Perception on Perception

What a wonderful post. It changed my perception on perception

A teacher teaching Maths to a six-year-old asked him, 

“If I give you one apple and one apple & one apple, how many apples will you have?”

With a few seconds the boy replied confidently, “Four!”

The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three).

She was disappointed. “May be the child did not listen properly,” she thought.

She repeated, “please listen carefully. It is very simple. You will be able to do it right if you listen carefully."

"If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

The boy had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face.

He calculated again on his fingers.

But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make his teacher happy.

This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four...”

The disappointment stayed on teacher’s face.

She remembered that the boy loves strawberries.

She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him lose focus.

This time with exaggerated excitement & twinkling eyes she asked ...

“If I give you one strawberry & one strawberry & one strawberry, then how many will you have?”

Seeing the teacher happy, the young boy calculated on his fingers again.

There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher.

She wanted her new approach to succeed.

With a hesitating smile, the young boy replied, “Three?”

The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded.

She wanted to congratulate herself.

But one last thing remained.

Once again she asked him,
“Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?”

Promptly the answer was “Four!”

The teacher was aghast.

“How.... tell me, How?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.

In a voice that was low and hesitating young boy replied,
“Because I already have one apple in my bag.”

Lessons to Learn: When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you are expecting, it is not necessarily they are wrong.

There may be an angle that we may not have understood at all.

We need to learn to appreciate and understand different perspectives.

Quite often, we try and impose our perspectives on others and then wonder what went wrong.

The next time someone gives you a different perspective than yours, sit down and gently ask
"Can you please help me understand"?......

It's Our Culture

Strange things we do in the name of Culture

1. We care more for the dead than we do for the living!

2. We spend more to bury a person than we do to save their life.

3. We will not travel to go and see a sick relative but will travel to bury him /her

4. People will rarely respect you while alive but will want to "pay their last respects" when you are in your casket.

5. A person may NEVER receive roses in their entire life but they will get lots dumped on their graveyard!

6. We will spend a night at a neighbour's funeral and it will be our first time to see the inside of their house!

7. No one gives a damn to know where you live until you die and they will all fill car after car to "escort" your corpse

8. We will take the dead to the church knowing fully well they had nothing to do with worship while they were alive.

9. We might not have granite tops in our kitchens but use the granite in the graveyard!

10. In some homes there might not have tiled floors but the only place with expensive tiles will be a graveyard!

It is proposed we have "Cultural Reforms"  but we have a culture of "hypocrisy"...
a culture that is "Pro-death" and NOT "Pro-life!"*
We need to value life BEFORE death.

THE WORLD IS MINE

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman

      and wished I were as beautiful.

      When suddenly she rose to leave,

      I saw her hobble down the aisle.

      She had one leg and used a crutch.

      But as she passed, she passed a smile.

      Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

      I have two legs; the world is mine.

 

      I stopped to buy some candy.

      The lad who sold it had such charm.

      I talked with him, he seemed so glad.

      If I were late, it'd do no harm.

      And as I left, he said to me,

      "I thank you, you've been so kind.

      It's nice to talk with folks like you.

      You see," he said, "I'm blind."

      Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

      I have two eyes; the world is mine.

                                                                                          Later while walking down the street,

      I saw a child I knew.

      He stood and watched the others play,

      but he did not know what to do.

      I stopped a moment and then I said,

      Why don't you join them dear?"

      He looked ahead without a word.

      I forgot, he couldn't hear.

      Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

      I have two ears; the world is mine.

 

      With feet to take me where I'd go, 

      With eyes to see the sunset's glow, 

      With ears to hear what I'd know, 

      Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

      I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

This is a beautiful and touching story of love and perseverance. At the prodding of my friends I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Honor and I am a former elementary school music teacher I have always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons - something I have done for over 30 years. During those years I found that children have many levels of musical ability, and even though I have never had the pleasure of having a prodigy, I have taught some very talented students. However, I have also had my share of what I call 'musically challenged' pupils - one such pupil being Robby.. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano, so I took him as a student. Well, Robby began his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary piano pieces that I require all my students to learn. Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he would always say 'My mom's going to hear me play someday'. But to me, it seemed hopeless, he just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but never dropped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming for his lessons. I thought about calling him, but assumed that because of his lack of ability he had decided to pursue something else. I was also glad that he had stopped coming - he was a bad advertisement for my teaching! Several weeks later I mailed a flyer recital to the students' homes. To my surprise, Robby (who had received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and that because he had dropped out, he really did not qualify. He told me that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to his piano lessons, but that he had been practicing. 'Please Miss Honor, I've just got to play' he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital - perhaps it was his insistence or maybe something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night of the recital came and the high school gymnasium was packed with parents, relatives and friends. I put Robby last in the program, just before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he might do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'curtain closer'. Well, the recital went off without a hitch, the students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on the stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked as though he had run an egg beater through it. 'Why wasn't he dressed up like the other students?'  I thought. 'Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?' Robby pulled out the piano bench, and I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen to play Mozart's Concerto No. 21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from allegro to virtuoso; his suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by anyone his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo, and everyone was on their feet in wild applause! Overcome and in tears, I ran up onstage and put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I have never heard you play like that Robby, how did you do it? 'Through the microphone Robby explained: 'Well, Miss Honor .... remember I told you that my mom was sick? Well, she actually had cancer and passed away this morning. And well ...... she was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she had ever heard me play, and I wanted to make it special.' There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy. I thought to myself then how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I have never had a prodigy, but that night I became a prodigy ....... of Robby. He was the teacher and I was the pupil, for he had taught me the meaning of perseverance and love, of respect and believing in yourself, and may be even taking a chance on someone and you didn't know why. Robby was killed years later in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P.  Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April, 1995. So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice Do we act with compassion or do we pass up that opportunity and leave the world a bit colder in the process? May God Bless you today, tomorrow and always. If God didn't have a purpose for us, we wouldn't be here!

I've Learnt

This quote is so profound:If you will take the time to read these I promise you'll walk away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered, affects us all, on a daily basis: They're  written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so  much with so few words.  .........Enjoy.........  

I've  learned ... That  the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly  person.
I've  learned ....  That when you're in love, it shows. I've  learned ....  That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!'  makes my day.

I've  learned ....  That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the  most peaceful feelings in the  world.
I've  learned ....  That being kind is more important than being  right.
I've  learned ....  That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've  learned ....  That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the  strength to help him in some other way.
I've  learned ....  That no matter how serious your life requires you to be,  everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've  learned ....  That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a  heart to understand.
I've  learned ....  That simple walks with my father around the block on summer  nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an  adult.
I've  learned ....  That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets  to the end, the faster it goes.
I've  learned ....  That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask  for.
I've  learned ....  That money doesn't buy class.
I've  learned ....  That it's those small daily happenings that make life so  spectacular.
I've  learned ....  That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be  appreciated and loved.
I've  learned ....  That to ignore the facts does not change the  facts.
I've  learned ....  That love, not time, heals all  wounds.
I've  learned ....  That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've  learned ...  That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've  learned ....  That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the  ones you miss.
I've  learned ....  That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock  elsewhere.
I've  learned ....  That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one  more time before she passed away.
I've  learned ....  That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because  tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've  learned .....  That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your  looks.
I've  learned .....  That when your newly born grandchild holds your little  finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for  life.
I've  learned ....  That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all  the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing

The Empty Boat⛵*

A monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery.
He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation.  

After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own. With his eyes still closed, he senses his anger rising, and by the time he opens his eyes, he is ready to scream at the boatman who dared disturb his meditation.
But when he opens his eyes, he sees it’s an empty boat that had probably got untethered and floated to the middle of the lake.
At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization, and understands that the anger is within him; it merely needs the bump of an external object to provoke it out of him.

From then on, whenever he comes across someone who irritates him or provokes him to anger, he reminds himself, *“The other person is merely an empty boat. The anger is within me.”*

Take time for introspection & search for answers within.

This lovely parable is from "Your Sacred Self" by Dr. Wayne Dyer.

In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?”The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”         “Nonsense” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?”
The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”
The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.”
The second insisted, “Well I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.”
The first replied, “Nonsense. And moreover if there is life, then why has no one has ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.”
“Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet Mother and she will take care of us.”
The first replied “Mother? You actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?”
The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her this world would not and could not exist.”
Said the first: “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn’t exist.”
To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice, calling down from above.”
May be this was one of the best explanation to the theory of 'After-death' and the concept of 'GOD' I have come across..

HAVE A BLISSFUL DAY

One Sufi mystic who had remained happy his whole life — no one had ever seen him unhappy — who was always laughing, whose whole being was a perfume of celebration…. In his old age, when he was dying, on his deathbed and still enjoying death, laughing hilariously, a disciple asked,
“You puzzle us. Now you are dying, why are you laughing? What is there funny about it?
We are feeling so sad. We wanted to ask you many times in your life why you are never sad. But now, confronting death at least, one should be sad. But You are still laughing   

The old man said, “It is simple. I had asked my master as a young man; I was only seventeen and already miserable, and my master was old, seventy, and he was sitting under a tree, laughing for no reason at all. There was nobody else there, nothing had happened, nobody had cracked a joke or anything, and he was simply laughing, holding his belly. I asked him, ‘What is the matter with you? Are you mad or something?’
“He said, ‘One day I was also as sad as you are. Then it dawned on me that it is my choice, it is my life.’  “Since that day, every morning when I get up, the first thing I decide is… before I open my eyes I say to myself, ‘Abdullah'” — that was his name — “‘what do you want? Misery? Blissfulness? What you are going to choose today?’ And it happens that I always choose blissfulness.”
It is a choice. Try it. When you become aware the first moment in the morning that sleep has left, ask yourself, “Abdullah, another day! What is your idea? Do you choose misery or blissfulness?”
And who would choose misery? And WHY? It is so unnatural — unless one feels blissful in misery, but then too you are choosing bliss, not misery. 

Life is All About Untying Mental Blocks

A farmer was taking three of his donkeys for sale to the market. On the way he saw a river and decided to have a dip. Since he had only two ropes to tie the donkeys to a tree, he looked around wondering how to tie the third one.

He saw a sage and sought his help if he could give him a rope to tie the third donkey. The sage did not have a rope but had a suggestion. He told the farmer, “let the third donkey see you tying the other two donkeys to a tree. 

Then you pretend to tie this one also”. The farmer did as he was told and went for a dip in the river. 

Coming back, he thanked the sage and saw that the donkeys stood exactly at the same spot where he had left them. He untied the two donkeys and patted the third one to start moving.   

After going a little distance, imagine his surprise when the third donkey stood still at the same spot. 

Cajoling, kicking or talking did not help with the donkey, refusing to move from the spot.

The farmer went back to sage, who told him, “untie the third donkey”.

"But”, protested the farmer, “I have not tied him”.

The sage said, “You know it. But does the donkey know that?”

Sure enough the farmer went back went through the motions of untying the donkey. 

The donkey moved immediately as though released and walked over to join the other two donkeys.

*We too are tied up by too many imaginary ropes which are really non-existent. 

The only truth is there are no boundaries in real life and anyone can stretch to any extent.*

Life -  All About Untying Mental Blocks.

The 18th Camel

A father left 17 Camels as an Asset for his Three Sons.

When the Father passed away, his sons opened up the will.

The Will of the Father stated that the Eldest son should get Half of 17 Camels,

The Middle Son should be given 1/3rd of 17 Camels,

Youngest Son should be given 1/9th of the 17 Camels,

As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the sons started to fight with each other.

So, they decided to go to a wise man.

The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one camel of his own & added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels.

Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will.

Half of 18 = 9.
So he gave 9 camels     to the eldest son.

1/3rd of 18 = 6.
So he gave 6 camels
to the middle son.

1/9th of 18 = 2.
So he gave 2 camels
to the youngest son.

Now add this up:
9 + 6 + 2 = 17 &
This leaves 1 camel,
which the wise man took back.

MORAL: The attitude of negotiation & problem solving is to find the 18th camel i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times.

However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!

If you liked this story,  please share with all. You might spark a thought, inspire & possibly change a life forever!

A very interesting management lesson

These simple yet powerful habits are something we all can adopt.

We’ve all heard the stories about the mega-successful who wake up early every day
and conquer the world before most people put the coffee on.
But what about the other time of day that plays an equally important role?
What are successful people doing right before bed?
Do you want to know the secret?
They set themselves up to have an even more productive day tomorrow. 

Here are six bedtime habits of highly successful people.  

1. Read for an hourMicrosoft billionaire Bill Gates is an avid reader. Each night before bed, he spends an hourreading a book, ranging on topics from politics to current events.Aside from the obvious benefits of gaining new knowledge, reading daily has also been shown to reduce stress and improve memory. A 2009 study from the University of Essex revealed that reading for as little as six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by up to 68%.Another big benefit from cracking open a good book on a nightly basis is that it can improve the long term health of your brain. Every time you read, it’s like a mental workout for your mind. This study performed in Britain showed that people who stimulated their minds through activities like reading, reduced cognitive decline by an average of 32% as they got older in age.

2. UnplugAfter passing out from exhaustion and injuring her head to the tune of five stitches, AriannaHuffington has been an evangelist for “unplugging”. Every night before bed, she puts herphone in another room so she’s not distracted by it before bed. And science proves that she might be onto something.According to Dr Charles Czeisler, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard University, the bright lights produced by our cell phone screens disrupt our bodies natural sleep rhythm and actually “trick” our bodies into thinking it’s daytime.Those bright lights send a message to our brains that prevents certain chemicals from beingreleased, causing us to have a much harder time going to sleep. So, if you want a good night’s rest, stash your phone in another room.

3. Take a walkThe busy CEO of Buffer likes to unwind with a brisk walk right before bed. He uses his walks to turn off his thoughts about work, and slowly work his self into a “state of tiredness”.For a busy person always on the go, Joel’s late night walk routine could be perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. And aside from the obvious health benefits of daily walk, there a couple of surprising bonuses that come along as well.One study revealed that walking can increase creativity. When you’re walking, your mind isn’t working as vigorously, which “opens up the free flow of ideas.” So if you’ve got a tough problem you haven’t been able to solve, maybe a nice, night time stroll is all you need to find the perfect, creative solution. 

4. MeditateThe media maven has long supported the idea of regular meditation. No doubt, Ms. Winfrey has a schedule that keeps her mighty busy, and what better way to unwind at the end of a stressful day, than with a focused meditation session. There’s often times a stigma surrounding meditation, and there has always been a debate as to whether mediation is actually helpful. But when a 2014 study took a look at over 19,000 cases involving mediation, the results were clear.  Meditation was found to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. So regardless ofone’s view of mediation, you can’t argue with the results.

5. Get creativeIn 2006, Vera Wang stated to Fortune that her nightly routine includes, “a fair amount ofdesigning — at least conceptually if not literally.” Sometimes, the quiet of the night canbe the perfect remedy for a creative block.What’s even more surprising is that there’s a study that actually shows night time can be theperfect time for creativity, even if you’re tired from a long day. A study from Albion Collegerevealed that, “tasks requiring creative insight was consistently better during their non optimal times of day.”.So if you’re a morning person (raises hand), then your most creative ideas will come right before bed. Researchers believe this is true because your mind is less restrained at night. Your ability to make logical connections worsens, but it works in your favor because you’re able to make connections you wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

6. Plan the next dayThe American Express CEO likes to manage his time, and he does so by ending his nights in a very simple way. He plans out three things he wants to accomplish for the following day. That way, he can wake up in the morning, and get to work on his most important tasks, right away.This study from the early 90’s supports Chenault’s strange addiction with planning. Researchers followed a group of students from their high school years, until four years later at the end of their college careers. The researchers tested these students on their time management skills in high school, and when they caught up with those students four years later, they made a shocking discovery.

The students with better time management skills, had higher college GPA’s then their peers who had higher SAT scores. Basically, time management played a bigger role in their academic success than actual scholastic aptitude.

JOMO – the Joy Of Missing Out

Does the thought scare you ? or does it make you happy?
If it makes you happy, then you are rare,- the ones who have opted out of the rat race, and decided to live a stress free life. You have understood the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)

It’s Time we stepped of the hedonistic treadmill and think about what makes us Truly Happy.

The ‘Quarter Life Crisis’ generation, running against time is already fatigued.
Does it really matter if one does not get that coveted invite to the “IT” party, that Ultra Chic Fashion parade, or have that exotic dish in the Trendy restaurant that was flashed on FB.

Today we all suffer from Social Media fatigue. Following the herd can never give Satisfaction.  

We will find true joy in intentionally choosing our path, and walking forward confidently.
If we are choosing to go online motivated by the fear of missing out, we will never be able to stop.

How does one understand what to opt out of at a time when one is sinking into everyday rapids – parties, friends, eating out, social media posts etc- with No life jacket on.

Edit your life as you would your wardrobe. We need to be selective,
If it’s not a definite yes it’s a no. Learn to enjoy the Good things of life with Good people. Make ordinary everyday things more meaningful.

Missing out enables you to take control of your well being. Maybe the only way to step into the real world and into a life that gives us happiness.  
It makes a positive statement to the world that you are self-contained.
In the past our boundaries were set by societal norms. We had delineated weekends and set work hours. The challenge now is to set our own boundaries.

The haves and have-nots of happiness are going to be defined by those who can set their own boundaries, and are capable of saying No to an external stimulus.

The fear of missing out drives us to yes to all urges and impulses.
However JOMO isn’t about sitting back and letting life pass you by- it’s about missing out on things that may not be the best fit for your happiness and goals, so that you have time and energy and resources to say yes to the things that truly bring you joy.

The Power of our Thoughts

The greatest power we ever got is the power of our thoughts.  

There is an Intelligence inside us that can elevate our life at the highest level.

Everyone should learn to collaborate with this Intelligence which is organized to react
on our intentions and to create with us a life of abundance and happiness.

Freedom, happiness, richness, love, friendship, health and wealth are our birth right.

We have been created to live our life in freedom, health and wealth. If our life doesn't look like that, it means we block ourselves by our thoughts. 


Our thoughts are very powerful instruments we use to either create happiness and wealth, or  sickness and poverty.

If your life doesn't look like what you're dreaming of, it means you have thoughts which go against you. Your thoughts create your life. If you want to change your life, change first your thoughts.

You can choose your thoughts. Nobody in the world can put a thought in your head without 
your permission. Your mind belongs to you! It's your job to control your thoughts! You are the master of your head, you are the guardian of your thoughts. 

You can change them. 

Choose those thoughts who will bring you the results you want.

Never think a thing you don't want to happen.

Read that again : never think a thought you don't want to become true.

It means : don't think anything negative about  yourself if you don't want this thought to become real. If you don't want to be stupid, stop thinking you are. If you don't want to be fat, stop rehearsing in your head how fat you are now. 

If you don't want to lose your boyfriend or girlfriend, stop thinking about this possibility.

Instead of these destructive thoughts, choose thoughts which reinforce you. 
Choose to think how intelligent you are, and you will be! 
Choose to think how beautiful you are, and you will shine like a star! 

Choose to think you are loved, and you will!

Thoughts are energy. Every thought carries an energy level. 
Your choice : you can choose thoughts which lower your energy level, 
or you choose  thoughts which increase your  energy level.

It's in your hands! Or better : it's in your head! 
How you will feel and act depends on what you think. 
Every action and emotion is preceded by a thought.

You can choose thoughts which block you, or even paralyze you.

It isn't any more difficult to watch your thoughts 
to be able to choose them consciously. It's just
a matter of exercise and consciousness.

Once you've learned how to become the master 
of your thoughts, you become the master of your life!

If checking your thoughts seems too difficult for now, you can start watching your mouth.
Never let come out of your mouth something you don't want to happen! 
Never wish a bad luck to anyone if you don't want this to realize. 
Watch your mouth, watch your words, watch your thoughts, and 
become the creator of your own life!

Your life does not depend on others. 
It depends on your own ability to master your thoughts. 

Unleash your potential,