I would like to share a beautiful story of positive thinking that I read a couple of days ago.

The Black Dot

One day, a professor entered the classroom and announced a surprise test. Hearing this, all students got anxious and started thinking about what would come up in the test. The professor distributed the question paper, with the front side facing down. After handing over the papers to all the students, he asked them to turn the page and start the test. To everyone's surprise, there were no questions in the test paper. There was just a black dot in the center of the page. 

Everyone was surprised and looked at the professor in wonder. The professor told the students:

“I want you to write a few lines about what you see on the paper."

Once everyone was through with the test, the professor collected all the answer sheets, and started reading out each answer aloud in front of the whole class. Without an exception, all the students had written about the black dot, mentioning about its position, size etc. No one wrote about the white space around it.  After reading out all the answers, the professor addressed the students and told them:

“None of you will be graded on this test. I just wanted you to ponder over something. All of you wrote about the black dot. No one wrote about the white part of the paper.

The same thing happens in our lives too. We all have a white paper to observe and learn from, yet we always focus on the dark spots. We have so many reasons to celebrate – our parents, co-workers, friends, good health, a satisfactory job, a child’s smile, the miracles we witness every day, and so on.

However, we simply limit our horizons by focusing on just the dark spots – our disappointments, our frustrations, our fears and anxieties, things that bother us, people that wronged us, etc. 

In our day-to-day lives, we tend to take so many good things for granted, and focus our energy on insignificant dot-like failures and disappointments.”

Though these dark spots are quite small as compared to the good things that we have in our lives, yet they perturb our minds and do not let us think positively.

Take your eyes away from the black dots of your life. Try and focus on the brighter side of life and let positivity govern your thoughts.

A teacher who leads a leisurely life is sitting in the evening in the city garden. 

A young man came up to him and said 'good evening'. "Then he asked," "Do you understand me?"

"The teacher said," "I don't understand." 

 "He said," "I was your student."

 " The teacher smiled. He asked his name. 'What are you doing now?

       

  ' I am a teacher like you. It's your one action as a teacher that inspire me to become a teacher. 

The teacher was amazed. What's that thing? What have I done to inspire you that much?

 The young man said. When I was in sixth grade, a boy came with a beautiful watch. When he went to play, he put it in his bag. I stole it and put it in my pocket. During class, the boy realised that the he had lost his watch and he informed to sir. Sir asked everyone to close their eyes at the stage and checked everyone's pocket. you took the watch out of my pocket and continued to check. After examining everyone, you asked everyone to open their eyes. The watch was in your hand. Sir gave the watch to the owner and took the class as if nothing had happened. I still feel bad when I remember it. It was the worst day of my life. The day I can become a thief forever. I was not embarrassed because you didn't say my name. Do you understand me now. "Young asked.

                                     

 No, I still don't understand you. When I checked everyone’s pocket, I closed my eyes also. What  a classic reply!!!!

Success!!

Think on It !! 

What is the boiling frog syndrome?

Put a frog in a vessel of water and start heating the water.

As the temperature of the water rises, the frog is able to adjust its body temperature accordingly.

The frog keeps on adjusting with increase in temperature...

Just when the water is about to reach boiling point, the frog is not able to adjust anymore...

At that point the frog decides to jump out...

The frog tries to jump but is unable to do so, because it has lost all its strength in adjusting with the rising water temperature...

Very soon the frog dies.

What killed the frog?

Many of us would say the boiling water...

But the truth is what killed the frog was its own inability to decide when it had to jump out.

We all need to adjust with people and situations, but we need to be sure when we need to adjust and when we need to confront/face.

There are times when we need to face the situation and take the appropriate action...

If we allow people to exploit us physically, mentally, emotionally or financially, they will continue to do so...

We have to decide when to jump.

Let us jump while we still have the strength. 

Think on It !! 

How does this metaphor translate into our everyday lives? 

The essence of the boiling frog syndrome is that when our living conditions deteriorate gradually, we adapt to these conditions instead of getting rid of them, until we are no longer strong enough to escape. 

The boiling frog syndrome may occur in our relationships, interactions, or work-related situation. 

You should remember that you should say “ENOUGH” strongly when you feel that the situation you are in makes you worse and you cannot find a way to change it.

 I love this message every time I read...

Success demands these 6 things.. 

(The Secret Formula)
 1.  Hard Work 
Don't believe in luck, believe in hard work. 
Stop trying to rush the process or searching for a shortcut. 
There is none.

2.  Patience 
If you are losing the patience, you are losing the battle. 
First nothing happens, then it happens slowly and suddenly all at once. 
Most people give up at stage one.

 3.  Sacrifice
If you don't sacrifice for what you want, then what you want becomes the sacrifice.
Everything has its price. The question is: Are you ready to pay it for the life you desire?

4.  Consistency 
Consistency is what transforms average into excellence. 
Without consistency, you will never achieve greater success.

5.  Discipline 
Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing. 
There will be days when you don't “feel” like doing it. 
You have to push through those days regardless of how you feel.

 6.  Self Confidence 
Confidence is, I'll be fine if they don't like me.