Eliminate to illuminate

Here is a quick test for you :

Do you complain? Do you criticise? Do you blame? Do you feel like a victim? Do you talk about people doing bad things to you? Do you often talk about what’s wrong around you? Like horrible weather, traffic, economy, restaurants, your relatives, etc. Do you feel that you have no control over results?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions then you are holding on to negative energy.

Navratri, culminating with Dussehra, is a cultural festival of great importance and significance for all. It is a festival that is all about symbolising the victory of good over evil, positivity over negativity. The festival is replete with symbolism about vanquishing evil and wanton nature, and about having reverence for all aspects of life and even for the things and objects that contribute to our well-being.

The Hindu curative philosophy believes that everything that exists outside of us has its counterpart inside our body. Similarly, the negativity that we perceive around us is manifested from within our own selves.

Listed here are a few ways to make yourself and your life positive

* Be grateful for everything. When we begin to appreciate things around us — from the car we own to the fan, the electricity, etc. — our attitude begins to change and that brings in harmony to our surroundings.

* Help others. Create a purpose, positivity and joy in your life by doing things for others even if it means going a bit out of your way.

* Surround yourself with positive people. It is difficult to maintain a sense of positivity when you are surrounded by people who try to push you off your limits. Eliminate people with negative behaviour out of your lives and observe a big change around yourself.

* Stop being a victim. “When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realise that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy,” said the Dalai Lama. Take full responsibility of your life, watch your thoughts and actions.

* Change your thought process. Change starts from within. Think of what can ‘go right’ instead of what can ‘go wrong’

* Laugh. A serious attitude makes us very robotic and negative; laughing makes us feel lighter and more positive, even if it means laughing at your own self.

* What other people say about you is their problem, not yours. Don’t take other people’s negativity personally. Most negative people behave negatively not just with you, but with everyone they interact with. What others say and do, and the opinions they have are based entirely on their own self-reflection.

* Happiness is found when you stop comparing yourself to everyone else. Stop living for others. Be yourself. You are the only person in charge of your life.

* Disappointments and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. Life’s best lessons are often learnt from the worst mistakes.

Some basic cleansings that you can do to release negativity from your system and prepare yourself for the positive, new you:

* Take a salt water bath. Salt is the most ancient and effective cleansing agent. Take your last rinse with salt water.

* Write down negative things, attitudes, people you want to eliminate from your life or anything that has caused you pain on paper. Now, take this paper and burn. Say a quick prayer asking for forgiveness in case you have hurt people and say ‘I release all the negativity from my life’. You can repeat this process.

* Meditate. Meditation comes in many forms. You can meditate, practice yoga or deep breathing, or just give yourself some “alone” time. The goal here is to spend some time on a daily basis, clearing your mind, ridding it of negative thoughts and refocusing it on those that are positive.

* Do some charity and bring a smile on a stranger’s face.