Have Faith in God

Finding faith in God is one of the strongest desired desire for most people. They want to believe in God, but don’t want their belief to be based on blind faith. They sometimes wonder that if God is real, then why is it difficult to have faith in Him? Many wonder how to believe in God if He does not reveal Himself to them? They feel they do not have enough information or evidence to justify a decision to trust that God is real and then to commit themselves to a relationship with God.

The overwhelming view of modern science is that the universe began to exist roughly 14-15 billion years ago. Given the fact that the universe began to exist, it must have had a ‘cause’ that originated it. Skeptics and atheists counter that the universe may be on some space-time circular pattern, but the bottom line is that there must have been a ‘creator’ of this eternal universe. Only an independent, infinite, eternal and omnipresent cause is sufficient to account for the universe. Therefore such a being must exist. Life’s journey teaches us many things, but one of the major things we learn is that nothing stays the same and everything changes. Seasons change, day changes into night, people change from childhood to old age and time never stands still. Change happens every moment of each day but God never changes and remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

Learn to trust God, especially in areas you have never dared to trust him before and spend some time of solitude in remembering Him. You will feel the wonderful and miraculous things God will do for you. Meditate on His unchanging nature and pray, honour, revere and thank Him for everything. Run to Him for protection and safety through prayer and he will shower love and blessings on you, until you are filled with peace, rest and strength to live the life he has purposed for you.

God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. Let Him take charge of your life, direct your path and order your steps.

If you have faith in God and His creation, you will not do anything to harm anyone. In fact you will do your best to help your fellow human beings. You will also try to follow the right path which leads you to God and away from sin. God lives in each one of us and if we truly believe in Him and follow our conscience, we will know right from wrong. If all of us love and appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us and respect the will of God, this world will become a much more beautiful place. 

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Be Positive

All thoughts, good or bad, are creative and our experiences in life are the result of habitual and predominant thoughts. What goes on in your mind can really determine your actions and decides whether you are positive or negative. If you always think negative thoughts, you will always turn out to be a negative person. It is better to think positive thoughts. Focus your imagination and efforts on becoming a positive person. It is much easier to effect change if you just put your mind to it and change your thoughts. We cannot always control things that happen in our lives, but we can, with some effort control what we think in our minds. The only thing between you and your desire to be happy is the fact that you think negatively. This little known fact keeps many from reaching their goal of happiness.

Smile at strangers and although it may seem a little weird, it actually makes you feel more positive and happy. You may even brighten that other person’s day with just a smile. Listen to positive music as it is a great way to remain positive. Volunteer or help others as helping others leads to a happier outlook on your own life. You will feel great and will evolve as a good person. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones and look for the benefit in every situation. There are pros and cons to most situations and you get to choose which one you will focus on.

The more positively you will act, the earlier you will reach your goals and get rewarded. 

People often wonder how to be positive in their thoughts and actions, especially when they are unhappy and unsatisfied or when life is difficult and tough. Like every other subject, the know-how of how to be positive can be learned and the skill developed. Begin by becoming aware of your thoughts and exchanging your negative thoughts with positive ones. It is our mind that creates the kind of life we live. We cannot always have control over our external circumstances, but we can control our inner world of thoughts. Focus your mind on the good things you already have in your life. Appreciate your friends and people in your life who have stood by you through thick and thin. Feel lucky to have them with you. Look for the good in every situation. There is always something good or at least something useful to learn, even in difficult or unpleasant situations. The true test of an individual to remain positive is when challenges become difficult. Stop criticizing others. With a little work and effort you can change how you think, which will automatically change your attitude, expectations, actions and reactions which will lead to more motivation, happiness and an improved life.

Dr (Mrs.) Archana Bharat

Smile

Smiling people lighten up the room, change the moods of others and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with him and people are drawn towards him. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, sulky faces and grimaces push all people away. There is a famous saying “Frown and you frown alone, but smile and the whole world smiles with you”. Smiling changes our mood. Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There is a good chance your mood will change for the better. Smile can really relieve stress. It prevents us from looking tired, worn down and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you will be able to take appropriate action. Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, your immune function improves, possibly because your are more relaxed. 

A smile causes a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younge. Don’t go for a facelift, just try smiling your way through the day and you will look younger and feel better.

Smiling people appear more confident so they are more likely to be approached and promoted and are generally more successful in life.

Smiling helps you stay positive and makes you stay away from depression, stress and worry. Smiles improve your appearance and it is an inexpensive way to change your looks. Smiles make things right again and say much more than words can.  If you have hurt someone, said something harsh, feel lost, alone or down, a smile can set things right again. A smile lets other people know that you are prepared to be open to them and you are willingly agreeing to set things right where needed. Smiles create trust and rapport. They make other people feel good. A genuine smile is accompanied by a general glow, smiling eyes and a reassuring demeanor, that helps the viewer to be more at ease in your presence. A genuine smile comes from being happy, positive and from drawing your feelings from the heart. Love the people around you and spread happiness. When you smile, it tends to make others around you smile. Even in the most stressful times, a roomful of smiles can brighten everybody’s mood. A fake smile can make you look phony and nervous, so don’t try it. 

Smiling is a good long-term predictor of happier outcomes. Smiling attracts health, happiness, friends, success and a longer life. So always keep smiling.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Avoid Overspending

Sticking to a budget can be extremely difficult, particularly if your finances are tight and you are not inclined to be particularly organized or disciplined. However, you can successfully curb excess spending and keep your budget intact by following certain tips. Oftentimes, people spend money on spur of the moment purchases that they really should be saving for something else. The easiest way to avoid this bad habit is to portion out your money every time you get a pay cheque. Put your bill money (including credit card payments), grocery money and funds for other necessities in the bank. Take out in cash the remaining money which can be considered spending money. Having the funds in cash can often help you monitor your spending better as people often go overboard when buying things with a credit card because they don’t see the account balance shrinking in front of them.

Next time you head out on a shopping trip, plan to run all your errands at the same time. If you have a list of places to go and things to accomplish, you will be less likely to spend extra time shopping or browsing for items other than those on your list. Check your list before you leave your house and eliminate anything you don’t actually need. It will not only help you stay on track but will most likely make your entire outing more efficient and effective and will help you avoid forgetting something important and having to make an extra unnecessary trip.

Many people over-spend because they feel that shopping eases stress or relieves depression and they often buy things they don’t really want.

You might want to buy a device with a slick new function and you may want to upgrade your existing device. Ask yourself whether you really need it before buying it. Don’t buy something because you are worried about hurting the sales person’s feelings. Beware of sale items which make you feel that you have to take advantage of a special deal or a limited time offer.

It has been aptly said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Do not allow your mind to wander unnecessarily as you might fall into the temptation of spending money to kill time. You could utilize your time in a creative and useful manner.

If you have a habit of overspending, you could let someone else take charge and shop for you instead. Encourage yourself to exercise restraint and buy only when you need something. Overspending may lead you into debt.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Avoid Cell Phone Abuse

The invention of mobile phones, their upgrades to high-end smart-phones with many popular and fascinating features, their easy availability in the consumer market and their affordability have ensured that almost every person we meet on the streets can afford to carry a cell phone. With more and more companies providing connections and SIM cards at extremely affordable rates, almost every person tries to get hold of it. Cell phones are indeed one of the greatest and most useful inventions of mankind. Cell phones help people to stay in touch with others even in different corners of the world. They come equipped with web cameras, audio and video recorders, mobile gaming, PDA, internet, video and music players etc.

But there is another darker and graver side to the story too. Widespread use of cell phones has made way for its rampant misuse too, especially by the youth, anti-social elements, terrorists and other criminals. Camera phones, that come with MMS enabled facilities are used to take unauthorized explicit photos, shoot pornographic videos etc. and spread them. Moreover, since SIM cards can be easily available and there is no proper facility for fool-proof checking of one’s records, these phones are being misused by terrorists for various activities.

The young generation is so engrossed in sending SMSes, talking over the phone and spending most of their time in the virtual world that in the real world they are gradually becoming ill-equipped and repressive. This leads to communication problems and also cause disturbances as one is always busy texting and receiving texts.

When you use a cell phone while walking through the road, you may not see a vehicle coming close to you and since its use in public places increases the reaction time, you may not get time to move away from danger. Mobile phone use while driving may cause accidents as cell phone conversation distracts the driver’s attention, increases reaction time and reduces visual field attention.

Use of mobile phones in gatherings, meetings, entertainment places etc. disturb others. Imagine, you are in a public place trying to concentrate on something or in serious discussion with your friend or enjoying a peaceful moment, when suddenly a stranger starts talking loudly on his cell phone. Your concentration breaks or your conversation ends or your peaceful moment is disturbed, you become a victim of cell phone abuse. You get irritable or annoyed with the caller. With increased use of camera phones and multimedia facilities, cyber crimes such as fraud, theft and forgery are increasing.

We should educate our children to use cell phones moderately. Mobile phones are both a boon and a bane. It is up to us to use them responsibly and make them a boon for the rest of our lives.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Exercise Your Right To Vote

Voting is a right that throughout history, many have fought for and sacrificed everything to achieve. It is a right that millions of people throughout the world still do not enjoy. The right to vote is a privilege. By voting we express our opinions, participate in our society and help to determine our future.

Abraham Lincoln called democracy “Government of the people, by the people and for the people”. It means that we are not here to serve our government; but that our government is here to serve us and we have the right to decide who will represent us and how we want to be represented. We, as a democratic nation have one of the greatest rights any free people can have: the right to vote. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not the President, Prime Minister or other ministers, but the voters of this country. You may sometimes wonder that with millions of people who vote in any election, does your vote really count? Perhaps you feel that if you can’t really make a difference why bother to vote. The truth is  that your vote does count and you do make a difference every time you vote. Your vote holds your local and national leaders responsible for the decisions they make. It sends a message about the issues you think are important. Your vote affirms our rights as free citizens to elect our government and take part in democracy. Without voting, there could be no democracy. The government you elect will decide whether to raise or lower taxes, make economic policies that could affect your job and decide when or if to use military force. Voting connects citizens with their political process, as well as to one another. By taking part in an election and by expressing our point of view, we help our democracy work. By agreeing or disagreeing with our leaders we show that the political system can accept different points of view and can resolve them. Voting helps to safeguard our freedom. A democratic community can only survive if its citizens see participation in the political process as a duty and a responsibility. It is critical to understand that if you oppose a particular person, go and vote against him otherwise you will be helping him to win. Good candidates must be supported, irrespective of whether they may win or not, so that they are encouraged rather than embarrassed to stand for election. Our single vote is not important, but collectively all our votes make a huge impact we need to show the political parties that we mean business.

Vote because you care about your community. Vote because you believe in free government and want to add your voice. Vote because it is the right thing to do and it will make you feel good to participate and have a say.

Dr(Ms)Archana Bharat

Write a Good Book

A book is the best medium to give expression to your thoughts. It is a good means of spreading your ideas and knowledge. You can reach out to people all over the world through your book.

There are numerous reasons why you should consider writing a book. If you are passionate about a technology and want the world to know all about it, you could pen it down in the form of a book for all to read. If you have a desire to do something creative and different, a book project could be an exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling process. It could also increase your credibility. By writing a book you become a ‘name’ in a given area. With a book behind you, it is far easier to reach a global audience. Thousands of people can draw inspiration from your thoughts. If you write a good novel, you can provide entertainment to so many. A spiritual book can provide solace to many with problems in their lives. An inspirational book may even change the lives of many. Writing enables you to broaden your horizons. A book can potentially allow you to move into areas such as training, consulting and presenting. It enhances your self esteem and you often learn new skills during the process or expand the ones you already possess. With increased credibility and fame you can leverage your existing career. Many authors secure new clients due to their books while others get quick promotions. It can also be a financially lucrative venture because if your book sells well you earn more royalty. You leave a legacy behind and your book is read by people of the future generations.

You must write the first chapter of the book very carefully as it could be the most important part of the book. People often determine whether they like the style of the author by reading the beginning. It must have a purpose or goal which should keep the reader interested to the end. Spread your significant message out to the world through your book. You can even solve the problems in your field through your book and gain the prestige of an author. A book will expand your exposure, add credibility and increase your opportunities in life. When your book is sold all over the world, you shall get opportunities to interact with people globally. Share your experiences to inspire your audience. Share how you overcame challenges in your field to motivate your audience. Best of all your family, your friends and your parents will be so proud to tell all their friends about your book.

Dr Archana Bharat

Compromise With The Situation

Compromises are part of every long-term relationship. Either due to differences in character or differences in perception, people tend to disagree with each other. However, if they truly love each other, there is no situation in which they are unable to find a solution which satisfies both of them. People who really want to be together will find ways to compromise. None of us likes to disagree but even less we like to compromise. People abhor compromise because for them it means to fail or, at least, to choose the better of two evils. By such attitude they defy the positive aspects of compromise. We should consider compromise as a healthy way to end conflict, and focus on restoring relationships damaged by conflicts. If you have to compromise during a difficult situation in a relationship, you are in a tough spot as it is not easy to cope with.

Consider how important the situation that you are compromising about is in your relationship. If you are dealing with a small but difficult issue, be generous when compromising as it is not worth damaging a relationship over trivial issues.

However, if you are compromising about a major issue, be ready to stand up for yourself. Make sure to be calm before the discussion about the difficult situation begins.

Think about the situation from your own as well as your partner’s perspective, as situations are perceived differently by different people. Sit down with your partner and begin an open dialogue. Be sure to discuss how you feel without blaming your partner. Discuss the reasons why you feel that a compromise is necessary so that he/she may be more willing to find a solution. Remember that compromise requires both give and take. It may take some time, but working together to resolve an issue will make you and your significant other into a stronger unit. Resolve the issue and stick to the resolution. You can easily destroy your credibility by agreeing to a compromise in a difficult situation and then changing your mind. You can save yourself from an unhappy relationship.

Another type of situation in which compromise is necessary is all kinds of political issues ranging from agricultural, industrial and international relationship. To reach agreement is highly important as it has a serious bearing on the future of the whole country.

Politicians have to forget about their own aspirations and keep in mind that their decisions will influence other peoples’ lives. One should always think twice not to miss the best in life, especially if it is obtainable by means of compromise. It establishes a happy and loving relationship and guarantees political and economic welfare of a country. Legal problems can also be solved through compromise.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Do Not Pollute Our Environment

Pollution prevention is an exceptionally major global concern because of pollution’s harmful effects on the person’s health and on the environment. Environment pollution comes in various forms such as noise pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Everyone is a stake-holder as we all are inhabitants of this mother earth. Each person has something to contribute to promote effective pollution prevention awareness initiatives. Environmental protection ensures a sustainable future for generations to come. We should therefore cooperate and actively participate in making the atmosphere pollution free. Individually we can help combat pollution in our own immediate environment. Most countries have already addressed the issue by passing some form of pollution prevention acts and measures.

Averting the onset of pollution in any area, be it on air, water or land could be the start and the simplest preventive solution to the problem. This calls for a conscientious effort to adopt good practices or habits by the people, the passage and proper implementation of appropriate government laws and the strict compliance especially by potential industrial pollutants. If there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution but somehow industrial development comes with the burden of pollution. The cost to business and its commercial ramifications make the simple preventive approach quite complicated and difficult to implement. However, this seemingly difficult situation does not deter environment protection advocates to pressure their dream of a clean and green environment. We can help them by following certain simple measures. To reduce sound pollution, keep the volume of your TV or music system low, honk the car horn sparingly, discourage use of loudspeakers and avoid the use of band and crackers in wedding processions.

To prevent air pollution, keep smoke emission from homes, factories and vehicles to a minimum. Stop smoking. Use unleaded petrol in your cars, keep your car properly maintained. Never use open fires to dispose of wastes. Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content. Industries should monitor their air emissions in compliance to the prescribed standards.

You may reduce water pollution by not dumping garbage near communal taps, wells and other water bodies. Immerse holy idols in authorized places. Industries should refrain from disposing their chemical wastes in water bodies. Wash your car on a grassy area. Recycle and reuse materials and do not use plastic bags. Save all forms of energy like electricity, petrol and water. Plant trees and use natural resources sparingly. Everyone can help by adopting good and healthy practices. Every action of a person with regard to his surroundings has an effect on the environment. By becoming aware and doing the right action, we can be part of the solution to this problem.

Dr(Mrs) Archana Bharath

Give Useful Advice

It can be very hard to give good advice to people who are under stress or are distressed. One of the trickiest aspects of advice giving is that advice can be more of a band-aid than a true solution to someone’s problem. Some situations warrant straightforward advice, while others require a more in-depth analysis of a person’s habits and patterns. First of all determine whether your advice is appropriate. When someone approaches you with a problem they are having, it is important to ascertain what they are really asking from you. Listen carefully and try to empathize with them. We often assume that people are asking for advice when all they really want is someone to hear them out for a few minutes.

When people are very emotional, they often are not ready for any feedback or advice so you may just listen to them patiently and try not give in to your natural problem solving instincts. Often, just helping someone organize the issue in their own mind helps lead them to their own solution.

After you have heard the person out, make sure they are clear on your style of advice. Let them know that you may have to say things they disagree with or that are hard to hear. If they appear to be open to your advice, move on. Diagnose the problem and try to articulate each option for solving it. Let them weigh these options on their own. Ask them what the best solution is. People often know what the best solution is, but it is often the least savoury choice. They may have omitted the most obvious solution most likely as it may be the most painful option.

People sometimes seek advice as a way to validate or invalidate the conclusion they have already come to; the only option they have is the least tasteful.

Once you have laid out the options, work with the person to really visualize what the natural consequences, tangible and emotional of each option are. They will see that there are positives and negatives to each option.

Ultimately, since you will not have to live with the consequences, you cannot make the decision for them. Offer them support in whatever decision they make and let them know that you will be there to discuss later on. We all need to be reminded sometimes that problems come and go and we survive. A truly good friend will be there for you through it all.

Your good advice may serve as a ray of hope in the darkness surrounding your friend and may change his life for the better. Facing life with a positive approach can do wonders.

Dr (Mrs)Archana Bharat

Utilize Old Things

In most homes there is a lot of stuff that nobody uses. You do not want to throw it away but, really, you cannot use it anymore. With a little bit of creativity you can turn these old things into something wonderful and useful. If you are on a budget or dislike the thought of shopping for new supplies, then take the creative route. Dig out all the old things in your house that are no longer in use and convert them into productive items. Reusing old objects is economical and environmentally safe. Anyone can achieve this feat with a little imagination and effort.

The rock garden of Chandigarh is a glorious example of old things being artistically converted into a beautifully decorative landscape.

At home, gift wrapping paper can be reused if you take care not to rip open a present and tear the paper to shreds. Save the wrapping paper for using it another time. You can embellish it with ribbons, sequins and stickers to give it a new look. If you have leftover cloth after making a dress or quilt, you can make use of it in stitching your baby’s dress or cushion covers.

Sometimes people end up with a large collection of decorative trays or plates gifted by family and friends. You can get plate hangers and display these on the walls of your home or use them for gifting them to people.

Pictures from old calendars can be framed and hung on walls. Old calendars can also be used as wrapping paper or be spread on shelves of your cupboards. You can take out the unused pages from your child’s notebook and bind them together to be used as a rough note book. The old school books of your elder child can be bound and used by your younger child. Do not throw old pens. Just change the refills and reuse them. 

In case you have a pet at home, you can create a comfortable resting place for them by using old blankets, sweaters or towels. Empty tissue boxes also need not be thrown away. You can reuse them for storing plastic bags. A great use for old fabric is to add some beads, buttons and new fabric to create new cushions for your living room couch. Use old clothes to teach your children to do needle work or make dolls. Old torn fabric may be used for cleaning the house. Old sarees can be used for making beautiful new quilts.

You can polish and change the fabric of your old sofas and other furniture to give it a new look. Making new candles from old, used candles by melting them is a fun craft project. Old pots and pans make for a great potted plant. Making new things from something old is always fun. With a touch of creativity and spirit, you can find a new use for your old things. So reuse, recycle and redecorate. 

Dr (Mrs)Archana Bharat

Lead A Simple Life

A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. It means eliminating all but the essential, finding peace within yourself and spending your time doing what’s important to you. It means getting rid of the clutter so you are left with only that which you value most. However, getting to simplicity is not always a simple process. It’s a journey, not a destination and it can often be a journey of two steps forward and one backward. Clearing the clutter from your home and from your life is easier said than done. We are often emotionally attached to our possessions. This attachment goes beyond our needs and we find it difficult to let go of nostalgia. When we are free of physical clutter, it frees our minds as well. The less we have, the more attention we can give to those things we own and truly need on a regular basis. It is pretty amazing how little we actually need. We only need abundance of the mind and the soul.

Nothing external can give us permanent and true happiness. We actually have all we need to be truly happy, within us. The art of having less but enjoying our lives more, involves a few simple changes in perspective. First we must understand where our true values lie and focus on them. Then, we must take time to enjoy the simple things and slow down and see what’s right in front of us.

There is a saying, “The best things in life are free”. Spending time with family and friends, laughing, enjoying the antics of a pet, seeing a child smile, experiencing intimate and heart-felt moments with a loved one – these times are precious and free. Money brings comfort and there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying that comfort but we should ensure to spend money only on things that matter to us. If you focus on enjoying the simple things you do every day, you can find so much happiness. In order to live the life you love, you have to love the life you have. Take time to be grateful for what you have and be content with all the small gifts in your life. It’s easy to speed through your day and not notice the little things. Slow down and fully immerse yourself in the subtle joys of this moment. Life is so precious, yet we spend our most valuable resource – time, on things that are not important to us. Go outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature, read a good book.

Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. By cleaning out and simplifying our outer space, our inner space will open up like a flower. When we open up physical space in our environment, a tremendous feeling of peace can dwell within us and we can find true happiness.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Ask For Forgiveness

Truthfully saying that you are sorry and asking for forgiveness is a difficult task. Pride gets in the way most of the time. It becomes the stumbling block. When you get angry with someone and a confrontation leads to the digging up of past problems and an exchange of harsh words, both of you will feel hurt and you may end up not talking to each other for a while. Sometimes you really do not intend to say hurtful words, nor do you want to even utter those words because they can be meaningless but they just come out in the heat of the argument.

Asking for forgiveness releases a person from the agony of being hurt and burdened. It does not really matter who started the argument. The main thing is that someone should be brave enough to make the first approach and ask for forgiveness. If someone else asks you for forgiveness, be generous enough to forgive. Think of an apology as a commitment to the relationship rather than an act of weakness. Acknowledge your actions without making excuses. Share your feelings about what happened but avoid blaming, exaggerating or saying empty words. Listen patiently to the other person’s response without getting defensive. Be honest and only apologize for things you truly feel responsible for. Don’t apologize just to make an unpleasant situation go away.

Practice what you are going to say until you are comfortable to say the words. You do not want to start your apology only to say the wrong things and start another argument. Take responsibility for your part, how you hurt the other person rather than give any attention to how they hurt you. Be vulnerable and reveal your own sadness or remorse for causing them pain. This fosters emotional healing. Say it in writing if a personal confrontation is scary. Offer to make amends if appropriate. Do not be discouraged if you aren’t completely forgiven the moment you apologize and give the other person some time to sort out his or her feelings. In the meantime, seek every opportunity to do good to that person even if he is stubborn.

There is no need for an emotional outburst. Sincerely ask for forgiveness when the other person has had time to calm down and is willing to listen. Strive to avoid the causes that brought about the problems.

Asking for forgiveness is a sign of strength. It should not be considered a weakness. There is a famous saying – “To err is human, to forgive divine”. It helps repair relationships, strengthens family bonds and relieves your heart and mind.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Be A Good Citizen

A good citizen is someone who respects others and their property, is helpful and considerate, willing to put others first. He listens to the views of others and thinks about what they have to say, helps people who are not in a position to help themselves, respects the environment and does not damage it in anyway. He works hard, is well mannered and pleasant and is always willing to learn. We are used to living under laws and patterns that are dictated to us by society but just following those patterns does not make us good citizens. To be a good person, one has to be full of values, principles, ethics etc.

An important aspect of being a good citizen is to help people. All around us, we can see there are people in need of our help. We should lend our helping hand not only to poor people but also pregnant women, old and sick people. Our small actions can make a big difference. If you have been blessed with a sound mind and body, it is your responsibility to look out for children, the aged, the disabled and those who are down on their luck and help them.

Another important thing for a good citizen is to have an active participation in his community. We can do this in a lot of ways. When elections come we must exercise our voting right and vote for the most deserving candidate. We should also participate in neighbourhood meetings for deciding about the maintenance of the streets and other matters and put forth our point of view. Be proactive and take initiative when you see problems in your community. One good citizen can be an enormous force.

Respect the people who live around us. We should remember that other people have similar rights like we do. Respect is one of the most important bases when living in a society. We all have freedom, but it is restricted to a certain point. We cannot consider a killer or a thief good citizens as they have violated that restriction. Volunteer to do good deeds such as tutoring at schools, visiting nursing homes, working at elections, helping disaster relief agencies, donating to hospitals or cleaning up a park or nature preserve.

If you live in an area where neighbours do not know each other, start a new tradition. Have a block party or a get-together. Get to know the names of your postman, garbage pick-up workers and show an interest in people you meet on a regular basis. As adults, we also have obligations to contribute to the society and make our corner of the world a little better.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Be A Good Employer

Becoming a good boss is not something that can happen overnight. It is an ongoing learning process with struggles along the way. But once you are able to achieve a perfect balance between the needs of your company, your employees and yourself, you know that you are on your way to becoming an effective and good employer whom people respect and revere. A good boss needs to possess certain qualities. He should have leadership skills because there is a significant difference between a follower and a leader and hence all good employees cannot be good bosses. A good employer treats all employees as valuable members of the organization, from the file clerk to the CEO. He provides consistent benefits and fair compensation plans commensurate with market and contribution. He treats all employees with respect and courtesy and requires that the same treatment be accorded at all levels of the organization. He realizes that because employees are humans too, some things are truly beyond their control. So if something goes wrong, allow for some human limitation but your tolerance should not be abused by your employees by giving mediocre results.

It takes courage to give out commands and manage a large group, especially to take on full responsibility of your employees’ actions. Hence you should be very selective in finding the right kind of employees. If you end up with people who will put your name and reputation in danger, your company will be in serious trouble. So, check the background of all your potential employees. Be optimistic and smile all the time. You cannot expect your employees to produce excellent results if they see you sulking all the time. You have to realize that teaching people takes a lot of time and effort, so you have to exercise utmost patience.

A good employer has genuine concern about his employees and realizes that they too have needs and feelings. Recognition, raise in workers’ compensation or rewards are some of the best ways to motivate your employees but you have to be tactful and keep them in discipline. During company outings, do not hesitate to show your employees the fun side of you. Joke and laugh with them and talk to them. Provide a learning environment for all employees to increase employee satisfaction. The rapid rate of change in technology demands that employees continually enhance skills and knowledge. Have an open door policy. A good boss has multitude rewards. You earn the loyalty and respect of your employees and your company progresses.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Be Efficient

It is amazing how much time we waste, but if we are willing to make a few changes, our time can be used more efficiently.

First and foremost, use logic and commonsense and explore several options before proceeding. Accept and learn from your mistakes. Ask for help from someone who has more experience or skill. Be open to new ideas and amicable towards new perspectives. Speed your process and technique by planning ahead.

Make a list of ideas and even if you do not have time to proceed at the moment, you may have time to think about the most efficient procedure. When following instructions, read through the entire procedure before you begin and highlight important concepts. Learn the fundamentals before proceeding to the more complicated and use the proper tools and resources. A simple tool may be more appropriate for certain tasks. Always work in accordance with your priorities and finish the urgent tasks first. Be realistic in calculating the time required for each step. Set aside extra time for some unexpected delays. As you near the end of a step, begin thinking about the next. Divide your work into smaller portions and take breaks at intervals. A small project is less daunting and more easily accomplished. Stay focused because time can be wasted if you forget a step or get off track. Remove distractions to give your full attention. Complete one project before starting another for a sense of achievement.

Take a break as you need rest to replenish and rejuvenate your body and mind. Gently exercise to increase circulation and oxygen to your brain to think more clearly.

Limit your possessions as all possessions require your time and money to maintain. Get rid of unused and useless items. Buy time-saving, multifunctional and reliable items.

Organize your things and put everything in their proper place. This way you will not waste time in finding them whenever you require them.

Keep your thoughts focused on fruitful endeavours and be confident with your plans and proceed. Do the best you can and take pride in the quality of your work. Education allows you to adapt more easily. So offer your knowledge, skills and direction to others. Enjoy your spare time by doing things of your interest. 

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Pay Your Taxes

Taxes are the legal claims of the government of a country and all citizens are morally and legally bound to pay their fair share of tax. A large percentage of people who pay tax think as if the government is trying to steal their hard earned money, but it is not true. Money collected from taxes helps a country to become stronger and helps government provide a variety of services to its citizens. People earn lots of money using the prosperity of the state and prosper in their life. It is therefore, the right of the government to get its share from your income that you have made with the resources of the state. Therefore, everybody should pay his or her taxes regularly and willingly.

The government provides many services with our tax money. The infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, dams, railways which are available to the society, utilize tax money. Money collected from taxes is also used to provide public security like police, fire safety, army, navy and air force and to buy arms for them. Keeping roads clean, water treatment, street lights, trash removal and maintenance of public parks requires a lot of money. The government also provides some level of free or subsidized health services to its citizens including preventive immunization shots, disaster relief etc. Free education is also imparted to poor students. Maintenance of historic monuments, government aid, emergency relief, elections, agriculture, commerce, energy, urban development, treasury, judiciary are all funded by the tax money paid by us.

Taxes are imposed in many forms, for example: income tax, sales tax, excise, toll, house tax etc. Usually people with higher income pay a higher percentage of tax than the people with lower income and those with very low income do not have to pay tax.

Resisting taxes has risks. It could result in penalty and prison time and could complicate life immensely.

Chanakya stressed: “Taxes should be collected the way a honey bee collets the honey from the flower”. The flower is willing to give up its sweetness, but the bee also takes care that only a little is taken without hurting the flower. Regular tax payers get many financial advantages from the government and are respected by the government as well.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Give Encouragement

Many of the greatest achievements begin with the empowering words of encouragement. When someone is feeling insecure, unsure or apprehensive about taking constructive action or pursuing favourable opportunities, you should convey to them that you believe that they are capable and that their efforts are worthwhile. Everyone has times when they could use some support or motivation from others. There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.

Look for someone you know who has been disappointed or is going through a tough moment in life. Showing an interest in them can be very encouraging even if there may not be anything you can do to improve or fix their situation. If someone dear to you is putting in a great effort or doing a great job, you just have to take notice and show an interest. Your encouragement will reinforce the actions of that individual and may give him the strength to do even greater things in future. Encouragement can do wonders for students who wish to achieve in class.

In addition to encouraging someone through a personal conversation, hand written notes are also a great way to encourage someone. Keep the note positive and do not criticize in anyway. The note should genuinely express your true feelings. Encouragement is most effective when you say things that you really mean. Undue flattery may produce unrealistic expectations and ultimately cause more harm than good. Honestly expressing your desire for the person to succeed can help motivate them to take action. You should indicate confidence in their abilities and focus on what can be accomplished.

When someone you care about, has a stressful situation, tell them that it will be okay. Knowing that someone believes in them can help someone overcome the obstacles in their life. If you see someone faltering or thinking negatively about something, give them something positive to think about instead. By changing their attitude from negative to positive, you will enable them to think positively about other things as well.

Always be willing to share a smile. When times are hard, the toughest thing to do is smile. By sharing your smile, you are helping them to overcome the negative feelings and probably they will smile in return. You can encourage people by giving them a hug or helping them with something. It can keep them from falling into depression and put a bright smile on their face.

Dr(Mrs) Archana Bharat

Do Not Criticize

One key to a successful life is – “Do not criticize anyone”. When you criticize others you weaken yourself. If you truly want to be successful, you should begin by being honest with yourself, recognizing your own behaviour. When we recognize our behaviour we are on the path to correcting it. Everyone who corrects his own behaviour is inevitably successful. The person who often blames others for his failures and never recognizes his own self destructive behaviour will not be successful.

Criticism is useless because it hurts the pride of others and provokes resistance. It provokes an inevitable reaction against its author. The person who knows how to live without criticizing does not provoke resistance or reaction on the part of his fellow beings and consequently, creates an atmosphere of success and progress. On the other hand, those who do criticize others have many enemies. The world is full of critical people who find faults and are irritable and sometimes intolerable. Their bad behaviour makes them impatient, angry, egotist, proud and arrogant and they have no patience.

As employers they become the executioners of their employees. Workers who are compelled to work under such fault finding people end up hating the job and the employer. No discontented worker works his best under duress. Many times enterprises fail because the workers are discontented, dissatisfied and do not work efficiently because of the criticism they must endure. On the other hand workers who seek any occasion to criticize their employers, sometimes end up losing their job. Employers have pride and vanity and feel offended when criticized by employees. The one who wants to correct others should begin by correcting himself. This gives better results. Try to see the best in all human beings and take responsibility for your actions to lead a happy, healthy life.

Sometimes people who criticize have an upper hand on the people with more knowledge of the subject. It is only because people do not want to pick a fight with them when they are yelling loudly and are irrational. In fact they are the ones who are misrepresenting themselves and fail miserably. We need to analyze our own life and actions before criticizing actions of others.

Dr (Mrs) Archana Bharat

Keep Your Promise

Very few people realize, or wish to accept that one of the worst experiences in the life of an individual is a broken promise. We all have moments when we make a promise to someone and cannot keep it, for a variety of reasons. However, when there is a definite pattern in breaking promises, it suggests that the person making the promise is trying to please too many people, perhaps to impress, but failing miserably.

Promises mean a lot to people because they suggest appreciation, value and empathy and carry some pleasure in fulfillment. The effect of broken promises is resentment, undue anxiety, missed opportunities and lack of trust in future promises for one person and a chain of guilt and feelings of incapacity and inadequacy for the other. Broken promises also give a feeling of regret and are rarely associated with success. The most successful people tend to value others and keep their word because it demonstrates integrity – a key attribute for achievement. If not handled sensitively, broken promises can cause ill feeling, damage friendships and even lose business.

Keeping your promises is a way to live your life with integrity. You should especially keep your promises with children. Sometimes parents try to soothe a child’s temper and placate him by making false promises which they have no intention of keeping. Children are too gentle and vulnerable and a broken promise can cause devastation, hurt, grief and frustration in them.

If you find yourself prone to breaking promises, try to limit yourself to genuine promises which you can keep. Do not be forced or pressured and commit yourself only when you feel like it. It is our desire for approval which makes us promise to too many people and when we end up keeping none of them, it makes us feel miserable and we lose our credibility and friends. Be realistic and make promises according to your capabilities. If you value someone’s friendship, or truly respect them, or you value your customers don’t make promise you can’t keep. We can only command respect and be appreciated when we are consistently trustworthy and choose someone else’s interests over our own.

Dr(Mrs) Archana Bharat