5 Uncomfortable Topics To Be Avoided At Family Gatherings
A stable secure upbringing can enhance emotional development as well as build a reserve for active coping. In other words, it leads to the development of our personality, identity and sense of self. On the other hand, fragmented formative years can make us fragile and isolative. When relationship difficulties seem irremediable, seek professional help without delay. Getting an independent, objective and unbiased input from an expert can mean timely advice and support at any age. UR current state of unknown unhappiness may have strong roots in the past.
Stay away from unnecessary topics that can have a deep impact on loved ones. Keep gathering light and jovial. If you have a pressing concern, address it one on one in private at a scheduled time of convenience for both.
01
Politics
In a world of information overload, bias and inclinations to political views are invariable. With social media being the most significant source of misinformation and fakery, it is all too common to see hatred and arguments at family gatherings & what's app groups. There will always be that one annoying aunt, uncle or cousin who will disagree and end up wanting to fight or argue. Spare yourself the grief and do not wander into the treacherous arena of politics amongst UR relatives. Respect people’s views and lend them a hearing ear if you have to. It’s best not to indulge or express UR opinion on this topic.
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02
Parenting Techniques
Everyone is entitled to their own parenting techniques. It depends on various factors including geographic and socio-cultural context. There are no 'one size fits all' parenting strategy. It's not UR business to provide unsolicited advice (especially relatives) on ways to parent, even if you disapprove of how they run things. Do not indulge in idle gossip on parenting skills. Only if asked, answer in private. This is not the time to show off UR badges, the repercussions can sometimes lead to hiding UR face as well.
03
Finances
This one is a strict NO, especially if you've several different relatives that in Business or especially the family business. The irony of this is that you may end up getting expert advice from even those relative who has mismanaged funds! It gets absolutely annoying when comparisons are made on investments and savings! Try not to indulge in overdressing or pomp and show at family gatherings. Let UR hospitality and personality speak volumes rather than wealth and belongings.
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04
Religious Ideologies
In an ideal society, there is no better way to showcase UR faith and religious beliefs than in intellectual conversations. The possibility of putting forth the idea of exploring another faith that you didn't grow up flowing is enough to make people insecure and threatened. This, in turn, makes you vulnerable. Keep Ur beliefs to yourself and practice what you would like to preach. Forcing people to follow UR ideologies can become overwhelming. Share personal experiences but don’t become a gyaan guru.
05
Relationship Status
Some things are personal and best discussed discretely rather than in a living room of gathered relatives. UR extended family doesn't need to know anything about UR dating life until you're committed, engaged, planning to get married. Gone are the days of the nosy relatives prying into UR personal life. Digging up scoop works both ways, make a wise choice before you comment on any personal relationship status.
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The Virus Can Give Your Life More Meaning
Originally published in The San Francisco Gate One way to respond in a crisis is to reduce its threat. The other way is to add to the threat. The coronavirus COVID-19 might be the first collective crisis that many people have faced, and it poses an uncertain future in every country that confronts it. But this doesn’t change the two choices just mentioned. Know that your individual actions will have an impact on countless other people. No matter how the COVID-19 pandemic resolves itself—something no one can predict—you can personally choose right now to reduce its threat. If you consciously make that choice, three positive things will happen. You will feel more in control; you will be on the side of healing, and you will add to the meaning of your life. How to be more in control This begins by acting responsibly, following what the experts in disease control advise. By now everyone is aware of the need to stay at home, self-quarantine if you show any symptoms, keep 6 to 10 ft. away from other people in public, don’t take long plane flights, and wash your hands frequently (the medical school routine for scrubbing up applies here: Wash your hands vigorously while singing “Happy birthday to you” twice—and don’t forget your thumbs and between your fingers). The active ingredient in effective hand sanitizers is isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which you can also use by itself in at least a 60% solution with water. This is all useful advice, but it doesn’t address where being in control comes from, which is mental. Positive thinking isn’t enough. Feeling safe and secure is a state of awareness. It exists in us when we reach deeper than the everyday self. The everyday self cannot feel permanently safe. Outside forces loom too large and threatening. This is the time to take up meditation or return to it if you have lapsed. Your goal is to connect with your deeper awareness, the place where self-control and security comes from. The superficial part of everyone gets involved in a crisis by staying glued to the news, attaching itself to worst case scenarios, and dwelling on the terrible things other people are going through. None of this behavior puts you in control. It does just the opposite by fueling fear, uncertainty, and insecurity. Looking at updates once a day is more than enough. The rest of the time, remain centered in yourself and keep doing the sensible thing. How to be on the side of healing Bad things happen to everyone. It is how you react that determines whether you come out healed or wounded. In all of us, the healing response is natural, innate, and powerful. More than the immune system is involved. Healing is a mind-body process. If you are sad, stressed, depressed, anxious, helpless, hopeless, panicky, or feel out of control, every cell in your body gets that message. Therefore, do everything you can to send the opposite message. We’ve already mentioned meditation, which has a strong effect in restoring mind-body balance. But you also need to be vigilant on two other fronts: sleep and stress. Good, sound sleep maintains homeostasis and prevents a cascade of imbalances that can occur in hormones, for example. Stress is a powerful trigger for hormone imbalance, among other things. It has been linked to chronic inflammation, for example, which seems to be present in acute and chronic disease. Besides doing all you can to sleep well and reduce immediate stresses, there is vagal breathing, which has become widely publicized in recent years. Centered on stimulating the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to heart, lungs, intestinal tract, and elsewhere. By breathing in to a count of four, holding your breath for a short pause, and breathing out to a count of four, you tell the vagus nerve that you are in a calm, balanced state. In response, it helps maintain mind-body balance. You can do more to be on the side of healing by following the positive lifestyle choices you already know are good for you in terms of a healthy diet and avoiding or greatly minimizing alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. The good things you are doing contribute to boosting your immune response, or at the very least doing your best to keep it from being compromised. So far as anyone knows, the victims of COVID-19 are most likely to be immune-compromised. If you aren’t, your risks seem to be drastically lowered. How to give your life more meaning This is the most positive thing you can get out of the COVID-19 crisis and yet the least discussed. Life becomes more meaningful when you feel you have purpose, when you give of yourself in service, when you find resources of strength and resilience inside yourself, and when you discover who you really are. No virus can deprive your life of meaning unless you allow it to. Conversely, a virus won’t add to the meaning of your life. Viruses have no motive except self-preservation and replication. All of us have the same instincts; they are built into our evolutionary past. But where human evolution excels is at the level of consciousness that goes beyond instinct, into the realms of empathy and self-awareness. The expert medical advice that now surrounds us should be heeded, of course, but it falls short when it comes to meaningful change. Will you come out of this crisis feeling stronger, more resilient, and with more purpose? We’re not talking about putting yourself more at risk of getting sick, which is foolhardy. Instead, you can be strong for others. You can be the source of nurturing and optimism when others feel afraid and insecure. You can empathize with how someone else feels and lend your support. Where there are personal barriers of class, age, race, and income, you can be the one who lowers the barrier to reach out. Yet ultimately the greatest meaning will not arrive until the world feels safer. Then the temptation will be to go back to the status quo, to return to normal by putting COVID-19 out of our minds. That would be a tragic loss of opportunity. During times of crisis, we naturally take time to appreciate what we have and place a greater priority on what is most important to us. The question is how to carry this on after the crisis of COVID-19 passes. The global mind must solve many problems, from climate change to over-population, refugees, and hostile nationalism. How the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic offers a clue to how every other problem will be confronted. Your life will be more meaningful if you contribute to meaningful solutions that reach far, far beyond the rampage of this virus. Everything, including being in control and being a healer, is wrapped up in that. DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.” Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi is the Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the McCance Center for Brain Health at MGH. Dr. Tanzi has discovered numerous Alzheimer’s disease genes, including the first one, and is developing new Alzheimer’s therapies using human mini-brains pioneered in his laboratory. Dr. Tanzi has published 600 research papers, received numerous awards and was on the 2015 TIME100 Most Influential People in the World list. He has also co-authored several books, including “Decoding Darkness” and three bestsellers with Deepak Chopra: “Super Brain”, “Super Genes”, and “The Healing Self”. In his spare time, he plays keyboards with guitarist, Joe Perry of Aerosmith and other musicians.
The Fundamentals Of Good Health
There are three fundamentals you need to take care of to create health for yourself - food, activity and rest. 1. Eating Right One of the most critical aspects you must be conscious of is how quickly a specific type of food digests and becomes a part of yourself. If you eat something and it doesn't digest within three hours, it means you have eaten food that should either be avoided or reduced in quantity. If the food moves out of your stomach within three hours, it means that even if it is not the best food, it is still something your system is able to handle. If you maintain a clear gap of five to six hours between one meal and the next, without having anything in between, cleansing will take place at the cellular level. This cleansing at the cellular level is essential for a healthy life. If you are over 30 years of age, two tasty meals a day will suffice one in the morning and one in the evening. There must be a gap of three hours before you go to bed after your evening meal. If this includes at least 20 to 30 minutes of light physical activity such as simple walking your system will be healthy. If you go to bed with food still inside your stomach, a certain level of inertia in the system will be generated. Physiologically, this inertia is like acceleration towards death and death is the ultimate inertia. Another dimension is that if you go to bed with a full stomach, it puts pressure on other organs in the abdomen. This will also lead to various kinds of health issues. For this reason, too it is crucial that before you go to bed the food eaten should move out of the stomach as you sleep in different postures so you should ensure that your stomach doesn’t put pressure on your other organs at any point. 2. Use Your Body When it comes to activity, a straightforward thing you need to consider is that your body is capable of bending forward, bending backwards and twisting towards both sides. So this activity must happen in some form or the other. Classical hatha yoga is the best way to do it. Moreover, it is scientific. So if traditional hatha yoga is not yet part of your life, you must somehow make sure that every day you bend forward, backward, twist to both sides and squat so that your spinal column is stretched. This is a must on a daily basis, if you want to keep your entire system healthy particularly your neurological system, or else it will be an issue as you age. 3. Get Enough Rest But Not Too Much! Various factors determine the amount of rest a person needs. One crucial factor is the type and amount of food you consume. Experiment with different kinds of foods and check which foods make you feel heavy and which ones leave you light and agile. If you make sure that at least 40 per cent of your diet consists of fresh vegetables and fruits, there will be lightness in your body. Also what the body needs is restfulness and not necessarily sleep. Therefore it is a misunderstanding to think that sleep is the only way to rest. Even as you sit or stand you can either be in a state of restfulness, in a state of agitation, or in a state of inertia. But if you are in a lively state of restfulness every moment of your life, the volume of sleep you require will decrease. How To Live A Healthy Life The Five Sheaths Of The Body 1. In yoga, the human system is looked upon as five sheaths or layers. Every aspect of the human system including the mind, is seen as a body and yoga is a technology to transform it. These five layers of the body are called Annamaya Kosha, Manomaya Kosha, Pranamaya Kosha, Vignanamaya Kosha and Anandamaya Kosha. 2. Anna means food. And your physical body or Annamaya Kosha is the food that you have eaten small or big is your choice, but it is food, nonetheless. So as there is a physical body that you have gathered from outside, there is also a mental body. This spiritual body is known as Manomaya Kosha. If you bring the physical body, the mental body and the energy body into proper alignment and balance, you will not have any physical or psychological ailments. 3. The third layer of the body is called Pranamaya Kosha or energy body. The physical body, mental body, and energy body are all in the realm of physicality, but on different levels of subtlety. 4. The next layer of the body is a transitory body that is known as Vignanamaya Kosha. It facilitates the transition from the physical to the non-physical. It does not ascribe to any of the physical qualities, but at the same time it is not yet wholly non-physical either. 5. This layer is called Anandamaya Kosha which in English translates as ‘bliss body’. This does not mean there is a bubble of bliss in you. It is called bliss body because in our experience, whenever it is touched, we become blissful. Bliss is not its nature; bliss is what it causes.
Is Ur Mom Secure?
It's the day after Mother's Day, has life gone back to normal? Mom not being respected and given the importance she deserves? I certainly hope that's not the case. The love hangover needs to last a bit. Even wondered about UR mom's security. By security, we mean, does she feel safe and well taken care of. We all do love our mothers, but sometimes we need to show it practically as well. The love, attention, care and discipline that mother's invest in taking care of the family reflects in her health and in the health of the family. Majority of women find it challenging to follow a wellbeing routine without proper motivation. Little things like not having a restful night's sleep, overworking to exhaustion, trying to balance family and professional life etc. take a toll on her health. When tell-tale signs of a disease or an infection start showing up, most mothers turn to home remedies. The waiting period makes the illness even trickier to treat. When the woman of the family falls sick, there is chaos. A mother plays a crucial role in taking care of the family's needs, and her requirements take a backseat. She waits to reach out to a doctor only after the pain becomes unbearable. The family members feel guilty, as they feel they ignored her symptoms. Only then does the rest of the family pitch in or hire help to keep up her daily routine. The mental and emotional wellbeing of the family is dependent on the severity of the woman's illness. It's proven that the family is much more peaceful and successful when the women of the house are healthy and happy. Basic Questions? Does she have direct access to UR family doctor? When was the last time she did a complete health check? Where and how are her previous records and reports stored? Is she on regular medication? Is she taking her medicines on time? Does she have enough finances or insurance to take care of her medical needs? Have You checked UR Mom's Reports? Cholesterol & Blood Pressure screening: If her test results are normal, the test can be repeated after a year. If significant lifestyle changes occur and the results aren't good or borderline, it's advised to screen more frequently. If UR mom has an existing condition like diabetes, heart disease, kidney issues or other medical conditions, she needs to be monitored more closely. Stress has a huge correlation to elevated BP or cholesterol. Stress may be ignored by a lot of moms, but it's something that needs to be addressed. Stress is an underlying cause for most lifestyle diseases. A good way to relieve stress is to stay active and meditate. 10k steps a day and 15 min of any kind of meditation should do the job. Please do not confuse prayer/ chanting for meditation, they are two separate activities with different healing powers. Diabetes & Obesity screening: If UR mom's BP is higher than 140/80 mm Hg or your family history suggests diabetes, you should definitely get her tested. An easy test to see if UR mom is in good shape is to give her a tight hug. If UR hands don't go around her waist comfortably, you know she needs to lose weight. Removing processed and polished foods like white rice, maida, sugar, canned juices etc. can be the first step. Get UR mom to meet a nutritionist and set a healthy menu for the whole family. This one-off exercise will change UR healthcare spend as well as manage UR monthly grocery expenses. There are abundant success stories of how people have controlled/ reversed diabetes by transforming their kitchens and fridges. It takes a bit of effort, every self-respecting successful adult is doing it. Keep track of Mom's BMI and weight, it can be nagging but will pay off big time in future, i.e. if she listens. If Mom is over 20Kg above her ideal weight, there are loads of medical options available for her to get back in shape. Consult with a good gastroenterologist or obesity specialist. A Smile Screening: UR mom's smile brings u a lot of happiness, but did you know when she last enhanced her smile? Visiting UR dentist twice a year is a must for oral hygiene. Tooth issues can be very painful if ignored. For all those who just love their mom's smile a bit too much, suggest a bit of filler/botox to boost her mood and make her feel forever young. ENT & Chest exam: If Mom is dealing with diabetes or any vision issues, get an eye examination every year. Make sure she invests in a good pair of sunglasses that have UV protection and cover a large part of the face. Keeping a few pairs of reading glasses handy would make life easier for her. Sinus and snoring can be small issues that can lead to nagging headaches and loss of quality sleep. Get it checked and nip the problem in the bud. As women age, their voice also starts to change. Some women lose their voices, or it becomes more hoarse. Regular chanting and yoga can help keep their voice intact. If Mom has asthma, make sure she has a backup of inhalers at home. Sticking a glow in the dark sticker on it makes it easier to find at night. Encourage mom to stay hydrated and consume warm water with cinnamon regularly. Vaccination: Get mom a flu shot every year. A tetanus-diphtheria booster once every 10 years is beneficial. Two doses of varicella vaccine is a must if she has never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine. With the COVID-19 pandemic shocking us, it's better to keep mom at home if she's over 60. Get the right protocols implemented and keep masks and sanitizer handy at home. Try to maintain a very hygienic environment at home. Woman Screening: Mammogram: If UR family medical history suggests breast cancer, consider yearly mammograms over the age of 35. For mom's under 35, do regular self-breast examinations or opt for a breast ultrasound. Keep a check on mom's skin for abnormal signs. Pelvic exam and Pap smear: These are must for mom every 3 years to check for cervical cancer. If mom's Pap smear and HPV test are normal, she needs to repeat the test only every 5 years. Colorectal Cancer Screening: If mom is above 50, get a faecal occult blood test every year. For every 5yrs, get a Flexible sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy every 10 years. Osteoporosis screening: If mom has a fractured bone post the age of 50, make sure to get a bone density test. Gynaecologist Women find it invasive to meet a gynaecologist. With age encourage UR gynec to become UR mom's best friend. Help mom to choose a gynec she can confide in and trust. Few most common issues women deal with are menstrual abnormalities, menopause, pregnancy-related problems, ovary health, vaginal discharge, itchiness, bleeding and cancer. Consult a gynaecologist and follow up with the entire course of treatment. Don't feel shy. UR moms health is as stake. Addressing women's issues are no more a taboo, we're living in 2020. The most common health-related issues women face are due to an unhealthy lifestyle. PCOD, late childbearing, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis (presence of Endometrial Tissue - the lining of the uterus, outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity), adenomyosis, pelvic infections, breast and uterus cancer in younger patients, infertility, etc. could be avoided by making minor lifestyle changes gradually. U R in this together as a family. You can choose to bake her a cake full of sugar or teach her to start living healthy. The choice is URs. Make UR mother's day act meaningful or else don't do it at all. Insurance We all have got to pay the price of healthcare if we don't make adequate lifestyle choices early. It is best to understand the evolving world and get insurance to secure Mom's health and finances. UR employer or external agencies offer insurance packages based on age and risk. It never hurts to be careful and indulge in research. If you are not considering insurance, then saving money for a rainy day might come in handy during a medical emergency. How to make Mom secure about her health Apart from keeping up with her medical history, there are a few practical things you can set to help her. 1. Always choose to live in a locality with a nearby pharmacy and a multi-speciality hospital. Keep the numbers handy and registered on her mobile. 2. Teach parents about the technology of online consultations and emergency services. 3. Always make sure that their emergency contacts are on speed dial. 4. Know your neighbours as they can be life saviours. 5. Keeping a savings account only for a health emergency. 6. Do not miss an appointment or a screening test as prescribed. 7. If mom is bedridden, consider appointing a home care nurse with expertise. Taking precautions earlier helps you and UR mom feel more secure. This is a relationship that will either make you feel guilty or great UR Mom’s Wellbeing Checklist The time it takes: 30 min Satisfaction: Invaluable Basic knowledge of: 1. Name and Number of UR family doctor and her gynaecologist. 2. Date of the most recent complete health check. 3. Where and how are her previous records and reports stored? 4. Is there a list of regular medication entered on her phone calendar with timings? 5. The validity of Health Insurance. 6. Savings account details with a deposit saved for a medical emergency. 7. Are the Emergency contact detailed saved on her phone? Does she know the speed dial list? 8. Address of the nearest hospital, pharmacy & clinic. About Her Wellness Find answers to these questions 1. Is she active, ideally walking 10k steps a day? If not, encourage to achieve the 10k mark gradually by making daily progress. 2. Does she have any injury or pains? If yes, Have you put her in touch with a physiotherapist? If no consult a physiotherapist and get to know the actual issue. 3. Is UR mom feeling low and depressed? Does she have a mentor or trainer professional like a psychologist she can seek help from? She needs someone to express her feelings. 4. Is UR mom making the right food choices for home and her health? Get her in touch with a good nutritionist. A consultation should help her get a clearer picture. 5. Is UR mom staying hydrated? Water retention & bloating are huge problems for women. Her weight multiplied by .033 will give you the amount of water(in litres) she needs to drink every day. 6. When was the last time UR mom did something for herself? A massage etc. its time to set up relaxation time for UR mom. 7. Know where UR mom is buying supplies & produce for the house. You can recommend healthier produce vendors by doing a bit of research. Make sure it is suitable to UR budget. 8. Mom is not a glorified maid, punching bag or sole governor of the house. It has to be a collective effort. Give her the respect she deserves. 9. Height, Weight & BMR and the conditions that she might deal with, concerning age or genetics. Mandatory Medical Checkup 1. Blood Pressure – The normal range of BP should be more than 90/60 and less than 120/80. 2. Blood Sugar - There are two types to determine blood sugar levels. While fasting, the sugar levels should be between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL). After eating, the sugar levels can be up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 3. Cholesterol - The total cholesterol in the body should be less than 170mg/dL. In which the non-High-Density Lipoprotein should be less than 120mg/dL. Low-Density Lipoproteins should be less than 100mg/dL. High-Density Lipoprotein should be more than 45mg/dL. 4. Oxygen saturation – The oxygen saturation in the blood should always be between 95 - 100%. 5. Menopause 6. Pap smear 7. Mammogram 8. PCOD 9. Fibroids 10. Cysts - The normal size of a cyst is up to 3 cm (a little over an inch) 11. Endometriosis (presence of Endometrial Tissue – the lining of the uterus, outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity) and adenomyosis 12. Pelvic infections 13. Uterus cancer in young moms 14. Infertility 15. Osteoporosis screening 16. Colorectal Cancer Screening 17. Flu shot 18. Tetanus-diphtheria booster 19. Two doses of varicella vaccine 20. Vision 21. Sinus, breathing and lung function test 22. Sleep study 23. Dental appointment
Amazing Benefits Of Affirmative Havening
When we have issues or negative thoughts, they are dependent on landscapes and removing negative emotional parts of a traumatic event changes the landscape of the brain. This leaves a void, which is a good thing. We like to have voids so that we can fill them with positive thoughts and emotions. We can remove the negative and use the positives to fill the gap. It is with this thought that I am going to show you this therapy technique, called affirmational havening. It is a really wonderful and easy technique that works wonders on stress management. In this method, you can either go to an expert or can do it yourself. During this exercise, you need to think of a positive resource from the past instead of a traumatic event from the past. You can say “I’m confident.” “I’m happy” or I’m resilient” while doing it. What it does is, it takes those empty spaces in your brain and fills them up with positive things, and things that you may need in the future to get through with the difficulties in life. When you think of the past situations where you might have melted down, doing self-havening now, and saying the words that represent positivity, you will get stronger and more confident of achieving to get what you want in the future. I do this personally every day in the morning. It’s a great way to start your day. You can do this in the shower while bathing. Just say the words I’m and find a positive word. How to do self-havening It’s an extremely effective method to destress, where you have to touch yourself with both hands crossed on your shoulder and bring them from shoulders to the wrist and talk positive things to yourself. Just say “I chose to feel healthy” or “I chose to focus on something” as you do the moves. Do it 5 to 10 minutes in a day to see the benefits. Focusing on what you want and do this self-havening exercise. Benefits of havening Trauma Phobias Traumatic memories Bad experiences PTSD
Does Size Matter?
Weighty woes take up too much mind space. Understand the price of being obese on UR mental health. What did nature intend for man and woman to look like? Is it the well-structured but also well-endowed figures depicted in Greek and Roman art or the six-pack and size 0 that films, fashion and the rest of the world seem to be chasing? Does the beautiful body struggle impact your mental beauty in any way? Should the 20-year-old daughter and her 40 something mom look just as slim or will age naturally pile on loads of kilos? Let's address some of these thoughts, doubts and even myths. At puberty, most boys and girls are usually lean and thin. Even size 0 as understood earlier, more or less the same size of chest, waist and hips. As a child grows, the long thin trunk begins to broaden at the hips and shoulders, thereby showing a waistline. Since legs grow first, the waistline starts high. Later as the trunk lengthens, the waistline drops, giving the body its proper proportion. Boys, who mature early, usually have broader hips than boys who grow late. On the other hand, girls who mature late have slightly broader hips than early-maturing girls. By the age of 16-20, all boys and girls have achieved their natural well-proportioned body structure. If physical activity is sufficient, metabolism is high, and a lean, healthy well-endowed look can be achieved. Let's cut to the chase to modern India that paints a picture of a developing economy, fast pace urbanisation and growth. The rich are becoming more affluent, and a substantial middle class is moving fast on their heels. Is there a price that we pay for this social and financial upward mobility? Of course, we do! Feed the child everything that you couldn't get, assuage your lack of availability and guilt with food for the eye and not food for health. Think of a well-stocked fridge as a sign of success! Tempt the kids with a kitchen bursting with goodies! The result? The kids are as fat as their parents' wallets. With all this, there is a physical and mental health price to be paid. What these young adults see in the mirror is not so complimentary. It creates a feeling of being lesser than their more structured peers. After all, the body is like the formal sitting room of a house. It is your prettiest foot forward. Not measuring up leads to insecurity, low self- confidence, and struggling self-esteem. All of which could lead to social withdrawal. The good guys Unilever has removed all trans fats from their food products and has also reduced many kilos of butter, salt and sugar from their goods that are available worldwide. Size 12 jeans today were size 14, ten years ago! Disney is deepening the water for boat rides because the average size of an American is 20 per cent more than ten years ago. Airlines have made their seats wider. The feeling of being 'less than' percolates to other mental and social areas of development. The body is like the formal sitting room of a house. It is your prettiest foot forward. Not measuring up leads to insecurity, low self-confidence, and struggling self-esteem. When family and well-wishers advice weight loss, it is then met with defensiveness and denial. After all, this is a confirmation of what young adults already know but don't want to acknowledge. Defensiveness often results in rebellion, more eating equals more weight gain, and these mental health dysfunctions are only mild. Severe dysfunctions include uni-polar, sexual dysfunctions and eating disorders. These dysfunctions disproportionately affect women more than men. Matrimonial columns, for instance, reflect this, as they are more likely to read - wanted fair, tall, slim and well-educated girl. But a similar description for a groom doesn't seem to figure so strong. These are times of sexual objectification of the body. Housing a beautiful mind and a beautiful body are seen as a must. It is expected of men to have a fat wallet but a lean frame. It is equally expected of women to be intelligent and beautiful at the same time. Obese are considered to be funny people but U R in for a shocker as they are 25 per cent more likely to suffer from depression. So where is the room for humour? The brain is mostly made up of cholesterol, a fat. It feeds on sugars and essential fatty acids. But it doesn't need to be overfed. It thrives on omega-3 fatty acids which come from healthy food choices. What's suitable for the head is good for the heart, confirms a study presented at the American Psychosomatic Society. Take a good look at your mirror and listen to its diagnosis, pleasant or not. Work on your diet and exercise regime. A healthy diet balances the mind, while starvation only gives you mood swings. Vigorous exercise burns stress, and depressive emotions leave you mentally calm yet alert.
Know Your Limits: Wake Up To The Reality Of Drinking Sensibly!
We hate restrictions and regulations. Consequently, we are driven either consciously or unconsciously to override them. We like to lose control, but are inherently programmed to retain it! Alcohol is perceived as a substance that lets you be – something that gives you the deceptive confidence to shed your inhibitions and even bring out UR true self! You may have come across someone who drinks like a fish and is yet able to stand tall amongst the less tolerant intoxicated. Here is an alcoholic in the making. Excess intake of alcohol opens a Pandora’s Box of health and social problems. As said by Paracelsus, the father of Toxicology, ‘the dose makes the poison!’ Officially, Indians are amongst the world’s lowest consumers of alcohol, but we seem to have a way around it. How? Over half the drinkers fall in the hazardous drinking category! Further, about 15-20 per cent of this lot go on to become addicts or develop dependency syndrome. So whether you are a responsible social drinker or an addict, you definitely won’t get ‘high’ knowing that alcohol is one of the most toxic substances known to man! Unfortunately, it’s readily and legally available worldwide. As we are currently spoilt for choice, it becomes impossible to know how much is too much! This applies to everything we do, be it the food we eat, the money we seek, and importantly that drink we indulge in. Why We Need To Worry About Drinking Studies suggest that alcohol is connected to more than 60 types of diseases and injuries. For instance, alcohol is a risk factor for oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver, stroke, and psychiatric illnesses including suicide, motor vehicle accidents and homicide. There has been an upward surge in patterns and trends of alcohol use in India. People are now drinking at a younger age and in the past two decades; the average age of initiation of alcohol intake has fallen from 19 to 13! The signature pattern of alcohol consumption is frequent and heavy drinking, with more than 90 per cent of alcohol consumption being in the form of hard liquor or distilled spirits. Alarmingly, only 40 per cent of these are branded. The Blame Game! According to the government, powerful international and domestic alcohol lobbies are targeting our young. There are multinationals at work trying to harvest the potential in India’s vast unexploited market for investment in production and distribution of alcohol and alcoholic products. The film industry glorifies drinking: Good guys, drink and good times are associated with intoxication! Limiting individual alcohol intake and drinking sociably and sensibly is the first step towards responsible drinking. In recognition of the global health issues with alcoholism, the World Health Organization (WHO) kicked in 2012 by sounding out national governments on setting a global target for reducing per capita consumption of alcohol. But the move seems to have hit a roadblock for in April, the WHO dropped it, citing poor support from member states! But why wait until countries and states decide on strategies for reducing alcohol consumption? Limiting individual alcohol intake and drinking sociably and sensibly is the first step towards responsible drinking. For this, drinks need to be quantified, and the guidelines for alcohol intake need to be understood. Count Your Drinks The health authorities in the UK worked on guidelines for alcohol consumption far back in 1981. They very aptly titled it, ‘Drinking Sensibly’ which contained the detailed definition of alcohol misuse and the introduction to the concept of sensible drinking. Three years later, it was followed with guidelines on individual drinking. The latter too was aptly titled, ‘That’s the Limit!’ which outlined ‘safe limits’ for drinking. Their follow-up reports in 1995 formed the basis for quantifying alcohol volume in units and individual drinking guidelines (21 units a week for men and 14 for women). A couple of years later, these guidelines were changed from weekly limits to daily limits. Here are a few points from the new guidelines: Men: 3-4 units a day or less Women: 2-3 units a day or less After an episode of heavy drinking, refrain from drinking for 48 hours to allow the body tissues to recover Units are a fundamental concept used in guidelines on alcohol consumption. Approximately, one unit equals to a 25 ml measure of spirits like whisky, or half a pint of ordinary strength (4 per cent) beer, 100 ml of 10 per cent wine. Therefore, a ‘large’ peg of whisky has two units; a can of regular beer has about 1.5 units; and 175 ml glass of wine contains two units. Awareness about alcohol consumption and associated health hazards, as well as sensible drinking limits, may help to contain and reduce the intake. Also, what we urgently require is education and awareness programmes on the perils of alcoholism and hazardous drinking.
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Ways to consume knowledge post-college
Ways to consume knowledge post-college Learning doesn't have to stop after college. The urge to keep learning should last a lifetime. To adapt to changing times keeping yourself up to date is essential. Attend interactive workshops. Quirky workshops help you learn practically and logically and make learning more appealing. Make a list of things you didn’t have the opportunity to learn for whatsoever reason and find a way to start. Simple things like drawing, designing, swimming or even getting involved in communities can give you a sense of fulfilment. Try globetrotting. Post-COVID people are going to globe-trot more carefully. Make a bucket list of places where you want to go based on priority. Do research, study their culture & traditions, do extensive homework before you book UR tickets. This way you will know what’s in store for you. I love to be spontaneous but in a calculated manner. It’s not worth risking something precious for an adrenalin rush. Get the real tee via educational apps or online classes. I overheard a friend saying that he does one Master Class every week. I love apps that summarize books and have an audio read version. I prefer listening to Podcasts than songs when I commute to work, it gives me a different perspective on life. They are easy to access, pocket-friendly or sometimes free and provide you with the latest cutting - edge practices that also improve UR skill sets. Attend a human library event. Have you ever attended a human library? I haven’t, my team told me how cool they are, I looked it up and I’m all set to attend a session with an open mind. Apparently, these events are uber-cool and allow you to interact with intellects from diverse backgrounds. Attending one can also change UR perspective on the new ways of absorbing knowledge. Party or Network Sounds weird, but sometimes Parties can be educational too. Depending on the crowd you can plan conversation topics in advance. Trust me it’s a done thing. A lot of times I have heard that UR Network is UR Net worth, I believe this only cos of the knowledge you gain with people’s experience. Alternately keep in touch with UR old colleagues or college mates to see what’s happening in their industry. The more you seek the more you reap.
A Breath Of Relaxation With Guided Meditation
The human mind absorbs and stores both the good and bad energy of its surroundings. Therefore, considering all the stressors that exist within the environment we live in, it’s quite natural that our mind and body show signs of anxiety and stress. To cope with stress levels, every individual has his/her unique choice of intervention. However, among all of the stress-relieving activities, meditation has gained significant momentum in the past few decades. And one of the many types of meditation routines that can help alleviate stress, anxiety and improve focus is a guided meditation, which has gained a lot of attention and appreciation due to its efficiency and consistency. So let’s understand how we can integrate this type of meditation in our lifestyles. What Is Guided Meditation? Guided meditation is a form of meditation where participants meditate in response to the guidance and instructions provided by an expert, teacher or practitioner. The format of communication between the instructor and the student could be either in person or via music, video or written text. The instructive nature of this format of meditation makes it easier for the individual to be much more structured and ordered in their practice. Nowadays, there are many guided meditation videos available online, which can help you meditate with ease. How We Can Incorporate It In Our Lifestyle Meditation is an activity that can be performed anywhere and anytime without prior preparation. The only thing to keep in mind is to channel all your focus on the task of meditation. Guided meditation, as the name suggests, helps an individual meditate without the burden of thinking about how and what to do if he/she is unfamiliar with the task. Meditation could also mean that a person is sitting in silence and reflecting upon life. The trouble with such types of meditative practices is that there is no framework to it. On the contrary, guided meditative practices have a finite set of instructions, which makes the process easier. If you are looking for long-term benefits, meditative practices only during episodes of stress may not be quite as effective. Try to include 10-15 minutes of guided meditation routine either in the night or morning, depending on your schedule, every day, without fail to reap its full benefits. Once you are comfortable with 15-minute intervals, you can increase the duration and go up to one hour, if time permits. However, most individuals will be able to stay focused and relaxed up to 30 minutes, if practised daily. Benefits Of Guided Meditation • As opposed to other meditative practices, guided meditation saves you the trouble of planning the routine, as it is pre-recorded or designed. You can either drop by a class and follow the instructions or plug in your earphones and follow the guidelines. • It reduces stress hormones in the body and promotes a sense of well-being. • 15-30 minute episodes of meditation practised daily have shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension. • It leads to slower brain wave activities, which helps in reducing the stress all the while triggering human growth hormones (HGH). • It also helps in reducing inflammation by neutralising acidosis, thus minimising pain as well. With technology at our fingertips, meditation has become an easily accessible practice. Moreover, many apps are now available on your smartphone that can give you instructions about meditation and how to start meditating, if you are new to it. Give these meditative practices a try to live a stress-free life!
Top 5 Ways To Kick-Start UR Morning With Meditation
Meditation has been given several definitions over the years in philosophical, spiritual, religious and sometimes even in the most practical spheres, but the fact remains that it is one of the most underrated practices in modern age. While many dive deep into the art of meditation and the ways to do it, all that you need is to understand that meditation can be attributed to any activity done with focus and mindfulness to train attentiveness or awareness of your thoughts and emotions. Why You Should Meditate In The Morning? Empirical evidences over the years have suggested that mindful activities done first thing in the morning can have a positive impact throughout the day. As meditation prepares an individual towards having a focused and an alert mind, it has a positive effect on the upcoming activities carried out during the day. We cleanse our body in the morning to prepare it for the day so why not cleanse your mind with meditation? Meditation Techniques You Can Do In The Morning The concept of meditation has been interpreted in several different ways. Some unconventional interpretations of meditation include reading, writing, exercising and so on. Some people claim that cleaning can be meditative too. So look for activities in your life that demand your utmost focus and which are also enjoyable, as such activities become meditative. Thus you accomplish two goals. Engaging in a productive activity in the morning also sets your mind for the rest of the day. Beginning your day with such an objective brings about a holistic sense of well-being. So try meditating in the morning and see the difference! Benefits Of Meditating In The Morning Focus and attentiveness: You can begin your day with utmost focus and attentiveness. This focus and attentiveness that is the ultimate aim of meditation has a positive carryover to other activities lined up during the day. Mind conditioning: Each day begins with positive reinforcement in the means of mindful conditioning. You can get one of your most productive activities done first thing in the morning by also adding a meditative element to it. Mental preparedness: You can counteract expected stressors in your day, by mentally preparing your mind for the same. Better sleep-wake cycle: Early morning meditation can boost your overall well being as it also sets a certain sleep-wake cycle in your body when you condition yourself to get up early to focus and gain attentiveness. Better eating pattern: People have claimed to have had a better eating pattern throughout the day when they are in control of their thoughts and emotions. Thus, meditation discourages emotional eating. Most importantly, remember that meditation is a practice, not a destination. Meditation is not measured by failure or success so if you have trouble settling and focussing some days, be kind to yourself and do not put pressure on yourself to “get it right”; know that you have benefited by just taking the time to stop and breathe.
The Virus Can Give Your Life More Meaning
Originally published in The San Francisco Gate One way to respond in a crisis is to reduce its threat. The other way is to add to the threat. The coronavirus COVID-19 might be the first collective crisis that many people have faced, and it poses an uncertain future in every country that confronts it. But this doesn’t change the two choices just mentioned. Know that your individual actions will have an impact on countless other people. No matter how the COVID-19 pandemic resolves itself—something no one can predict—you can personally choose right now to reduce its threat. If you consciously make that choice, three positive things will happen. You will feel more in control; you will be on the side of healing, and you will add to the meaning of your life. How to be more in control This begins by acting responsibly, following what the experts in disease control advise. By now everyone is aware of the need to stay at home, self-quarantine if you show any symptoms, keep 6 to 10 ft. away from other people in public, don’t take long plane flights, and wash your hands frequently (the medical school routine for scrubbing up applies here: Wash your hands vigorously while singing “Happy birthday to you” twice—and don’t forget your thumbs and between your fingers). The active ingredient in effective hand sanitizers is isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which you can also use by itself in at least a 60% solution with water. This is all useful advice, but it doesn’t address where being in control comes from, which is mental. Positive thinking isn’t enough. Feeling safe and secure is a state of awareness. It exists in us when we reach deeper than the everyday self. The everyday self cannot feel permanently safe. Outside forces loom too large and threatening. This is the time to take up meditation or return to it if you have lapsed. Your goal is to connect with your deeper awareness, the place where self-control and security comes from. The superficial part of everyone gets involved in a crisis by staying glued to the news, attaching itself to worst case scenarios, and dwelling on the terrible things other people are going through. None of this behavior puts you in control. It does just the opposite by fueling fear, uncertainty, and insecurity. Looking at updates once a day is more than enough. The rest of the time, remain centered in yourself and keep doing the sensible thing. How to be on the side of healing Bad things happen to everyone. It is how you react that determines whether you come out healed or wounded. In all of us, the healing response is natural, innate, and powerful. More than the immune system is involved. Healing is a mind-body process. If you are sad, stressed, depressed, anxious, helpless, hopeless, panicky, or feel out of control, every cell in your body gets that message. Therefore, do everything you can to send the opposite message. We’ve already mentioned meditation, which has a strong effect in restoring mind-body balance. But you also need to be vigilant on two other fronts: sleep and stress. Good, sound sleep maintains homeostasis and prevents a cascade of imbalances that can occur in hormones, for example. Stress is a powerful trigger for hormone imbalance, among other things. It has been linked to chronic inflammation, for example, which seems to be present in acute and chronic disease. Besides doing all you can to sleep well and reduce immediate stresses, there is vagal breathing, which has become widely publicized in recent years. Centered on stimulating the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to heart, lungs, intestinal tract, and elsewhere. By breathing in to a count of four, holding your breath for a short pause, and breathing out to a count of four, you tell the vagus nerve that you are in a calm, balanced state. In response, it helps maintain mind-body balance. You can do more to be on the side of healing by following the positive lifestyle choices you already know are good for you in terms of a healthy diet and avoiding or greatly minimizing alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. The good things you are doing contribute to boosting your immune response, or at the very least doing your best to keep it from being compromised. So far as anyone knows, the victims of COVID-19 are most likely to be immune-compromised. If you aren’t, your risks seem to be drastically lowered. How to give your life more meaning This is the most positive thing you can get out of the COVID-19 crisis and yet the least discussed. Life becomes more meaningful when you feel you have purpose, when you give of yourself in service, when you find resources of strength and resilience inside yourself, and when you discover who you really are. No virus can deprive your life of meaning unless you allow it to. Conversely, a virus won’t add to the meaning of your life. Viruses have no motive except self-preservation and replication. All of us have the same instincts; they are built into our evolutionary past. But where human evolution excels is at the level of consciousness that goes beyond instinct, into the realms of empathy and self-awareness. The expert medical advice that now surrounds us should be heeded, of course, but it falls short when it comes to meaningful change. Will you come out of this crisis feeling stronger, more resilient, and with more purpose? We’re not talking about putting yourself more at risk of getting sick, which is foolhardy. Instead, you can be strong for others. You can be the source of nurturing and optimism when others feel afraid and insecure. You can empathize with how someone else feels and lend your support. Where there are personal barriers of class, age, race, and income, you can be the one who lowers the barrier to reach out. Yet ultimately the greatest meaning will not arrive until the world feels safer. Then the temptation will be to go back to the status quo, to return to normal by putting COVID-19 out of our minds. That would be a tragic loss of opportunity. During times of crisis, we naturally take time to appreciate what we have and place a greater priority on what is most important to us. The question is how to carry this on after the crisis of COVID-19 passes. The global mind must solve many problems, from climate change to over-population, refugees, and hostile nationalism. How the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic offers a clue to how every other problem will be confronted. Your life will be more meaningful if you contribute to meaningful solutions that reach far, far beyond the rampage of this virus. Everything, including being in control and being a healer, is wrapped up in that. DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.” Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi is the Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the McCance Center for Brain Health at MGH. Dr. Tanzi has discovered numerous Alzheimer’s disease genes, including the first one, and is developing new Alzheimer’s therapies using human mini-brains pioneered in his laboratory. Dr. Tanzi has published 600 research papers, received numerous awards and was on the 2015 TIME100 Most Influential People in the World list. He has also co-authored several books, including “Decoding Darkness” and three bestsellers with Deepak Chopra: “Super Brain”, “Super Genes”, and “The Healing Self”. In his spare time, he plays keyboards with guitarist, Joe Perry of Aerosmith and other musicians.
Know Your Limits: Wake Up To The Reality Of Drinking Sensibly!
We hate restrictions and regulations. Consequently, we are driven either consciously or unconsciously to override them. We like to lose control, but are inherently programmed to retain it! Alcohol is perceived as a substance that lets you be – something that gives you the deceptive confidence to shed your inhibitions and even bring out UR true self! You may have come across someone who drinks like a fish and is yet able to stand tall amongst the less tolerant intoxicated. Here is an alcoholic in the making. Excess intake of alcohol opens a Pandora’s Box of health and social problems. As said by Paracelsus, the father of Toxicology, ‘the dose makes the poison!’ Officially, Indians are amongst the world’s lowest consumers of alcohol, but we seem to have a way around it. How? Over half the drinkers fall in the hazardous drinking category! Further, about 15-20 per cent of this lot go on to become addicts or develop dependency syndrome. So whether you are a responsible social drinker or an addict, you definitely won’t get ‘high’ knowing that alcohol is one of the most toxic substances known to man! Unfortunately, it’s readily and legally available worldwide. As we are currently spoilt for choice, it becomes impossible to know how much is too much! This applies to everything we do, be it the food we eat, the money we seek, and importantly that drink we indulge in. Why We Need To Worry About Drinking Studies suggest that alcohol is connected to more than 60 types of diseases and injuries. For instance, alcohol is a risk factor for oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver, stroke, and psychiatric illnesses including suicide, motor vehicle accidents and homicide. There has been an upward surge in patterns and trends of alcohol use in India. People are now drinking at a younger age and in the past two decades; the average age of initiation of alcohol intake has fallen from 19 to 13! The signature pattern of alcohol consumption is frequent and heavy drinking, with more than 90 per cent of alcohol consumption being in the form of hard liquor or distilled spirits. Alarmingly, only 40 per cent of these are branded. The Blame Game! According to the government, powerful international and domestic alcohol lobbies are targeting our young. There are multinationals at work trying to harvest the potential in India’s vast unexploited market for investment in production and distribution of alcohol and alcoholic products. The film industry glorifies drinking: Good guys, drink and good times are associated with intoxication! Limiting individual alcohol intake and drinking sociably and sensibly is the first step towards responsible drinking. In recognition of the global health issues with alcoholism, the World Health Organization (WHO) kicked in 2012 by sounding out national governments on setting a global target for reducing per capita consumption of alcohol. But the move seems to have hit a roadblock for in April, the WHO dropped it, citing poor support from member states! But why wait until countries and states decide on strategies for reducing alcohol consumption? Limiting individual alcohol intake and drinking sociably and sensibly is the first step towards responsible drinking. For this, drinks need to be quantified, and the guidelines for alcohol intake need to be understood. Count Your Drinks The health authorities in the UK worked on guidelines for alcohol consumption far back in 1981. They very aptly titled it, ‘Drinking Sensibly’ which contained the detailed definition of alcohol misuse and the introduction to the concept of sensible drinking. Three years later, it was followed with guidelines on individual drinking. The latter too was aptly titled, ‘That’s the Limit!’ which outlined ‘safe limits’ for drinking. Their follow-up reports in 1995 formed the basis for quantifying alcohol volume in units and individual drinking guidelines (21 units a week for men and 14 for women). A couple of years later, these guidelines were changed from weekly limits to daily limits. Here are a few points from the new guidelines: Men: 3-4 units a day or less Women: 2-3 units a day or less After an episode of heavy drinking, refrain from drinking for 48 hours to allow the body tissues to recover Units are a fundamental concept used in guidelines on alcohol consumption. Approximately, one unit equals to a 25 ml measure of spirits like whisky, or half a pint of ordinary strength (4 per cent) beer, 100 ml of 10 per cent wine. Therefore, a ‘large’ peg of whisky has two units; a can of regular beer has about 1.5 units; and 175 ml glass of wine contains two units. Awareness about alcohol consumption and associated health hazards, as well as sensible drinking limits, may help to contain and reduce the intake. Also, what we urgently require is education and awareness programmes on the perils of alcoholism and hazardous drinking.
Heal UR Life: Energy Cleansing For A Better Tomorrow
Heal UR Life: Energy Cleansing For A Better Tomorrow Heal UR Life is all about spreading positivity through various methods. Today, I would like to talk about energy cleansing. This is about all kinds of remedies like burning bay leaves or putting lavange in your diyas. They all work wonders and you can see a difference in the environment in your homes. Let me start by talking about one entity that has the power to cleanse us all – Sai Baba. It was in March 2020, during the lockdown, there were cases of COVID-19 all around India. And Maharashtra has been the worst affected state of India, but there is not a single case of coronavirus infection in Shirdi. It proves the dominant vibe of the place known for Sai Baba. It is a matter of faith, and if you go to him with dedication, it will never fail. The failure of COVID at Shirdi is a testimony for the world about the power of the place. Sai baba never asks for anything from his devotees, but only trust and devotion. We Indians believe in miracles, and I can tell you the recent event of corona-free Shirdi is a miracle in itself when the whole of Maharashtra is facing the heat of COVID-19. Since the lockdown has happened, we have all witnessed a lot of stress and anxiety. I would suggest you read the Sai Satcharitra or do a havan at home for mental peace. I will tell you about myself when I was recently doing the havan at my house, I could see the image of Sai Baba in the diya. If you read the book or do the havan, you will definitely see that your mind will be at peace. You will be more calming in nature. I know that youngsters do not believe in these things and want answers from science about everything. But if there is faith, then you don’t need science. And if you are looking for proof, then you never had any faith. However, I do have evidence about lighting a diya for peace. When we light a diya, it emits radiance, which changes the atmosphere around us for positivity. The magnetic waves that are emitted from the diya touch you, and stay with for hours. It clears the negativity around us. How to clear the aura around you You can just take a spoon of salt and mix it the water before taking a bath. You can also put the salt in water and immerse your feet in the bucket. Salt in the water kills the negative vibes in your body. Lighting a diya is another way to cleanse. Playing any kind of music that you like, which doesn’t have to be spiritual music, help in clearing the aura around you. Whenever you feel that you are uncomfortable at a place, or you do not like the atmosphere around you, you can do the things mentioned above. Some of the symptoms like sudden headache, sudden cramps are ways to show that there is negativity around you. Another easy way to cleanse the energy in the house is the burning of camphor. You can take 4-5 capsules of camphor, put them in ghee or oil and burn it. What you can do for personal cleansing is that you can rotate the burning camphor around you for the number of times the day you were born. If you were born on the 15, then do 15 rounds of it and likewise! Meditation also helps a lot in cleaning the aura around you. Wondering how to figure out the negativity in UR house? Well, just take a walk around, and if you feel any discomfort in certain parts, or if you have quarrel at a particular place in the house, then it is nothing but bad energy flowing around. I want to add that no matter what religion you follow, it is always about bad energy vs good energy. Have faith in whatever you do in life, and you will see everything falling into place for you! If you want to reach out to me, mail me at ranadheer.kumar@magicenergy.in
