Manifestation and chocolate might seem like two entirely unrelated concepts at first glance. However, it’s said that both have the power to influence our mood, bring joy, and enhance our overall well-being. For me, chocolate has been a lifeline—the thing I always turned to when I felt down or to reward myself after achieving something. Goes back to the time when my aunt used to come over with my favourite chocolate cake every summer holidays or when my mother used to give me a bar of Cadburys chocolate when I did well in school.

That was until I was diagnosed with diabetes. I had to take stock of my health, reduce my sugar intake, and that meant cutting out chocolate. In reality, chocolate was not truly helping me; it was just a temporary high. What if, instead of dealing with things at the outcome end, I figured out a way to motivate myself at the beginning?

Manifestation

Manifestation is the process of bringing something into reality through focused thought, intention, and belief. It’s about visualizing your goals and desires clearly, believing in their possibility, and taking actionable steps towards achieving them. But does it really work?

The scientific side of me knows for a fact that it’s utter nonsense, while the spiritual side of me has a strong sense that it works. Given how I have managed to achieve everything I’ve ever wanted in life, I’m inclined to believe there’s something to it. It’s been tough, with lots of challenges over many years, but somehow things have in the end worked out. To the point that when it does come true, I have so many options that I have to make a tough choice between them. It’s like I want biryani but don’t have any, so I start making something else. Then someone visits my home with biryani that very day, bringing so much that I have to share it with my neighbors because my family and I can’t consume it all.

Bridging the Gap Between Science and Spirituality

So, what do I do when I have two opposing parts of me constantly battling the explainable logic and the unexplainable truth? Well, there’s one thing common between Science and Spirituality—other than the fact that they both start with an “S.” They both strive to find an answer to my existence. One tries to answer all the questions, and the other seeks peace with the answers themselves.

Here I am, starting my manifestation journey. This time, I am consciously working towards documenting my manifestations, making notes, what works and what doesn’t. Maybe it will bridge the gap between Science and Spirituality for me, or at the very least, make me more self-aware of how I make things happen for myself. Is it just manifestation or something more? I am sure my future has a formula, waiting to be cracked.

Has manifestation worked for you? or do you like to just cosy up with a bar of chocolate and feel energised?

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3 Impactful Books? ….. Let’s see… I have shelves and shelves of books, all half-read. I find it very difficult to finish reading books and often take years to complete one. So, managing to finish a book in itself is an accomplishment that can change my life.

Pictorial Books:

If it’s a pictorial book or a comic book, I finish it very quickly. While growing up, Archie’s, Tinkle, Panchatantra, Walt Disney books, Readers Digest children’s collections, Noddy, Tintin, and Asterix were my favorite books among many such colorful collections. These books, with their vibrant illustrations and engaging stories, sparked my love for reading and storytelling.

Text based books:

The three text-based books that have significantly impacted my life are notable because I managed to finish them faster than usual, and they left a lasting impression on me. It’s a vastly varied list:

• Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling: The writing in this series is so engaging that it sparked off my imagination. Without pictures to guide me, I could vividly imagine magical worlds and the creatures that inhabited them. During my teens, these books helped me get through sleepless nights and tough times. The adventures of Harry, Hermione, and Ron transported me to a world where friendship and courage always triumphed over evil.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: This timeless classic has been the inspiration for countless love stories. The plot of boy meets girl, they don’t like each other, and then finally fall in love has been replayed in various forms many times. Elizabeth Bennet’s journey, despite being seen as different, kept my hope for finding true love one day while growing up.
• Bhagavad Gita: For me, this has been the most wisdom-filled book on how to live your life. Sometimes, things don’t make sense at first but start making sense later in life. The more my thoughts mature, the more I understand the depth of this book.
• An Important Yet Unread Book: There is one more important book that has changed my life….. It’s however one that I am yet to read….. The Constitution of India… the book that has ensured to uphold all the rights and freedom we have today in our vastly culturally diverse country.

Conclusion:

Books have the power to shape our thoughts, inspire us, and provide comfort during tough times. These books represent.. Wisdom, Justice, Love and Magic. Things I have always seeked out in life… . And while there are still many books left to read, I am grateful for the ones that have already enriched my journey. What books have had a profound impact on your life?

Talking of books, I just published my book recently. Please do check it out here!

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Finding happiness has been an elusive thing for me. The happiness of achieving success is fleeting, existing for only a few moments when you find your efforts starting to pay off. Once success becomes the new norm, I am often plagued with self-doubt, preparing myself for the next challenge in life. In the constant ups and downs of striving for success—whatever that may mean—we often overlook the small moments. When they say, “enjoy the journey and don’t focus on the destination,” this is what it really is about….. enjoying the small things in life.

Finding Happiness in a Smile!

One of the simplest yet most powerful thing to find happiness…. is a smile. Looking at yourself in the mirror and smiling first thing in the morning is very self-assuring. You are reassuring yourself by starting your day positively, preparing yourself to face any challenges the day might throw at you. That smile then becomes contagious, spreading positivity from you to the other people around you, thereby making us feel connected with others.

Natural Beauty

Watering my plants, tending to them, and watching birds flying in the sky helps me feel grounded and reminds me of the simple pleasures that surround us. I feel like I am part of this enormous world that somehow maintains a balance despite our best efforts to destabilize it. The sunlight hitting the leaves after heavy rains and creating beautiful patterns on the water droplets, the smell of soil permeating the air when it rains after a hot dry spell—all of these uplift my spirits. They make you feel thankful to God, Nature, or Science, whichever you seek guidance in, for the life you have and the small part you play in the enormity of the universe and beyond.

Simple Pleasures of Daily Chores

The aroma of freshly brewed filter coffee in the morning, the water trickling down my body while having a bath, seeing a clean room after cleaning the house, the comfort of a warm blanket on a cold night, or the taste of our favorite meal—everyday chores, if experienced fully, bring immense joy. Ticking things off my to-do list and seeing it all done at the end of the day brings about a sense of achievement, like having won an award!

Cherished Memories

Today’s photo apps often remind us of what we did last year or throw up some random memory that makes us stop scrolling through apps on our phone and cherish that moment. Whether these memories bring tears of happiness or joy, they remind us of how much we love others and how much we are loved by others.

Quality Time

Spending quality time with loved ones, even in small doses, can be incredibly fulfilling. A brief conversation with a friend, a family game night, or a quiet evening with a partner can create lasting memories and strengthen relationships. These moments of connection remind us of the importance of the people in our lives. Whether it’s children or fur babies or any other pets…. the child proudly showing their latest creation, the wag of a dog’s tail, the purr of a cat, or even the sight of fish swimming in an aquarium can be soothing and remind us of the unconditional love we have for them, demonstrating our capacity to love immensely.

Music, Art, Writing

These activities not only help soothe our minds but also allow us to express ourselves and discover things about ourselves we might not be fully aware of. Sometimes, I find myself humming a random song and then realize that the lyrics are actually what I am feeling. It’s like my brain is sending me indirect signals to be more aware of what I might be actually feeling.

Conclusion

Finding happiness is not about the great big moments but about doing multiple small things that bring immense joy. They say time and tide wait for no man, but if you want to slow down time…. enjoy the small things happening to you all the time. You will suddenly find you have not just a lot of time on hand but also good time!

What are the little things that you do that bring you immense joy?

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Navigating emotions in today’s digital world presents unique challenges and opportunities. I remember a time when I was reluctant to buy a mobile phone, viewing it as a nuisance. The idea of being reachable at all times seemed unnecessary. Buying a computer was a major family event. Today, life without the internet is almost unimaginable. I now have a dedicated mobile phone, laptop, and iPad, to myself and not to mention our TV and computer.

The internet has woven itself into every aspect of our lives, influencing how we communicate, learn, and interact with the world. Having spent half of my life with the internet and the other half without it, I often reflect on whether I miss the old days. Has the internet been the best thing in my life, or has it introduced challenges that mess with my mind?

Advantages

1. Fast Communication

The ability to communicate instantly with anyone, anywhere in the world, is one of the internet’s most significant benefits. I remember when my father traveled for work, we couldn’t reach him until he called us from his office. Now, I can contact my husband at any time, even when he’s on his way home. Writing letters used to take days or weeks, but now I can ping friends in seconds. This ease of communication helps me in navigating emotions, especially anxiety, as you know help or companionship is just a few seconds away.

2. Access to Learning Resources

Before the internet, my learning was confined to the available classes in my neighbourhood. Now, the internet has opened up a world of possibilities. I can learn anything, anytime, from anywhere. Whether it’s drawing, blogging, cooking, or health tips, the sky is the limit. I’ve always struggled with reading books, but YouTube and other video classes have helped me understand things better through visual representation. This has immensely enriched my learning experience, making it one of the internet’s biggest advantages.

3. Self Expression and Support Groups

Here I am, writing my blog…. The internet has provided a platform for me to express my talents—writing, drawing, acting and more. What was once restricted to family and a few friends can now be shared with anyone interested. This expression has connected me with like-minded individuals, helping me realize I am not alone in facing life’s challenges.

4. UPI and Online Shopping

UPI UPI UPI…. Another amazing invention. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized how we handle money. I used to lose my pocket money frequently, but now with UPI, I don’t have to carry cash around. With UPI its become so easy, just scan and pay… I can make payments easily and securely in a big mall or even to a street vendors. Online shopping adds another layer of convenience; I can buy a table while lying in bed watching a movie on my iPad. This ease of transaction brings immense peace of mind.

5. Simplified Government processes

What once required standing in long lines for hours and making multiple trips to government offices can now often be done online. Although there are still some bugs and issues, the overall process has become much more streamlined and less stressful.

6. Remote Work

This more than internet, I think is a more a creation of Covid. There are advantages and disadvantages of working remotely. Personally for me, it allows me to work from home, reducing almost 3hrs of traveling. This helps in saving time and energy to focus on more important tasks, work related and otherwise. I can attend an online meeting while completing my daily walk.

While remote work has been largely driven by COVID-19, the internet has made it feasible. Personally, it allows me to work from home, saving nearly three hours of daily commute. This has helped me in saving time and energy to focus on more important tasks, work related and otherwise. I can attend an online meetings while completing my daily walks. It has overall helped in enhancing my productivity and well-being.

7. Entertainment

Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube… We are just spoilt for choices. Anytime I am creatively stuck and need some inspiration… YouTube.. want to challenge myself with a horror movie, form political opinions, get an insight into a celebrity’s life or just chill.. No matter what there’s always a show for you. Feeling down… Alexa play inspirational Indian movie songs. Want to workout.. Siri play my Koothu playlist.. Virtual assistance for random chats and requests!

Dis-Advantages

1. Navigating emotions That Impact Self Esteem and constant comparison with others.

In the past, I only had to deal with my parents comparing me to my friends and my friends teasing me…. Now, with social media its gotten a thousand times worse. Trolling, negative comments, can spiral me into self-doubt fest and then you see your friends and colleagues, partying and posing in front of Eiffel Tower, it just makes you feel worse. Seeing others’ seemingly perfect lives makes me feel worse about my own situation. Like what am I doing with my life.. Look at them they are so happy… It’s really made navigating emotions more challenging, warping our sense of what it means to be happy.

2. Addictive

Reels and shorts… as if social media couldn’t have gotten worse…. It just got more addictive. You start seeing one, just one more and on and on and the next thing you know an hour has gone by… What!!! Damn it now I am running behind my schedule.. Feeling depressed because I now have a lot to catch up…. so well let me watch some reels to feel better.. Its easier to stop eating ice cream than to stop watching these short videos! Navigating emotions… what emotions?

3. Sleep Deprivation

The inevitable… With the whole day lost, now you have to stay up till late to finish work and then to relax, again watch more reels. Before you fall asleep… its the next morning!

4. More Isolated with less people to people interactions

While the internet allows for virtual socializing, it can also lead to physical isolation. Given my social anxiety, I often use the internet as an excuse to avoid in-person interactions. While it’s easier in the short term, it’s not beneficial in the long run. Meeting people face-to-face, despite initial nervousness, usually leaves me feeling more connected and uplifted.

Conclusion

The internet has brought more positive changes to my life than negative ones. And even the negative side of it is more about you making up your mind! If I ever miss the old days or feel overwhelmed by the digital world, all I need to do is SWITCH OFF.. Myself from the devices and SWITCH ON, physically engaging with the world around me! Navigating emotions in a digital world or otherwise starts with achieving the balance between online and offline interactions, thereby enjoying the best of both worlds. It’s all about your mind being incharge of the digital world, rather than the other way around!

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Today achieving success is defined by “having it all“? Perfect career, supportive family and friends, bustling social life, and a well-curated Instagram feed. The whole world may perceive you as having it all when in reality you may be feeling like crap, breaking apart from within. It’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of external validations.

What Achieving Success Means to Me

Growing up, I always wanted to achieve success.. have it all! Many people around me would say that I do have it all today. But for me, this changes every single day, with more often than not, me feeling like a failure with still lots to achieve. One goal achieved… ten more goals lined up in its place. . It doesn’t stop as my success is redefined after each success.

Redifining Achieving Success

It’s good to stay driven and hungry in life as it gives you a purpose to look forward to achieving something. Success feels like a permanent thing, that you acquire like a degree that testifies to how much you have grown in life. But unlike a degree, success is ever evolving and varies from person to person how they define it. To reduce the enormous pressure I put on myself to achieve this self defined success, I had to disassociate success with achieving goals. I am now trying to see achieving life goals similar to up-skilling. You complete level 1, then start working towards level 2. There is always something to learn, challenges to overcome and fears to face. Its an achievement.. a temporary pause to stop and appreciate your efforts.

Redifining Having it all

Having it all is a matter of perspective, and what changes my perspective… When I don’t feel guilty or held back by my past or feel anxious about my future…. When I am in the present! Loving and enjoying everybody and everything around me. Still working towards my goals.. while being thankful to the people around me, appreciative of my efforts and grateful to god/nature for every thing I have got. This is when I am at peace with myself… That’s when I feel like I have it all!

Conclusion

I am a team effort led by me! This definition of having it all never changes. Even though I might feel like failure at times, this is the success that I strive towards.. Its not about achieving goals and definitely not about what others set as standards, but to reach the point where I am at peace with myself. When I feel a part of a team rather than a lone warrior fighting of life’s demons… That’s what achieving success is! For you are always happy when you are at peace, but not necessarily at peace when you are happy!

What does having it all mean to you?

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