNING ON DEMAND 
Learning on demand refers to the process of developing a platform that gives students access to content that is knowledge-based in real-time.

After conducting additional research into how technology is modifying the learning process, we have concluded that technology has altered how our brains process information on a neurological level. The average attention span of a member of Generation Z is now just 0.8 seconds, compared to 12 seconds for a member of the previous generation, the Millenials.

The way we remember things has also changed a lot since technology came along.

Lessons for our L&D Teams

The four stages of learning—attention, encoding, storage, and retrieval—have been reimagined as a result of technological advancements. The learning process should shift from being focused on the individual to be more collaborative. Additionally, it should transition from passive learning to active learning. Last but certainly not least, the days of a single-size fitting have long since passed. To improve the quality of the learning experience, individual learners’ educational routes have to be tailored specifically to meet their requirements.

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Astro Disasters

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Ever glanced at a stranger and sensed instant hostility towards them? And then wondered why did that happen in the first place. What made you feel so much bitterness and resentment towards them even though you two haven’t met?

There’s quite a possibility here, that it’s not you, but your respective Zodiacs at War! Remember your romantic partner you wished you had never dated? Or never even met! They were the same people you once were moony-eyed for. But once you got close, they turned out to be your worst nightmares. What could have gone wrong there was your initial attraction connived by your very own Zodiac.

Just as there are Love signs; there are signs that are so incompatible that they should Never Date! Let’s delve into some of these Disastrous Matches:

One of my favorites of all the Disasters! If you arrange all the signs in order they are usually discussed, it starts with Aries and ends with Pisces. Ever wondered why?

That’s because they are arranged chronologically according to their Mental age and Maturity. So accordingly, ARIES is the BABY of the Zodiac while Pisces is the PARENT of the Zodiac. Now, before you train your guns on me, let me clarify that I don’t mean Aries is immature. It only refers to their demeanor. Aries is more free-spirited like a child, while Pisces has a more mature outlook and comportment.

For the same reasons, they are incompatible to the core. You would say that a parent-child relationship should be great… Well, yes! But ever imagined having a child for a life partner? Of course, Aries will gel well with others similar to them…but not the Pisces. Aries wants attention, noise, and activity around them while Pisces craves stillness, tranquility, and quiet. It is no wonder then that they top the list of incompatibility!

Cancer is characterised by the crab. It takes a long time to come out of its shell. It can do so only if trusts its surroundings enough and trust takes a long time to build. 

Aries, being the child of the Zodiac is impatient. It lives in the moment and cannot comprehend what takes cancer so long to commit! Aries believes in love (and even sex) at the spur of the moment. While Cancer to commit, it has to be an eternal promise transcending lifetimes. By the time Cancer has made up its mind to commit, Aries has already packed up their bags and left!

Another one of my favorites! Scorpio commands loyalty. Geminis are flirtatious. End of story.

Scorpio cannot understand, for the life of them, why Gemini finds it okay to mingle and hit upon everyone in sight. Both Scorpio and Gemini like attention and being the ‘Star’ of the party, but detest the same streak in the other. 

Gemini energy flows like air and their moods change with the wind. This is particularly scary for Scorpios who are trying to score them on Trust Index. For Scorpio, Gemini is too impulsive and inconsistent to be trustworthy.

Leo is loud, flashy, and believes in the GRANDEUR of Life. Pisces is sensitive, timid, and broody. Need I say more about why they don’t make a good pair?

Leo believes in being the life of the party while Pisces enters a party in ‘incognito mode. Leo believes they know all that is there to know. Pisces feels only God knows everything. Leo wants to rock the party, and Pisces wants to spend the evening on a secluded beach counting the stars and talking about angels. Leo loves themselves and Pisces loves everyone in the world. Both cannot comprehend each other’s psyche and hence are incompatible.

Cancer is a sensitive sign and can get moody and pensive without warning. Aquarius on the other hand are level-headed and clear in their heads. Aquarius loves ideas, innovations, discoveries, and new ways of doing things. Cancer seeks stability, familiarity, and simplicity – which spells stagnation and boredom for Aquarius.

Cancer seeks emotional stimulation to feel the love, while Aquarius is the Loner – lost in their world seeking answers, and hence aloof. This dissatisfies cancer’s emotional needs which spells doomsday for the relationship

Sagittarius believes in charming everyone to get their job done. They are less bothered by methods, procedures, and protocols and couldn’t care less about bullet points in your presentation. They are party animals and life is a big party for them!

Capricorn on the other hand is very methodological and professional. Their professional identity is everything to them. They work very very hard to reach their goal while Sagittarius believes in charming their opponents to win the game. Capricorns are dependable and trustworthy, while Sagittarius lives for the moment. Both are poles apart which is why they shouldn’t even come close to committing. 

Taurus believes in taking it slow and steady. Stability is everything to them. They, therefore, are seldom frivolous and finicky. More earthy and laidback is what appeals to them.

Leos on the other hand are flashy, fiery, attention-grabbing thrill seekers. They do not understand Taurus’ need for anonymity. Everything going on in Leo’s life must be ‘shown off, while Taurus wants to keep it extremely private. Leo’s ‘Life is a party’ energy is too much to take for a Laid-back Taurean. Leo loves the spotlight while Taurus is reserved. 

If Taurus – the bull – gets angry somehow, nothing stands in their way. This of course does not go well with the ‘King of the Jungle’ – LEO the Lion!

There are often many other factors that play a vital role in determining the compatibility of two people – Which is why there can never be an acid test devised to gauge that. Having said that, there’s some role that zodiacs do play in explaining mysterious feelings of like and dislike you experience for someone you have just met. So, if you are still wondering about why you broke up with your ex, you may want to check their zodiac once again! 

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The Art Route-Teens To Tots

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Art is an expression for everyone, and children are no exception to this. It is a way of telling the world about what you are thinking and feeling. It has been a sign language for ancient civilizations to communicate with one another. The biggest proof is ancient cave paintings made that depict life at that time. Cave artworks have tons of stories to tell us.

How many of you were encouraged to draw and paint when you were little? Do you still have those sketches that you drew? Do go back if u still have those drawings and trace the stories you told as a child. On the same note, let me ask another question: how many of you encourage art for your little ones? Visual or Performing Arts?

The emphasis on encouraging art for children has increased in current times. At homes and schools. Though, there are still a large number of folks who still believe in the myths about arts and discourage children too.

New age education is increasingly fostering sensorial play with colours, sand, and all objects around – creating designs and shapes of animals, things, and humans. The idea is to improve visual learning. Performing Arts is also given special importance, and concepts are being taught through role plays in preschools and higher classes.

Visual arts comprise the following elements – the colour, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Each of these elements represents something that sets every piece of art apart. A mix and match of the above-mentioned elements are what makes any visual artist’s work stand out. While some may use colours and forms, others may use lines and shapes and some others may use space in art. Performing arts encourages the use of expressions, pitch, and tones through body language.

There are “art streets” or art markets organized in every city of the world these days. These art streets have people from all walks of the artistic arena performing or showcasing their skills – right from drawings, paintings, puppetry, digital art, murals, 3D floor art, graffiti, dance, mono acts, street plays – you name it and you will find it there. There is no power in the world to match the power of art. The language it conveys is extremely powerful and lends a beautiful medium to one and all.
It is wonderful to see many children blossoming into all kinds of arts – print, digital, performing arts, and other art forms. Children are natural artists if left free. They learn organically since their young minds absorb and comprehend a lot. Take any drawing or painting of a child and you will find all these elements in them.

Art gives children the scope to think, move and act freely without getting judged. All emotions flow easily once they start using colours and experimenting with shapes and forms. What we call modern art, maybe a child’s story. A child can convey his or her emotions in the form of a beautiful art piece.

Over some time, art developed a negative connotation and many myths were formed.
Hence, the art of any kind wasn’t encouraged for children as well. Following myths were floated:

1.  Art is a waste of time; has no or limited career scope
2.  Art will reduce the scores in school and college
3.  Art is fancy; only for the elite
4.  Art for the intellectuals
5.  Art is for emotional fools
6.  Art only flows in artistic families or families with artistic genes
7.  Not everyone can become an artist.
8.  You need connections to make a career in art or make it big in the art world.
9.  Once art in any form is encouraged, a child will wave goodbye to books
10. Art is temporary happiness

Out of all these mentioned, the last myth is the most heartbreaking. Art unlike what people think is a distraction for children enhances focus and concentration. Creativity helps in problem-solving and helps children learn concepts better. Drawing can be a tool for children to learn any new concept and also be used as a “peg” to remember points. Once you have a visual of the concept you are studying, it becomes much easier for the child to assimilate concepts. Whether it is a tot or a teen, and even adults for that matter, art makes beautiful memories for a lifetime.

Art Mood spoilers AKA “Editors”

Another common mistake that most parents make is to “correct” art or say “this is not good enough” after seeing their child’s artwork. This is a way of telling the child to make the art “perfect”. But artists and psychologists will tell you that while “editing” a child’s art, you are in effect cutting their wings of imagination. There are no such things as perfectly straight lines/cubes/squares or any shapes. 

Art is one medium where there can be no “right” or “wrong”. So, it is better to let the child be free while letting them express themselves. Many therapists and psychologists use visual art as a tool to evaluate the mental wellness of a child. The usual practice is to ask the child to draw anything they like. The colours they use, and the expressions on the human/animal faces give them an idea about the emotions running through the child. Art helps in the emotional and cognitive development of the child. The more visuals a child uses to express himself or herself means the child’s emotional quotient (EQ) is extremely high. These days, psychologists emphasize EQ more than IQ. It reflects upon the child’s problem and conflict-resolving abilities in inter and intra-personal relationships.

There is a quote that I strongly believe in: “Art lies in the eyes of the beholder just like beauty.” In the same way, it is the way you see art. Every person will have their interpretations of art or any artwork. It is true for performing arts as well.

Why do kids fall in love with art? When asked, they told me

1.  We love the colours – bright and vibrant.
2.  Gives us unlimited happiness.
3.  Love it as a hobby.
4.  Curiosity to experiment.
5.  To be an artist when we grow up.
6.  We can design buildings, cars.
7.  We can do whatever we want in a drawing or painting.
8.  Freedom to be ourselves – on stage, on paper.

The above made me reflect on how much we underestimate the power of art and the magic we can spread if we encourage art in future generations. Let’s raise a healthy, heartfelt generation of children who will make a beautiful space in this world and make it a better place to live in.

Signing off with a quote by Vincent Van Gogh: “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced”. Wishing the world to be filled with more artists and emotionally beautiful people!

Follow Priya Rajendran