Mindlessly Mindfull: Recent Episodes
Vanitha Muthukumar
Mindfulness and well-being. Art of letting go and being in the NOW. Step by step of how to live a good life.
As life moves we tend to get set in some ways that leads to stagnation. From time to time it is necessary to rewrite our story and change our trajectory.
As we hit middle age, health should become priority. The little aches and pains are subtle messages given by the body to slow down. Listen with intent and correct with effort and action.
Ne year has started. It’s time to make changes in all aspects of our life. Focus on improving yourself instead of wasting energy on others.
Whatever we want begins with choosing the right seed- which is our right thought to go further to create something we desire. Nothing happens by chance. Everything needs planning and preparation.
Let’s resolve to reduce and cut down on waste this year. Instead of buying more, let’s try and reuse- reorganise our wardrobe and focus on our wellbeing.
Emptying your mind is very important from time to time. We store lot of unwanted memories. And one of the few ways to clear that is to - consciously remove those memories.
Let go of 2024. Thank the year for valuable lessons and wish the people who made a difference. Welcome 2025 with optimism and positivity. Stay focused
As we near the end of 2024 it’s time to recollect all the people we have crossed paths and to say thanks for everything they have done -
Looking back of the year gone by- checking the wins and misses, high and low moments - creating an order out of chaos.
As the year 2024 comes to a close, let’s let go off things, people and stuff that don’t serve us well anymore. There is so much relief in letting go. The next three weeks we will slowly reframe our thoughts for the new year.
When an idea develops into a business venture- the story of how the business started and became a startup and how things connected and why it is existing in the first place all comes through BRAND STORYTELLING. The story and its narration has to connect with the pulse of the people.
Creating the brand identity is the most important aspect of any new business or startup. The colours, font and the packaging wins half the game. Planning deeply at this stage will help win the game to some extent. Brand identity is the personality of your brand and never compromise on the quality.
The Startup BRAND AND LOGO determine atleast 40% of the success. Logo creates a familiarity among users and common man. Choosing the Logo that shines is inportant.
Once the business idea is developed, business had to get set and that would need funding. This episode discusses the various stages of the startup funding and the scaling up.
Any business or a startup is only as strong as their team. Creating a robust team to bring about a successful enterprise is important - their strength is the enterprise’s growth story.
A startup is born from an idea. Most people follow the linear graph of design thinking while I choose the non-linear path. How we create and expand our ideas - to demolishing it if need be is the content of this episode.
We are living in startup era. Everyone wants to have a business - which for some could be a side hustle. Coming four weeks we will discuss and talk about the steps to becoming an entrepreneur- from idea to formation of the company.
Concluding our topic on Zen- zen is the essence of simplicity in all its forms. We talk about the simplicity which is so grand - in design, living and relationships.
Practice Zen from the moment you wake up till your sleep time.
Slowing down- and doing things mindfully- enjoying the journey rather than results is Zen.
If every run irritates you- you will never get polished.
Zen originated from the word- Dhyana a Sanskrit word for meditation. How we begin our practice and augment it to develop our life - and incorporate it in all areas of our life and work for better results.
Zen was created by a saint from south India - Bodhidharma in the 6th century in China. It went to Japan in the 12th century and today is the most sought after form of meditation.
The next four weeks we will be exploring the philosophy of Zen, principles and values of zen and zazen meditation.
How we create our own Zen and become the Buddha is what this topic is all about.
Brain is a vehicle and the mind is the driver. On its own the brain can’t do anything. The mind- uses the brain to achieve what it wishes to manifest.
By constant practice of how to use our mind- we can tap into unknown potential and talents that lurk beneath the surface.
What is thinking with your brain mean?
Aren’t we all already thinking with our brain?
Brain is just an organ- Mind is the thinking space. But what we feed the brain is the output we will get. So, planning and feeding the right things is important to get the results we desire.
When we set ourselves a target - we need to achieve that- through - planning, visualisation, projecting and much more.
When you set yourself a target- you have to work towards that consciously to get to the goal and how to do it- is the content of this episode.
Laws of Attraction - It is a belief that “Thoughts create reality”. It’s not the thoughts but feelings and emotions create reality.
Thoughts pass by like a breeze. Feelings linger on and emotions grow. Two main emotions that rule the LOA are Love and Fear. Both are strong emotions and have a very powerful impact.
Love is positive emotion and is very powerful in itself to attract and hold within. While fear is a negative emotion and this drops off the desire to attract. When doubt comes in everything collapses.
Listen on!!!
Tapping the Brain’s potential- to manifest everything we deserveAlthough we run our brains like a machine, not many of us know that we are not using it to its full capacity. Some create, some survive, some succeed, some outperform and some recreate history. What keeps the few people apart from the crowd? What makes them different? How do they think and act? What are their habits? This is what we will explore in the coming weeks for the month of August. Keep listening.
The Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. We habitually hoard many things, since birth, some given by parents, some purchased by us, some received as gifts, the momentoes we buy on our travels, to the inheritance that we receive, just reading this long lists is tiring to our mind. The simplest way to live life is to have little as possessions and be free of burdens as we get older. Choosing the right person to receive your belongings is essential for a smooth exit. During the last years of life - never spend thinking “wish I had given away”. Instead think - “I am glad I gave away when I was still able to use them”. Detachment is an essential trait to cultivate as we move towards our old age. From things- wants- relationships and much more.
Things that come to us passed on by ancestors and that which has survived and lived its own life of say 100 yrs. we have to be wise in knowing its value, keeping them safe, giving away when it’s time- it let go of it so it will find a nice place during your lifetime
The entire world is now addicted to shopping buying things that are not needed, and simply hoarding them - which occupies the much needed space that could have been used for something else. It also drains our money and pushes people into debts. Stop going to sales and buy what you need- when you need- if you need- and use them wisely and nicely.
As we travel to new places, we see objects we wish to buy and bring back home. We keep on doing this without pausing and realising how much of a waste we have invested on and allow it to rot in dust. Eliminate all clutter and make your life free and easy.
Trauma happens in many patches- and keeps on evolving, as the victim sticks to the memory of it - without letting go of the past, for a fear of losing something familiar- and stepping into the unknown. Let’s discuss how to heal trauma and release our soul.
Trauma happens at a certain time in life - but takes root and transforms into something bigger and sinister- as time changes. It can affect emotionally and physically, paralysing daily life of the victim. Here we are finding ways to cope with it, to seek help.
Trauma affects almost every human on the planet. Only in varying degrees. To be able to cope, and understand how it originated in the first place is in itself a big victory. People mostly suffer in silence. In June let’s explore ways to deal with Trauma and make peace with our past
By creating a new narrative and rewriting your story - you can create a new YOU and a new life. Get out of your comfort zone and do the things- you feared most. Try try try- you lose nothing.
Stories are themselves complete, but when used to convey a message - they create a deeper impact in the minds of the listener or reader. Story etches a moment in memory and history. As long as we have stories to tell- we will continue to remain humans.
The story of a restaurant server who went on to become an entrepreneur and set up his own restaurant for the woman he loved. The seed of love motivated him to achieve everything in life and come up with
Storytelling is a form of communication, which goes on connecting people, adding up to the content and sometimes changes form to become a new story. This month - in May we explore storytelling
Narcissist exists all around us. They are so charming that we all fall like fireflies. By the time we know what we have gotten ourselves into- it’s too late. Understanding a narcissist is a near impossible task.
Toxic people come into our life, through both personal and professional life. They could be in our family and torture us enough to drive us crazy. The most easiest example I can give is - The Indian Mother- In -law. So please listen to this and collect yourself and be safe from toxic people
We cross paths with many people during the course of our life. Not all are easy to deal with. The difficult ones are mostly our parents, spouse, siblings, superiors and at times our teachers. Although it is difficult to deal with them- this is an important life lesson to learn. It will serve you well, and make you wiser
We meet so many people from birth to death. We lose count of our connections, interactions and much more. Toxic people- difficult people- manipulative people- psychopaths- and more. April will take us on a roller coasters of relationships.
Sleep is the fundamental basic need of every living being. Disturbed sleep often happens. But prolonged sleep disturbances can cause lot of body harm and depression and memory loss. Check out this episode for a good night’s sleep
Insomnia affects millions of people worldwide wide, and the percentage is only growing more and more each day. Today we analyse and try to understand what causes insomnia.
Sleep helps restore the body - and augment other functions needed to perform daily tasks. Lack of sleep contributes to health issues - and increases inflammation and suppresses the immune system.
How sleeping aids in our mental and physical health? The right time to sleep- and the methods to follow. Stay tuned for March- to sleep better.
Materialism is the single most cause of #globalwarming and #climatechange today. 1000’s of unsold stock by top brands go to the landfill and are burnt. So live with an intention and practice conscious buying.
Understanding that we are not separate from things around us, and we are all connected as one larger whole- that we are the microcosm inside the macrocosm - of this infinite universe is spirituality.
Existentialism is a philosophy that is self-created - by choices and free will. To carve a path for oneself and to live that life in the best way possible.
Essentialism is the fundamental value of being yourself - and sticking to what matters most without compromise.
If you utilise your finances wisely - you will live peacefully. Enjoy the final episode on the topic. Until we meet again - adios
Health is the most important aspect of life and well-being. We often neglect it and then repent. Take annual audit and work on it well.
Habits are created unknown to us. Something done often- sets itself into cement and alters our life itself. They can maime us from leading a good life. We need to take action before it’s too late. Change your habits- change your life.
We have just opened 2024 and isn’t it time to redefine ourselves. Make some alterations, additions and transform who we are?
Spirituality is the only force that keeps the world together as one large family. We need to augment this force to bring people together for larger good and help them to move ahead as one big family - to share and care for each other as we are all interconnected beings.
Body is our temple, where our soul resides. Caring for it in a most mindful way is important to keep it healthy longer. Diets and fasting is part of body health. Choose what suits you best and follow it well.
Forming a social bond is integral to being human. How we create and weave relationships to sustain in the long run depends on who we are authentically. When we reach out to a community with empathy, sympathy and compassion- deeper bonds are created to nurture and nourish us towards our social well-being
Emotions play a big role in our mind body - health. When we go through negative emotions constantly - we become sick. All physical ailments come from negative stress. Understanding and coping with our emotions and learning to deal with them effectively helps to go a long way.
Mental health is the leading cause of suicides all over the world. All we need to do is to spread awareness and create a helpline and support system for those in pain and help them create their own coping mechanisms.
Body holds our mind, soul and spirit. It has to be maintained well, taken care of and protected to help us live a good life. Without the body- we can’t exist. So please focus more on your body and give it all the pampering it deserves.
In today’s digital speed of living in the fast lane, all of us neglect ourselves to serve others or to advance our careers. Take little time off- to spend with yourself and do some self-care for yourself. Your body will thank you for the same.
We are moving into a new season with a new topic on Self-care, wellbeing, food & nutrition, diet and fitness goals.
As we move on to our next topic - we also come to end of season -1 of PHILOSOPIES and Values from around the world.
An easy way to interact and communicate with each other as a community. Two words that sum up a nation and its people.
Danes love to chill with friends and chit chat - and pass their time eating ice cream or hot chocolate. It helps to unwind and do something that brings peace and happiness.
I am - because you are - we are. It decribes and concept and way of life - of how people lived in harmony with themselves and nature.
Wu wei tells us - by not doing anything, everything gets done. It does appear silly but it’s a fact. We can practice this for our own mental health and to calm down
Been unwell all day. Wanted to record the next topic and episode but been sick since morning. Sorry. We shall meet next week. Until then bye bye from Vanitha
Swedish philosophy and principle, creates a just society where everyone live together in harmony and avoid extremes often taking the middle path.
Eating healthy to stay healthy is the underlying principle of this Japanese philosophy - Hara HACHI bu. It tells us why we should eat less and feel more energetic.
Satori is - that light bulb moment - which occurs in a flash - in a mist unexpected way. We have to experience the moment of joy without attaching ourselves to it.
Wabi- means simplicity and Sabi means- the beauty in age and use. Most things look better when they have lived well. They have gone through life’s challenges and come through with scars.
Japan has many philosophies and value systems. We will be exploring each of those in the coming weeks. Listen today to the episode on IKIGAI - Purpose of life.
To know the people of any nation, we need to know the value system that guides the people. Through the coming episodes we will be exploring the values from Japan
Personal values create our personal identity. As to who we are, what defines us, what we care about and how we can grow and evolve?
Each family is bound together by the values they create and follow for a peaceful and orderly life. I was fortunate to be born into such a family of wonderful people.
As we explore about value systems around the world and see how each society functions as one unit, what makes the people who they are, how personal value systems can be developed and much more will be explored beginning with this first episode
What makes a country unique? Why are we attached to certain people? Which culture seems creative? How do we create our life systems? Do we already have one? Where did it come from? These are some of the questions we will be answering in our new topic. Please stay connected and share your views.
As we come to the end of purpose, I hope you all have enjoyed listening to these podcasts as much as I enjoyed doing them. We will move on to newer topic after this. Until then bye bye.
Creating a creative space is tough for anyone. Specially to crave a niche space become a huge rat race. Without consistent effort you can create your - “Creative Identity” which makes you special and elevates your work to another level. Keep listening. More is coming.
Moving on from passion to purpose, there comes a small pause- where in one has to know the difference between - purpose for life’s goal and career. Choice is yours to make. Would you just indulge in your passion and purpose for pure joy or convert it into your profession and career. Adds value to it no doubt, but does it take away its essence? Let’s check it out.
Diving into purpose, gives one a inner glimpse of what it is- to have a purpose and to pursue that. And it’s strength and weakness. Purpose is too vast a topic. You have to early on decide and see, what you wish to do with your purpose?
We are moving into the next topic which is purpose. We have many passions, hobbies, talent and skills. We don’t make all of them our purpose. Some passions do stand out and becomes a calling. Through the next episodes, let’s together discover what is - Purpose.
When we find a passion and indulge in it everyday, practising and practising, until it becomes perfect. Perfection is an illusion. It doesn’t exist. More we seek, more we will be disappointed. So stop seeking perfection and aim towards excellence. Find in your art- that which you wish to see in the world.
Any hobby or art or passion can get better only with regular practice. The more you practice, the more it gets perfect. The ancient art forms were so perfect only because they went through years and years of practice.
Once you know your passion, and finish doing the one minute rule, start cultivating the daily habit for your passion. Habit grows everyday and sooner than you realise it will be your second nature.
Once you have chosen the passion. Begin to practice the one minute rule- sit with it same time every day. It becomes a habit and also enhances discipline.
Liking many things, wanting to do what others are doing, all this may help in some ways, but it is not passion that we speak about here. Passion is a burning desire, deep inside you…which doesn’t let you sleep. Listen on…
The first step towards passion is to analyse and understand, what passion means to each one of us. It is different things to different people. Not all approach it the same way. We will explore passion as we move within this topic.
We begin the new year with a new podcast on living well, and creating our own creative journey without the input of others.
Folk tales come with a beautiful narrative on its own, adding to the traditions and culture of the people from where it comes. This is the last episode of storytelling and we will meet again in the new year - 2023 again with a new topic and episode.
This is a story about two brothers, and their parents. One brother wants to separate his parents to bring light into the world, and the other brother wants to protect his parents and keep them united.
Buddhism is a religion born out of Hinduism the oldest religion, but clearly mapped its path through Dharma, Ahimsa and wisdom. The stories of the zen are so short, but full of value and ethics.
This is a Japanese folk tale, taken from the pages/posts written by Kyota Ko San, and recited here with his permission. The fundamental requirement of storytelling is to credit the original author.
Story about self- love, belief and conviction. Accepting our imperfections and loving ourselves the way we are. - touching on the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi- seeing beauty in imperfections.
The first introduction episode tells about storytelling and how it will be moving in the coming weeks. I will tell about storytelling, as well as tell stories. We will have a whale of a time. Catch the bus before it leaves…
Most problems in our lives are caused by narcissistic personality types, who suck out our energy and leave us drained of any life or motivation to exist.
Cultivating self-care and self-love is so important to mental well-being. Once we do that, we are able to understand the surroundings around us. It helps to protects oneself in a better fashion.
Depression is one of the biggest killer diseases today. No matter how much research has gone on, we still haven’t found a cure for this. Losing precious lives, is painful to say the least. We will continue…
Ragging, which often begins as fun can damage the psyche of the perosn beyond repair. Please notice it on time. Face it strongly.
What develops as a fear during childhood, turns into phobias and becomes the fundamental cause for mental problems in later life.
All problems faced by people, have their clues and answers in childhood experience and memory. Mother’s love or rejection plays a huge role in a human growing up to be a success or a failure.
Mental health has long been hidden from the frontline, to showcase ourselves as normal. Now more and more people are suffering, and the system is not yet there to help them. Through the coming episodes, I wish to explore and find remedies. Join me on this journey towards a peaceful mindset.
People are constantly chasing happiness, without knowing it is right near their feet. It is in many things, big and small. Focus. You will find it.
As our mind keeps on shifting from one thing to the next or from one choice to another, happiness also keeps on shifting.
Pleasure has no end. It is endless and everytime more and more is needed. Happiness IS without any conditions.
Happiness is not the same for one and all. It depends on the person experiencing it. The same thing, can give different feelings and experience to people.
Just when we reach the goal… our dreams have changed. Just when we get the car we want… our sights have shifted. Let’s catch the elusive happiness.
Happiness is ever elusive like the rainbow. The nearer you get, farther it moves away. So let’s try and chase happiness and see if we can catch it.
To many happiness is an elusive… illusion. To some, it’s the only thing they own. The difference between these paradigms is where it rests…
After the previous 6 episodes, you would now have some image of and understanding of what self-love is…continue to practice it, and make it your second nature.
The episode tells you, how precious you are to be here, and to know, how blessed you can be and to appreciate every part of yourself.
After knowing your adult self, loving your adult self begins. Step by step slowly, begin to like and love yourself.
After sorting and calming the inner child, we went through the yo-yo episode. This is to become the adult self and closing in all the gaps and cracks.
The journey between the inner child and the adult, to heal and transform oneself. Until the inner child heals, one is not fully free of worries.
The reasons for issues and crimes in later life is due to the trauma caused in childhood. Unless we heal and repair that, the adult life won’t be peaceful.
Childhood is the introduction to one’s adult life. If this aspect is understood well, then the rest will be easy. The cracks that develop in childhood is the cause of later addictions, personality disorders and abuse and crimes. Through these episodes… we will learn Self-Love.
Self- love is a missing aspect of everyone. To hide and forget that, everyone, tried to focus on other people, other passions and hobbies and completely neglect what is most important to ONE-Self
Once you have consciously made your intention, the results will be positive only if you hold on to it positively. Not suspect or doubt for moment, it is not coming or happening. We reach the end of this podcast. We will soon begin a new podcast with a new topic. Thanks for joining in. I truly appreciate how each of you have listened and I am listening with all of you, as we are all connected ans whole.
We create reality. It doesn’t exist. What we think, we see and receive. So make wise choices and alter your thoughts to help you with life and it will come true. Be positive and optimistic all the time. Think what you want in life. Your desires. Your passions. Imagine it to the tiniest detail. Don’t leave any. If you wish to buy a car. Imagine the seat covers to the wheel and how you sit and drive it and the road ahead with autumn trees. Make is very intense and detail oriented.
Once you understand and choose a trait or habit, that you would like to change, focus on that to ascertain everything about it. All the nuances.
Unless you identify, what you would like to change, it won’t happen that easily. After you identify, you become aware and then try to deal with it, and look at it closely.
All of us know our strength. We also have some traits which irritates others about us. So choose that one trait you wish to change or alter and work on it. At the end of the 8th episode you can know if change has happened or not.
Stop your external inputs and search for the inner markings. Find the space to be safe. Correct the space that needs correction. Pave way for change.
The first step is to connect back with oneself. To know deeply about one self. To learn about inner being and the space to be - “Bliss”
Through the series of episodes, I will be talking about inner change and how it is related to your exterior self. How do you identify yourself? What do you identify yourself as? Come on… let’s explore.
As long as we think of ourselves outside of what we do, we function less and less. We have to create a zone and merge into it seamlessly.
Repeating and repeating the same art form over and over gain, is the simple and the best way to achieve ans create perfection.
Moving on to the nest step, and understanding that doing one thing at a time is important. Eat while you eat. Sleep while you sleep. Sing while you sleep…
Mindfulness is about the hand and it’s action. The eye following that helps to be mindful, while the action takes place without losing focus. It’s not a practice at a certain hour, but at all times.
This episode takes you into your inner-being, and gets you to see a glimpse of what it could be...to be in this zone all the time.
This episode begins to teach you how mindfulness is practiced and done over the centuries and that it is not a new concept. A new space has been created for it. But it’s an age old practice.
Without understanding yourself, you can’t embark on a journey into mindfulness. Knowing your strength and weaknesses will help improve and also tune you better into this beautiful space.
Season two will bring about how to know if you are being Mindful, how you can cultivate it and pause to understand it better. Let the JOURNEY begin
We come to the final episode of the 1st season of Mindfulness and we will understand, the comparison and distinction between the two and how they meet.
We come to near conclusion of our 1st season and we are eliminating what it is not? More than what it is...
Peeking each layer of mindfulness has helped us to know what it is not... to help us in future to understand what it is.
The previous episode was to differentiate it as science or philosophy. Here we recognise Mindfulness, to explore deeper into its aspects.
Debate has been going on since very long, about mindfulness. Science wants to prove everything, while philosophy becomes aware...
There are 100’s of mindfulness that people go to and believe and try to follow. But what is “Mindfulness” is is very simple. The more simple it is, more deeper it can be. So let’s begin this journey.
Vanitha will take you on a journey to understand mindfulness. Every Monday. So Join for more episodes.