Negative Messaging

You want to be successful. Close your eyes and envision your dream life! Now ask yourself, can you make it come true? You already know what it is going to take to achieve your goals; the only thing you now need is to cultivate the ability to take consistent action.

You must have noticed that, in your head, you are continually talking to yourself. There is a lot of power in positive thinking, but equally powerful is the vice-like grip of negative messaging that you may be giving yourself.

Every personality is a manifestation of nature, nurture and experiences. Your natural instincts are often overshadowed by negative messaging that is set-off by this conditioning, as also by the fear of non-conformance. Over a period of time, you get accustomed to inaction.
Here’s a short story

“Eight monkeys are put in a cage. In the middle of the room is a stool, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Outside the cage, an observer has a hose filled with ice water. 

Within a few minutes, one monkey climbs on the stool to get the bananas. This effort is rewarded immediately with an ice cold shower for all of the monkeys. 

Several minutes later, another monkey tries, with the same result. 

Each time a monkey tries to climb the stool all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the stool, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.

The monkeys quickly learn the relationship between 'get on the stool' and 'an ice cold shower', and choose a way to protect themselves.

One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the stool, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the stool. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the stool. A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the stool, but all the other monkeys beat him up. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.

One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the cage. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the stool. All of them will beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.”

This is how negative messaging breeds inaction.

Avoid negative messaging. You can change your negative self-talk simply by being conscious of it. Whenever you notice a negative message, consciously change it for a positive message. Your strengths are your assets, appreciate them and use them. Work towards overcoming your weaknesses; get help if needed. Learn to separate real threats from perceived threats. Move on!

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Painless Execution

A shortage of sodium thiopental, a fast-acting barbiturate and general anesthetic used in lethal injections of death-row convicts, has delayed several executions throughout the U.S. and reignited a long-standing debate over the combination of chemicals used to carry out capital punishment. Most recently, Arizona inmate Jeffrey Landrigan was executed Tuesday night only after a delay caused by a legal battle over the source and quality of the sodium thiopental used as part of the lethal injection.

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com, October 27, 2010

The lethal injection is a  three-drug cocktail consisting of barbituric, paralytic and toxic agents.  Sodium Thiopental is used to induce unconsciousness, purportedly to spare the prisoner pain and suffering from the other two drugs. Pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) is administered second. Pavulon causes paralysis in less than a minute, including the paralysis of respiritory (breathing) muscles. The third drug administered is potassium chloride, which stops the heart, causing cardiac arrest. Beginning at the injection site, potassium chloride can be excruciatingly painful.

The debate is, is  Capital Punishment by lethal injection really quick and painless? If the dose of the short-acting thiopental has diminished by the time potassium chloride is administered, the prisoner will be subjected to unbearable pain, but unable to express it due to being paralyzed by the Pavulon. So far, the FDA has avoided any ruling on the cocktail's efficacy in delivering a merciful death.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

What 'Success' Means To Me

On a number of occasions, I am asked what I belive has led to my success. Frankly, I think I still have a long way to go. Yet, I would like to pen down some introspective thoughts.
 

Emotional fulfilment and self actualisation have been the twin goals I have strived for. Now,these don’t just chance ones way; one must passionately, actively solicit them. My radar is actively tuned to any signals that show I am straying away from my goals.

I belive that creativity is the epicentre of growth. I like to interact with creative people and foster creation, and that is probably what keeps me excited about what I do.

The environment around oneself changes very fast… technology, trends, expectations etc. I believe that I must stay abreast or I will lag behind. I belive that one must take responsibility for ones growth; one can never stop learning, and if one is not up-to date, one will miss the bus. Hence, I try to create a learning environment around me.

I believe that every problem has a solution; it’s only a matter of time when you find it, if only you keep trying.

To certain extent, I know my strengths; and I know my weaknesses better. I rely on people who complement me and I like to work with people I can respect and trust. I and believe in building pillars of strength around me, hence, I am willing to go the extra mile for them.

I am an eternal optimist, nothing can be that bad simply if you are alive.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Success Is Relative

Your dreams define your perspective of success. A dream streamlined by realistic parameters and shaped by your value system becomes an achievable goal. And goals can be as diverse as material success, career growth, relationships, pursuing a cherished interest or vocation, peaceful existence, gaining knowledge, etc.

So, first you need a goal, and then a way of measuring your progress towards that goal. And then some personal yardstick of which measurement would count as success and which would count as failure.

My personal notion is that, whatever the vocation or calling, a successful person is one who lights up people’s eyes and brings a smile on their faces when he walks into a room, regardless of their backgrounds, status or relationship with him. And this must be so at workplace, home and every other walk of life.

You cannot light up people’s eyes if you are not traversing your own journey of life in the most meaningful and fulfilling manner that you can.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

'Chak De' Hockey!

Hockey players, who added a new feather to India's crown by winning the Asian Champions Trophy in China, refused to accept the "too little" prize money - Rs 25,000. During their felicitation in Delhi, the players refused the prize money offered by Hockey India claiming that the incentive is "too little to fetch even a decent playing kit". The players led by Captain Rajpal Singh turned down the prize money which created a new controversy in the country.

Source: news.oneindia.in, Setember 14, 2010

The year was 2007. Cheerleaders danced to the beats of a Bollywood song as India was about to script a nail-biting finish against Pakistan in the cricket T20 World Cup final. With tricolor flags in hand, almost every Indian spectator was gripped with the spirit of patriotism. And all this while, little did cricket fans realize that intensity was coming from the song ‘Chak De India’, filmed on Hockey, a sport very different in its administration, handling and following.

Hockey is the national sport of India. It is a sport that made the nation proud, having the most successful hockey team in Olympic history with 8 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. It is also a sport that went on to witness one of its most unfortunate days when India failed to make the cut at the 2008 Olympics for the first time in 80 years. It is a sport that shook the collective conscience of an entire country as one controversy after another surrounded its administrators. And it is also a sport whose achievers are today languishing in poverty.

There are many reasons for the failure of Indian Hockey on International stage for the past few years. There are few sponsors who want to invest in hockey. Sub-standard facilities for the players, bad conditions of fields, and poor infra-structure are other features. Will this sport be reduced to just a forgotten game?

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!

Have you ever thought of why you dream of something? It is most probably because at some point of time you actually thought you could do it.

What do you call a dog with no legs? Doesn’t matter what you call him, he is not going to come. Similarly, dreams without action will never actualise.

Here’s my two cents. It is your life, take stock. Visualise your dream, and put it down as a realistic goal in black and white. Put down also what it takes to reach there. I mean, in terms of resources, talent, time and effort. Now, take a stock of your personal inventory. Note the gap between what you need and what you’ve got. Put down how you can bridge that gap. Lastly, make a road-map, and act on it.

Sure, there will be roadblocks in the path to success. But the dauntless find alternate routes!

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Octopaul As Pet?

When Netherlands and Spain were getting ready for the finals, the entire world was anxiously waiting for the final word from Paul the Octopus. After making accurate predictions during the FIFA World Cup, the eight-legged wonder has outlived the euphoria and continues to capture everybody’s imagination. No wonder, pet shops too are flooded with queries about octopus as a pet. This is the World Cup fever. "We are struggling to figure out where we can source octopuses from," said Shekhar Hake, who runs Pet Paradise in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. "They are very difficult to get. We have contacted exotic fish suppliers and breeders and are asking whoever we can." Ram Sarup, owner of Live Pets World in Connaught Place, has received over 10 phone calls in two days enquiring about octopuses. 

Source: Times of India, July 17, 2010

Look at where have we finally reached in 21^st century. We address an Octopus as an oracle and then few days down the line it becomes a fetish to own one, to be even slightly associated with what had once become an icon.

Keeping an exotic animal is illegal if the species is not Indian. In such a case, it would be covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) or the import laws. If the animal is an Indian species, it would be covered by the Wildlife Protection Act. Many exotic animals have very distinct needs that can only be provided by their natural environment. The appropriate habitat, food, and social stimulus needed are not fully understood by humans. Hence, human contact and captivity can be hazardous to such animals.  

The octopus inhabits many diverse regions of the ocean, including coral reefs, pelagic waters, and the ocean floor. It is an extremely intelligent and sensitive creature. A minor change in the nitrate content of aquarium water would be enough to kill it. Keeping an octopus as pets is not a good idea as it grows out of size very fast and can also be dangerous.

The ethical issues of keeping an exotic pet are vast. We have to ask ourselves whether it is morally right to deprive the the octopus or, for that matter, other exotic creatures of their natural abode and ecosystem, just to serve a fleeting human fancy.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Footprints On The Sands Of Time

What is the meaning of life? An intriguing question!

One perceives life through ones beliefs and ideals. You have to find the meaning of life for yourself; no other person can do it for you. But if you do find your answer, life becomes more purposeful.

I believe that life is a gift of consciousness. It must be experienced with full intensity, with all your senses wide open, with your antennae tuned. Live your dreams, and live them with passion. You can be satisfied and fulfilled only if you are able to put the whole of yourself into your feelings, your beliefs and your vocation. This consciousness is given to you once and must be made to count, to make a difference that you lived at all!

Sharing a thought that I came across somewhere, and which made an impression:

 “You can’t leave footprints in the sands of time if you’re sitting on your butt – and who wants to leave butt prints in the sands of time?”

Get clarity about who you are, what you want and where you’re heading. Catch your thoughts. Find your deepest feelings, desires and dreams. Take the first step towards making that footprint.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Another Model Kills Herself

Bollywood actress and Indian model Viveka Babajee, 37, was found dead today. She allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan in her suburban Mumbai apartment. According to The Calcutta Telegraph,  the former Miss Mauritius title holder and one-time face of Coca-Cola and Kama Sutra ads in India, suffered from severe depression. 

Source:zeenews.india.com, June 26, 2010

A 30-year-old former model on Sunday allegedly committed suicide at her residence in suburban Versova, police said. Natasha Padbidri, who did a few modelling assignments some years ago, hanged herself by dupatta in the bedroomof her flat in Petricorn building this afternoon.

Source: times of India.com, July 11, 2010

Indeed, in the past two years, a hauntingly high number of models have taken their own lives. It'simportant to recognize the "extremely high-pressure environment" that models exist in. In a looks-obsessed industry, when you’re successful, you’re surroundedby people who have a financial interest in your career. Agents may not necessarily look very kindly on the notion of taking time off, even to deal with an obvious mental health problem.

Viveka and Natasha are just two names in an ever-growing list of recent model suicides, loaning credence to what Jezebel contributor and ex-model JennaSauers posited: “Suicidal models are fashion’s worst trend.”

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.