Ekta | wisdomekta

  First, let me share my reflections on the book. It is a great read because it does a good job of explaining how being vulnerable allows people to "take off their armour" and have conversations with real meaning and impact. Being a leader does not mean being “ correct, always ”. Being vulnerable creates empathy among peers, which opens the door to trust-building —the foundation for many strong relationships to start, whether professional or personal. The book actually suggests that being a leader is less about skill and more about how a person is! It is a great book to read in general, but especially for those budding leaders and humans-in-making. Coming to the book review. Dare to Lead primarily discusses daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty, which requires building courage skills that are uniquely human. It focuses on developing the hearts and minds of leaders. Leaders are individuals who hold themselves accountable for recognizing po...

  I owned a T-shirt with the term wabi sabi - 侘寂 written on it. Although this book review and the text on my T-shirt may not have a direct connection, they served as a gentle reminder for me to learn more about this fascinating Japanese concept. As you know, I am a big fan of improving and learning new things. At many times, I have believed that life is simple and we all make it complex with our deeds and thoughts. This book, Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life, by Beth Kempton, echoed my thoughts. Beth Kempton explores the origin of wabi sabi, defining each word and examining its connection with tea. Wabi sabi consists of four components: tranquillity, harmony, beauty, and imperfection. The book weaves around the idea that imperfection does not imply lower standards- instead, it means accepting ourselves as perfectly imperfect. From honouring the rhythm of the seasons to creating a welcoming home, from reframing failure to ageing with grace, this book teaches...

Last weekend, while scrolling through the bookshelf of Crossword, I came across a great series of books by the Japanese writer Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Here is the book review of the first book in the series titled “Before the Coffee Gets Cold.” This short book explores deep emotions and highlights the simple aspects of Japanese lifestyle and culture. The storyline revolves around a small, cozy café named Funiculi Funicula, focusing on the lives of four characters and one seat. A businesswoman named Fumiko is working to repair her relationship with her boyfriend after he left the country for a job in the United States... A nurse named Kohtake is searching for a letter that her husband, who has Alzheimer's disease, wrote...  Hirai, a bar owner, is attempting to initiate a conversation with her sister, whom she has been avoiding... Kei, one of the co-owners of a café, is trying to travel to the future to speak with her unborn daughter... And ...One seat that allows a single journey to t...

When I ask- Who are zombies? You can say- They are fictional undead creatures mainly seen in movies or a few series. Right?! But I say - No… Zombies are now real creatures. With the present-day “perceived loss of freedom” and “surrender of common sense” to machines, the zombification process has accelerated.  You can say - No, I don't see them... where to find. I say- Look around yourself. You will see a ghost in a crowd, enclosed in its own sonic bubble. Eyes swollen, handcuffed with a device, and under mental servitude. Noticing every beep or tweak of notification. HIGH ON AI AND LESS ON HI!! You can say - Isn’t it your narcissism speaking? With technology, aren’t we better? I say- The promise of technology was to free us. To lift the burdens of labor, to connect us across vast distances, to give us more time for the things that truly matter. Yes, we have increased speed for sending messages, getting work done, etc. In the process, a genuine human connection is disrup...

We, the HR, are the cushion , absorbing the hard landings of conflict. We are the punching bag, taking the blows of frustration from every side. We are the moderator , trying to find a rhythm that allows both the solid spheres (top management) and the delicate balloons (employees) to coexist and thrive. The performance is never-ending. There's no applause, no grand finale. The show simply goes on, day after day. Every dropped ball or burst balloon is a lesson learned, a scar earned. And through it all, we become stronger, more agile, and more attuned to the delicate dance of people and policy. The HR scenario relates to the song by Randy Newman—“It’s a Jungle Out There.” It's a jungle out there Disorder and confusion everywhere No one seems to care Well, I do Hey, who's in charge here? I recently encountered two “out of routine” experiences as a middle HR professional that are somewhat minor, yet significant. Navigating the space between heartfelt empathy and profession...

  Recently I read this quote by Henry David Thoreau: "It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?" After rereading this quote, I found it really connected with me. Living in the busy city can often feel overwhelming, as if I am drowning in a sea of activities without truly enjoying life. As I thought about it, I realised I am not struggling with FOMO ( since I have never felt that ), but rather with a sense of aimless busyness —always on the go but not really getting anywhere meaningful ( although the “meaningful” meaning of life is still a question!! ). When I think of the word "busy," I don't imagine something overly complicated. For example, if someone misses my call, I understand they might be busy, but I still expect them to call back or at least reply. I have read that “truly busy” people usually take the time to respond to texts or messages because they know their replies are important, but they do reply. Howeve...

I had the privilege to meet Gauranga Das Prabhu, an IIT-ian turned monk and a prominent ISKCON leader. I found his storytelling style effective. He can present intense life lessons in the most understandable way, and his lessons sink in effectively. The Art of Resilience: 40 Stories to Uplift the Mind and Transform the Heart by Gauranga Das Prabhu is a collection of 40 stories bringing out the morale in everyday scenarios and affirming my faith that results will come, but we need to focus on action, intent, and discipline. Gauranga Das connects the stories to the wisdom of Bhagavad Gita, inspiring readers to reflect and ponder on life. The story covers areas of wisdom, self-control, mindfulness, gratitude, devotion, humaneness, etc. My musings post reading - Everyone yearns for Peace, Happiness, Pleasure, Knowledge, and Eternity. That’s why we often seek out material pleasures, such as climbing mountains, driving luxury cars or motorcycles, dining at fancy restaurants, buying the l...