SPIRITUAL SOLACE AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT?

How many times have you thought to yourself, "I just have to be Ok with it!"? Chances are that you're probably feeling exactly like this about something, this very instant.

Surrender, in common parlance, refers to the act of giving in, often forcefully or with a certain level of dissatisfaction, against one's will. This seed of dissatisfaction that stems from the inability to give in without a fight then tends to snowball into something much bigger, thus taking up a lot of our time and not to forget, our peace of mind.

So can you actually ‘Surrender'?
Start by understanding that Surrender is not an act, it's an attitude that you build over a span of time by incorporating certain simple values in day to day living.

Yes, surrendering is important, but you must surrender only to break free and to liberate yourself, not to give or accept defeat. Here are a few tips to help you surrender better:

1. When you wake up every morning, sit still with your eyes closed for a while. Forget about everything else in the world. This time is purely for some self-indulgence, to recollect, learn and rejuvenate.

2. Sit with an attitude of complete acceptance. Know that whatever has and will come your way is just a mere lesson in learning. It is through an adoption of this mindset you will learn that there is nothing you cannot handle. The minute you fear, loathe or have a strong opinion about something, you allow it to control you.

3. Some people often imagine themselves soaring high with complete abandon or think about activities that make them feel completely liberated. A common thought is that of soaring far and wide in the endless sky without strings attached (that represents everything that holds you back.)

4. Whatever negative feelings and thoughts may arise, simply accept them, realise they're there and move on. The lesser the attention you pay to them, the lesser they will affect you. Repeat the same cycle at night focussing on your entire day. It'll help you feel calm and relaxed and also aid in a peaceful night's rest.

The magic of Surrender lies in comprehending that true Surrender doesn't just pacify you; it leaves you unshakable and feeling fabulously free. Go ahead. Try it!

MUST KNOWS FOR CAMPUS PLACEMENT INTERVIEWS

Campus placement interviews are the key to getting your career started on the right foot. The secret lies in giving out the right vibes and saying the right things at the right time.

Display a learner's attitude: The 'I know it all' attitude is not going to impress any employer. Considering campus interviewees are freshers, employers will be more impressed by hearing something like, "I know the basics and I am willing to learn the rest". Show that you will mould yourself to their company and not vice versa.

Don't be full of yourself: Arrogance and narcissism have no place in a campus placement interview. Do not brag about your qualities but rather subtly display them before the placement jury in the way you respond to their queries.

Do your homework: Knowing about the company's history and key achievements shows your interviewer just how much effort you are willing to put in. Read up about your prospective employer/s on their website and keep yourself updated on any new developments there.

Be articulate and confident: Speaking too much won't make a good impression, but neither will not speaking enough. The trick lies in answering the questions articulately, clearly, providing only as much information as needed, with oodles of confidence.

Dress appropriately: Whimsical fashion statements have no place at a corporate interview while you may be more creative in your attire (though still on the conservative side) if applying for a job in a creative field. Girls must absolutely stay away from skimpy clothes. Keep the overall look elegant and dripping of professionalism.

BE A CLASSROOM STAR

There will always be that one student in class who’s getting the best grades, winning the sports trophy and the elocution competition every year, and whose name is always on every teachers tongue.

Here is how you could become that student:

1. Get over your fear
What is it that you fear? Is it looking silly in front of your classmates or your teachers? Or about blurting out the wrong answer? Remember that anyone could be in your position and that everyone in your classroom is there to learn- through their own mistakes, or someone else’s.

2. Find your star subject
Each one of us has personal favorites when it comes to studies; for some it may be literature while for others it could be geometry. While you will automatically tend to concentrate more on the subjects you like, make sure you work hard at the one’s you find difficult. At the same time, don’t let the strenuous hours of hard work dampen your enthusiasm. Play on your strengths and work on overcoming your weaknesses.

3. Understand that teachers don’t judge
Your teachers are there to teach you. They don’t laugh, judge, pass comments or hold grudges when you go wrong. Therefore, feel free to ask questions and clarifications if you’re confused about something. They will be more than glad to help. For all you know, you may be echoing the doubts of half your classmates.

4. Be proactive!
An important part of being a star student is that of being proactive in the class room. Take responsibility for simple things like collecting homework assignments or being the class representative. When you have a lot of responsibilities, they’ll keep you on your toes and put you on top of the teachers and students A list!

5. Give your 100%
Juggling homework, football practice, piano classes and exams can be quite demanding. Stay a step ahead of everyone else and excel at all you do by giving it your 100%. Play like it’s the last time you’ll ever kick a ball, concentrate on your studies as though there were an exam the next day. No matter what you do, do it to your full capacity and become a true all rounder.

Remember, stardom comes at a cost!

SEX APPEAL...WANNA TRY??

With the New Year just around the corner, it's time to think of new beginnings. While you can't exactly give your body a makeover in two months, there's lots you can do to maximise your great physical qualities and minimise the bad. Not only does this make you more attractive to the opposite sex, it also makes you feel good about yourself.

This is how you can maximise your best physical qualities...

1. Identify them
From a great set of teeth to a strong jaw-line and even a slim and trim body type, your best quality could be anything. Once you've identified your best physical quality, work on maximising it.

2. Cash in on your assets
Even if you are slim and trim, do some free-hand exercises at home to tone your muscles. Do away with all the loose ill-fitting clothes and wear clothes that fit well. If you've got a great set of teeth, smile! Not only will it improve your face value, you'll also appear to be a friendlier and a more likable person.

3. Fish for compliments
This may seem a tad vain, but actually it's a great way to boost your ego (in all the right ways of course). Ask close family members and friends to help you focus on your best physical qualities. And when you wear that nice body fit stretch t-shirt go right ahead and ask your best friend, “Hey, how do I look in this t-shirt?"

4. Work around your weak points
Now just because you've identified your best physical qualities, it doesn't mean you ignore the ones that are not quite the best. More often than not you'll have a couple of not-so-great qualities that you should work on for best results. If you've got a great smile, it'd probably do you good to keep your facial hair neat and trimmed. If you've got sexy eyes, how about shaping you heavy eyebrows and doing away with those glasses and wearing contact lenses? Now that's as idea!

5. Be Confident
We can't stress on this enough… confidence makes all the difference! Be who you are and people will notice you for all the right reasons. Don't try too hard and don't expect miracles overnight. Even the small changes may take a month or two to be noticed, but they will be noticed eventually

ARE YOU HABITUATED TO ARGUING?

Arguing is almost like a disease. An argumentative person is addicted to having the last say and this not only makes him or her unpopular but also poses them as an unpleasant companion to have.

But why does one argue?

Arguments happen because conflicts exist and the toughest thing to handle in any relationship is these conflicts. While a good and a fair argument can clear the air and help you to feel closer to your love or to your family or colleagues, many arguments are just hurtful and destructive. Arguments that never go anywhere, that are repeated year after year, or that leave you feeling awful about yourself are the ones that damage your inner peace and your relationships.

Arguments could also stem from an inherent need to prove yourself. An inferiority complex could be a cause for such arguments where in a person almost always feels the need to win the argument. In such case, one needs to understand that by constantly arguing you are only announcing to the world that you feel inferior.

Getting past the arguments

Lack of communication causes small conflicts to become heated arguments where issues are not resolved because both parties are trying to make their points and are not even listening to what the other person has to say. When you are about to plunge into an argument, stop for a moment and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are you overreacting because you are tired and stressed?
2. Is the anger gathered inside you for someone or something else?
3. Are you being defensive because you want to avoid having to say you're sorry?
4. When you raise an issue, are you sure this is the main thing that's bothering you or is it something else about the person that has irritated you?
5. Is it hormonal imbalance that is making you unusually irritable or sensitive?
6. Is your mood being affected by illness?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes than you know that you are not being fair to the other person by arguing. Stop right there. Go to your space and play some relaxing music, read a book or watch TV. Do whatever, the idea is to distract your mind and give it some time to recuperate from anger and stress.

Avoid hurtful arguments by following these few simple guidelines:

1. Be concerned with being kind more than being right
If you're kind to others and treat them well, you'll experience fewer arguments.

2. Develop the art of listening
Listen to what the other person has to say and don’t answer back mindlessly. This will kill half your urge to argue.

3. Learn to keep quiet
There will be many occasions when you'll want to respond to a comment someone has made, but if you do you know that it will be an invitation to an argument. Swallow your anger and urge to react and notice that no argument occurs.

4. Set standards for yourself
What kind of person do you really want to be? Do you want to be known as an argumentative idiot or would you rather be known as tolerant and understanding. In view of how useless arguing is, learn to hold yourself to a high standard and steer clear from arguing.

5. See the other’s perspective also
Try to understand the stance of the other party also. If possible, slip into their shoes for a while and then look at your arguments from their perspective… you might see some light.

6. Know Your Triggers around Arguing
Become aware of what comments and situations trigger your anger and argumentative behavior. Learn how you can avoid getting trapped by them in the future.

7. Leave when a conversation is getting too heated
Walking away may not be the best idea but it is better than letting an argument turn into an ugly fight. Just get up and leave. This will allow you some time to gather your thoughts and cool down. When your perspective is better you can continue the discussion from a more objective point of view.

Remember that no one ever wins a hurtful argument because it almost always leaves a bad taste behind. It has the capacity to severe ties, hurt emotions and create misunderstandings. So take a vow now and steer clear from this poison of hurtful arguments.

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND CERTAIN GESTURES?

Have you ever been scolded for not covering your mouth while yawning or talking while having your dinner? Since these gestures are natural, a number of times we are not aware of its impact on others.

Well, most of these courtesies can be traced back to the Middle Ages to the era of kings and queens, knights in shining armour and chivalry. Some of them were created to be courteous, some were meant to be symbolic, and some were simply matters of logic. Learn the significance of these…

Raising a Toast
Toast and clinking of glasses together, was originally done so that when the glasses clinked, the drinks sloshed together on impact. This meant that whatever was in one drink passed into both glasses. So if someone is planning to drug a friend, he too would get some!

The Story Behind The Handshake
An empty hand presented forward to another person, and receiving the same response, was the easiest and most recognizable way to show someone that people weren’t holding a weapon! Therefore, a handshake meant they were going to talk instead of fight.

Let’s Salute
If a knight, in a full armour suit wanted to talk with a friend, he would have to remove the barrier i.e. lift his visor. His hand, thus, ended up at his forehead to lift the visor. A salute indicated lifting the helmet visor, so that the knight could talk instead of fight.

Yawning? Cover Your Mouth!
This has two logics to it. On a religious level if you yawned, with your mouth wide open, the Devil could reach right in and yank out your soul. Secondly, in the Middle Ages bathing was considered unhealthy, so most of the peasants and nobility stank badly. So it seemed logical to cover one’s mouth while yawning.

Keep Your Elbows Off The Table!
Why is it rude? First thing to bear in mind is that back in the old days people sat down to dinner, squeezed, into a long table that was set into a row. This meant that each person was packed very tightly in between the people on either side of him, and simply didn’t have much room to eat. The elbows weren’t allowed on the table because if someone had their elbows on the table, the other couldn’t eat.

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND CERTAIN GESTURES?

Have you ever been scolded for not covering your mouth while yawning or talking while having your dinner? Since these gestures are natural, a number of times we are not aware of its impact on others.

Well, most of these courtesies can be traced back to the Middle Ages to the era of kings and queens, knights in shining armour and chivalry. Some of them were created to be courteous, some were meant to be symbolic, and some were simply matters of logic. Learn the significance of these…

Raising a Toast
Toast and clinking of glasses together, was originally done so that when the glasses clinked, the drinks sloshed together on impact. This meant that whatever was in one drink passed into both glasses. So if someone is planning to drug a friend, he too would get some!

The Story Behind The Handshake
An empty hand presented forward to another person, and receiving the same response, was the easiest and most recognizable way to show someone that people weren’t holding a weapon! Therefore, a handshake meant they were going to talk instead of fight.

Let’s Salute
If a knight, in a full armour suit wanted to talk with a friend, he would have to remove the barrier i.e. lift his visor. His hand, thus, ended up at his forehead to lift the visor. A salute indicated lifting the helmet visor, so that the knight could talk instead of fight.

Yawning? Cover Your Mouth!
This has two logics to it. On a religious level if you yawned, with your mouth wide open, the Devil could reach right in and yank out your soul. Secondly, in the Middle Ages bathing was considered unhealthy, so most of the peasants and nobility stank badly. So it seemed logical to cover one’s mouth while yawning.

Keep Your Elbows Off The Table!
Why is it rude? First thing to bear in mind is that back in the old days people sat down to dinner, squeezed, into a long table that was set into a row. This meant that each person was packed very tightly in between the people on either side of him, and simply didn’t have much room to eat. The elbows weren’t allowed on the table because if someone had their elbows on the table, the other couldn’t eat.