7 Life Lessons I Learned on Success, Happiness & Creativity I recently looked back at the last two years of my life

and contemplated the les sons I've learned. I wasn't bored, wasn't in search for myself, and I wasn't ree ling after a defeat; I simply wanted to improve and reflect. I think this is imp ortant - to appreciate our wins, losses, new passions, insights, etc. Not reflec ting on our lives and experiences is, well, a wasted chance for growth and learn ing. At first I was going to jot these lessons down in my diary but then remembered t hat we are in the age of information sharing and collaboration. So I thought tha t sharing them here will extend their meaning and benefit beyond my own personal gain and that's a great thing. So without further adieu, here are some of the more profound things I've learned recently: 10 Principles for Peace of Mind 1. Do Not Interfere In Others Business Unless Asked:

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking mus t be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. G od has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God wi thin them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your p eace.

2. Forgive And Forget: This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings in side our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,20Forget, and march on. Love flouris hes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition: This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding fau lts in you. Why do you wish to kill yours if in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sin cerely.

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know tha t you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get pro motions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not a s successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are sev eral examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember e verybody s life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality . If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming o thers for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment: If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will f ail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and see m congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured: This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond o ur control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up wi th these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself an d you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew: This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more respons ibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worri es? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation . This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Unclutter ed mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly: Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highe st state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earne stly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during th e remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce bet ter results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant: An empty mind is the devil s workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind.

Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively fo llow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you va lue more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work , may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment a nd achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God s name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret: Do not waste time in protracted wondering Should I or shouldn t I? Days, weeks, mon ths, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time a nd do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back a nd worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood ove r the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that wa y. Why cry over split milk? ---------------------------------------------------------------------BY KHUSHWANT SINGH.

Khushwant Singh at his best. The rationale applied to each preference is absolut ely top class.Having lived a reasonably contented life, He was musing over what a person should strive for to achieve happiness. He drew up a list of a few essentials which I put forward for the readers' appra isal. 1. First and foremost is GOOD HEALTH. If you do not enjoy good health you can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct from your happiness. 2. Second, A HEALTHY BANK BALANCE. It need not run into crores but should be enough to provide for creature comforts and something to spare for recreation, l ike eating out, going to the pictures, travelling or going on holidays on the hi lls or by the sea. Shortage of money can be only demoralizing. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one in one's own eyes. 3. Third, A HOME OF YOUR OWN. Rented premises can never give you the snug fee ling of a nest which is yours for keeps that a home provides: if it has a garden space, all the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and blos som, cultivate a sense of kinship with them. 4. Fourth, AN UNDERSTANDING COMPANION, be it your spouse or a friend. If ther e are too many misunderstandings, they will rob you of your peace of mind. It is better to be divorced than to bicker all the time. 5. Fifth, LACK OF ENVY towards those who have done better than you in life; r isen higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be very corroding; a void comparing yourself with others. 6. Sixth, DO NOT ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE to descend on you for gup-shup. By the ti me you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their gossip-mon gering. 7. Seventh, CULTIVATE SOME HOBBIESwhich can bring you a sense of fulfilment, such as gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing ,working out in gym, yoga , or listening to music. Going to clubs or parties to get free drinks or to meet celebrities is criminal waste of time. 8. Eighth, every morning or/and evening, devote at least 15 minutes to INTROS PECTION. In the morning, 10 minutes should be spent on stilling the mind and the n five in listing things you have to do that day. In the evening, five minutes t

o still the mind again, and ten to go over what you had undertaken to do. RICHNESS is not Earning More, Spending More Or Saving More, but ..."RICH NESS IS WHEN YOU NEED NO MORE"