Learn Something New !

Best Things to Say to Someone Who’s Depressed

2026-07-17T17:42:19.022+04:00

It is most tempting, when you find out someone is depressed, to attempt to immediately fix the problem. However, until the depressed person has given you permission to be their therapist (as a friend or professional), the following responses are more likely to help.

The things that didn’t

make me feel worse are words which
1) acknowledge my depression for what it is (No ‘it’s just a phase’)
2) give me permission to feel depressed (No ‘but why should you be sad?’)

Here is the list from contributors to a.s.d.:

1. “I love you!”
2. “I Care”
3. “You’re not alone in this”
4. “I’m not going to leave/abandon you”
5. “Do you want a hug?”
6. “I love you (if you mean it).”
7. “It will pass, we can ride it out together.”
8. “When all this is over, I’ll still be here (if you mean it) and so will you.”

Amazing Lines with Deep meanings

2026-07-17T17:42:01.805+04:00

Someone has written these beautiful LINES. Read and try to understand the deeper meaning of them.

1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout life.

2. Why is a car's windshield so large & the rear view mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.

3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary. If they are going well, enjoy them, they will not last forever. If they are going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

5. Old friends are gold! New friends are diamond! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! To hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end,

Nature

smiles and says, "Relax, sweetheart; it's just a bend, not the end!"

7. When God solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when God doesn't solve your problems, He

knows

YOUR abilities.

8. A blind person asked: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?"

Response

: "Yes, losing your vision!"

9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles; it takes away today's PEACE.

Relationship Advice: Be Kind to One Another

2026-07-17T17:41:09.797+04:00

Unbelievably, kindness is often over simplified. Even good relationships can lack acts of kindness. This refers to Do unto others… Simple acts of kindness can have huge impacts on a relationship. As an example, if your husband is out working on the car on a hot summer day, make a thermos of ice-cold tea and take it to him. If your spouse has been working at the computer all day, walk up behind him/her and massage him/her shoulders and neck. You get the idea!!!

Kindness means looking at the other person's situation and seeing what you can do or add to that situation to make it better or easier. This is a way to validate your respect for each other. Kindness will go a long way in a relationship.

So work, work, work. And work sincerely

2026-07-17T17:40:58.811+04:00

Work!!!

God created man to work.Work is man's greatest duty. Man is nothing. He can do nothing. Achieving nothing; fulfilling; nothing without working. Work is man's most dependable function.

If you are poor - Work.

If you are rich - Work.

If failures discourage you - Work.

If success encourage you - Work.

You have been burdened with unfair responsibilities - Work.

You have been entrusted with deserving responsibilities - Work.

You have not been paid fairly - Work.

You have been paid handsomely - Work.

When dreams are shattered - Work.

When faith falter - Work.

When future appears bleak - Work.

When hope seems dead - Work.

Work is the greatest stress - buster.

Work is the mightiest morale - booster.

Work is a best boredom - beater.

Work is the equally effective disease - fighter.

If you neglect your work, You invite worry, fear, doubt & debt.

Work is the greatest for all the problems.

So work, work, work. And work sincerely.

Tips to Cure Bad Breath

2026-07-17T17:40:41.289+04:00

Place your hand near your mouth, open your mouth and breathe out…. What do you smell? Bad breath? If your answer is yes, then it’s about time that you do something about it, before someone gets critical enough to say that to your face.

Bad breath can put you in very embarrassing situations and can negatively influence your social life, your career and your intimate relationship. John Woodall, DDS, in Raleigh, North Carolina says, “Certainly bad breath can ruin relationships.”

We all love to look good, we focus on dressing up nicely and smelling great but we totally neglect our oral health, which leads to bad breath most of the times and spoils our entire impression.

Usually bad breath is caused by the bacteria forming in the mouth, which is also responsible for causing inflammation. Studies reveal that 80% of the bad breaths take place due to some oral factors such as, gum disease, cavities, unclean dentures, food particles trapped in tonsils and cracked fillings. Conditions like acid reflux, respiratory tract infections, liver disease and diabetes can also contribute to bad breath.

Another way you can check your breath is by licking the backside of your hand with your tongue, after 3 seconds smell it. You can also smell your floss. If it smells bad then you need to follow these remedies:

Salt or Lemon Rinse
Salt rinse is the oldest and one of the most effective remedies for curing bad breath. Not only it kills the bacteria in the mouth but it is beneficial for curing gum infections. All you require, to make this natural mouth wash is half cup of warm water and ½ teaspoon of salt, mix them well until it becomes a clear solution and rinse your mouth with it before going to bed. Within a few days you will find your gums turning more pink, showing a sign of good oral health. This will also help you get rid of the bad breath.

You can also substitute lemon with salt to make this mouth wash. Lemon inhibits bacteria formation in the gums and tongue.

Baking Soda
You may have heard of baking powder as an effective teeth whitener. Good news is that it is also effective for curing bad breath. You can either use a toothpaste containing baking soda or dissolve some baking soda in warm water and gargle with this solution. Baking soda halts odor causing bacteria formation in the mouth.

Sun Flower Seeds and Mint leaves
Sun flower seeds and mint leaves work in two ways, first they help cleanse the mouth and second they spread fresh scent in the mouth. You can either chew on fresh mint leaves or eat some sunflower seeds with a glass of water, both will remove away the bad breath from your mouth.

Eat Yogurt
Yogurt contains probiotics like acidophilus, which are very beneficial for removing bad breath. Yogurt, rich in good bacteria cures bad breath in few seconds, but make sure you consume it every day. It also stops the growth of odor causing bacteria.

Stay away from Sugar
Do not take foods containing refined sugar as they cause cavities and leave a bad breath in your mouth. Avoid eating candies, cookies and other sweet treats containing sugar. You can use brown sugar instead.

Drink water or Pineapple Juice
Can there be a more simple way to cure bad breath than water? Water helps keep your mouth and stomach hydrated, which prevents bacteria formation and as a result you do not develop bad breath.

Pineapple juice is also very effective, because of its high acidic content it keeps the bacteria away from your gums and tongue. Unsweetened tea when consumed hot can also be of great help.

Cure Constipation
If constipation is your problem then there are chances that you might have a bad breath. Regular bowl movements are a must for curing bad breath. Take foods high in fiber and exercise regularly to prevent constipation.

Cloves and Cardamom
The aromatic seeds of cardamom are very helpful in keeping bad breath away. Cloves are equally good for removal of bad breath. Cloves can also protect you from toothaches, oral ulcers and sore gums.

Focus on Oral Hygiene
Maintaining your oral hygiene is the starting point to get rid of bad breath. Brush twice a day with toothpaste that doesn’t make the mouth dry. Floss is also very helpful in keeping bad breath away so floss your teeth after every meal.

Gargling with mouthwash can temporarily solve the problem but it is not effective for longer periods. It is better that you target the root of the problem. Also visit your dentist after every six months.
Source: Unknown

Picture Credit

Health: 5 Natural ways to increase Fertility

2026-07-17T17:40:29.863+04:00

Dr. Roopadevi

With changes in lifestyle, longer working hours, lesser time to rest, more eating out and increased stress in day to day life, more and more women are faced with the problem of drop in fertility. What is fortunate is that fertility can be revived with certain changes in lifestyle and diet.

Here are some tips for the same.

1. Maintaining A Good Body Weight - A lot of women these days are being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome which lowers fertility, while making one put on a lot of weight. To improve fertility, what is very important is to stay fit. Exercise is known to have more effect on fertility that even diet. Remember not to overdo it, your goal needs to be to stay fit and not thin. Overdoing might make you weak which might pose problems for your health. Being underweight and overweight both can be a problem.

2. Giving Up Smoking or Alcohol - If you are a smoker, or you drink - quit both. When trying to restore your fertility, it is important that you stay fit. Since passive smoking is harmful too, it is advised that your partner quits as well. Avoid caffeine as well as it is known to affect fertility.

3. Nourish Your Body - Include protein, zinc, vitamin C and iron in your diet as they affect your menstrual cycles. Remember to have a balanced diet and do not forget to eat vegetables, lentils, dairy products and meat.

4. Relieve Yourself Of Stress - In most cases, infertility is caused by stress and depression. The need of the hour in such situations is to calm down and relax your system. Yoga and meditation are the best ways to calm down, increase strength in the muscles, and control breathing.

5. Become Happy And Active - Reading, taking up hobbies, talking to close friends, taking long walks, watching comedy movies and other activities which make you feel good about yourself need to be encouraged.

Story: The King's Teeth

2026-07-17T17:40:06.135+04:00

Category: Contemporary n Modern

Once there was a king who dreamt that he lost all his teeth

The king then summoned two dream interpreter to decipher to him the meaning of his dream

The first man told the king that the dream means that all the royal family would die. Hearing that, the king had the guards beat and punish him outside.

On the other hand, the second man told the king that the dream means that the king would live longer than the royal family, which actually means that the royal family would perish first. Because of his wise words, the king grant him a treasure gift.
People can escape perils in life by acting rightly, saying rightly and doing things at the right time. The same meaning delivered in different way may produce differing effect.

Story: The Talking Bird

2026-07-17T17:39:55.219+04:00

There is an old story about a fellow who lived alone and went to a pet store to buy a parrot. He thought the bird might fill some of his lonely hours. The very next day, however, he came back to complain, "That bird doesn't talk."

The store owner asked if he had a mirror in its cage, and the man said he didn't. "Oh, parrots love mirrors," he explained. "When he sees his reflection in the mirror, he'll just start talking away." So he sold him a birdcage mirror.

The bird owner was back the next day to gripe that his parrot still hadn't said a word. "That's very peculiar," allowed the pet expert. "How about a swing? Birds really love these little swings, and a happy parrot is a talkative parrot." So the man bought a swing, took it home, and installed it in the cage.

But he was back the next day with the same story. "Does he have a ladder to climb?" the salesman asked. "That just has to be the problem. Once he has a ladder, he'll probably talk your ear off!" So the fellow bought a ladder.

The man was back at the pet store when it opened the next day. From the look on his face, the owner knew something was wrong. "Didn't your parrot like the ladder?" he asked. His repeat customer looked up and said, "The parrot died."

"I'm so sorry," the stunned businessman said. "Did he ever say anything?"

"Well, yes. He finally talked just before he died. In a weak little voice, he asked me, "Don't they sell any bird seed at that pet store?'"

Some of us have mistakenly thought that happiness consists of lining our cages with toys, gadgets, and other stuff. Excessive consumption has become the hallmark of our life. "Whoever has the most toys wins" seems to be the likely candidate to be the bumper sticker for an entire culture. But is it so?

There is a spiritual hunger in the human heart that can't be satisfied by seeing one's own image reflected back in vanity mirrors, playing with our grown-up toys, or climbing the corporate ladder. Our hearts need real nourishment. The love of family and friends, relationships over the pursuit of more things, personal integrity, a secure connection to God --these are the things that feed the soul.

Have you chosen a life course that leads to a destination that matters?

Story: Considering full perspective of things

2026-07-17T17:39:48.204+04:00

A sage was living in the forest. One day, he visited the nearby human habitation to know about the condition of the people living there. The presence of the sage made everybody happy. Giving due respect, they escorted him to the temple located in the heart of the habitation.

The financial condition of the people was not good due to a reduction in production. The sage realized that everyone was broken in their hearts. The sage took his seat on the small stage in the courtyard of the temple. People were desirous of listening something from him. The sage took out a piece of milky white paper from his bag. There was a small black dot at the centre of the paper. The stage held the piece of paper high so that everyone could have a good look at it. All of them who were present there looked at it anxiously.

The sage asked, "What are you all seeing?"

A young man answered promptly, "Sir, it is only a black dot!" The sage pointed his finger towards another person and asked, "And what are you seeing?" The middle aged man gave the same answer. Asking an aged man, the sage got the same answer.

Thereafter, the sage said, "That means, you all are not able to see anything other than the black dot." All present there answered in loudly, "Yes." Hearing this, the sage said, "You all are not able to see the paper in my hand. But, the small dot on that paper is able to attract the attention of all of you." There was a murmur created in the crowd, "Oh yes, it really is so!"

The sage smiled and said, "You all missed to see the paper though it was before your eyes. Life is also like that. Ignoring many big things around us, we concentrate on small things like the black dot. If we mind small and insignificant things always, will our life not get restricted? Free your mind. The solutions to all your problems are lying hidden inside you. You will get everything you desire if you only meditate and think."

Story: The Lady Trying to Find Happiness

2026-07-17T17:39:39.075+04:00

This story is about a beautiful, expensively dressed lady who complained to her psychiatrist that she felt that her whole life was empty, it had no meaning.

So, the lady went to visit a counselor to seek out happiness.

The counselor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors.

The counselor then said to the rich lady "I'm going to ask Mary here to tell u how she found happiness. All I want u to do is listen to her."

So the old lady put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story:

"Well, my husband died of malaria and three months later my only son was killed by a car. I had nobody. I had nothing left. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I never smiled at anyone, I even thought of taking my own life. Then one evening a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten in. I got some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean. Then it purred and rubbed against my leg and, for the first time in months, I smiled.

Then I stopped to think, if helping a little kitten could make me smile, may be doing something for people could make me happy.

So, the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbor who was sick in bed.

Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy.

Today, I don't know of anybody who sleeps and eats better than I do.
I've found happiness, by giving it to others."

When she heard this, the rich lady cried. She had everything that money could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy.

"The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are; but on how happy others can be because of you..."

The 8 Ps of Vision and Strategy

2026-07-17T17:39:20.687+04:00

By Junaid Tahir

The young boy asked the old man, "why a fast running horse is better than the slow running horse"? The old man said, "it has developed the habit to produce more power so that it can run up to ten times faster than the slow horse" The youngster said, "and what if the horse is running in the wrong direction"? The old man smiled and said, "then definitely it has the proportionate factor for wasting the efforts ten times quicker than the slower horse" The young man said, " and what if other horses are following him too" The older man said, "off course it will mislead all those horses too!" "Then why all other horses follow the faster horse" "Because that attracts them but all that glitters is not gold sometimes"

Vision is one of the most critical traits of current and emerging leaders because strong vision results establishing better strategy to ensure success.

In its basic definition, the vision is to see (visualize) the future at present moment and then aligning the strategies including but not limited to policies, procedures and action plans in order to ensure success without any setbacks.

Below 8 Ps elaborate the concept of Vision and Strategy altogether:

1. Picking the Right Battle:

Effective leaders ponder well enough to chose the right course of direction (the mission) which can lead them towards success with higher success probability and greater efficiency. This does not means that they select easy targets instead sometimes they select more challenging grounds with their gut feeling of success. However they are careful in making their choices because of being the captain of the boat. If the leader succeeds, the boat sails; if leader drowns the whole boat gets collapsed. They also consider proper anchor windlass parts to keep the bosat safe.

2. Perspective:

How a leader sees the future is very sensitive matter. No matter how genius team members he/she possesses; his own vision is highly important. It is said that an army of dears lead by a lion is far better than any army of lions lead by a dear. The leader's vision depends on the level of mental comprehension of industry, current statistics, near future and long term forecasts/trends, overall knowledge and experience of associated domains, a lot of study and observation about market and expectation of stake holders.

3. Present Position:

The leader must define the baseline because this will be the reference to be compared when measuring performance and progress at later stage. The visionary leader must clearly define the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); the current values of KPIs, bench marking in line with industry standards, the measurement criteria and measurement frequency.

4. Policies and Procedures:

The review of current and finalization of policies for concrete results should be done prior to kick off the execution phase. Yet a leader should be smart enough to closely monitor and tweak the policies and procedures in case something is putting the projects/programs in jeopardy. The market dynamics demands consistent focus and a lot of iterations in companies' strategies.

5. Plans:

Failing to plan is planning to fail. The leader would define high level goals; the goals which are SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound) Once defined, the leader assigns these to the team of managers which in turn use the RACI model for further low level implementation. (RACI tool is used for defining Responsibility Matrix; RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed respectively)

6. Pattern:

Although Low level micro tasks is not a specific leaders' responsibility but it becomes very effective if leaders take active part few times during the life cycle of the project; especially when WBS (work breakdown structures) are prepared by the associated Project Managers. Sometimes his/her vision and experience can make big difference when reviewing WBS with the PM.

7. Progress & Performance:

Consistent progress and performance measurement against the baseline must be ensured by the leaders. This also requires risk identification, risk analysis and risk mitigation. The project becomes orphans if the leader does not review its performance periodically.

8. Power Plug:

Last but not the least, he becomes the consistent source of inspiration, fuel and energy for his team members. By this act he ensure that the 'batteries' (employee's working potential) are charged throughout the life cycle of the project.

About Author: Junaid Tahir is a passionate blogger. He writes articles on leadership, Stress Management and Life Enhancement subjects

Story: The Couple on the Bus

2026-07-17T17:39:10.396+04:00

Once there was loving couple travelling in a bus in a mountainous area. They decided to get down at some place. After the couple got down at some place the bus moved on, As the bus moved on, a huge rock fell on the bus from the mountain and crushed the bus to crumbs. Everybody on board was killed. The couple upon seeing that, said, "We wish we were on that bus"

Why do u think they said that??

If they had remained on the bus instead of deciding to get down, the resulting time delay could have been avoided and the rock would have fallen after the bus had passed ..!!!

Think positive in life always and look for opportunities when you can help Others...

Story: The Carpenter

2026-07-17T17:39:01.420+04:00

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."

The carpenter was in a shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he ever built! Label: Short Story

Great Ways To Kill Morale

2026-07-17T17:38:46.362+04:00

What makes you happy at work? Maybe you have a great boss who gives you the freedom to be creative, rewards you for going the extra mile, and helps you to reach your career goals.

Maybe you have none of the above and are updating your résumé as we speak.

It's pretty incredible how often you hear managers complaining about their best employees leaving, and they really do have something to complain about—few things are as costly and disruptive as good people walking out the door.

But managers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun while ignoring the crux of the matter: people don't leave jobs; they leave managers.

Bad management does not discriminate based on salary or job title. A Fortune 500 executive team can experience more dissatisfaction and turnover than the baristas at a local coffee shop. The more demanding your job is and the less control you have over what you do, the more likely you are to suffer. A study by the American Psychological Association found that people whose work meets both these criteria are more likely to experience exhaustion, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression.

The sad thing is that this suffering can easily be avoided. All that's required is a new perspective and some extra effort on the manager's part to give employees autonomy and make their work feel less demanding. To get there, managers must understand what they're doing to kill morale. The following practices are the worst offenders, and they must be abolished if you're going to hang on to good employees.

Overworking people.

Nothing burns good employees out quite like overworking them. It's so tempting to work the best people hard that managers frequently fall into this trap. Overworking good employees is perplexing for them as it makes them feel as if they're being punished for their great performance. Overworking employees is also counterproductive. New research from Stanford showed that productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours, and productivity drops off so much after 55 hours that you don't get anything out of working more. Talented employees will take on a bigger workload, but they won't stay if their job suffocates them in the process. Raises, promotions, and title-changes are all acceptable ways to increase workload. If managers simply increase workload because people are talented, without changing a thing, these employees will seek another job that gives them what they deserve.

Holding people back.

As an employee, you want to bring value to your job, and you do so with a unique set of skills and experience. So how is it that you can do your job so well that you become irreplaceable? This happens when managers sacrifice your upward mobility for their best interests. If you're looking for your next career opportunity, and your boss is unwilling to let you move up the ladder, your enthusiasm is bound to wane. Taking away opportunities for advancement is a serious morale killer.

Management may have a beginning, but it certainly has no end. When blessed with a talented employee, it's the manager's job to keep finding areas in which they can improve to expand their skill set and further their career. The most talented employees want feedback—more so than the less talented ones—and it's a manager's job to keep it coming. Otherwise, people grow bored and complacent.

Playing the blame game.

A boss who is too proud to admit a mistake or who singles out individuals in front of the group creates a culture that is riddled with fear and anxiety. It's impossible to bring your best to your work when you're walking on eggshells. Instead of pointing fingers when something goes wrong, good managers work collaboratively with their team and focus on solutions. They pull people aside to discuss slip-ups instead of publicly shaming them, and they're willing to accept responsibility for mistakes made under their leadership.

Frequent threats of firing.

Some managers use threats of termination to keep you in line and to scare you into performing better. This is a lazy and shortsighted way of motivating people. People who feel disposable are quick to find another job where they'll be valued and will receive the respect that they deserve.

Not letting people pursue their passions.

Talented employees are passionate. Providing opportunities for them to pursue their passions improves their productivity and job satisfaction, but many managers want people to work within a little box. These managers fear that productivity will decline if they let people expand their focus and pursue their passions. This fear is unfounded. Studies have shown that people who are able to pursue their passions at work experience flow, a euphoric state of mind that is five times more productive than the norm.

Withholding praise.

It's easy to underestimate the power of a pat on the back, especially with top performers who are intrinsically motivated. Everyone likes kudos, none more so than those who work hard and give their all. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good (for some, it's a raise; for others, it's public recognition) and then to reward them for a job well done. With top performers, this will happen often if you're doing it right. This doesn't mean that managers need to praise people for showing up on time or working an eight-hour day—these things are the price of entry—but a boss who does not give praise to dedicated employees erodes their commitment to the job.

Bringing It All Together

If managers want their best people to stay, they need to think carefully about how they treat them. While good employees are as tough as nails, their talent gives them an abundance of options. Managers need to make people want to work for them.

What other mistakes kill morale? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning co-author of the #1 bestselling book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0,

5 Ways to Increase Project Management Maturity

2026-07-17T17:37:53.997+04:00

Our recently published "The State of Project Management Survey" gave a clear picture as to the state of project management maturity; 45% of the 317 organisations that took part are somewhat or very dissatisfied with the current level of PM maturity.

This is a significant figure and demonstrates the scale of the opportunity for project management improvements. The survey included a standard 5 level maturity chart for project management. The majority of organisations should aim to achieve level 3 as a minimum so with circa 50% of organisations citing a maturity level of 2 or below, it is no surprise that we find so many dissatisfied respondents in the survey.
So, what can we do to increase project management maturity? I spend much of my time helping organisations improve their project management maturity through a defined Maturity Roadmap.

Here are my 5 top tips:

1) Project methodology
Have you got one? Is it used? Is it practical? Many organisations have a project methodology but struggle to apply it. We can always create something sophisticated and clever, which means it could be complex, which means no one uses it and work around the process rather than working the process. Create a simple scalable, practical methodology that flexes to suit to size, scale, risk and the cost of each project.

2) Easy to use document templates?
Have you got a project management document template for a PID, a Business Case, a Status Report? Is it complex as hell and just turns everyone off? Re-write these documents based on a suite of questions to make them much more accessible. Eliminate the fluff and go for simplicity and ease of use. No point having a document template that people refuse to fill in or fill in after the fact just as a "tick box" exercise.

3) Training
Simple analogy; would you let just anyone drive the forklift truck, or would you put people through some training first? So why can anyone get let loose on a project? Projects are often given to subject matter experts. This is fine. But let's sprinkle some best practice project management on these SMEs and given them a fighting chance. A customised project management training course is needed, and you need the badge before you go off and run that business critical project.

4) Project Register
The first telling question I ask a client is simple. How many projects have you got? Most struggle to answer this question as there isn't a single Project Register. A list of all our projects, the PMs, the Sponsors, the budgets, the RAG KPI status. Easy to fix with some technology (SharePoint or Project Online are great for this).

5) Plan Templates
The majority of people struggle to create useful, realistic project plans. Do you undertake the same types of projects over and over? Get the experts in a room and create a template and some planning guidance. Actually use time sheet data (if available) and lessons learned to refine and improve this template over time. Why are you reinventing the wheel every time?

OK, I could go on and list many, many more actions. But that's the point. We sometimes cannot see a way forward when there is so much to do. So why not start with one of these goals? They might not all fit your situation, you might have ticked some of these off. But start the debate. "How can we improve our project management maturity?"
Source: wellingtone

Worries and Prayers

2026-07-17T17:37:38.965+04:00

Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.

Do you know why a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small?
Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. Look Ahead and Move on.

Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.
Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

Often when we lose hope and think this is the end,
however, in actual it should be, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

A blind person asked a wise person "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

WORRYING does not take away tomorrows' TROUBLES, it takes away today’s' PEACE.

How Can I Improve the standard of my Thoughts:

2026-07-17T17:37:28.017+04:00

a) Avoid thinking about unnecessary things specially related to others. Mind your own business. Possess a focused mind.
b) Stop comparing yourself to others. It's an insult to yourself. You are a unique soul and you are independent of your living, your decisions and your destiny.
c) Don't think of monetary gains too much. Excessive love for money and assets is the root of most stress.
d) Develop the habit of forgiving and letting things go off. If you are keeping the grudge in your brains for longer durations, you are killing yourself. Stress is a slow poison which deepens its roots in your brain and destroys your physical and mental health.
e) Read quality quotes or articles on positivity and try to absorb the message. This will kill the germs of negativity.
f) Practice the habit of gratitude. Stop complaining, criticizing and blaming. When a negative thought comes in, convert it to positive by looking at the positive side of the issue.
g) Instead of thinking about your 'wants' too much, think about your needs. This will reduce the magnitude of your focus because usually needs are limited but wants are too many. Adapt simple lifestyle as it reduces unnecessary socio-economic issues

Story: The Turtles Picnic

2026-07-17T17:37:17.434+04:00

A family of tortoise went on a picnic. They packed food and set out to a place they had selected… behind the hills. When they reached the spot, they unpacked their picnic basket. They realized they had forgotten to bring salt. Food without salt is tasteless.They had a conference to decide who should go back and get salt. After a lot of discussion, the youngest tortoise was chosen, as he was faster than the others.The youngest objected on the ground that before he could come back the others might eat the snacks. But they assured him they would wait for him to come back with salt.

Six months passed, but the youngest tortoise did not turn up. So the rest of the family decided to open the basket and eat the snacks. When they opened the snack basket, the little tortoise jumped out of the bushes and screamed, "Look, I knew you would not wait till I came back. For six months I have been hiding in these bushes to make sure you would not eat without me. Now my suspicion has been confirmed, and I am not going to get the salt."

Some of us are exactly like our suspicious tortoise: we waste our own time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. Instead of doing the right thing ourselves, we wait for others to act in ways we expect them to. We waste our time waiting for others to live according to our expectations

Story: The Cycle

2026-07-17T17:37:10.725+04:00

Simple Story to Refresh Basic Lesson of life.

A man was working in a bicycle shop.

A cycle had come for repair and after repairing the man cleaned up the bicycle and it looked like a new one.
All Other workers were making fun of him for doing redundant work.
Next day when owner came for the bicycle, he was very happy and offered the mechanic a job.

Moral of the story :
Good and extra work never goes useless

Blue Grass Story

2026-07-17T17:37:02.161+04:00

The donkey told the tiger: The grass is blue.

The tiger replied: No, the grass is green.

The discussion became heated, and the two decided to submit the issue to arbitration, and to do so they approached the lion.

Before reaching the clearing in the forest where the lion was sitting on his throne, the donkey started screaming: ′′Your Highness, isn't it true that the grass is blue?"

The lion replied: "True, the grass is blue".

The donkey rushed forward and continued: ′′The tiger disagrees with me and contradicts me and annoys me. Please punish him".

The king then declared: ′′The tiger will be punished with 5 years of silence".

The donkey jumped with joy and went on his way, content and repeating: ′′The grass is blue"..

The tiger accepted his punishment, but he asked the lion: ′′Your Majesty, why have you punished me, after all, the grass is green?"

The lion replied: ′′In fact, the grass is green".

The tiger asked: ′′So why do you punish me?"

The lion replied:

That has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green. The punishment is because it is not possible for a brave, intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a donkey, and on top of that to come and bother me with that question

The worst waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who doesn't care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions. Never waste time on discussions that make no sense... There are people who for all the evidence presented to them, do not have the ability to understand, and others who are blinded by ego, hatred and resentment, and the only thing that they want is to be right even if they aren’t.

When ignorance screams, intelligence shuts up. Your peace and tranquility are worth more.

Adapted from an unknown Author

Story: The Cockroach In The Restaurant

2026-07-17T17:36:51.471+04:00

At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on
a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken
face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands
desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.

Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got
panicky.

The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but ...it landed
on another lady in the group.

Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the
drama.

The waiter rushed forward to their rescue.
In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter.

The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of
the cockroach on his shirt.
When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and
threw it out of the restaurant.

Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind
picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach
responsible for their histrionic behavior?
If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed?
He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.

It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle
the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.

I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or
my wife that disturbs me, but it's my inability to handle the
disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me.

It's not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my
inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that
disturbs me.

More than the problem, it's my reaction to the problem that creates
chaos in my life.

Lessons learnt from the story:
I understood, I should not react in life.
I should always respond.
The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.

Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well
thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of
hands, to avoid cracks in relationship, to avoid taking decisions in
anger, anxiety, stress or hurry.

Story: The Bride, The Groom, The Love

2026-07-17T17:36:41.293+04:00

They were getting married. It was a large celebration. All of their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony and to partake of the festivities and celebrations. A wonderful time was had by all.

The bride was gorgeous in her white wedding gown and the groom was very dashing in his black tuxedo. A few months later, the wife comes to the husband with a proposal: "I read in a magazine, a while ago, about how we can strengthen our marriage." she offered. "Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix them together and make our lives happier together."

The husband agreed, so each of them went to a separate room in the house and thought of the things that annoyed them about the other. They thought about this question for the rest of the day and wrote down what they came up with.

The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would go over their lists. "I'll start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many items on it enough to fill 3 pages, in fact. As she started reading the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were starting to appear in her husbands eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing" the husband replied, "keep reading your lists." The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her husband. She neatly placed her list on the table and folded her hands over top of it.

"Now, you read your list and then we'll talk about the things on both of our lists." She said happily.

Quietly the husband stated, "I don't have anything on my list. I think that you are perfect the way that you are. I don't want you to change anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and I wouldn't want to try and change anything about you."

The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth of his love for her and his acceptance of her, turned her head and wept.

In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them.

We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us, and see the wondrous things before us?

I believe that WE ARE HAPPIEST WHEN we see and praise the good and try our best to forget the bad. Nobody's perfect but we can find perfectness in them to change the way we see them

Always remember that you can never find a Perfect partner to love you the way you wanted, only a person who’s willing to love you more that what you are. Someone who’ll accept you for what can and can’t be. And that’s even better than perfect...

Story: The Truck Driver and the Tyre

2026-07-17T17:36:24.978+04:00

One truck driver was doing his usual load delivery at a mental hospital, by parking his vehicle beside an open drain. He discovered a flat tyre when he was about to return from the mental hospital. He jacked up the truck and removed the flat tyre to fix the spare tyre.

When he was about to fix the spare tyre, he accidentally dropped all the 4 bolts in the open drain. As he cannot fish the bolts in the open drain, he started to panic as to what should be done?

Just then, one patient happened to walk past him and asked the driver as to why he was looking troubled. The driver thought to himself, since there is nothing much he can do or this mental joker can. Just to keep the bugging away, the truck driver informed the whole episode to the mental patient and gave a helpless look.

The patient just laughed at the truck driver and said you just cannot even fix such a simple problem? "No wonder you are destined to remain a truck driver for life".

The truck driver was astonished to hear such a compliment from a mental guy. "Here is what you can do" said the mental guy... "take one bolt from each of the remaining 3 tyres / wheels and fix it on to this tyre. Then drive down to the nearest workshop and replace the missing ones. Isn't it simple my friend".

The truck driver was so impressed with this quick fix answer and asked the patient "How come you are so smart and intelligent and you are here at the mental hospital?"

The patient replied "Hello friend! I stay here because I am crazy but not stupid".

No wonder, there are some people, who behave like the Truck Driver, thinking that others are just stupid. So, guys, though you all are learned and wise, but, just watch out, there could be some CRAZY guys in our professional / personal lives, who could give us lot of quick fixes and brush our wisdom.

Moral:
Just do not conclude that you know everything and do not judge people by mere looks/attire stature or academic background!

Story: The Gossip Girl

2026-07-17T17:36:09.572+04:00

A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor.
Within a few days the whole community knew the story.
The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended.

Later the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned
that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old sage to find out what she could do to repair the damage.

"Go to the marketplace," he said, "and purchase a chicken,
and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers
and drop them one by one along the road."

Although surprised by this advice,
the woman did what she was told.

The next day the wise man said, "Now go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me."

The woman followed the same road, but to her dismay,
the wind had blown the feathers all away. After searching
for hours, she returned with only three in her hand.

"You see," said the old sage, "it's easy to drop them,
but it's impossible to get them back. So it is with gossip.
It doesn't take much to spread a rumor but once you do,
you can never completely undo the wrong."

10 Benefits of Being Organized

2026-07-17T17:35:57.480+04:00

Julie Bonner

Are there really any benefits to being organized? Isn't it more fun to live on the edge and fly by the seat of your pants? If you have ever asked yourself those questions, then you may not be aware of the many benefits there actually are to being organized. It's not about taking the fun or spontaneity out of life, but about getting the best from your life that you can. Here are 10 benefits to being organized:

1.You will have more time for yourself, your friends and your family.
When you live an organize life, you get things done faster. You spend less time looking for lost things and more time with the people you love. Freeing up your time will also allow you to read that book you've been meaning to get to for the past year or taking that tennis class. We never get yesterday back. Make sure you get the most out of each day.

2.You will save money.
You'll always use up what you have and not buy duplicates because they are lost in the back of a cabinet somewhere. No more last minute purchases, which can add up very quickly, when you are organized.

3.You will achieve balance in your life.
You can spend less time on the little things of life and more time on the big things, like your health and your family. Achieving balance sets the stage for an amazing life.

4.You and your family will be healthier.
You'll have more time to prepare healthy meals and exercise.

5.Your professional life will improve.
Not only will you make a better impression on your co-workers and boss, but you will feel great about yourself. When you feel like you have it all together at work, your professional life can take off and you can achieve things you have always dreamed of.

6.You will reduce the clutter around you.
Being surrounded by clutter is like dragging heavy chains around with you all day. It slows you down, makes you tired and is just stressful. Getting rid of the clutter will help you to experience a sense of freedom.

7.You will have more energy.
Most organized people are full of energy. Why is that? Because they take better care of themselves inside and out.

8.You won't mind last minute visitors in your home.
Not everyone likes people popping in on them, but for those of you who do, your friends and family could do so without you breaking into a cold sweat. You can invite them to sit down in a clean living room and even offer them something to eat and drink. Your home will feel inviting and comfortable.

9.You will be able to set and achieve your goals.
People who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them. Being organized can help you recognize what your goals are and map out a plan to achieve them.

10.You will be an example to those around you.
Your children are watching and learning from you everyday. Showing them how to be organized and get the most out of each day will be a lesson they can take with them for the rest of their lives. If you don't want your children to be raised in chaos, make it your goal to get life under control. They will someday thank you and appreciate everything you did for them

How to stay organized?

1.     Use files or folders to place all your Personal documents. Segregate your documents and place different kind of documents in different files. For example utility bills, educational documents and purchase receipts to be placed in three different files. If you want you can scan (or take a picture from your mobile) and put it in your email for quick reference. Make sure your password is safe! Advantage: Saves time and avoid stress to find the relevant document.

2.    Differentiate between urgent and important tasks. Important tasks sooner or later will come out to be either very fruitful (if you have given them proper attention) or would be a complete disaster (if you have avoided them). Advantage: Attending Urgent tasks in timely manner will ensure healthy outcome in terms of family, personal, financial or professional life. You may want to read my article at http://paradigmwisdom.blogspot.com/2012/01/learn-to-differentiate-between-urgent.html

3.    You need to closely observe your Time stealers. the routine tasks which takes away a lot of time but do not produce real good results should be optimized. Advantage: You will have more control on your time and arrange it for family & self matters.

4.    Place your things at right locations. Allocate proper drawers, boxes, cabinets, Files, balcony for accessories. Advantage: you don't have to waste your time when you need something.

5.    Google Calendar is a great service which sends you email and SMS for any event which you store in your online Calendar. You can set reminders for next car service, tires replacement, remembering birthdays & anniversaries and so on. Advantage: you will save money by avoiding disasters (car malfunctioning etc), you will have healthy family relations (birthdays etc)

6.    Make a to-do list. Maintain it on daily/weekly basis. Use 'post-it' notes for shopping list. Advantage: Critical tasks will not be missed. Unnecessary market revisits will be avoided.

7.    If you are Muslim, your Prayers timings can make you punctual and give you the convenience to organize a lot of events in-between two prayers. You can become a role model for others by being organized this way.

Stay organized for a concrete grip on your life starting today.

Source: DailyTenMinutes