Ekta | wisdomekta

Being Grateful These difficult times have shown me many harsh truths about life and people.  Among many such heartfelt revelations is- Our minuscule and uncertain tenure on earth . This "mortality" funda , read in many books, is now becoming a daily visual in the form of the untimely death of young as well as old blood, the tearful eyes, the breaking of many dreams, the collapse of happy families. I marvel at what more a person can do with the remaining breath rather than being grateful to the almighty and the other earthlings. I am grateful... from the biggest things like the unadulterated love of my family, the never-ending support of friends, the incessant dedication of the medical system ...to the smallest unnoticed things like ceaseless electricity supply, the roof on my head, the fully functional body, the ocean of knowledge in form of books, and what in the world... I am even grateful for my ability to read and write!! If the notion is put in this, these are barely a f...

This post is about my recent read titled “The Diary Of A Young Girl” by Anne Frank ... but this is not a book review. This post is my way of paying honor to the 13 years old writer of this amazing diary which illustrated the best view of the worst times in the history of humanity and ushered me to contemplate the equivalent kind of horror felt during our current times. And even though this is just the beginning of the post, let me give you a tiny nudge so that this book is your next read or at least getting on the to-read list...this book is the SECOND MOST READ BOOK in the world after the Bible. It is explicit proof that words have strength, they have the power to remake and outlive human life, the ability to make one's life worth memorizing even though one believes his or her thoughts or doing means nothing all this time. Anne Frank wrote this diary (aka book) in her “Secret Annex”, as she calls the place of her hiding from Nazis in the Netherlands. Anne's wish to get her ...

Time to Move towards dream(s) Enlarging the maxima, propelling the known thresholds, and entering the unusual terrain- for me, this is THE DEFINITION OF SELF-GIFT. The biggest gift ever!! If you are a regular reader of my blog, you must be familiar with how this Covid time has realized the primacy of waking up at daybreak. The 5 o'clock schedule has stuck for more than 8 months now. I was still evaluating this emotional victory and was rejoicing in the discipline, I have managed yet another surprise that has left me in boundless exhilaration. My introductory 10 kilometers (10k) run. You may not agree less...if I say... that any self-gift is promptly related to our dream . In my dictionary, there are two types of DREAMS - one “ Marathon-type dreams ”…those huge dreams of fulfilling “this” or achieving “that” and the other “ Sprint-type dreams ” which attract magic into life…like an expedition, doing a workout, reading a favorite book or learning the bike riding, etc. I think that ...

Image from Internet Oftentimes I hear proverb  putting yourself in someone else's shoes and every time it appears to be the most difficult task. Several times, my profession shows me dilemmas when empathy needs to go hand in hand while rendering decisions, however exercising the same is  different story altogether.   Technically, Empathy is the capacity to discern or perceive what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to seat oneself in another's position. And if searched on the internet or read through books, definitions of empathy entail a broad range of emotional states. However, in my opinion, the first step towards empathy begins with being sensitive towards one's emotional environment along with understanding the person living in that environment. This particular novel is full of episodes showcasing the characters as being empathetic to others and sometimes not-so sympathetic and how this influences the cons...

  In Search ... Disclaimer- The contents of the post are the outcome of the search, several readings and experiences, and majorly self-reflection. ------ Becoming Malang is my ultimate aim for life … I guess . This Malangness might assist me to act with decent perfection in any tiny or huge event, gain every experience to enrich my soul, and yet help me remain unaffected by the consequence. Malang is a Sufi word, otherwise called bairagi in Hindi. So the meaning derived for Malang is the one who lives and experiences the worldly life with every comfort (and discomfort) without getting tied to the result and hence, celebrates supreme freedom during the pilgrimage of life before reaching the absolute goal, called death. I am yet to come together with the 'real'  bairagi . And I am far (precisely Sun-from-Pluto-type far ) from evolving to become the one !! But there are instances when this Malang -moment clicks before me.  Like…The innocent smile on my mother’s face em...

Searching & working on Emotional Kit Disclaimer- The content is not original. It is popular read on social networks. I have attempted to add my personal experience. We have learnt to protect ourselves from the corona virus. But what about our emotions? I believe that emotions require constant protection from all the different negative situations and negative people around us. I try to carry Emotion Protection Kit in a constantly negatively changing world. It is a set of few things - 1. Mask Of Spiritual Affirmation- Keeping one spiritual affirmation in mind helps in  masking against various emotional turbulent challenged by life's ups and downs. For example my personal favourite affirmation is - This too shall pass.  This mask of affirmation helps me remember that nothing is permanent...be it positive or negative. It keeps me hopeful. 2. Keeping the Oxygen Of Goodness Handy Goodness is an inner strength. It is like oxygen that we need to survive while living with people ...

The Fisher Queen's Dynasty    Image from Internet Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from the book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book. Each human being is a story to be told. I recognize the writer of this book Ms. Kavita Kane solely because her unique stories uncover the lesser-known female personalities of Indian folklore. These women characters are strong but rarely received the expected light-of-fame. Kavita introduces them to her readers and lends them a prospect to determine their role in the tales widely read. This book renders the story of the first-part of Mahabharat through Satyavati's eyes. Abandoned at birth, shunned for her skin (Kali) and stench (Matsyagandha), jeered at for prizing ambition over love, this novel is about a lesser-known character of Mahabharat, Satyavati. Satyavati married Shantanu, the king of Hastinapur. She is named as a conniving witch for snatchin...

Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from the book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book.  This particular read by the famous motivational writer and speaker Robin S. Sharma is, in my view, a decent ( yet   a little cheesy!! ) book on leadership and personal mastery. The author of Monk Who Sold His Ferrari in this particular book uses a set of acronyms (in fact, a lot of acronyms) to explain the importance of leadership and processes to implement leadership in Business and Life.  The Leader Who Had No Title ( LWHNT ) is a story of a man, Blake Davis who has relinquished all interest in the job and striving every day to maintain his life and relationships. His fate takes a roll when he meets Tommy Flinn, an old friend of his father’s and also the top salesman where Blake works. He introduces Blake to 4 persons with varied backgrounds and work. As the story unfolds, life-changing l...

Sky is the limit...Fly High Disclaimer- This retelling is coming/illustrated from the recollection of my childhood story told by my mother. Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained. Months passed, and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived. The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch. Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, “May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem....

  Picture of book cover from internet Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from the book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book . “People do act against their moral convictions and this is an unhappy fact about ourselves”. The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma tries to answer the frequent confronted questions- ●        Why be good when being bad is considered to be cool? ●        Why do bad habits shine over truthful acts? ●        Why believe in Dharma or Adharma of the act? ●        Is a "bad person" always bad? Does not the "good" occasionally become bad? ●        What’s the point of being a bigger person?? Gurcharan Das tries to find meaning to the word Dharma in this book through the Sanskrit epic Mah...

Book Review- Many Lives, Many Masters Author- Dr. Brian L. Weiss Disclaimer - This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from book. Background of book The book documents the excursion of Dr. Brian L Weiss from disbelief to belief in regards to messages from the supernatural world and reincarnation.  The various ideas which float in this book include spiritual conversion, connection with the dead and the importance of universal religious teachings such as charity, faith, and love.  Book revolves around one of Dr. Weiss’s patient named Catherine who was a twenty-seven-year-old woman with major anxiety issues. She also suffered from depression and a wide array of phobias. During several sessions, which included c onventional therapy, hypnotizing, etc. we get to be part of the transformative saga of both Catherine and Dr Brian Weiss.   Catherine recalls...

  Holocaust Survivor Victor Frankl in his book ‘Mans search for meaning’ stated: (Check my Book Review on the book)  A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the “why” for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any “how.” Covid situation have us struck hard. Living in fear seems to be new normal. Questions like whether any hard work means anything to anyone or even to me? Or childhood lessons of speaking honestly are still relevant!! I asked myself “Imagine this was your last day on earth and you could write down your last article with something meaningful and important to pass on, what would it be?” Thoughts of lying on my death bed, family around me awaiting the dreaded moment, whilst I, nonchalantly uttered the last few words that would render me of value to the world. The precise words would then ...

  Disclaimer - This book review is self-contemplation of book’s content. The personalized meaning derived from book vis-à-vis the current Covid scenario. The quotes are used directly from book. Where has true emotional warmth disappeared? Why are we all indulged in our own selfish modes and drama? Why the real approach of living is in switch off mode? Hey, don’t judge. The air may be gloomy with C+ virus but spirits are not. I am not pessimistic. And no… I am not nagging. But don’t we all wonder for the reason of our existence. Our sayings and actions don’t match. Sometimes, they are on totally different dimensions. The talks of hearts have lessened. The ears are filled with assumptious noises. The warmth of eyes shrieking cold gaze. We are living as if we are immortals. This current situation urges us to once again become HUMAN. Man’s Search For Meaning (book) is a beacon of light which helps peeping into soul. It rejuvenates meaning of life.  Soul-opener ...

Here sharing an interesting keynote from #SAPHRConnect2020 in partnership with People Matters wherein Devdutt Pattanaik was host. Hope this adds to our insight in Covid times. The current pandemic has hit us with the realization that, honestly, nothing lasts forever, no strengths, no weaknesses. BUT also, no challenges, no threats. Organizationally nothing lasts either-no structures, no processes, and no frameworks. We live in a world as Devdutt reminded us , where no gurus, no prophets can predict the future.  As an HR community, Devdutt invites us to be Krishna. On the battlefield, Krishna is the one that enables, motivates, and guides. That is the role that HR needs to play in these times.  However, like in the Mahabharata, there are no guarantees, there are no commitments. While the pandemic may have an expiry date, nobody knows how long and the impact that may have. Every day is a new day. Decisions will be changed, payrolls will also change, and this will ha...