15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Wondering how to increase the joy of living? I have 15 secrets to reveal…
Secret No 1: Gratitude - the unforgotten legacy of virtues…
Secret No 2: Appreciation - the unheard story of life…
Secret No 3: Smile - the uncelebrated gesture of life…
Secret No 4: Silence - the road less travelled…
Secret No 5: Living in the present – the ball in the court…
Secret No 6: Staying Positive – key in the pocket…
Secret No 7: Being You – the unwrapped gift of life…
Secret No 8: Openness: the unopened door…
Secret No 9: Friendship – the rainbow in the sky…
Secret No 10: Journaling – the map of life…
Secret No 11: Music – the catalyst of the soul…
Secret No 12: Staying healthy – the forgotten rhythm of life…
Secret No 13: Companionship with Nature: the true source of life…
Secret No 14: Serving each other – the spring of life…
Secret No 15: Love – the beginning and the end…
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 1to increase the joy of living is Gratitude - the unforgotten legacy of
virtues…
Have you ever thought about the people who built the house you live, like the
persons who made the brick, persons who brought the stuff to make the brick,
the person who transported the brick, likewise all the other materials to build
your house, or even the labourers who constructed it inch by inch despite
scorching heat and showers? Have you ever thanked them that you are safe
everyday protected from potential hazards just because of their hard work? Dear
friends there are so many people we are indebted to thank… like the food we
eat, dress we wear, books we read, the transport that commute us and so forth…
very often we are caught up with our own stuff failing to realise that the reason
behind our very existence is just the hard work of many… And the word ‘thanks’
is just a magic wand, trust me…. Recent research claims people who thank
others have a high quality of life, a sound emotional and physical health, build
healthy relationships, better self-esteem, are less depressed, and sleep better…
start using this magic word ‘thanks’, let thanks be the first word of your day, the
word you use the most throughout your day and the last word of the day… if
your happy, say thanks, if you are sad, anxious or angry still say thanks for the
situation; if someone appreciates you say thanks, if someone bullies you,
reprimands you or puts you down still say thanks, if you are able to be productive
be thankful, if you feel that you are doing nothing still be thankful for the very
gift of yours, simply thank people for just being in your life… there is a hidden
power in this word thanks… instead of sending forwarded messages start
sending thank you notes to people and see the effect of it in your life. The
amazing truth about this word is it has a twofold purpose, benefitting the giver
as well as the receiver… how lovely it would be to have people around us
helping each other to grow positively? How about you being the first one? Start
living the secret of gratitude and increase the joy of living… Instead of
grumbling for what we don’t have let’s start thanking for what we have… btw
thanks for your time!
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 2 to increase the joy of living is Appreciation: the unheard story of
life
How many times have you taken an effort to appreciate your mum for preparing
a delicious meal every day? Or your dad for earning the livelihood? Or your
siblings for the memorable company they give you? Or even your friends who
just listen to you and be available whenever you need them? Moving beyond the
circle have you ever taken effort to appreciate your maid who keeps the house
clean? The persons who keep the city clean? Or the guy who prepares a
sumptuous dish at a restaurant when you go on a dinner out? Very often we feel
shy to appreciate others saying ‘oh I know that they do well, but I feel
embarrassed to tell them directly? Unfortunately the word appreciation gets life,
only when it is uttered. How would you feel when someone appreciates for a
good deed? And how would you feel when you achieve something still not
appreciated? Healthy appreciation, affirmation and acknowledgement boost
people’s self-esteem and they tend to contribute more. Recent research claims
that people who appreciate others and are appreciated by others have more
positive thinking, better quality of life, are self-confident, joyful, sound health
of body, mind and spirit, and have a meaningful purpose of life. Today on make
a note that you appreciate 5 to 10 people a day not just for what they do but for
what they are too… Tell your mum, you look so gorgeous today; to your dad,
hey smarty, you look so cool, to your friend, your voice is so soothing, I feel
very positive, to a colleague your smile is contagious mate, to even a new person,
say you are a good person…. Trust me you will see the magic of it in your life
and in them as well…. Appreciation is just like a seed you sow in someone’s life
it grows and bears fruit in abundance. Start just right way texting or calling 3
persons at least and appreciate them. I appreciate you for your openness to be a
better version of yourself. Good luck!
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 3 to increase the joy of living is Smile: the uncelebrated gesture of
life…
Have you seen the celebration of the first smile of a baby and the electrifying
effect of it on others? Have you ever noticed the rainbow smile of people in
photographs, videos, even day to day life and you unconsciously wear a beautiful
smile on your face? Leave it all, have your ever noticed how gracefully you smile
and people love watching you smiling? or have you ever experienced you,
having an undisputed argument with someone, finding difficult to speak with
that person again and all of a sudden a little smile makes up everything.
Definitely, smile is contagious they say but we are not aware that smile has a
hidden healing power. A curve on your face not only builds burnt bridges but
also straightens the lives of many including yours. Recent research claims people
who smile have a boosted mental health, look younger, and make them
courteous, likable and competent. An interesting fact about smile is people who
smiled more in their life have a longer lifespan. Probably we are not aware how
our first smile was celebrated, but do remember even today as adults our smiling
faces are celebrated… Children smile 400 times a day and a cheerful adult 40 to
50 times but most of us 20 times a day; how many times do you smile? Smile is
a heavenly gift that has been endowed to us all. Let us be generous in sharing
this gift of smile with others. Start becoming aware how many times you smile
a day and make a note of it in your journal. Let smile be the first gesture of your
day together with thanks, the gesture you use the most throughout your day and
the last gesture of the day. Trust me it is going to make a big difference in your
life and people around you as well. Next time when you smile notice the effect
of your smile on the other person and vice versa. Let’s smile and heal the
world…
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 4 to increase the joy of living is Silence: the road less travelled
Have you ever heard the tempo of the beat of your heart? Or the melody of the
gush of the wind? The tune of the chirps of the birds? Or even the rhythm of
your own steps? Probably not… you know why? Very often we are engaged in
a self-talk questioning and answering, conversing, and arguing in our mind.
Many of us are developing this habit of speaking to oneself in our mind in the
name of silence. Many a times we feel anxious, angry, sad, bad, disappointed
and jealous just because we are living every moment of life in our mind not in
reality. To most of us, to be silent is quite scary and so we tend to talk and talk
failing to listen. We do listen to others just to respond but never to understand.
Dear friends Silence is a journey, a journey with oneself. The road less travelled
but leading to a beautiful destination. Very often in our life we are busy running
after something, try becoming someone or hasty to achieve or prove, failing to
give company to our own self in silence. Recent research claims that people who
spend time in quality silence are creative, productive, confident, innovative and
have better self-knowledge. Interestingly people who spend silent moments have
better sleep and mental health. Hereafter try keeping yourself away from all your
engagements, gadgets, people, etc. even putting off your self-talk and start
spending time with yourself in silence, trust me you will find a fresh positive
energy flowing in and through you. Be aware of your self-talk here after, engage
yourself creatively with reading, music, drawing, cooking, work, etc. As you do
with thanksgiving and smile start your day with a short time of silence, take
periodic intervals of silence during the day and end the day in silence, you will
definitely witness a better version of yourself. Let’s charge ourselves in silence
and radiate light into the world.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 5 to increase the joy of living is Living in the present – the ball in the
court
Have you ever heard your watch or clock ticking? Have you listened to a music
completely without slipping into memories of the past or the dream of the future?
Have you engaged yourself in a conversation with your friends or family
wholeheartedly without thinking about various other conversations, events or
things you might have done or forgotten? Well, I assume a NO. Very often we
forget that we live at the moment just because either we think about the past or
worry about the future. Dear friends living in the present is the precious gift
every one of us has received ever. People in the palliative care with chronic
illnesses and deadliest diseases fight with life to breathe the next breath and so
they breathe the present breath gracefully and joyfully. Why do we have to waste
our precious moments worrying about past or future? Remember your worries
will do no good to yourself but strip off your blessings. Research states that
people who consciously live in the moment have better physical cum mental
health, healthy relationships, greater self-control, high joy level, are innovative
and productive. Today on consciously live and enjoy every bit of your life and
make the best out of it. Do remember that best lived present is the teacher of the
past and learner of the future. Living in the present is not a herculean task, it’s
very simple, just feel every breath of yours, taste every bite of your food, enjoy
every bit of your work, cherish every second of the company of your beloved
ones, be present in your favourite movie wholeheartedly, and relish the tune of
your desired music. Trust me not only your inner look but also your outer look
would get refreshed. Let’s enjoy our present and spread the fragrance of joy in
the world.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 6 to increase the joy of living is Staying Positive – key in the pocket
Have you ever seen a leaf falling from a tree? Or a seed buried in the earth? A
falls falling from the top of the mountain into a deep valley? Leave it all have
you ever witnessed a poor man’s smile? A child’s deep sleep? I think we should
have a go. All of these teach us volumes of lessons of life lived in trust in other
words staying positive. Very often we are so prejudiced and negatively
influenced that we miss good opportunities in life, we rarely take risks in life,
we fear to fail in life and moreover we burn bridges and never build new ones in
relationship. Staying positive is not doing nothing and thinking something good
will happen but taking the best effort and leaving the rest in trust. Even when
nothing moves on in life as desired hoping that quality always needs time is the
best attitude of staying positive. The reason behind our negativity is primarily
that we don’t trust our own self, the skills that we have, the resources that
surround us and the goodness that we possess. Positivity is just like a mirror if
you remain positive you will witness the whole world being positive, it is all
about the colour of the glass you see through… Today on tell yourself
consciously that ‘I am good’, ‘I can do it well’, ‘I will contribute more’, ‘I am a
cheerful person’ and so forth; even before meeting someone even if they have
hurt you repeat within yourself ‘he/she is a good person’, ‘they are helpful’, ‘they
are lovable’; even at difficult moments ‘it will also pass’, ‘I will overcome it
joyfully’, ‘the situation is just temporary’… trust me you will construct your life
so beautifully that you would have never imagined. Hereafter reframe your
statements positively and start counting the positive words you use throughout
the day even when someone speaks look for positive words and good human
qualities, I’m sure you will bring heaven on earth. Make sure that you start and
finish your day with a positive thought. Dear friends just trust in the process of
life. Let’s stay positive and be a blessing to many more.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 7 to increase the joy of living is ‘Being You’ – the unwrapped gift of
life
Have you ever noticed the beauty of your eyeballs, the shape of your nose,
eyebrows, lips and the texture of your skin? Have you ever heard the sweetness
of your voice? Or have you watched your non-verbal communication, the
movement of your hands, shoulders, head, etc.? Have you ever cherished the
fragrance of your goodness spread around you? I think you should take time off
to do that, you would be wonderstruck how purposefully and meaningfully you
are created. I mean what I say you are a piece of wonder. Very often in life we
fail to be ourselves and always try becoming someone and thus we lose the magic
of originality. Most of us create our identity in what others say or think about us,
failing to realise that others certificate is not our brand but our own attitude. In
order to win the approval of others we always try doing something or the other,
failing to realise being does matter a lot than doing. We spend most of our life
thinking and doing something to impress others and earn a good name. In
process of doing it we lose to live our life and live a life for others thus losing
the joy of living. Affirmation does matter in human development but creating
our identity solely in it is alarming. Today on start living life for you and be you.
If people appreciate or degrade you, be yourself. If you achieve or not, celebrate
yourself for being you. Start building your self with good human qualities of
love, kindness, generosity, respect and sincerity. Be truthful to yourself.
Remember we are not here in the world to prove ourselves but to enjoy the joy
of living; definitely there is a purpose of our life, explore it. You don’t need to
be like a hero or heroine but be your hero or heroine. Let’s be ourselves and
contribute uniquely to the healing of the world.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 8 to increase the Joy of Living is Openness: the unopened door
Have you ever witnessed a bud blooming into a flower? Have you ever
experienced the feeling of opening a wrapped gift? Have you experienced the
butterflies in the stomach moments while waiting for some results? Have you
been amazed by the twists and turns in a thriller? Have you seen people going to
restaurants and try new dishes every time they visit? Well, the above questions
portray life better I believe. Dear Friends life is a bundle of surprises, the more
we are open the better we receive. Unfortunately recent days we have become
so narrow minded that we want options but choose the same old used to option
to be on the safer side. Somehow we are gradually slipping into our comfort
zones and fear to take risks in life, we are educated not to take the extra mile but
what others have done in the past, we are influenced to stay within the limits but
not to wait for what new is arriving, in simple terms we hesitate to try something
new in life. Dear friends Life has a lot to offer us in stock regrettably we block
it through our narrow-mindedness, fixed mind-set, this novel phobia towards
new change in life, anxiety of criticisms and failures and not trusting oneself.
Today on break the shells of fear, anxiety and distrust. Start being open to life
and receive in abundance joyfully and gracefully what it has at stock to offer
you. Fear not to take risks in life, if something doesn’t work in life try something
new, if it even doesn’t work try something else. If you feel that every way is
blocked open a new way. Trust me openness is bringing you countless surprises
provided you give way to it. Let’s open the door of openness and bring newness
in life of ours and of others.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret no 9 to increase the joy of living is Friendship – the rainbow in the sky
Have you ever gazed the rendezvous of stars, moon, and planets in the sky? Have
you witnessed a bee hovering over a flower? Have you seen the waves touching
the shore on and off? Have you seen children throwing mud against each other,
fighting and playing together? Leave it all have you ever realised the unnoticed
joy sticking in a corner of your heart when you are with your friends? Well to
some friendship is a signboard showing the way, to some it is a music to be
cherished, to some it is a shadow that accompanies and to some it is everything.
But Have you seen your friendship as a mirror, actually it is. A friend is a mirror
who reflects you who you are. Friendship is a safe haven where you can be what
you are without any mask. Unfortunately we define friendship as likemindedness, a place I receive appreciation and love only, a platform to speak
and do anything I like but still accepted and a resting space to retire whenever
bored. Truly friendship is authentic, a place where I can commit a mistake but
given space to rectify with due correction, between two or more persons with
difference of opinions but shared goals, shared values and shared benefits. Dear
friends friendship makes life more beautiful. The quality of life primarily rests
on the quality of your thoughts but the quality of your thoughts solely rests on
the quality of your friendship. It doesn’t matter if you have 100’s of friends but
the quality of your friendship matters a lot. Many come in your life under the
banner friendship but all do not stay all along and all who stay are not your
friends but persons who speak ugly truth of yours than beautiful lies of life. If a
person challenges you the most but still loves you more and more is who a friend
be called. In simple terms a relationship that helps you to be a better version of
yours is truly called friendship. Let’s start redefining and refining our friendship
and make life more beautiful.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 10 to increase the joy of living is Journaling – the map of life
Have you seen the footprints of people in the seashore? Have you experienced
the fragrance of flowers when you cross by? Have you had this experience of
exploring a new way in a bush walk? Have you ever spoken with yourself by
looking into mirror? Cool journaling is a forgotten essential of life. Dear friends
many of us have millions of untold stories, unheard episodes, unravelled gifts
and unnoticed emotions welled up within oneself, thus we fail to see our real
potential and live life to the fullest. Journaling that is writing your personal diary
is the perfect platform to see who you are and who you ought to be. Journaling
is nothing but bringing out your inner world to the spot light of yours for a better
vision of life. Record your thoughts, feelings and deeds in your personal diary,
periodically review it with able persons and try bringing in changes in life. You
know, very often we fail to learn from our mistakes just because we think a lot,
speak a lot and then forget at last. How many New Year resolutions we would
have taken but how many of them had taken shape in life? Trust me, journaling
will show you wonders in life, will show the way you are to travel and the person
you ought to become. The benefits of journaling are a lot, to name a few, you
will be able to process your thought, discern and decide well in life, see your
own progress in life, relieve your negative emotions, move on in life smoothly
through transitions, strengthen your mental health and definitely increase the joy
of living. How would you feel when you look into an old photo album of yours?
Imagine how it would be to see your old diary that speaks volumes of chapters
of a great personality like you? Let’s start journaling and explore the unexplored
avenues of life.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 11 to increase the joy of living is Music – the catalyst of the soul
Have you had this experience of sliding into memories while listening to a song?
Have you ever spoken to yourself keeping a situational music at the background?
Have you heard your heart speaking when you hear a song? Have you felt moved
while watching a movie as the background score infiltrates your heart? Have you
gone on a long ride with your favourite music on? Well music is a soulful
companion to many I believe. It helps people to express feelings better. It is a
language unspoken, emotion uncovered, diary unjudged, anchor untied and
address unknown. Music is just not a human but made for all. It is just a
discipline of sounds in endless variety. Unfortunately it is misconstrued as meant
for those who know it, who learn it and who practise it, truly as many say it is a
language of the soul meant for all. Scientific study claims that people who listen
to music are happier, younger, have boosted EQ and IQ, have less stress,
improved health, learning and memory, sleep better, heal quicker post-surgery,
have less pain in life, and have better self-knowledge. Today on let music be part
of your life, if you are a lover of it make it a choice of the conscience soulfully
allowing to speak. If you are a novice to this experience be open to receive the
gifts it has at your threshold. Very often we listen to music emotionally involved,
slipping into memories or dreams, which is ok sometimes but let me reveal a
new experience, try listening to music in silence, just journey with it as you
would be with your friend without talking still feeling joyful, trust me it is going
to be a healing, graceful and learning experience. Music has a lot to share, get
ready… Let’s make music our companion and cherish the joy of living.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 12 to increase the joy of living is staying healthy – the forgotten
rhythm of life
Have you ever thought of being younger always? Have you been to a gym and
later dropped it? Do you fall sick quite often? Have you had this experience of
starting work or study well and eventually losing interest of it? Do you have this
difficulty of jumping out of the bed early morning? Life misses out balance!
Sounds alarming right? Many a times we care about many things but not
ourselves, or we care too much, that we care how we look but not how we are.
Dear friends our self is made of body, mind and spirit to those of you agree.
Catering to the needs of the three in a very balanced way results in a healthy
living. Very often we care about our body but not mind or spirit, sometimes we
care about our mind and body leaving behind spirit – in fact the above three are
inter-twined, working together for the well-being of one self. Today on start
caring for your body, mind and spirit – For your body: eat healthy to your need
when hungry, drink plenty of water, and do physical exercises remember that
shapes and cuts of the body do not determine your physical health; for your
mind: read good books, do what makes you joyful, invest your energy in creative
and productive measures, laugh, relax , have healthy conversations and be
positive; For your spirit – sometimes it is understood in the context of religion
but modern scientific study of energy has brought new meaning to it as a
vibrational field, do meditation, practise mindfulness, participate in the universal
love and energy and trust in the process of life. Trust me when you make the
above a part of your daily schedule you will altogether feel anew every day, you
will find purpose in your life and start feeling and sharing positive healing vibes.
Let’s take care of our body, mind and spirit and participate in the universal
healing.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 13 to increase the joy of living is Companionship with Nature: the
true source of life
Have you ever smelled the odour of the early morning breeze? Have you gone
on a barefoot walk in a lush green meadow? Have you wondered at the blend of
colours of nature? Have you ever danced in the rain? Have you had this
experience of missing the falls after a daylong shower in it? Hope you had one
experience at least basking in the sunshine on a seashore? Cool, the boost of a
healthy life is nature. Life span of people living in the country side, spending
time with natural resources and eating organic food is ever been high. As science
and technology progresses the use of natural resources regresses, resulting a high
threat to nature, ending up in a very unhealthy lifestyle. Very recently people
realise the impact of artificial quick living and gradually have started going back
to the old system of using natural and organic resources. Dear friends nature has
the true source of healthy living, we don’t need to go up to a mountain or a forest
to spend time with nature but the early morning breeze, a friendly chat with the
plants and flowers in your garden, dancing in the rain when seasons come, taking
more organic food like vegetables and fruits, spending an evening walk in a
nearby garden or a countryside walk, sitting under a tree, enjoying the colour of
the nature, breathing fresh air max, and occasional visits to falls, bushes,
mountains and country side would do a great good to your living. Trust me it not
only has the power to increase the life span but also a healthy and happy living.
Start nurturing nature, surround your home with plants either it be a flat or an
individual home, grow fruits and vegetables, leave the windows of your home
open to let the fresh air in, wherever possible plant a tree, gift people seed balls
or plants, feed birds and together let’s make the world a happy place to live in.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 14 to increase the joy of living is serving each other – the spring of
life
Have you ever witnessed the smile of a pauper? Have you experienced the
positive vibes from senior citizens while reaching them out giving company?
Have seen the joy of poor children receiving surprising visits and gifts? Have
you watched the change of mood in a distressed person when you lend your ears
to listen? Dear friends life is beautiful and sometimes it is made beautiful by
others. There are so many in the world left aside in need of human service. Very
often serving is misconstrued as financial assistance to the underprivileged,
volunteering in public services, distributing essentials to the needy at times of
calamities, etc. The hidden truth of service is to be present to the person in need:
a smile to a lonely person, a loving company to an aged person, words of love
to a person abandoned, a gentle touch to a person isolated, precious time to a
person feeling lonely, an act of tender loving care to a sick person, a listening
ear to a distressed person, words of peace to an angry person and so forth are
examples of service in day to day life. You don’t need to be rich to serve
someone, it is far enough to have an open, loving, compassionate heart to
provide service. It all begins at the place where you live, valuable time and kind
words with aging parents, little acts of kindness to your family members,
wilfully being present to a friend in anguish, teaching a mediocre person, helping
the differently abled, and speaking words of love, respect and hope to persons in
need at your surroundings are a few of many to start with. Remember you don’t
need to serve the whole world at a go but do not fail to serve people in your own
world of your everyday life. Today on consciously and joyfully offer little
services to people around you and start seeing the ripple effect of it in and around
you. Trust me a little act of service is going to make a big difference in
everyone’s life.
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH
Secret No 15 to increase the joy of living is Love – the beginning and the end
Have you ever thought that you lead a joyful life just because of a prayer
whispered by an unknown person? Have you seen tears of joy in your mother’s
eyes? Have you had this experience of your friend coming behind and giving
you a hug as a surprise gift? Have you ever celebrated yourself for the person
you are? At the end of the day it is all about love. Where there is love there is
freedom, where there is freedom there is growth, where there is growth there is
prosperity and where there is prosperity there is a new life thus love heals. Love
is not a mere emotion to be expressed or experienced but a virtue to live and let
others live. Love knows no age, no gender, no wealth, no creed, no education
but to will the best of the other. It is all about this one 4 lettered word that the
whole world revolves around. Very often we forget this gift of love treasured
within us and start searching for it around us. Remember that love begins with
you, lives with you and ends with you. Though the definition of love is defined
differently in diverse contexts the source of it is the same that is you. Start loving
yourself, love the person you are and love the very qualities you possess, only
then you will start witnessing love everywhere. Do not stop yourself in falling
in love but learn to rise in love, rise in love beyond petty understandings of
human thinking, reach out to the known and the unknown with an open heart
offering a compassionate ground to be oneself. Start whispering this magic word
love, let it be part of your breath, your thoughts, your words and actions. Let
love be your kingdom, let love be your weapon, let love be your education, let
love alone be your language. Let love live in our hearts, homes, countries and
the world, just because GOD IS LOVE thus love heals!
15 SECRETS OF JOY OF LIVING | NAVISAMARNATH