It’s been a few days. Yeah, only a few days since I started talking to my parents over video call in the mornings. Actually, early mornings. And usually, I am waking them up through this early morning video call, to which they respond very sweetly.
Their smile, sometimes their laughter, and a bit of “good morning and have a nice day talk” between us sets a very healthy, loving, and peaceful tone for the fresh new day to unfold and bless us.
I didn’t plan or think of doing any such thing before. And today I think, why didn’t I? Because it is so amazing and so full of love. You know, I feel it is a priceless blessing of life to have and live moments like these.
Just imagine for a second that you are living with your partner in another state, and maybe now you won’t live with your parents like before, never again, but you are blessed enough to talk to them every day and see them every single day virtually (thanks, Internet!). It is a priceless blessing. I feel it honestly. And now that I am almost 30 and married, I feel it even more.
Sometimes, happiness is so simple yet so priceless. Yeah, the classic happiness thing! Simple and priceless!
My friend, talk to your parents often. If possible, then every day. And if you can, then even twice a day!
The thing about prayers is that you know that there is someone – don’t know who that is, what gender that is, don’t know about the shape, size, colour, don’t know about the whereabouts – because I don’t need to know. Yeah, many times, many, many times, you don’t need to know, and you don’t want to know about anything of this sort, because the trust in the entity, the belief, the faith in the entity, in the energy, in life, in the universe, is itself enough. Actually, it’s more than enough.
It’s between you and the energy. It’s between you and the entity. It’s between you and the pure belief in you. It’s between you and the deep faith inside you. It’s between you and the deep trust inside that says “everything is working out wonderfully, beautifully, and peacefully in my favour, for my greater good, for everyone’s greater good”.
It’s just that. It’s just that. And that is enough. Trust me, that is more than enough on any given day.
When you feel the presence of almighty in your life, when you see the blessings in your life, when you choose to speak, talk, and share your heart out with that one without any filters, inhibitions, when you already know that the universe is listening to you, seeing you, is helding you, protecting you, and making way for you everytime you seek its help, when you have that deep trust and faith in the life, in the cosmos itself to make everything happen for you beautifully, lovingly, and when life itself starts to feel like the extension of the countless blessings of almighty, you don’t need to know the shape, size, form, name, gender, religion, ethnicity of the one you believe in.
Your belief, your pure belief in the goodness in you and the goodness around, your deep faith and trust in the life, universe, and this grand cosmos will be enough always.
The thing about this belief is that it can’t be forced, and shall never be forced. The pure belief, trust, and faith in the goodness of life and in the divine universe can only come naturally. It’s something that your heart tells you, your intuition nudges you.
The books, the scriptures, the mantras, the rituals – everything is secondary. Your belief, your pure belief in the goodness inside you and around you, is what changes the trajectory of your life.
It shifts you inside. You feel the shift, you feel the connection. You feel it without performing any grand ritual or ceremonies at any holy shrine. It’s the internal shift. Externalities will only make sense when you feel the change, the shift, the connection inside.
Prayer is one of the simplest ways to feel that connection. It doesn’t require anything grand. It just requires you, your honesty, your honest and pure intentions, and your story – the part of your life you want to share with the universe, with the almighty.
Do your prayers with all the rituals, tools, techniques, mantras, chanting, and ceremonies you are told to, but make sure that you don’t leave your honest and pure intentions while talking to the one you believe in the most.
The extraordinarily satisfying feeling and assurance that someone is listening to you wholeheartedly and is sending all the help you need your way is the miracle prayer brings to you.
For me, that’s the thing about prayer, whether you agree or not!
Have you experienced something similar to this? Do you believe that prayer works?
How is your relationship with the universe, the almighty? Have you ever thought something like this?
I would love to know about your thoughts, feelings, and stories about this. Do share your experiences, please. I am looking forward to reading your stories.
Sometimes, you only need to show up. Yes, that’s it. Just show up. Show up, because you owe that to yourself. No matter when your day starts and when it ends, show up for that one thing, for at least that one hour you need to.
Many times, we don’t need inspiration or motivation, but momentum – the one thing that makes you sit and do your work, and get it done without thinking much about your relevance in this universe. Yep, it’s true!
And I have started quietly loving this version of mine (very recent though), and my loved ones, where they have such clarity of their goals that whatever happens throughout the day, including the emotional ups and downs, they show up. They just show up when they are required to without any fuss.
You want to read more? Read a few pages, or just a single page every day from any book you want to read and explore. Just one page every day. I’m pretty sure you have that much time.
You want to write more? Do you feel like you have nothing to write when you sit in front of your laptop? Fine. Start with how your day has been so far. Just start it. Scribble the story, and finish your rough draft. Now you have a draft ready to edit and publish later.
I know, you have 100s of ideas, headlines, storylines, and content pieces saved in your Google Docs, in your Notes, in your LinkedIn and Instagram saves, and in your Medium and Substack reading list. Oh, and the one in your private WhatsApp chat (with yourself)!
My dear writing friend, I know you have all of these, and you still wait for inspiration. You need action. Just start scribbling that one blog piece, and the story will come to you. Show up for the sake of your sanity. Please!
Has health gone downhill? Want to be fitter and more confident? Then show up. Move your body. Outdoor walk, indoor walk, walk on treadmill, deep breathing exercises, basic beginner-level cardio & strength training, dance workout – do anything in the world you can do.
Just do it. Do it at least for half an hour 4 times a week. It won’t give you a celebrity-like figure, but it will break your inertia, your initial resistance, your lifelong wait for motivation, and you will finally feel the process happening through you.
When a few pages read every day brings you to page no 300 in a 400-page book, or when even 30 minutes of everyday walk builds your discipline and mental strength to keep going on in this journey ahead within a month, then you actively start to focus on the momentum, not motivation.
Yes, motivation is important. But choosing to do the things that move the needle, that’s a game-changer. And I can say this from my experience that sometimes doing less is more – just make sure that you show up for the things that get you into the flow you need to be in.
Inspirational content is superb to watch, but small changes made every day, out of clarity and intention, can inspire like a dozen motivational talks can never.
I hope you got my point.
Note: This piece was originally written for my LinkedIn post, but it exceeded the character limit, as you can see, so I edited and shortened my LinkedIn post a bit, and this is the original version.
Since the arrival of spring this new year, I have started doing one thing, and it is helping me a lot internally in showing up every day. And that thing is “getting ready for the day”. Nothing fancy or fashionista type. Just getting ready.
So, what I have started doing is as soon as I wake up, within 2-3 hours, depending on the exercise duration and assistance in house cleaning and cooking, I get ready.
I bathe, do my haircare and skincare, put on my clean and colourful clothes according to my mood, wear a few pieces of jewellery, and apply my favourite shade of nude lipstick and a small bindi on my forehead. It goes well with my Indian/ethnic attire, which I am frequently wearing these days.
After getting properly ready for the day ahead, I usually express my gratitude to the universe for having my back and always helping and loving me unconditionally.
This morning thing of getting ready intentionally and thanking the universe for all the blessings in my life kind of just shifts the whole body language and energy inside me. My mind gets the message that now I am ready for the day, and I will sit and work in my study for a good few hours. It helps in carrying on on the days when I feel I can’t do much. Even reading a few pages of a book on such days counts as something done. Getting ready helps me in achieving those small things with a relatively better state of mind.
I have started getting ready for myself. For my work. For my growth. For the future me. I show up for my future self. It helps me in taking small steps every day in the right direction.
I didn’t know that getting ready intentionally, and thanking generally, when done intentionally, can be really effective. For me, it is working quite well. Especially in terms of energy that I feel inside. It is definitely a lot healthier and more positive as compared to the days when I used to wake up late and start reading or watching podcasts in my pyjamas. The effect on mood is real.
And I am happy that I started this at the right time. Spring, I think, is the best time for us as well to gain momentum and really change the things we need to change. It works.
What about you? Have you started doing anything that has changed your approach towards your day and work in particular? I would love to know any such stories. Please share them in the comments below.
I don’t know what the reason is behind it exactly, but this is something I think is true. After all, it is a reflection of my inner world. I can’t deny that.
After a lot of shortcomings, complexes, and challenges, we finally admit that we need to accept ourselves as who we are and leveling up ourselves can only be fulfilling when it happens from the place of self-love instead of self-pity and hatred.
We acknowledge our limitations. We accept our flaws. And we work on ourselves so that our today’s actions make our tomorrow more accomplished and fulfilling. This long yet rewarding process demands from us one thing, and that is – a deep sense of security within.
A deep sense of security that comes from an unshakeable faith that no matter what, you will achieve and live your dreams for sure, and the universe is working in your favour.
But insecurity appears and stares us in so many subtle forms that you wonder if you are doing enough inner work.
Becoming a zen monk is not my life goal yet, but becoming the person who is so secure within that external insecurities can’t affect her even for a second is one of my goals for sure. And my heart says that it is possible, it is doable.
How? I don’t know the step-by-step method today. But one thing I know for sure is that my sense of security comes from my inner confidence, my confidence comes from taking aligned actions and showing up with a lot of love and respect towards my goals, and my actions come from my intentions, my mindset, and my beliefs.
So, taking a bit closer look at my beliefs, my mindset, my intentions, and my actions in my everyday life can maybe take me closer to the roots of my insecurities that sometimes pop up out of the blue and make me feel uncomfortable. And I can focus more on those beliefs, mindsets, and actions that boost my sense of security deep within over a long period of time.
Srishti Kumari 