MULTIPLY HAPPINESS WITH SEVEN RITUALS!

RITUAL NUMBER ONE: PRACTICE GRATITUDE.

Start your day even before you get out of the bed, with a simple prayer of gratitude. You can use this one minute prayer to express your gratitude to God Almighty, your parents, teachers and elders who helped you shape your life. Your spouse and children, and your boss can be included in this prayer.A day well begun, is a day well lived!

Gratitude has deep rooted spiritual tentacles. When you are grateful, you can not be angry and agitated. Thus being grateful is the best way to fight anger, and internal stress, no matter what the reason for being angry or agitated. When your mind is full of appreciation of  where you are in life, that grateful attitude will invite more and more blessings to flow into your life. An ounce of gratitude is worth a ton of  thinking . It focuses on the bright side of life, and it generates optimism about life in general. As a matter of fact, practice of gratitude is the best possible way to "live in the present". When you live in the present, your tendency to go into the past, where there is pain, is reduced to the minimum. Similarly it will also curb your tendency to be afraid of the future, as your mind is anchored in the present. 

Another simple exercise you can do everyday is to write in your Journal of Gratitude, ten things for which you are grateful. You can pick ten instances from the day, for which you are grateful. Before you slip into the sleep, another one minute prayer will conclude the activities for the day and night. "I am grateful for another great day".

RITUAL NUMBER TWO: MAKE YOUR KNOWLEDGE A HABIT.

We all have tons of knowledge, and the knowledge is overflowing literally and figuratively, because we are not applying it. Even the best knowledge is utterly useless if it is not applied daily to improve the quality of life. For example let us consider a simple useful knowledge of drinking seven to eight glasses of water everyday. It is very good for keeping us hydrated, as we need to replenish the water lost from urine and perspiration. Are you doing it? If yes give a pat on your back.  If not start drinking seven to eight glasses of water every day going forward.

When knowledge is applied to improve the quality of life, and that experience creates wisdom. "When knowledge is baked in the fire of experience wisdom is born", said one of the great leaders. Let us take another example. We all know doing moderate exercise everyday has long lasting benefits for the body and mind. If nothing else, a simple thirty to forty minutes walk five days a week will do the job. Your doctor will congratulate you for that health giving simple exercise. Besides, it helps you fight stress, and aid in getting a good nights sleep. Are you doing this? If yes, give a pat on your back. If not start from today and make it a regular routine and get addicted to it. Believe me, you will get addicted to it once the endorphins start flowing for ninety days!

You can discover similar simple knowledge you have and you are not practicing it. One b y one you start doing it to improve the quality of life. There is a villain who will appear on the scene and tell you" I do not have the time". But remember God is a socialist. He gave billionaire Bill Gates 24 hours a day, and He(GOD) was so generous that He gave you too 24 hours a day! If somebody says to you that " I do not have the time", it only means "it is not my priority". For everything important in life, you will find the time. So make it a point to include these things in your life as a ritual. Every "ritual" is very important to enhance the quality of personal, family and social life. RITUALS ARE INDEED PILLARS OF OUR BELIEF!

RITUAL NUMBER THREE: ABSTAIN FROM GOSSIP AT ALL COSTS.

One of the most devastating mental weaknesses is gossip. The real danger is that most of the people who are engaged in it, are unaware of the dire consequences stemming from the mental poisoning. Whenever you are engaged in gossiping, you are talking ill of another human being. Those conversations are filled with so much negativity, that it can pollute and contaminate your thought sphere. It is hundred times worse than the air pollutants EPA is trying to ban in this country. It is very sad that most of the people are not aware of the real danger of gossip, and the long term harm it can produce to your peace of mind. Whenever you are engaged in gossip, or hear gossip from another individual you are inviting negativity to take roots in your subconscious mind. The very nature of subconscious mind is that it has no power of rejection. Hence those negative remarks you talk about another individual, or negativity you hear from another individual are going to take permanent root in your own mind. Over a period of long time, these practices make you  a chronic negative individual, and your conscious mind or the will power may not be of sufficient strength to erase it altogether. Every time you hear negative things from another friend or associate, it becomes a part of the fabric of your own character. Now that you know the dangers of gossip, take the following steps to avoid it at any cost:

1. If  a friend of yours is talking ill about another friend or associate, consciously avoid continuing the conversation. You can(as he is your friend) advice him not to  talk ill of others, and share with him or her the dire consequences it can create in your mind. If your friend is not listening to you, and he or she continues, you politely end the conversation. After a few polite refusals from you, those gossip loving friends do not find you interesting, and he will go elsewhere to sell his wares of gossip.

2. You spearhead a movement in your friend circle, to create an atmosphere of inspiration and self help. You suggest the ways to stay away from negativity and encourage them to be positive. Just like the light swallows all the darkness around it, the positive mental attitude can erase negativity, no matter from  where it raises its head.You remain indifferent to negativity. You do not condemn it, nor do you condone it. When you condemn, you are judging which is very counter-productive. When you condone it, you are participating which is equally undesirable. Hence the Great Master, Jesus Christ advised:"BE INDIFFERENT TO EVIL".

RITUAL NUMBER FOUR: GO THE EXTRA MILE.

We all can do a little more than what we are expected to do. When it comes to family relationship, just amaze your spouse by "going the extra mile". You can amaze your children by going the extra mile. When you go the extra mile, in your daily activities, whether at home or in the office, you are tapping the most powerful law of the Universe. This powerful Law is called the Law of Reciprocity.

The Law of Reciprocity says that whatever you give to the Universe, the Universe will reciprocate it many times. Thus if you kick a can in the Street, you are kicking the Universe! By the application of the Law of Reciprocity, now you know what to expect. Similarly if you yell at your wife or husband, you are yelling at the Universe. You can imagine the consequence of it. When you go the extra mile, you are going the extra mile for the Universe! Hence it will be reciprocated in kind several times. Now you are opening the flood gate of the Universe to give you multiple times, the good and positive actions you have taken to comply with the rule of "GOING THE EXTRA MILE".

WHAT COMPRISES THIS UNIVERSE? Every organic and inorganic matter seen or unseen,vying to express the driving force we call the spirit, is the simple definition of the Universe! Thus an inanimate object like the can in the street, or your lovable pet at home, and your wife, husband and children are ALL EQUALLY THE INTEGRAL PART OF THE UNIVERSE!  When you kick a can in the street, the can may not reciprocate your action. But it can come from another part of the Universe. Similarly, if you yell at your wife or husband she or he may not yell back at you several times as the Law of Reciprocity demands. You may get yelled at several times from another source, may be your boss or a policeman in the street. Now you know that the policeman as well as your boss is a part and parcel of the Universe!

RITUAL NUMBER FIVE: DO TEN SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS EVERY DAY!

We all can do ten simple acts of kindness everyday. It can be at your home, or at work or in the public place. An example of a simple act of kindness is to help an individual with a seemingly simple task. You can open the door for your older parents, or for a stranger in the street. You can extend the corners of your mouth (bring out a beautiful smile) at every one who crosses your path. Please use your  judgment  in doing that. In certain cultures it is a no no to smile at strangers. But make sure that your gesture is genuine and with no material or ulterior motives! You can give a compliment to your associate or coworker, and it should come from your heart and not from your lips.

If you see a homeless person at the street corner, you can give him or her five dollars to buy food without passing any judgment. The purpose is to help the homeless person to buy food, and nothing else. You do not have to worry about whether he or she in fact spend the money to buy the food. That is not in your power. You are only expressing to the Universe your willingness to help.

RITUAL NUMBER SIX:BE CHILD LIKE IN YOUR BEHAVIOR! There is a sharp difference between "childlike" and "childish". There are two very dominant traits almost every child expresses. One is imagination. It is not only the most childlike quality, but it is also the most revered Godlike quality. It is said that man is made in the "image and likeness of God". It is this  divine quality of imagination that created a Thomas Edison, a Henry Ford, an Albert Einstein, or a Michael Angelo. Imagination can stimulate your mind to generate new ideas that can change the world. We are all holding in our hand "a smart phone", which does not look like a traditional phone we used fifty years ago. Yet in the fertile mind of the visionary Steve Jobs, the unlimited possibilities of a modern smart phone, were conceived and it did change the way we communicate and connect with others across the world. When we are flying in a "Dreamliner" or a wide body 747Jet, we seldom remember that the Wright Brothers, could only fly their equipment ( does not look anywhere near the Boeing 747) for a few seconds in the air.

Imagination is the key to human progress!. Our civilization is the direct result of somebody's imagination. When we are enjoying our freedom here in the United States, we do not remember the American Patriot Patrick Henry who cried" GIVE ME FREEDOM, OR GIVE ME DEATH! The fire behind those words expressed by the great American patriot, is still the classic lesson in the delivery of a public speech. His name will be remembered by one and all who tries to express  an opinion in public. Such was the impression, he left for us to follow as long as time endures!

The second child like trait is curiosity. We all need to keep our curiosity alive and well, all through our years on earth. When you are curious, you will learn lot more things in life. Education might stop when we leave the school, but learning never stops. We must be curious about unknown areas, and try to learn to improve the quality of life. It is very easy today to get information about anything. Just Google it, and there it is at your finger tip, the information you wanted to have. This personal quality of curiosity can open many doors for you in your professional and personal life. It can take you to places you never imagined!

RITUAL NUMBER SEVEN: STAY INSPIRED AT ALL TIMES!

We all have a mind, that is the store house of millions of thoughts that flow through it day in and day out. The mystery of mind is seldom revealed to the ordinary mortals.  Yet we all use our mind to navigate across this world. In a sense it is our GPS in the modern world. Our joys, sorrows, ecstasy, elation and depression are all the moods of the mighty mind. Most of us go through  life, without even using a fraction of our mind power. That makes us only a small fraction above the creatures that creep on the face of the earth. Our daily challenges are limited to eating sleeping and reproduction. But there is a vast area for us to conquer in the recess of our mind, and such conquests can be facilitated only by an inspired mind. An inspired mind is a creative mind capable of producing many wonders. If you have any doubt, think of the great Walt Disney, and his imaginary character Mickey Mouse! 

HOW TO STAY INSPIRED: You can read inspiring books, listen to audio tapes, or watch video lectures on motivation. The most important thing to remember is the need for inspiration. Inspiration to human mind is like oxygen for the human body. Without oxygen our body is dead. So is our mind. It becomes lethargic, dull and doomed without a daily doze of inspiration.  The most effective way I have discovered in my life to stay inspired, is by "INSPIRING OTHERS". It is not very easy, yet it can be done with regular practice. The thoughts you think, the words you speak and the actions or the deeds you do must be inspiring to the other. Your mind will expand with inspiring others, and their mind will expand with your thoughts words and deeds. There is only a simple difference between your mind and a rubber band. When stretched the rubber band simply snaps.  But the mind continues to expand with unlimited possibilities.

I have found it very inspiring to inspire others. In the process you can be an "attractive" human being.  Without your realizing it, you can become a magnetic personality. You will be charged at all times, regardless of day or night. It is said that an iron when" charged" can lift many times its weight. Yet when it is not "charged", it can not lift even a feather. Remember this is very true of human mind too. We have many examples of  highly accomplished individuals, who did not even finish  High School or College, and yet they accomplished super human feats which defy the reach of even highly educated professionals.

You can start the process of inspiring others from today itself. Make sure that you sanitize your thoughts, and words by immersing them in the holy water of gratitude. Gratitude when practiced regularly can erase  even the trace of negativity from human mind. INSPIRATION STARTS AT HOME! You start inspiring your spouse and children and other members of the family. Slowly you can start spreading your inspiration to the place of work. You are not doing it for any material gains. The least you can do for another human being, is  to lift up his or her thoughts. Make him or her feel good about himself or herself. Even when the person is going through the rough time in his life, remind him that the "darkest night is just before the dawn". Remind them the eternal truth, that "this too shall pass". Nothing stays the same in life as change is the essential fabric of human life, no matter who you are, and where you are going  at this point in time. You may be an ordinary human being, yet with extraordinary thoughts and deeds you can be an extra ordinary super human being. When you do that, and embark on a mission to inspire others, you will be joining the great leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Theresa, who had very humble beginnings. With their extra ordinary thoughts and deeds, they were able to create a path where there was none, and dedicated that for the service of humanity. Indeed, they found their joy in serving others, and left their sacred" footprints in the sands of time".

MAY THERE BE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY AMONG ALL BEINGS IN THE UNIVERSE!OM!PEACE!PEACE!PEACE!