Inspirational Archives - Page 3 of 17

Be Big in the Little Things

Be big in the little things.

I read this phrase in an airline magazine recently, and it stuck. So much power in six simple words!

The story in the magazine was about a man who lived this phrase day in and day out. He never let the little things get to him and opted to take the high road whenever possible. What a saint!

This got me thinking about how so much of my day to day life is filled with little stresses. The key word is little. I know I recently blogged about meltdowns and feeling overwhelmed, but trust me, I know I have it good. With a little bit of perspective, positive thinking, and gratitude, my stress can (for the most part) be reversed quite easily.

With that being said, the little things are what consume most of our lives on a daily basis. And how we react and behave in these moments is what frames our perspective which, in my opinion, ultimately creates our destiny (to a degree).

So what if we chose to be big in the little things? We chose not to get upset, angry, super duper emotional, etc. What if instead, we saw the small things for what they are…small.

Instead of mumbling/grumbling through the little things, we can actually be big in a very simple way. We can say thank you.

This thought came to me as I was reading another article about living in a constant state of thanks. Essentially, this means saying thank you all the time – not only to other human beings but to inanimate objects as well. By saying thank you (or thinking it) throughout the day, you are acknowledging all of the wonderfulness in your life and creating a positive energy bubble that gets harder and harder to burst as time goes on.

For example (and I kid you not), as I was heading out for work and locking the apartment door, I took a moment to say thank you to our apartment for being such a beautiful and comfortable first home for us in Chicago. I know it sounds silly, but that small act put me in such a good mood. I even withstood the super crowded (and super late) train without silently complaining!

Look, I’m not saying it’s easy to be big in the little things. Sometimes when the little things add up, it’s hard not to be reactive (and a little crazy!). But as I like to say, what’s the alternative? To get upset over every little thing and end up miserable? I didn’t think so!

Happy Wednesday! And don’t forget to be big in as many little things that come your way. 🙂

P.S. THANK YOU to everyone who reached out to me after Monday’s blog post! You guys are plain awesome! I promise I’m doing much better and can’t wait to share the habits/strategies I’m trying! I’m sending big virtual hugs to all of you!

Repeat After Me – Everything is Figureoutable

written by Parita 2 Comments

Figureoutable is not a Parita term. I only heard of it very recently while watching a Marie Forleo Super Soul Sunday episode. This was one of those random things I watched while sitting at my desk and eating lunch, and I honestly didn’t expect for it to impact me as much as it did. In fact, repeating the phrase “everything is figureoutable” over and over again during our move is what kept me sane!

If you want to know what figureoutable means to Marie, watch the episode. To me, it’s a great reminder not to freak out immediately! Even the most challenging situation is figureoutable. You may not like the solution, but it’s there. Something else this word reminds me is that solutions don’t come easy, you have to work for them. You have to figure it out – take a deep breathe, let the emotion go (with time), use your head, and take whatever action feels right to you.

This episode fell into my lap/inbox at the perfect time. My one goal with our move to Chicago was to stay calm and not let the stress get to me. Personally, I think I did a hell of a job…no major arguments with Vishnu, no breakouts, no tears. Win, win win! And trust me, the opportunities for all of those things to happen were there, I just chose not to let them get to me. I focused on the fact that everything is figureoutable!

To bring this made up word to life, I want to share two prime scenarios that come to mind. The first had to do with packing up our car. Vishnu was very skeptical that we could fit all of our stuff into our “tiny” sedan. He stated this multiple times. I, on the other hand and somewhat surprisingly, took a different view. You guessed it – one way or another, everything would be just fine because everything is figureoutable. I kept telling him that if things didn’t fit, we could use UPS to mail them to Chicago, we could donate them, or we could throw away some of the unessential items. We’re two intelligent people, and together we would figure it out. I’m not sure repeating a made up word helped Vishnu, but it did prevent us from arguing, and it did help us when space seemed so limited. We did have to leave a few things behinds, but we were also able to bring along some things that we didn’t expect to. It all worked out!

The second scenario where maintaining the “everything is figureoutable” mindset worked in our favor was when we actually got to Chicago and had to figure out how to get our four large suitcases and 12 boxes home from the Amtrak station. We were unsure as to what to do because multiple trips were necessary, I had to go to work the day our stuff came in, etc. To make a long story short, I quickly stopped the oncoming freak out, took a deep breath, and started throwing out ideas. The one that stuck involved using Task Rabbit (this is a great service that allows you to hire people to do whatever tasks you need doing). I suggested hiring someone with a truck to meet Vishnu at the station and help him bring our stuff home. Lo and behold, we found someone almost immediately, and he was highly rated and very affordable. I honestly don’t think I would’ve been able to think of this random solution without my new mindset.

I recognize that these examples are pretty minor compared to the hard stuff life often throws at us. However, after giving it quite a bit of thought, I’m convinced that a figureoutable mindset can help us get through the toughest of times. Like I said before, you may not like the solution, but it’s there.

Repeat after me – “Everything is “figureoutable.”

What mantra helps get you through stressful/tough times?

What’s Your Definition of Success?

written by Parita 7 Comments

It was a regular Wednesday evening. I was watching TV/checking email on my computer. That’s when I saw it. The email from LinkedIn letting me know that someone in my network was promoted and/or started a new job. I clicked on it, and in a matter of minutes, I was on LinkedIn stalking (hey, at least I’m owning my actions!) people from my MBA class. After about 30 minutes, the negativity started creeping in. Everyone seemed to be advancing in their careers and doing big things. And of course, I was happy for these people, but it made me stop and think about my career progression to date. My success to date. Basically, I felt like my peers were busy climbing the corporate ladder while I wasn’t even sure when my next promotion was coming. Needless to say, it went from a regular Wednesday evening to an emotional one!

That’s how limited my definition of success was at that time. Success equaled an upward progression on the corporate ladder. Promotions. Fancy job titles. Money.

Needless to say, my definition of success has changed dramatically since this time. But until my coaching conversation with Shannon, I didn’t have the perfect words to describe my new way of thinking about success. But I’ve got them now (thanks, Shannon!).

“Success is the expression of your true self.”

Let’s take a second to let this sink in…

This simple phrase really hits home, at least it does for me.

I love how universal this new definition is. There’s not one aspect of life this doesn’t apply to. Success is when you’re able to be yourself. Period

Our job titles/salaries certainly don’t define how successful we are. Not only is this is a very limiting way of thinking about success, but these things can easily be taken away from you at any point. In fact, it seems a little silly that I used to think this way.

On the flip side, there’s no limit to expressing your true self. You’re not dependent on anyone else when doing so. And no one can take you away from you.

When it comes to my career, I honestly don’t have a clue as to what the future holds. I may very likely have a long and fulfilling corporate career. Or I may decide to take a few years off when we have kids. Or I may decide to switch career paths at 40 and do something completely different. Who knows!

But what I do know is this. Regardless of what path(s) I choose, my success will not be defined by the path itself. Instead, it will be defined by how authentic, genuine, true, and Parita I am along the way. And quite honestly, that’s a HUGE relief!

So tell me – what’s your definition of success?

To All of the Superwomen in My Life

written by Parita 4 Comments

Happy (belated) International Women’s Day!

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working alongside our Marketing team preparing for International Women’s Day. My company develops an annual women in business report, and this year the publication date happened to coincide with this special day.

This by no means makes me an expert in women’s history or women’s issues, and I’m certainly not posting this to incite a heated debate. If you want to learn more about International Women’s Day, I recommend this Wikipedia page and the official website for #IWD2016.

Honestly, I just want to talk about all the superwomen in my life. And what better day than one dedicated to women everywhere!

When I consider the women who’ve had the biggest impact on me, I’m reminded of my mom and my grandmother (my ba). Talk about bold women! They’ve endured and overcome, fallen and gotten back up, and cried and laughed their way through life. More than anything, they’ve taught me to never give up hope. I’m constantly drawing inspiration from these two beautiful goofballs!

That brings me to another favorite woman of mine – my sister! She’s one of the most fierce, confident, smart, emotionally intelligent, and kind people I know. Even though I’m several years older, I absolutely look up to her and often ask myself, “What would Aekta do?!”

My mother-in-law is another amazing woman who I look up to. I obviously haven’t known her my entire life, but she still inspires me with her spunky spirit and confidence and belief in herself.

I’m also lucky in the sense that my extended family is full of women who have led the charge when it comes to family, work, and everything in between. Every single of one my aunts (on both sides) left India not knowing what would be waiting for them upon arriving to the US. And guess what, they thrived. They successfully made the most of this new world – working full-time, raising families, etc.

Most of my cousins, like me, are first generation Americans. While we’re fortunate to have experienced the best of two different cultures, it wasn’t easy being a young Indian girl (and eventually woman). We were, and to some degree still are, walking a fine line when it came to pretty much everything – friends, college, dating, marriage, careers, etc. But if you ask me, we’re doing a damn good job. And some are even raising strong women themselves.

This brings me to my friends. Again, talk about strong women. My female friends are a fierce bunch! Regardless of when and where we met and how long we’ve known each other, each and every one of them inspires me in so many ways. From being leaders in their professions to raising families and balancing it all, I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many incredible (and supportive) women.

And finally, I can’t end this post without giving a shout out to the supermen in my life, especially my dad and Vishnu. Their unconditional love and support is the wind beneath my cape! 🙂

Who are the superwomen in your life?

What is NOT the point of life?

written by Parita 17 Comments

As stated so perfectly in this Clarity on Fire post, I often find myself getting stuck in the daily grind and then eventually asking what is the point of all of this. That kind of thinking eventually leads to the bajillion dollar question – what is the point of life? Putting aside the broad and generic responses, I find this question really hard to answer. I mean, it’s pretty much as deep as it gets!

But what if you approached the question from a different angle. Instead of asking what is the point of life, ask yourself what is not the point of my life. The addition of that one word changes everything. We all inherently know what is not the point of our lives, but when you don’t frame the question in that way, the answer seems unattainable.

Anyway, after reading Kristen’s post, I opened up the Notes app on my phone and started typing furiously. You guys know I’m a pen and paper kind of girl, however, I want to have my list handy whenever I need an extra boost. It serves as a great reminder of all the things (big and small) I really need to let go of (if I haven’t already).

With that, here’s my “what is not the point of life” list…

Being perfect
Having everyone like/love you
Climbing the career ladder
Staying inside my comfort zone
Being super fit
Being everything to everyone
Playing the comparison game
Holding grudges
Being right (and wanting to prove it)
Caring about what everyone else thinks about your decisions/actions
Pretending to be someone you’re not
Being afraid to make mistakes
Having a super clean and put together home
Holding on to the past

…and I’m sure this list will continue to grow over time.

It’s ironic how we all know what our list looks like even if we don’t put pen to paper. But when it comes down to what we choose to focus on, it’s often those very things that end up draining our energy.

I’m no exception to the above. That is why I’m going to try my very best to let go of everything that is not the point of my life and hopefully open myself up to everything that is!

How’s that for a deep end of the week post?!

Happy Friday!

What’s on your “this is not the point of my life” list?

An Interview with a Life Coach

written by Parita 11 Comments

Last Monday I did something I never really thought I would in a personal setting, and it was honestly an eye-opening experience.

I sat down and had a 90 minute coaching conversation with a professional coach.

The coach was my good friend Shannon from Miami. She is one of my favorite girl bosses and the CEO of her own company, Ishiki Insights. More on Shannon in a minute!

In early January, Shannon shared that she was offering free 90 minute coaching sessions to anyone who was interested and willing to open her mind to the possibilities. I decided to sign-up for a few reasons. One, when I lived in Miami, Shannon was (and still is) one of my favorite people to have “deep conversations” with. She has a knack for asking really good questions and listening. And two, I know how passionate she is about helping other people live authentic lives. I had a few questions I wanted to dig deeper on and figured a 90 minute session with Shannon would get me answers.

Well, the session went differently than I imagined it to but in the best way possible! I went in with a specific work related goal, shared it with Shannon, and told her that I would like to uncover ways for me to achieve said goal. Shannon listened, asked me a few questions, and we were off. We started with the work stuff, but as Shannon asked questions and I talked, the conversation went much deeper than I thought it would. Not only that, but Shannon helped me think through ways to use the new insights in a positive and helpful way that is 100% authentic to me.

Coaching is very powerful if you go in with an open mind! Very powerful.

I was so impressed with our coaching session that I asked Shannon if she would like to do a Q&A on MIS. While I could go on and on about my experience, I figured it would be more helpful to hear more from Shannon herself!

Shannon’s background
Shannon is a Certified Professional Coach and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner. She received her coaching certification after a seven month intensive coach training program from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). Additionally, Shannon graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and Japanese. For the first seven years of her career, Shannon worked in two Fortune 500 companies in finance and analytical roles. Shannon is now a passionate entrepreneur as CEO of Isihki Insights, her own coaching business based out of Miami, FL.

Why did you decide to become a certified coach?
In 2014 I was at my career rock bottom after relocating from Washington DC to Miami and taking a job that was unfulfilling and underpaid. I decided to hire a coach and the entire experience completely changed my life. I became empowered to take action towards creating the life I had always wanted but never felt like I deserved. Once I learned about the power of coaching through that firsthand experience, I knew I wanted to become a coach so that I could help other women live up to their full potential!

What is coaching and what is it not?
The best way to sum up coaching is: inner work + outer action = sustainable results. So many times when we want to make a change in our lives, we look to taking new action or adopting new habits. These techniques may give us short-lived results but soon enough we find ourselves hitting the same road blocks and can’t seem to actually make the big changes we were hoping for. Coaching combines both the inner and outer work so that you can first address who you are at your core and then integrate that new version of yourself into your life to get the sustainable results you’ve been looking for.

What are the 3-5 most common misconceptions about coaching in your opinion?
The one I hear most often is about coaching and therapy. Both are great depending on where you are in life. Therapy is focused on your past and processing your feelings around traumas from your past. In coaching, there is no ‘fixing.’ We focus on how to get your from where you are today to where you want to be in the future. The second most common misconception is that a coach gives you advice. While I have many hours of coaching experience and training, I don’t have all the answers and I certainly don’t have your answers (sorry to disappoint!). The truth is, you have your answers. But you aren’t able to see them yet because you’re living with a system of beliefs and rules about how the world works that may not be serving you. Coaching shines the light on what’s really keeping you stuck and gives you the space to re-write your story so that you can see all the possible answers that are available to you.

What is your coaching style?

My style is all about helping you become the best version of yourself. To do that, I challenge you and inspire you to think differently and see things in a new light. I give my clients the space to think aloud about their challenges and share their thoughts in a nonjudgmental dialogue. There are no right/wrong answers in coaching. The process is all about identifying what you really want and what you believe stands in your way of getting it. I’ll be your accountability partner throughout that journey to help you put your new mindset into action so that you can start seeing the results you’ve been looking for!

Who is your ideal client?

My ideal client is women who feel like they have it all from the outside but are lacking a sense of motivation and engagement in some area of their life. We would be a great fit to work together if you’re someone who is ready to do the deep inner work that coaching helps you with. Our mindset is a very powerful tool that we can choose to use for our benefit or let it keep us stuck. I love working with women who are open-minded and committed to learning more about themselves so that they can harness their power and retrain their mind to create their ideal lives!

What does Ishiki Insights represent?

Ishiki means ‘consciousness’ in Japanese. I chose to incorporate Japanese into my business name because I’ve been speaking the language since I was a little kid and Japan has a very special place in my heart. To me, Ishiki Insights explains exactly what I do with my clients: I help them do the deep inner work of becoming more conscious and aware of who they are and how they believe the world works!

What is your coaching process?

Coaching sessions take place over the phone for an hour once a week. You’ll bring a situation, challenge, or story to the table and we’ll navigate through a series of open-ended questions to clarify your thoughts and determine what you want to do about the topic at hand. By the end of the session you’ll have an action plan in place for the week ahead that feels doable (but also stretches you). At the beginning of the next session we’ll talk through how the week went and what happened when you implemented your action plan.

What changes can one expect after going through the coaching process?
After working with me, you’ll feel empowered and in control of your life! You’ll finally be able to approach life with a confident mindset and an expanded self-awareness that allows you to step beyond your comfort zone and manifest your dreams. Many of my clients have told me that coaching helped them become a better version of themselves that has them feeling more grounded, less reactionary, and more energized!

What are some of your favorite personal development resources – books, podcasts, websites, etc?

Some of my favorites are Gretchen Rubin, Liz Gilbert and Brené Brown. I recently finished reading Jen Sincero’s book You Are a Badass. Great read for busting through your excuses and recognizing your inherent greatness! Two of my other favorites are Happy is the New Healthy by Dave Romanelli and The Crossroads of Should & Must by Elle Luna.

How can people get in touch with you to learn more about your coaching services?

Email me to learn more about what coaching can do for you and to see whether coaching might be a good fit! For a limited time, I’m offering a limited number of complimentary, 90-minute sessions. These sessions are for women who are ready to commit to making some big changes in their life so that they can get unstuck and move forward. If that sounds like you, grab a session on Calendly (and be sure to mention MIS as your referral source!). All sessions are 100% confidential and take place over the phone.

If I were you, I’d sign up for a session with Shannon ASAP. I’m so glad I did! In fact, one of my coworkers said that she sensed a difference in my [virtual] presence late last week.

Leave your questions and comments for Shannon below!

32 Lessons in 32 Years

written by Parita 25 Comments

It was my birthday this past weekend! To be honest, I’m not a huge birthday person. I love celebrating other people’s birthdays, but I don’t like making a big deal out of my own. To put this in perspective, I was more excited about MIS’ birthday!

Of course, Vishnu wasn’t going to let it pass by without some sort of celebrating. I woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of Vishnu entering the apartment after his night shift. He usually comes into the bedroom right away to give me a kiss, but instead he started rummaging around in the kitchen. I got out of bed after a few minutes to see what was up. Well, what was up was a cute little cupcake, a birthday balloon, my favorite dark chocolate, and the sweetest husband in the world singing happy birthday!

[Vishnu’s original plan was to bring the cupcake to me in bed, but I woke up and ruined that plan. I felt bad, so I got back in bed and let him do his thing!]

The rest of the day was pretty perfect too. I ran my usual weekend errands, treated myself to a delicious coffee, and talked to family and friends throughout the day. Later in the evening, we had an amazing dinner experience at a local Italian restaurant (more about this restaurant coming soon!). We ended the night with Meet the Patels and YouTube videos!

And this, my friends, is 32!

I also spent a portion of the weekend reflecting on all the things I’ve learned in the last 32 years (both big and small). Along with the 32 lessons below, I’ve come to realize that I’m much more grounded now than I ever was in my 20s. Despite the bumpy journey, I’m proud of myself and truly looking forward to what this year and the rest of my 30s will bring.

And now, in no particular order, my 32 lessons in 32 years…

Everything in moderation. Even moderation.
Laughter is the BEST medicine!
The grass is greener where you water it.
No one can take your knowledge away from you. Strive to learn something new every day.
The world needs more authentic/genuine/real people. If nothing else, be that.
You can’t love someone else completely until you love yourself completely.
A little reality TV never hurt anyone.
You can’t change other people. You can, however, change yourself. And that may ultimately change those around you.
Always have an attitude of gratitude.
Find something that makes you come alive – a job, a passion project, a hobby – and go after it with a vengeance.
The darker the chocolate the better.
Wash your face every night. Don’t skip this step! Oh and…moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
A bad day(s) doesn’t equal a bad life.
Your parents aren’t going to be around forever so don’t take them for granted.
Money isn’t everything. In fact, most of life’s precious moments are 100% free.
You’ll never regret saying, “I’m sorry.”
Be kind to unkind people. They need it the most.
Always choose the adventure.
Health is real wealth.
When in doubt, less is more.
Your body was made to move.
Choose integrity over all else. Because you will always know.
Travel, both near and far, as often as possible.
Marriage is hard work. And it’s not 50/50. It’s 100/100.
Assume good intent.
Live within your means and save money whenever possible.
Perfection does not exist. In fact, the fun lies in the imperfections.
Listen to your gut/intuition. It can/will guide you if you let it.
Know what good looks like (for you) and don’t settle for less.
Loss, heartbreak, pain, etc. are all a part of life. You won’t be the same after going through it, but you will be ok.
Life is short. Have fun, laugh as much as possible, and love with your whole heart.
Age is just a number!

And just because she’s the cutest, here’s the birthday poem my mom wrote for me! [Thanks, momma!]

What did you get up to this weekend!?

Be Big in the Little Things

Repeat After Me – Everything is Figureoutable

What’s Your Definition of Success?

To All of the Superwomen in My Life

What is NOT the point of life?

An Interview with a Life Coach

32 Lessons in 32 Years

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