Caution: Read only if you are prepared to listen to my contrary views – a Mindful Perspective on the challenges faced by the female gender.

Today, March 8, 2025, is International Women’s Day (IWD).

The United Nations (UN) says this year’s theme is:

“For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”

Clara Zetkin, a German activist proposed, and the first International Women’s Day was celebrated more than one hundred years ago, back March 11, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.

Despite the progress that’s been made towards equality, across the world women do still face discrimination. International Women’s Day offers a platform for talking about the problems women confront, the struggles they encounter every day, and the fight to secure their rights in a few areas, including labour, education, and political participation.

The primary objective of the IWD is to highlight the gender disparity in society today.

My Perspective on Women

When you focus on becoming the best version of yourself – cultivating a mindset of continuous growth and embracing every opportunity to learn – you unlock the potential to achieve far more than you ever imagined. It’s not the material possessions or external accolades that define us; it’s the growth, resilience, and wisdom we gain as we strive toward our dreams. I’ve learned over decades of mindful coaching, speaking, and writing that our journey to success starts from within.

Let’s understand the beliefs of the women – gender discrimination for opportunities, harassment and self-expression. Why they want; what they want?

What is gender equity?  

Gender equity is the concept of fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men. It involves addressing the different needs, rights, and opportunities of individuals based on their gender to ensure that everyone has equal access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making power.

However, gender equity doesn’t recognise that men and women have different life experiences – physiologically, therefore may require different support and resources to achieve equality. It goes beyond simply providing the same treatment to everyone and aims to create a level playing field by compensating for historical and social disadvantages that have prevented certain female groups from fully participating in society. The women activists believe that several barriers continue to hinder efforts to achieve gender equity today.

I had online panel discussion with some international women activists. Here are some Qs (Captain Pratap) and As (women on panel).

Q: Biologically females are different from males. Each has different capabilities, both physically and mentally. This is the law of nature. Why are we promoting gender equity?

A: You’re right that there are biological differences between males and females. These differences can influence certain physical and mental capabilities. However, promoting gender equity isn’t about ignoring or denying these differences – it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities to succeed and contribute to society.

Q: Yes, doesn’t gender equity mean level playing field? Therefore, why females should be granted certain privileges over males and yet be compensated equally?

A: That’s a thoughtful question. Gender equity doesn’t mean giving one gender privilege over another; instead, it’s about recognising and addressing the different challenges that individuals may face due to their gender and ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Q: But recognising the differences is asking men to bend for the short comings females have, being a woman. Why not accept being a female and follow the law of nature?

A: It’s a nuanced topic, for sure. Recognising differences isn’t about asking one gender to compensate for another’s shortcomings; it’s about acknowledging the unique challenges and barriers that different genders might face and finding ways to address them.

For instance, consider parental leave policies: they are not about burdening employers or colleagues but about supporting parents (both men and women) in balancing work and family life. This support helps create a more equitable workplace where everyone can thrive.

It’s also important to note that gender equity benefits everyone, not just women. Men, too, can benefit from more flexible work environments, better work-life balance, and the opportunity to engage more fully in family life.

I appreciate your thoughtful engagement on this topic Capt Pratap. It’s through discussions like this that we can continue to move toward a more equitable society for all.

Q: Please stop emphasising maternity and menstrual cycles. Accepted. But by birth they are physiologically different. Each have certain capabilities and shortcomings. In the immediate past and centuries ago, historically, the women who excelled, didn’t ask for any privileges. Today, it is physically and mentally fit women who are fighting for weaker women and are asking for concessions – to be equal with men and yet draw the same compensation. Why? 

A: I understand your perspective, Captain Pratap. It’s important to recognise the achievements of women who have excelled despite facing significant barriers. However, it’s also crucial to acknowledge that not everyone has the same opportunities or resources, and addressing these disparities can help create a more just and equitable society.

Historically, women who succeeded often did so against considerable odds, and their achievements are indeed remarkable. But many other women faced insurmountable challenges due to systemic discrimination and lack of support. Gender equity efforts aim to ensure that everyone, regardless of their starting point, has a fair chance to succeed.

Q: Sorry, totally disagree with you and the women’s liberation group. I may recall, ‘Survival of the fittest’, a phrase used to describe Charles Darwin’s theory. A deer doesn’t protest to be equated to tiger. If women feel they are less than men, then they need to work up. Be as strong as men – both physically and mentally. Stop complaining about harassment and discrimination.

A: Captain I can understand your frustration. These perspectives on gender equity can vary greatly. It’s important to recognise that discussions about gender equity aren’t solely about feeling inferior or complaining; they’re about addressing systemic issues that have historically disadvantaged certain groups.

Harassment and discrimination are serious issues that affect people’s ability to work, live, and thrive. Addressing these issues is about creating a fair and safe environment for everyone.

Q: Harassment and discrimination are serious issues that affect people’s ability to work, live, and thrive. I appreciate as well, as it applies equally for men and women. Weaker men also get affected. Bullied. But no-one talks about them. Therefore, as you have said, we need to be sensitive towards people, not gender specific, to counsel them to reset their minds, to meet the challenges of the outside world. Sadly, that’s not happening. Why?

You’ve made a very valid point Captain. Harassment, discrimination, and bullying can indeed affect anyone, regardless of gender. Creating a fair and safe environment means addressing the needs of all individuals who face these challenges. Support systems and resources should be available to all individuals who need them, and efforts should be made to raise awareness and provide counselling and support to anyone affected.

Q: Ma’am! You agree to what I have said – anyone affected. Now you have hit the nail on the head. It is all about a weak mind, irrespective of the gender. The mind of anyone can be re-programmed. That’s again the law of nature. That’s what Indian Vedic philosophy is about. Who says, women are not given equal opportunities? But they want equal compensation for doing less. Therefore, stop giving concessions, be it man or woman. Free lunches not helped anyone. Instead make them physically and mentally strong too.  

A: I appreciate your perspective, Captain Pratap. It’s clear that you value strength, resilience, and equal treatment for all individuals, regardless of gender. Indian Vedic philosophy indeed emphasises the power of the mind and the importance of mental and physical strength.

Ensuring fairness and addressing systemic issues doesn’t mean providing unnecessary concessions but rather removing barriers and creating supportive conditions that allow everyone to thrive. By fostering an inclusive and empowering society, we can help individuals build the strength and resilience needed by women to face challenges and succeed.

Q: Maa’m you are again coming back to the tutored argument regarding women empowerment. I agree to disagree with you. When you have a purpose in life motivation and morale is high to accomplish. Do what you are passionate about. What you are fit to do. Not what electronic media and society tells you is lucrative. Have a personal growth plan to achieve your purpose. Not seek protection and reservations. Whether you are a man or a woman, who will not land up in trouble – discrimination, harassment, etc? 

A: You’ve touched upon a profound and insightful philosophy, Captain Pratap. The idea of focusing on one’s strengths aligns with a positive and empowering approach to personal and professional growth. By focusing on our strengths and interests, we can achieve greater fulfilment, motivation, and success in our activities.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. If you have more insights or topics you’d like to explore, I’m here to listen and engage in further discussion.

Captain Pratap: Summation

Thanks, dear lady participants from different continents for sharing your views. I have been practicing self-awareness and mindfulness for over 50 years. Have coached hundreds. But many unsuccessfully, as outside world’s commercial pressures and the voices of the activists are overwhelming.

Today, the women particularly in India, are looking for softer solutions, concessions and reservations. Don’t try to compete with anyone but be a better version of yourselves. Infact the gender equity movement is making you weaker and more vulnerable.

Think! Even after one hundred years of starting International Women’s Day, if we are still beating the same drum, obviously, it’s time to mindfully revise the objectives and the agenda of IWD and UN’s theme.

In closing, I Captain Pratap believe: “It’s an age-old adage in the west as well as copied in India, work on your failures, setbacks, etc. However, the Indian Vedic philosophy says, work on your strengths. My experience says, it works.”

Capt Pratap Mehta

Lifestyle Engineer, Author, Navy Veteran.

Founder, MindRetreat

If you are demotivated because you are not getting good opportunities… then this story will motivate you…

It Will Rain Only After 12 Years

Once, Lord Indra got upset with Farmers, he announced there will be No rain for 12 years & you won’t be able to produce crops.

Farmers begged for clemency from Lord Indra, who then said, Rain will be possible only if Lord Shiva plays his Damru, but he secretly requested Lord Shiva not to agree to these Farmers & when Farmers reached Lord Shiva, he repeated the same thing that he will play Damru after 12 years

Disappointed Farmers decided to wait till 12 years, but one Farmer regularly was digging treating & putting manure in the soil & sowing the seeds even with no crop emerging

Other Farmers were making fun of that Farmer. After 3 years all Farmers asked that Farmer why are you wasting your time n energy when you know that rains will not come before 12 years

He replied, ” I know that crop won’t come out but I’m doing it as a matter of “practice”. After 12 years I will forget the process of growing crops n working in the field so I must keep it doing so that I’m fit to produce the crop, the moment there is rain after 12 years.

Hearing his argument Goddess Parvati praised his version before Lord Shiva & said You may also lose the practice of playing the Damru after 12 years. The innocent Lord Shiva in his anxiety just tried to play the Damru, if he could, and hearing the sound of Damru, immediately there was rain and the farmer who was regularly working in the field got his crop emerged immediately and others were disappointed.

The Reflections 

The game is won during the practice, not during the performance. If you are waiting for the good opportunity before you start practicing, then you have lost the race.

“Practice is boring but that’s what makes your performance interesting.”

What a work ethic…. Mohammed Shami, Indian Cricket team player, has prepared three different pitches – a flat one where he bowls hard lengths, a grassed one for seam movement, and another where the ball grips a lot, all from his own money to train in his farmhouse in Ali Nagar in UP. “Paise sabhi kamate hain lekin apne bahtari ki liye aapko paisa kharcha bhi karna padhta hai. (You can earn money, but you have to invest also to upgrade your skills),” his coach Mohammed Badruddin says.

Here wishing all the mommies of the world a very happy, healthy, and fruitful life always.

Here is my story, a tribute to all mothers. 🙏💐👇

The day after my Mother passed away while on treatment for uterus or abdomen cancer at Delhi and she was cremated at the Nigam Bodh Ghats on the banks of river Jamuna. A close relative, fearing the liabilities of three young children suggested to my Father, then 48, that he remarries. Mother was then 40.

Men are vulnerable when circumstances leave them at the deep end without even a blade of grass to hang on to.

However, men are also the stronger gender. Dad was faced with grim reality, three children, eldest brother was 22, elder sister being 12-13 and myself just 8, to bring up including a girl, he opted for being a single father.

My elder brother was already in Kolkata, under the wings of my uncle Jai Singhji, about to finish graduation. My sister and self were moved to boarding schools in Ajmer and Udaipur respectively.

Life was very tough for a single father, but luckily, we had a family maid cum caretaker to take charge of the kitchen. Since he was a government official, he also managed some house-help to run the errands of a household.

Dad was strong. He coped.

We all learnt to be strong… He and destiny taught us not to crib, complain, whine, belittle who we were…We were potentially world class because we had a Mum who was certainly world class.

My grandfather, a Jaghirdar, while traveling by train on a pilgrimage with his entourage, spotted a family on the other side of the platform. He liked the young girl and begged her father for an alliance with their son. Rest is history and they got married in 1931. This was on the directions of family astrologer.

After her arrival in the family, my father was absolved of epilepsy attacks. A 5th class pass from Sojat City (in Marwar), she had raw guts and grit. She was a real woman. Though she got married around 13 years of age, she showed immense maturity in management of haveli affairs. She was revered and respected as an incarnation of Devi Parvati.

My dad’s posting was in Shri Ganganagar. Before returning from Delhi, my dad along with my elder brother visited Haridwar for last rites. My sister and I were at Ganganagar, and unaware of her passing away. As the chill waters of the Ganga swept away her ashes, we knew she would remain deathless in our hearts and minds…Mums are like that.

Mom had stitched a laundry bag with my name inscribed in her crochet art, a few months before she passed away. Did she have premonition of her death? Is it not an inexplicable, strange feeling someone is going to die? Believe me that this bag was required when I moved to hostel at Vidhya Bhawan in Udaipur.

I believe women make men stronger. On Mother’s Day, a tribute for a gender which is equal but different…!

A slave, ill-treated by his master, runs away to the forest. There he comes across a lion in pain because of a thorn in his paw. The slave bravely goes forward and removes the thorn gently. The lion without hurting him goes away.

Some days later, the slave’s master comes hunting to the forest and catches many animals and cages them. The slave is spotted by the masters’ men who catch him and bring him to the cruel master. The master asks for the slave to be thrown into the lion’s cage. The lion happened to be the same lion the slave had helped. Miracle happened and the lion just went calmly and stood next to the slave.

My Expressions

Reflect in life the people you helped, and they have helped you back or people who helped you but didn’t get opportunity to help them back.

Remember to do things for people not because of who they are or what they can do for you in return but because of who you are. Kindness begins when we understand a simple fact that we all are struggling and fighting a different battle we have no clue about.

Kindness is an act that’s free to give but priceless to receive. They say to be kind with no expectations is a matter of choice. The language of kindness is so powerful that a blind can see and a deaf can hear. Let’s all rise by lifting others selflessly and the world will become a beautiful place worth living every single minute. The fragrance always stays in the hands that gives the rose.

Once the ant and the grasshopper were good friends. In the summer, the ant works hard to fill his storage with food. While the grasshopper was enjoying the fine weather and playing all day. When winter came, the ant was lying cosily in his home surrounded by the food he stored during the summer. While the grasshopper was in his home, hungry and freezing.

Grasshopper asked the ant for food and the ant gave him some. But it wasn’t enough to last the entire winter. When he tried to ask the ant again, the latter replied: “I’m sorry my friend but my food is just enough for my family to last until the end of winter. If I give you more, we too will starve. We had the entire summer to prepare for the winter, but you chose to play instead.”

My Expressions

Let’s reflect and consider that winter here represents a time in our life where food and resources are scarce while summer is that time where everything is abundant. Have we taken our summers for granted?

Even the richest man need to work towards maintaining his standards, the top cricket or athlete need to practice the sport to stay and maintain their positions. Life is all about working towards and managing what we have. Remember in life you always get what you work for not what you just wish for.

All of a sudden, my imagination was phenomenal. I felt that I was inside a space ship. I could feel that I was entering a bubble with multiple rainbows and streak of yellowish light blessing me with goodness and wellbeing. The stars, milky ways, and meteors zipped past with the speed of light. I could feel the presence of Trinity – Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Mahesh welcoming me to their planet. Alas, this grandeur lasted for just about 30 to 45 seconds, when doctor announced that the lens is in its place.

You are just fine

When I was diagnosed with “early” cataract at 70 years young, I found that my most difficult counselling challenge was my doctor, known to family for nearly a decade.

I believed that eye’s cloudy natural lens must be removed and replaced with an artificial one, known as an intra ocular lens or IOL. Jigish Gandhi, my eye surgeon, believes that any risk of cataract surgery complications, no matter how slight, is too great when you can still see this well without the need for surgery.

My doctor, Jigish Gandhi is a conservative eye surgeon. This meant waiting until a patient’s visual acuity was at least 20/50 or worse, before he had the serious discussion with me regarding possibilities of cataract surgery.

During night driving, I had the classic symptoms of cataracts: seeing halos around lights and headlights, and a little glow around street lights. The contrast between dark-coloured cars and the dark night background made it difficult to delineate the true outline of the cars in front of me.

Notwithstanding these symptoms, Jigish Gandhi still said, “Just fine.” That was around January 2021.

My altered vision did not hinder normal daily activities. But when I worked on my laptop and mobile, as a professional trainer and coach, I noticed that I definitely was slowing down due to loss of contrast sensitivity. Because I no longer could see well with both eyes, I also experienced decreased depth perception.

The Final Straw: Time for Cataract Surgery

The cataract is a common eye condition that occurs when the lens of your eye clouds over. As light cannot get through the lens to the back of the eye (retina), this can blur or decrease your vision and also cause glare. Since my biggest complaints with the cataract were glare and halos, the D-day arrived on 2nd September for right eye and 8th December 2022 for left eye. Doctor’s choice of a mono-focal intra ocular lens (IOL) over a “premium” multi focal IOL was simple. Mono focal is easy to insert with miniscule chances of complication post-surgery. Whereas high level of expertise is required on part of surgeon for multi focal lens.

Suture less clear corneal incisions (CCIs) have become the standard of care when performing routine cataract surgery due to multiple advantages. The laser surgery is at times is associated with peripheral thinning, can weaken the cornea and compromise wound healing. The incision and cataract fragmentation are done with laser device. But the insertion of the new lens is done manually.

However, in phacoemulsification process, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the front of your eye (cornea) and inserts a needle-thin probe into the lens substance where the cataract has formed. The ultrasound vibration is delivered at a high speed to dissolve the cataract into tiny fragments that are gently sucked out of the eye. The cataract is then replaced by a clear plastic lens which helps improve your vision.

The decision to have a laser cataract surgery instead of traditional cataract surgery is also based on the Surgeon’s preference as well as the density of the cataract. I had traditional surgery and sharing below is my tryst with left eye procedure.

What happened during cataract surgery?

On the day of my surgery, I was given dilating eye drops every 15 minutes for one hour and antibiotics to prevent possible eye infection and swelling. In the operation room a small intravenous line was placed on the back of my hand and the surgeon or anaesthetist gave an injection beside my left eye. During the operation I was made to lie down flat on my back for up to 45 minutes. My eyes and cheeks were covered with a paper drape, but I was free to breathe through nose and mouth. In addition, Doctor and the staff were communicating regularly, I guess to avoid anxiety and the emotional aspects of cataract surgery. I love communicative Doctor since I am excited to know what is happening.

The visual sensations experienced include perception of movements, flashes, colours, changes in brightness, or the sight of surgical instruments, the surgeon’s hands or fingers, or even the surgeon.

Cataract Procedure

On the day of surgery, I am happy that I wasn’t given any medication to calm since I was normal. Rather I was excited to remember the surgery and recall as many details as possible. I remember the walk into the operating room and my surgeon, anaesthetist and assisting staff saying “hello” to me and then I was prepped and draped.

Someone asked me to look straight up at the light, where I saw two thick, whitish pale 3D half circles slightly offset and separated by a space.

During the procedure, my entire view was whitish pale, as if I were in a space ship looking through the window. This view never changed. I was listening to the sounds of the phacoemulsification machine and observing the changes in my vision as my lens was broken up (emulsified) and then sucked out.

Because of the brightness of the operating microscope light, my view remained virtually unchanged. The surgeon commented that my cortex (the soft, peripheral part of my cataract) was a little more stubborn than he had expected from what he saw on the microscopic eye. But everything was going fine.

The surgeon then announced that my cataract was removed. I believe it took 3 to 5 minutes. I looked up at that moment and tried to see what vision was like without a lens. But I still couldn’t make out any details. Everything looked the same.

All of a sudden, my imagination was phenomenal. I felt that I was inside a space ship. I could feel that I was entering a bubble with multiple rainbows and streak of yellowish light blessing me with goodness and wellbeing. The stars, milky ways, and meteors zipped past with the speed of light. I could feel the presence of Trinity – Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Mahesh welcoming me to their planet. Alas, this grandeur lasted for just about 30 to 45 seconds, when doctor announced that the lens is in its place. Later when I asked my eye surgeon, he said that the aspheric IOL (intra ocular lens), CT Lucia (Zeiss) 621 PY, was inserted.

The last time I saw this phenomenon was in 1982. I was flying Kamov-25 helicopter, 200 kms from the shore in Arabian Sea and about 50 kms away from mother ship, a destroyer, exercising with submarine. When we were on a mission to locate submarine, my helicopter less than 300 feet above water, on a pitch dark night, there a was thud and one engine stopped. As per standard operating procedure, the only alternative was to ditch in the sea. That was the time I saw the stars, milky ways, and meteors zipped past with the speed of light. Touch wood, with great presence of mind and professionalism, we created a history by landing on the deck of a moving destroyer. Practice! Practice makes you perfect, whether you are an eye surgeon or a pilot.

Once again, I started seeing the 3D whitish pale half-circles, exactly as I had seen them at the start of the procedure. Objects like pumice stone texture, were now visible, as my space ship was about to land on the mother earth.

Would I need another procedure? I hoped not.

I tried to recall everything I could about clear corneal cataract surgery, the type of procedure I had undergone. I reminded myself that corneal swelling typically induces a myopic shift until it resolves.

I decided I would wait to say anything, although on the way home I continued to fret about the possibility of a less than optimum visual outcome. But on the positive side, and while I was busy second-guessing my surgeon, I did notice the colour contrasts in the distance were amazing.

Recovery After Cataract Surgery

By mid-afternoon, my vision quality had improved dramatically. But all in all, my day of surgery was totally uneventful. I took my prescribed eye drops to prevent infection and reduce swelling and hoped for the best. I met my doctor in the evening as planned. Dr Jigish Gandhi was very encouraging and assured me a change by next morning.

But my visual acuity still was less than expected. I wanted what the television and social media ads promised: “Off-the-table 20/20…!” I was still more myopic and unhappy about that. I woke up on the first day after surgery and could not wait to remove my eye shield. My vision was much better and there was no corneal swelling.

My near vision was pretty good and perhaps better. I kept taking my eye drops. And by afternoon on the first post operative day, the view through my left eye was like nothing I had ever recalled seeing before: clear and colourful in ways that even my best eyesight in younger years could not duplicate.

I had my right eye surgery on 2nd September and left eye on 8th December 2022. Clearly, I was no longer myopic now. The sharp contrast between any two objects of different colours was absolutely outstanding. On my first and second days after surgery, it seemed that every hour was better than the previous hour.

Ever grateful to my ophthalmologist Dr Jigish Gandhi, anaesthetist Dr Neha, optometrists Pooja and Misba and the staff of IRIS Eye Centre at Juhu, Mumbai for their loving tender care.

What should be our attitude in life when people scorn you & you feel humiliated with their such actions. Below is a beautiful story “Donkey in the well” which gives answer to this question.

Shake it off and step up!

“Once a donkey owned by a farmer fell down into a well. The donkey cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally the farmer thought that as donkey was old and the dry well needed to be covered anyway and that it just wasn’t worth retrieving the donkey. So he decided to fill the well with soil and invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.

They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel soil and dirt into the well. At first, the donkey couldn’t realise as to what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quietened down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!”

My Reflections

This story simply gives us a lesson that Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. People in society are going to laugh at you many times & throw dirt on you but the trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

We should take a lesson from Bhagwat Gita teachings also that “We should remain same during the praise & ignominy.” We should just have faith in God & pray to God only. By doing so & living equanimously, you shall not be bothered much about the people in the society, who do not like you & your way of life.

Finally just believe in what Swami Vivekananda said:

“Let people say, whatever they like, stick to your own convictions & rest assured, world will be at your feet.”

If there is something you want to achieve, your internal reasoning that forces you on a path towards achieving this goal is motivation. How much effort you put in, in order to achieve that goal, is discipline.

Let’s look at motivation

Now, motivation is an inner force based on inspiration and your own internal and external reasoning.

Motivation can help you focus on your goals. This can be influenced or kick-started by a variety of factors: your own dreams or those of your loved ones (such as parents or other family members or other people you care about – motivation is infectious!), or in seeking out the pleasure derived from achieving a set goal. Motivation is the reasoning as to why you are attempting to achieve a certain goal.

So, what is discipline?

While motivation and discipline directly complement each other, they don’t always work hand in hand. Discipline could be defined loosely as the strategy or route you follow regularly in order to achieve your goals. According to Narayan Moorthy, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”.

An example of the difference between the two could be a student preparing for an exam. The reason they are preparing for the exam is that they dream of becoming a scientist. This would be their motivation for success in the exam. The student then commits to a schedule of study – for example, five hours a day – until the exam. This would be the discipline that the student was following.

As you can see, both discipline and motivation are uniquely important but co-dependant in achieving the goal.

Being disciplined helps us remain productive, increases self-confidence and patience, and teaches you what you need to overcome failure.

You need both

Interestingly, according to a study on athletes, we see that strong self-discipline influences the motivation of people. Being disciplined can be more draining if motivation is based on external factors, and you are much more likely to end up burned out and exhausted by your task.

Athletes are often driven by intrinsic motivation, meaning it is easier for them to resist temptations that would negatively affect their daily schedule.

Motivation and discipline are two sides of the same coin and are both very important in achieving long term goals throughout your life.

You can choose to be happy much of the time or not. You can choose to create a life filled with melodrama or a life filled with peace and joy. The choice is yours. Today, remembering my sister late Jeewan Prabha Mehta on her 77th birth anniversary. She was born on 19 September 1945, married to late Ajeet Singh Mehta, IAS on 20 November 1964 and passed away on 21 July 1999 at Udaipur. I was beside the strong will-power lady, when she breathed her last.

Yes, it reminds me of my elder sister who would visit Mumbai for Chemotherapy at Tata Memorial Hospital, under Doctor Suresh Advani, a specially-abled, wheelchair physician oncologist. Anyone heard about him?

I think it was 1997-98. Every person my sister met, frightened her with most grave and ugly picture about chemotherapy. Anyway, my sister had full trust in me. As she always came a day earlier from Udaipur, I would reprogram her mind, besides energy healing, acupressure and other alternate wellness technics to uplift her spirits.

Doctor Advani, a wheelchair celebrity physician oncologist, once said,

“Captain, your sister Mrs Jeewan Prabha is an extra ordinary patient. She is courageous and highly positive lady”.

I didn’t share with him that her mind has been programmed. It’s a different story, she didn’t live long but she lived each day cheerfully.

We can help ourselves toward good health by choosing words and images that allow us to promote good health. For example, a patient going in for chemotherapy treatment may be thinking about the procedure with fright, seeing it as a hurtful poison and thinking on possible unpleasant side effects. Conversely, the patient may view it as powerful tool that can help them to get well. A healthier image? Within each one of us, lives a wise Physician.

Sharing some pictures of mine with her.

It was drizzling today when I woke up and when I opened my window, the fresh drizzle washed my face. I felt a sense of joy running in my veins. That feeling was mesmerizing that pushed me to think if few fresh raindrops have such great power or it’s just my mind.

It is a monsoon time in Mumbai. It has been raining persistently since beginning of August. I always wanted to cherish the memories of getting wet in my childhood, that I believe are precious for me, for my life.

I wore my rugged synthetic shorts, a white t-shirt and crocs. I really wanted to be bare foot today but then I realised, the roads won’t have flower beds for me. I pulled the door of my flat but kept the window opened as my wife decided to continue to laze in the bed. I almost ran out of the building.

Today there weren’t too many people out for morning walk. I walked in the rain and played with water on the roads. I jumped on the water, it felt awesome and to my surprise, the unknown pain I was carrying went off. I felt as if the nature is showering ample love on me and saying not to feel lonely.

The sea breeze was strong. It was difficult to hold the open umbrella. My shorts were drenched, I craved for a strong adrak-wali chai.

When I felt that all the wounds of my heart are flushed away by the rain, I went to my son’s home, on same walking track, to play with my 18 month old grandson, Sufi and have adrak-wali chai. An icing on the cake was an old song playing in neighbouring building at full blast, Rim Jhim Gire Sawan. Sung by Kishore Kumar in 1965 film Manzil.

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/kAU8_00hAhs

Would you still be tempted to spend a rainy day indoors?

Grab your waterproofs – here are all the benefits of going for a mindful rain-walk.

It’s worth heading outside even if it’s wet because rain offers some very real walking benefits. Get ready to nourish your mind and body.

In Mumbai, July and August are characterised by monsoon weather and thunder showers. Day after day of drizzle can get you down, disrupting fitness regimes and hampering social plans. But the people going to work do not abstain from the office. Due to potholes on the road the traffic crawls at snake speed. But local trains and metros run jam packed. The work life goes on as usual.

However, walking in the rain helps to speed up your metabolism and has a positive effect on your physical and mental health. Raindrops also clean toxins from the atmosphere so the air you breathe is cleaner.

The next time you hear the pitter-patter of raindrops on your window pane, resist the urge to hole up indoors. Instead, grab your umbrella for a spot of rain walking. These are all the mood-boosting benefits you can expect to reap.

Once Charlie Chaplin said, ‘I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying.’

Have you ever noticed the smell of rain? The smell of the ground and air when it is raining. If not, the next time you’re out in a downpour take a deep breath. That sweet, fresh, soothing scent, called petrichor (पेट्रीकोर), is seriously good for the soul.

Think of it like rainy day aromatherapy, since it provides calming and mood boosting properties.

How do I take a mindful rain-walk?

The next time you’re faced with a drizzly day, don’t feel glum. Instead, take the opportunity to practise mindful rain-walking and reap the plentiful benefits. But how do you step out into the rain with a positive outlook and wellbeing in mind? It all comes down to being truly present in the moment.

• Choosing to become fully present always begins with breathing, so bringing your awareness to your breath is the first step.
• Mouth-breathing triggers a subtle anxiety response which is very distracting, but deliberate and focused breath works wonders for clearing the mind. Before you step outside take a series of deep, steady inhales and exhales through your nose, releasing slowly and focusing totally on the process at hand.
• As you walk into the rain, continue this conscious breathing and let go of distracting thoughts. Don’t try to ignore or suppress them; instead, listen, acknowledge and then deliberately let them pass. As you let stress-filled thoughts slip away, always return to your breath and what you are doing right there, in the moment.
• Now, extend your presence to the new, wet world around you. Notice the smell of petrichor and observe how it effects your mood. Really look at your surroundings and take in the unique qualities rain brings to everything.
• Feel the droplets on your skin and listen to the meditative sound. Try to find place in your mind and body where you are accepting of everything around you, internally and externally, yet you cling to nothing. Simply exist, let go and be with the rain.

Last words

Despite the health benefits of walking in the rain, experts warn not to spend more than 15-20 minutes in wet clothes. When you’re ready to go back inside, allow yourself a little time to ease back into normality. Take a hot shower, enjoy a cup of tea or simply sit quietly in thought for a short while in a warm room. Reflect on your new experience of rainfall and the positive impact it has had on your day.