PERCEPTION

In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a Stradivarius violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognise talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

Its You!!!

One day, all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:

"Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym."

At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered:

"Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he is no longer here!"

One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.

There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:

"There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

" YOU are the only person who can revolutionize your life.

YOU are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.

YOU are the only person who can help yourself.

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your company changes.

Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that YOU ARE the only one responsible for your life.

The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself

" Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses:

be a winner, build yourself and your reality.

The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed. The world and your reality are like mirrors lying in a coffin, which show to any individual the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success. It's the way you face Life that makes the difference.

The Law of Karma

The role of Values in Life

We often come across people who achieve an incredible degree of worldly success, but remain under tremendous pressure. They remain mentally stressed and physically drained. Though they achieve growth and take up additional responsibilities, their mental pressure also increases proportionately. With all the success and glory they achieve, you will find them struggling with an inner thirst for fulfillment, a hunger for personal congruency and a deep need for developing their relationships with other people. The reason for this paradox is that the fundamental values and principles of life and living that they have focused upon and much less understood.

We take it for granted that right living comes naturally as we grow up; but that does not happen. Living is a science as well as an art. To be dynamic in your field of activity and at the same time maintain peace of mind you have to be an artist of life, a technocraft of your personality. It requires specific training and education. You need the training to know the technology of life and to gain mastery over yourself and your life.

In the untrained process of living, people are craving for two things – success and peace. Success is the tribute that the world pays to excellence. True success and enduring happiness is a result of incorporating and integrating the time tested values and principles of life in every fibre of your activities in your day-to-day living.

Accept Change With A Smile

Sooner or later you'll experience a crisis in your life,

and how you meet it will determine

your future happiness and success.

Since the beginning of time,

everyone has been called upon to meet such a crisis.

A closer look will show you that most "crisis situations"

are opportunities to either advance or stay where you are.

In fact, most changes in your life

will take place out of either "inspiration" or "desperation."

Whatever comes your way,

give it meaning and transform it into something of value.

Your personal growth is the process of responding positively to change.

A precious stone cannot be polished without friction,

nor humanity perfected without trials.

Go Deep

Most of us think too much, especially about events and people,

local and global, famous and not so famous.

When we are always thinking about what is happening on the surface of life,

the visible, then it is as if we are living a superficial life.

Deep down inside there is a voice, a longing, a calling to depth. It's our heart,

reminding us to visit, explore and express the depths of our ourselves.

Going deep and being deep requires time spent in solitude,

some periods of introversion and a conversation with ourselves.

How on earth will we ever see what is in our heart unless we

dive deep inside, switch on the light and look.

Those who do will tell you it changes everything. What do they see?

Simple, only beauty and truth. They are always there, waiting for us to return.

Waiting to welcome us and to introduce ourselves to ourself.