Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts

Wednesday, 8 April 2026

Silence

When you awaken, you look at your life and many of your reactions with amusement. Each one of us is enveloped in a drama of karma and desires. We judge every experience from the way it appears to us : positive or unpleasant.

If we take away that aspect of our own feelings about the experience, what is left? Yes! Only the experience. And without attaching emotions, it is easy to go through it.

Conditioning makes this clinical observation very difficult. Our attachments with relationships and having been taught our behavioral patterns very early in life, we grow up with realizations of what works and what does not, again depend on how WE feel.

Subjective patterns are there to stay unless we can observe and change them consciously.

What really works ultimately is inner silence. That gives us more clarity and also prevents self-defeating thoughts about how others make us feel. Actually, totally unnecessary but inevitable to mankind most of the time.

The other moot point is that if you are a giver, people get comfortable around you and take what you have to give. But there is no energy exchange and you end up depleting your energies out of love/ attachment or whatever …

Silence is that tool that consolidates your energy levels. It makes you abstain from expending your energies in the name of compulsions prescribed by families and societies in the name of “duty”, whose forces are very difficult to resist by individual energies.

Awareness and consciousness are the basis of living, I am learning. Bringing your subconscious world into the conscious one will help create new patterns of living. And I am not saying this is easy. To break old patterns requires courage to move out of old self-created molds.

But there it is! Take it or leave it!

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari


Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Courage

One important dimension of courage! Become unpopular but do the right thing. You may not get brownie points from those around you but you WILL, from places that matter.

And the fear of alienation here keeps us away from connecting frequencies with the universe.

Loss therefore, can be described in two ways: one being misled while we are on the physical plane and the other, long term loss from giving in to illusions and failing to connect with what is real.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com
www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Personality Development

 Often, courage and audacity go together. The audacity to live life despite detractors and obstacles does require an unstoppable courage.

If this gift of life we have is a gift, it is not only our responsibility but our right to live it happily and productively. AND to live it as we want, in order to maximize our experiences and grow. It is an adventure.

You get blocked in your own personality development only through controls and even emotional blackmail. And the ones that block you are the ones “close” to you.

It is better to distance such “close” people to regain a sense of freedom to execute your life in the best way possible. Without guilt! Without suppression! Without faltering! We owe it to ourselves because we flow through life alone, bearing full responsibility for our journey.
Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Friday, 5 December 2025

Intelligence

 The onus of your life is totally yours. It is your choice all the way. What you do and even what you abstain from doing.

Your thought processes, your way of dealing with people and situations, your decisions to involve or withdraw, to tolerate or not, to compromise or not. 

Life is like a game of tennis. The ball keeps coming at you and you have to take quick action about whether a forehand is required or a back hand, and how to strategize to win points. And how to get really good with ace serves.

Similarly, life is a game of courage, intelligence and the ability to learn and move on, not lose your energy over what could have been. And life gives you chance after chance to learn, throwing repeated lessons at you until you learn from them.

You will notice that many a time, there will be someone out to get you , bait you , and you keep reacting with irritation. But the thumb rule is that as soon as you become immune to it, they lose their hold on you. It is an energy hold and you have given your power away. As is the case with anything that succeeds in controlling / overpowering you.

The awareness you need each minute is to conserve your energy, stay within your space and use your intellect with wisdom. Emotions too, IF you are able to use them intelligently. But, keep your aura intact. At all times.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Thursday, 23 October 2025

Adversity

 To practice dharmic righteousness in today’s decadent world takes grit, complete conviction, a lot of courage to face adversity and hostility from the world.

The majority of humans would prefer you to be polluted and tainted so that they can identify with you. You remember? They did not even spare Jesus Christ!

Your goodness shows a mirror they don’t want to look into. They would rather try to bring you down to their level or destroy your reputation. 

We suffer for it. It’s not that we are happy with the way we are. I don’t know why then, we don’t try harder to get out of such mindsets and liberate our minds from our own darkness. And atone for what we have done that we are not proud of. Look inwards, not outwards.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Friday, 17 October 2025

Pleasure

 I think all of us have faced a situation when we have to choose between the devil and the deep sea. It is amazing just how many pieces of advice come our way, making it even worse for when we are in a quandary.

At such times, even truth becomes blurred and whichever way we go, there is no easy path. Sometimes, choices can be difficult.

But, there is always one of those two paths which in the long run, has salutary effects while the other creates more issues. The condition is, the choices exercised ultimately must have wisdom and courage behind them. Standing your ground with honesty and pure intentions is the only way.

Yes, you will leave many unhappy, disgruntled people around you but that’s okay. The litmus test is NOT creating unintentional displeasure for many but facing your own soul with complete ease.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Thursday, 9 October 2025

Determination

 People tell you not to live in the past. But it is natural to relive the beautiful moments in time. The problem starts when we start agonizing about past memories. Why did this happen? Why did that not happen when I wanted it so badly?  etc.

We are actually becoming toxic for ourselves and totally irrational. The past is all GONE and done with! When it was your present, perhaps you did not show mindfulness and reacted with pain and suffering. It is difficult for sure.

When you travel on a muddy road and look back, you can see a cloud of dust left behind by the forward movement of the car. THAT is where the dust from our memories needs to remain. Behind us! Why do we wantonly bring back painful times when they have no existence except in our stubborn minds?

Move on. The road ahead promises many happy tines, many opportunities for growth. The road ahead spins hope on our paths, a promise of better things to come if our attitude remains one of positivity and spiritual connectivity.

Many people tell me, it is so easy to talk but so difficult to do! Well, yes. It is not easy but not impossible either. If you pursue anything with courage, determination, clarity and consistency, success has to be yours.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Thursday, 17 July 2025

Consequences

 I hear now they are busy researching how to add emotions to robots. That IS amusing. Know why? Because humans are not using their own hearts and emotions at all, but ironically, they are feeling a need for emotional exchanges. So they are replicating themselves. Strange!

It’s like keeping dogs and showering all your love there and holding back that love in conflict with human beings. So, giving is natural but the ego doesn’t allow human to human love the way animal lovers shower love unconditionally on their pets.

If a dog bites you, you will look at it with love, even reprimand it lovingly but take the anti-rabies willingly. God forbid if a “close” family / friend were to dare to advise you out of love, you would lose a relationship forever.

Fear of loss rules us and it is the one significant cause for the “sweet nothings” we shower irrespective of the way we feel. AND compromise what we hold very dear if we need those people.

I agree life is an adjustment but to what extent? To the extent that you lose yourself in the bargain? It is indeed a work of great courage to hold your principles and righteousness in place whatever the consequences.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Sunday, 29 June 2025

Truth

 Why have we arrived at a stage when we hate truthful people? The whole social wheel accepts “sweet lies”, pandering to egos, and people pleasing.

Of course, people pleasing again bans any truth. Some of us can dish it out but are unable to take it. We do not like looking at any dark corners within ourselves; we just want to point out those of others.

It could be conflicts where one is generally responsible for starting them but retaliations pile up to camouflage the intrinsic core of the truth.

Masks, false smiles, saying nice things about each other but talking the opposite behind! No courage there!

Where is the truth in all this? There is a real dearth of real and truthful people because it takes great courage to speak your truth. Because if you do, you definitely stand isolated. However white you may be in the eyes of God, society can paint you black on account of your speech.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Determination

 Inner transformation is the need of the hour. Despite millions of podcasts, self-help books and posts circulated every hour on the hour, this grooming eludes us.

It’s scary to embark on this path though. Takes courage and determination. You have to be prepared for your life of comfort being shaken up, your relationships being churned big time, confusion within the self before clarity, preparation for facing unknown tests that may result in many people falling off your radar and new ones entering. And the courage to face it all with a knowing that there are obstacles to overcome and inner toxins to be removed for ascension.

Surekha Kothari

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

www.instagram.com/author_surekhakothari/

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Monday, 11 November 2024

Motivation

 Everyone has difficult circumstances to tackle in life. But, it is disturbing to see so many people developing a victim mentality. Worse still, making their victim card a weapon and playing it to their advantage to gain sympathy.

Today, we need more courage than ever before. Life is fast and no one has the time. We need to do things for ourselves because the support systems of families and elders is crumbling.

To blame life is completely futile. Nothing just “happens”. The fatalistic card of “woe is me” can only mean defeat / lack of motivation to get up and walk again. There will always be supporters around you in strange ways though you may never see them as such out of wallowing in self-pity and confused feelings. I have seen many an olive branch by well-meaning people, rejected again and again.

Actually, you can beat yourself up all your life, with comparisons, maybe for bad decisions made or a karmic onslaught, branding yourself as “unlucky” or whatever. But you know what? It only makes it worse. Only you can turn your life around.

Again and again, I come back to the courage needed to transform a negative pattern of thought to an “I can do it” mode. It is hard work and sometimes, many tears before you smile again. But that one smile is worth the tears preceding it.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Monday, 25 March 2024

Circumstance

 

Everyone has difficult circumstances to tackle in life. But, it is disturbing to see so many people developing a victim mentality. Worse still, making their victim card a weapon and playing it to their advantage to gain sympathy.

Today, we need more courage than ever before. Life is fast and no one has the time. We need to do things for ourselves because the support systems of families and elders is crumbling. To blame life is completely futile. Nothing just “happens”. The fatalistic card of “woe is me” can only mean defeat /lack of motivation to get up and walk again.

There will always be supporters around you in strange ways though you may never see them as such out of wallowing in self-pity and confused feelings. I have seen many an olive branch by well-meaning people, rejected again and again.

Actually, you can beat yourself up all your life, with comparisons, maybe for bad decisions made or a karmic onslaught, branding yourself as “unlucky” or whatever.  But you know what? It only makes it worse. Only you can turn your life around.

Again and again, I come back to the courage needed to transform a negative pattern of thought to an “I can do it” mode. It is hard work and sometimes, many tears before you smile again.  But that one smile is worth the tears preceding it.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Wednesday, 16 March 2022

Courage

 

Sometimes, we extend a hand in friendship and then suddenly withdraw it. I wonder why ?

To include a new relationship often gets difficult if we constantly wonder what the people who are already in your life with think about the new entrant.

This is so common a phenomenon that it is amusing when it is not tragic ! It shows us up as subservient to others, and lacking independent courage. Plus, a fear of losing what is there.

Sometimes, new , fresh un-clone-like people are like a breath of fresh air. They might bring a certain zest in our lives , beyond the known and the mundane. How does one grow if not through different influences ?

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Friday, 7 January 2022

Spiritual path

 

The most difficult exercise on the spiritual path is being indifferent to people’s words and actions.

You can see their intention , to hurt, to throw barbs for various reasons , to insult , to put you down , to wound you in which ever way they can …. Quick reactions are so normal , though they should not be.

The other day, I was asking my almost eight  year old grandson, “ do you become a donkey if someone says you are one?” He laughed sheepishly but he understood. These kids are very mature .

So, the long and short of it is, let all such speech and action fall off your energy body because internalising these meaningless negativities is just not desirable for the self.

So, when we speak of “Sama bhaav a”, or balance or neutrality, it also implies a certain indifference to these episodes and such people around you.

Please notice , I said AROUND you. Never let these get INSIDE of you . Buddha spoke of suffering. The body will be diseased, will die and bodily suffering therefore, is a reality.

But why would we suffer due to our own ignorance, our own choices to feel the negativities of others in OUR system? 

We can flinch from just venomous words. We could also flinch from waves of envy and hate exuding from people. But , having been exhausted by such reactions, when the immunity enters us ,  we are able to look at , to observe that everything is powerless unless WE give it the power through our attention. Suddenly, we can smile at all of that and we find we are free !

Ignore with calmness , knowing that we are incapable of getting affected and rise in our vibrations to leave the space of such low vibrations.

Sounds like a eureka moment, doesn’t it ? But… far from it ! It takes a lot of courage and energy to leave that space because, in leaving that space, we leave many people behind as well.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari

Tuesday, 10 August 2021

Transformation

 It is amazing how we gradually develop a lifestyle on how others function and how they want us to function, pretty often like them, to form a “like minded” group. There is nothing “like minded” about this, because the urge to belong somewhere takes away the “mind” . Otherwise, we would not get led away but in fact, would lead ourselves  into a more healthy space... until one fine day,you realise the futility of it all. But now, it becomes very hard to reverse a road well travelled , which sadly, never led to the destination that the soul would have chosen.

It is a misnomer that if we choose over all health of mind and body as a priority, that we would become isolated. Yes, there would definitely be habits which would change. But a realignment by the universe is constantly happening. Everything finds its level if we let ourselves get help from it.

I am aware that even one habit is difficult to break. Because it has taken years of a repeated pattern to create it. Our mind also , along the way, has developed crutches to happiness. It rules us in a big way and we think WE are taking the decisions . Not so ! We are being led.

This is how , in extreme habit formation, addiction happens. When you can’t do without something because , that “something” gives you a false , temporary feeling of the “feel good” factor . And so, as an example, liquor is taken to relax. Why not meditation ?

Late nights and partying are a symbol of being cool and feeling happy. Why not getting up early sometimes, and chanting instead  ?

Meeting friends through the day fills our lives . Why not try being your own friend for a change and contemplating on why , after all this “full” life, you are not happy still ?

Transformation is difficult because it results in huge shifts in the mind. Because we actually start controlling it and taking informed decisions for our lives. There may be a price to pay in terms of losing some people and some group activities . But, this kind of “ losing” has astounding pluses for the individual…..

What lacks is human will based on awareness . If I don’t know what is good for me, my life will be over without ever attempting to see where it could have gone, with a little courage and faith . A healthy , spiritual life is a choice each one of us makes.

Surekha Kothari

www.BodyMindSoulCentre.com

surekhakothari.wordpress.com

Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari