How to Handle Depression

Biggest question in front of today's young generation I believe, following massive environmental changes and who's better out of Messi and Ronaldo, is depression. Close to 800,000 people die out of suicide every year, which is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 year olds.

My biggest purpose of writing blogs is to reach to all young people and tell them how this situation can be taken care of. I have gone through this and I believe I have come out of it victoriously. And I agree, hands down, that your situation is far more trickier than all of mine combined. No doubts about that. Yet, when it comes to facing them, I believe you have more strength than I have. I think that makes us equal.

People suggest various reasons for increasing number of cases of depression. For example, lack of hope/ vision, higher education costs, higher cost of living, rise in unemployment, comparison with others - be it with parents or peers. Few even blame global warming! In my opinion these are all external factors. There could be number of our friends out there who don't get affected from either of these factors and yet facing depression. Then what causes it? What is the solution?

As a young generation, we want liberty. What we don't realize is we possess something better than that - Freedom! Liberty comes from outside whereas freedom comes from our mind. No two people respond to the same situation in the exact same manner. Why? Because we have the option to choose our response. Everyone chooses his/her response, consciously or unconsciously. What do YOU want to choose?

Viktor Frankl says in his book "Man's Search For Meaning" -

" We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in numbers, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

And there were always choices to make. Every day, every hour, every moment, offered the opportunity to make a decision. A decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you would become the plaything of circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity to become molded into the form of the typical inmate."

In my previous blog "Antibuddha", I suggested to create health instead of removing weakness. We do not have to bother about the cause. We just have to create a habit of becoming stronger by adapting what makes us better and better continuously.

Now the question is, how to choose our response? People always suggest us what to do but fail to explain how it's done. I have, through blogs, so far tried to share with you how to keep ourselves driven. For example, very first topic "Mind Your Own Business" asks for the clarity of what do YOU want and then focusing solely on it. "Purpose Drives Passion" argues that we need to find the purpose for our every action. Rather now I suggest to have a purpose for every thought. Further way is the habit of improvement on continual basis. I believe, this can be made possible by using 'Cycle of Improvement'. Mentioned articles are the preliminary steps which can guide toward the healthy habits, self-satisfaction, clear conscience and consistent growth. I think these ways are good enough to begin with.

I am only trying to show the path as I cannot walk it on someone's behalf. I hope you find your destiny. I hope you find yourself. I am no expert with degrees but I have figured the ways for myself and have suggested methods which have worked for me to stay upbeat. So, do ask me if you have any questions and I'll try to respond them directly or indirectly, to the best of my capacity.

You, in this whole world, deserve your love, as much as anyone else.

                                                                                                -Buddha

Antibuddha

We have Buddha poornima coming up next month.

Buddha says: When you keep removing sickness and what remains thereafter is health. When you keep removing darkness and what remains thereafter is light.

I say: Get busy creating good health and you won't have to bother about sickness. Get busy generating light and you won't have time to think about darkness.

One way is to keep removing negativity until the moment no negativity is left. Another way is to generate positivity and forget everything else.

One way to get the sense of achievement is the feeling that I have contributed some goodness or to the improvement. But how is that possible? Even if 1000 evil spirits are removed, millions are still waiting. Instead, why not add 1000 virtuous spirits in the universe, because millions are waiting for you in this case as well. Which scenario is more fascinating or convincing? Also, mathematically, removing evil is an arithmetic progression whereas creating virtue is an exponential progression, just like the division of cells or the nuclear fission. Think about this - If you look at the glass half full/ half empty, what would you say if you want to make its contents reach up to its rim? Remove emptiness of the glass or fill the glass? Isn't it obvious to contribute towards betterment?

What's the point of analyzing whether the glass is half full of half empty? Staring at it makes no sense. What do you say? Go for it! Do what you know you should do. Live! Bruce lee says in the movie 'Enter the Dragon', "Don't think, feel. It is like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory." Better you either drink the glass completely or fill it full. Rather than spending days, better we live a life worth remembering. Rather than being worried about problems, better we create opportunities. Work till the point there is no energy left and you fall asleep as soon as you hit the bed. One of the best ways to live full is to empty ourselves before every night. Life begins with a thought.

With our thoughts we make our world.

                                                            -Buddha

You are Great !

Science is close to the conclusion that there are no such thing as races. I have always believed that way. After all, everyone has 23 pairs of chromosomes! Right? Then what is this fuss about superiority and what not? You must have observed that if father is a good painter, pretty much are the chances that child would be a good painter as well. Why so? Just because, the father's DNA has those enhanced properties which get transferred to the child. Similarly, what we focus on and do repeatedly, either we choose doing it consciously or not, affects the characteristics of our DNA.

Let me tell you what Japanese do. After Hiroshima, they have converted the site to a visiting place. There is a beautiful garden surrounding it. Parents often take their children there and explain them how not controlling our emotions can make our life like that site and doing otherwise, by expressing love and forgiveness, can make life like that beautiful garden. This exercise instills the positive values in child's mind from a very tender age. When I say this, my intention is, I want the attitude of helping others and spreading peace and kindness in everyone's DNA. I am suggesting you as your spiritual friend to speak only positive words and assertive statements. I am, if not this world is, yet to see a dictionary or a book, which has only the positive words, phrases or idioms. I believe this idea should be implemented across all languages.

I believe that you have greatness in you. Just scatter some around! Let us make a positive shift in our lives and more importantly, in others' lives. Let's do something extra-ordinary. Today.

Man maketh habits and habits maketh man. What you sow in your heart, so shall you reap in the coming generations. I am sure you want yourself and your generations to be affable, broad-minded, creative, debonair, enchanting, flourishing, gracious, harmonious, inventive, judicious, knowledgeable, loyal, magnanimous, nifty, orderly, productive, quick-witted, rational, self-confident, trustworthy, unassuming, virtuous, wise, xenial, yeasty and zenithal.

You can be, have, do whatever you want. You have the power. Power of chromosomes.

And you also have a choice. Make a conscious one.

Be extraordinary!

Be the God.

Equations of Life

For some reason, two Gods got into a situation where they had to compete by running a race. One God was the God of speed and could run really fast. Another God knew that he couldn't win the race. So he instructed his aid to fence the racing track with gold-bricks. Race begun. On the way, looking at the gold-bricks, first God thought there was no harm in picking up few bricks for himself. After all, he knew that he was going to win. He kept picking the gold-bricks up every now and then and finally lost the race. He had got too much burden to keep him ahead.

You take birth and you die. Simple equation. All the variables you add while living decide the equation of your journey called life. More you set the constants in life, simpler it becomes. Initial phase of life wants adventure and excitement but as the saying goes, "If elderly could, if youth would." Considering average age of humans 75 years, we get around 700,800 hours to live. If you are 25 by the time you are reading this blog, you have already spent 219,000 hours. What did you do all these years? Moreover, if you keep saying you don't have enough time, everyone has 700,800 hours. Use each moment out of choice, not in ignorance.

You take decisions today but the results are here to stay, longer than the time you took to decide. So, instead of wagging the dog, better concentrate on priorities. Just like the theory of special relativity, lesser the variables means more clarity. Do SWOT, use time management quadrants, observe successful personalities in your field, learn! Learn how to utilize time in the best interest of you, family and society. Learn the purpose of actions of successful people. It will enhance your understanding. Filter your thoughts and choose your actions. Challengeyourself while picking up the goals but choose them wisely. Make a balanced life and lifestyle.

First thing first. One task at a time.

Simplicity is the beauty.

Fearless Dreams

Should you ask, "Am I asking for too much?", in any situation, either to yourself or to anyone, remember the answer - "Hell No!". Are there any limits to what one should expect, imagine, wish, dream or desire? I don't think so! Free yourself from all your fears. Be the radical center of dreamers.

People have become complacent with their habit of playing safe. How many people run their cars at the maximum speed even once in their life? They don't speak their heart out, they don't keep running until they feel like they are going to die, they don't share ideas and thoughts openly, they don't even imagine handling multiple tasks and projects. They just do their daily chores and hit the sack.

Go out on a limb! If you are not learning something each day, you are not playing with a full deck. Push the pedal to the metal man! Go and tell your boss you want multiple projects. If you are afraid your boss would think you are a flash in the pan, think, how many people achieve their targets? Maybe 10%? People don't even wake up at the targeted time every day. Very few goals fall in the six sigma limit. So why not take a chance?

Even if last year you did nothing of what you decided, double your goals this year. Improve your strategies. Understand how things work. It'll definitely work out for you. Work down to the wire. Avoid the common enemy - procrastination. Work on your discipline, determination and dedication. Whatever goals you set, set them so big that you must feel like it's insane when you set them in the first place. You want to be the president of 2 countries at the same time? Why not! Go on and see what can be done about it.

Do what you know you should do. Otherwise, in the end, you'll feel like you are up a blind alley. Develop new skills, improve your attitude, enhance knowledge. As soon as you find your feet in a situation, it's time to change the situation. That's how learning is done. Mark this, an attitude of excellence and not the necessity is the mother of all inventions. And inventions happen by dreaming about the possibilities, by radical thinking.

Go for broke! Rise and shine!

Who Stops You?

"I want to be successful."

"I want a luxurious life."

"I want to be famous."

"I want to be loved by everyone."

"I want to contribute wellness and positiveness to the society."

"I want to make everyone as happy as I am." said my right brain.

"Oh sure you can." said the left brain, "What stops you?"

I pondered over this dialogue for a while. I realized, actually there is no box, no limit. I can be, have or do anything and everything. And so can everyone else. Next question, then why everyone is not doing what needs to be done? Another relevant question to the right brain's demands was - " If all these things get turned into reality, wouldn't I be called the God? " This is where it got clear. I stop me. No one else, nothing else but me. Look at the God worshipers. They won't ever be able to become God. Why? Because they don't believe they are worthy. They don't believe they have the potential. Your belief, your love for Him is the biggest hurdle for you to be Him. I mentioned God here because He is an ideal example. You might be believing that you don't have enough to be as successful as your company's CEO or as impeccable musician as the one you follow or the best sportsperson ever. Your reverence for your ideals can be your barrier to surpass them.

When you see a successful person, the first thought that must come to your mind should be, "I want to be better than him." Because you can! All the Gods were humans depicted in the poems as the Gods, by humans. These days, we call them successful people. You can be one of them! Who knows, someday someone will make you his ideal and persevere to surpass your deeds. And even if he does, yet, trust me, you will be proud of yourself. Just believe it's possible, and focus your thoughts and energy to achieve your targets. It's that simple.

Go! Be the God!

Fear of Freedom

Look around you. What do you see?

Fearful faces? Afraid of losing what they have and of not getting what they want, of believing what they can do and cannot do. Afraid of taking more responsibilities, of discovering the true potential of their own and reaching to the higher standards and most of all, of not being liked by others.

Not just people but famous institutions, organizations and even almost all religions are afraid of one or the other thing. It's so ironic that the religions, which promise to soothe the souls and offer forgiveness are the creators of fear and are also, fearful of being discovered completely. It seems funny if you imagine this - You are praying in front of God but He is afraid of you because you might discover His reality.

Many would say that God is not afraid of anyone. And yet religions are prohibiting the access of ancient books and scriptures. Shouldn't everyone be allowed to use the knowledge and information of our ancestors? If there is nothing to hide, what's the worry? I'd rather call it a bureaucracy than a religion if there are restrictions in knowing God.

Knowledge must be free. God must be free. All religious information must be open to public. This will bring a revolutionary change, initially, and then an evolutionary change. Everyone will be set free from all of their fears. They will realize that all the Gods of all the religions were humans with flesh and bones, only with extraordinary character and life of disciplines and principles. They will understand that self-improvement, self-discipline and respect for others made Them so great. And eventually people will become aware that they also have the capacity and capability to be the God. That is because becoming God means being good and kind, excelling at what you do and how nicely you treat others. It takes a self-assured man to appreciate and respect others. And who else can be more self-assured than the God?

One day, there will be only Gods living here and there will be only one religion - "Godity". Because God sees everyone not as different species but God. There cannot be any other creed but the one and only one - "Godity".

You have to be religiously spiritual to be the God.

This year, be the God and be free from all fears.

Bless yourself !

Excerpt from an upcoming book - "I am God".