December sees a surge in goal setting & planning webinars and class invitations, whether online or offline hitting our email box.

The one’s that won’t stop until you sign up. Then the next surge of offers and promises that their program will help you achieve all your dreams in the coming year.

Some of them are promoted by affiliates with stories of how they were drowning but now going with the flow. Apparently, that’s why you should enroll in a program (like yesterday) and offer their own bonuses.

There’s nothing wrong with that because we can all use good information and guidance. If an affiliate earns extra cash at year-end, then that’s good Karma.

Who’s the Elephant in the Room?

Except I find most of these sessions ignore or don’t address the actual elephant in the room. Or if they do, it’s done in such a light manner that the participant doesn’t note it.

It’s called Mindset.

You can have the best personal and professional development plan, the best sales and marketing plan, the best any kind of plan.

You can have all the skills it takes to make those plans work but guess what?

It’s all just writing on the paper or typing on the Word document if you don’t take care of your Inner Game.

You also need to make sure you have what it takes to create Change if required.

Access the quiz and mini-ecourse with my compliments by clicking here.

How to tell if you have a Mindset Issue?

You don’t need anyone to tell you the How part. You know you have an issue if:

• You start the year on full steam and then peter out by the month end, or
• Have a “stop-start” pattern, or
• You’re on track and then hear about some new method or technique and run after it. You don’t think or assess if your current method or technique is actually working better for you. (BTW, that’s shiny object syndrome)

I believe Mindset is the number one problem and one of the top reasons why people don’t generate the kind of success they deserve or desire.

That’s why every year, in the second week of December, I send my subscribers tips and resources to work on their Mindset. This helps them prepare for the coming year with the promise of new beginnings.

Choosing a Theme Word for the Year brings to the fore how we want to feel and experience the year.

Knowing what we want is brought out with the Contrast Clarity exercise which I also use in my Career Needs  course.

Of course, there is a goal setting part too. But first we need to get clear about what we really want and how we’ll keep ourselves motivated.

Then and only then can we take action on a daily basis, recording our intentions, actions taken and adjust to ensure a Growth Mindset throughout the year.

Handling Mindset issues created by Society

This elephant in the room is also affected by Society.

Society can condition an individual’s intellect leading them to believe they have limited strength to achieve their purposes.

The individual’s sense of personal existence is a conditioned belief of society’s lack of awareness of the true Self-Being. This conditioning breaks the link of the individual with his Higher Self. The person believes they are the Doer and alone in this life.

In order to break free from these often-self-imposed restrictions, it is important to realize that there is a Power and Presence of God.

This is often referred to as the Source of Power, a Life Energy within each of us. When we allow it, this can guide us to do all manner of good in our life.

Using Affirmations to wipe out conditioned beliefs

In essence, if you were to remove the error of your conditioned belief of your own sense of personal existence, you could use your mind and body to serve as a vehicle and channel for your God-Mind.

This requires that you must first synthesize your mind to the Mind, Presence and Perfection of God as your True Self.

You do this by practicing repetitively synthesizing affirmations to create a Oneness with the God-Power in your mind. Then you channel affirmations to enable the God-Power to flow through you and into your daily activities.

An easy synthesizing affirmation could be “I am One with the Divine Light of God’s Being within me”.

My favorite channeling affirmation which works for any faith is “God directs my footsteps and direction each day.”

This success secret has been known to Christ and other mystics through the ages.

The synthesizing technique uses the power of the Word to influence our conscious and subconscious thoughts. In turn, this has the power to direct and attract good and positive energy to help us to achieve our best.

The concept is clearly seen in the opening images in the Bhagavad Gita (the Celestial Song). The narration tells us about Arjuna the warrior sits in his chariot conversing with his charioteer Lord Krishna.

The Katha Upanishad, one of the four sacred texts of Hinduism throws light on this imagery which is similar to considering ourselves as God’s Vehicle.

Do you use affirmations to develop your Mindset and connect with your Higher Self? I’d love to read about it!

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

The Bhagavad Gita is a source of spiritual Life Coaching while providing essential lessons for leaders and those who want to follow the Path of Dharma or Duty, whether in their personal or professional lives.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has described the Bhagavad Gita as the essence of Vedic Literature and a complete guide to practical life.

Most people who have heard of this sacred text know that the Bhagavad Gita or The Celestial Song, was preached on the battlefield by Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu to Arjuna, the Leader, motivating him to do his duty as he faltered on seeing his friends and relatives who were now his enemy at the battle of Kurukshetra even as multitudes of his warriors stood behind him, waiting for him to lead them to victory in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

The views that follow is my own based on my reading of the epic Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita.

Each time I read both, I discover something new or have a realization. There is much depth and knowledge hidden in the pages of the Bhagavad Gita that are being revealed to me as I progress on my own spiritual path.

Divine Coaching from Lord Krishna

It’s my belief that Arjuna received divine coaching from none other than Lord Krishna himself.

Reading the scriptures carefully, one realizes it has all the tools for self-coaching, maintaining one’s mental equilibrium and focus when faced with a goal that may appear insurmountable.

The Gita is a gospel of Karma-Yoga

Lord Krishna explains how performance of prescribed duties, but without attachment to results, is the appropriate course of action for Arjuna. By the time the discourse is completed, the coached Arjuna becomes a Karma Yogi and unstoppable Leader of his army.

Swami Krishnananda explains it beautifully is his discourse The Principles of the Bhagavad Gita. He describes the main gospel of the Bhagavad Gita as Karma-Yoga, because it converts every activity into a meditation on the Absolute.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that worldly activity is itself a spiritual activity in the end, because any activity is finally inseparable from the movement of the Absolute. Therefore, it is, in truth, spiritual activity.

Reading and understanding the Bhagavad Gita is truly a powerful and intense catalyst for personal transformation.

Spirituality as a hallmark of a true Leader

Core values bind a team, not a collection of core competencies.

While many may believe the Gita to be a purely spiritual text, there are in fact tips and guidance for Leadership, whether over oneself or over a team and the need for integrity and focus on our goal.

Interestingly, at the beginning of the Holy Scripture, we learn that Duryodhana, the Crown Prince of Hastinapur undertakes an analysis of his strengths and weaknesses as well as those of the Pandavas, his enemy before the battle begins.

Arjuna does the same but shares his trepidation and fears with Lord Krishna. He is open to receiving guidance from the Higher Source which leads to ultimate victory in the greatest battle of its time on earth.

The might of Duryodhana’s army comprises the greatest warriors, kings whose very names can strike terror in the heart of any enemy.

It is headed by the venerated Bhishma, who is in every way a Leader projecting Gravitas. Yet he feels insecure and not confident of defeating the Pandava army. He asks his warriors to protect Bhishma.

Perhaps Duryodhana realizes that his huge army lacks the motivation and inner fire that is present in the army of the Pandavas who are fighting for justice.

The allegiance of his army is more out of a mistaken sense of loyalty to him rather than for the good of Hastinapur. The core values that bind a team together are either not strong enough for the warriors to identify with or are missing.

Each great warrior knows that the enemy is right but still they are willing to side with Duryodhana because of past benefits which blind them from being their true selves.

This happens a lot in today’s world where battles of corporate politics are fought at different levels.

Duryodhana knows this all too well which is why he asks his men to rally around and protect their Commander in Chief Bhishma, who is a symbol of virtue and respected by both sides.

He is the one good value that can bind Duryodhana’s de-motivated men together and aid in achieving his goal of retaining Hastinapur for him.

During the battle, when Bhishma is wounded and lying on a bed of arrows he continues to hold onto life until his vow that Hastinapur will be secure is completed. This happens with the victory of the Pandavas and justice.

In all humility, the only analysis that I can offer is that when there is courage of conviction and a strong belief that one is on the right path, then no matter what the impediments and obstacles come in our way, our Inner Fire will keep us going towards the highway of Success.

Turning inwards to our Higher Source strengthens our resolve and provides the spiritual support required to move forward.

At the same time, often even with the bad, there is some good and if the fight is for a just cause, then flame of virtue continues to flicker waiting for truth and justice to emerge, even if it is surrounded by other factors. In this case Virtue in the form of Bhishma waited for Righteousness to secure Hastinapur, the ultimate Goal.

How do you ensure alignment of your activities with your core values as a Leader to your team?

Author Note: This post is referenced to the Hindu epic Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita. Explore the epic and lessons for modern day Leadership as well as the spiritual way of life with 2 recommended books.

Timeless Leadership: 18 Leadership Sutras from The Bhagavad Gita by Debashis Chaterjee

Bhagavad-Gita English (2013) by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Image of Lotus Flower courtesy Mark Yang

Do you really know what makes you happy?

We all want to be happy. In fact, even if we don’t admit it, most of the time we are happy until we find ourselves craving for something that others have or get the feeling that we are missing out on something.

That takes us to the state of un-happiness until we are able to get back in balance.

Is Happiness an elusive concept that you are chasing?

Last week I received a call from a lady who found me via Google, reached my website and decided that she wanted to take me up on a consultation.

It appeared that she wanted to become a coach and also wanted coaching.

Our conversation soon indicated that she really did not know what she wanted as she dropped the desire to become a coach and decided to be coached all within a matter of two minutes.

We then spent the next half an hour doing a consultation to understand what her goals were and if we could work together to achieve her desired transformations. The lady had gone through a tough time and was seeking direction. So I suggested we take up a key issue.

A recurring theme during the consultation was her lack of happiness even though as a detached observer, I could fathom that she had ridden out the storm in her life and landed on her feet and had much to be proud of.

She had made the best of her situation and yes, at the end of the consultation she discovered a direction worth exploring on her own that would fit in with her lifestyle although as she herself realized, she was not coachable at present and needed to first identify what was making her unhappy.

In other words, she had to first master the first pillar of Emotional Intelligence – Self-Awareness.

Sadly, Happiness is not a coachable goal although one can offer guidance to the seeker and suggest some techniques to enable the seeker to find their equilibrium state of happiness.

This post is dedicated to self-help for happiness.

The Art of Happiness

The art of happiness has been discussed in discourses by the Dalai Lama. It is also found in the Bhagavad Gita. Both references echo the ultimate truth that happiness lies within us and is a state of mind.

From my own life experience, I know that being happy attracts more happiness.

Especially when I am able to bring a smile to another’s face from my behavior which is cheerful because I am happy from within and practice compassion for other beings by treating them with respect and understanding.

The other person in turn reaches out to assist me in whatever way I require at that moment and happiness multiplies all around.

Happiness and unhappiness are relative experiences or dualities.

To achieve true happiness, it is important to rise above the dualities and accept that as we grow, the concept of happiness too changes as with the changing purpose within the soul. Hence it is essential to be sensitive to one’s spiritual nature.

Bhagavad Gita stance on Happiness

“He who is unattached to the external world and its objects, and is attached to the Inner Self, will attain supreme happiness, which is everlasting.”

In other words, real happiness or ‘anand’ as it is called in Sanskrit is the goal for all sentient beings and until then, all that we are passing through is different states of mind.

All sentient beings crave real happiness and strive to achieve it, some ignorantly and some with the help of knowledge.

Meditation helps open the intuitive channels to gain knowledge of one’s True Self and to determine where our actual happiness is to be found.

In touch with our soul, we know what gives us permanent happiness and what changes are required within us to achieve happiness.

At the same time, to achieve this state of mind, it is important to have an attitude of gratitude for the level of happiness that already exists within our lives to God. It is equally important to acknowledge the acts of kindness that others do for us.

By doing both, we start living in an environment which is positive and vibrates with happiness. This attracts further happiness of the type required at that particular moment of time for us.

Programming the mind to accept that the God within us is the source of happiness for us not only raises our positive vibrations but also helps us to achieve all that we want because we begin to believe that happiness can be ours.

This in turn makes it a reality in our mind with the subsequent materialization of our want.

Often, where such materialization of perception of what would make us happy does not happen, we start to despair and lose faith.

That is the time to analyze the circumstances and engage in self-introspection. Sooner or later, you’ll discover it wouldn’t have been in your best interest and something better and more suited to your wants manifests.

Another post you might like to read is Make Happiness a Habit with more tips that you can easily implement and get results.

What is your view about being in the state of happiness? Have you ever felt out of sync and had to work on your mind to be happy or reach out for help?

I’d love to know more about your self-help tips for being happy.

Additional Resources for Happiness and Emotional Intelligence

I have 2 resources to supplement this happiness post. I invite you to check out one or both.

Karmic Ally Coaching Self-Awareness Bundle

Download the Self-Awareness resource here.

Stress management with Chakra Balancing exercises & 1 Minute Stress Management Tips

Click the image to learn more.

Updated December 2022

Ambitious driven professionals have a tendency to set the bar high – for others and more importantly, for themselves.

If the bar is at a reachable stretch, it is achieved with the right amount of effort. When you cross the bar, you can raise it again. Bar heights are not set in stone.

What happens when the bar is set so high that you, an otherwise competent professional start to struggle?

Well, it could be exhaustion (working long weekdays and weekends), strained relationships with colleagues, family & friends and if pushed too far, the creation of a self-destructive negative mindset, unhappiness and perhaps depression.

High achievers in school and college may have the bar set for them by others. Maybe parents who are trying to live their unfulfilled ambitions through their children, teachers who need to prove that they produced fine students and even us if we really want to be seen as part of the A Group.

Since we believe and are conditioned by others and ourselves, we don’t step back to ask;

Does this work for me?

What worked for me in the past………does it still work?

Today, I’m writing from the perspective of a Super Professional who found peace and success when I moved from perfectionism to being human.

I also found that I was still on top of my game but much happier and loved.

Success without happiness is no success

To share advice from my Mother, who I acknowledge is a wise lady and often quotes words of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita – Happiness comes from within. Do your best and leave the rest to God.

My best friend in Poland, who suffered from the same malady was intelligent enough to figure things out sooner than I did advises –

Don’t be so hard on yourself

I say – Be kind to yourself

You are your best friend.

Your companions in the journey of Life will come and go. Some may stay for a season and some for a purpose or reason but the one constant is you and your relationship with yourself.

So before you practice love and compassion for others and try to save the world, love yourself.

Be kind to yourself.

There is only one of you in this world; you are a masterpiece. So go forth and achieve without destroying everything which has value for you in the long run.

Embrace Compassion, embrace yourself and know that being critical or judgmental about yourself will not help you achieve your goals, even if after reading this post, you decide to lower the bar to a reachable height.

Emotionally Intelligent people practice self-awareness as the first stepping stone to showing empathy and understanding of others.

If this is an area that you know you need to improve on, now is the time to develop self-awareness.

Here are a few pointers to get you started on loving yourself and being kind to yourself.

The rest will come to you on your journey to Self-Compassion.

Step into the Now. Cherish each moment as if it were the last moment you have. Stop to smell the flowers, say hello to an elderly neighbor, dust the books on your bookshelf and watch the sky change colours during sunset.

Hey, even pat your pet dog or cat! Value who and what surrounds you in the moment. That moment will be a part of the past before you realize it.

Work out what the important things in your Life are. Is it meeting a deadline that can wait till tomorrow or being home in time for dinner with the family? In other words, value what is really important for you in your life. Don’t take family and friends for granted. Love them, appreciate them.

Learn to listen to your intuition and your heart. When you feel a sense of guilt about something, know that you are being told to correct course by your Higher Self. We are all connected to Divinity.

When we stop to love ourselves, our true Inner Nature comes out – one that loves unconditionally and is loved back unconditionally by the world.

When your Gremlins come out to play, acknowledge them and send them on their way. Be kind to yourself. Remember there is only one of you.

A lady whom I once knew used to write letters to others when she wanted to tell them things that she knew if said would destroy the relationship. It used to help her get things off her chest. She would then destroy those letters.

I suggest you write a letter to yourself today acknowledging how wonderful you are and why you need to be kind to yourself. It may be a short letter or a very long one. Read it a few days later and do come back to tell me what you realized.

Until then, be kind to yourself.

Written By: Vatsala Shukla