Dare your Fear. Go blank. Just do it.

A regular Monday morning all set to begin with proper plans in place, perfect for me, I thought! I woke up to the music of the rain and a feeble sound of the chirping of the birds was soothing. All seemed fine and positive until I opened the door. It was not a pleasant surprise but a dead big fat rat lying on my doormat. The fellow surely couldn't not escape the cat's attack the previous night. The immediate reaction, well no guesses. I closed the door, somehow controlled and nursed the after effect of spewing. Catching a rat using rat trap, I have done yet handling a dead rat was always a no. Well, I thought quick, now what?

Call it an imaginary placard flashing on the mind, I recalled the specific morning read about daring your fear with absolute blankness, no thinking and just doing what best I could. Perhaps I was made to read it by some divine intervention. I opened the door counting my breath slowly and also holding my breath. Then dragged the mat along the corridor using a small twig, all that I could find then, to the main entrance of my floor. That's it, came home for another round of heaving and then thought the garbage collection men might help me discard it from my second floor. Well I received not much help from them and my neighbor next street seemed least interested to lend me even a ear. No complaints. I knew I had to get it cleared anyhow myself.

With all might, somehow transferred it in a huge paper bag, wearing disposable gloves ( they always come handy) and took it downstairs. Just in time when the garbage vehicle made its second round. I gave it off, couldn't smile in gratitude for obvious reasons. Thank God, the toughest task was over!

The sanitizing, cleaning, cleansing was a long tiring process that disturbed all my scheduled morning plans. Well for me cleanliness is Godliness indeed, just that I had to do it twice today. After an hour, I finally settled down, listening to music alongside the lemon aroma therapy for quite sometime to get back to normal.

I had no choice but to challenge my fear, simply go blank and do it with focus on just doing it. Thanks to the Divine and the book that I chose to pick up and read as part of my happy morning ritual. Trust me, the feeling of peace and achievement after winning over such kind of fear cannot be expressed in words.

A Writer's First Attempt with A Paint Brush

 

When a WRITER steps into the world of painting for the FIRST Voyage, magic happens the moment she chooses to become a CHILD, to PLAY with the colors, while brushing away the RULES. -  Sreelatha 

                                                                                                                                           

Ever since my childhood days, the world of wet and dry colors on the canvas always lured me and I would stand in awe as an admirer. Thanks to the childhood patterns in our mind, where once we believed that if we could not do anything, rest assured, we would never bother to invest even an ounce of energy, to give a try. At least in some cases. Art to me has been a classic world reserved for the highly intellect, I was happy with a pen in hand or the word document to give wings to my power of imagination, with absolute clarity and profoundness in communication. Yet, every time I would get a chance to enter the aesthetic art room in the school, I would be fascinated by the world of astounding human creativity in the form of painting, sketches, drawing, graffiti, tapestry, animation, sculpture, calligraphy and many more that I could even imagine. 

With the preconceived notion deep-rooted and constant, I was playing safe despite the humble words of motivation by my art-friend S who teaches the essence of art with so much love, passion and appreciation. I remember she once gave me a random task to sprinkle the glitter on the earthen pot, which made me so conscious, yet she was like, there is no right or wrong way in art. Whatever you do from your heart with a creative zeal manifests best in line with one’s own imagination.

Few months back, my dear friend N started unleashing her love for art by making miniature portraits using acrylic paints. They caught my attention for the simplicity and the perfect choice of colours and the brilliant narrative through her customized masterpieces. She assured me I could do it too, just try it girl!  Call it an inspiration, followed by the law of attraction where I received a painting kit as a gift from my cute niece A, followed by many more materials from my dearest nephew V. I had it all with me yet I did not know how to begin. Well again, it takes time to recondition the decades old mind-set. Like in yesteryears, when we used to rewrite the memory in the floppy disks with new memory, I chose to 'go with the flow', another magical phrase gifted by a good friend, M, I went ahead with a child's curiosity to finally create the FIRST painting of my LIFE. Truly Grateful for the surprise and the blessings!

Clueless of the rules, all I know is that I followed my heart, anchored my focus and the brush reciprocated my instructions flawlessly. Letting go the fear of self-created assumptions is the best way to liberate and express freely. S was happy and was surprised when she said what I painted was a 'Silhouette'. :) 

Takeaway: To slay the fear of doing anything off the regular, you have got adapt to the childlike approach, soak in curiosity and enjoy the process without thinking about the end result. Then magic shall happen. 

 

100 Days to Art of Self Mastery and Inculcate Happy Habits

 

When stuck in the middle of a whirlpool of uncertainty , the best way to experience freedom is 
by diving within to peace and happiness . -  Sreelatha 

With inspirational books, motivational speakers, spiritual leaders talking and well wishers emphasizing on the need of discipline in life, most of the times we are clueless what should we do best with so many choices available. Well consistency is the expensive key that tends to play the dominating mind games to make us a slave to unconvincing excuses. With a lot of self experiments and inferences, though, we will be able to master the art of commitment in perfect synchrony with our goals.

The 100 days challenge or even the 21 days ritual for the well being of mind, body and soul, might seem like a common read delivered by famous authors and philosophers. The present times have definitely increased the demand for the self help treasures, which once stood gently to be qualified for a light read with no intent to be taken too seriously, except for few doable quick tips.

They say it takes 21 days to master a skill or habit, well it is right.  For beginners, the catch here is to let thought of multiple goals and just take the simplest and achievable one. It can be as simple as walking for 20 minutes everyday and at the same time. Even simpler, it can also be watching the Sun rise (for the lucky ones) everyday and doing Yoga or exercise. The idea is to allow the rewiring of the pattern of thought in the brain and nourish it with discipline. Journaling is also a tried and tested habit that has helped people in all walks of life to achieve greater success in their life and career.

Once we complete this challenge, after repeated attempts because if we break the chain even for 2 days, the mind goes back to its previous habits, not meant to do us any good for sure. It is believed that children develop habits easily with proper guidance to help them discover their talent or learn something in the lines of mindfulness. When we add on years, we tend to say, we are not a child any more, when actually any human is capable of achieving anything at any age based on the discipline and faith.  Habits becomes part of our character so if we imbibe the right ones, we would attract abundance of peace, clarity, happiness and more important self awareness by being grounded. Identify the one that will help us wake up with a smile and sprite to pursue it.

The 100 days milestone is definitely achievable. The obstacles are ever present and in most cases, it is lethargy, work commitments and stress, climate changes or even health concerns. Yet if we treat these as minor unimportant distractions, we will be able to follow our regime with complete commitment. A healthy mind will make a healthy body for sure. The thoughtful strategy would be to break it down to 21 days cycles and to keep adding new achievable goals and habits like affirmations, learning a new skill or language online, art and music, random acts of kindness, sharing our interpretations with like-minded friends or we might as well journal each day with positive hastags it for focus and best results. We should not forget to celebrate our small wins after completion of compartmentalized milestone to get motivated for the next phase.

For people who identify their true purpose of life, there is a definite path meant for them. It is how best they make the days count through graceful self discipline and wisdom, to get closer to their goals, slowly, steadily, smartly and successfully.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                    

The Rudiments of a Copywriter’s Cove

 

My first job as a junior copywriter, owning a powerhouse of vocabulary (thanks for all the reading habits over the years) was quite an experience.  I was truly excited and determined to give in the best of words each time I was asked a couple of options. Gradually the demand for choices was surging high and I was yet reading, browsing through the new techy friend the Google, to seek for help beyond my world of thesaurus.

Well the first job and the most dear dream position of a copywriter was probably like anyone who would go to any extent to impress a girlfriend or boyfriend in the initial years of connection, as people profess. I loved visiting the ‘Landmark’ bookstore – the most coveted destination for anyone and everyone who would love the world or smell of the books. I mean it was the best place for a voracious reader seeking the knowledge shared by tens and thousands of writers. I would get more ideas on writing creatively than just words, in the treasure trove of books for drafting my copies.

With choices I mean, it was like gazing aimlessly with a hope to read the client’s mind about the marketing or sales pitch. Initially as a novice, I would at times feel, pursuing a degree in psychology would have given an added advantage to read their minds than put in my energy into writing pages and pages of nothings. Well, with months of analysis and upon providing generous copy options, call it a miracle, I finally cracked the secret of getting my copies approves without having to go through the cumbersome creative draining. The months of writing actually helped me in become a creative copywriter beyond just delivering words.

Firstly, it is advisable to receive or listen to proper brief given by the client during the meeting with the account manager. (Hear it from the horse’s mouth, save on time and energy than typing endless words with no clarity)

Secondly, keep a set of your golden rule of questions whenever the client is happily done explaining about with their requirement. (An ice-breaking session where the client actually understands that advertising has a polished approach always)

Thirdly, you may not override the pre-conceived notions of your superior, yet humility and calm helps you prove your point. (Never hurt anyone’s ego yet present your ideas smartly and politely)

Fourthly, writers discover themselves each day and a copy written in the past would absolutely have no significance in the present. (The favorite keyword is to grow and evolve)

Lastly, try best to be like a flowing stream of water, always ready to change and accept any critic. Your best copy might be the last on their list and vice versa.  (Client is the king so write until they smile reading your work)

"The art of copywriting is a fine process journeying beyond words. It begins with an idea, followed by a picturesque visualization, then storytelling and expressing it in the fewest of words to create the best impact. It is always a writing in precision and positive imagery." - Sreelatha

A Towering Story of Grit

 

He was driven by his passion.
The dream was just in the mind.

He was guided by the knowledge in the books.
The mind was painting a perfect plan.

He was inspired by the success stories.
The plan thoughtfully shared with the like-minded.

He was introduced to the right opportunities.
The like-minded offered unique skills to support his towering story of grit.

He was admired and sought for advice by humanists and entrepreneurs alike.
The story of grit to achieve great he shared with humility and gratitude.

The Magic of Mystics

 

You have definitely read about them being mysterious and possessing magical powers,

You perhaps believed in all the stories shared by sages, ancestors and psychic philosophers,

You would have known them to be invisible souls with the power to transform into any form for a purpose,

You might have smiled imagining a cool breeze touch you if you were to stand in a desert or a rainy day,

You may have felt the sudden urge to talk about your concern, they foresee all your thoughts well before you create,

You have consoled yourself that they are nomads who leave no footprints, yet they do their best when you most need their elixir powers,

You ought to feel special and lucky as they are known only to connect with the select few purest souls, to guide them best in their journey of life, unconditionally and expecting nothing at all,

You may be surprised to know that they are always there, healing you through powerful intuitions and celebrating your every success from miles and mountains away,

You feel very grateful that you saw a glimpse of them in this birth, while they have known you from time immemorial traveling many births.

The Congenial Mentors

They are pleasant, jovial, meticulous and very sharp observers.

They are disciplined, focused and multi-faceted in par with corporate standards.

They seem tough to be convinced yet believed to have a method in their madness.

They are sure about their rigid methodologies to carve the best gem out of every individual.

They are known for their success oriented principles more coz as they choose to go by their experience than rule books .

They are humble, caring and generous humans who live life to the fullest in gratitude.

They are voracious readers who value their time and invest it efficiently and mindfully.

They believe in the true virtues of humanity and accept honest opinions and preach best practices.

They have their amazing perspective about their dreams and treasure beauty of life with childlike aspirations.

They cheer you up when you least expect, celebrate every little success in life with blessings from a distance, They are like a magical altruist in the galaxy of stars.