FEAR IS THE KEY

FEAR IS THE KEY

STEVE TORJUSSEN explains techniques to harness your nerves and dramatically improve your sales presentations

Have you always wanted to know the secrets of people who continually make powerful sales presentations, who are able to influence buyers and decision-makers positively, and who invariably win business from clients?

The ability to make effective sales presentations is a skill that’s crucial to your sales success. At the same time, 80% of the population fears public speaking. People say that, after spiders, presenting is the thing they fear most. Curiously, death is only seventh on the list, so it seems most people would rather die than stand up and make a presentation...

The truth is that everyone is nervous about presenting. The secret is what to do with those nerves to help you, support you and drive you to make the right impact on your audience. To begin with, we need to think about the overall message we convey when we are standing in front of our prospect, client or customer. We are there to communicate clearly and influence people positively. We want to get our message across and perhaps gain commitment from them for a sale. To do this, research has shown conclusively that we will send our message in three ways, through:

■ The words we use to talk about our products or services
■ The way we deliver those words, ie. our verbals
■ Our body language or physiology.

It is these three factors together that will provide our audience with the overall message and impact. What is surprising though, is the dramatically different impact each of these elements makes on the thinking and behaviour of the audience. If you haven’t come across these findings before then you’ll be amazed at the differences shown in the graph on the right.

Because the audience only receives 7% of the message through our words, we ignore the other elements at our peril — they make up 93% of what people pick up. Think about it. The last time you did a sales presentation you probably prepared and practised the words you were going to say. You may even have got them word perfect. But did you prepare (or even think about) the verbals and physiology at all? If your verbals weren’t in line with your message and your physiology didn’t match the professional message you needed to send, what impact did you have on your prospect, client or customer?

It’s not until all three elements are put together that we can ensure a powerful and congruent message is produced that will engage, convince and ultimately persuade your audience. With this in mind let’s look at ways in which our words can be more congruent with our body language and voice — ways that will make us look confident, competent and professional, showing us to have a high level of conviction and assertion.

WHAT INFLUENCES THE AUDIENCE MOST?

WORDS 7%
VERBALS 38%
BODY LANGUAGE 55%

BUILDING RAPPORT

When you are in front of your prospect, client or customer, you will need first to develop rapport with them. You will want to create a sense of commonality rather than have a ‘them and us’ situation. One very key way of doing this is through eye contact.

‘80% of the population fears public speaking. People say
that, after spiders, presenting is the thing they fear most’

We actually want to make eye contact with whomever we’re talking with. This is something that takes place subliminally, ie. it is out of the realm of our consciousness. So, we stand in front of the group having decided we need to make that eye contact with them. But what actually happens when we’re up there? Typically, everyone is looking at us, which can be quite daunting, so we avoid eye contact and find an interesting spot on the carpet to stare at, or the ceiling or an area on the PowerPoint slide. When people are looking at us, we become self-conscious and nervous. We know we should be looking at the group, but our nerves have a different effect on us. To ensure we give our audience the impression that we are genuinely interested in them and that we are having a series of one-to-one conversations, try the following:

■ Move eye contact to different individuals, in harmony with the natural punctuation of the speech
■ Randomise the eye contact rather than simply going from one side of the room to the other and then back again
■ Don’t leave anyone out.

Eye contact is also a great way of receiving feedback. You can see if people are interested in what you are saying or not. If they are switching off, then you can choose to change what you are doing in order to regain their interest. If they are switched on then you can pick up the buying signals. So eye contact can:

■ Help you gain rapport
■ Give you valuable feedback on how your sales presentation is being received
■ Enable you to identify any buying signals and decide to move on in the process.

PHYSIOLOGY

What sort of things do you do with your stance and feet when making sales presentations? Often our nerves are conveyed to our audience via body language and this can take over when we’re making an important sales pitch. What is it that we do that either makes us look nervous or look confident? With any type of presentation, but especially with sales presentations, you will want to appear confident in front of your customer. Let’s examine what makes the difference.

When we talk of nerves, we don’t need to get rid of them completely — even if that were possible. A degree of nervousness is natural, stemming from the adrenaline we produce, and it’s probably essential for ensuring high performance. The aim should be to harness your nerves and make them work for you, rather than against you.

In order to convey confidence, honesty and assertion to a group, the ideal stance would be to have your feet shoulder/hip-width apart, and your legs straight with no movement from the waist down. The feet should also be pointed slightly outwards as opposed to straight.

This does not mean that movement is a bad thing. The key is that all movement is for a purpose, not coincidental, and you should always be aware of the effect it has on your audience. While you should not be uncomfortable, movement should not primarily be about your own comfort as a presenter.

We can put nervous energy to excellent use. In a one-to-one conversation, we use our hands for expression, along with facial movement and tonality. One of the expressive gestures is known as the descriptive gesture. This involves moving our hands to show how tall, short, small, thin, wide etc. something might be. Don’t be afraid to use your hands and arms in this way when presenting to a group. The size of the gestures will need to change — the larger the group, the larger the gesture needed. The
gesture should extend from the shoulder rather than just from the elbow, as in normal conversation. So if you’re describing something that is particularly tall you may want to raise your arm up high to add a strong visual movement, and at the same time huge weight, to your message.

This also applies to the second type of gesture, the rapport gesture. This involves looking at the individual while delivering your message, and stretching your arm out, keeping the palm upwards. This gesture is excellent in helping achieve both rapport with individuals and cohesiveness with the entire group. One thing you will notice is that individuals will start to nod when you speak to them while using the gesture, particularly if you nod minimally yourself. This is useful feedback as it indicates that cohesiveness is developing. It can be a very powerful signal to you that progress with the sale is moving on nicely.

THE VERBALS

The body leads the voice. You have to compensate extremely hard not to get a corresponding change in pitch. So use your physiology wisely. The voice is also affected by energy levels and when these are low, tonality, speed and volume will be affected. Ensure that your passion is demonstrated effectively using the speed, volume and pitch of your voice.

If you find later on that your gestures do not look natural, there is a good reason for this. Normally, the gesture is fractionally ahead of the words, but when we start to introduce more gestures, this tends to swap round — with the words creeping ahead of the gesture — which can appear stilted. This will improve with practice.

PRACTISE PRESENTING

If you follow these guidelines you will find that you can start enjoying presenting to your prospects, clients and customers. This is only a snapshot of the techniques that can be used, but practise these skills frequently and you’ll find they become easier, and you’ll get an amazing return on your investment.

Contributor Steve Torjussen is managing director of Sales Training Stuff , which specialises in sales, management and leadership training. He is author of an ebook, 101 Amazing, Top Hints, Tips and Techniques to Improve Your Presentations.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

God has a way of allowing us to be in the right place at the right time.

I was walking down a dimly lit street late one evening when I heard muffled screams coming from behind a clump of bushes. Alarmed, I slowed down to listen, and panicked when I realized that what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle: heavy grunting, frantic scuffling, and tearing of fabric. Only yards from where I stood, a woman was being attacked.

Should I get involved? I was frightened for my own safety, and cursed myself for having suddenly decided to take a new route home that night. What if I became another statistic? Shouldn't I just run to the nearest phone and call the police?

Although it seemed an eternity, the deliberations in my head had taken only seconds, but already the girl's cries were growing weaker. I knew I had to act fast. How could I walk away from this? No, I finally resolved, I could not turn my back on the fate of this unknown woman, even if it meant risking my own life.

I am not a brave man, nor am I athletic. I don't know where I found the moral courage and physical strength---but once I had finally resolved to help the girl, I became strangely transformed. I ran behind the bushes and pulled the assailant off the woman. Grappling, we fell to the ground, where we wrestled for a few minutes until the attacker jumped up and escaped.

Panting hard, I scrambled upright and approached the girl, who was crouched behind a tree, sobbing. In the darkness, I could barely see her outline, but I could certainly sense her trembling shock. Not wanting to frighten her further, I at first spoke to her from a distance.

"It's OK," I said soothingly. "The man ran away. You're safe now." There was a long pause and then I heard the words, uttered in wonder, in amazement.

"Dad, is that you?" And then, from behind the tree, stepped my youngest daughter, Katherine.

- Author Unknown
photo credit: Martin Gommel via photopin cc

LETTING GO OF RESENTMENTS

A story tells of a merchant in a small town who had identical twin sons. The boys worked for their father in the department store he owned and, when he died, they took over the store.

Everything went well until the day a dollar bill disappeared. One of the brothers had left the bill on the cash register and walked outside with a customer. When he returned, the money was gone.

He asked his brother, "Did you see that dollar bill on the cash register?" His brother replied that he had not.

But the young man kept probing and questioning. He would not let it alone. "Dollar bills just don't get up and walk away! Surely you must have seen it!"
There was subtle accusation in his voice. Tempers began to rise. Resentment set in. Before long, a deep and bitter chasm divided the young men. They refused to speak. They finally decided they could no longer work together and a dividing wall was built down the center of the store. For twenty years hostility and bitterness grew, spreading to their families and to the community.

Then one day a man in an automobile licensed in another state stopped in front of the store. He walked in and asked the clerk, "How long have you been here?"

The clerk replied that he'd been there all his life. The customer said, "I must share something with you. Twenty years ago I was "riding the rails" and came into this town in a boxcar. I hadn't eaten for three days. I came into this store from the back door and saw a dollar bill on the cash register. I put it in my pocket and walked out. All these years I haven't been able to forget that. I know it wasn't much money, but I had to come back and ask your forgiveness."

The stranger was amazed to see tears well up in the eyes of this middle-aged man. "Would you please go next door and tell that same story to the man in the store?" he said. Then the man was even more amazed to see two middle-aged men, who looked very much alike, embracing each other and weeping together in the front of the store.

After twenty years, the brokenness was mended. The wall of resentment that divided them came down.

It is so often the little things that finally divide people- words spoken in haste; criticisms; accusations; resentments. And once divided, they may never come together again.

The solution, of course, is to let it go. There is really nothing particularly profound about learning to let go of little resentments. But for fulfilling and lasting relationships, letting them go is a must. Refuse to carry around bitterness and you may be surprised at how much energy you have left for building bonds with those you love.

- Author Unknown
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Things are not always as they appear

There was once a man who was ship-wrecked and stranded on an island. Every day he prayed asking God to send someone to rescue him, but to his disappointment, no one ever came.

Months passed and this man learned how to survive on the island. During this time, he accumulated things from the island and stored them in a hut that he constructed. One day after hunting for food and returning back to his hut, much to his dismay he saw that his hut was on fire along with everything else he owned!

All of his possessions were going up in smoke! The only thing he had left were the clothes on his back. Initially he was in shock, and then he was consumed with anger and rage!

In his fury he threw a fist into the air and began cursing God and yelling, “God, how could you let this happen to me? I’ve been praying everyday for months about being rescued and no one has come, and now everything that I have is on fire! How could you do to this to me! Why did you let this happen?”

Later the man was on his hands and knees weeping heavily when he happened to look up and catch sight of a ship coming in his direction. The man was rescued and as they were heading back to civilization the man asked the captain, “How were you able to find me?”

The captain responded, “We were voyaging across the ocean when we noticed on the horizon a column of smoke going up. We decided to go check it out and when we did, that’s when we found you!”

In life we are going to be confronted with challenges, problems, and disasters. But keep in mind that what the devil has meant for bad, God can transform into your good! What is a catastrophe can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalms 34:17-19

Author Unknown
photo credit: Brandon Christopher Warren via photopin cc

Good Morning, God!!!

"The huge orange circle of Sun slowly lifts itself up from the East moving upwards shining in its own glory and splendour. The birds start singing in unison as the flowers wake-up lifting their eyelids shrugging a night of silence away. The blades of verdant grass begin to dance as the slow soft morning breeze zooms past touching their heads. Oh! It’s absolutely delicious. Yes, you must taste at least some moments early morning in this lovely park some time.”

That’s what I was told by an early riser who had been regularly visiting the park that had come up next to our house. A little, small paradise – the result of a magnificent creative effort! A master stroke of paint and brush wiped out a thick jungle as that small piece of earth saw a lovely painting of colours being drawn on its face for a complete transformation. Narrated so eloquently, I could not resist such magnificence of nature and one fine morning forcing myself out of the bed early I went for a walk in the park.

It was indeed a glorious sight. A golden eastern sky beckoned me as wings grew on my heart and it took a solitary flight probably to shake hands with the majestic Sun even before it came out of its depths. I simply surrendered to the beauty all around. It was an extremely delightful experience. I exclaimed," Good Morning , God!" Ah, It was ecstasy. Pure bliss!

Touch wood! And I got in to this habit of morning walk in the park followed by a few minutes of deep reflection and a journey within changed my outlook towards life. But then it is bound to happen anyway. When you start your morning amidst such great delight, you choose to keep it that way with a deliberate effort. You start making choices which would add to the delight and not otherwise. The moment I step inside the park and breath the beauty of the morning sky and the splendor of the blooming flowers and feel the touch of a lovely fresh breeze and hum along with the birds my heart almost spontaneously exclaims with joy in a whispering tone – “Good Morning, God!”. And God responds by making it better in his own charming ways.

Author : Ramesh Sood, Soft Skills Trainer, Licensed Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, (Society of NLP, USA), Mentor,Thinker & Poet (Pune, Maharashtra, India)

photo credit: VinothChandar via photopin cc

Do Nice People Finish Last?

Someone said, " Nice People Finish Last." Whosoever said so perhaps missed the real point altogether. He or she couldn't understand that Nice People are generally not part of the race at all. So being first or coming last cannot be their focus. Not that they don't participate in races; only they shun the races being fought on the ground for they always live on a higher plane. Tell me folks, what do you say? And what should be the true definition of being nice? For me it's simple - not to harm any one in any way for personal benefit. Living a life of integrity without expecting anyone else to follow the same and to contribute your best in whatever you do for achieving positive results which will manifest in something good , which would give a feeling of comfort. That's it!

Author : Ramesh Sood, Soft Skills Trainer, Licensed Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, (Society of NLP, USA), Mentor,Thinker & Poet (Pune, Maharashtra, India)
photo credit: simmessa via photopin cc

Time Changes....

I had become a part of Walchandnagar in 1982 and my passion with Table Tennis had followed me here too. Fortunately, when I joined the company, Table Tennis was a very active game. Not only a number of tournaments were organised but players were sent to other cities too for the matches. I remember one tournament distinctly that might have actually sown the seeds and made me turn a bit philosophical. It was Pandharpur and we were about six in the team participating in singles and doubles events. I was expected to win the title if we were to go by my form and my record at that time.

My quarter final match against a Pune player was in progress. It was a best of five games match. I had won first two games comfortably and leading in the third by about seven to eight points for a sure victory. And then it happened! Suddenly the electricity went off. Quite sure of the victory, I waited for the restoration of power with an air of confidence. It took about an hour when the match restarted. Amazing it would sound but the fact remains that from that point onwards nothing that I did, went right and I not only lost the third game but went on to lose the match. Absolutely unbelievable for one and all present there ! And for me, perhaps, it was something mysterious which would have remained unsolved had I not now availed the opportunity to rewind the cassette in my mind and replayed it in slow motion to really look through this sensational event. Yes, I had won two games. I was leading comfortably in the third and even then I had lost the match.

While looking back I realised that everything was the same before and after the power failure – the crowd, the players, the table, the racquets, the ball, the umpire, the stadium, the talents – yes, every thing! But then, a deeper analysis gave the answer. It was as if someone had whispered in my ears, “The time had changed”. How true, this! I had, as they say, snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory just because the time had decided to go against me. The destiny had prevailed.

The lesson was indeed inherent in this event . Yes, there will be moments in life when nothing would click. One will try doing every thing right and every right thing but without positive results. One will struggle, but in vain. So, what can be done under such situations when time decides to go against? And I found an answer. Wait and just flow with the tide. Don’t struggle. Surrender to the natural forces is the best option under such circumstances. Time has this tendency to change sides. It will again become favourable. I have started believing that if one flows with the tide, one is likely to find God waiting to offer help. He will show the way. And life will smile yet again.

Author : Ramesh Sood, Soft Skills Trainer, Licensed Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, (Society of NLP, USA), Mentor,Thinker & Poet (Pune, Maharashtra, India)
photo credit: Loca Luna / Anna Gay via photopin cc

Who packed your Parachute?

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"
"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied.

Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man grabbed his hand and said, "I guess it worked!"

Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb kept wondering what the man might have looked like in a Navy uniform. He wondered how many times he might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything, because you see, he was a fighter pilot and the man was just a sailor. Plumb thought of the many hours that sailor had spent in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he did not know.

Now Plumb asks his audience, "Who is packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day.

Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down. As you go through your week, month, and even New Year, recognize the people who have packed your parachute and enabled you to get where you are today!

- Author Unknown
photo credit: Philerooski via photopin cc

F.R.O.G.

I was told a story about a lady in the hospital who was near death when an area chaplain came to visit her. This chaplain was a very young female with long blond hair. She listened to the lady who was ill and left her a small gift for comfort. It was a tiny ceramic frog.

The next day one of the people from the ladies church came to visit. The lady told her friend about the beautiful young chaplain who had come to visit her.

The friend was so impressed with the way the lady had improved and felt the need to talk to the young chaplain. In her search to find the young gal, she was repeatedly reassured that the chaplains are never very young and that there was never a gal that fit the description given.

Upon returning to the lady in the hospital, a visiting nurse entered the room and noticed the ceramic frog. The nurse made the comment "I see you have a guardian angel with you," as she held the little frog.

We asked why she made the comment and we were informed that the frog stood for:

F = Fully
R = Rely
O = On
G = God

To the world you might be one person; but to one person you might be the world.

- Author Unknown
photo credit: Art4TheGlryOfGod via photopin cc

Some Directions For Living

1. The best way to get even is to forget.

2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight.

5. Some marriages are made in heaven...but they ALL have to be maintained on earth.

6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days...then perhaps giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea!

7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.

8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous...You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.

9. Words are windows to the heart.

10. A skeptic is a person who...when he sees the handwriting on the wall claims it's a forgery.

11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill; just add a little dirt.

12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person ...It's BEING the right person.

13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.

14. Too many people offer God prayers, with claw marks all over them.

15. The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.

16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free...and then discover the prisoner was you.

17. You have to wonder about humans... they think God is dead and Elvis is alive!

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again... Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out it's neck.

20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence...you can bet the water bill is higher.

- Author Unknown
photo credit: Jen Son via photopin cc

WORK TO LIVE, NOT LIVE TO WORK

It's 5:00 o'clock in the morning; the alarm sets off. You get out of bed. You take a bath. You have your breakfast. You leave the house. You're ready to face another working day. Or are you?

When I was a kid, I would ask my mom why she and my father had to work. She would always tell me that they had to, so we could have the money to buy food, to pay for the bills, to pay for our schooling (we come from a middle income family). Both my parents worked but I'm really grateful to God; that in spite of that, we were never lacking in love, time, nor care from our parents.

As a matter of fact, my brothers and I grew up to be responsible individuals because our parents really took care of us. Although they were at the office 5 days a week from 8:00am to 5:00pm, they still found time to look after us, and teach us our lessons in the evening.

They made sure that we did our homework. They didn't pressure us to aspire for honors, but we were motivated enough to study hard so we'd get good grades. It was our way of repaying our parents who never complained about working. I guess fate has been really good to my brothers and me because, modesty aside, all of us managed to land in the top of our respective classes.

My parents taught me that one has to work in order for him to live a good life. They stressed, however, that this should not be taken as having to live just to work! They said that work should only be a part of life and it should not occupy one's whole existence.

And they lived this philosophy. At the end of the work day, they would leave all their work-related problems in the office so that at home they could be devoted to us 100%, no less.

I must say that agree with them. To this day, I still hear their message that work should be just a part of life and not life itself. I pity those people who have their way in this game called life. They have forgotten how to really live because they work too hard.

There' nothing wrong with striving at work, but people must watch out for signs that they have begun to work themselves to death. Remember that anything in excess is bad. Maybe, they want to achieve something badly, that's why they work so hard. But I believe that success in the workplace doesn't always bring happiness.

To be successful means that you have to sacrifice some things and sometimes, you end up sacrificing your family, your friends, your life; you achieve your professional goals, but you lose yourself. Then you wonder if the loss is worth the gain.

Everybody's wish, in this world, is happiness and there are many ways to be happy. But when we work too hard or worry too much, we often forget that the simple things in life are those that make us happy…. a call from a friend, a smile from a stranger, the sight of a lovely flower, a surprise gift, a filling meal, a pat on the back, etc. It doesn't require much to get these gifts. These gifts are for free, but they provide immeasurable happiness.

Work to live and not live to work. Find time for yourself, for your family, for your friends. Keep in mind that your priority is your loved ones, and not your work. Everybody deserves to be happy and I hope that everyone grows old without any regret in life.

I hope each of us will have a smile on our faces when we reminisce the old times, I hope that everyone finds living exciting, wonderful. It is my wish that we would all find the time to do the things that really matter most.

Let us work hard, not purely for our professional goals, but for a better life.

- Author Unknown
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Sacred Word”Om”/ “Aum” - The Symbolism, Meaning And Power

Sacred Word”Om”/ “Aum” - The Symbolism, Meaning And Power

Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras.

The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning. It represents several important triads:

The three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven
The three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva
The three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama

Thus Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. This meaning is further deepened by the Indian philosophical belief that God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most sacred sound, Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together.

Om Did you know that the mono-syllable “OM” or “AUM” is regarded the sound of God and the basis of all other sounds. This mystical and sacred Hindu word “Om” is the highest mantra (chant) symbolizing the vibration of the Supreme and of divine energy (Shakti). It is believed that the whole universe, in its fundamental form is made up of vibrating, pulsating energy and “Om” is considered the humming sound of this cosmic energy. It means oneness and a merging of our physical body with our spiritual being. The great Hindu sage Patanjali once said: “He who knows “Om” knows God.”

“Om” and Yoga have a long standing history. As we saw in the ‘Types of Yoga‘, Yoga is more than just a physical practice as believed in West. It’s a special connection between your body and spiritual self. So how does “Om” relate to Yoga?

“Om” or “Aum” is a way of deepening the concentration of the mind during Yoga. The sound of ”Om” is also called Pranava, runs through Prana or breath and as we know breathing is a very important part of practicing yoga. Most yoga sessions begin with the chanting of “Om” and end with it too. It is said to drive a way distractions while infusing new vigour in the body. Like a powerful tonic, ”Om” is the mood lifter and the energizing sound that replaces negative energy with fresh life bringing force.

5 Facts You May Not Know About 'OM'

1. The sound of OM encompasses all words, all sounds in human language

OM is a matrix of all sounds, when in its diversified form gives rise to all words used in language.

Linguistically, all audible sounds are produced in the space within the mouth beginning at the root of the tongue and ending at the lips. The throat sound is A, and M is the lip sound; and the sound U represents the rolling forward of speech articulation which starts at the root of the tongue, continuing until it ends in the lips.

To pronounce OM correctly, remember, the sound vibration is pronounced “oom” as in home.

2. AUM and OM

In Sanskrit, the sound “O” is a diphthong spelled “AU”. A diphthong is the blending of two vowel sounds where both are normally heard and make a gliding sound. As a result, the difference between OM and AUM is simply one of transliteration.

3. AUM represents the 3 Fold Division of Time

A – is the waking state
U – is the dream state
M – is the state of deep sleep

At the end of AUM is a pause, a silence. This represents the state known as Turiya, or Infinite Consciousness

4. The visual symbol represents the meaning of AUM

The symbol OM visually consists of three curves, one semicircle, and a dot.

The large bottom curve symbolizes the waking state, A.
The middle curve signifies the dream state, U.
The upper curve denotes the state of deep sleep, M.

The dot signifies the fourth state of consciousness, Turiya.

The semi circle at the top represents Maya and separates the dot from the other three curves. It signals to us that it is the illusion of Maya that is an obstacle to realization of the Highest.

5. OM is associated with Ganesha

The physical form of Lord Ganesha is said to be that of OM. The upper curve, of OM, is identified with the head or the face of Ganesh. The Lower curve his belly. The twisted curve, on the right side of OM is the trunk.



In Islam, it is referred to as samaa. Samaa is the sound that takes you in communion with Allah. In Sikhkhism, Omkaar is the only truth. Om is auspicious and its chanting helps us in attaining peace. It is a vehicle to take us to the Almighty. All Hindu mantras start with Om.
Thus, OM is the transcendental sound vibration with the potency of liberating the mind from material conditioning.

According to Indian spiritual sciences, God first created sound, and from these sound frequencies came the phenomenal world. Our total existence is constituted of these primal sounds, which give rise to mantras when organized by a desire to communicate, manifest, invoke or materialize. Matter itself is said to have proceeded from sound and OM is said to be the most sacred of all sounds. It is the syllable which preceded the universe and from which the gods were created. It is the "root" syllable (mula mantra), the cosmic vibration that holds together the atoms of the world and heavens. Indeed the Upanishads say that AUM is god in the form of sound.

Submitted by Shashi Goel
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I AM MAKING PROGRESS

Yen Hui said, "I am making progress."

Confucius asked, "In what way?"

Yen Hui said, "I have given up doing good and being right."

Confucius said, "Very good, but that is not quite enough."

Another day, Yen Hui saw Confucius and said, "I am making progress."

Confucius asked, "In what way?"

Yen Hui said, "I have given up ceremony and music."

Confucius said, "Very good, but that is not quite enough."

Another day, Yen Hui saw Confucius again and said, "I am making progress."

Confucius asked, "In what way?"

Yen Hui said, "I just sit and forget."

Confucius was startled and asked, "What do you mean by sitting and forgetting?"

Yen Hui said, "I am not attached to the body and I give up any idea of knowing. By freeing myself from the body and mind, I become one with the infinite. This is what I mean by sitting and forgetting."

Confucius said, "When there is oneness, there are no preferences. When there is change, there is no constancy. If you have really attained this, then let me become your pupil."

- Author Unknown
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THE WISE WOMAN'S STONE

A wise woman, who was traveling in the mountains, found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

- Author Unknown
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The Golden Box of Unconditional Love

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her 5 year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and said, "This is for you, Momma."
The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner. "Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"
The little daughter had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full."
The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.
An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems, she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, has been given a golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

- Author Unknown
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I think you're wonderful!

A famous singer had been contracted to sing at a Paris opera house and ticket sales were booming. In fact, the night of the concert, the house was packed; every ticket had been sold.

The feeling of anticipation and excitement was in the air as the house manager took the stage and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiastic support. I am afraid that due to illness, the man whom you've all come to hear will not be performing tonight. However, we have found a suitable substitute we hope will provide you with comparable entertainment."

The crowd groaned in disappointment and failed to hear the announcer mention the stand-in's name. The environment turned from excitement to frustration.

The stand-in performer gave the performance everything he had. When he had finished, there was nothing but an uncomfortable silence. . . No one applauded.

Suddenly, from the balcony, a little boy stood up and shouted, "Daddy, I think you're wonderful!"

The crowd broke into thunderous applause.

Make someone's day. Tell them you think they're wonderful!

- Author Unknown
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Pause and ponder!!!!!!!!!

A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint.

The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into a pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.

When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?"

The father went home and committed suicide.

Think about the story the next time you see someone spill milk at a dinner table or hear a baby crying. Think first before you lose your patience with someone you love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't.

Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes but the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Understand and love.

- Author Unknown
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WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

- Author Unknown
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Thank You God...........

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry and so she brought him a large glass of milk.

He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strengthened also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested from the business office to pass the final billing to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words:

"PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK.... "

(Signed)

Dr. Howard Kelly

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love is shed abroad through human hearts and hands."

- Author Unknown
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WHAT IS A COACH?

A coach is a politician, a judge, a public speaker, a teacher, a trainer, a financier, a laborer, a psychiatrist, psychologist and a chaplain. It also helps if he is an astrologer or at least understands numerology.

He must be an optimist and yet at times appear a pessimist, seem humble and yet be very proud, strong but at times weak, confident yet not over-confident, enthusiastic but not too enthusiastic.

He must have the hide of an elephant, the fierceness of a lion, the pep of a young pup, the guts of an ox, the stamina of an antelope, the wisdom of an owl, the cunning of a fox, and the heart of a kitten. It will also be to his benefit to develop the acting ability of a poker player with a pat hand.

He must be willing to give freely of his time, his money, his energy, his youth, his family life, his health and sometimes even life itself. In return, he must expect little financial reward, little comfort on earth, little privacy, little praise but plenty of criticism.

However, a good coach is respected in his community, is a leader in his school, is loved by his team, and makes lasting friends wherever he goes.

He has the satisfaction of seeing youth develop and improve in ability. He learns the thrill of victory and how to accept defeat with grace. His associations with athletes help keep him young in mind and spirit; and he, too, must grow and improve with his team.

In his heart he knows that, in spite of the inconveniences, the criticisms, and the demands on his time, he loves his profession, for he is THE COACH.

- Author Unknown
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Even If All You Do Is Smile And Say ‘Hello’

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz..

I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank..

Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello’.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

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Then you still have hope

If you can look at the sunset and smile, and find beauty in the colours of a small flower, then you still have hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly, and if the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people, and if the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep, then you still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, and if the soft fur of a favoured pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips, then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, and if you give people the benefit of the doubt, then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, and if receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, and if you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, and if you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile, and when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase ... 'yes, but ....' Then you still have hope.

Hope is such a marvellous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage. Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it. Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured and something that will refresh us in return. It can be found in each of us and it can bring light into the darkest of places. So never lose hope.

-Author Unknown
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Shake it off and take a step up

One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realising what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely.

The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing some thing amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbours. Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
And finally, the donkey gave the farmer who tried to bury him a good kicking. Which brings me to another moral for this story - When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back and gets you.

-Author Unknown
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Skill and the mind

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot.
'There,' he said to the old man, 'see if you can match that!'
Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log.
Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit. 'Now it is your turn,' he said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground.
Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target. 'You have much skill with your bow,' the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, 'but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot.'
- Author Unknown

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Leaders Vs. Followers

When leaders make a mistake, they say, “I was wrong.”
When followers make mistakes, they say, “It wasn’t my fault.”
A leader works harder than a follower and has more time;
a follower is always “too busy” to do what is necessary.
A leader goes through a problem;
a follower goes around it and never gets past it.
A leader makes and keeps commitments;
a follower makes and forgets promises.
A leader says, “I’m good, but not as good as I ought to be;”
a follower says, “I’m not as bad as a lot of other people.”
Leaders listen;
followers just wait until it’s their turn to talk.
Leaders respect those who are superior to them and tries to learn something from them;
followers resent those who are superior to them and try to find chinks in their armor.
Leaders feel responsible for more than their job;
followers say, “I only work here.”
A leader says, “There ought to be a better way to do this;”
followers say, “That’s the way it’s always been done here.”

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What you ask for

The world around you is whatever you sincerely ask of it. Your life is precisely what you ask of it, with your thoughts, your actions, and your attitude. All things and events may come and go. Yet, reality is what you choose to do with it all.
The value you look for, and the value you expect, is the value you will find. What you decide to make of anything will ultimately define for you what it is. What you truly expect to see, you will most certainly see. The way you genuinely expect to live is the way your life will surely proceed.

When you know without the slightest doubt that it will happen, it will happen. Expect the very best, in every moment, with every thought, every action, and it will be.
Author Unknown

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Without Fear

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. "You fool," he shouted as he reached for his sword, "don't you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!" But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. "And do you realize," the master replied calmly, "that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?"

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If you judge people, you have no time to love them

It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out.
I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.
We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me.
A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.
In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down.
People gasped and whispered and made faces.
He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank.
There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man."
No one said a word.
The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand.
"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today. If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

-Unknown Author
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There Is Something Better Coming

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given 3 months to live. Her Dr. told her to start making preparations to die. So she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what she wanted to be wearing.

The woman also told her pastor that she wanted to be buried with her favorite bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing" she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the pastor's reply. "This is very important." The woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor stood looking at the woman not knowing quite what to say. "That shocks you doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request" said the pastor.

The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and functions where food was involved (and let's be honest, food is an important part of any church event; spiritual or otherwise); my favorite was when whoever was clearing away the dishes of the main course would lean over and say "you can keep your fork."

It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming. When they told me to keep my fork I knew that something great was about to be given to me. It wasn't Jell-O or pudding. It was cake or pie. Something with substance.

So I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them, "Something better is coming so keep your fork too."

The pastor's eyes were welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently that there is something better coming.

- Author Unknown
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What If?

What if, GOD couldn't take the time to bless us today because
we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?

What if, GOD decided to stop leading us tomorrow because
we didn't follow Him today?

What if, we never saw another flower bloom because
we grumbled when GOD sent the rain.

What if, GOD didn't walk with us today because
we failed to recognize it as His day?

What if, GOD took away the Bible tomorrow because
we would not read it today?

What if, GOD took away His message because
we failed to listen to the messenger?

What if, GOD didn't send His only begotten Son because
He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin.

What if, the door of the church was closed because
we did not open the door of our heart?

What if, GOD stopped loving and caring for us because
we failed to love and care for others?

What if, GOD would not hear us today because
we would not listen to Him yesterday?

What if, GOD answered our prayers
the way we answer His call to service?

What if, GOD met our needs
the way we give Him our lives???

- Author Unknown
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You Just Never Know

Bill worked in a factory on a production line, he was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellow workers who thought it smart to make fun of him.

One day one fellow worker noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there was quite a ribbon of cloth dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the machinery. In a split second the sleeve and Bill was in trouble. Alarms were sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided.

The foreman then summoned all the workers and related this story:

In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's when I first met Mike. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Peter who was a follower. He always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named Murray. He was a little older than the rest of us - quiet, harmless, apart. He always ate his lunch by himself.

He wore the same patched trousers for three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon, wrestling, horseshoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always sitting quietly alone under a tree instead. Murray was a natural target for practical jokes.

He might find a live frog in his lunch box, or a dead spider in his hat. But he always took it in good humour. Then one autumn, when things were quiet in the factory, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Peter went along, of course. And they promised all of us that if they got anything they'd bring us each a piece.

So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and that Mike had got a really big buck. We heard more than that. Peter could never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had real whopper to play on Murray. Mike had cut up the buck and had made a nice package for each of us. And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail, the hoofs - it would be so funny when Murray unwrapped them.

Mike distributed his packages during the lunch break. We each got a nice piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved until last. It was for Murray. Peter was all but bursting; and Mike looked very smug. Like always, Murray sat by himself; he was on the far side of the big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and we all sat and waited.

Murray was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said more than hundred words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. He took the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled broadly at Mike - and it was then we noticed that his eyes were glistening. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he got control of himself.

'I knew you wouldn't forget me,' he said gratefully, 'I knew you'd come through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you had a good heart.'

He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. 'I know I haven't seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see, I've got nine kids at home - and a wife that's been an invalid - bedridden now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and medicine.

The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go off by myself to eat my lunch. Well, I guess I've been a little ashamed, because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like today - maybe there's only a raw turnip in my lunch box. But I want you to know that this meat really means a lot to me. Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids' ... as he wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand ... 'tonight my kids will have a really good meal.'

He tugged at the string. We'd been watching Murray so intently we hadn't paid much notice to Mike and Peter. But we all noticed them now, because they both tried to grab the package. But they were too late. Murray had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his present. He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody laughed - nobody at all.

But the hardest part was when Murray looked up and said 'Thank you' while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Murray for they had suddenly realised how little their own gift had really meant to them, until now.

This was where the foreman left the story and the men. He didn't need to say any more; but it was gratifying to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part with Bill and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him.

Author Unknown

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Nothing is long or short, hot or cold, good or bad!

One day while working out in the fields the farmer's son fell and broke his leg. The villagers came to the farm and said, 'My, that's a great misfortune. Your son has broken his leg: now he can't help you in the fields.'

The farmer said, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

A day later, the government troops came to the village looking for young men to conscript into the army. They had to leave the boy behind because his leg was broken. Again, the villagers came to the farm and said, 'My, that's a great fortune.'

The farmer replied, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

Then one day the farmer's only horse jumped the fence and ran away. The villagers came to the farm and said, 'What a great misfortune that your horse has run away.'

The farmer said, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

Two or three days later, the horse came back with a dozen wild horses following behind him. The villagers came to him and said, 'It's a great fortune that your horse came back with twelve others.'
The farmer replied, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

You see the farmer was wise enough to know that everything that was happening had a purpose and meaning beyond the simple appearance of the event that had occurred. So many times we are trapped by the emotion of the events in our lives. Remember the teaching of the Tao . . . 'nothing is long or short, hot or cold, good or bad.'

If you define it as good or bad, you always must ask yourself 'Good in relation to what or bad in relation to what?'

Until we decide what the event means to us there is no meaning. Once you accept this and apply it to your life, you're free and that's important.

A life lesson from The TAO TE CHING written by Lao Tzu
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