Overcoming perfectionism isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about changing how you reach them. We live in a culture obsessed with the final product. We scroll through flawless social media feeds, read polished case studies, and admire seamless business launches. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that…
Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles
It’s human nature to seek the easiest or simplest way to accomplish something. Think hitting the snooze button or watching another episode of your favorite TV show. So much easier than, say, cleaning the house. The good news is you can find motivation when you need it most. But it can…
For the longest time, I thought it was my circus, my monkeys. I simply assumed things about myself without stopping to rationalize or think. Emotional baggage was an alien concept. Maybe it was the circumstances, or maybe it was how convincing people were. After all, when we grow up with people…
I opened my closet today–the one where I keep my saris–and could not stop crying. I think it must have been the nostalgia of hours of talking with my friend when I visited her in New Jersey a few weeks back. We were lost in conversations about “those” days. We first…
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Where I am From
Inspired by teacher, award-winning poet, and author, George Ella Lyon’s poem Where I am From Where I am From I am from my mother’s delicate henna-ed hands, from discovering fragrant dried petals of Magnolia in her diaries, with recipes for food lovingly cooked from scratch, cherished from treasured steel tiffin carriers.…
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. “― Suzy Kassem Do you find yourself constantly filled with self-doubt over your decisions? Are you always worrying about what others think about you, what you do, what you say, their reactions to your actions or opinions? You are not alone! You are…
Even mopping can be enjoyable when we practice mindful cleaning. I was reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Peace is every step for the nth time last week. Especially wonderful are the mindfulness exercises related to mindful cleaning, eating, listening and many more. It is a lovely book that brings a sense…
“Embrace your inner self.” This is wonderful advice to live an authentic life. However, most of us have a tendency to avoid standing out from the crowd. It is probably the belief that there’s safety in numbers because our survival depended on it from the beginning of time . . . …
Everyone, at some point in life, finds themselves holding on to a grudge because it feels justified. To let go of grudges is easy. Even when it appears justified, no good can come out of holding a grudge. What is a grudge? A grudge is a persistent feeling of ill will…
I woke up this morning and lit the lamp, and had my conversation with the divine as usual. As I sat with my tumbler of coffee, warming my hands and waiting for my son’s call, my mind rolled back to decades ago when Diwali was a big deal at home. Oh,…
Most busy adults don’t miss the signs of stress and anxiety because they don’t care. They miss them because life still looks fine on paper. Work gets done and deadlines are met, so tension and poor sleep get filed under normal, even when they keep returning. When worry won’t switch off…
Some mornings, getting out of bed takes a little more time than I would like. My shoulders feel stiff, my knees need a moment to loosen up, or my ankles seem reluctant to cooperate. I sit on the edge of the bed for a while, stretch my arms, and wait until…