Understanding Human Psychology

It was 2018. I was in Bangalore, sitting in one of the city’s famous gardens, lost in thought. I had just been promoted and was on a business trip. My mind was occupied with plans, responsibilities, and the weight of my new role. But then, something unexpected happened—I heard the birds.   Of course, I had heard birds before. But that day, the chirping was different. It wasn’t just background noise; it was soothing, almost musical. Maybe I had never truly listened before. That moment stayed with me, and from that day forward, birds became a symbol of mindfulness for me.   Now, years later, I live in the heart of a bustling city, yet I am fortunate to have a home in a large society where nature still finds a way to thrive. Every morning, as I wake up and open my eyes, the first thing I hear is the symphony of birds outside my window when I wake up. It feels like they are orchestrating a melody. That is a gentle reminder to start the day with calmness and gratitude. It...

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I thought traveling with my child would be smooth—fun, even. I imagined picturesque moments, laughter, and seamless transitions. But reality? It was difficult . We don’t travel often, and when we did, my child wasn’t used to new places, new faces, or a shift from her familiar world. She withdrew, cried, threw tantrums. At first, I felt irritated, even embarrassed. I wanted this trip to be a break for me, but instead, I was navigating meltdowns in an unfamiliar setting. Yet, something shifted. Instead of holding onto frustration, I saw things through her eyes. Her world is built on routine—her grandparents, her school, her safe little bubble. Suddenly, she was in a different place with different people, and it was overwhelming. So, I adjusted. I found ways to make the trip enjoyable for her, offering little moments of familiarity amidst the newness. I carved out time...

  Ever since I did the Positive Quotient (PQ) Program of Shirzad Chamine, with my supportive cohort members Antony, Nidhi, Kulshum, I am glad to say it has made me see life differently. And what’s that difference? I would take this space to explain that. For me, being a restless soul and a high achiever, which Shirzad says are two of the many saboteurs we carry within us, it is usually difficult to be without something or the other to do. That is, I need to be occupied, and I feel the need to be achieving results. That is good. But you may have also heard that anything of good in excess is also unhealthy. So coming back to how the PQ program made a difference. Earlier any time I would be sitting without doing anything, it would make my mind wander aimlessly, would then start making me think what can I do, can I read something, listen to something on my phone, put a podcast. My time use was on my mind. Of course! No doubt time is money, but so is health and sanity. I now realise tha...

  The past few days have been a whirlwind of self-exploration as I dive into a course on Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine. It’s a transformative approach that’s reshaping how I envision my future, encouraging me to live more fully in the present. The course is all about activating what it calls the “Sage Mind”—essentially, cultivating a mindset rooted in awareness, presence, and genuine happiness. In many ways, it aligns closely with mindfulness, yet it goes beyond by offering tools to ground myself in the here and now, savoring each moment as it unfolds. One of the most impactful aspects of Positive Intelligence is how it encourages daily practices to strengthen presence. I’ve found myself more attuned to my thoughts and emotions, reminding myself to pause and truly be where I am. This daily focus has been instrumental. Whenever I feel my mind drifting into worries about the future, or reminiscing about the past, I gently guide it back to what’s in front of me, fully engag...