Communication….! Let’s talk sense and only sense.

Communication – A crucial element for sharing information and expressing our feelings.

As I start this article, I don’t want it to get lost in the millions of communication related articles published on the web. I just want to get my ideas straight to you all.

When I communicate with someone, I hope for a connection, an understanding, a faith – some kind of benefit through information sharing. I hope that two people will grow intellectually or spiritually when they are communicating.

However, a lot of times, I have run into conversations that have no valuable purpose or meaning. In those weird conversations, all people try to do is impress each other or play power games.

When I was a kid, I used to impress my elders, teachers, fellow classmates. But, not anymore. It’s doesn’t matter as much. I am a more defined person now. All I know is, if someone is happy with the way I am, they will be happy anyway.

We have thousands of ways to communicate these days – email, phone, social networks and so on. But, how much valuable information do we really share? Are we trying to make sense through our words or just saying things to pass our time because we have nothing better to do.

I am a very straightforward person especially when it comes to work. I like to base my work decisions based on facts. Of course a lot of times, facts are not available and then the best judgement call needs to be taken.

I am amazed at how much time people spend just trying to win battles. If everything is based on facts, how can there be any room for doubt while communicating. Doubts arise when people do not share information or hide information intentionally. 

“Oh! I was planning to do it yesterday but I didn’t get to it.”
“I believe that is the right answer”
“I think we can do that but I am not 100% certain”

Replace the above sentences by:

“I did not complete it yet.”
“It seems like the right answer but I need more time/information to confirm”
“Let’s try that. Else, we can think of plan B”

We waste each other’s time by discussing vague scenarios, providing unclear answers, faking relationships, offering unwanted explanations, blaming things on each other and so on.

We are not perfect but we don’t need to be perfect. That’s not what was expected out of us when we were put on this earth.

We are fine just the way we are, as long as we say the truth. TRUTH – I wish this word had more value in today’s world. It’s getting lost amongst the new words, acronyms and definitions that today’s smart generation has created.

TRUTH hurts – but not as much as faking things or lying.

When I talk to someone, I feel I am taking away, some time from their life. Everyone has limited time. So, I have to either make the person feel better intellectually or spiritually. That’s my goal.

I don’t have to please them, but I have to empower them to please their own selves. For their own good.

I wish everyone in this world did something that made a difference – Wrote a book, discovered or invented something, left a mark in this world through his talent and skills. Everyone has some.

It all starts by communicating the right words at the right time for the right purpose. That’s the first skill a little baby learns. And when we die, it’s only our words and deeds that are remembered.

I hope I made some sense. 🙂

Life.. There’s always something left to do!

Whether it’s work, home, friends, family, children or any other aspect of your life, there is always something left to do! The house could have been cleaner, shopping could have been done last week, reading time could have been longer and work could have been more fulfilling.

There are things we could have done better and there are also things we could have done worse and it wouldn’t have mattered.

Our efforts have to directed in a way which makes most sense. Put in efforts where you are expecting maximum returns. Do not put in efforts where there are no returns.

How do we measure returns?  – Returns add value to our life. They help us grow intellectually or financially.

What is the point of investing time and efforts in an area that will not help us in any way? We may choose to do so, if we want to waste our time and efforts or maybe just for fun, but we have to understand that we will not get any returns. This also reduces the pressure and the expectation that ‘I have to get returns from this venture’.

We can only get good returns if we spend our time and energy wisely.

You can take hundreds of time management classes and seminars but the decision to take up a task or not, is very personal. The choices vary for every individual.

Something that makes sense to me, may not make sense to you at all.

We have 24 hours in a day and we only have three areas to focus on:

Home & Family
Work & Learning
Fun

Fun will not give returns but it is important to replenish our energies.

I am a perfectionist, so when I pick up a task, I really want to do it well. Sometimes, I do not move onto another task because of that first task at hand.

I read somewhere that after every hour of work, you need one minute of silence. I also read that if you work on something for half an hour and then try to shift your focus to another task and later come back to the first task, your mind gets to learn new things.

Train your mind so it can shift its focus on different things throughout the day. There will always be something left to do in every area but as long as all the areas are at par and none is neglected, a balance is maintained.

It is important to maintain balance in terms of people. Who holds most value for you and who does not? Are you spending your energies on a section of people who may not be there in your life the next week?
Are you giving maximum importance to your family?

People who help you grow intellectually or morally hold maximum value.
People, especially friends whom you meet for fun help you replenish your energies.
People who do not have any role in your life – and do not add any value to your life – should not add any worries or concerns to your life. Or rather, you should not be worried or concerned about them.

Filter your tasks and the people in your life, to make the most out of the resources at hand.

There is always something left to do and probably that’s the way life should be.