How to sound positive?

If this thought ever crossed your mind, and not for manipulative intentions, you are thinking in the right direction. You just need to take a step further. You have to BE positive, and not just think positive, to sound positive. Look, nobody achieved anything out of positive thinking, at least not for long term. Napoleon Hill could never get as rich as Henry Ford and he had written a book "Think and Grow Rich". So I wouldn't suggest you to just think positive.

It may sound contradictory now if I said that I believe in what Swami Vivekananda has said,

"We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live. They travel far. You become what you regularly think."

But this is not different from what I said earlier - You have to be positive, and not just think positive, to sound positive. Vivekananda said so because you cannot act on something what you have never thought of doing, unless, of course, you are instructed. But once you are aware of your thoughts and choose them consciously, then it becomes an action and not just thinking. With time, it gets easier. And one day, it becomes so natural that no efforts are required.

Now, the next important question - How to BE positive?

Answer is very easy and straightforward. We normally shy away from it and the challenge is to accept it. The answer is - "Doing". But just by doing, look what has happened to us. We don't have enough information about our ancestors' achievements, be it constructing pyramids or Ayurveda. We don't fully know the science behind our cultures and traditions. Our ancestors used to fly and we are crawling because of "just doing". Blindly following is for robots, not for humans. Otherwise you wouldn't have wanted to sound positive. So, I would say, the answer is - Doing with the intention of improving.

1. Work day and night.

2. Focus on improving continuously.

3. Discuss ideas. Discuss ideas of improvement.

4. Identify scopes of improvement and suggest solutions.

5. Learn about emotional intelligence. It makes you feel human. It's good to have feelings.

Further, I want to ask this:

- Have you ever controlled your anger? Yes!

- Have you controlled expressing love? Yes!

- How about frustration? Yes!

Out of above and all other feelings, which are good and which are bad? Do you want to get rid of bad ones?

See, it is very simple - Emotions are the result of chemical changes in the brain. And that happens because of the thoughts we think. And thoughts can be chosen by us. Everything drills down to doing.

Doing is becoming. You want to be financially independent, work for it. Because just thinking won't help. You want to improve fitness and health, now you know the answer! Get on with it and be. Start with your list of priorities. You should have a list if you have read former blog: You are Great. If you don't have a list, here, go through this one:

Able	Beautiful	Calm	Dashing	Eager	Fabulous	Generous	Painstaking	Schrewd	Talented
Adaptable	Boundless	Capable	Dazzling	Easygoing	Fair	Gentle	Passionate	Sedate	Terrific
Adept	Brave	Careful	Impartial	Effective	Faithful	Glorious	Peaceful	Seemly	Thoughtful
Adventurous	Bright	Cautious	Decent	Efficient	Fantastic	Good	Perfect	Selective	Thrifty
Affable	Brilliant	Charming	Decisive	Elated	Fascinating	Gregarious	Persistent	Self-assured	Tidy
Affectionate	Broad-minded	Cheerful	Decorous	Eminant	Fearless	Obedient	Philosophical	Self-confident	Tolerant
Agreeable	Rational	Coherent	Delightful	Enchanting	Fine	Offbeat	Pioneering	Self-disciplined	Tough
Alert	Realistic	Comfortable	Dependable	Encouraging	Frank	Optimistic	Placid	Sensible	Likeable
Alluring	Receptive	Communicative	Detailed	Endearing	Fresh	Outspoken	Plausible	Sensitive	Lively
Amazing	Relentless	Compassionate	Determined	Endurable	Friendly	Wacky	Pleasant	Sincere	Logical
Ambitious	Reliable	Confident	Devoted	Energetic	Fuffy	Warm	Plucky	Skillful	Lovely
Amiable	Resolute	Considerate	Dignified	Enterprising	Ideal	Warm-hearted	Powerful	Smiling	Loving
Amicable	Resourceful	Cooperative	Diligent	Entertaining	Magical	Whimsical	Practical	Splendid	Loyal
Amusing	Responsible	Couragious	Diplomatic	Enthusiastic	Mature	Willing	Pretty	Steadfast	Ultimate
Analytical	Rhetorical	Creative	Direct	Excellent	Modern	Wise	Proactive	Stimulating	Unassuming
Appeasing	Righteous	Credible	Discreet	Excited	Modest	Witty	Productive	Successful	Unbiased
Astounding	Romantic	Cultured	Divine	Exclusive	Mysterious	Wonderful	Punctual	Succint	Understanding
Nice	Kind-hearted	Vigorous	Dynamic	Exuberant	Happy	Jolly	Pursuasive	Superb	Unusual
Nifty	Knowledgeable	Vivacious	Quick-witted	Industrious	Harmonious	Joyous	Hilarious	Sympathetic	Upbeat
Zippy	Zamy	Quick	Quiet	Instinctive	Helpful	Heroic	Honorable	Imaginative	Debonair
									Trustworthy

We are in this together. Let's do it !

Right or Wrong!

Do you know there is a doctrine that argues that pleasure and happiness are the primary aims of human life? And that only pleasure has worth or value and pain or displeasure has dis-value or worthlessness? This belief system is called "Hedonism". Plato and Aristotle had argued for this belief. However, interestingly enough, it is very challenging to achieve happiness when we have defined feelings of pain with more than 50 varieties whereas that of pleasure in just 15-20! After all, what are the chances? 1/3rd? My concern here is, however, what should be the way of achieving happiness. Next question comes to mind is, who is to decide that the chosen way is right or not? And even if we all agree for something being right, or wrong, we know that knowledge changes, time change, perspective change, needs change, abilities change and what is right today may become wrong tomorrow or vice versa and again the opposite the day after! So how to decide?

Let me tell you what happens in the industries. Management Guru Peter Drucker, in his book "The Effective Executive", has said - " The first rule for the concentration of executive efforts is to slough off the past that has ceased to be productive. If leaders are unable to slough off yesterday, to abandon yesterday, they simply will not be able to create tomorrow."

He is absolutely right with this philosophy. But he must have meant this for technologies, systems, methods and mindsets. But, American industries took him so religiously that they applied this philosophy on employees as well. Sloughing off "low-performing" employees became a style when 'neutron' Jack Welsh argued for laying off "bottom" 10% every year. Funny that Forbes website is showing him quote - "When you became a leader, you were not given a crown but were given responsibility to get the best out of others". I had to reread the quote because in the first time I read, "You were given responsibility to get others out." Anyway, in contradiction to American style, Japanese companies believe in retaining their employees for lifelong and yet Japanese economy is growing at a good enough pace. So who is right?

My opinion is, "What is" differs totally from what both the Right and Left believe "ought to be". It is only a collision between the delusions of the decision maker if he thinks that only his way is right and that only pleasure has worth and value and pain or displeasure has not. You have to make something completely different out of yourself to understand the concept of Right and Wrong.

Let us take a simpler example.

Suppose one day you did something and felt good about it. And next day someone told you that what you did was wrong. You did it because you believed in it. And now it is wrong! Even if it is by someone else's perspective. What would be your response(s)? Normally, I think, there are two easy ways to face this situation:

1. Continue believing that you were right and try to convince the other person that he is wrong. (Terrorist     train and get trained with this thinking)

2. Get convinced that the other person is right and repent.

And then there is a third, mature, way to respond:

Listen and understand to other person's opinion while staying assured that you did right. Because you do something when you believe that it is a right thing to do. Isn't it? And as today you have more knowledge and information than yesterday, and since you are brave enough to embrace your shortcomings and improve yourself, you are going to work upon it. I call it a mature way because this keeps our conscience clear and I think our conscience decides whether something is right or not.

We can experience this in our routine life - finding mistakes and blaming others. You see, it is easy to blame parents for their children's mistakes. But one thing is necessary to understand that most of the time, people give their best based on the knowledge, skill, information, awareness and maturity they have. If they would have had these qualities better, they would have done better. So, understand that, parents are right, even if they are wrong. Same goes for every individual. Either you are a boss or a subordinate, husband or wife, same philosophy applies.

So, if you notice someone's wrongness, pause and tell yourself that he is giving his best. And then, with the right manner, you can share your opinion, if necessary. After all the truest challenge is being a decent human being and not being right.