Am No.1 in the Top 12 Most Week of Nov 25

Am No.1 in the Top 12 Most Week of Nov 25..... Check this link @ http://www.scoop.it/t/top-12-most-week-of-nov-25

This is a happy moment... The numbers of readers, shares, feedback has been remarkable... Way beyond my imagination :)...

Its a great start for the first post on 12Most... Looking forward to have the next few posts up on the site in coming weeks...
Cheers!

To Dani, Alana & Kate

Over the past few years, I have enjoyed watching Cookery Shows on TV. Among my personal picks are the reality competitive ones - Hell’s Kitchen and MasterChef Australia. I guess the key reason is that these shows combine cooking, creativity, creations, competition and reality – Hence make them a treat to watch!
And in every season, I have my favorite contestants.. 2011 MasterChef Australia was no exception - Dani and Alana were top on my list. There is definitely more to every individual than what is portrayed on the TV. While my perceptions are based entirely on what I watched in the series - both Dani and Alana stood out in several ways.
What I loved about Dani? - Her smile which was contagious, Her energy which was mostly vivacious and bubbly, Her enthusiasm, Her positivity and Her spirit throughout the contest
What I loved about Alana? - Again her smile, Her focus, Her objectivity, Her transformation in the kitchen in every dish she created – Almost as if she was another person! She runs her own food blog @ http://www.alanalowes.com.au/
And then of course, the winner of the show Kate… I think what stood out about Kate was her simplicity, humility, determination, presence of mind and of course most importantly, culinary skills which enabled her to win. Her interview after the win is @ http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/eat/interview-australias-masterchef-winner-kate-bracks-479259

And my take-away from the 2011 season series were
· Cooking is definitely a creative process
· In a competitive reality show, it’s finally your performance in the kitchen on a specific day which makes all the difference. It’s like an exam / stage performance. It does matter how much blood and sweat you put in for preparation and prior to the exam / performance – What matters is how you performed in the time when it mattered the most - for which you will be assessed, evaluated and judged
· Winning is not everything – The journey is important · Being a judge on a reality show is a responsibility – Specially since your words and decisions have the potential to change the hopes, dreams and life’s of many aspirants in the contest
· Age is no bar if you want to learn, try, experiment or follow your dreams
· Your beginnings or past need not dictate your present and future life – It all depends on your thoughts, your passions and your dreams
· Support from friends and family goes a long way in what one achieves in life
· Life is about learning, and the richness of your life is directly proportional to your learnings – What you learn? How much you learn? Whether you are open to learning? And most importantly, what you do with all that you learn?
· Cooking is about skill, technique, creativity, presence of mind, experience, openness, experimentation, observations, learning, improvement……………perfection
· At the end of the day, what REALLY matter in a dish is the taste – This is the soul of any dish. Of course, the visual presentation, the smells, the sounds and the textures make a difference.
· Who cooked the dish makes an ocean of a difference in how it will eventually end up - And the state of your mind and the state of your emotions has a direct impact on how your dish will finally turn out ( And I don’t have scientific evidence to prove this, but from my experience and those of others, I believe its true)

Wishing Dani, Alana and Kate good luck and success in their careers in the food business

What is it about holidays?

What is it about a holiday that makes you long for them?
What is it about a holiday that makes you happy?
What is it about a holiday that makes them always welcome?

Is it a break from the monotony of your everyday routine?
Is it just interacting with new faces, new smiles, new voices?
Is it a break from the drudgery of your job?
Is it listening to different voices?
Is it a break from meeting the same people?
Is it a change from the same sofas, chairs, bed, tables and crockery?
Is it a break from eating the same type of food?
Is it just a new environment?
Is it a different weather?
Is it how you feel?
Is it how you think?
Is it about what you experience?

What is it?

My Blog published on 12Most.com

Yaaaaaaaay! My blog - 12 Most Compelling Reasons for your to write has been published on 12Most.com @ http://12most.com/2011/11/22/12-compelling-reasons-write/

Its indeed a moment of pride and joy...
And have been getting some great feedback and response in the last few hours!
Very positive, encouraging and heart-warming!!!

Thanks Paul for getting this up today...

Thank You A & N... For everything

Two things which can change an argument..

The two things which can change the course and conclusion of any argument are
1) A smile
2) A joke..
If you take a minute to pause and reflect on this based on your life experiences… you will probably agree with me…

Why does a smile have this impact?
An argument typically tends to create an environment of negative energies and is usually stressful. And a smile changes the mood and energy of the environment. In fact, it acts as a mood and energy leveler. And once your emotions change, so do your thoughts, views and expressions - especially in cases where you are taking things personally.

And from personal experience, I have seen individuals placed in the most difficult situations have been able to change the course and closure of an argument [suitably in their favor] just with a sweet smile.

Of course, you should use your discretion on when to smile, how much to smile and whom to smile at.. And if you figure this out, a smile can save your day!!!

Why does a joke have this impact?
Again a little humor goes a long way in bringing a pause in the negative chain of thought. And once you laugh, you automatically break that chain of thought and emotion. As a result, you tend to be happier, positive and balanced in your perspective. You will then view things in a new light, which will impact the course and conclusion in an argument.

Of course, you need to be careful on the choice of the joke given the audience who will listen to it [especially that it should not be personal, offend or hurt anyone] and choose the appropriate time, place and style to articulate it. And once you have figured this out, a laugh can save your day!!!

So, ending with words of wisdom
• Have a repository of jokes
• Practice Smiling!!!

Thank You M – You know why?

2011: Cogitations of Life – Part 1

* Nothing is really permanent in this world

* When your time is up, it’s up – There are just no extensions. And when you go, you take nothing really with you. And what you leave, is part of your legacy. Legacy can have several dimensions – ranging from financial assets, to prized possessions, to unique collections, to photos, to writings, to the values you instilled in those within the sphere of your influence, to what you taught others, to how you influenced someone’s life and lastly, memories...

* It’s important to think and plan about your legacy in your 30’s – 40’s. In reality, it can take at least a decade or two to build a legacy to your own personal satisfaction

* There’s a great deal one can achieve [even alone] by sheer will-power, perseverance, positive thoughts, conviction and single-minded purpose towards a specific cause

* If you have a good cause in mind, the resources and support will materialize in front of you - somehow along the way…[Rhonda Byrne’s SECRET always works.. You should know how to apply it]

* People change in unimaginable ways based on your presence and absence; That is the REALITY

* If you have at least 3 REAL friends, consider yourself lucky – And by REAL I mean You can call them anytime of the day or night & they will pick up the phone (at least most of the times), They will not judge you for anything you say or do, They will listen to you most of the times, They will not give unsolicited advice, You can ring their doorbell anytime of the day, They will be physically present with you when you need them the most – even if it means they fly continents just to give you a shoulder, They will stand by you; especially during the bad times and They will be willing to write a blank cheque for you without asking Why? And when will you return the money? – I know I am lucky as I already have my 3 REAL friends…:)

* In the journey of life, the following are vital - Hope, Love, Dreams, Emotions, Experiences, Changes, Catalysts, Passions, Inspirations, Purpose, Peace, Satisfaction, Energy, Friends, Laughs

Life is about Experiences…

Life is a journey… A journey of experiences… And every experience has the potential to define, influence and shape your thoughts, views, opinions, perspectives, preferences, ideas, relationships, health, wealth, emotions and the future…

No two life experiences are really the same. Primarily because it is impossible to replicate the EXACT same situation or circumstance. And how you view every experience depends to a large extent on your current state of being across the following dimensions – physical being, emotional being and mental being… And the state of being can never really be EXACTLY the same at two points in time…

In the long run, the diversity of life experiences is important because they make you think, make you reflect, make you understand – About yourself, people, life, situations, events, circumstances, reality, fabrications… And each experience brings about new perspectives, new realizations and new growth…

Hence, it is important to be open to new life experiences, to provide opportunities for yourself to have new life experiences, to accept circumstances which will enable new life experiences and most importantly to enjoy new life experiences….

The diversity of your life experiences will determine the richness of your life…

Brahma Kumaris & Sister Shivani

I was introduced to Brahma Kumaris years ago. It was an occasional mention from someone, a reading in the paper, a discourse / documentary / TV program, an ad / pamphlet, a revelation by someone who attended their session, a transformation from someone who benefitted from practicing their teachings, etc. etc. etc.

If you’ve never heard of Brahma Kumaris, a note below from their website : We are individuals of all ages and backgrounds who regularly attend classes at more than 8,500 centres of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University located in 110 countries. We study spiritual knowledge that nurtures respect for all faith traditions, coherently explains the nature of soul, God, time, and karma, and delineates an enlightened lifestyle. We practise and teach a form of meditation that relaxes the mind and nurtures a healthy balance between our inner and outer worlds. Through numerous social service activities and partnerships, we promote spiritual understanding, leadership with integrity and elevated actions towards a better world [Src: http://www.bkwsu.org/]

While there are many public faces that propagate the learning’s and teachings, I personally find Sister Shivani’s articulations very thought-provoking. She has excellent clarity in thought, knowledge and depth on a wide range of topics, is able to articulate exceedingly well - simple, clear and precise, is able to communicate many concepts in IT language, gives real life examples and most importantly, talks about issues which are important in every-day life in a very logical, scientific and analytical manner. Her series on “Awakening with Brahma Kumaris” which features on Astha Channel every night is worth a watch. Every episode will definite leave you with a few learning’s, insights, perspectives and something to ponder about…

Interestingly, I just discovered that she also has a Facebook page and a blog.. Links below:
Facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/brahma-kumari-sister-shivani/132465936788955
Blog @ http://sistershivani.blogspot.com/

Vipasana Meditation

Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha. It is a practice of self-transformation through self-observation and introspection to the extent that sitting with a steadfast mind becomes an active experience of change and impermanence. In English, vipassanā meditation is often referred to simply as "insight meditation".[Src: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipassan%C4%81 ]

The focus is on observance of breath. The main precepts aim to enable non-identification with body and non-identification with mind.

Refer to http://pldhar.wordpress.com/lectures/ for more literature on this form of meditation

Chefs I want to meet

List of chefs I want to meet, whose food I want to eat.. [In no specific order]
Nigella Lawson
Heston Blumenthal
Vicky Ratnani
Gordon Ramsay
Curtis Stone
Michael Pierre White
Donovan Cooke
Ashley Hicks
Matt Moran

I love the way each of them cook
I love how happy they are when they cook
And most importantly, I love what they create...

If you can help me meet any of the above, will be very HAPPY :)

The Cyclic Life of a Creative Soul…

Any creative individual will vouch for the fact that they usually experience cyclic bursts of creativity...

Times when you are personally amazed with the quality and quantity of content of creative output that you generate

And times in which the quality and quantity of creative output is abysmally dissatisfactory [No matter how hard you try]

It’s almost like a sinusoidal curve.. I wonder why?

* Is it biorythmn at work? [Refer http://nipmu.blogspot.com/2011/01/biorythm.html ]
* Is it your daily dose of inspiration lacking? [Refer http://nipmu.blogspot.com/2011/10/daily-dose-of-inspiration.html]
* Is it that you don’t have what brings out the best in you? [Refer http://nipmu.blogspot.com/2011/11/what-brings-out-best-in-you.html]

Whatever it is.. It is TRUE..

What’s your view? Leave a Comment..

What brings out the BEST in you???

We are all endowed with several gifts, skills and talents – Some we were born with, some we learnt, some we developed out of need / necessity, some we enhanced, some we mastered along the journey of life..

However do you perform to your best of your potential / ability every time / at least majority of the times?

For some of us, the challenge is in knowing what you want
For some of us, the challenge is in beginning
For some of us, the challenge is in performing
For some of us, the challenge is in concluding

And whatever be your challenge, it helps to know how to overcome your challenge …

To bring out the BEST, sometimes all you need is
A goal
A hope
A mood
A cause
A dream
A vision
A desire
A passion
An abundance
An abstinence
An indulgence
A specific food
A type of weather
A particular environment
A special person with you
A purpose larger than your life
A specific person being away from you

6 Traits of a Blogger...

In my journey as a blogger, I have read several blogs – Ranging from the ones which I read primarily because of the topics, subjects or literary style to the ones which I read occasionally because I personally know the blogger to the one’s I randomly come across during my erratic online activity.. Over a period of time, I have a personal collection of blogs which are a great source of data, information, knowledge and wisdom. And honestly, these blogs can see me through any kind of day…

Based on my observations and reflections, I have attempted to articulate the 6 traits of any blogger. If you are a blogger, do check if the following apply to you…

1)Bloggers are GENEROUS – Blogging is about sharing – Your knowledge, Your wisdom, Your insights, Your views, Your observations, Your mistakes, Your opinions, Your thoughts, Your dreams, Your hopes, Your passions, Your experiences, Your life.. And if you blog, then you are essentially willing to share – with a known and an unknown face.. with little / no immediate expectations in return.. especially in the age of instant gratifications.

2)Bloggers are SELF DRIVEN – You need to be self-driven to start a blog and to regularly publish to keep your blog alive. And for this, you need to be self-driven – Not just for today, but for a period of time..

3)Bloggers are DISCIPLINED – You need to be disciplined to blog regularly.. And whatever may be the reason for which you blog, it is impossible to keep at blogging without some semblance of discipline

4)Bloggers are OPTIMISTS – Simply because they believe that someone somewhere will read what they blog about.. And hopefully learn and benefit from it.

5)Bloggers value THOUGHTS – One of the most compelling and frequent reason for blogging is that the blogger values thoughts.. It could be a passing thought or a profound thought.. Nevertheless, it’s important enough for a blogger to take the time and effort to log it ..

6) Bloggers are INVESTORS – They invest the most important asset, i.e.,Time on themselves, and with the world at large with no guarantee on the Returns on Time Invested. The returns are definitely proportionate to why, where and what they blog about.. Nevertheless, the REAL returns will only be realized in the future.. And while there is no definite measure of returns, what is definite is that there will be returns – either as financial returns, proliferation of self-awareness, balance of emotions, focus on thoughts, new friends and connections…. And most importantly, a personal legacy when your time is up…

My Blog Features on Studio30Plus

Yaay!! My blog was featured on Studio30Plus @
http://www.studiothirtyplus.com/magazine/read/weekend-spotlight---saturday_2548.html

This came as a surprise because I was not expecting it. Guess there is something about surprises [however big or small] which make one happy.

And more than the surprise, I am happy with the encouragement and appreciation that I continue to get for my blogs... And any positive feedback are the fuel and catalyst which keep a blogger going...

So, Thank You Jules, Jerrod, Jen & Taryn

A great way to end the weekend.. :)

Human Thoughts

Saw a video today on human thoughts.. Some interesting points..
* There are 4 categories of thoughts
1) Positive Thoughts - Those which are the starting point of positivity in action, in your life
2) Negative Thoughts - Those which are the starting point of positivity in action, in your life
3) Neutral Thoughts - Thoughts which are data driven or factual. They are neither positive or negative
4) Waste Thoughts - Thoughts which focus on the past or future.
* According to this video, 95% of human thoughts are negative, waste or neutral. Only 5% are positive
* First step to controlling your thoughts is to be aware of them
* Per minute, we have 25 - 30 thoughts. So per day, we have 36000 - 43200 thoughts. Of there 80% are recurring. So if you can control these, you will be able to channel your mind power in a very positive and constructive fashion...
* If you can ensure that you are able to focus on positive thoughts for majority of the day, it will manifest in positivity in your life
That's why its said, Think Positive!!!

Known Devil or Unknown Devil

In the journey of life, many times one is at a crossroads when the choice has to be made between a known devil and an unknown devil.

The choice is never easy as it is impossible to guesstimate with any level of probability the magnanimity of impact an unknown devil can potentially have. On the other hand, while the known devil is familiar – it is hard to predict the scale and potential impact that may be possible.
At such a situation, it is absolutely essential to supplement your logic and reasoning with your instinct to make a decision…
And then to wait and watch the outcome of your decision
As only time will unfold the real bearing of your decision