It was a beautiful day. A productive week she could say. Quite impressed with how she was handling herself in a new workspace. Being a newbie, she was getting to know everyone at this phase in her life. Like most Fridays, few of them gathered for drinks and dinner after work.
Hardware Lane has some of the best restaurants, and Melbourne is the restaurant capital of the world. Period. The food there is unbelievable. No matter where you eat, you will find something that will take your breath away.
Now, where were we? Back to the dinner with her colleagues. As they were chugging the lager and digging into the delicious platter filled with mouthwatering finger foods, they went from one topic to the next. They all shared their political philosophy, liberal, labor, or the greens to their preference for cupcakes to pastries. One mate said, “faith is everything”. Other, “spiritual awakening is the core”. Another expressed, “nothing matters, neither faith nor spirits.”
She is a non-believer and others challenged her, “who do you reach out to? Who do you call for help when you need solace? Or don’t you think you need to have belief in something? A higher power!”
‘I believe in my friends,’ said she with confidence. There was a murmur on their table. Some were shocked to realize she was an atheist. Others were scoffing at the fact that she thinks ‘friends are everything”. A handful nodded, ‘yes‘. A few had no reaction at all. A friend among the friends asked, “so you assume friends will be there for you always!”.
“Not always. Not all my friends. The ones I want when I need them will be there for me,” she said with conviction. “I will be there for them too. In my life, I could always depend on my friends. They never judge me, those who judge are not in my circle. I believe, I can depend on my dear friends more than my family”.
Friendship. It’s a gift. Finding, keeping, and having a good mate is neither easy nor difficult. It’s a mutual connection. To tell your friend, “you are right about that”,and, also to reach out to and point to them and say, “hey, that was uncalled for”,that’s true companionship. To call when you are happy, to share the embarrassing story from work, to cry your heart out when things don’t go as planned, to call and annoy, to travel with, to drink and be merry and to be yourself with…then there you have some genuine friends.
Most of us have friends. A friend, many friends or hundreds of them. How many of us can say we have a true blue hardcore one who will stand with you and stand by you during your best and the worst? If you have one such friend, cherish them. If you have more than one, you are blessed.
Friendship is easy sailing. It cannot be forced. If there is jealousy or envy amoung friends, it is not worth holding on to that relationship. A good friend wants to see you grow, a true mate will never make you look inadequate and neither talk against you, nor talk behind you.
It is said, friendship is another word for love. A person who can make you laugh and also laugh with you and laugh at your cheesy jokes, who can be truly their authentic self with you without any mask or charades, then keep them close. Never let them go.
It’s been a few months of stay-at-home and work-from-home for Daddy dear! The tot has grown a little more. The little baby can walk and run nearly as fast as Usain Bolt! Feeding, bathing, and napping are all roughly under control. New foods, colours, and textures are now in. So what’s next?
Time changes things and now is the time to change a few things! Since mommy has gone back to work. This means DAD is in charge of nutrition! So here are some things to keep in mind for your toddler when it comes to food and feeding time.
Food, Feeding, and Nutrition
Your child should be eating at least three healthy meals a day, plus one or two snacks. Allow the child to be able to eat from the family pot. Meaning he or she should be able to eat the same food as the rest of the family.
DO NOT GET STUCK WITH
Fixating on amounts being eaten.
Many parents fixate on the amount a child has to eat to be healthy. Now in one way it is true. A child must eat well but do not need to be stuffed till they get sick.
Making mealtimes wartime.
Trying to stuff food down your kid's throat or making this a battle of wits can have its repercussions. This must be a time for the little one to have fun. Explore colours, textures, and tastes and even try eating on his or her own!
Getting used to a device during feeding time.
This one is hard but doable. Kids these days learn faster and better than we did. At least that's what I have observed. Reducing device time while around junior, especially at meal times is a big challenge. Once done it helps everyone detox from tech and connect as a family.
RATHER
Pay attention to helping your tot adapt to healthy eating habits.
Including eating on time and with family at one table at mealtime. Ensure all sit together for at least one meal a day. It helps reinforce family bonding. And gives junior a sense of belonging.
Eat healthy even as a family.
Cut out as much junk and fried food as possible. More steamed, boiled, blanched, and fresh-made food helps.
SAFETY
By now your child should be able to use a spoon to some extent, drink from a cup or sipper and feed him or herself a wide variety of finger foods. However, they are still learning to chew and swallow properly. Some food might just go in a gulp. This can cause the risk of choking to be high. So stick to soft easy-to-bite and chew food. At each stage wean them off. Help them understand what they are eating and how to break it down by chewing.
DO NOT PANIC, if your child is a picky eater.
Ensure they are eating from each of the basic food groups every day:
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs
Milk, cheese, and other dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Cereals and pulses, potatoes, rice, flour products
Do not be alarmed if your child doesn’t always meet this ideal. Many toddlers resist eating certain foods—or insist on eating only one or two favorite foods. The more you struggle with your child over their eating preferences, the more determined they will be to resist you. This can make feeding time very strenuous.
Instead, allow the baby to choose as you learn their likes and dislikes. Then match that by pairing food as needed. Offering a variety of foods and leaving the choices up to your child will eventually allow them to eat a balanced diet on their own. Toddlers also like to feed themselves, so whenever possible, offer your child finger foods instead of cooked ones that require a fork or spoon to eat.
A few tricks to get the little one interested in food time also takes on a positive note if there is tons of encouragement for your little one. Giving them support and loving words. High fives and attaboy’s or attagirl’s, go a long way. Getting a good high chair, specific bowl, or plate with cutlery set for your tot helps. You can choose fun vibrant colours for this cutlery and crockery. Maybe themed ones you know with a favourite cartoon character or superhero. Maybe a favourite colour palate. Get creative and make it fun. Your child will have a ball eating, bonding, and growing up.
In the years after the epidemic, the function of a human resources professional has evolved into a more strategic one. Return on investment, sometimes known as ROI, has emerged as the most important metric to use when assessing the effectiveness of any HR function. HR analytics, often known as people analytics, may play a significant role in this stage of the game. One might find it helpful to use data-driven insights when making decisions about the HR policies and business strategies of a company.
Let’s take a step back and speak about analytics in general before diving into the conversation of how analytics may be used to shape human resources policies.
The scientific process of transforming data into meaningful insights to facilitate improved decision-making is referred to as analytics. It is always focused on doing something.
Analytics could be a three-fold process
1. Descriptive Analytics
The first step in analytics is to collect, organize, and describe the properties of the information that is being investigated. In more conventional parlance, one may refer to this activity as "reporting."
2. Predictive Analytics
Moving on, predictive analytics is a type of data analysis that is used to make forecasts based on historical data. Using patterns and relationships found in historical data, one can guess how likely it is that something will happen in the future.
3. Prescriptive Analytics
The use of prescriptive analytics allows one to forecast not just what events will occur but also when they will occur and, most importantly, why they will occur. In the third stage of business analytics, the goal is to make a recommendation for a choice or to provide several alternatives for a potential next step.
What is People Analytics?
The collection and utilization of data on individuals to improve key business decisions are what is known as “people analytics.” Insights that will help you find and keep top talent, as well as improve employee engagement and performance.
Important elements of People Analytics
It is very important to understand where your people data come from and how is this data related to business success. People data comes from-
1. Demographics
2. Tenure
3. Recruitment Data
4. Talent Management Data
5. Talent Engagement Data
6. Compensation and Benefits data
7. People Assessment Data
When you connect these data points to business result data, you can take strategic and evidence-based people decisions.
How to build an effective people analytics strategy
Building an effective people analytics strategy seems to be a daunting task, however, with the right process, a business can uncover key insights critical to strategic decision-making.
A forward-thinking organization uses the following parameters to shape its people analytics strategy.
1. Identify goals and their impacts
2. Understand the data source and the gaps
3. Understanding the right technology
4. Collect, integrate and analyze data
5. Use data to implement changes
Using People data to craft organizational success
HR as a function has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from being a reactive department that dealt with hiring, talent management, and training to taking on the role of a strategic business partner. This is a significant development. As HR increasingly aligns itself with the business, it is now driving outcomes that impact the performance of the firm. HR directors now can support corporate goals, whether it be acquiring and retaining the finest talent, implementing programs for employee satisfaction, or revising existing policies, all of which can be accomplished through the utilization of technology. People analytics lets HR departments align their goals with those of the company, provide insights that can be used, suggest actions that could be taken, evaluate the effects of these actions, and show the company numbers that show how well these activities worked.
There has never been a more favourable time for human resources to have a greater strategic influence on the company than right now. People analytics is a relatively new dimension, but it is slowly and stealthily making its way into the normal processes of organizations, even though it is a relatively new dimension. According to the report that was published by Deloitte Insights in 2018, people analytics is the second most important trend in human resource management. The use of people analytics is driving investment in innovation by organizations to accomplish their business objectives. So, it’s safe to say that the fourth industrial revolution, which will be driven by digitization and automation, will usher in a time when human resource management and people analytics will play a very important role in redefining people and company strategy.
Just like books are a man’s best friend…ofcourse apart from pets and plants, libraries are a shangri-la for book enthusiasts!
How many of you have old membership cards for libraries? I am sure if you are a bibliophile, you would have preserved them. They are a storehouse of memories for most of us. All emotions gush out the moment you mention that you are a book lover to a fellow book lover. I am sure by now you would have gone down the nostalgia lane too!
Libraries have been an eternal spot for romance! Aha! You literally did imagine a romantic scene, right? You and your special one holding hands while reading a book. Or perhaps taking sneak-peaks at your crush while reading books. Well, for bookworm like me, romance with books meant more of falling in love with characters in the book, the smell of old books and the ambience of the library, the cozy corners where you pick a book and sit for hours. Of course, I won’t deny, I spent time in the library solely reading books!
The best highlights of my college life were the two libraries. The one space where one could sit in peace amidst the fragrance of old wood and old books. Touching the old print gave a different high altogether.
People still cherish reading books but reading in libraries is slowly fading out thanks to the e-book and audio book culture. There is nothing like holding a good ol’ book in hand and turning each page. The excitement would increase once you knew the book was in limited edition and in demand. It would pique the reader’s curiosity to complete the book soon, just to see how it unfolds and ends.
Libraries have books which are rare and those you will not find in book stores. This is another reason why libraries were much sought after by students, research scholars and book connoisseurs alike. Not all information is available on search engines and the worldwide web. Rare collections will be found in the pristine hallways of libraries. These are the very same places where writers found their creative juices flowing faster. The calmness of the interiors coupled with book lovers sharing the same space and positive energies are a motivation in itself to spend time in the library.
1. Pristine interiors
Most old libraries have been crafted with love by bibliophiles in such a way that people will forget the outside world till the time they are there. Don’t forget the pleasure of exploring mysterious hallways and dark corners where books have been stored and preserved.
2. Rare collections of books, papers
Library is a place symbolic of the history, culture and geography of any place. You are likely to even find information on people who may have been forgotten by the masses – especially unsung heroes. There are papers written by scholars on rare manuscripts too. Most of these have been preserved by book lovers over years.
3. Book reading for connoisseurs
Some libraries organize book reading sessions for adults and children alike to encourage people to read books. Books are chosen every month or once in two months and assigned to people. Then there is a date selected to discuss the books in detail. People sit in a circle and read aloud their favourite excerpts from the book.
4. Early reading can be cultivated
Children can be encouraged to get together in libraries and choose books they want to read. They can be asked to pick a book of their choice to read and later discuss. Many parents feel their children have been swept by the digital wave and hence the interest in books is slowly waning. Local libraries can help begin book clubs for them. Younger children can be encouraged to visit libraries on a weekly basis.
5. Rendezvous for activists, campaigners
Many thinkers, creative folks and researchers need a motivation to begin something new. Libraries have resources that can help them do the same. History is proof that in the past, all our freedom movements and campaigns have taken birth in libraries.
6. Resource centers for higher studies
Most libraries are extremely resourceful. They have a lot of information on various universities. Some like the British Council and The American Library guide children and help them prepare for entrance exams and aptitude tests. There are professionals (in the above-mentioned libraries) here who specialize in helping students write the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Academic counselling is done in most libraries.
7. Collaborations with authors
Authors often do book launches in collaboration with libraries. Book lovers look forward to the latest books by their favourite authors. Librarians often pin dates of book launches by authors. They even host book reading sessions by them. It is such a pleasure to meet book lovers here.
8. Book fairs and festival dates
These dates usually appear in papers and are now available in the worldwide web at the click of a mouse button too. However, it can be a good motivation to visit your local libraries for dates and schedules of various book fairs and festivals. Some maybe ongoing and some scheduled for the following year. You can keep yourself updated each time you borrow a book or go back to return it.
9. Help underprivileged kids read
Local communities in smaller cities, towns and big metros are forming small libraries for underprivileged children to teach them to read. People are encouraged to donate old books to these groups.
10. Beating the blues
The two-year lockdown period was nightmarish for ardent book lovers. Most libraries have reopened their doors. They can re-join them. Books have a magic in them to heal all pain. Libraries are the perfect place to restore your inner peace.
So, what are you waiting for? Renew your library cards if you haven’t yet done and immerse yourself in the ocean of books. Meet your pals and beat your blues away. Signing off with this quote by a fictitious book lover: “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
To begin with, freedom comes with great accountability. You earn freedom when you are wholly mindful of what you are capable of, competent on, and responsible for. The more you practice being yourself and taking ownership of your actions, the more liberated you become.
You have to make smart choices and savvy decisions to reach what is called absolute freedom. Your choices and actions have an impact on how liberated you are as a person. The more you know yourself and take accountability for who you are as an individual, the better understanding you have about your freedom.
Taking ownership of your life and actions is a great way to impart your ideologies to those around you. You radiate confidence and inspire others to take decisions that can eventually lead them to their freedom.
To be candid if I can, freedom is not just about living by yourself, doing things yourself and not being accountable to anyone. It is in fact much greater. It is understanding, why you are doing what you are doing. That very understanding of your drive, your inspiration, your goals and your passion is the core of being liberated as an individual.
Freedom therefore is accountability, the right attitude towards life, wise choices, the character you possess, the actions you take and the ones you don’t, the standing you build for yourself and ownership of your life. It is not just actions… It is a way of life.
Always remember, with freedom to think and act the way you want comes great responsibility towards yourself. Own your life. Own your actions. Own your freedom.
I am on my way home. I call my friend for a quick coffee. His father answers the phone and says he cannot come over now as it will be dinner time soon and if he has coffee now, he won’t have dinner properly. FAIR. I recede.
Just a little weird as we both are in our FORTIES!
He is a senior management staff in a finance enterprise. Owns a car(but cannot drive) and two houses (bought with his money but not in his name). Also not married and has no children – not that he didn’t find a soulmate, but because his Father did not ‘approve’ of any match!
OUCH!
The poor soul cannot make his own decisions, not as big as getting married to a woman of his choice. Not even as small as learning to drive a car or ride a 2-wheeler. He is not allowed to make decisions in his life. All of them taken on his behalf, by his father!
Welcome to Helicopter Parenting!
Helicopter parents are those who control their kids’ activities with an iron hand. They control every aspect of their kids’ lives. Probably to protect them from pain/disappointment or in the hope to push them to succeed. Their careers, personal lives, choice of friends, social activities they should/shouldn’t get involved in – everything is ‘decided’ by such a Parent.
It is like having a Helicopter hovering over your head all day long. Hence the name. Is it good or is it bad then?
Maybe good !!! ???
You have ‘support’ for EVERYTHING. All your work is done by someone else. Even the thinking! Imagine, all you have to do in a day is just laze around. You (probably) have to work enough (read earn enough) to just get by. Everything is ready-made for you and served on a platter. You don’t even have to think (or prepare) what you are wearing to work tomorrow! It is all decided, washed, ironed, and ready for you. Food packed. Bag ready. Shoes shined. All Ready to go. Have you got an event coming up? No problem; all the planning, organizing, and execution is all done. All you got to do is be physically present at the venue. Just be the ‘face’ in the forefront. Everything else is done and dusted. You have a problem with your friend, this parent even fights that battle for you. You don’t have to move a muscle. Just like the Princes and the Kings of olden times. Just walk into your ‘Darbar’!
Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Ummmmm………
The flip side though.
You cannot make a single decision in your life without consulting this Parent! Not even choosing your friends, your clothes, not even your hairstyle. Your entire life is (apparently) devoid of any problems. No challenges. And therefore, no problem-solving skills too. No people skills. No management skills. No social skills.
To understand this better, let’s go back to our Man.
This person is so over-protected, that he has no life skills. He cannot drive(coz his father thinks, he can meet with an accident), cannot cook (coz food is ready for him always), cannot file his taxes (his Father does it for him), and doesn’t have the faintest idea how inflation works (are you kidding me?) He doesn’t even know how much he saves in a month (his father manages his money)…….knowing how inflation affects his savings is a LOOOOOOOOOONNNGG SHOT.
He even seeks his father’s approval to go for an outing with his friends. Once I happened to ask him if he wore the shirt I gifted him on his birthday. He replied he will have to ask his father if he wore the shirt (coz he doesn’t even have to remember that, his father does the ‘remembering’ for him!) Cannot get married to the love of his life, as his father wants ‘a fair-skinned daughter-in-law (pretty cheeky I tell you)!
Look, I get it. As a parent, you want to shield your child from the evil forces of the world. But this? Protecting your child is one thing, over-protection is toxic, but this level of Helicopter parenting is downright Criminal!! You are robbing a person of his right to freedom.
In my belief, every human being was born to be different. Unique. Every person has qualities the other does not. By forcing your beliefs onto him, you are snatching away his right to be unique. To be Human. We experience different things and that makes us so unique in our ways. But what happens if you have not experienced anything in life at all? No experience = No personality.
In a bid to protect your child (or any loved one) from pain and disappointment, you are denying them the opportunity to fail as a human. To face that failure, to build resilience, overcome that, and in the bargain, Grow emotionally. You have denied them the opportunity to develop people skills, to experience and tell the difference between good and bad company. To choose the right people around him/her. To even basic etiquettes of knowing when to talk, when to stop, what to fight for and what to accept undisputedly. By making all the decisions in your child’s life you are taking away his power of ‘Thinking’. Your child cannot think on his own, let alone know how to dress well and talk well.
The worst part of this all is for you to think about what happens to your child after you are gone? Your child gets to be the most dysfunctional personality around. With no idea how to cook, clean, drive, take decisions or stand by their decisions. In the attempt to protect him from the bad, you have made him worse. You have set him up for a PERSONAL APOCALYPSE!
There is nothing you can do for them after you are gone. So act now, change now, and let the child be. Let them make mistakes, let them fall. I know it hurts like hell to see your child in pain, but understand that they need to undergo this to emerge victorious on the other side. Remember the caterpillar? It needs to go through the cruel process of tearing out of its skin to emerge as a beautiful butterfly!
That’s how they learn to pick up after a failure. How to rise after a fall. Learn from the hurt and pick up the pieces of life. Your role as a parent is not to ensure the absence of pain……but to teach them to SMILE,COPE AND LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES, DESPITE the Pain!
Before returning home my grandma would serve my favourite chicken curry prepared in thick coconut gravy with the livestock she had bred in the house. One day I glanced at the presence of a small boy in front of grandma, wearing torn trousers. My grandma handed to him one of the rooster from the coo. He took the struggling cock behind the house. Out of curiosity, I followed him. For me the sight was a cause of concern, he killed the cock. The poor one was stooping its head downwards while the body was still shivering. Observing my gloomy face, grandma said ‘then how would we prepare chicken curry’? But that day, the breath taking smell of the curry did not tempt me. Not a bit. I refused to eat it. I did.
Thereupon whenever I saw the boy, I attempted to ignore him. Though when he saw me, his face was brimming with a captivating smile. It was like someone attached that smile on his face. I could not help myself noticing it. I detected the colour and shape of his tooth. It was black and cracked and I was curious about it. My grandma cleared my doubt, ‘Nesamani might not be cleaning his teeth,‘ she added, ‘if you were not following dental hygiene, at night the Tooth Fairy would sleep with you and eat the dirt in your mouth that she is fond of.’ Listeningto her words I was petrified. I promised myself, ‘I will clean my teeth regularly.’
One day Nesamani approached me and hesitantly said “Akka(sister) would you come with me I would show you something very special”. Out of curiosity, I agreed to go with him. He took me to the nearby woods. The grass was lush and green. On the way a couple of leeches fastened to the flesh of my bare legs. I became afraid and soon he scratched the little creature and threw it away, but blood began oozing out from my leg. He consoled me that to be bled by leeches was a remedy for various ailments. The skin became sore and itchy, he squeezed some leaves and poured the juice into my leg. I found the boy was a treasure house of knowledge that I was unaware about. Wielding the catapult he shot a number of wild fruits which excited and made me delighted. I forgot the tingle in my legs.
He climbed over a tree like a monkey and called out to me. “Akka, would you come near? As I looked at him, he said, ‘Open your mouth and then look above”. I did as instructed without hesitation. To my amazement I tasted the sweetness of honey in my mouth. When my mouth was full, I downed it.
I saw a big honeycomb in the tree. He squeezed more and more honey into my mouth. Soon the disturbed bees began to chase and stung Nesamani. He climbed down and held my hands and we ran like a cheetah. I fell and injured my leg. The angry bees didnot spare me as well. The pain made me cry louder. I ran and ran, flushed and breathless. And finally landed into the open hands of my grandpa. She heard my wailed and, she was in search of me already. Hearing my screams even the magpies, bulbuls and other birds resting on the trees were spooked and they flew away. With cries of alarm. The whole incident made my grandma grumble, “Wretch, loafer, evil one, how he hurt my girl!”.
Grandpa rubbed medicine to the stung marks. I felt sorry for the boy who was hurt more and grandpa consoled me, he said, “these things were a part of their daily life. The injuries would be healed by applying the extract of medicinal plants grown in the hills, which was not at all a cause of concern. Usually, the honey should be collected during twilight. That stretch of while the bees were away for training their young ones. And before taking the honey they usually smoked the hive to ward off the bees.” Grandpa explained to me in detail. He also spoke to me in length about how to collect honey from a honeycomb. After hearing all of it, a cold chill passed over my body. Nesamani, he ignored all the safety features.
After a couple of days, camouflaging himself behind the tree, inching closer, carrying a bundle of sticks in hand which he had collected for the kitchen fire, he approched me. Nesamani was nervous about the fact that he should not be seen by my grandparents. His presence in the flawless shape made me content. I considered him to be my true friend and enquired about his whereabouts. I understood that they were residing in the “Alai” ( a den inside the rock) up in the hills. They are good at hunting. Grandma told me that they tracked rats and ate the burned meats. But I didn’t believe it. Not a bit. But then my new friend concurred with that mastery. He adored eating rat and the underground roots of wild plants as well. The very thought of eating rats made me feel like vomiting.
Everything about and around Nesamani emerged uncanny to me. He used to flutter around like a butterfly in the hills which were wrapped in mist even at noon. Simply, wandering around and doing humble jobs to contain hunger. Within that primitive level of life, he was enjoying true pleasure in the lap of mother nature, a representative of the life of tribes in that era of which people like me were unaware.
Far far away from pretty wholesome decades, I still heard the melody of bulbul, the attentive trees in the hills with their leaves folded and listening in. Nesamani would be smiling and strolling through the woods showing the half-broken damaged tooth with the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.
Spirituality. Every individual has a degree of spirituality within self. It encompasses everything that stirs up and give an expression to your spirit or your inner force. Your spirituality is self personified in every facet of your life. Be it in private or public spheres. It is simply a component of who you are, and as such, it is woven into and exhibited through all that you think, feel, and do.
People have different interpretations of what it means to be spiritual. However, it does involve a belief in a higher force or something larger than ourselves. As well as a relentless pursuit of deeper meaning. Take into consideration the possibility that some individuals make it a habit to visit a sacred site on a frequent basis. Others might choose to get together for hikes in the great outdoors or even to take part in community service projects as a way to draw tremendous motivation from either the natural world or other people.
Discerning our authentic selves is made possible and encouraged by spirituality. We do believe that perception is a potential that arises from the sense organs located throughout our bodies. Still, once we have spiritual awareness, we can tell the difference between our own thoughts and those that come from the spirit.
When we get in touch with our inner selves, we are able to view life from an entirely new angle. Consider the activities that bring out our sense of vitality. Spirituality is a vital component of what it is to be a human being. In addition to helping your mental health, spiritual wellness is easy to achieve and can also help your physical health.
Signs of Spirituality
There isn’t just one way to practice spirituality or one set of beliefs that defines it. There are many different paths one might take to have a spiritual experience and reap the rewards of such an encounter. This may involve a person’s faith in a higher power or their participation in a particular religious ritual for certain individuals.
For some people, it may mean having an awareness of a link to a higher state, while for others, it may involve having an awareness of interconnectedness with the rest of humanity and nature.
The spiritual realm can be experienced and expressed differently by different people. Some people may look for spiritual experiences in every facet of their lives, while others may be more prone to having these sentiments in particular circumstances or in particular locations. Some people may seek spiritual experiences in every element of their lives. For instance, while some people are more prone to having spiritual experiences in places of worship such as churches or other religious institutions, other people may be more likely to have these sentiments when they are out in nature enjoying its beauty.
Difference Between Spirituality and Faith
Spirituality is knowing that our lives have greater significance than the mundanity of everyday existence. It is a journey of healing and letting go of our ego in order to experience a positive state. In people’s minds, spirituality, in their minds, is synonymous with research for meaning, for purpose, and direction in life.
Faith, on the other hand, may be a defined value system which can include who and why, teachings, theology, and beliefs. For some, faith instills hope for the long term and helps you overcome fear of the known and unknown. Faith is mostly misunderstood, misused, and abused. Terrible atrocities are committed in the name of faith—religious terrorism, persecution of minority groups, marginalization of women, and the list is long.
Importance and Impact of Spirituality
Identifies the Meaning of One's Existence
It sheds light on the true meaning of life for the individual concerned. Spiritual practice can answer questions about where a person fits in the universe, like why he or she was born. This not only enables one to forgive the suffering but also to accept life in its current state.
Fosters a climate of calm and harmony
People are more likely to live in harmony and peace when they practice spirituality. It lessens the likelihood of violent acts, aggressive behaviour, and power conflicts, promotes acceptance and forgiveness, and so makes it easier for people to coexist peacefully, and it also helps alleviate poverty and clean up corrupt institutions in a society.
Social organization
Spirituality not only provides mental peace but also promotes consistency in the family and in the business. This makes spirituality an important factor in the efficient organization of society. In addition to this, it contributes to the maturation of patient and tolerant attitudes.
Increases feelings of love and affection
It helps motivate a person to demonstrate love and care for everyone around him, including the environment, and it also encourages him to be more compassionate. You will therefore find that a spiritually enlightened individual has a softer impact on the natural world. He expresses his love and affection for everyone.
Increases welfare and growth
People who have a strong spiritual practice have a greater likelihood of succeeding in whatever endeavours they undertake. Because a spiritual person works with the intention of improving the lives of others through their labor, they bring a higher standard of ethics and quality to their employment. Even successful people like Swami Vivekananda, Steve Jobs, George Carver, and a great many more credited their achievements to living a spiritual life.
Nature supremacy
It enables a man to exert dominion over the natural world. The fact that we are able to tame nature seems almost impossible to believe. Even with the science and technology that we possess, we are unable to accomplish it. There have been many people who have attained spiritual enlightenment who have done miracles that tend to keep nature under their control. It's possible that you've heard someone talk about the power of belief and how it can move mountains. This conviction strengthens as a result of a spiritual existence.
Increases physical and mental wellbeing
Spirituality instructs when to eat, how to eat, and maintains positive thoughts, all of which contribute to improved health. Take care to avoid becoming dirty. Even in the face of physical illness, mental fortitude aids in the healing process. It wades off fear and helps keep the mind composed as pleasant thoughts roll in. This reduces feelings of despair and assists in the body's overall recovery process.
Clear thinking sans fear
It eliminates the dread of death as well as other types of insecurity. It also helps people break ties with the problems of this world and life in general.
The importance of spiritual understanding is beyond words. In fact, it is the advent of any state that is beyond normal and metaphysical. It is to be balanced by a substantial amount of self-discipline, rational enquiry and practical guidance. Spirituality allows a person to try to do what he thinks is true at that moment with no obligation. Spiritual science is universal with a transparent path and goal.
Real faith is an entry to spiritual science. It provides a coherent and well-structured belief system that is built on a solid moral and ethical foundation, which is necessary for the pursuit of transcendental knowledge. It prescribes practices that have stood the test of time and proven themselves effective.
Many have this syndrome of responding to others and the bonus is they make you look like a fool as well. If answering wasn’t enough, they will go one step ahead and give a wrong explanation. I found an amusing term on the worldwide web – “Correctile Dysfunction” or “mansplaining” or “womansplaining”. According to the dictionary, it means: “The explanation of something by a man, typically to a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising. It is vis a vis too applicable to women as well.” Correctile Dysfunction is gender neutral.
A female mate once narrated an incident that happened in her office during a group discussion on a specific computer program. The team consisting of seven was discussing it. My friend decided to raise a point and talk about a bug in the program. The moment she began to raise her point, a male team member cut her off and started explaining the same topic but had a different definition. To add insult to injury, he added that “this is what she wanted to convey”. At first, she was confused, it did not even register to her what just occurred. Then her jaw dropped and she was in shock. After the first few minutes of the blur, she acknowledged she just got “Mansplained”.
Have you ever come across such “mansplainers”? I am sure you definitely would have come across one in your life. In Hindi, there is a popular phrase for this – it is referred to as a “keeda” or a bug that a person has in-built in them, to explain on another person’s behalf without consent. The intention is mostly to snub the other person with half-baked knowledge.
Correctile Dysfunction: When did it all begin?
As intrigued as I was with this term, I decided to trace its journey. Let me take you through the fascinating timeline of events leading to the birth of this word.
2006
The term was first coined in 2006. At that point, it “described the act of instantly jumping on the keyboard to point out another person’s spelling error”.
2011
It was used for students who submitted assignments extremely close to the deadline without checking them for errors.
2012
It was used to explain misunderstandings created by auto-correct.
2017
The term got a new meaning altogether when a female artist took to Twitter to rechristen mansplaining. She felt the term must be gender neutral – applicable to both genders since even women have been observed doing the same.
How do we deal with the Explainers?
Here are some tips to deal with Mansplainers
Dodge
Just like in a sport, you have players who come and slug you or push you around. We have mansplainers in the real world. In a sport, you deal with them by dodging their moves. So, you can simply say “I have got this. Can we go to the next?” or “I appreciate your knowledge but I am afraid you are barking up the wrong tree.”
Quick Banter
Spot repartees and humour function great in a workplace or a social setting with mansplainers. If someone is insisting, that they know better than you, cut them short with “Aha, I can see how much you love swimming in deep waters.” Or “Oh wow! I am sure birds would love listening to your deep insights”.
Reroute
There is another amazing way of dealing with these “smart alecs”. You can reroute the conversation to another person in the same group. Preferably from the same gender or pick a silent partner in the group and ask him/her a question on the same topic. Start by saying, 'that's a great take on that issue. Ms X or Mr Y, what's your outlook on it? Probably also could say, “Umm, it was great listening to your suggestions. Why don’t we hear from rest of the group as well. What do Ms Z has to say?”
Raise your volume
Raise your tone intentionally and say “I want to add something too”. Sometimes to prevent yourself from getting heckled, you need to verbalize louder. Remember, 'I am speaking. Mr Vice President. I am speaking,' as Mike Pence cut Kamala Harris during a debate. Sometimes we got to tone up and make sure our voice is heard.
Stand up for yourself
This is so necessary. Establish boundaries with colleagues, friends, acquaintances, and everyone around. I am not done yet. This is my time and, I will speak.Take charge of your life.
An ordinary and common error that everyone makes is to maintain silence when one gets “mowed” by people with Correctile Dysfunction. It is important to raise your voice at the right time. Use every tool you have in hand, to deal with these tyrants. It is a subtle form of pushing you off the stage or hogging your limelight. The common traits of such “Mansplainers” is to constantly snub people, show off their skills and knowledge on a subject and finally, try to become a “mouthpiece” for people regardless of whether their opinions are sought or not. Truly a dysfunction or error, they behave as “Mr. Know-it-all (s)” or “Ms. Know-it-all(s)”.
The moment you spot one, if you cannot scoot off from the situation, speak up for yourself and continue to make your point heard. You could also confront them and question them. They don’t like to be contested. Call them out in the open and they will be the first ones to retreat. As said, those engaging in mansplaining without realizing will need a wake-up call. Oftentimes many of these folks don’t realize they are disrespecting others by doing so.
Many of us think it is not good to engage with those with Correctile Dysfunction, but don’t you think “errors” are meant to be corrected? Lets Un-Mansplain!! On this note, I leave you with this quotation I read.
“A man recently mansplained to me, how he was not mansplaining to me while continuing to mansplain to me about mansplaining, and for that, I’m out sharks”.
A long-lasting personal connection is build on emotional intelligence. Being different does not automatically imply being worse. Emotionally intelligent people in a relationship push each other to change in order to reignite their desire for each other and move their relationship forward. Blame has destroyed many relationships, and guilt has prevented millions from experiencing true intimacy. High-EQ or (Emotional Quotient) partners will be aware of and sensitive to each others emotional needs and move forward in their relationship. To know more let’s explore a little.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
The ability to recognize and label your emotions and the power to know how to control and direct how you react to them, are all components of emotional intelligence. It is all about making it easier to understand the sentiments of other people.
There are some people who are not mindful of the emotions that they are encountering. They report feeling blank, numb, or “fine,” but they are at a loss for more specific vocabulary or labels to describe and make sense of their feelings and emotions. Emotional Quotient (EQ) involves being able to name diverse emotions and having the emotional vocabulary to do so.
Emotional intelligence includes both the ability to use one’s feelings effectively in everyday life and the ability to do so in a good way. When you effectively use your emotions, you might, for example, transform your anger into passion, your anxiety into preparation, or your sadness into reflection. It’s about being able to recognize and accept your emotions without letting them consume you or make you feel powerless. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to harness one’s feelings to improve one’s problem-solving abilities, as opposed to letting one’s feelings cloud one’s judgment or get in the way of one’s thinking. Individuals who are intelligent intellectually are not mutually exclusive from those who are emotionally intelligent. They combine the careful thought of their rational mind with the insight of their emotions to come to conclusions that aren’t just based on their feelings or their logic alone.
How Relationships Get Affected by Emotional Quotient ?
Emotional intelligence is the key to maintaining close personal relationships over time, in large part because it heightens our sensitivity to the shifts, both big and tiny, that are continuously taking place in both ourselves and in the people around us. You’ll have the sensitivity that every one of us is always looking for in a significant other if you work on developing your emotional intelligence. Thanks to your increased active awareness and empathic ability, you’ll be able to intuitively pick up on the small changes in the way your relationship works that indicate you need to do something.
Because of empathy, our intrinsic capacity to share emotional experiences, we have the potential to achieve the type of love that we all fantasise about having: profound intimacy, mutual compassion, genuine devotion, and heartfelt caring. This is all possible because of empathy. But in order to reach the pinnacle of romance, we need all of the skills that come with having a high EQ. This means having a strong emotional awareness so that we don’t mistake feelings of infatuation or lust for love that lasts, being willing to feel feelings that could hurt a relationship if they aren’t dealt with, and being aware of what is and isn’t working in our relationships so that we can change what isn’t working.
Establishing Romantic Connections that are Emotionally Intelligent
We don't have to pick the wrong partners, experience numerous failed marriages, or allow our long-term relationships to lose their spark. We don't have to let competing needs and desires stand in the way of a partner who genuinely cares for one another. We don't have to accept dullness or conflict in our romantic relationships.
We have the capacity to experience the type of love we all aspire to: one marked by intense intimacy, reciprocal compassion, and genuine, heartfelt care, just by virtue of our intrinsic capacity for empathy. But in order to reach those relational objectives, we need all of the EQ-boosting abilities:
1. To avoid conflating desire or infatuation with true love, one must be emotionally aware.
2. Acceptance of feelings that, if allowed to develop, could ruin a relationship.
3. Attentive active awareness to inform us of what is and isn't working.
Fortunately, you can start dating before your EQ reaches its pinnacle. In fact, falling in love often serves as a catalyst for heart education. They learn that two high EQ's add up to a romance that never stops growing, never loses its thrill, and always strengthens them both, individually as well as collectively.
Strive for improvement in your connection
When you overcome your fear of change, you realize different isn't always worse. Change usually improves things. As organisms, relationships must change. Un-nurtured relationships will slide into change you don't want. Change gives you bravery and optimism. Does your partner want something new? Need to revaluate? External influences requiring role changes? You still happy? Without EQ, such questions are too scary to tackle, so many lovers disregard change signs until it's too late.
Consider the difficulties you face as opportunities rather than obstacles
Your courage and optimism help you see dilemmas as possibilities. What's your creative limit? When you don't blame each other for your feelings, you're not controlled by unpleasant emotional memories and don't repeat prior mistakes. High EQ frees you from ruts and resignation so you can solve problems creatively. You might see differences and unavoidable crises as invitations to find each other and grow individually and collectively.
Respect all the feelings you have for each other
We may not always like what we learn about our loved ones, but we must respect their emotions. Love doesn't imply never being angry, disappointed, hurt, or jealous. Important is that you feel your emotions, not how you act on them. Millions of partners have missed out on genuine connection due to shame. Both are unfelt anger, dread, and worry. If you've built EQ, you'll experience emotions and move on with life.
Keep the fun in your romantic relationship
To prevent intellectualising emotions, you need acceptance, and laughter helps. Lovers who can't joke at themselves aren't very accepting. They may not be able to accept its defects and stumbles as well as their own. They're less open to a relationship's positive surprises. Your strong EQ means you can improve your connection but won't be bound by perfectionism.
Why Emotional Maturity is Crucial in Relationships?
In most cases, being in a relationship will cause you to experience a diverse range of feelings and emotions, particularly those of the romantic type. When a spouse does or says something that is counter to what you think, you may have intense emotions that may manifest into a conflict, a lengthy conversation that is gratifying, or even both of these things. Let’s say both partners have reached a certain point in their emotional development. If this is the case, it could help make the relationship stronger and make it easier for people to talk to each other in a healthy way. Both of these things could help solve problems that may arise.
If one partner is more emotionally developed than the other, it may be easier for the pair to find a middle ground during times of contention or disagreement. In order to respect the other person’s ideas and feelings as well as their point of view, both participants in the relationship need to accept responsibility for themselves and the activities they take part in. People who are emotionally mature are also more likely to be able to regulate their impulses and emotions, which allows them to avoid allowing a conflict to spiral out of control. In this way, emotional maturity can be like the glue that holds two people together to make a strong and healthy relationship.
When you’re in a committed partnership, one of the most thoughtful things you can do for your spouse or partner is to accept responsibility for your own life and the choices you make. When both parties in a relationship take responsibility for themselves and work together to take responsibility for their relationship, they are better able to respect and understand one another and give each other mutual respect. The two people in the relationship could grow up together and build a life that meets both of their individual needs and their needs as partners.
Art of How To 