Uma Gupta writes about a book that is changing lives

If you believe in serendipity, it is everywhere, isn’t it? If you don’t believe in serendipity, then life is full of coincidences – random, insignificant coincidences. I for one believe in serendipity. I have believed in it all my life. People, events, situations, conversations, thoughts, actions – when I look back – everything had a purpose; Everything. I may not have seen it then, but I do now when I look back upon my life.

Let me give you an example. Last week I was flipping channels and paused on Oprah as she introduced a new book for her Oprah Book Club. It was The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Long time ago, I read Eckhart. I did not make a mental note or the book nor did I make a decision to buy the book.

Then the next day I was in Barnes&Noble on their buy two books – get-one-free table. And I see The New Earth. I was in a hurry and so quickly selected three books, including Eckhart, and left. I started on the book the same evening and I thought it was pretty boring. The first few pages were pretty difficult and abstract and I thought the book was going nowhere. Then as I read on, I could not put it down. It drew me in like a whirlpool. It challenged my thinking on life and its many dimensions in extraordinary ways. I plan to re-read the book. It will probably become my everyday Bible. Now that’s what I call serendipity!!

Uma Gupta writes About Courage, Conviction, and Confidence

Courage, conviction, and confidence:

Fear and worry is one of the most prevalent emotions in our every day lives. It is such an insidious emotion that sometimes we do not even recognize how it quietly finds a permanent corner in our emotional space and makes itself comfortable, knowing that it will be a part of the fabric of our lives for a long time to come. Replacing fear with hope and faith requires courage, conviction, and confidence. It is more easily said than done, but with attention and practice, it is possible. By no means is this an easy or short journey, but it is a journey well worth taking. At the end, each one of us can find peace and know that we will be okay. Very okay.

Whether in our personal or professional lives, fear is an inhibitor. It inhibits us from reaching our full potential, from being true to ourselves and to others, and from remaining true to our core values. This is the first in a series of articles that I will write about courage, conviction, and confidence both in the workplace and at home.

A simple exercise is to jot down every emotion you feel for one full day. Start in the morning from the time you get out of bed till you go to bed. If you are good at counting and if you have a great memory, you don’t even have to write it down! So make a note of your range and frequency of emotions: fear, (worry is fear), anxious, depressed, distressed, angry, jealous, guilty, uncertain, unsure, neglected, disappointed, joyous, hopeful, pessimistic, overwhelmed – just make a note.

Read a New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. A powerful book that speaks to how each one of us has the potential to rise above the fray, every day.

Uma Gupta writes about Sticky ideas from Chip Heath

Chip Heath is a Professor in the Stanford Graduate School of Business and he asks leaders to think about the "sticky" index of their important messages. In short, Professor Heath challenges leaders to think about who will remember what about their IMPORTANT messages? What did you remember? Were you inspired when you heard the message? And, did you change your behavior based on what you heard? People should understand, remember, and be inspired. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? He gives Kennedy’s call to a nation to put a man on the moon as a great example. Not all messages are important, but the important messages – well read Chip Heath before you deliver your important message to your stakeholders or to your teenager! Uma Gupta

Uma Gupta writes about Sticky ideas from Chip Heath

Chip Heath is a Professor in the Stanford Graduate School of Business and he asks leaders to think about the "sticky" index of their important messages. In short, Professor Heath challenges leaders to think about who will remember what about their IMPORTANT messages? What did you remember? Were you inspired when you heard the message? And, did you change your behavior based on what you heard? People should understand, remember, and be inspired. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? He gives Kennedy’s call to a nation to put a man on the moon as a great example. Not all messages are important, but the important messages – well read Chip Heath before you deliver your important message to your stakeholders or to your teenager! Uma Gupta

We are what we believe!

We all face challenges in our lives. But the road to happiness, through twists and curve, detours and dips, is based on our ability to persevere. Persevere, at all costs. Believe in yourself. Know that no storm lasts forever. I lean on the works of the great Dalai Lama for inspiration. He never fails me!

The deep root of failure in our lives is to think, ‘Oh how useless and powerless I am.’ It is essential to think strongly and forcefully, ‘I can do it,’ without boasting or fretting.

Dalai Lama