Ekta | wisdomekta

“If you were to pause and think seriously about the “first things” in your life—the three or four things that matter most—what would they be?” Despite our immediate challenges, we must always maintain sight of the 'first things' in life . This book, First Things First , published in 1994, offers wisdom that remains as pertinent today as it was then. Having read other works by Covey, I found this book to be a compelling addition to his collection. First Things First, as the name suggests, is the stepwise guide to balancing personal and professional life. It is a not-typical motivational cum self-help book but somewhere in between management goals and personal growth.  The concepts are explained with interesting diagrams, pictorial presentations, matrices, etc ( a typical Covey Style! ), e.g. Urgent-Important Matrix (prioritise tasks in terms of urgency and importance.), ABC method ( identifying ‘A’ tasks, which are the top priority, ‘B’ or ‘secondary’ tasks, and the

Disclaimer- After briefing my view on her through the blog post " Who is She  ", this post is an attempt at my introspection on the “status” of the other  "50% " of the population. The basis of the write-up is what I have observed and felt. Is He a Ram or a Raavan? Is He a Krishna or a Kansa? Is He a Kalki or a Kali? Glory is his other name, or is it retirement time for this whimsical term? Since the inception of cultures and civilisations, males in our societies have been set to perform and tick specific criteria. The he-man of our society has since tried his best to live up to this reputation over time. However, nervousness is visible in him, primarily in the current times, when his defined roles are being questioned, and he himself conflicts with the hypothesis of malehood. These defined his-roles are formulated either through self-imposed judgments gathered from the experiences of others or through upbringing notions set in him, leading to specific ima

“Reminders of Him” by Colleen Hoover is a compelling read that delves into the profound sentiment, ' Hurt People Hurt People '. In her signature style, Hoover weaves a narrative filled with raw emotion and a unique issue that sets this book apart from her previous works. This time, it was the saga of a mother and a daughter who have been set apart since their birth. The story goes like - After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past to build a future out of hope and healing. What I love most about Hoover's books is her ability to create relatable characters. In Reminders of Him, I found myself deeply connected to Kenna and the emotional jo

Disclaimer- The Tea Bag analogy is not my original idea; the interpretation is!! Imagine a tea bag in cold water; it floats, leaving the water unchanged. But when the same tea bag is placed in hot water, the water's colour transforms, and the tea from the bag infuses the water, altering it completely. The tea bag, a seemingly insignificant object, profoundly affects the water in the cup. After this process, it's no longer just water; it's tea. This analogy beautifully mirrors the transformative power we hold in our personal and professional lives. We, working people, are like tea bags in the professional world. We are like tea bags that leave behind a new colour and flavour after being in hot water. Similarly, in the professional world, what remains after the dramatic professional career of 60 years is the impact left in the department or organization at the time of separation or upon completion of the assignment. This impact could be in the form of a change in

Murakami's writing style resonates with me on a personal level. His sentences, though they may appear as a lost story or sometimes half-baked, hold a deeper meaning that transcends the ordinary. His stories often mirror my own philosophical musings, creating a sense of connection. 'The Elephant Vanishes' is a collection of short stories that delve into the mundane aspects of life, paradoxically through simple and unassuming writings. This simplicity, however, is what makes these stories so intriguing and thought-provoking. My favourite stories in the book are- “ The Little Green Monster ”. The story infers about the ugly parts of our personality that we are aware of and try to avoid continuously. But, in view of Murakami, this avoidance empowers the weakness. “ The Silence” . This story talks about how misunderstandings and misperceptions mould the personality and experience of the affected person, the overwhelming intensity of feelings from the past affecting t

This book is my second read from Jay Shetty after  Think Like Monk  . As mentioned in the previous book's review, Jay Shetty has become the brand ambassador for bringing vedic wisdom into the modern lifestyle. Due to this amalgamation of varied spiritual topics he presents through his writings, he has become one of my faviourte writers. The simple writings with a direct, straightforward approach to the issues at hand make it seem that he is living his writings, as reflected in the practical guides/ suggestions approach in his chapters. 8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go is not just a guide to finding love; it's a comprehensive exploration of the very essence of love. The book doesn't shy away from the issues we all face in our relationships, making it a relatable and understanding companion on our journey to love. Too often, we navigate the world of relationships with only romantic movies and pop culture as our guides. Inspired by Vedic wi