We Can’t Please Everybody

We Can’t Please Everybody

An old fable that has been passed down for generations tells about an elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal’s back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal’s back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road.

We smile, but this story makes a good point: We can’t please everybody, and if we try we end up carrying a heavy burden. When we try to do everything others want us to do, we can easily become frustrated and confused.

~Author Unknown~

Submitted by Shilpa

ISN’T IT STRANGE?

ISN’T IT STRANGE?

Isn’t it strange how a $100 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to the church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn’t it strange how endless an hour seems when we are serving God, but how short it is when we watch a Football game for 60 minutes?

Isn’t it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you’re at the church and how short they seem when you’re watching a good movie?

Isn’t it strange that you can’t find things to say when you’re praying, but you have no trouble on thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn’t it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn’t it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in the church?

Isn’t it strange how we need to know about an event for the church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn’t it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn’t it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible?

Isn’t it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don’t want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Isn’t it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?

IT’S STRANGE ISN’T IT?

Are you laughing?
Are you thinking about it?
Spread the word, and thank God, because he loves you.

- Author Unknown –

Submitted by Shilpa

Who wins this great battle?

Who wins this great battle?

There is a great battle that rages inside me.

One side is the soaring eagle. Everything the eagle stands for is good and true and beautiful, and it soars above the clouds. Even though it dips down into the valleys, it lays its eggs on the mountaintops.

The other side of me is the howling wolf. And that raging, howling wolf represents the worst that’s in me. He eats upon my downfalls and justifies himself by his presence in the pack.

Who wins this great battle?

The one I feed.

- Author Unknown –

Submitted by Shilpa

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters?

Value of Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is defined by the ability to understand and manage our emotions and those around us. A person who has a high emotional intelligence is aware of the fact that emotions affect every aspect of one's life, be it personal or professional. He has good control over one's emotions and is able to address every problem in a cool and logical way. Not only does he understand his own emotions, but he is also sensitive to others feelings. Such people are sympathetic to those around them, and are able to inspire and influence decisions and performance of those they work with. Hence an emotionally intelligent individual is an asset for a company. In today’s workplace, it has become a highly important factor for success, influencing productivity, efficiency and team collaboration.

Some of us are born with a great deal of emotional intelligence; others are not. Most of us are not aware of how our emotions may be adversely affecting our thinking and our reactions. When we gain in our effective use of emotional intelligence, we will increase our ability to develop more solid, trusting relationships in our business arena. Relationships are so important to our success in business, but not just our relationships with clients. Our internal relationships – the ones we have with our colleagues and team members – mean a great deal. They can make or break us!

When things are going according to plan and when we are getting the normal dose of things we need in life, they lead us to motivation, joy, respect, humbleness, and commitment. Dealing with emotions can have cultural, social, mental, and even physical consequences. Emotions are how our body talks to us, but ignoring emotions ensure unhappiness, but it can lead to physical illness and even early death. Thus it has been reported that those with high level of EI are not only successful in their career but lead a healthier and happier life with better relationships with others.

If a work place has people who are high on Emotional Intelligence, One can witness the following characteristics at workplace:

1. Obstacles are considered as challenges and opportunities to think and are quickly removed

2. Backbiting, blame games office politics do not exists

3. Ideas, values and employees are respected

4. Teams are considered as engines of success and work at their level best

5. Rewarding work relationships

6. Main Importance to relationships and integrity

7. Encouraging atmosphere, high attendance, Celebration on every occasion each other’s achievements

8. Constant Personal & Professional Development

Who is more poor?

One day a father, of a very wealthy family, took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from the trip, the father asked his son,"How was the trip?"

"It was great Dad!"

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered,

" I saw we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

With this the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added,

"Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Humor Can Save Life……

Once a certain court jester went too far one day and insulted his king. The king became so infuriated he sentenced the jester to be executed. His court prayed upon the king to have mercy for this man who had served him well for so many years. After a time, the king relented only enough to give the jester his choice as to how he would like to die.

True to form, the jester replied, “If it’s all the same to you, my Lord, I’d like to die of old age.”

Certainly in this case, a good sense of humor saved the man’s life. It’s true for us as well. We may not be faced with a situation where our wit will save us from an execution, but our sense of humor and the ability to laugh at things has proven health benefits that extend and improve our quality of life. Norman Cousins, in his book Anatomy of an Illness, wrote about how he cured himself of cancer by laughing a good part of each day. He rented films of comedies and watched them for hours on end in his hospital room. He had nothing to lose since he’d been diagnosed as terminal. His “experiment” turned out to be a classic example of the healing powers of laughter. If it worked for Cousins with a life-threatening illness, it can work for us to enhance and protect our good health. We should laugh often and heartily. It’s good for our digestion and our disposition. Besides, life’s too important to take seriously.