It's September 2018 already

It's September 2018 already - wow!

It's September already - wow! That is how I feel about every passing month in 2018. No other year has brought so many changes, month by month, in my life. This is more like, 'you are kidding me, right?' roller coaster ride, with stunning 'UPs' and some heart-wrenching 'LOWs.' [READ: Feeling depressed?]

{Image: Pixabay}

You know, there were days when I felt like there is no humanity left in this world. Swami often says, "Trust only in God." What a beautiful reminder, isn't it?

The silver lining is that the sun never stops shining and life goes on, right? We have to put ourselves together and face every challenge squarely. Not easy, but that is what real personal growth is finally about.

The most important lesson is that your happiness is your priority. No one else can safeguard it for you. Not your family members or your best friends.

The challenge is to find useful ways to cope with these feelings.

You know, whatever takes you away from your pain and stress is just worth the time and effort.

You could learn a new language.

Train yourself to play a new game.

Ever tried the crossword or Sudoku? Give it a shot.

Watch the cheesiest movies ever and LOL!

Travel ...a LOT! There's no better way to broaden your horizons.

There are many wonderful things we can do with ourselves.

For me, nothing beats the joy of being immersed in meditation. It is as important to my life as breathing fresh air. While the world around me does not change, the change that I can feel within me provides me with all the answers I want from my heart. That others care or choose not to care no longer causes sadness or disappointment.

Through meditation, I have begun to learn that there are no 'others' or 'me versus them' - everything and everyone is a reflection of who I am and what "I" choose to see. We can overcome everything if we have faith and confidence. [MUST-READ! Amazing Tale of Peddabottu]

Okay, so here's what I am trying to say.

The tough times are never going away. But we can find opportunities to grow ourselves through these tough tides. Wondering how?

Focus on the good. Always.

Comments

Aravind Balasubramanya said…

Feel so nice and good simply reading your words. Nice start to my Thursday! :)

September 6, 2018 at 1:44 PM

Swapna Raghu Sanand said…

So happy to hear this, Brother Aravind! You made my day, thanks so much!

September 9, 2018 at 12:56 AM

Rajeev Singhal said…

When we are in tune with our self, nature, God, we are being spiritual.
It is the concern with inner peace, happiness, forgiveness, love and patience

September 17, 2018 at 12:57 PM

Swapna Raghu Sanand said…

@RajeevSinghal: Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I completely agree with your observations.

September 8, 2019 at 1:42 PM

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences. [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste. You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

Tumhari Sulu movie review: Vidya Balan makes you laugh, cry, croon and fall in love with 'Sulu'

I have always looked forward to watching Vidya Balan's films, which is why I watched her latest one, Tumhari Sulu, and decided to share this movie review. I read many reviews which bring in the feminist aspect of the narrative. I want to look at the little details of an ordinary life that are portrayed by Vidya Balan's extraordinary acting. As ''Sulu'', Vidya Balan breathes life into the character of bubbly housewife, whose life revolves around her husband, son and of course, her favorite hobby of participating in all kinds of contests and winning them with a die-hard spirit. [ Image: Vidya Balan's Facebook page ] Vidya Balan's mastery over details comes through in every scene - shooing off birds so that they don't put ''potty'' on her clothes, posing in front of the mirror with the kind of bag that working women use and pretending to be one, and eve

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

7 Am Arivu (the Seventh Sense) - Why it is spiritually relevant

7 Am Arivu (the Seventh Sense) is a film that I was desperate to watch for two reasons. One, I am a Suriya fan and I had heard so much about his performance in this movie that I didn't want to settle for watching a CD of it and losing the actual cinematic experience. Second, I had read from various bloggers and their reviews that this film revolves around the story of Bodhidharman, a 16th century prince from Tamil Nadu who had mastered knowledge spanning multiple forms of art, and was sent to China to save the people from evil. Once he goes there, the transformation begins for himself and for the people there and he goes on to become Damo, the father of Shaolin and Kung Fu and hypnotism and such other mystical yet spiritually relevant forms of mind mastery. 7 Am Arivu Goes Over the Top with the Dravidian Rhetoric In 7 Am Arivu, there has been a lot of controversy created by the fact that nearly every character eulogizes about the importance of being Tamil and yes, the Dravidi

The Amazing Tale of Peddabottu: How she battled all odds, took leadership roles and defied conventional norms in a unique way

When we first come into the world, we mark our entry with a big cry. The wise ones say that we loathe to leave the safety of the mother's womb. As we grow up, we learn to seek happiness in the things we do. We find different ways to be happy. The wise ones says, ''Pain makes you strong.'' The truth about happiness is that it teaches us nothing, whereas pain nudges out of our complacent comfort zones. It teaches us to reflect, look within and find the answers from a zone that we are not usually familiar dealing with. [Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: https://svara.substack.com/] Pain and sorrow manifest in our lives differently and across different phases but how we react to it defines our the direction of our life. A newborn child undergoes pain when vaccinated but will a mother stop her child from being vaccinated simply because she doesn't want her child to undergo pain? [ Must Read: A Dad's Advice to the Daughter He loves ] So, there

Petals!

Search This Blog