“Ask and I shall tell.” -Neel TrivediHey there dear readers, You’ve read our articles. You’ve read our poetry. You follow us on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook. (God willing). But do you really know us?
AMA WITH NEEL
Wisdomology
PLANTING THE SEEDS (REVISED)
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” -Robert Louis StevensonIn previous articles, I’ve talked about planting the seeds, so to speak for any task or endeavor. For example, if you have writer’s block, I’ve suggested that keeping writing “I don’t know what to write” over and over till you think of something.
ASSUMING MAKES AN A*S…(REPOST)
“Before you ‘assume’, try this crazy method called asking.” -UnknownThe year is 2000. I’m in high school. The bell has rung and I’m about to go from choir class to Spanish class. Spanish class has two textbooks which my teacher, Mr. Brown, uses interchangeably. Unfortunately, I’m not sure which one is needed for that particular day. Perhaps Mr. Brown had mentioned it the day before and perhaps he hadn’t. I can’t remember.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF FOMO
“FOMO is the enemy of valuing your own time.” -Andrew YangImagine this scenario. You’re on one of your zillion social media accounts and surrounded by glamorous pictures of friends, family members and people who you can’t even remember how, if at all, you know.
PATIENCE – REVISITED
“Patience is not passive, on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.” -Bruce Lee How hard or easy is it to have patience? For me personally, it’s one of the most difficult acts to do. Whether it’s waiting for a package delivery or sitting at the airport, I always find myself getting antsy, especially if things … Read more
THE CONUNDRUMS OF ADVICE
“Don’t make a permanent decision about a temporary emotion.” -UnknownI do it. You do it. Everyone does it. From time to time, we all seek advice from our loved ones. But should you always take it?
TOO EASY…TOO GOOD?
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” -Leonardo Da VinciAre all things that are easy in life too good to be true? In the form of rewards, perhaps. In the form of payment over something, be it a job or otherwise, maybe. After all, as the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
PASSION VS OBSESSION (REVISED)
“An obsession is a way for damaged people to damage themselves more.” -Mark BarrowcliffeI’ve always believed that two key elements to conquer any difficult endeavor of life are passion and determination. But is there such a thing too much passion? Can you ever love something (or someone) so much that it comes a hindrance more than an ascension. There can be, when passion becomes obsession.
MINDFULNESS REBOOT
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.” -Sharon SaltzbergIn previous articles, I’ve discussed how a state of mindfulness is not just a mental or psychological exercise. Done properly, it can also have a number of physical benefits as well. After writing that article, I got a couple of questions asking how exactly one would get started if they’ve never done so before. It’s my hope that this article answers some of those questions and serves as a basic introduction to a mindfulness reboot; or starting mindfulness with a clean slate.
INSIDE ANXIETY
“Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” -Traditional ProverbWhat is anxiety beyond the usual textbook definition? A friend of mine once said it felt like her “body, mind and soul were on a perpetual rollercoaster of fear, violent shivering and a heart attack all in one eternal ride.”
CLEANSE YOUR AURA BY CRYING
“Have a good cry, wash out your heart. If you keep it inside it’ll tear you apart.” -Sometimes You Win (1979) by Dr. Hook & the Medicine ShowWhen was the last time you cried? Whenever it was, did you know you also ended up cleaning some bacteria? In a way, you also just vacuumed your eyes. Confused?
TODAY’S TOPIC? YOU TELL ME!
“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” -Bernard BaruchThis is something I’ve done before a few times and still feel it’s never enough. I’m talking about listening. Yes, I’ve posted and reposted this article a few times. And I continue doing so periodically because I feel it’s crucial in building a relationship with all of you members and readers. And hence, here is that article to give YOU, the reader, your time under the spotlight:
DE-CLUTTERING YOUR MIND
“Having a clear mind and a clear space allows you to think and act with purpose.” -Ericka OppenheimerStop what you’re doing for a second. Close your eyes and listen to your mind. Do you hear non-stop chattering that just won’t shut up even if you want it to?
THE FAKE PRAYER
“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” -Garth Brooks“I tried praying. It didn’t work.” Have you ever heard someone say this before? Or have you ever personally felt that way?
HOW NEEL GOT HIS GROOVE BACK
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency.” -Dwayne “The Rock” JohnsonHow did I go from feeling very optimistic to desolate to optimistic again?
GOD’S IDENTITY CRISIS
“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” -Albert EinsteinIf you take a look at any of my articles that allude to a higher power, you’ll notice a common phrase: God or the universe. Yesterday a reader asked me if I was trying be diplomatic. The answer is no.
RELAXING VS BEING LAZY
“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” -Mark BlackIn previous posts, I’ve written about how important it is to not let a goal become an obsession. Indeed, any goal needs focus and attention. But it also needs an amalgamation of hard work and then taking the time to acknowledge the hard work. Or as it’s more commonly expressed, stop and smell the roses.
ACCEPTANCE IS NOT DEFEAT
Accepting is NOT defeat, it’s adding layers of intimacy with the universe or higher power and getting more acquainted with them. -Kyle Higgins, Mental Health Counselor Does acceptance of something that didn’t go your way a form of defeat? This is something my counselor and I recently talked about in a grueling session. For new … Read more
DOWNFALLS
DOWNFALLS IS OUR DAILY WISDOM WORD TODAY. WE ALL HAVE DOWNFALLS FROM TIME TO TIME. SOMETIMES IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOMEONE AROUND US HAS ONE. IT MAKES IT HARD WHEN SOMEONE ELSES DOWNFALL AFFECTS US. I CALL THIS THE “RIPPLING” EFFECT. A DOWNFALL HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY MAKE A POOR CHOICE AND YOU ARE … Read more
SOCIAL MEDIA – EVIL OR GOOD?
“We don’t have a choice whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.” -Eric QualmanIs social media a significant root of evil? Have we succumbed to it to a point of being a genuine hazard?
FOLLOWING YOUR INNER FASHION STATEMENT
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” -Lao TzuWe all are swayed by it at one point or another. We all have, at least once, been allured by it, many times at a high cost. I’m talking about fashion.