Thank you Chennai - 16th Nov 2013

My humble thanks to the people of Chennai, India for participating with full energy &enthusiasm in-spite of the heavy rains. You people are awesome.

The difference between Successful People & Un-Successful People is that the former takes ACTION.

Now, it is time for action. One technique out of many techniques learnt in yesterday workshop has the potential & possibility to transform your whole life. Take ACTION.

I take this opportunity to thank the organizer Mr. Venkatesh, CEO of Innovative Services for organizing the event successfully. A special word of thanks to all the sponsors & a great friend Surendran, CEO of Success Gyan( www.successgyan.com ) for the inspiration & support. 

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Simple, Easy & Easier way to Increase your Happiness@Work

Are you Happy@Work?

Allow me to share with you three techniques (simple, easy & easier) which you can apply in your work-spot. These techniques will increase your happiness and thereby your productivity & relationships with your peers, supervisor & colleagues.

Simple Technique 1:- 
Before you leave office, take a sheet of paper (or even on your comp), list down 5-10 good things that happened on that day. Talking nice to your colleagues, had a healthy or sumptuous lunch, got a new sale, solved an issue, meeting a deadline, successful client servicing, able to inspire one colleague, appreciated somebody & felt happy etc.

You can maintain this as a happiness log or happyness@work journal also. Since many of us have the tendency to remember the negative experience, it's better to remember the positive one by writing in this journal.

Writing at-least 1 positive experience per day means, 22 in a month & 250 plus positive experiences in one full year. This list will pep you up, motivate you and above all help you during your half-yearly or annual appraisals.

Remember, the last 5 minutes of every single work day will determine your happiness at work.

If this exercise sounds boring, then let me share with you an easy way & an easier way.

Easy Technique 2:- 
Can you invest just 8 seconds of this easy way.

That’s all I am going to ask you now.

Bring your entire attention to the tip of your nose & take just one full deep breath mindfully. Feel the chillness of the air as your breathe in for 4 seconds & feel the hot air coming out as you breathe out for 4 seconds. You can mentally count 1-4 for inhale and 5-8 for exhale.

Can you do this without getting distracted? 

One mindful breath & you are done with today’s meditation. 
Nevertheless, One mindful breath a day, keeps your unhappiness away!  

Easier Technique 3: - 
Everyday, when you enter your work-spot, at random look at any two people and mentally tell “I want this person to be happy”. Start doing this exercise, you will suddenly find that you are filled with lots of happiness & good things happen in your life.
If you like any one of the above 3, then, pick that one & start the practice for the next 21 days till it becomes a habit for you.

Practice promotes habits and habits deliver results.

Happyness@work = Super charged, Exciting, Rewarding, Energizing, Fun.

Power of NOW - Quotes from EckHart Tolle

Have you read this book?

Here are some interesting quotes and some best lines from this mind blowing book by Eckhart Tolle!

Just read one by one slowly & digest the essence of this pearl of wisdom.

Quotes & Wisdom from Power of NOW:-

“There is one certain criterion by which you can measure your success in mindfulness practice: the degree of peace that you feel within.”

***

"I would say about 80 to 90 percent of most people’s thinking is not only repetitive and useless, but because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature, much of it is also harmful. Observe your mind and you will find this to be true. It causes serious leakage of vital energy.

***

"Just as you cannot fight the darkness, you cannot fight the pain-body. Trying to do so would create inner conflict and thus further pain. Watching is enough. Watching it implies accepting it as part of what *is* at that moment"

***

"The reason why you don’t put your hand in the fire is not because of fear, it’s because you know that you’ll get burned. You don’t need fear to avoid unnecessary danger—just a minimum of intelligence and common sense"

"If it is the quality of your consciousness at this moment that determines the future, then what is it that determines the quality of your consciousness? Your degree of presence. So the only place where true change can occur and where the past can be dissolved is the Now.”

***

"Ask yourself: Is there joy, ease, and lightness in what I am doing? If there isn’t, then time is covering up the present moment, and life is perceived as a burden or a struggle.”

***

"Are you stressed? Are you so busy getting to the future that the present is reduced to a means of getting there? Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there,’ or being in the present but wanting to be in the future"

***

“Watch any plant or animal and let it teach you the acceptance of what *is*, surrender to the Now. Let it teach you Being. Let it teach you integrity—which means to be one, to be yourself, to be real. Let it teach you how to live and how to die, and how *not* to make living and dying into a problem.”

***

"The present moment is all you ever have. There is never a time when your life is not ‘this moment.’ Is this not a fact?”

***

“There is nothing wrong with striving to improve your life situation. You can improve your life situation, but you cannot improve your life. Life is primary. Life is your deepest inner Being. It is already whole, complete, perfect. Your life situation consists of your circumstances and your experiences. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and striving to achieve things. The mistake lies in using it as a substitute for the feeling of life, for Being. The only point of access for that is the Now. You are then like an architect who pays no attention to the foundation of a building but spends a lot of time working on the superstructure.”

Tele-Happiness - Simple & Powerful 1-2-3 Technique

 

Tring...Tring...Tring...

Hello....

Good Morn Sir, I am calling from ABC Bank.
Hi Honey!
Why did you do this do?
I didn't expect this from you.
I want this job to do done now.
Can I ask you for a favour?
Sir, do you want personal loans?

etc, etc...

Everyday we attend different varieties of phone calls viz, cold call, conference call, phone call, boss call, courtesy call, service call etc

Everyday we dial our iPhone or smart phones many times to interact with friends, supervisor, colleagues or family members.

Some calls are productive & profitable, some are depressive, some are addictive & some are empowering & happy.

I know many people who keep thinking about their phone calls. The dialogues continue to run in their head in auto-pilot mode. Negative talks persists & the happy talks vanishes faster.

Am I right in saying!

Let me share with you a simple technique which can empower your tele-happiness.

The more your practice this technique, you will increase your

1. Profitability
2. Relationships
3. Attention capabilities
4. Calmness & Clarity in thinking

and you will decrease your

1. Emotional Stress
2. Negative thinking

1-2-3 Phone Meditation:- Simple & Powerful technique

1) Every time the phone rings, just take ONE nice deep breath before attending the phone call. Yeah, any caller can wait for your one breath.

2) When you are going to make a phone call, take TWO deep breaths and mentally say the following - "I want this person/caller to be happy".

3) When you have to take a decision over phone, when you are in a conflict or argument over phone, when you are influencing or convincing someone over phone, then take THREE deep breaths and then respond accordingly.

Remember, it's all about the space between the stimulus and response. The higher the space between them, higher will be your happiness & peace of mind.

More you practice and become aware of this space, more your life is under your control. Otherwise, the other person takes over your life.

Your phone, Your Space, Your happiness!
 

Four minute happiness technique

Can you invest 4 mins for your happiness? 

Then, let me share with you two 2 minutes technique. You can’t strengthen your muscle just by reading a fitness book. You have to do it. Similarly you can’t become happy just by reading this status update. You have to do it, build your happiness muscle.

First 2 mins - Without break for continuous two mins, bring your awareness to your breath. Feel the air going in and coming out. Just be only with the breath for 2 mins. As simple as that.

Next 2 mins - Sit for the next 2 mins without any agenda and do nothing. Just simply sit without any agenda or thinking. Just observe things or events or people as it is without any judgements.

You can mix and match both the techniques and you can practice at any time of the day. You can even do it each for one minute also. More you practice it, more you will be happy.

Every time you practice this, happy chemicals are released in your brain which keeps your calm & clear.

Say thanks even for negative things in your life

When things go wrong, when we’re not happy, when people are mean to us, when we are torn down by the dozen poisonous arrows of everyday life … we don’t want to say thank you. But in truth, this is the time when it matters most. 

When life gets you down, when you are hurt or angry or confused or frustrated, take a moment to stop and close your eyes and find things to be thankful for. Your health, your family, your job, the house you live, the fact that you’ll have a next meal, the beauty of the world around you, the good people in your life. Whatever you can think of, be thankful for them … and express that gratitude somehow. Realize that all is not bad in this world, and be happy for that.

And then, when you’ve mastered that skill, think of the negative things in your life … and give thanks for them. 

That person who was mean to you? Thank them for teaching you patience and understanding. 

That person who hurts your ego? Thank him for teaching you humility. 

The natural disaster you went through? Thank it for reminding you of what is important in life. 

The illness you are going through? Thank it for making you stronger.

Anything negative in life is teaching you something. Just say thanks to negative things in life.

Related articles

• STOP and be Happy, Peaceful & Useful
• 46 ways for Happy Living
• How to Simplify Life & Stay happy

Next Billion Speakers - TEDx Event in Chennai, 18th Aug 2013

It is time...

It is time to live life on our terms...

It is time to take back the remote control of our lives from others...

It is time to take our lives from good to great...

Meet the NEXT BILLION Speakers on the TEDx platform on 18th Aug 2013.

This one event will change your life...

This one program is equal to reading at-least 100 books...

The learning's from this one event will save you 2-3 years of your personal life experience...

Any one idea, one strategy or philosophy shared by any one speaker will be your next billion dollar idea.

When opportunity knocks, take action!

The only difference between successful and unsuccessful people is their ability to TAKE ACTION!

Download the entire talk as an eBook for FREE here...

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/352578

Happyness@Work - Present & Future of your Organization

Happiness is not a joke in management. I am damn serious. 

Happy companies will succeed. Happy companies will grow and happy companies will innovate new products. 

The present & future of any organization lies in the happiness levels of its employees.

Performance & Happiness are deeply connected. Read more to understand the power of happiness@work...

Can you answer this question?

Which of the following types of persons would you prefer to have in greater numbers in your organization?

A. Happy Low Performers
B. Unhappy Low Performers
C. Unhappy High Performers
D. Happy High Performers
E. All of the above.

I am sure, you would choose "D".

Look at this at this matrix by Dr.Charles D Kerns which reveals the happiness & Performance matrix.

Higher the positive experience, higher is the performance.

Happiness at work is that feeling you get when you:

• Enjoy what you do
• Do great work you can feel proud of & tell others what you do
• Work with amazing people/mentors
• Know that what you do is important
• Are appreciated/recognized for your work
• Get to take more responsibility
• Have fun at work
• Learn and grow
• Make a difference in lives of customers, colleagues & family members
• Feel motivated and energized 
• Feel part of something larger than life

Most of us already know that feeling. We have been there at least some of the time in our working or business lives. The question is: How to get MORE of it?

Just Imagine the other way...

You wake up early on Monday morning and feel it's going to be a wonderful week. You are going to have one full week of fun, happiness & productivity at work without getting stressed.You eagerly look forward to work with your boss, co-workers, colleagues whom you admire a lot etc.

You are ready to make a positive difference in everybody's life out there at work-spot. Best part is you come happily & satisfied to spend quality time with your family & kids.

WOW! Amazing way to balance work & life.

So, the key question here, why be happy at work? What's in it for me...

Because happyness@work ensures

• More drive and motivation.
• Have clear sense of direction
• Better relations with co-workers
• More success
• More creativity and good ideas
• More energy
• Better health
• Less stress
• Much more fun
• More meaning & purpose in work
• Achieving desired results
• More positive experiences than negative experiences
• More grateful and not carry grudges on the past events or people
• Become more optimistic
• You Talk, act & behave in ways which promotes performance & happiness
• More happy feeling about the workplace

And it’s not just good for people. 

Global Organizations have understood the importance of inner well-being & happiness at the work-spot. More and more businesses are finding that things go better with happiness and that happy companies have:

• Higher productivity—happy people achieve better results.
• Higher quality—because happy employees care about quality.
• Lower absenteeism—people actually want to go to work.
• Less stress and burnout—happy people are less prone to stress.
• The best people—people want to work for happy companies.
• Higher sales—happy people are the best salespeople.
• Higher customer satisfaction—happy employees are the best basis for good service.
• More creativity and innovation—happy people are more creative.
• More adaptability—happy people are much more adaptive and open to change.
• Better stock performance and higher profits—for all of the above reasons.

Simply put: Happy companies are more efficient and make more money. And they make people happy, which is of course a goal in itself.

Now, ask yourself

Are you happy@work?

Take this simple self assessment survey to find your happiness levels at work-spot.

Instructions: Use this survey to assess your performance and happiness in your current work place on the dimensions cited below. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (“10″ being the highest or “very true”) for each dimension.

Dimension	Self-Rating
1. I have a clear direction.
2. I am motivated by that direction.
3. I am focused on what is important.
4. I am focused on what I can influence
5. I am linked to the necessary resources to execute key actions.
6. I act in ways that promote performance.
7. I achieve agreed upon results.
8. I act in ways that promote positivity.
9. I am significantly engaged in my work.
10. I find meaning/purpose in my work.
11. I have more positive than negative experiences at work.
12. I look at the past gratefully.
13. I practice forgiveness.
14. I look into the future with optimism.
15. I am happy about my work place.

© Copyright, 2007, Charles D. Kerns, PhD

Score of 8 or above indicates higher performance & happiness levels. Score of 5 or below indicates opportunity for development or change.

Action Plan:

From today on-wards, let's follow this simple technique.

Before you leave office, take a sheet of paper(or even on your comp), list down 5-10 good things that happened on that day. Talking nice to your colleagues, had a healthy or sumptuous lunch, got a new sale, solved an issue, making a deadline, successful client servicing, able to inspire one colleague, appreciated somebody & felt happy etc.

You can maintain this as a happiness log or happyness@work journal also. Since many of us have the tendency to remember the negative experience, it's better to remember the positive one by writing in this journal.

Writing at-least 5 good things means, 100 in a month & 1200 positive things in one full year. This list will pep you up, motivate you and above you will surely even help you during half-yearly or annual appraisals.

Remember, the last 5 minutes of every single work day will determine your happiness at work.

Remember,

Happyness@work = Super charged, Exciting, Rewarding, Energizing, Fun.

Job satisfaction = Booooooooring!

Related articles

• 46 ways for Happy Living
• Positive Values@Work-Spot - What's your VQ
• How to create a new HABIT - Step by Step Plan

How to Simplify Life & Stay happy

Life is not complex, we are complex. Life is very simple & beautiful. Leading a simple life is one of the easiest way to be in a happy state. There is no one single definition for simplicity and it varies from people to people, culture to culture or even within the same family. Here are few ideas to simplify one day. Happiness is happening in the present moment and not next week or next month. When you learn to simplify your day, you can simplify your whole living and live a peaceful & contended living.

Some simple techniques to simplify life:

1) Prioritize. Before going to sleep, determine what is your most important tasks of next day. (1-3 tasks or priorities). If the list is big, identify the important tasks and eliminate the rest.

2) Accept that you can’t do everything, know that you want to do what’s important to you, and try to eliminate the commitments that aren't so important.

3) Do less each day. Don’t fill your day up with things to do. You will end up rushing to do them all. Instead of trying to do 7-10 things & fail in 5, do 3 important ones instead. This will give you time to do what you need to do, and not rush.

4) Give space between every task and meeting for you to relax. There are many mental or emotional loops opened simultaneously when we participate in the world. You should give some time to close all these loops. Relaxation and doing nothing helps you to complete many mental loops and thereby avoiding stress in life.

5) Enjoy doing every task. Don’t rush. Be slow. Do only one task at a time. Avoid multi-tasking. Be with the process and not on the outcome.

6) Stuff or Experience. When you have to buy something, ask whether it is really needed for life. Remember, happiness doesn’t lie in the stuff we buy. Do a scan of your environment where you are living. See all the stuff you have acquired. Instead of seeing as stuff/material, observe them as your hard earned money/time over there. Time & Money worth invested on experiences stays for ever instead of things & materials. They depreciate & diminish. Stuff is impermanent, but experience lives longer in memory

7) Be frugal & economical. There is nothing wrong in thinking economically. It helps you, your family, society & the nation.

8) Breathe slowly & deeply. Simple living comes by mastering over your desires or your breath. The former takes long time, the latter is easy & simple with little efforts. Be mindful of your breaths and do follow some simple techniques discussed in this article 108 Breaths to enlightenment

Now, just ask yourself this...

Related articles

• 46 ways for Happy Living
• How to schedule the first one hour of the day - My personal practice
• How to Implement Daily Changes in Life

Family First

We have a human need to be close, to be intimate, with other human beings. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong marriage or close and loving relationships with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy. I put my family first above everything else in life.

In the book "Blue Zones" by Dan Buettner, he shares 9 ways to add 12 years to your life. He says a thriving family can add upto 6 years. Putting family first is one of the simple method to live happier, healthier and longer.

One simple method I follow is our daily family meeting. My two daughters, my wife and myself sit for a 10-15 minute discussion time(sometimes it may go upto 30minutes also) and we discuss our experiences in life. We share our stories.

Yesterday, we had an amazing discussion started with the Himalayan Tsunami happened few days ago in Uttarkhand - India but slowly landed in the topic of money, economics and types of people based on their income levels.

A sudden realization struck me as I was discussing with them.

Read this facebook update which I posted today

Murali Sundaram3 hours ago

326/Which class do you belong to?

During our family discussion yesterday, we ended up in discussing about different classes of people based on their income levels like lower class, middle class and upper class of people.

My daughter asked me which class we belong to. Suddenly the realization struck me that we do not fulfil any of the criteria and do not fit into any category.

I told her that we belong to “happy” class. Our currency is Happiness. Our main trading commodity is most precious on earth - Breath. We live in the “NOW”.

I told her there are only two class of people - happy class & unhappy class. Unhappy class are not clear about what they want in life, not focussed on their lives, they live for others, they worry what others will think of them, they acquire lots of stuff instead of life experience, they have lots of dreams, but dare not to take action, they will find fault in others, they will blame politicians, governments, neighbours, relatives, friends, colleagues, they live either on past worries or anxieties of future.

So, which class you belong to? Powered by socialditto  13 likes ·  4 comments

Very true...

Just Imagine living like this...

Class: Happy

Currency: Happiness

Commodity: Breath

Place: Here in the NOW, Present moment

Gadget: iBody

Happiness is a choice. When we are happy, our family is happy. 

Read this article on 46 ways of happy living for more insights on happiness and simple methods to live happily.

Class Attendance - 30th Std

Murali Sundaram 2 hours ago

327/ Class Attendance

School Name: Life
Class: 30th Std (All students are above 35 years)

Anger - Present sir
Anxiety - Present sir
Boredom - Present sir
Desires - Present sir (in full volume)
Frustration - Present sir
Monthly EMI - Present sir (in full volume)
Office Tension - Present sir
Sadness - Present sir
Worries - Present sir
Uncertainties - Present sir

Happiness - ??? (no sound)
Happiness - ???
Happiness - Absent sir
Peace of mind - Absent sir
Contentment - Absent sir

Class teacher: In life, there is nothing called sadness. Either Happiness Present or Happiness Absent. Life is very simple to live, but many find it difficult to be simple.

46 ways for Happy Living

Why be happy?

Why Not? Life is short...Be Happy! You will live ten years longer, reduce anger, have less stress and confusion, have better focus, better patience and self control, access greater intelligence, utilize wisdom, experience emotional competence, create inner peace, enhanced relationships, and enjoy your life while enriching others with your happiness.

Being happy can make a positive difference in your life and in the life of others.

225 Studies on the Benefits of Happiness*

Happy People are:

1. Are more productive at work and more creative
2. Make more money and have superior jobs
3. Are better leaders and negotiators
4. Are more likely to marry and to have fulfilling marriages, and less likely to divorce
5. Have more friends and social support
6. Have stronger immune systems, are physically healthier, and even live longer
7. Are more helpful and philanthropic
8. Cope better with stress and trauma

*FROM: Lyubomirsky, S., King, L. A., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803-855.

Happiness is a habit, a way of living, for many people like me.

Definition of Happiness

One of the better definitions of happiness is “an inner state of well being which enables you to profit from your highest thoughts, wisdom, intelligence, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values in your life. Happiness is an emotional state which is an experience and not a concept.

Happiness means different things to different people. For some, the experience of happiness is one of predominately “high arousal” feelings such as joy and excitement; for others, it involves more “low arousal”, but equally important, emotions such as calm, contentment, peace and tranquility  Ideally, we should experience and enjoy both these forms of positive emotions, but some people tend to the high arousal end of the spectrum (e.g. extroverts) while others (e.g. introverts) might seek out low arousal forms of happiness.

In simple words, Happiness is a subjective well-being.  And all of us know and agree that we want to be happy. I bet, you will ever hear any sane person saying that he/she wants to be unhappy.

Happiness Process is very simple

Become Aware-Notice- Appreciate-being happy about living in this moment.

But the challenge is to get the basic habits which allow us to be happy always, which allow us to be in this continuous state of flow.

46 ways for Happy Living

What are the common traits or habits seen universally

Here is one big list of various actions they undertake. My request to you is to read one by one and don’t be in a hurry.  See how many habits you already possess and what you can add more into your life. 

What Happy People do! They

1.  Set SMARTER goals (specific, measurable, achievable, Realistic, time bound, enjoyable & record).
2.  Review goals on a regular basis (i.e. daily)
3.  Eat well and exercise regularly - Maintain same time
4.  Ensure they get enough sleep and rest
5.  Meditate often and enjoy “wakefulness”
6.  Think optimistically
7.  Build positive relationships
8.  Find ways to utilize their strengths every single day
9.  Set themselves challenges
10. Vary their routines
11. Practice appreciation and gratitude
12. Have fun & enjoy every moment of life
13. Get up early
14. Do less & not over-complicate life
15. Breathe slowly & deeply
16. Practice Patience
17. Practice compassion
18. Find their own passion
19. Are more organized
20. Simplify their finances & life
21. Accept what they have
22. Maintain focus
23. Enjoy their journey towards their goals
24. Create a morning & evening routine
25. Enjoy the simple pleasure of life
26. Write a journal
27. Read and read to their kids
28. Take time to relax & de-stress
29. Live in the present moment - Mindfulness
30. Spend sufficient time with family and loved ones
31. Pick themselves up when they are down
32. Avoid comparisons & judgements
33. Focus on benefits, not difficulties
34. Be romantic
35. Lose arguments
36. Get into the flow
37. Single task and avoid multi-tasking
38. Are economical
39. Start small and slow
40. Prefer outdoors 
41. Savor the little things
42. Help others
43. Give - time, money, emotions, resources etc to others
44. Spend time with nature
45. Notice small things or changes within & outside themselves.
46. Enjoy the miracles of life.

Wow! That’s a pretty exhaustive list.  

Are you a Happy Person? Do you want to be more happy & make others also happy.  Do you want to create habits which can guarantee you life long happiness? 

Adopt some simple actions, start small, go slow, add 10% increments, don't skip a day, celebrate the success and be happy.

This article is an excerpt from one of my books which I am writing now...Launching soon!