Food for mind : Facing adversity positively

There was man who used to live with his family and a dog. The dog had been with the family for quite a long time and had grown old. With age the family had slowly began to realize that the dog was becoming useless and they now required a new dog who could serve them better.

One day the man took his dog for a walk, the street was deserted and it was getting dark. Suddenly the dog fell into an old well and started howling for help. The man looked around him and found no help. Soon enough the man realized that the dog was not worth the trouble of saving. So instead of saving the he decided to bury the dog in the well and put him out of his misery.

The man found a shovel nearby, he used it to dig dirt and throw them into the well. Initially the dog started panicking and howling even more, but sooner he realized that it was of no use. Once the dog regained its calmness a thought suddenly struck him. If only he could use the situation to his advantage he would get out of the well safe. He realized that he has to just shake of the mud over him and step on the accumulated dirt to rise up slowly.

For the whole night the man shoved mud into the well and the dog just shook them and stood on a pile of dirt. Finally at dawn break when the whole of well was covered in mud, the old dog found himself out of the well safe. Seeing his brilliance the man burst into tears and hugged the old friend.

This is life and how we face our problem and deal with it positively. No matter how much worse the situation is, being calm and having a positive attitude will ensure that we emerge victorious.

Food for your mind : The Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.
The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
Moral of the story:
The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful.

Food for your mind : This is called INNOVATION

Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than shops in the USA and therefore don't have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it. That is how majority of people would respond. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. If the supermarkets wanted a square watermelon, they asked themselves, 'How can we provide one?' It wasn't long before they invented the square watermelon.  

The solution to the problem of round watermelons was not to solve as the farmers did not assume it was impossible - and simply asked how it could be done.  They found out that if you place the watermelon in a square box when they are growing, the watermelon will take on the shape of the box - and grow into a square fruit.  

  

This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators which are much smaller than those in the US meaning that the growers could charge a premium price for them.

DOES THIS MESSAGE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO IN LIFE?

YES!!!
DON'T ASSUME:

The major problem was that most people had always seen round watermelons so they automatically assumed that square watermelons were impossible before even thinking about the question.. Things that you have been doing a certain way your entire life have taken on the aura of the round watermelon and you likely don't even take the time to consider if there is another way to do it. Breaking yourself from assuming this way can greatly improve your overall life as you are constantly looking for new and better ways to do things.

QUESTION HABITS:

The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you work. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them.

BE CREATIVE:

When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question likely thought they were being asked how they could genetically alter water melons to grow square which would be a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. Being creative and looking at things in different ways in all portions of your live will help you find solutions to many problems where others can't see them.

LOOK FOR A BETTER WAY :

The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It's impossible to find a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. Get into the habit of asking yourself, 'Is there a better way I could be doing this?' and you will find there often is.

IMPOSSIBILITIES JUST DON'T EXIST:

If you begin with the notion that something is impossible, then it obviously will be for you. If, on the other hand, you decide to see if something is possible or not, you will find out through trial and error.

Take away the lessons from the square watermelons and apply them to all areas in your life (work, finances, relationships, etc) and you will find that by consistently applying them, you will constantly be improving all aspects of your life.

I AM SURE WE CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGE IF WE REALLY WANT TO. YOU ARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE; BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. 

Food for your mind : How could you win?

Chuan and Jing joined a wholesale company together just after graduation. Both worked very hard.
After several years, the boss promoted Jing to sales executive but Chuan remained a sales rep. One day Chuan could not take it anymore, tender resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that Chuan worked very hard for the years, but in order to help Chuan realize the difference between him and Jing, the boss asked Chuan to do the following. Go and find out anyone selling water melon in the market? Chuan returned and said yes. The boss asked how much per kg? Chuan went back to the market to ask and returned to inform boss the $12 per kg.
Boss told Chuan, I will ask Jing the same question? Jing went, returned and said, boss, only one person selling water melon. $12 per kg, $100 for 10 kg, he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 15 kg, bought from the South two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality.
Chuan was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Jing. He decided not to resign but to learn from Jing.
My dear friends, a more successful person is more observant, think more and understand in depth. For the same matter, a more successful person sees several years ahead, while you see only tomorrow. The difference between a year and a day is 365 times, how could you win?
Think! how far have you seen ahead in your life? How thoughtful in depth are you

food for your mind : Power of Words

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. This story teaches two lessons: 1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. 2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

Food for your mind : A Shared Vision

One day a traveler, walking along a lane, came across 3 stonecutters working in a quarry.
Each was busy cutting a block of stone.
Interested to find out what they were working on, he asked the first stonecutter what he was doing.
"I am cutting a stone!"
Still no wiser the traveler turned to the second stonecutter and asked him what he was doing.
"I am cutting this block of stone to make sure that it’s square, and its dimensions are uniform, so that it will fit exactly in its place in a wall."
A bit closer to finding out what the stonecutters were working on but still unclear, the traveler turned to the third stonecutter.
He seemed to be the happiest of the three and when asked what he was doing replied: "I am building a cathedral." Real leadership quality is demonstrated through both seeing that picture, and through ensuring others see it. By building a shared vision.

Food for your mind : Be The Coffee Beans

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up; She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. I
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, n about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The coffee beans
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Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. May we all be COFFEE

Food for your mind : CONFIDENCE

Meet Terry, a high-school freshman who wanted to tryout for the boy's basketball team. He was the last guy you would wanna pick on your team. He had no ball-handle, no speed, missed most of his shots, and could not jump for anything. When he tried out, the coach told him, "Forget about basketball, try chess". Now Terry was a very confident kid who had it in his mind he would be not only make the team but be better than everyone on the team. He looked at the list to see if he made the team. Not even close. He was upset, but he knew that he had three more years to make the team and that's when he trained. When the team had practice he would watch. After they practiced he would take shots. Mostly misses. He practiced dribbling. Kept losing the ball. Frustrated but not giving up he came up with a strategy. For one year, he would dribble his ball everywhere. He would watch the great dribblers in the NBA and NCAA. He would pay attention how they shot and how they dribbled. On the court, he would play the best players. Putting himself at a disadvantage by playing one-on-two. They treated him like he wasn't even there. They beat him so bad that it was embarrassing. He didn't see it that way. He saw it as dragging a heavy weight until that heavy weight felt weightless. He played everyday and got beat everyday. He fine-tuned his game and repeated. This went on for one year.

Basketball tryouts was starting in one week. He made sure he didn't miss the chance to sign up. He played against the people that made the team the previous year. He would play one-on-twos. They would laugh at him because he was getting destroyed and tired. He still kept the "heavy weight" mentality. During tryouts, he was the fastest on defense. His defense was like a wall--hard to go through. His ball-handle was smooth. He was able to go through people with ease. His shots were dropping like rain drops in a barrel. The final day he went to the wall to see if his name was on the list. He made it! Not only made it but he was a starter. The kids that were on the team last year looked at him with much respect. He was right...he would not only make the team, but be better than the team.

He was able to accomplish all this because he already had it in his mind that he would make it. Hard work and strategy is what got him on the team as a starter. He is the prime example that confidence starts in the mind.

Food for your mind : Story of Hell or Heaven after death

There was a man who had a strong belief as there should be something after everyone’s death either Hell or Heaven, so he was good to himself and to his surroundings. When time came for him to say Goodbye to the world he was brought before the GOD. He was very curious to know where he will be send. He asked GOD "Is there really a Hell & Heaven, if so where I will be send?" .On hearing it GOD gave a big smile and he gave him a Choice to choose, he showed two houses one on his right hand side & another on his left hand side and asked him to choose. On over curiosity he said he needs to look on both the houses & then only he will decide. He assumes those two houses as one to be hell & another to be heaven in his mind.
First he went to Hell house, it was really amazing neatly furnished, with lots and lots of different variety of food items & many people were around it. The thing he noted is all the food items are kept in separate gatherings in separate tables with one person on each table. But NO ONE IS EATING, no one is happy, no one is healthy everybody was weak in that house.
Secondly he went to heaven house, it was too really amazing neatly furnished with lots of food items & many people were around it. Here all the food items are placed in a common table and all the people are together eating, singing & enjoying. Everybody looked healthy & happy in that house.
This Guy came to the GOD as he was little confused since everything was same between the two houses but in one house people was weak , sad , no one was eating or chatting but in another people where happier , healthier , eating , chatting & enjoying together .He asked the reason to GOD. For that GOD replied.
Son, you have not clearly noticed them. All those people in both the houses were tied with a 4 feet spoon & fork to their hands. In One House, people are so selfish that they want to have those food themselves so they separated, discriminated & named even the tables as their property. They tried to intake those food themselves since they can’t they are not able to eat and they were weak.
But in the another house people loved each other , so they were together .They helped the person next to him to feed hence they were eating and they were healthy, happy & enjoying .
GOD said him that HELL & HEAVEN is not something which is away from Earth .Its only up to us how we behave with our surroundings either to make your place as HELL or HEAVEN .