April 2017 - SoulMom

Z – ‘Zen’ by Osho #AtoZChallenge

April 30, 2017 SoulMom Comments 8 comments

“Zen is another word for zest…living life passionately, making life a joy, a festival, a love, a laughter…for zip and zap and zing.” ~Osho

I like the word ‘Zen’. It has a distinct energy to it. I can imagine only flowing with this word. It exudes an upbeat feeling, something constantly on the move. So when I saw this book amongst Osho’s several other books at his Commune, I chose to make ‘Zen – living the fire of life’ my first Osho read.

As adolescents, maybe we grew up with a negative notion of sorts about Osho. Perhaps that prompted me more to explore his teachings at the Commune in Pune. And lead me to his fabulous variety of active meditations.

Energy. Movement. Dance.

This was in abundance in all his discourses as well as meditations. Moving with the constant flow of life and in full awareness of the present moment is broadly the essence of Osho’s teachings.

There are three L’s of my philosophy: life, love, laughter. Life is only a seed, love is a flower, laughter is a fragrance.

‘Zen’ encompasses his beliefs in a question and answer format with his disciples. The caption sums up the core of this book beautifully: Living the fire of life with zest, zip, zap and zing. Not the one to conform to any tradition, scriptures, religion or political grounds, his views are bold and revolutionary. With my own built up of courage over the years and experience with the unconventional, it is easier to make sense of Osho’s philosophy –now.

Key Highlights:

“Silence is not empty, it is very full. The moment you are absolutely attuned with nothingness, the whole descends in you, the beyond penetrates you.”

“Freedom is the ultimate desire of man. Man comes to flowering only in freedom. Meditation will bring freedom.”

“If God is the creator, then the only way to worship him is creativity.”

“When you are utterly empty, the whole of existence enters you.”

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

Y – Yogshakti and Shilpa #AtoZChallenge

April 29, 2017 SoulMom Comments 0 Comment

Some souls are God’s chosen ones to touch upon other lives in the most wonderful ways. Their life’s calling is to spread the light that enlightens their very being. The cosmos works itself in a way by beautifully connecting these souls to the ones that truly need them. I am blessed to know and have one such soul in my life –Shilpa, founding owner of Yogshakti and my spiritual mentor!

Yogshakti is an integrative yoga centre based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. What differentiates this centre from other yoga centres I have known is their holistic approach towards all facets of health and well-being. Their courses and workshops include various modalities of asanas, breathing, mindfulness, relaxation, diet, meditation and more. Yogshakti is driven by a passion to help students find their inherent power and unleash their full potential. The centre exudes a sense of personal warmth and calm amidst the beautiful environs.

Shilpa has been teaching yoga since 1993 locally and internationally. Over the last 26 years, she studied different styles of Yoga to include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Anusara, Yin and Scaraveli Inspired Yoga and delved deep into the practices of Meditation, Mindfulness, Pranayama, the Buteyko method, Yoga Nidra & Advaita Vedanta philosophy. She has studied directly with masters such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Swami Veda Bharati and Advaita sage Ramesh Balsekar.

Personally for me, Shilpa has been instrumental in my own journey of spiritual pursuits. Her wisdom and clarity of thought has had a strong influence on the way I have perceived and dealt with my innumerable challenges. It is not very often that you find someone who inspires and resonates with your core so powerfully. I am truly blessed to have Shilpa as my guiding spiritual force. I dedicate this blogpost to convey my gratitude to her and my best wishes to Yogshakti. Stay blessed!

Do visit their website to know more: http://yogshakti.com/

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

X- X (cross) roads of life #AtoZChallenge

April 28, 2017 SoulMom Comments 4 comments

Facing the crossroads of life ahead,
Not sure where to head…
So often I feel at loss…
Which bridges to burn and
Which ones to cross.

Mind wanders more there than here…
My inner voices I turn to hear
Some choices seem like regrets
To forgive or to forget?

Perhaps I’m looking for some sign
Or an intervention from the divine
Should I see how far I have come
Nah, its time I work for what’s yet to come.

For what lies behind is simply gone
And what eagerly awaits you at dawn
Is a new day…every day here on..
So just go tell life – bring it on!

~SoulMom (me)

How many times do we all reach the various crossroads in our life! The temptation of looking back and the fear of moving forward keep us stuck in many ways. It happens to me oh so often. Decision-making becomes tough. What do I do at such times? From all the positive influences in my life’s journey, I have learnt to make the following choices:

Become still
Listen to your inner guidance
Trust your intuition
Take one step at a time
Move forward in complete faith
Don’t ever look back

What choices do you make at the X-roads in your life?

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

Image courtesy: http://bit.ly/2porJwt

W- ‘What I know for sure’ by Oprah #AtoZChallenge

April 27, 2017 SoulMom Comments 8 comments

“The biggest thrill you can ever achieve is to live the life of your dreams.” ~Oprah Winfrey

If I was ever granted a wish to meet one person in this world, just anyone in my wish list, it would be the woman I admire from my very core: Oprah Winfrey. To me, she is an epitome of ‘woman of substance’. A legend in her own right and an inspiring public figure. ‘What I know for sure’ is a beautiful book with excerpts from her monthly column of the same name in her magazine –O, The Oprah magazine.

I was once afraid of people saying, ‘Who does she think she is?’ Now I have the courage to stand and say, ‘This is who I am’.

Oprah has shared her wise gems from life’s experiences and lessons that have been revised, updated and packed with her insights in this beautiful book. To read her book and thereby getting a peep into her world of thoughts was an absolute delight! There’s just so much to learn, absorb, ponder and admire in her words, it is difficult to extract the best to put it out here. Nevertheless, here goes a glimpse of this enlightening book:

Key takeaways for me:

“Look inward – loving begins with you.”

“Sometimes we get so focused on the difficulty of our climb that we lose sight of being grateful for simply having a mountain to climb.”

“Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.”

“Wealth is a tool that gives you choices – but it cant compensate for a life not fully lived and it certainly can’t create a sense of peace within you.”

“Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every pay check will be a bonus.”

“Evolving as a human being is a lifelong excavation process – digging deep to uncover your underlying issues.”

“Making a bold move is the only way to advance toward the grandest vision the universe has for you.”

“We are all the artists of our own lives – and that we can use as many colours and brushstrokes as we like.”

Go get Oprah’s keepsake book right here: http://amzn.to/2p65i0K

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

Images courtesy: http://bit.ly/2py99F6

V- Vishen Lakhiani’s Mindvalley #AtoZChallenge

April 26, 2017 SoulMom Comments 0 Comment

“Dream big and your problems become small.” ~Vishen Lakhiani

Some speakers leave an impact as soon as you hear them. The connection is instantaneous and one that leaves you curious and thirsty for more. That’s how I felt when I first saw and heard Vishen Lakhiani online.

An entrepreneur, author and speaker, Vishen Lakhiani is the CEO and Founder of Mindvalley – a leading edu-tech company that specializes in modern learning experiences and content. It publishes personal growth education by the best authors in areas such as wellbeing, mindfulness, relationships, fitness, entrepreneurship and more. With digital education platforms, content platforms, mobile apps and live events, Mindvalley has served more than three million students, subscribers and followers worldwide. I am lucky and proud to be one of them.

Epic things start with small humble steps. Pay respect to your beginnings. And if you’re just starting out, know that it’s okay to be sucky. To be small and chaotic. Just make sure to never ever stop dreaming. ~ Vishen Lakhiani

Through Mindvalley’s various courses of transformational knowldege, one can learn to truly live the life of their dreams. So powerfully compelling is their content that enables unleashing our deepest potential. Being a student of their online spiritual school ‘Soulvana’ has brought about a fabulous shift in my mindset. I also follow their meditation app ‘Omvana’.

Vishen’s courses include globally acclaimed speakers like Eckhart Tolle, Caroline Myss, Lisa Nichols, Anodea Judith, Debbie Ford, Robin Sharma and many more. There is a different kind of passion for learning induced by him. He is also the author of recently released book ‘The Code of the Extraordinary Mind’.

Mindvalley has a unique company culture that makes it one of the best places to work for today. With a tagline of ‘Be extraordinary’ and by constantly pushing us to lead happier and healthier lives, Mindvalley is truly an extraordinary force in my life.

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

Images courtesy: http://www.mindvalley.com/

U –Understanding Pranayam #AtoZChallenge

April 25, 2017 SoulMom Comments 7 comments

“The practice of ‘asanas’ and ‘pranayam’ wards off disease and helps to maintain alertness.” ~Swami Sivananda

‘Prana’ is a Sanskrit word for life force and ‘ayam’ is to draw out. ‘Pranayam’ means breath control. In the traditional teachings of yoga, our breath is said to carry our life force and is a vital link between our body and mind. Breathing correctly brings about a joyful and healthy existence. Learning the benefits of breathing right is an integral part of doing yoga.

To be honest, I do not enjoy breathing exercises as much as I enjoy performing the asanas in my yoga practice. However, I do recognize the tremendous difference Pranayam can make in our lives. It is only in doing it regularly that we see the impact it has on our body and mind.

“As a fire blazes brightly when the covering of ash over it is scattered by the wind, the divine fire within the body shines in all its majesty when the ashes of desire are scattered by the practice of pranayama.” ~B.K.S.Iyengar

Some of the popular types of Pranayam are Kapalabhati, Ujjayi, Nadi Sodhana, Shitali, Bhramari, Anuloma Viloma and Bhastrika.

Benefits of Pranayam:

Reduces symptoms of various diseases
Improves digestive capabilities
Enhances levels of energy in the body
Prevents degeneration of brain cells
Weight reduction
Reduces stress and anxiety
Improvement in mood
Reduces insomnia
Quietness in your mind and nerves
Connects you to your inner self
Improves self-awareness

Pranayam techniques are highly scientific in origin as it is a systematic process of inhaling and exhaling. It is said that when we own our breath, no one can steal our peace!

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

Image courtesy: http://bit.ly/2pcIrBb

T- Thich Nhat Hanh #AtoZChallenge

April 24, 2017 SoulMom Comments 0 Comment

“With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk fondly referred to as Thay, is a world-renowned Zen master, spiritual leader and author. I first heard of him when I received his book ‘Peace is every step’ as a gift from my then husband (life and it’s ironies). It was the first time I got introduced to the word ‘mindfulness’. Until then I knew of only the ‘mind’ being ‘full’ of noises.

Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know this is a wonderful moment!

Thay’s key teaching is to inculcate the practice of mindfulness through which we can learn to live in peace and happiness. We are so busy getting an education and a job and material possessions, that we forget living the present moment – the only moment there is for us to be alive. He highlights some of the ways we can learn to be mindful through conscious breathing, thinking less, meditating and nourishing our awareness of the moment.

There is nothing to chase after. We can go back to ourselves, enjoy our breathing, our smiling, ourselves and our beautiful environment.

His teachings are not just theoretical but they highlight the simple ways we can be mindful and aware in our daily activities – while walking, while eating, while driving or even while washing the dishes. We don’t have to be sitting only in a meditation hall to feel peace and happiness. It is available to us at every given moment.

Being passionate about calligraphy, I also enjoy his calligraphic works and how effortlessly they flow through his hands. It a mindful art of Nhat Hanh that captures and expresses his lifetime of meditative insights, peace and compassion.

Listening to his words of immense wisdom infused with a sense of calm and a bit of humour, has been extremely soothing to the chaotic mind. He is a spiritual leader I truly admire and follow.

Key Highlights:

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”

“Wearing a smile on your face is a sign that you are master of yourself.”

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

Look at some of his bestsellers here: http://amzn.to/2p7Xuda

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.
I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

Images courtesy: http://bit.ly/2pFwyEt; http://bit.ly/2oRTa1J

S- SKY by Santosh Joshi #AtoZChallenge

April 22, 2017 SoulMom Comments 6 comments

When the student is ready, the teacher appears. This I have experienced in some ways with things and people that have come into my life at just the right time. For instance, during the painful period of my separation, I was curious to learn more about the Law of Karma. Whether there really exists one and does it truly affect our relationships. That’s the time I did Past Life Regression (PLR) workshop with Mr. Santosh Joshi – a motivational speaker, author, SKY healer, PLR therapist and life coach. This workshop was enlightening for me in several ways. After a few months, he invited me to attend his SKY workshop.
SKY is a new-age healing technique devised by Santosh and is based on the premise that we have potent healing powers within us. It is a combination of stimulating energy medians in our body, the miraculous power of our breathing and creative visualisation. This 12-minute healing method aims to restore harmony of the body and mind at mental, emotional and physical levels. SKY is an effective self-help stress-buster in our busy lives.

Based on this practice, Santosh Joshi has recently launched his third book called ‘SKY is not the limit’. His previous books ‘Keys’ and ‘Many Lives One Soul’ have been bestsellers and having read them both, are on my recommendation list for personal growth. Eminent personalities such as Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Rahul Dravid, Mallika Sarabhai and even spiritual leaders such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Sister Shivani and Dada Vaswani have supported Santosh’s work. He also conducts customised workshops for corporates.

Santosh is a wonderful human being who is continuing to make a strong impact in the spiritual sphere.

Read more about him and his work: www.santoshjoshi.com

You can buy Santosh Joshi’s books here: http://www.amazon.in/dp/8193341546/

This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/.

I write about my spiritual and personal growth influences from A to Z.
My previous posts in chronology:

R- Rhonda Byrne ‘The Secret’ and ‘The Magic’ #AtoZChallenge

April 21, 2017 SoulMom Comments 2 comments

“There is a truth deep down inside of you that has been waiting for you to discover it and that truth is this: you deserve all good things life has to offer.” ~Rhonda Byrne

Rhonda Byrne’s ‘The Secret’ was one book I remember which had aroused lot of curiosity immediately after its launch. This self-help book is based on a universal Law of Attraction which is based on the premise that positive thinking can bring about life-changing results in all areas of our life like relationships, wealth, health, career, etc.

In her third book ‘The Magic’ Rhonda emphasises the power of gratitude in more detail. She takes the readers on a 28-day journey to apply this incredible knowledge in their daily lives in order to magically transform every aspect of their lives.

Rhonda’s books taught me two valuable practices which I have learnt to integrate in my life: the power of creative visualisation and the power of gratitude. Its amazing how when you are open to changing the frequency of your thoughts and beliefs, your perspective towards life is altered. The universe does start showing you what you wish to manifest. It was extremely enlightening to read the teachings from renowned people like Bob Procter, Lisa Nichols, Jack Canfield, Joe Vitale and many others.

When we want things in our life to change, we got to change our thoughts and habits!

Key Highlights:

“What you think about you bring about. Your whole life is a manifestation of the thoughts that go in your head.”

“Most of us have never allowed ourselves to want what we truly want, because we can’t see how it’s going to manifest.”

“You don’t need to know how it’s going to come about. The Universe will start to rearrange itself to make it happen for you.”

“Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life.”

“Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.”

“That’s the thing with magic. You’ve got to know it’s still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you.”

Q – Quotes, my favourite ones #AtoZChallenge

April 20, 2017 SoulMom Comments 6 comments

Words have a great impact on our self-esteem. Words can inspire, can encourage us and boost our self-confidence. Words have the ability to make a lasting impact on our thoughts and actions.

Through this post, I would like to share some of my favourite quotes from people who inspire me. Qoutes that are relevant in my life story, the ones that have created a ripple in my inner world. Here they come:

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao Tzu

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” ~Maya Angelou

“Our notions about happiness entrap us. We forget that they are just ideas. Our idea of happiness can prevent us from actually being happy. We fail to see the opportunity for joy that is right in front of us when we are caught in a belief that happiness should take a particular form.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh