Words of Wisdom (2009)

Many people react immediately to the words and behavior of others. Whether it is an unreasonable demand being made or discouraging words being shouted, they become tense right away as blood pressure rises to dangerous levels. Perhaps you are one of these people. If so, you may be thinking: .... more

This time of the year is a time for giving, with shopping malls filled with people scurrying desperately to purchase gifts for family and friends. There is an urgency to make purchases. It is a stressful time for many who are trying to find the perfect gift. However, you do not have to get caught up in the shopping frenzy. There are other choices as far as giving is concerned... more

You may be at a point in your life when you know that you must follow your dream. If you are sure about your vision, then there is only thing to do: make preparations to turn it into reality. If you can dream it, you can do it. Be prepared to dedicate yourself fully to what you believe in. Keep in mind .... more

In life we are looking for something which is bigger than us; something which challenges us and delivers us from a dreary existence. To truly live, you must commit to a cause that you believe in. Once you find it, do not commit yourself half way... more

Everyone in the world wants to be loved. It is for this reason that a smile from a baby, a hug from a parent, a pat on the back by a teacher, a thank-you note from a coworker, and a cup of tea from an appreciative spouse are constantly sought after... more

Top 10 ways for you to know that God loves you and that you are special in His eyes:
10. You have food to eat and a roof over your head.
9. You have clean water to drink.
8. You can enjoy the pitter patter of rain... more

I recently met a couple who are searching far and wide to find a suitable and competent match for their daughter. They mentioned the various attributes of their daughter, but one particular point struck me. They mentioned that she was independent.... more

My mother is fond of telling stories about how stubborn I was as a child. Many times I challenged the decisions made by her. For instance, I would insist on choosing my own clothes to wear. Sad to say, my choice was the worst possible choice... more

While explaining stress management to an audience, a lecturer raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it... more

Many people erroneously believe that you are either born confident or you are not. This is not true. Confidence is something which can be developed. Think of a situation in which you are very confident. Then identify the reason behind your confidence... more

How would you feel if a guest wreaked havoc during his visit to your house? What would you think if he threw garbage all over and ignored all your rules? Suppose that at meal time he took other people's share of food and then proceeded to throw... more

We instinctively know the difference between right and wrong. The small, still voice inside guides us and tells us what to do and what not to. We also know the moral implications of doing the right thing versus committing wrongs. So, what do we do?... more

Some rice is left over from dinner. You bought some coffee and did not get a chance to drink it while it was warm. Half the loaf of bread you bought last week is now stale, and the bananas are now over ripe because they weren't eaten in time... more

I read a sign on the roadside which said, "Teaching your children how to count is important, but are you teaching them what really counts?" Parents start preparing for the child's future even before he takes birth. After the child is born, they do their best to give him... more

Observing people, we tend to make up our mind about them very quickly. Let us say that you see someone at a party eating before everyone else. Your initial reaction will likely be, "How greedy!" You have no way of knowing that he is severely diabetic and needs to... more

Just as a traveler on the highway looks for milestones as he advances towards his destination, so a spiritual seeker looks for marks of progress on the path he is traversing. These marks of progress tell the aspirant that he is headed in the right direction... more

Has this ever happened to you? You were reading a wonderful book, the type you can't put down until you finish it. So many great ideas were in the book, and you became truly inspired. You thought, "I am going to use this information to improve myself."... more

When traveling by air, you look at a city from up above and you can see the general layout. You are able to look at the big picture, and understand the placement of the highways, houses, warehouses, water towers, airport and the like... more

Married life is filled with such big challenges that Saint Tulsidas compares them to 'gigantic mountains.' Difficulties arise from the fact that two people from different backgrounds, of contrasting opinions and with different viewpoints come together and enter the state of... more

Most successful people in the world surround themselves with intelligent advisors. No one can be an expert in every single area, and for this reason, experts from various fields are necessary to impart good advice and provide essential feedback... more

Every individual is a combination of good and bad. The best person in the world has faults, and the worst person in the world has virtues. For your own betterment see the good and ignore the bad. If you are going to notice one thing, it is much better to notice virtue than vice... more

On a typical dresser in the bedroom you are likely to see ten different shades of nail polish, dozens of different facial and body creams, perfumes, and a large variety of other beauty items. Beautifying the body is on the top of our list, and we happily go to great lengths.... more

The word 'introspection' is derived from the Latin word 'introspicere,' which means 'to look within.' We look at ourselves daily in the mirror and try our utmost to get rid of the slightest blemish, the tiniest pimple and the most imperceptible imperfection.... more

John F. Kennedy had said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." A devotee's motto should be, "Ask not what God can do for you; ask what you can do for God." Prayer is an integral part of life for many... more

The adjective often used for gossip is 'juicy,' which makes it seem like a very tasty morsel. In reality, gossip is something which leaves an extremely bitter taste in the mouth. It causes feelings to be hurt and it is injurious to the spirit... more

As children we eat what our parents feed us, but when we become intelligent enough to decide for ourselves, we do well to choose a vegetarian diet over a non-vegetarian one. There are many reasons not to eat meat, some of which are mentioned below... more

I have been fortunate enough to know some very generous people in my life, people who are simply unforgettable. Giving freely of their time, lending a helping hand and stepping in to help even without being asked, comes as naturally as breathing to them... more

Words are a very powerful tool. They can inspire or discourage. They can make the listener smile or frown. Words can unite nations or push them to war. You can use words to inspire someone to live or to put an end to his life.... more

The owner of a multibillion dollar company became extremely distressed one day. In the middle of the afternoon he just took off and went to the woods. There he met a holy man and proceeded to tell him his problems. "I am unable to sleep at nights,... more

Everyone needs a helping hand now and then, and you should not shy away from asking others for assistance. However, there are many who feel that asking for help will prove them to be inept, weak and incapable.... more

I knew nothing about you,
but you were sitting inside, working, working.
Putting thoughts in my head I was not capable of thinking.
What will become of me when I die; will I no more be?... more

Everyone does it. Though you have heard it's the wrong thing to do, yet I recommend it highly. Go ahead and talk behind people's back. But.... say only good things about them... more

Recently my laptop needed repairs and when I went to pick it up I found that I was about six dollars short of the required payment. When I told the repairman that he would have the money by evening time, he got a look of disbelief in his eyes and asked with suspicion... more

Recently on the TV show 'Britain's Got Talent', a very ordinary looking middle-age woman came to the stage. Many people in the audience rolled their eyes and snickered, while many others started jeering. Even the judges' demeanor seemed to say... more

To err is human. Everyone makes mistakes. The mistake can be forgiven, but pretending it didn't happen or not learning from it is unforgivable. Once you have made a mistake, look back at it and use it as an opportunity to learn... more

Thousands of people are donating 20 minutes of their time today and making the city of Toronto a cleaner place. Citizens are picking up litter around their work place, school, park or neighborhood. The campaign is called the 'twenty minute makeover'... more

You may be an adult being told by parents that you will not amount to anything and that you will not be able to survive on your own. You may be a woman being told by your spouse that you will never learn to drive on the highway or handle the banking... more

Happiness is not something that someone or something will give you one fine day. It is not a feeling that will come over you once you visit or live in a certain place, or have certain friends, or drive a certain car, or wear a certain brand of jeans. To be happy, you must simply decide to be happy... more

Your mind is something which keeps generating desires and thoughts. Think of it as a factory which is always in production. It is always busy, thinking and desiring something or the other. In the course of a single day an average person thinks 60,000 thoughts per day... more

We definitely want the next hour, the entire day and our life itself to proceed as we have planned it, but thankfully it doesn't always happen that way. When plans get disturbed, we become mentally disturbed also. There is an instant regret... more

You could hear the ringing of bells in her gentle voice. When she laughed the entire room lit up and everyone laughed with her. When she walked she was the picture of poise and grace. She could melt your heart by simply calling out your name. Her compassion was infinite... more

Make an intelligent choice to spend some quiet time in prayer every day. Do not pray for better health, more wealth, better job, success in the stock market, higher grades, name and fame, a more understanding spouse or more obedient children.... more

While spontaneity has its charm, there is much to be said about a good plan. Good planning saves time and money, and prevents frazzled nerves. The mind becomes so preoccupied with numerous chores and matters throughout the day that sometimes the most important work remains unfinished... more

We need a power infinitely greater than ourselves to tell us what to do and what not to do. We cannot decide for ourselves, because our decisions will invariably be subjective. We will declare what we like doing to be the right thing, and what we dislike, to be the wrong thing... more

As a Teenager...
Between my fingers I hold a cigarette
And oh boy! I feel so cool
Puffing away with my friends
During recess at school... more

When was the last time you truly relaxed and had nothing pressing on your mind? When was the last time you laughed from deep within? How long has it been since you chased your little kids around the house, or played Battleship with them?... more

To appreciate what you have, you must understand the nature of desire. While the body gets older and older, worldly desire in the mind continues to get younger and younger. Desire leads us to believe that once it is fulfilled, all happiness will come our way... more

Due to interactions with various people throughout the day, it is inevitable that there will be misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Though it is easy to accuse an individual of wrongdoing, yet the fair thing to do is to give her benefit of the doubt... more

The fact that we are human should not be taken for granted. There are only 6.5 billion of us living on the planet earth. By itself, this sounds like a large number but not when you consider that there are so many other creatures in comparison... more

Most people keep themselves extremely busy throughout the day. They make so much time for others that there is no question of spending time with themselves... more

When I see a mock water-pump in a yard or a rusty water jug that serves as a lawn decoration, my mind goes back to my childhood... more

Make God your first priority rather than the last resort. What better way to do this than to start the day with prayer... more