To put something behind us, we need to put something ahead of us
When some misfortune befalls us, our mind tends to keep replaying that misfortune, making us feel fearful, morose, helpless. Such negativity characterizes the mode of [...]
When the mind takes charge, the only thing that works is we: hard
Suppose a competent leader takes charge of a project. They ensure that everyone works hard and productively. But if the leader is incompetent, no one [...]
We don’t know the future, but neither does our mind – its fears don’t forecast the future
Our mind often fills us with fears about the future: “What if this goes wrong? What if that goes wrong?” Indeed, “What if?” is the [...]
The mind stops us not just from achieving our dreams, but also from pursuing them
People on the deathbed often have many regrets. The greatest of such regrets center on, “If only I had done this …”. We all dream [...]
Friendly snakes are still snakes – beware of the snake-like senses
Suppose someone adopts a poisonous snake as a pet. Even if that snake appears friendly, it can still bite venomously at any moment. Snake-owners need [...]
Intelligence shows how indulgence is harmful and how harmful indulgence is
Less than a century ago, smoking was considered harmless. It took decades of intelligent investigation to reveal that smoking harmed health, and harmed it so [...]
Even when our eyes are full of tears, we can still choose to be all ears
Sometimes, life afflicts us so grievously that we feel broken, tearful and blinded by confusion and dejection. How can we move ahead when our vision [...]
When the mind believes something is enjoyable, it stops evaluating whether it is actually enjoyable
Our mind often works like a programmed device, giving particular responses to particular stimuli. Some of this programming protects us from pain. For example, if [...]
Some limits restrict; some protect – knowing which limit does what is intelligence
When we are limited in any way, we often see that limitation as a restriction to our freedom. And yes, many limits do restrict. But [...]
A sight on a site can trigger a fire inside, watch what you watch
If we live in a house made of inflammable material, we will meticulously avoid throwing about a matchstick, lest it triggers a house-destroying fire. Actually, [...]
Chemical highs can’t cure life’s lows, we need to go spiritually high
When life’s adversities push people down, they often feel so dejected that they desperately seek something to lift themselves. And often they turn to chemicals [...]
Careless contemplation turns tempting thoughts into time bombs
When a time bomb is placed somewhere, it may not even be noticed by anyone; it might seem just like any other innocuous object lying [...]
Envy targets the envied, but torments the envious
Envy is the inner dark tendency that makes us miserable at others’ successes; it impels us to drag them down and plot their destruction. Envy [...]
Conscience without intelligence is blunt, intelligence without conscience is numb
Conscience and intelligence are two vital components of our inner defense mechanism. Whenever we feel tempted to do something wrong, conscience deters us through feelings [...]
The mind is omnivorous – it devours whatever is present and feels pleasant
Omnivorous creatures are indiscriminate in their eating; they consume whatever is available and feels pleasurable. Our mind is omnivorous in the sensory stimuli it consumes. [...]
We are the makers of our destiny, but not the masters of our destiny
When we strive to achieve something challenging, we soon realize that the results don’t depend on us alone. For example, in cricket, our favorite team [...]
Stop blaming your outer world, start building your inner world
Suppose the weather suddenly turns chilly. We could blame the weather and feel sorry for ourselves. Or we could don warm clothes and get on [...]
Weakness makes us hotheaded, wickedness makes us cold-blooded
We all sometimes act wrongly. But not all wrong actions are equally serious – they fall at different points on a scale that extends from [...]
What is our greatest treasure is often not what we treasure the greatest
Suppose a child is asked to choose between a toy and a million-dollar-check. The child may grab the toy, not knowing that the check can [...]
If we think we have no vices, we are novices
A novice housekeeping employee may think that a room that appears to be clean is clean. But some dust may be so settled as to [...]
Time can be a fire in which we burn or a teacher from whom we learn
Time is a formidable, inexorable force that pushes us all towards death when our body will be burnt in the funeral fire. Even if the [...]