LIFE IS.........LIKE A JUNGLE SAFARI.....................

A Jungle Safari in your travel itinerary just gives you immense excitement in anticipation of the adventure waiting for you. Although I had been to many safaris but a recent one made me realize something strange.... that... How similar life is to Jungle Safari, but we tend to forget it so often.

We are always full of enthusiasm for going on a safari trip inspite of knowing that we might be going to in deep forest full of dangerous animals and insects and solely dependent on a local guide and a driver without any weapons or tools for our safety. 

We are ready to take this highly paid adventure with pleasure into the unknown solely relying on the experience of our unknown guide who is leading the way exclusively on the basis of his experience. But when it comes to real life taking even one step into an unknown zone or new experience makes us uncomfortable, we think and over think opportunities and obstacles....and mostly negatives.

We imagine the worst. Here there is no excitement but only anxiety and we cannot even trust our guide (almighty /superpower) even when we claim to be so dedicated devotee.

When we are on a Safari, we are so patient waiting for that WOW...   moment of spotting a wild animal.....even a small bird gives us a joyous experience.

 Even if we are not able to spot most desired wild animals like big cats, we are ready to spend money, do efforts, invest time repeatedly for the same activity.

 Infact every time we enter the forest we are delighted by just being there never loosing hope even some times knowing that one might be  visiting in seasons or months when sighting is least possible.

 But in life when we are not getting the results we desire we just start giving up on our dreams, we start complaining about efforts, money and time being wasted.

 We do not enjoy our path ,we are just waiting to get something, attaching our happiness to just achieving that one goal.

In Safari we are always enjoying our conversations and company of our close ones and even communicating with strangers even if we find them uncanny, we are enjoying their being different and appreciating the time spent together, We are open to listening to their new ideas, learning new things from them. But in life we are annoyed by our close one's differences of opinions and stop enjoying their company.

Just envision how wonderful it would be if we could love, enjoy and conduct our life like a Jungle Safari...always full of zeal, warmth, cheerfulness, open to new experiences and idea and never loosing hope because........"ITS A JUNGLE OUT HERE AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A WILD TIME"

 

FEAR....AS WE KNOW IT!!!

 A trekking trip through deep forests in Mount Abu (Sloth Bear Sanctuary Aravali Range) brought me face to face with my most dreaded fear.After walking for almost 3 km in the forest our guide Charles revealed to  us a narrow  bridge over Upper Kodra Dam which was necessary to cross to reach back to city.

A narrow path without any fencing or railing to support and surrounded by  deep waters. All through the trek enjoying beautiful and versatile nature their was curiosity,excitement, thrill and concern of running into a sloth bear or other wild animal but all these feelings were overpowered by terror after learning  that we need to cross that narrow bridge  and my fear of hydrophobia started setting in.

As there was no turning back and no other route closest to the city  to finish the trek in day light , I somehow mustered the courage and crossed the narrow bridge with a constant trembling in my heart.

Looking back at this experience, that day, in that moment of do or die I learnt few things about our fears which we all have ...Fears big or small are part of our lives..fear of height, fear of stage, fear of failure, fear of darkness, fear of insects, fear of closed spaces, fear of driving....the list is endless... but that day I learnt...

1)Fear is so much about our Imagination and Assumptions:

Once   I reached closer to the bridge it was not so in capacious  as I assumed it to be, looking from far off it seemed much narrower .So the closer we go to our fears or into situations we fear we are able to see things more clearly.Thus with taking small steps towards our fear there comes more clarity which helps us understand our fears better so as to overcome them.

"Fear is only as deep as the mind allows."

2) Being Aware/Being Prepared Helps control Fear:

Sloth Bear sanctuary is full of Bears and mauling cases are no less.Still as we were conscious enough to collect information about  seasons when bear encounters are more(in rainy season and not in winters) had an experienced  guide with us who had formally taken permission and informed forest Department of our trek route, Also the promptness of our guide of notifying our presence to any villager present in forest through a peculiar whistling sound(a standard ritual followed by villagers and tribal  in forest so that if anyone  is in trouble forest guards can get some idea of location), we had confidence, less fright and were prepared for the trek.

But the ignorance about this narrow bridge and its sudden appearance in our path escalated my fear of hydrophobia.So facts, details and particulars about our course of action  helps us to manage fear better.

"Listen to what you know, Instead of What you Fear."

3)Acceptance of Fear is good for us:

Accepting one's fear doesn't makes one small.One should never be embarrassed of acceptance.When I realized I have no other option I conveyed my fear of hydrophobia to our guide and my family members. And as everyone was aware about it so all were more compassionate, alert and mindful to prevent any kind of misshaping.

Thus acceptance of fear with your near ones or your guru or guide will always help you. Because"Fear are stories we tell ourselves".

4) Focus on your Destination/Target:

When I was on that narrow bridge the guide said"Just don't look around and focus straight on your path and take your time, walk at your own pace" and this is what I did,I just concentrated on my walking straight and did not look down towards the water or surroundings and I could  cross the bridge comfortably, although with quiver in my heart.Thus when fear is stopping you from achieving your desired goal try to avoid  things or situations which can trigger or escalate your fright.

So "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

5)Stop looking for alternate options when faced with fear:

Realizing that we cannot turn back and go through  the deep forest again and accepting that the narrow bridge was the only closest route to reach back city on time, I had to cross that bridge, although my heart was sinking.

So whatever fear one has if one is always resisting their fear or situations which they dread, ultimately these fears start becoming stronger and take over our logic and perspectives. So its always good to stop looking for other options and go through your fears.There is no hurry, no competition you must do it at your own convenience. 

As rightly said" Being brave isn't the absence of fear.Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it."

And lastly Fear doesn't go any where...If one thinks confronting fear and overcoming it will make it disappear, its a myth as it always remains there deep inside us but facing and defeating our fears repeatedly  makes them weaker than our determination and will power.

So even if you do things you fear hundred times ,every time fear will discourage you to quit and not take the next step, but with consistency the voice of fear will become feeble and your  will power will assume control and lead you to beautiful destinations in your life..........

CREATING A NEW ERA OF WOMANHOOD............!!!!

 As a Woman have you ever heard or said any of these sentences for another Woman ???

 "She is just concerned about her career and doesn't care about her kids and husband."

"She doesn't do anything, she is just a housewife and still keeps a maid for household chores,doesn't do anything."

"Don't understand what is the need to do job right now when her child is so small, she should take care of her kids."

"She should support her husband establish his career, she can focus on her career later." 

"She is ageing,She should get married."

"She is ageing, she should have kids."

"Why she is doing night shifts?"

The constant compulsion to prove ourselves, to prove our worth, to establish our identity,We women set standards and rules for ourselves and others forgetting that other women have equal right to make their own choices and standards in life.

So it is very commonly seen how an ardent homemaker with an unsound pride  of sacrificing everything for her family  is always ready to judge, compare and criticize working women for devoting more time to her profession and neglecting household duties  and the working one's are always moving with a false ego of earning, multitasking and criticizing the homemakers for not doing anything worthwhile in their lives.Forgetting the very fact that another women who can be her mother, mother in-law or mostly house help  are their backbone and without whose help everything can go haywire quickly.

This comparison, disrespect, negativity, criticism and unacceptability leads to guilt in both the segments....the working doubting if they are doing less for their family and homemakers feeling bad for not contributing monetarily.And in the haste to prove their capabilities the balance is lost leading to stress, physically, emotionally and mentally. 

We forget that beyond the societal standards, their are personal choices and aspirations and every individual whether Men or Women deserve to fulfill them.In the name of tradition sometimes we set rules which doesn't allow, especially women to flourish in their life.We forget that Tradition is not about imitating previous generations.It is about learning from their experience and making the change.

It is also important to understand and accept the fact that everyone is responsible for their own happiness, As a part of the family women may be able to fulfill some basic requirements of family members but their happiness depends on their attitude and expectation.

So before Women expect Men in their lives to support them.It becomes moral and social duty of every women to support each other for the choices she is making in her life.It doesn't matter if a Woman wants to work, or wants to stay at home,Whether she wants to stay single or get married,whether she wants to do night shifts or day job, everyone is trying to live best according to their own capacity, situations, dreams and choices.

Whether  a  working  woman or a homemaker staying at home and taking care of family both deserve same respect and motivation for choices they are making in their life.A Woman making different choices than societal standards and trying to prove herself in a man dominated world should not be criticized and doubted especially by other woman.

So next time whether it is your Sister, Sister in-law, Mother , Mother in-law, Friend, daughter, daughter in-law, or any other women trying to make her own choices, stop comparing, stop criticizing and start supporting.

Because when Women support Women it can lead to wonderful World where only rules are love and appreciation for each other and only standard is progress, growth and development of  women-hood physically, mentally, economically and socially.  

So let us abandon the need to just come together and gossip.let us come together to heal, assist, grow and prosper.....Giving rise to a new era of Womanhood.......

THE RIGHT WAY TO HEALTHFULNESS

Being a Registered Dietitian for more than  a decade has been a beautiful learning experience for me. . Helping and motivating people  shift to a healthy lifestyle.Helping them change their habits and will to sustain. Dealing with varied people in my profession realized   how society perceives just weight and good looks as the only criterion for good health and well being. In my more than ten years of practice I had very few clients asking me "How I can make my lifestyle healthy?" Most of the times the query was " How can I loose weight fast?" and almost 99% of the people were ready to follow any kind of latest trendy diet available on  social media market to loose weight Be it ketogenic, Zone, Southbeach, intermittent and so on.

Hope through this write up I will be able to make some of you understand that just weight loss  should not be your only goal when you plan to take charge of your health. Also every kind of diet has its own pros and cons and everyone cannot follow the same kind of diet.The sustainability of the changes one makes in lifestyle  is very important because even if you loose weight through these diets, Once you come back to old pattern one can  gain double the weight lost.

So here are few basic tips for all who love themselves , want a healthful lifestyle for themselves and not just fast weight reduction.

1: START WHERE YOU ARE WITH WHATEVER YOU HAVE:

If you have decided to take command of your wellness start right away, Do not wait for perfect day, perfect time, perfect walking partner.This especially goes for women who postpone their health and keep cooking, taking care of house their priority. Well if truth be told women will need to take out extra time for themselves, never wait for family members to make adjustments.Try to prepone your schedule by just half an hour and prioritize your own well-being, if one is sound than only one can take care of others. "You can not pour from an empty cup".So start owning your mornings, rest everything will fall in place.

2:MAKE SMALL CHANGES IN YOUR MEAL:

If you are used to binging on processed, unhealthy ,high calorie foods  like desserts,cakes, chocolates, samosas, puris, parathas than it is always advisable to start with small  changes to your  meals like you can start adding a bowl of salad to your every meal and than slowly start deleting that extra chips,chocolates,sweets or extra serving of pudding/dessert. 

3:EXERCISE REGULARLY:

Exercise is a blessing and not a curse.Workout because you are grateful that you physically can, many don't have this privilege. If you are not used to exercising start with 15 minutes of regular walking, slowly increase the time and intensity of walking..once your body gets used to walking start including some cardio aerobic exercises, its not necessary to join the gyms find a good exercise video on you tube and train in  comfort of your home.If you like walking walk, If you like cycling cycle,if you want to join gymnasium join. Find your own rhythm and be consistent.

4: KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED:

Market is full of high sugar health drinks with attractive commercials. Herbal drinks or energy drinks can never replace the need for  clean and pure water. So always carry your own water bottle when moving outside, If working from home keep your bottle at your work station and make it a target to consume at-least 2.5 to 3 litres of water in a day. 

5: NEVER COMPARE:

Never compare yourself, your health, your body and your life goals with other people especially one's on social media. It's your journey and it has to be customized according to your need and goals.

7: ALWAYS TAKE PROFESSIONAL HELP:

Today Social media is full of misinformation. The desirability and hurry to loose weight in people has opened up a huge market for unqualified people who can create false claims on social media and many fall prey to them not realizing the harm which it can bring to one's health. Always remember Social media never shows the whole picture. Perfection is an illusion. So always consult a qualified professional before making any changes in your lifestyle or adopting any of the in trend diets.

Remember the victory is not the weight loss but the discipline which you incorporate in your life,the victory is when you choose healthy food over unhealthy,the victory is exercising even on those days when you feel like laying on bed.

 It is said that "Time will pass anyway, you can either spend it creating the life you want or spend it living the life you don't want--the choice is yours".

 

Is Individual Wellness Enough To Keep One Happy??

 Good Health and Fitness are prerequisite if one wants to experience life wholly. People who prioritize their health and fitness and keep working on it are able to involve in life's every moment at a different level, because it helps them focus, channelize their energies in right direction, helps them adapt a positive mental state and attitude and a sense of achievement.

But the question is "Is individual wellness  enough to keep one Happy??? "

When it comes to wholesomeness individuality is a myth, what better time than this pandemic era to understand how human lives are connected globally, a tiny virus born in a tiny place has engulfed entire world's well being.

Likewise even if one is hale and healthy but someone in family is not well, one won't be able to relish life experiences in its full essence. Similarly out of shape and unhealthy community will affect one's social, mental and physical wellbeing in many different ways. Further the cumulative effect of unfit population will hinder the growth and development of country.

So, it becomes a moral and social duty for each one of us to motivate people around us to achieve their best possible healthiness. A health conscious, active, focused and well aware community is an asset, is essential to attain blissful social, mental and physical well being and  we must all strive for it. 

when you try to persuade people around you with your actions , some will get inspire, some will feel envious , some will term it as boasting but keep on working on your health and keep encouraging because a flower will continue blooming and giving fragrance even if nobody appreciates its beauty.

Also as aptly said " If you do not do what you cannot do, that's no problem. But if you do not do, what you can do, you are a tragedy"(sadhguru).