Personal Book

--- J

R

­ ayesh anjan IAS, Principal Secretary to Government Industries and Commerce (Tex) Department(FAC), TS

Knowing Dr. Madhurima Reddy well, I am glad she has ventured to write explicitly on the things that should matter to everyone in their lives. I am very sure The Awakening gives great insights into the concept of Law of Attraction. Wishing the book every success.

In a world of uncertainty and chaos, Dr. Madhurima attempts to inspire people to find meaning to their lives by relating them to the way things work as per the laws of the universe, of which the law of attraction is considered an integral part. It makes for an excellent read.

--- Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna, Indian Actress,

­

Producer, And Television Presenter

Principal Conservator of Forests, Govt of Telangana

The power of Law of Attraction is phenomenal.

Dr. Madhurima has illustratively conveyed its scope in The Awakening, intermingling the concept with her own personal experiences and has thus shown herself as an example of how positivity can change a person’s life.

I’m glad Dr. Madhurima Reddy has ventured to write this wonderful book based on the Law of Attraction. I am certain the reader will find it vastly interesting and that the message conveyed in the book will be immensely helpful to all.

--- Dr. G K Ganapathy Reddy

--- ­M.Nanda Kishore,

CMD, Stayfit India

All the riches in the world are just in your mind. Get what you want.

­

Managing Director, REFL ---- Ramky Group

ISBN number: 978-93-90850-68-6

Sin g

e Su n it h a

www.lawinspire.com

by

r

Founder & CEO Success Gyan

MA., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D, Ph.D, Hon Doct., D.Litt.

DR. P. MADHURIMA REDDY

--- Surendran.J

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

--- R.Shoba, IFS

The whats, the whys, and the hows of life’s success are illustratively explained in this book. I was quite impressed with the author’s own story and how she overcame every misery in her life and fought to become a success story. A must read for all. ­

G I V I N G YO U P O W E R YO U O N LY D R E A M T O F

d

­

Awakening

,

Trainer, Best Selling Author of Sales Dogs, Little Voice Mastery & Team Code of Honor, Advisor to Rich Dad author Robert Kiyosaki

­

The

ewor

--- Blair Singer, International ­

Pretty aptly named, the book actually causes you to awaken to the realities of life, and how you can steer yourself to success. Be prudent, be realistic, and be focused. These three elements will make what you wish to be. Beautifully conveyed, the Law of Attraction is explicitly and effectively presented and is sure to positively impact everyone who reads The Awakening.

r Fo

That we all are products of our own thoughts is an interesting thought in itself. Dr. Madhurima’s work makes us introspect ourselves deeply and identify the factors that can either make us or break us. The law of attraction is well explained here and makes the book a great ally for us in our moments of despair.

AUTHOR’S ACHIEVEMENTS 4 Key speaker in GOA-2020 Olympics conference 4 International Excellence Award Malaysia 2019 for Best Life & Business Coach 4 SWI INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2019 for inspiring Woman Entrepreneur of the year 4 TIME Cyber Media Pvt. Ltd. International Education Award for Most innovative trainer & coach of the year 2018.

4 TIME Cyber Media Pvt. Ltd. International Education Awards for Best training institute of the year 2018 for La Winspire.

4 Being Women as Catalysts International Award 2018 4 Prime time global excellence education award for best Corporate Trainer NLP, Law of Attraction 4 Best vocational training institute award in Telangana 2017 for La Winspire.

4 Indian HR Convention HDM Awards - 2016 for Corporate Trainer NLP, LOA Training & Coaching awardee.

4 Author of a book titled “Inspirational Quotes for Effective Living” 4 Presented more than 50 papers in National and International Conferences and over 35 publications in Journals and anthologies.

QUALIFICATIONS M.A (English), M.Sc. (Psychology), M.Ed., M.Phil. Ph.D. in Education, Ph.D. in English, Hon Doctorate Human Behavioral Sciences, D.Litt. and several Diplomas / Certifications at National and International level. She has been personally coached by spiritual guru Mahatria (Life Skills), Dr. Richard Bandler (NLP), Tony Robbins (Personal Excellence), Robin Sharma (Leadership), Mac Attram, Blair Singer (Marketing Strategies) & T Harveker (Marketing Strategies.)

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy MA., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D, Ph.D, Hon Doct., D.Litt.

CLEVER FOX PUBLISHING CHENNAI . BENGALURU

Published by CLEVER FOX PUBLISHING 2021 Copyright ©Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy 2021 All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 9789390850686 First Published in 2021 Author:

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy Editor:

Vijay Anand Kumar Akunuri

Phone: 950 203 3704 For Copies:

Phones: 91007 31594, 73375 92999 Emal: madhurimaauthor@gmail.com Printing & Publishers:

CLEVER FOX PUBLISHING

No 41, Kalikundram Main Road, Anna Street, Tharamani, Chennai 600113 Email: publish@cleverfoxpublishing.com www.cleverfoxpublishing.com

Layout & Cover Design:

Mahesh Malekar Phone: 739 991 9099 Price: ` 499/DISCLAIMER: This work is based mostly on the author's personal experiences. A few names of some of the characters in the book have been changed to protect their identity and for the sake of privacy. Names of certain places, and time periods may have been altered contextually and may not necessarily reflect on actuals. Any other information matching real people or places is purely coincidental.

Index Acknowledgement Foreword Introduction

Part One Chapter One - The Making of a Miracle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Part Two Chapter Two - The Magic of Law of Attraction . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Chapter Three - Master Your Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Chapter Four - The Key to Good Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123 Chapter Five - How to Accomplish a Great Career . . . . . . . . .139 Chapter Six - Get Name, Fame, and Recognition . . . . . . . . . . .157 Chapter Seven - Being Bountiful, Wealthy and Prosperous . .171 Chapter Eight - Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197 Chapter Nine - Divine Relationships – A Soulmate . . . . . . . . .213 Chapter Ten - Passion and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 Chapter Eleven - Tools and Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273

TO ALL OF MANKIND AND HUMANITY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT No work can ever be done by itself, and this book also is a result of such contributions from different people and sources. First and foremost, I thank all my regional, national and international clients for allowing me obtain various insights into their thought processes which have enabled me define my own thoughts in creating this book. My son Vishaal has been my greatest strength in letting me bring out this book, and I can never thank him enough. My sincere gratitude to my parents, brothers, and their families for providing me with great learning experiences for writing this book. I am grateful to my friends and well-wishers who have provided their own inputs to refine my ideas in this book. My sincere thanks to Continental Hospitals for their support to my efforts in bringing out this book. My humble thanks to my spiritual gurus Swami Vivekananda and Mahatria Ra. I’m truly indebted to playback singer Sunitha Upadrastha for her beautiful foreword which adds tremendous value to my endeavour.

I am forever grateful to Mr. Vijay Anand Kumar Akunuri, from Writers Guild of Hyderabad, who has helped me extensively in presenting, and editing this work. I also owe my gratitude to Mahesh Malekar for the design and layout of the book and to Clever Fox Publishing, Chennai for their support in printing and publishing this book. My thanks to FICCI, BNI Artha, and my own team from La Winspire International, for all their help.

Lastly, my humble thanks to the noble universe, and to each and every situation I had confronted, for giving me the strength and opportunity to make this dream of mine come true.

FOREWORD I am truly pleased to commend and congratulate Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy on her extensive work on this book ‘The Awakening.’ Dr. Madhurima’s story in the first part of the book is a demonstration of her exemplary fighting spirit with her uncompromising approach to life regardless of the seemingly unconquerable obstacles she faced relentlessly. They are an example of true grit, resolve, and determination which we rarely come across.

The way she stands by herself with a ‘never say die’ attitude, and which gradually transforms her into a highly successful personality, speaks volumes of the power of the human spirit. She has extended her own life’s experiences into this book and has explicitly detailed the different ways we can mould ourselves into, in order to be healthy, happy, and successful. The Awakening is an excellent read and I am certain will be helpful to everyone who reads it while giving a new perspective to the way we think and act.

I wish Dr. Madhurima Reddy, every success with this book and look forward to even more wonderful works from her.

Sunitha Upadrastha South Indian Playback Singer, Voice Artist and Television Presenter

INTRODUCTION Wouldn’t you want to be rich, healthy, loved, satisfied, successful and happy, and on the very top? Don’t you wish to be recognised, respected, be socially renowned and be among the upper echelons of the society? Do you wish to know and conquer the mystery of happiness and discover the secret to success?

Instead, are you sad, stressed out and depressed; are you sick or dissatisfied or are you unable to achieve that something? Do you feel betrayed or let down or do you have a pursuit or an ambition that you feel is simply out of reach? If the answer to all these questions is ‘Yes,’ then you must leaf through this book further since it is time you understood that the solution to all the emptiness in your life is right in your hands. It is time you begin to introspect and see clearly with your own eyes and feel it with your own thoughts, that what you sincerely desire is just around you; and that you just are not sensing it. However, with a little practice and redirecting your thoughts to certain aspects of your life, you must know that you can achieve the impossible! No dream or aspiration is too big henceforth, and the solution to all your problems and the key to your complete happiness is right here, and it is in you, and you shall discover that through this book. Awaken your senses and yourself and experience life at its finest through your “Awakening!”

Millions of people have found their happiness, their strength, health, wealth, love, and success when they have discovered, understood, and applied the principles illustrated in this book to their lives. And that has transformed their lives enabling them to bring positive changes to themselves and the world around. Many ordinary people, Scientists, Inventors, Philosophers, Doctors, Engineers, Educators and Spiritual Gurus from different religions 11

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

have discovered their strengths by just reorienting their thoughts, and restructuring their focus, they understood the secret to achieving greatness, which they eventually did. This wondrous work endeavours to allow you to introspect yourselves and identify the areas of your weakness and helps you to shift your focus to the things you really want and that is the first step in allowing you receive what you sincerely desire. In order for your life to transform, you must strive to convert thoughts into actions, and they will accordingly get you the riches or the results you desire.

Some of the world’s greatest celebrities like Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lady Gaga, Virat Kohli and such thousands of others had very humble origins or had suffered utmost defeat and humiliation in their lives to the point of total breakdown. But when they were introduced to the principles that this book exhorts and understood and lived by them, they stopped worrying and soon discovered their own inner strengths. They fed and nurtured their strengths so well that it brought them lasting success and global fame and recognition that we all now know.

The author of this book has been from a highly conservative and orthodox background which culturally and historically has confined women folk to the four walls of their homes making it a byelaw of custom and tradition that it is inappropriate for the female gender to be independent or live freely as they chose. The inception of her marital life was a direct pop into the fire from a life of great comfort and happiness, and she experienced complete condemnation and felt utterly doomed. The more she thought of her helplessness the more unhappy she grew and there were several moments when her situation drove her to thoughts of suicide.

However, somewhere she felt she was born to achieve something great and that she should not give up, howsoever bad her situation was. She gradually began to ignore her dismal 12

position and started to look at the happier aspects of her life. The more she grew out of her unhappy shell, the more happier and stronger she felt. And then as she began to explore her choices, and followed them relentlessly, she soon overpowered all her weaknesses fighting spiritedly, and subdued all the forces that inhibited her.

Over the years she grew to understand that the principles that fortified her will, and gave her strength were all from the Law of Attraction and that her belief in the same actually drove her to the success, she desired. After achieving phenomenal success for over two and half decades, she decided to pen down her experiences for posterity.

They begin with this book, in the form of a collection of simple suggestions and exercises, which when aptly followed, can bring about a fresh element of success within you, the reader. The Awakening is so named because in order to realise it, you have to open up, gain awareness and understand the underlying factors that hold you down, and when you understand them better, you will be better equipped with the necessary resources to break free of them and help you find your path to the success you desire.

This book is divided into eleven chapters, the first being the experiences of the protagonist Madhu, who, in the subsequent chapters, reveals how the miracle of the Law of Attraction can work for you in bringing your health, wealth, education, love, friendship, relationships, career, success, fame and happiness, and employ you with the necessary skills and tools to apply them to your own life and thus be successful.

Our lives are governed by a certain cosmic energy, from the very universe that holds us whose depth can never be measured.

But this very energy drives us and provides us with both positive and negative forces. However, it is you who should decide which force you feed. If you feed positiveness, your life will grow 13

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

abundantly and give you great lasting success, but if you feed negativity, your life will be a perpetual misery.

The Awakening endeavours to bring out the best in you and make you realise your own great strength and puts you on the path of greatness. It is time you free yourself from the shackles that hold you down and fly your way to the path of freedom and fame, and health and happiness, and soar your way to success. The secret to your success doesn’t come to you just by reading this book, but by applying its message to your own life which will inevitably grant you the real joy of accomplishing what you have always desired and deserved.

Welcome to The Awakening!

14

15

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

16

Part One

Chapter One

The Making of a Miracle

Transition and Transformation are the keys to betterment of our lives. If people do not change with times, the very concept of the universe on change, is conflicted. Change for the better, and when you change yourself, you change the world.

— Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

17

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

The News

M

adhu abruptly heard her name called out and stood up.

This was her eleventh international award for her relentless endeavours to empowering and adding meaning to people's lives. She always earned a red-carpet welcome at all these award ceremonies.

As a simple girl coming from a highly conservative and orthodox descent from a region in South India, where women traditionally and historically have been confined to the four walls of a home, Madhu has spectacularly grown to reach an international stage, breaking every barrier and bond, defying the very precept of the culture she hailed from. It was the power of her beliefs and actions she chose to undertake that brought her thus far. This was the result of the belief she had in herself. That was the power of her mind. To simply believe, ignite and conquer.

“Ladies and gentlemen, for our next International Excellence Award, we have chosen a highly distinguished lady, a renowned Life Coach, Psychologist and International Trainer, who for several years, has been empowering millions of lives through her organisation La Winspire International. We are honoured and delighted to invite the distinguished Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy from Hyderabad, India, on stage, to receive this outstanding award.

The most beautiful actress and international celebrity Kareena Kapoor Khan will give away the award."

She had thousands of followers the world over, and it was with overwhelming gusto that they followed her. For years, it was her mission to empower lives, making people discover themselves and realise the power they carried with them when they were quite unaware of it. Everywhere she spoke, she was a hit; she captured audiences with her powerful and realistic talk and related to their personal lives so accurately, that they instantly attached themselves to her and grew an immense sense of respect for her. As a keynote speaker, a guest and presenter, in over one hundred international conferences, with a long list of national and international awards, 18

she indeed was a walking phenomenon.

From one organisation to another and from one institution to another, from community to community and from cities across the country and across continents, she continuously received calls inviting her to hold sessions and trainings. And this has been her routine for over two decades. An individual who gave little time for herself but worked herself out day in day out, for others.

Earlier that day, just before dawn, she had arrived at Kuala Lumpur after a lengthy night flight that she did not feel comfortable in. Somehow, she had been feeling a little weird since the evening before, with an awkward sense of premonition of something that she just could not place. She had had a restless sleep in the hotel, probably because the long flight tired her out.

The restlessness she had been experiencing was probably because of a dream she had about Vishaal's father. She couldn't quite corner down on what the dream was about, but somehow it drew her into deep contemplation; it was like a dream that refused to leave her since she awoke. Try however hard she did, thoughts of Venu refused to leave her. But it was an important day, and she could not allow anything to ruin it, she decided. It was already late afternoon when she woke up. She ordered room service as she completed her ablutions and decided against visiting the grand restaurant of the resort for her lunch. Lunch arrived and she ate her meal silently.

Her mind was raging over needless thoughts and contemplations even as she avoided thinking about anything else.

However, she could summon her energies back and soon enough began to feel more relaxed and felt sleep overcome her again. After about two hours of a quiet and peaceful sleep she felt much refreshed.

As the time drew closer to the awards ceremony, for which she had come all the way to Malaysia, she readied herself to make herself as presentable as possible. The perplexing thoughts still nagged her. But she chose to ignore them. By 6 pm she was done, 19

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

and in no time her transport to the venue arrived.

Within twenty minutes of the drive, her chauffeur halted the vehicle at the lobby of the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, one of the biggest and most prestigious hotels of Malaysia.

The ceremony that Brand Icons, a globally reputed organisation that hosted the awards, was preceded by two days of tours and events for all the dignitaries who came from 26 countries. However, Madhu could not make time for the first two days and could land only on the day that the grand finale was to happen. As she walked into the huge magnificently lit and decorated ballroom, that also played the convention centre for the ceremony, she saw hundreds of guests and delegates seated there to witness the award ceremony of people like herself.

Though she couldn't quite be her normal self today, her overt optimism seemed to possess her and steadied her. She genuinely attempted to shrug off any remnants of the odd feelings that were constantly pestering her since the morning and appeared successful for some time, but gradually the same thoughts came back to taunt her. Is there something wrong with Venu? She wondered. But knowing it was not necessary to think of him now, she dismissed his thoughts and focused on what was going on the stage. Her outlook towards life was constantly guided by the universe, and it usually kept her calm, composed and at peace, with complete faith in herself and her mission. For about twenty minutes of her entering the hall she was lost in thoughts, unmindful of what was being showcased on the stage. Then there was a sudden uproar in the hall and the din of a resounding applause given as a welcome to some celebrity, ensued.

The sudden noise in the massive hall brought Madhu back to her senses. And soon on stage appeared the figure of a celebrated Indian Bollywood actress. The emcee introduced the personality to the crowd in the hall who clapped in delight at seeing her live on stage. She was Kareena Kapoor Khan.

20

And now Madhu fully conscious and herself again, began to watch the proceedings on stage. She was seated at the first row of several accomplished individuals from across Asia and Europe, who had made contributions to various aspects of life in different fields of study and service. She was one of them too. In about fifteen minutes of Kareena Kapoor's being called on stage, she heard her name being called out.

She stood up and briskly walked towards the stage accompanied by two ladies who led her to receive the award.

On the podium, the emcee read out a brief about Madhu.

"Every time we hear of women being subdued, suppressed, oppressed or taken advantage of the story of this highly accomplished lady should act as a true reminder of the power that women actually possess. We are today proud to present Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy from Hyderabad, India. Dr. Madhurima Reddy is an Entrepreneur, a Peak Performance International Trainer & Coach for Life, Wealth, & Business, Psychologist, and an Educationist with an experience of more than two decades in Teaching, Training, Coaching, Mentoring, Healing and Counselling.

This humongous experience and a vision to create a positive change in people led her into instituting a centre of excellence by name La Winspire International. As an inspiring personality she believes that every human being has a moral responsibility of making a difference to people’s lives. Today her unique programs based on Advanced Law of Attraction & Wealth Abundance, NLP, and Emotional Mastery are famous across the globe along with her TV shows. She has attained absolute mastery in conducting Life Skill workshops for thousands and thousands of people today. She has conducted innumerable national and international workshops on various concepts for organizations, professionals, and individuals of all walks of life.

She has coached and transformed top CEOs, professionals, students and individuals from all walks of life across the globe by unleashing their internal spirit that drives them to excellence."

21

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

After her introduction she was congratulated by the celebrity Chief Guest, presented with the award and was richly felicitated.

Madhu felt warm at the honour bestowed on her and heartily thanked the hosts and the organisers of the event, as she was led back to her seat.

In about an hour or so, the felicitation ceremony came to an end and dinner was announced. The grand buffet was a delight to watch with a delectable and exhaustive repast served to honour the guests with the best of international cuisines. Madhu felt a little hungry and made her way to the spread.

She began feeling quite relaxed as she had the whole night to spend, before her return flight home that was at noon, the next day. So, she traced her steps to the buffet, picked up a little food and sat herself on a table which was relatively free.

Just has she was about to savour the first spoonful, she heard her phone ring. She placed back the cutlery on the table and looked at the phone.

It was her elder brother.

“Hello brother.

Hello Madhu, where are you?

I am in Kuala Lumpur, for an award ceremony. Why? Oh, I am sorry, but I have some sad news for you.”

Madhu felt a cold chill in her heart, suddenly concerned, as his voice was quite unusual.

“I am sorry I felt it was important to inform you Madhu.

Inform me what?

It’s about Venu.

What of him brother?

I am sad to say that he is no more. We came to know that today afternoon! His wife could manage to contact me and gave me the sad news!

22

What!!!"

Her brother kept saying something and hung up. Madhu couldn’t understand what he said. She was simply aghast, stupefied, and shocked. She sank back into her chair. A silent tear fell down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it off before anyone else could see it. Quickly sipping a glass of water, she arose and made her way out. The chauffeur was waiting outside. She didn't utter a word and he drove her back to her hotel. Inside the car she closed her eyes feeling exhausted and a little faint.

The news though shocking, was however, not devastating.

Venu had left her long back in life and there hardly was an emotional connect ever between them for ages. The man was more a moral wreck than a man proper. Still, he was her husband and she had loved him dearly at some point in her life. Is it possible?

Was it why she was having all the weird sensations over the last few hours? Was it the universe telling her the news? As soon as she returned to her room, she called her brother again. She enquired how Venu passed away. He then asked her when she was returning and if she would go for the cremation, of her ex-husband.

She said she’d call upon returning and hung up. She crashed on to the bed and stared at the ceiling. Twelve years of her prime life she was with Venu, from the time she was just twenty-one, when she was married. All her memories seemed to fly past her. It has been ten years that she did not hear from him. And now this. She closed her eyes and her entire life seemed to roll again.

The Beginning A group of six- to ten-year-olds were busy playing in the park of a residential colony, unmindful of the summer heat that was sweltering even as the evening drew close. This was a daily routine of most of the children of the neighbourhood after school, just as anywhere else, the difference being that very few girls would be seen in the groups; in fact, one would hardly find a girl or two in 23

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

a group of a dozen boys or so.

“Madhu, Madhu…!”

A loud shrill voice was heard, from a short distance.

“Oh dear, look at you Madhu, all dirtied up!

And what are you doing out here playing with the boys?

Don’t you know that girls from respected families are not supposed to mingle with boys? What would our neighbours say! Come back now!”

So saying, a middle aged lady walked briskly to an eight year old girl who was busy with the boys playing young innocent games.

The moment she heard her grandmother’s voice the little girl who was building some odd structure in the mud stood up and the boys who were helping her moved aside a little. As soon as she heard the footsteps and the voice of her granny, the little one made a run for it and kept her distance from the woman, with the expression of not wanting to be caught.

“Grandmother, I was not here even for a few minutes, I want to play, you please go, I’ll come back later.

Enough of it Madhu, this is not the behaviour expected from girls of decent families. Look how dirty you look, more like a good for nothing tramp. Come back now.”

The girl reluctantly walked to her grandmother, who held her and dusted her clothes and hair, and holding her by the hand, led her away out of the park from the boys. Seeing her leaving, a few boys came running to them.

“Granny, why do you always do this? Why can’t you just let us play? We are just about to finish building the house in the mud, and Madhu was doing it very well. Please let her finish and then you can take her.” So saying, one of the boys held Madhu’s hand and tried to tug her away from her grandmother. The woman was incensed and gave the boy a straight slap.

“Hey, you naughty rascal, how dare you touch my girl, just 24

go and do it yourselves. Why do you need a girl to do that? Madhu will never come and mix with you dirty boys again, go on, leave now, get out, get away!”

And she dragged the girl away who was now in a half crying state, while the disappointed boys walked back to what they were doing, the one who was slapped, smarting from the blow, and exasperated at this treatment. Nevertheless, this was a regular phenomenon and things usually didn’t go beyond the situation.

Such was the culture in most regions of India, where typically every girl from a respectable household was groomed, sculpted, and moulded to fit into the stereotypes that long held the reigns in an icy grip. A woman is made purely to be within the household, within the confines of the walls of a home, to be reared, given a basic education, and married off to take care of the husband and mother her children, that’s all. A woman was just that, nothing more.

Her contribution to a family was only limited to cooking for the family, cleaning the household, bringing up the children and listening to the imperatives of her husband, her in-laws and her maternal family.

Independence!!!

What was that!?

Madhu was born in a family that lived by this precept, for generations. The Reddy Rajas that she descended from, were the erstwhile lords and small-time rulers around the region, and a patriarchal system was highly prevalent in the society therein.

Women were meant to be married off, bear children and be the caretakers of the family, with an unquestionable devotion to the husband being their sole duty. And most of it came from the ancient practice that women brought upon themselves.

The elder women would induce and reinforce the idea in the younger female generations that this is what their purpose was and that they should abide by it under every circumstance. And the 25

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

girls would fall in place accepting that this is what they were made for. Men, however, were given the mantle of running the house, earning, and providing for the family. The practice went on for ages, and no one questioned the system. It just was the way and women happily accepted it, never ever questioning the concept.

Acceptance ran in their blood.

Madhu’s father was a well-educated man and a respectable and socially renowned personality. He was the Director and Head of Physical Education in SK University and created unique concepts in the stream, helping the government and the administration to strengthen the importance of physical education in the younger generation. He pioneered the cause of creating formal post graduate qualifications in Physical Education and was instrumental in bringing in the course MPEd, MPhil and Doctoral degrees in SK University. He was often invited for talks, workshops and conferences across the country and even officially visited several countries representing India. Among his network were important people such as IAS and IPS officers, senior government functionaries, politicians, landlords and businessmen.

And there would be lots of get-togethers at the household in which many such important individuals would often participate.

Madhu herself was a very shy and demure girl and usually kept to herself and was quite content to be at home within the walls that surrounded her. She had an elder brother and a younger one and all of them went to good schools. Madhu’s grandmother, i.e. her mother’s mother, was looked at as the elder of the house and she set the rules of the household, especially for women. By herself she was married off at an early age of twelve and by thirteen was a mother. But sadly, soon after, she lost her husband and was taken back into her maternal family where she grew to formalise her stature as a woman with a voice in the entire family. Her only child grew up to become Madhu’s mother.

Gradually in Madhu’s household, her grandmother became the most dominant personality, and she would decide everything 26

for the well-being of the family, and since she did it well, the entire family would look upon her as the driving force of the family and would follow her directives to the tooth. She would take pains to teach Madhu the qualities of the ideal woman of a typical Reddy family and all the virtues of womanhood that women of the household are expected to follow. Thus, in time it became evident that anyone in Madhu’s shoes was destined to fall in place and be and do what everyone else was and did as a woman. Her father never said anything else to Madhu that his mother-in-law did not.

And nor did her own mother.

So, growing up in such an orthodox household was naturally bound to affect anyone as it did Madhu. In such a family, a woman’s education was considerably less important. It was only to help her educate her children to the extent of what she could.

Hailing from such a descent, Madhu believed that she was destined to be just like all the other women of the culture. So, she never grew any strong like for her studies and was just an average student managing to just pass her exams in order to be promoted.

In her Tenth standard, the onset of her untimely puberty made her most uncomfortable during her examinations, that she simply could not pass them. But she managed to clear her supplementary exams and proceeded with her further studies.

Sports interested her immensely and she loved short and long sprints and relays, and the physically demanding games like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Athletics, in which she was active till her graduation.

While all the parameters were drawn at home for her lifestyle as a girl, within the boundaries of her home, she was the princess and would be treated like a queen by everyone. She was never denied anything she wanted and whatever material things she sought were made available to her in an instant. The pampering was so much that she never really bothered what was beyond the walls of her home, other than her college or her relatives’ homes.

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Within no time she passed her degree and chose to join a postgraduation in English.

In her entire family and its network of friends and relatives, English was the order of the day. Anyone with an M.A in English meant a great sense of respect and since Madhu herself displayed no keen interest in pursuing any technical qualification, nor there being any need for such a pursuit, her father encouraged her to take up English for her post-graduation. And soon enough when she had completed her first year and her exams were due, someone close to the family brought forth a marriage proposal for Madhu.

Madhu’s father was always for discipline in the family and believed that whichever family that Madhu would be married into must have such a background. He had rejected a few proposals that came up before, because he was not confident of their stature and background. He, as any responsible parent would dream of, naturally sought only a comfortable and happy future for his only daughter. Of her father’s friends there were several who were in the army and some who later shifted to the police forces or joined the government in some important bureaucratic position.

A lot of interaction used to occur with his friends from the forces. He believed that the best people in the society are from the defence since their culture and discipline would make them extraordinary citizens. Their frequent meetings and get-togethers also gave inspiration to all his children about the culture in the defence. Even his eldest son was put in the Army School, and now had become a full-fledged officer serving in the Indian Army.

When the proposal was brought to Madhu’s dad by someone close to the family, he wasted no time in letting the family collectively endorse it. They found that the boy hailed from a respected well to do family and that he was the only son and a well-qualified handsome personality working as an officer in the Indian Airforce. Without much ado, Madhu’s father proceeded to go ahead with the proposal. The boy Venu came and saw Madhu as was the traditional practice of the groom seeing the bride and 28

declared his interest in the proposal. Both the boy and girl agreed and soon the wedding was formalised.

As per the family’s understanding, Madhu would be given away to the boy’s family with a considerable property in the form of gold, cash, and property, which in other terms were dowry for her marriage. It was a practice going on for centuries and few objected to it.

Madhu was not made party to any of these discussions as it was the practice that these parleys were held only by the elders of the house and the parents. The wedding was planned for a period of five days with festivities and celebrations that were part of the event, both preceding and following the main nuptial ceremony.

Beautiful wedding cards were printed and a guest list of over ten thousand people was made. Since no function or wedding hall was large enough to accommodate such a large gathering, the city’s largest stadium i.e. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy Stadium, was chosen as the venue by both the parties.

As per the arrangement, the entire wedding costs were to be borne by the bride’s family, and as a traditional practice in a Hindu family, the wedding would be conducted by the bride’s family and the reception hosted after the wedding day would be held by the groom’s family. For the wedding, the cost of the bride’s clothes and some jewellery including the ‘mangalasutram’ would be provided by the groom. This was discussed and pre-agreed by both the parties in this case.

The entire program was in place, and the wedding was just five days away with preliminary festivities having already begun.

Abruptly one day, the groom’s parents summoned Madhu’s parents for a meeting. Madhu’s father was a little surprised at this since everything was already discussed, agreed upon and decided, but he met them nevertheless, just to clear up anything that may have been left undecided.

The groom Venu’s father upon opening the discussions said 29

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to Madhu’s father: “Listen Chinnappa Reddy, we had overlooked one important thing during the finalisation of the wedding.

I thought we had agreed and finalised everything in front of elders and witnesses. What was left?”

Madhu’s father queried, puzzled.

“Oh nothing, this was anyway mutually agreed so I don’t think you should have any issue now.

Please be clear, and if there is anything left for me to do let me know, I would be glad to complete it.

We do know your sincerity Chinnappa Reddy, so here is what we want. Whatever property including Gold, Cash, and properties that you have promised to give along with your daughter, must be handed over to us immediately before the marriage. “ Madhu’s father was stupefied.

“Why the sudden urgency?

You see, we want to be safer than sorry. What if you go back on your promises after the marriage?

Sir, I am quite shocked! Please remember, I am giving my daughter to this household, she is my most valuable possession, and I am surprised that you should speak to me this way!

All this talk is secondary, you must make arrangements to transfer the property immediately for the wedding to take place.

And please waste no further time. We are waiting.”

Madhu’s father left their house stunned and speechless at this fresh and cunningly well played demand. He returned home and gathered his family around and told them what had transpired.

Madhu was very upset on knowing this. But there was little anyone could do at that time. In a couple of days, the wedding was due, and this development came in the least expected time.

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But when Madhu came to enquire, she was quickly dismissed by both her parents as well as her grandmother and even her elder brother.

“Madhu, this is not a matter of your concern, we will resolve it. It is not your responsibility. We have given our commitment and we will do the needful. You must not involve or interfere in these issues.”

Not knowing what to do, Madhu simply retired to her room.

The next day, her father went ahead with the necessary formalities of transferring the property and handed over all that was demanded as part of the dowry by the groom’s parents. But these entire developments played down on Madhu’s conscience, and she felt quite disturbed.

Her father went to meet Venu’s father for the handover and in no time, it was done. Uttering a sigh of relief, when he was finally about to leave, the groom’s father stopped him yet again.

“Listen there’s one more thing!”

Chinnappa Reddy closed his eyes and paused in expectation of something more even as he arose and was about to leave.

“We decided that the cost of the reception we have planned will need to be borne by you, and you must also purchase the gold and the mangalasutram, and the bride’s clothes yourself and give it to us to present to you.”

This time he was outraged.

“So, what exactly is it that you are giving my daughter for the marriage? How could you so coldly say these things when the marriage is just two days away. Did we not agree in front of other elders?

There are no more elders other than you and me in the matter. Just do what you are told, and the wedding will go on smoothly!”

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Without a word, Madhu’s father rose and left. By evening he sent the additional gold, the bride’s clothes, and the cash through a family member. There was nothing he could do. His reputation and his daughter’s life, both were at stake. Adding to the insult, he painfully found that his would be son-in-law was very much present at these meetings and did little more than nod to whatever demands his father raised. Though he was immensely hurt and offended, he nevertheless took it in his stride. Though he convened his family and detailed everything that transpired between him and Venu’s father, there was little that they could do other than complete the wedding and send Madhu to her in-laws family honourably. His only precious daughter is being married and that’s all that mattered. However, it did not occur either to his mind or to anyone in his family that he was sending his little angel to a family filled with avarice of the highest degree and without the faintest idea of whether she would have a happy and comfortable future there.

The wedding was one of the grandest events in the region as also in Madhu’s life as thousands of guests thronged the Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy stadium for the function.

The biggest politicians of the region, celebrities, sports personae, and several important people from the society turned up at the event. Scores of the most dainty and delectable dishes were laid out for the guests in a banquet that resembled nothing less than that of an emperor. The event followed by the Reception two days later also was a massive celebration, the culmination of which bought the wedding to a close.

The entire celebrations ended in a couple of days after Madhu was sent to her husband’s place, putting an end to the phase of her pre-marital life, and opening a new chapter for a life within Venu’s household. Madhu’s family completed all the formalities that were necessary to assure her comfort and she began to take on her role as the traditional woman in a Rayalaseema Reddy family.

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Life With Venu Around this time Madhu’s husband Venu was a Pilot Officer at the Indian Airforce and was continuing his posting at Tambaram near Chennai. Madhu gradually began to don the responsibilities of a housewife, taking good care of her husband and learnt to cook a number of meat and vegetable dishes since he was particularly fond of them. After staying for a few months at her in-laws home, she began to understand what life meant as a wife and as a daughter and sister-in-law. There would be regular visits from her parents and every time they would arrive with lots of gifts and money to hand over to her and their son-in-law.

At her in-laws’ home even as she began to settle down, she soon began to witness that her husband and her father-in-law continuously engaged in trading of shares. They would be so engrossed in them, that she thought for a while that she did not exist for them. Such was the depth of their involvement and Venu himself would seem obsessed with it so much, that it eventually became a vice. At the end of each such session every day, he would mostly sulk and display his impatience and temper over everything.

She soon realised that he displayed these tantrums every time he lost money, and that he did plentifully. Every now and then he would demand money from Madhu’s parents saying that he lost his savings and earnings in shares and that he needed more and more.

And the incidents became more and more frequent, much to her embarrassment and discomfort. Madhu’s father would constantly keep sending them more and more money and sold a considerable amount of his lands to supply them with the cash demanded. Whenever Madhu would object to these demands by Venu, both he and his father would reprimand her and say unpleasant things to her about her family which annoyed and distressed her. But she always refrained from retorting since that was the counsel she was given by her parents, and she began to think of it as a part of her life.

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Once when these demands became too much to bear, she spoke back against her father-in-law and her husband at which they grew very angry with her and warned her with serious consequences. They threatened that they might be compelled to ask her to pack her bags and go back to her parents if her father failed to pay them the money they demanded, or if she raised her voice against them in any possible way.

In exasperation when she called her father and told him what happened and requested him not to yield, her father and her elder brother went on a lengthy charade telling her it was not her concern and that it was not her call and that she should just listen to her husband and her in-laws and all this was their responsibility and that she need not be perturbed on this account. Her father time and again told her that it was the culture of the region and in a typical Reddy family, these things were normal and that she should be the least concerned.

Her elder brother had already joined the army as a commissioned officer by then and her younger brother was preparing to go to the US for his job and a possible career there.

Madhu knew that her elder brother had a strong voice at home, and after her father it was him that she had to listen to in her maternal home.

As all these developments began to frustrate her, Madhu began to feel stifled, depressed and vexed with these happenings that were going on a regular phase. As she kept contemplating how she can find relief in such circumstances, suddenly it dawned upon her that completing her unfinished MA might just put her mind at peace. She immediately put her plan into action and one fine day openly declared to her in-laws that she decided to complete her MA which she abandoned on account of her marriage. Before they could react, she audaciously went on to add, that her marriage gave her absolutely no happiness contrary to what she and her maternal family had dreamt of, and perhaps completing her postgraduation may give her a sense of peace.

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Both her husband and her father-in-law were numbed as if she fed them a live frog. But Madhu put forth her decision firmly saying nothing can stop her from this decision. They immediately called her father and told him that they did not like her defiance and that they were never told that she would be pursuing further studies after marriage.

However, Madhu’s father told them that he would talk to her and tell her not to pursue the idea. He later called her and spoke to her at length saying that she would find peace and happiness only if she listened to her husband and her in-laws, and urged her not to take any step that would precipitate matters for herself at her in-laws. But Madhu had enough and said that it was impossible, and that she had decided in her mind on it and would complete her MA, come what may.

Finally, she quietened down and apologetically spoke and managed to convince everyone that her education mattered to her, and it should not worry them as it would only improve her further, and also would increase their own reputation. There was nothing anyone could do in the situation and subsequently both the parties sobered down appalled at the degree of obstinacy she demonstrated. With no further acts from her in-laws to prevent her from carrying out her wish, Madhu began to prepare for her exam. A mediocre student that she always was, she had never found studies interesting either at school or at college and went there only to please her father. She never scored beyond average and once she had even failed in her high school exam. But now, she found a strange strength in herself in pursuing her intent to complete her MA. She genuinely began to study hard, working herself out even while she attended to her household duties and her duties to her husband. Her grit and determination to succeed in her goal, gave her immense power.

When the examinations arrived, she took on them with perfect confidence and surprised everyone including her own self at the ease with which she handled them. The results that were 35

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

announced six weeks later, were more than electrifying. Her name stood in the top five of the university toppers for MA in English, in the Sri Krishnadevaraya University. She was thrilled beyond description and her happiness knew no bounds.

Her parents and siblings appeared equally overjoyed at her performance and all her college faculty applauded her for her striking performance. But sadly, neither her husband nor her inlaws put in a word of appreciation. But Madhu cared little for their endorsement and her joy was boundless. This overwhelming success planted a new seed of interest in her to study further notwithstanding how her in-laws might react. Around this time Venu was transferred to Belgaum in Karnataka to the Airforce Station at Sambra and she had to shift there with him. Soon Madhu acclimatised herself to this new life and for a while, things seemed to improve. Madhu set about making friends of the other officers’ wives and in a few weeks, she established herself as a strong link in a group of four ladies. She and another lady, Meena were the youngest of the group and they began meeting everyday for morning and evening walks.

In about eight to twelve months of the marriage, Madhu conceived. However, and most disappointingly so, there was little joy in her husband’s family over her pregnancy.

Venu began to lose more and more money on shares and Madhu became the object of his frustration. Her determination to study incensed him all the more and he found opportunity to take her to task at every instance, sometimes scaring her severely; and this relentless behaviour began to show on her health. He would shout at her, throw things, and go on a rampage, falling short of beating her up, whenever he lost money in share broking.

And he would blow into a volcanic fury when Madhu would refuse to ask her father for money. He would often threaten her with divorce, a word she never came across in her life before. He would threaten of smudging her father’s family name with all unfounded things unless she brought him more money. But with all this 36

unending harassment, Madhu still maintained her poise with her friends never missing an opportunity to go for her walks. Time flew and she was in the seventh month of her pregnancy.

One morning she heard a lot of disturbance and voices around the colony and the siren of an ambulance. Wondering what, she opened the curtains of the window and peeped outside. In front of the house of her friend Meena, whose house lay diagonally opposite to their own, she found a large group of people, officials and an ambulance parked. Venu wasn’t there. She quickly went down to find out what happened. Even as she hastened to the place, the police brought out a body on a stretcher, and some of the crowd broke into a high-pitched wail. It was Meena. She had immolated herself… burnt herself to death.

Madhu was shocked, stupefied and stunned at the misfortune. Only three days before they both had met, walked together, and laughed, and in just the passing of a couple of nights, this. She could not stop crying. It was the first time in her life that she witnessed someone killing themselves and that too in the most gruesome of manners, and someone she knew pretty closely. No one knew why Meena killed herself. Her husband was a senior officer and appeared a pleasant person. She never had reason to believe that he may have been responsible for her extreme step. It remained a mystery. Back home she was completely broken. She never had such an experience. She never saw someone die, more importantly kill themselves, and someone who was a close friend!

For the next few days, she hardly spoke, ate very little and had bad dreams and only broken sleep. In her mind, she somehow began to think, that perhaps if Meena had spoken to her or confessed to her about any serious underlying problem she was facing, probably she would have been able to talk her out of it. And the thought of helping out people in such serious emotional states, was thus planted into her.

In such a state that Madhu herself was, it did not occur to her husband in any manner to offer the slightest consolation. He 37

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continued his gambling which showed no signs of reducing. When she attempted to discuss the suicide with him, he just dismissed her saying, that there was no need for her to get so upset as such things happen everywhere and told her to stop thinking about it.

As luck would have had it, a few weeks later, Madhu came to know of yet another suicide; that of one of her close friends whom she grew up with. It was her schoolmate Geeta, who was reported to have jumped from a high rise building to her death.

Madhu was truly heartbroken at this development. Two suicides of her close friends in a span of just few weeks.

In the weeks that followed, Venu lost lakhs and lakhs of Rupees in shares and became a wreck of himself. And it came to pass that things became so bad between him and Madhu that they stopped talking to each other, ate separately and slept in different rooms. Eventually one fine day when she entered her eighth month, on an evening that appeared gloomier than usual, Venu made way to her room and addressed her.

“Listen Madhu, all the money and the gold your parents gave so far is irrecoverably lost in shares. I am in serious debt and no help is coming from anywhere. I have no more monetary resources and my life has become a zero. You must immediately ask your father to sell whatever lands he has marked in your name and give me the money so I can pay back my debtors. I don’t want you to retort. Just do as I say. I am tired of living with you anyway.

If you do not do this, you can go and live the rest of your days with your father as I will give you a divorce. Just do it or you and your family will repent forever.”

Madhu did not respond. True to his threat, the next day Venu took her and left her at her parental home and went back without a word to his in-laws. Madhu didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. But back here at her parents’ home she felt immensely and genuinely relieved that she could escape the ceaseless bombardment of her husband.

In a couple of days after she was brought home, her father 38

and her brothers spoke to her and enquired in detail about her experiences in her in-laws place. Madhu broke down several times at the state of abandonment she was in and conveyed clearly that her husband cared but little for her and that she felt as worthless as a piece of unused furniture at his house. As her parents and her siblings heard everything, they calmed and consoled her. Her father asked her pardon for getting her married into the wrong family but said that it was in her best interest that they married her into it. And that it was impossible to expect that they would turn out as they did.

At one point in the course of their conversations, her father even suggested that she undergo an abortion and get it over with, in deep agony and anguish, not realising that she was in such an advanced stage of pregnancy that such a thing would have been impossible without putting her life to the risk of death. Of course, Madhu said a straight NO and insisted on bearing the child.

Realising the absurdity of this suggestion again, her parents consoled her saying that the child may just be a fortune and might possibly cause their son-in-law to change and become a responsible husband and father once again. With a faint hope Madhu just smiled and went on with her routine, while she awaited the delivery of her child. A month later she delivered at a maternity hospital. It was a son. Her son brought great joy to the household as it was the first grandchild in the family and the arrival was celebrated with great gusto.

Madhu herself was very happy and for quite some time was lost in the joy of bringing a new life to the earth in the form of her own son. The news reached Venu, but his response was casual.

He didn’t elicit any interest in visiting his wife or child and appeared unaffected, much to the surprise of his own parents. But Madhu knew that this was to be, and it surprised her little. He, however, came on the ninth day of his son’s birth, possibly just to avoid unnecessary talk within his circles about his being irresponsible. After a couple of hours, he plainly left. After this episode, looking at this, the prospect of getting back to her 39

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husband seemed more worrisome to Madhu. She felt he didn’t change at all. His arrogance, his overbearing attitude and his narcissism were only much more clearer.

For twenty-two years of her life Madhu was treated with absolute care at her parental home. She was treated like an angel, pampered by her grandmother, her parents, her brothers, her distant relations, and everyone in the neighbourhood. She was presented with the choicest clothes, given the best toys and treats and was loved with such great affection that heaven itself might not have offered more. The one thing that they didn’t give her was freedom or exposure to anything outside the house. But because she was denied nothing, Madhu never ever felt any deficiency in her bring up. Twenty-two years of her beautiful life just came to a stunning turnaround with her miserable marriage into a miserable family of avaricious men who cared more for money than for morality.

As the weeks passed and Madhu grew stronger and suckled her baby, she felt more distant to her husband and closer to her son. Four months passed but still there was no sign of him, and that was a little alarming and puzzling. Word came to them that he was well and about at Belgaum, and that he appeared quite normal. Back home Madhu now very strangely, began to experience new attitude from her parents and her brothers, something that she never believed could happen. One fine day her parents and her brothers all convened a meeting in the hall with Madhu being at the centre of the agenda.

“Madhu, we were all discussing about your future.”

Said her father.

“What of my future father, is there anything wrong?

In our families, once a girl is married into another family, that household becomes primary to her. Her maternal home is only meant for an occasional visit, no more.

Father what do you mean?”

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At this juncture her brother joined in.

“Listen sister, it has been four months that you have delivered and there’s no indication about your husband coming back for you. At this juncture, it is time you went back to your husband’s place by yourself. That is your future home, and your place will always be beside your husband. Not here.”

When realisation dawned upon Madhu, that she was no longer welcome at her father’s home, she felt a stream of tears rolling down her cheeks. She picked up her son and rushed into her bedroom. At that her mother followed her in and hugged her warmly.

“Mother,” Madhu whispered in her ears.

“For once please call Venu and tell him to come and take me back. If he doesn’t, I will leave and find some place to live by myself.

I have realised my place here in your household.”

And she broke down once again. Her mother consoling her, assured her that she would call her son-in-law immediately and check why he hasn’t turned up yet to see his family. She immediately instructed her elder son to call Madhu’s husband and find out what his actual intent was. Her son proceeded with the call and Venu gave some weird defence at not being able to visit his wife. He however said it was not his plan to abandon or leave her and that he would come in a few days to collect her and his child. This news seemed relieving to all of them. Though Madhu dreaded the idea of going back to Venu, she knew there was nothing she could do in the matter.

He was her husband and she had to live with him, howsoever bad he may be. That was the social norm and even her own parental household stood by the maxim. Everyday became a living torture now at this so-called home.

Her relatives, her brother’s friends, her father’s friends, all of them who would visit the household to see Madhu and her son would offer their own two cents about how important it is for a 41

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married lady with a child, to live with her husband. She became a punchbag and the object of every unnecessary counsel that was possible. And everyone who advised her would only eulogise the characteristics of the ideal Reddy girl and how the region of Rayalaseema made it imperative for women to stick to their husbands irrespective of how they were. If the woman was not able to groom her husband to her requirements, it was definitely her problem, not the man’s; all of them would tell her in unison.

Madhu began to wonder why she was born at all and if life was really worth if she had to experience such obnoxiousness in her routine. She began to experience suicidal thoughts.

In about three weeks after the call, the fifth month after the baby was born, Madhu’s husband arrived at his father in law’s place to take his wife and child away with him. His arrival was greeted with warmth and Madhu’s parents did everything in their power to make him feel comfortable and well taken care of. In a couple of days Madhu and her child, with new hope, were sent away with him to Belgaum where Venu was continuing his posting. Back at Belgaum Madhu’s son who began to grow plump and cherubic, and ruddy and healthy, was a hit with the neighbourhood ladies and other youngsters and teens.

For some time, Madhu, with her friends, began enjoying her life once again at Belgaum. Though she did miss her friend she avoided thinking of her to lessen her own pain. But old habits die hard as goes the saying and true to this saying, Venu began reverting to his old days, with a marked escalation in the intensity of his drinking and smoking and again gambling away on the share market. And he never seemed to be satisfied with what little gains he may have made; he lost in several lakhs, but this compulsive habit made no display of ending. He ended up being in large debts, borrowing money even from employees who are much lower in rank to him and became a subject of utter ridicule.

Madhu on the contrary found employment in a nearby Kendriya Vidyalaya and began teaching there. This was a great relief to her and kept her from thinking about her husband. She 42

also approached the unit commander and asked him if she can conduct some counselling sessions and training for the families of the personnel posted there. The commander readily agreed and in a matter of time, Madhu became a hit as a sensible and empathetic speaker. Once the higher-level officers found her sessions interesting, they invited her to take such sessions for the personnel themselves. This not only became her passion but also began to help her earn independently. Word spread that a certain lady was offering good quality training programmes in the unit and even schools and colleges in the neighbourhood began approaching Madhu for her sessions. With all these positive developments she seemed happy for the moment Then one fine day in the middle of the night she received a phone call saying that Venu and one of his friends had a major car accident. It appeared that both he and his friend were excessively drunk and lost control while driving fast and dashed against a tree on the curve of a road enroute to Sambra. The car was a complete wreck, and it would have been impossible for anyone to survive such a crash. Venu was found unconscious with multiple fractures on all his limbs and several of his ribs had cracked. He had injuries on his head, his jaw, and lesions all across the body, and had lost considerable blood. But he was breathing and alive. His friend was fortunate to have suffered very little injury as he had been thrown out into nearby bushes as the car door jarred open due to the impact and escaped with just a few bruises.

The good commandant of the unit immediately summoned a team of doctors to treat Venu and arranged for his emergency airlift to the Command Hospital at Pune. His injuries were life threatening and if emergency treatment was not done, he was certain to lose his life. This quick step went a long way in saving the man. Madhu quickly got the news about the accident after he was airlifted to Pune, and in a state of shock, she immediately called her parents and also her in-laws. The officers of the unit also quickly arranged for her transport to Pune. The next day, with a trembling heart she went to see him. He was unconscious of course.

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When she learnt of the nature and the seriousness of his injuries, she wondered if he would ever be able to walk again. The doctors however reassured her that though his healing could take considerable amount of time, he was likely to be restored to good health. They gave him a tentative period of six months to two years for complete recovery. But she was advised to take the most diligent care of him without which his chances of survival were meagre.

The next day she was joined by her parents and her brothers, and in a while her in-laws turned up at the hospital too. Upon seeing her son in such a state, his mother raised a din crying loudly as she was consoled by her husband who in a burst of emotion pointed at Madhu which meant that she was to blame for their son’s predicament.

Madhu was dumb struck, and as her tears flowed freely, the commotion quickly brought her parents to her defence. Before it grew to be a full-blown fight however, sense prevailed in her parents, and they avoided further confrontation with them knowing well that it would fetch them nothing. Venu’s parents did not stay even for a few days, saying that it is Madhu’s responsibility now to take care of him and left huffily. Madhu wondered how any parents could so easily abandon their own son and walk away so casually and irresponsibly. But knowing them fully well, she quickly forgot about them and got back to her duties. Her brother and her parents gave her a good amount of money and found her a place to stay a few minutes’ walk from the hospital.

The doctor said that she would have to stay for close to a year and take care of him. After about three days or so, she requested her parents to take her son Vishaal with them since she had no support of taking care of him there. Her mother gladly agreed and took the darling toddler with them back home.

Once Venu came back to his senses, in about a fortnight, each day for the next six months, Madhu would clean him with a wet sponge, bathe him, change his clothes, renew his bandages, 44

prepare food for him, and do everything that would lighten up his pain and hasten his recovery. She would take him around for fresh air in his wheelchair and talk to him to keep him in good spirits.

The routine was exhaustive. In the evenings she would go back to her room. She learnt to ride a two-wheeler since commuting would be easier and acquired one. She also began to learn to drive a fourwheeler so that she could purchase things and carry them back in a car which would be easier in her care for Venu.

After eight months of tender care and responsible treatment from Madhu, Venu was discharged from the hospital, and returned to Belgaum. Vishaal meanwhile was still with Madhu’s parents, and they enjoyed taking care of him. He developed a very strong bond with his grandparents as he grew up. It, however, took nearly three years of intense care for Venu to become normal again. And in the first year that he was in his convalescence, he was well behaved and never uttered a word against Madhu.

In a way it appeared that he knew if he misbehaved with his wife again, he might be deprived of the diligent care she showed him, and thus kept himself balanced. Probably this was Madhu’s quietest if not the happiest period in her marital life. On her part Madhu began to understand the value of money and started saving whatever she could. Her elder brother gave her a large monetary gift and her parents also were generous in their offerings to her.

They felt she was in a sad situation and that it was their duty to help her. In many ways Madhu was grateful to her family for their massive help during this time. And every Rupee she earned and whatever she received from her family, she began to invest in lands, since she began to realise that an estate like land can only appreciate.

In the second year after Venu’s accident, Madhu requested her parents to return her son, since her husband was recovering, and it was time she took care of her own child. After Vishaal was returned to her, Madhu had to balance her timings between taking care of her husband, her son and also her job. She began being 45

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involved in taking training sessions in soft skills, women empowerment, and personality improvement for both the unit personnel as well as for a few organisations and institutions in the neighbourhood. Since Venu was recovering and was able to move around on his own, atleast in the house, it was a relief to Madhu.

Once she realised that he could manage himself without too much difficulty she occasionally delegated him the responsibility of looking after Vishaal. Venu did not object and for a few months it was going fine.

But one cannot chain the devil inside for too long and his old side was desperately waiting to manifest itself once again.

Gradually he began to display his former aggression and was desperate to get back to his former ill-behaved ways. He knew Madhu had been earning well and that she had been receiving monetary gifts from her family and that she had invested in real estate. As he began to walk, even though with an obvious limp, he got back to his former practice of share trading and once again started his drinking and smoking. Madhu initially felt it was harmless since he did not pester her for money as before and thought if it engaged him a little it was better that way, and perhaps it would fasten his recovery and he could go back to work.

Things went on this way for a few weeks.

One day a tired Madhu trotted across the street, alighting from a bus at the designated bus stop, and in a few minutes was at her door. She knocked the door and waited for a few moments.

From the inside she could hear a faint cry of her baby.

Disturbed at this and having had no response from inside, she knocked a little harder that almost felt like a push and was surprised that the door gave away and opened a little indicating that it was not bolted from inside. She pushed it quickly and went inside.

The hall was empty, and her baby who was just about fourteen months old, was weeping, tugging at a metal chain that was tightly wrapped around one of his legs.

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Quickly, with trembling hands, she unchained her child who held on to her, crying unstoppably. The chain that he was leashed with, gave his ankles reddened blisters around where it bound him, and at a few places his skin broke and peeled off revealing patches of red tender flesh. Madhu grew hysterical. Though she knew Venu never cared for their child, she was utterly taken aback at this new low in his treatment of the infant. She understood that her baby was put on a leash by her husband so that he would not pose any trouble for him, were he be left free to move around. But treating an infant, and their own child, like a wild animal is beyond comprehension and she could take it no more.

She rushed into Venu’s bedroom and found him with his back to the door, deeply engrossed in looking at the desktop’s screen, with a bottle beside him, scrolling up and down with his mouse. Completely oblivious to his wife’s barging in and unperturbed with the noise of her rushing in, he continued doing what he was.

She stood there in silence for a moment, expecting him to turn around, but embittered that he didn’t even turn his head, wild with anger and with her baby clutching her firmly she went straight to the system and before he could react, pulled the power cord of the system out of the power socket. Too stunned at this sudden move, the man sprung up from his chair and ignoring that the child was in her arms, gave her a hard slap that made her recoil, stunned, and she could only save herself from falling by clutching wildly at his heavy chair.

‘How dare you interrupt my session, you, insolent fool!’ he roared. Then there was a momentary silence, with Madhu red with rage and staring into his eyes in utter dismay and absolute anger.

Venu, quickly realising that he was at fault, backed away from her, but becoming angry again shouted ‘what do you expect?’

There was not a word from her. She knew that she could never confront this man. And with him fully drunk, there was no way she could handle him. Suppressing her anger but silently 47

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moving away with tears rolling down her cheeks, she quickly went into her bedroom with her child and shut the door. She could neither react nor retort, nor could she do anything else! She crashed on to her bed breaking down in tears.

However, in a few minutes she recovered, laid her child on the bed, washed herself and returning to her son, took him to her bosom and fed him. Instantly she felt a sense of relaxation and peace within her, and she lay back on her bed and soon fell asleep.

After an hour she heard the loud knocking of her door and she jumped up from the bed. She knew it was the man she was married to. She quickly adjusted herself and opened the door.

‘What are you doing? Did you forget there is a man here and that you have to cook for him?’ Get out and start cooking woman!’ he sharply ordered. She slid past him and made her way to the kitchen. Cooking and serving was one of her most favourite passions and even in such a state she would not desist from performing to her best.

After the cooking was done, she placed everything on the dining table and went to his room and knocked gently, indicating that dinner was ready.

He came out staggering and went straight to the table, where she served him everything she cooked, without betraying any emotion. He silently ate to his fill without a word, and in a few minutes, was done. He did not bother to ask if she wasn’t going to eat or if their child was to be fed. He just went to the sink and washed his hands and without even looking back at her, again proceeded to his own room, where he once more settled in his chair to continue his work.

Madhu went back to the dinner table but did not have the inclination to eat anything. How could she eat? But she knew she had to be strong for her baby and again tomorrow she had a strenuous session with the neighbourhood school teachers. She quickly gathered her senses and dumped a little food on her plate 48

and forced herself to eat whatever she could and was quickly done.

She cleaned up the table, and as she was placing back the utensils in the refrigerator, she heard Venu coming to her, and geared herself up to what might be coming.

He came close to her and quietly said ‘listen Madhu, I have lost lots of money trying my hand at the share market; in fact, I have lost everything and have already borrowed substantial amounts of money from my friends. I need money urgently or my debtors will be upon my head.

You talk to your father and tell him to handover all the gold that he had kept for you. We will need to liquidate or sell it so that my debt is cleared, and I will have some money to put into stocks from where I am sure I’ll earn back all that I have lost. You must do this. Talk to your father tomorrow and tell him to give it to me immediately!’

Hearing this, Madhu felt all the more outraged. She summoned her strength and courage and suddenly retorted.

‘How many times will my parents give you money? How much more will you taunt them? And for what will they give you my gold? To throw it away on your shares madness? How much haven’t you lost so far? How much will you lose further? Did you forget that you have a family in which you are the father of a threeyear-old child? What kind of a man are you? Is this your responsibility? Have you ever really done anything for either me or your son? Don’t you even have some self-respect to keep begging my father each and every time your maniacal obsession with the stock market empties our lives?’

And she rushed back into her room crying loudly, and shut the door on his face, locking herself in with her son.

At that, her husband quietened down and from outside her door said ‘enough of your tantrums, tonight I’ll let you sleep. But tomorrow morning the first thing you better do is to call your father, or you can pack your bags and go back to your parents permanently. I am saying this for our mutual good. You better 49

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listen to me.’ And he went back to his room.

Madhu contemplated, ‘what kind of a person is he? Doesn’t he have the least shame or any sense of gratitude? How quickly has he forgotten how my care has brought him back! How many times can I ask my parents? Don’t they have their own problems?

What should I do? Oh God! For twenty-two years I lived like a princess in my maternal home. I believed marriage into a good family will assure my future. But what have I landed into? What is my son’s future and mine, with a man like this? Oh God!’ But her sorrow again brought to the fore, her already severe migraine, further adding to her debilitating pain. She looked at her baby who was quietly asleep. Somehow amidst all this pain he comforted her, and she was glad that this comfort dragged her into a deep sleep for the moment.

Madhu had no further recourse. The next morning as she woke up, she placed whatever earnings and investments she made in, front of him. Without so much as to even thanking her, he took everything and, in a week, liquidated all that she gave him and went on to pay his debtors. After this was over, Madhu had to work harder to earn, and he still stayed at home in his long sick leave.

She did not inform her parents, since informing them would only add to her pain. These things played badly on her health, and she gradually developed a severe migraine and other health issues which also intermittently prevented her from performing her duties smoothly. In about three years he recovered completely and began to go back to work.

She had long wanted to pursue her B.Ed. during their stay at Belgaum and had applied to the Regional College of Education, University of Mysore, obtaining her admission. Once a week, she would go to her classes handing over the care of Vishaal to one of her close friends in the neighbourhood whenever she had to go.

She would stay put in a hostel close to the university during her visit to Mysore for her classes. Her persistence paid off and she came out in flying colours passing her B.Ed. in distinction, earning 50

yet another feather in her cap.

It was during this phase that Venu sought transfer to his choice posting at Dindigul in Hyderabad, which was granted without much difficulty, enabling the family to shift there. As soon as they settled down at the place, Madhu went about scouting for opportunities for herself. In just a couple of weeks she could connect to the academy school and college, a KV which was close to the vicinity, and the unit hospital. And her work started again.

Though things went as usual, Venu kept mostly to himself, and she managed to prepare food for them, take care of her son and again went to work. It was hectic. But Madhu felt a strange energy driving her. She didn’t feel pressure and enjoyed her work.

The more she worked the better she felt, and somehow, she thought that some divine spiritual force was guiding her. In a few months she amassed enough money, and in an audacious step, went on to buy ten acres of land in Dindugal in the neighbourhood of the Airforce campus.

She desperately tried to hide this information from Venu since she knew the moment he would find out, he would demand their papers. Her parents knew this and supported her in so far that they took the responsibility of keeping the papers of the land with them. Madhu also began to invest in government bonds and was careful to keep them safe, away from Venu’s knowledge.

As for him, the quietude that he maintained for the first few weeks could no longer be. Once he became acclimatised to the new work schedule at the posting, his routine began to revert to his former ways. How much ever money he lost in his share gambling, he continued to trade. It was an obsession, a compulsive trait that he simply refused to overcome. Madhu never felt his drinking or smoking to be problematic, but she couldn’t bear to see him continuing this catastrophic vice that was share trading addiction. If he won a Thousand Rupees, he lost Ten. And it was a trend that would never change.

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Deeper and deeper, he got into debt and the phone at their home would ring non-stop from his debtors. He warned Madhu against answering any calls when he was away since he was mortally worried if it would be one of them. Things again precipitated to such extent that she was forced to complain both to her in-laws and her own parents. As expected, her in-laws openly supported their son saying it was her duty to support her husband by giving him everything she had. It continuously pained her that they never tried to counsel their son about his wayward ways.

But what she was completely surprised with was that her family, especially her father and her elder brother also towed Venu’s line. They time and again kept saying that it mattered little to them how much money he demanded and that it was normal for any family to experience these issues. They had earlier tried to counsel him against this behaviour, but he seldom responded positively to them, so it disgruntled them to speak to him further. Her parents and her brothers always seemed to believe that it was actually Madhu's personal problem, which was of her own doing, rather than actually delving deep into it or finding a proper solution to her suffering. They did not seem to empathise with her being victimised and hence she often felt that they simply could not see her suffering or pain or her loneliness. This time however, Madhu was taken aback at their stance and asked them if her happiness actually ever mattered to them. They tried to console her saying that in a happy family, the husband must have his way and a wife’s happiness is only based on that.

One day Madhu discovered that Venu stole bonds that she carefully saved, forged her signatures, and liquidated them and used them up. He would forge her signature on cheques also and draw cash from her bank account. Since he was an officer and the bankers knew Madhu, they believed that the cheques were genuine and without any suspicion handed over whatever money was drawn on the instruments. When Madhu would go to the bank to draw cash, she would often find heavy withdrawals in her 52

passbook statement, and when she would enquire how the withdrawals took place, they would tell her that she had issued the cheques herself and her husband had been drawing the amounts.

Madhu was stunned but she couldn’t show it to anyone because it would be embarrassing to her and Venu would again victimise her and do something worse.

So, she kept quiet not knowing what to do.

Her father went on to say that these things were absolutely normal in a Reddy family, and Madhu need not unduly be disturbed about her husband’s behaviour. In one of the phone calls that she was having with her parents, Venu slyly heard her mentioning the land she acquired at Dindigul, and Madhu did not realise that he was eavesdropping on her.

Venu also began to observe that Vishaal was her weakness and started to show his temper and impatience on him. Every time he had a difference with Madhu, he would bash up the little fellow ruthlessly, breaking her heart. Every time she refused to give him money, he would hit the little innocent child with a baton, or his belt and Madhu would fall at his feet begging him not to hurt the child and would give up whatever he demanded. While this mercilessness went on, the child naturally developed a severe hatred against his father which progressed to an intense phobia.

Madhu having to manage everything, tried her best to protect him even putting him at day care when she had to work, and brought him back with her in the evening. She fortunately was able to recruit a fulltime couple, one who would take care of the house and another her driver.

At this time, Venu’s craziness with shares got a tad higher.

He made friends from Karvi, the hub of share trading activity in Hyderabad and they would land up every day at their home. They would discuss for hours together and exchange cheques and cash, something which used to bug Madhu more severely. He would go each day there at 2 pm and return late in the night. And each alternate day he would demand more money. Fed up with these episodes, one day Madhu confronted him and asked him what he 53

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meant doing all this? He simply retorted, “It is none of your business. I live my life the way I want, and I will do what I wish.

You are no one to question me. And you have no right to even ask me. Didn’t your parents and my parents tell you? This is ‘My’ house and if you wish to continue to live here, you better shut up and listen to me. And ‘never, ever’ dare to question me again, or I will dump you on the road, beware!”

She was used to this kind of rant, and it did not surprise her.

But what put her off this time was the phrase ‘My House.’ So, who was she then? She had earlier heard the same phrase being used

by Venu’s father. “This is ‘My House,’ and if you wish to live here, you should never ask any questions and pass comments against anything happening here.”

And all this was happening right in front of their son who by now had grown to be about four years old and was beginning to understand things. He would become the punch bag of his father, every time an argument arose between his mother and father, for no reason. Venu would throw things at him and tell him to tell his mother to shut up, mortally scaring the little kid. He would break chairs and keep taunting the poor child, beating him up mercilessly and throw everything down from the dining table whenever Madhu asked him what he was doing with all their money.

The moment she heard Venu repeating the same phrase ‘My House’ again, she developed an instant revulsion for the man and in that instant, she had the seed of rebellion planted in her. She decided to send Vishaal to her parents where he would be in peace rather than being beaten up every day by this sick man. Around this time Madhu’s parents had shifted to Hyderabad, purchasing a house and this fortunately became a convenience for her to shift her child. Most of the time Vishaal would spend at his grandparents, but everytime he was visited by his mother, would dread the idea of being taken back to face his father. But in a matter of good fortune, her younger brother got married and got well settled in the US. And to show he cared for her, he sent Venu 54

substantial amounts of money as a gift, instead of to her. Imagine how she would have felt!

Madhu did not waste time and immediately set about investing the money in acquiring plots and lands. She was able to get some land at Bangalore and a good number of plots from Janachaitanya Housing in Hyderabad. While on her account Madhu was doing everything to improve their lives, her husband’s life became more desolate with his drinking, gambling, abusing and filled all such negativities. Madhu resolved not to let the man ruin her life and began to pursue even more academic qualifications.

As they say, like draws like, with the positivity growing up in Madhu improving her building up assets and her net worth, this man only drew negativity all around, with his vices, and his uncouth buddies from the shares business, and continuously was bombarded by his creditors.

On the outside he appeared to the one of the most handsome and thorough gentlemen and a good officer. But there were instances he went only for a couple of hours to office for a great number of days and would return quickly back home to carry on with his share gamble. Day in and day out it worsened, and Madhu wondered how he managed faking things at his office.

Somehow as the matters stayed as they did, three years passed painfully, making life no better for Madhu. And as was the norm with a defence posting, Venu was transferred to Assam this time. Madhu hated these transfers. How so much ever she hated leaving Hyderabad, she had no other go but to accompany her husband to the place, along with her son. It was the beginning of yet another ordeal that she already knew would unfold in more serious ways than it did so far. Venu’s posting in Assam, however, was the beginning of a chapter that proved to be a turning point in Madhu’s life.

In a few weeks of shifting there she began to scout for 55

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opportunities for herself. She was able to contact the chief of the Airforce station for conducting training sessions for the personnel there and for their spouses on important life skills, soft skills, and such programs. The concerned officer told her that she would be contacted in due course and she left hoping to receive the appropriate response. However even as days passed, she received no communique from the office of the station. Puzzled, she went to meet the official at the institute where she was expecting to work.

When the official cross checked with her application, it was found that her application was simply set aside. This was an absolute disappointment for Madhu. But she requested the official to tell her if there was any specific reason that she was not empanelled. Though the man hesitated to answer he requested that he could answer only on the condition of anonymity. Further baffled by his answer, Madhu promised that she would not reveal the information to any one if he told her why her application was not considered. She had a good record and wherever she went, she was immediately offered a position since she was the most qualified and had excellent abilities. And hence it baffled her that it wasn’t so here.

The official then revealed that her husband was a close friend of the station chief, and it was he who had requested the chief not to entertain any application of his wife’s by stating that spouses of higher officials shouldn’t be working as it showed them in poor light. And further he said Madhu’s working in the unit actually interfered with their family life and was likely to disturb his professional work. And so, he requested the chief to set aside any such application she may be making for working in the unit.

Madhu was stunned and appalled at this turn of events. In the first instance she wanted to confront the station chief but knowing it might ruin any further chances of her future appointments, chose to kept quiet. But she was completely flabbergasted and quite heartbroken that her very husband could do something like that, after all that she had done for him.

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But then she decided that nothing could stop her if she wanted to work; and the station was not the end of the world.

Next morning, she found out the list of schools and colleges within a radius of five kilometres from the station and sent applications to all of them for the position of a soft skills and life skills trainer. Within a week she received responses from five institutes. She picked up the top three and went and gave her interviews. As was foreknown she was selected in all the three. In no time she got busy with these trainings. Her son who was now about six had to go to a good school and must be kept away from her issues she decided. She had in the last few months grown very close to one Mrs. Ray, the wife of one of the senior officers. Upon her advice and educated guidance she decided to enrol him in a school out of Assam with a decent boarding facility. It was precisely around the time that a nationwide entrance test for primary school admissions was being held by Lawrence School of Lovedale, Nilgiris, Ooty, and Tamil Nadu. Without a moment to spare she applied for Vishaal and prepared him for the entrance test.

Vishaal appeared for the All-India test and joyfully for her, topped it. Madhu then went to Ooty and admitted Vishaal in the school and ensured he was given first class accommodation in the hostel. This was a major step in the education of her son, and it was a daring step. Lawrence was one of the most distinguished and accomplished schools in the country which had produced several national level businesses, political and social leaders in India.

In her heart Madhu hoped that one day Vishaal would also grow to be an exemplary leader the nation would be proud of.

After she returned to Assam and went on with her routine, once there was an officers’ dinner at the station to which even, she had to accompany her husband. In the dinner, several ladies attended and began to chat with one another about all things and sundry. In course of the discussions, there was one particular lady, the wife of a superior officer, who has been drinking for some time.

She loudly made fun of Madhu, saying that she had been watching 57

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Madhu going out to work every day like a daily wage worker. She ridiculed her saying that Madhu’s working outside like a civilian put all the officers’ wives in shame, and that it definitely did not go well with the community.

At this, Madhu who was normally quiet and kept to herself was absolutely enraged, but before she could retort, Mrs. Ray immediately came to her defence. She loudly responded that Madhu was doing nothing wrong and on the contrary was helping people improve their lives. And instead of making silly drunken rants it is better that the wives of all the other officers around learn from her and do something productive instead of sitting idly at home she said. There was absolute silence in the hall upon this remark and the woman who started this invective was dumbfounded.

At this Madhu also broke her silence. She suddenly spurted loudly in a voice that boomed across the hall, that somebody who was present in the room had actually scuttled an opportunity for her to work in the unit just because he felt that women working there showed the men in poor light. So, saying, she walked out of the meeting in a huff. Venu who usually maintained his poise in public, slyly followed her back home.

As obvious it seemed, a lengthy argument ensued between them as a result of Madhu’s outburst at the party. Venu said that she tore down his self-esteem and respect in front of the other officers with her audacious rant and said he’d never take her out for a party again. Madhu who was already red with rage, shouted at him saying that she knew that it was he who had ruined her chances of working at the unit and that he disgusted her and that she despised and hated him for what he did. Again, the discussion turned to her money and Venu demanded that she hand over all the property she had on her name to be transferred onto his name. The next morning her fatherin-law called up Venu saying that Madhu must immediately transfer all the properties she had on her name to him, and it was not necessary to have any asset on her name since it was finally her 58

husband who would be taking care of her.

Madhu grew all the more angry at this development and refused to do anything of that sort and that under no circumstances would she hand over any asset to him.

The next morning, she was surprised when she received a call from the unit commander and went to visit him officially. The chief said that the previous night’s episode was like a revelation to him and apologised to her to her utter amazement. He said that he did not realise her potential and only went by what Venu told him. Then he requested her to schedule her sessions based on the number of personnel in the station and made a very remunerative offer. Madhu was pleasantly surprised and immediately agreed to undertake the assignment. She herself apologised for any misunderstanding she may have caused the previous evening, but the chief brushed it off saying it was what caused him to actually think and pursue this course of action.

When Venu came to know of the development, he felt rudely slapped both by her and his superior officer, the station chief. But there was nothing he could do to prevent Madhu from proceeding on her assignment as it had been now decided by the unit chief himself and he had to abide by the officer’s decision.

Madhu went on to gain an excellent reputation through her enlightening and empowering sessions to the Airforce personnel, and many complimented and congratulated Venu on his wife’s excellent abilities and performance. Though he smiled in front of them, in his heart his jealousy grew and grew to a dangerous level.

Things went on this way for some time and Venu’s threeyear term came to a close and again he was transferred to Chennai to the Tambaram Airforce Station.

Throughout her period of stay in Dindugal and in Assam, Madhu had been constantly engaging herself in study. She bought a great number of books on empowerment, spirituality, selfdevelopment, and awareness, authored by some of the most 59

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popular figures of the world. She studied their lives, their experiences and their messages and their success and this knowledge considerably strengthened her personality. These books allowed her to develop a greater vision and insight into her own life and began to dictate a purpose to her. She also began to develop a shell of resistance to her husband’s ill-natured behaviour and gradually began to ignore his foul diatribes.

In the several years that she had been with Venu, Madhu had never a moment of happiness, neither with him nor with her in-laws. But somehow instead of her morale being weakened, she only grew stronger and stronger. Her experiences with people, when she spoke to them, when she trained them, when she counselled them and all the times that she spent with them and her books, only made her stronger. Her earning capacity grew phenomenally and her investments were showing good signs of profitability. And all the while, her success seemed to mock Venu on his face.

Unlike any sane man who would cherish and revel in his spouse’s success, he only grew jealous and was embittered with her success, and cunningly devised and deployed ways to bring her down. But try as hard as he could, he could neither demoralise nor demotivate her from her obsessive passion to work and study.

Before being posted to Chennai, Venu was given a brief stint at Bhuj in Gujarat in a non-family posting. Madhu did not accompany him there. She handed over Vishaal to her mother and she went and applied for yet another Masters (M.Ed.) in AN University. Here she stayed in a hostel and every weekend she would go to Anantapur to see her son.

During that period, she finished her additional postgraduation and again was a topper in the university holding the second rank. This success yet again motivated her, and she enrolled in M.Sc. Psychology and followed by an MPhil., and subsequently a PhD. And as soon as his period of deputation at Bhuj came to an end and Venu was posted at Chennai, there came about a point 60

when the relationship seemed to come to an end. It was the continuing bitterness the couple had, with relentless debates, arguments, fights, and fisticuffs, with Madhu constantly being at the receiving end.

One fine day she was shocked to find her son Vishaal being brought back home, by his father. When she asked why he was back home instead of being at school, Venu plainly told her that he needed his son at home and that is why he himself went and withdrew Vishaal from school even getting his Transfer Certificate issued. This was just one of his methods at getting back at his wife.

This meant the end of Vishaal’s education at Lawrence.

Madhu felt completely wrecked in her mind. And the sadist of her husband enjoyed her turmoil. There was no way she could readmit him in the school. Getting an opportunity in the school was in itself a great fortune and it would now show her poorly in case she went again to request for readmission. Not knowing what to do and knowing well that Vishaal would again be at the receiving end, she called her mother. She told her mother to take care of Vishaal for some time since it was likely that something dangerous might happen to him if he continued to be at her home and that his very father would do something grievous to hurt him.

Her mother understood the gravity of the situation and requested Madhu to bring Vishaal to her and drop him with his clothes and belongings. Madhu then proceeded to once again go to her parents to drop her son there.

After she went back to Venu, things began to turn to worse.

While his vices showed no signs of reducing, he kept continuously pestering her to hand over the papers of her properties so that by selling them his life would be normal and debt free once again.

However, Madhu refused to yield and told him she would not give him a penny more even if he killed her. And these fights would be followed by such violence that anyone facing such acute harassment in her place would either run away or even commit suicide.

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He would get physical with her, beating her up badly, with multiple instances when he even banged her head against the wall because she spoke against him. There were several times when he threw plates, books, and things on her unmindful if they would injure her.

Madhu then began to contemplate it she had any further future with such a violent and crude tempered man who displayed no sense of responsibility to himself leave alone for his family. And she began to think that if she continued to stay with him, he would surely kill her or drive her to do something very violent that could jeopardise both her and her son’s future. In such a situation when things became too serious, she packed her bags and left to her parents’ place, when Venu went to work. When he returned and did not find her, he knew where she went. Immediately he called her parents and told them that she had left without informing him and that he was no longer interested to take her back unless she did what she was told to.

Venu had an artful knack with everybody. In his suave manner that he carried himself outside, he would speak to others in such a manner that they believed that he was the perfect gentleman and could never suspect that his real self was something else. When R.L. Stevenson had written his masterpiece Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he probably must have experienced somebody in his own life, someone just like Venu, that so well depicted his character.

Madhu’s elder brother having been in the army himself, had always displayed a soft corner for Venu, probably not just out of respect that he was a senior officer in the Airforce, but also because he was his brother-in-law. In the Telugu culture and especially the Rayalaseema region, the brother-in-law of the girl’s side would be treated with the highest respect by her siblings, and this was a tradition Madhu’s brothers also followed. So, they would occasionally meet in a restaurant or in their officers’ mess and have drinks and long chats with each other which gradually 62

strengthened their personal bonding.

In several of these episodes, Venu would inform her brother that Madhu had a terrible attitude problem, and that she was terribly adamant and obstinate about everything, and that she never paid heed to anything that he requested for and that she actually treated him as a doormat. And her brother would believe everything he complained against her and would carry the same to his parents, who in turn would believe everything he told them.

And they formed opinions of their daughter based on these talks, which displaced the convictions they had long held, on the integrity of their own child. This make-believe traits of the man, genuinely troubled Madhu.

When Madhu went to her parents, the reception she was given was not very cordial. After she stayed there for a couple of days, her father and elder brother summoned her to talk to her.

Her father spoke.

“Madhu there has been far too much happening than we could have expected. Our intent in getting you married to Venu was only to make you happy and give you a good future. After all this that happened, we are beginning to understand that you are also to blame for the crisis you have brought upon yourself. In our culture a woman’s responsibility after marriage is to her husband first. Everything else and everyone else become secondary. We understand that you have been consistently going against your husband and not adhering to the precept we all stand by. You have been continuously opposing your husband and you yourselves are wrecking your life. You better keep your mouth shut and listen to your husband!

So, what if he asks for your properties to be transferred in his name. Are you going to lose something? He is your husband for god’s sake! What difference is it going to make to you whether the assets are either in his name or yours?”

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treats me? Can you all even understand the situation that I am in?

A street dog’s life perhaps is more happier than mine!”

Her brother intervened. “This exactly is the problem with you Madhu. Why do you go on opposing him? We strongly advise you to handover all the properties to him. Atleast that way he won’t harass you anymore, if that is the truth. Think of this seriously. It is also going to be better for Vishaal. Just do this and we all believe that the problem will be over once for all.”

Madhu was on the verge of breakdown. But the pummelling continued. Her parents added, “Whatever we have kept for you and whatever you have purchased, in two days we’ll clear the transfer. There is also no need for you to get so many qualifications.

Just stop. Listen to your husband and to us and you will be much better, happier, and more comfortable. It is up to a woman to change her husband; we simply don’t understand why you are unable to change him!”

Madhu broke in. “Father if it is as simple as you believe it is, he would have long changed. For three years I took care of him after his accident, when without me he could very well have died.

He did not change then, and how could you expect him to change now?”

Before she tried to say something more her father continued.

“It is just in your hands. You are just not trying. One more thing, both your brothers are married and my daughters in law have their place here. In our culture, the daughter of the house has no more place in the house other than that of a visitor or a guest when the daughters in law arrive, and they have arrived. I hope you understand what it means.”

Madhu was shocked, stunned, and heartbroken. Was this her very house she was born in and raised? What happened to those days when she was treated continuously so royally like a princess?

And what is it that her parents and her brother are trying to say?

That she doesn’t belong here anymore?

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She was too traumatised with this remark her father made.

In her mind she simply readied herself to follow her husband to his home with her son, back into the mire that awaited her.

And when she did get back to Venu’s place he did not waste any time talking to Madhu.

“Madhu all the properties your father and you gave and all the cash and gold we had are all lost. I had to stake them in shares and unfortunately, they are all lost. I have no more in my hands and tomorrow my creditors are going to come, and it is likely I am going to be arrested too, if I don’t pay them. Your father told me you have properties in your name. Unless you hand them over, I will be in jail. Is this what you want?”

Madhu had already decided her next step and expected this.

Her father and brother had already prevailed over her. She quietly agreed to handover all the plots she had, in Bangalore, Tirupati, Hyderabad, and even the ten acres of land at Dundigul. The next day she requested her father to work on the relevant formalities and said she would sign all the documents wherever necessary so that everything she had was transferred to Venu. She did everything that was asked of her and after all that she had was handed over to Venu, for the first time felt completely empty, as she literally had nothing. After these transactions, back at Venu’s place, she observed that he was behaving himself much better, obviously because he received the entire loot.

But still she knew that this was the quiet before yet another storm and that something sinister was simmering again.

She just concentrated on her studies and her son. All the while she was planning in her mind that unless she acted, she had no future. She remembered what her father said in her last discourse with her parents, “let me tell you Madhu, this is ‘My’ house, and when you are in it, it is my voice that will prevail, whether you like it or not.” This was the final affront Madhu received, and from the very parents who gave birth to her. In her 65

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mind she decided to finally act. She was alone. She had no one she could trust, neither her parents nor her siblings and last of all her husband. She now knew she had to take total responsibility and ownership of herself.

Madhu had often heard the words ‘this is My House,’ not just from her father, but also from her husband and her father-inlaw too. It always meant that as long as she resided with them, she was compelled to live by their rules and commands, and that she did not have any freedom or liberty to take any decision or action by herself, come what may. This not only hurt her, but broke her heart, making her wonder who she was in the first place!! The following evening Venu took her in his car to talk to her over a drive. He was already drunk. And he began.

‘Madhu, you must immediately stop all your actions about working outside. I can take it no more. You had enough education, and you must stop studying further. I would not like to see you work. I am really losing my peace. And then since I lost in business, I was hoping for your parental support. I am receiving none. Is this the respect they have for their son-in-law? I cannot take this anymore; you better tell your parents that this is my final warning.

I cannot put up with all your drama. You better listen to me, or you can leave forever!’

She just pretended to listen, and his chatter went on and on, about what he had actually planned for them and how his share business swallowed him and how he was unable to handle all the losses even with all the assets he received. Though she was outraged once again, she paid little attention to him and all the while her mind was racing. How can she escape from this person’s clutches!?

It was around Ten in the night but seeing that she did not respond to all his blabber, Venu grew wild yet again. But Madhu seemed pretty stoical and unperturbed. After about thirty minutes of his ceaseless rant, he took her to the corner of a street and stopped the car with the engine running and with Madhu in it and said he was leaving, taking the car key with him. Madhu didn’t 66

respond at all. She just stayed put in the car and closed her eyes.

She waited and waited. An hour passed and two. But he did not return. Madhu was equally determined, she just remained in the car. Around midnight he was back. He had not expected to see her there. But discretion got the better of him and the little worry he still had for her perhaps compelled him to come back to check on her. She was like the goose that laid golden eggs. How can he forego her?

He silently got into the car and drove home straight. Not a word transpired. After they got home, Madhu went and slept without eating anything. In the morning she did not wake up to prepare breakfast or see him off. When she woke up, she found him waiting for her in the hall.

“What has got into you? Do you know what time it is? Don’t you know I have to go? Why didn’t you prepare my breakfast?”

Madhu casually looked at him and laughed sarcastically.

For a moment Venu was bewildered. He had never seen her the way he did today.

“Get ready Venu,” She said, “I am sending you a divorce notice!”

And before the stupefied man could respond, she walked back into her room and banged the door shut.

In about ten minutes, the phone rang, and Madhu picked it from her room. It was her father.

“What happened again Madhu? Venu just now called and said that you were threatening him with divorce. Is that true?”

For an answer Madhu said “I am coming home today father, I and my son will need to stay there for a little while. I cannot live here anymore!” And she hung up.

In about an hour or so, she packed all her bags and those of her son and without a word to Venu who was watching all the action, simply walked out…for the last time!

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Venu was too dumbfounded. Never had he witnessed such audacity in his wife, and he didn’t summon any courage to stop her from leaving. She appeared so determined that it would have been simply impossible to try and stop her. For once he felt desolate and empty as she boarded a cab and left. He was too shocked and stunned that Madhu was genuinely capable of leaving him forever. She reached her father’s house next morning and just dropped her bags, went to the kitchen to pick up something to eat and feed her son, and without a word to anyone went into her mother’s room and slept off, while everyone watched.

Everyone knew the tense environment that prevailed but knowing the acute state of emotion that Madhu was in, no one dared to even approach her, not even her mother. She woke up only in the evening when twilight appeared. She finished her bath and found Vishaal playing with the others. She walked straight to her father.

“Father you must forgive me. I have left Venu for good. I see no future with him either for myself or my son. None of you can ever understand the trauma I had been undergoing all these years.

I am done. Its either here alive or there dead. So, I decided and walked off. And don’t you worry about me affixing myself permanently here. I have my individuality, self-respect, and enough capabilities to take care of myself and my son. You have done enough; more than any parents or siblings would do. All I request you is for a time of two months to settle myself down responsibly.

I remember you repeatedly saying that this is ‘your’ house, which clearly meant that I have no permanent place here. But as the daughter of the house, I guess you will let me stay for a little while.

And believe me, soon enough you will see me in ‘my’ own house!”

Her father smiled and simply said “I am sure my daughter knows what she is doing!” and her mother came and hugged her.

Tempers cooled down and things became normal as before here.

Madhu was not so naïve when she had transferred her property to Venu. She had earlier purchased an independent house in S.R. 68

Nagar, in Hyderabad about which she never revealed to anyone, not even to her father.

When she swore to her father that she would purchase her own house she really meant it. In a couple of days, she handed over the responsibility of finding a buyer for the house to a distant relative who was dealing in properties. Soon enough she found a buyer for the house. By then Madhu had identified a villa which was on sale in the very township her parents were staying.

She went and paid the advance and soon moved into the house after getting a housing loan sanctioned and getting the house registered in her name. This was one of her greatest achievements she felt, and she was correct.

When she invited her parents and her family for the inaugural of her home her father was both dumbfounded and amazed at how her words transformed to reality.

And Madhu said to her father, “father this is MY house, my temple, but you are always welcome in it as long as I am alive!”

Her father appeared stung by the remark as it made him recollect the remark, he himself made about ‘his’ house.

Nevertheless, he was pleased that his daughter was such an accomplished individual. From then on, he genuinely believed in Madhu’s capabilities and his respect for his daughter grew like never before. The best part was that Vishaal felt absolutely happy that he was close to his grandparents while being with his mother at their own home.

Once Madhu became independent and free, she put all her energies into finding opportunities for herself. And within a few days of her moving into her new home, she found it. One of her uncles who was a former colleague of her father said there was an opportunity for an Assistant Professor of English at CBIT which was very close to her home, and for which Madhu’s profile matched perfectly.

Madhu went and attended the interview and was easily 69

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selected. CBIT was one of the most prestigious Engineering institutions in the country and an opportunity to work there was also a matter of pride for her.

Simultaneously and true to her words Madhu set her divorce plan in action, getting her papers ready through a known legal counsel. But when Venu received the notice, he called back Madhu’s parents and said that he was not willing to divorce her. And yet began one more lengthy drama. First, he employed tactics by being absent at the hearings in the court on some pretext or the other till a warrant was issued against him. When he finally came, he claimed that his mother was sick and that it was impossible to think of a divorce at the moment as it could perhaps affect her health.

The desperation that Madhu had from getting away from him was yet another opportunity for him to fleece money from her. Though her parents and her in-laws tried their best to keep them united, Madhu was absolutely made up. She would lose ten crores rather than go back to him and wished to be liberated from this incompatible abusive relationship, she declared.

And that is what eventually happened. Finally, he agreed to sign the papers on mutual consent only after he was paid a hefty amount of money that Madhu had saved all along added to a lumpsum from her father. Howsoever both her parents, brothers, relatives and even her in-laws begged her to stay with Venu, she completely rejected their appeals and decided to move on with her life by herself. This phase went on for over ten years, till the divorce actually happened.

In her entire life, she later felt that this was the best decision she had taken, notwithstanding the lengthy list of naysayers who kept dissuading her not to leave the marriage.

After Madhu became free and independent, she had no more barricades or bonds to tie her down. She put Vishaal in Kennedy Global School at Bachupally in Hyderabad, and there again she was requested by the management of the school to train 70

their faculty at the school, and to take up counselling sessions to students on weekends. So, she worked part time here too in addition to her job at CBIT. Madhu was not interested in continuing an employment anymore. By now she had obtained a stunning nine qualifications of which there were multiple post graduations, MPhil, and two PhDs. She became a walking phenomenon.

At CBIT Madhu won several accolades with her devotion to work and her professionalism, with her performance adding considerable value to the college academics. She was enrolled to run several Faculty Development Programmes and was delegated additional responsibility of conducting Soft Skills and Life Skill training programs for both students and faculty. She was also awarded as the most well-dressed faculty member of the institute on several accounts. It was during her tenure at CBIT that she launched the Toastmasters International Club for CBIT and held the role of the President. She was further delegated the responsibility of a Clinical Psychologist at CBIT. After three years of working at CBIT, she began to thirst for independence and entrepreneurship and voluntarily sought to quit her job. Immediately she went on to establish a training organisation and named it La Winspire International. With this she progressed into a real entrepreneur.

Her abilities, her attitude, her profile, and her experiences easily paved way for higher opportunities. She became renowned as a good clinical psychologist, a Peak Performance and International Trainer and Life Coach. She was too powerful a speaker and won accolades everywhere. She soon made inroads into corporates such as Google, Microsoft, GE, Cognizant, HSBC, Dr. Reddy’s, Innominds, and such major MNCs and conducted training and counselling sessions for thousands of employees. She was requested by managements of major professional institutions both in the private and the government sectors and always had her hands full. At this juncture, she began 71

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her association with the globally renowned Continental Hospitals at Hyderabad, which just started operations, as their inhouse Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Life Coach.

She knew knowledge was power and constantly improved her own by immersing herself in good books that revolutionised the world. She progressed into becoming one of the most qualified Trainers, Life Coaches, and Psychologists of the nation, and she carried great positive vibes around her. People felt more confident and stronger when she spoke to them. In the days that followed, Madhu became an internationally recognised figure in training circles and has been continuing her message to hundreds of thousands of people, how the power of positivity can change lives.

She travelled to UK, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and a few other countries to attend workshops, take up certification courses, as well as to deliver her signature programs from her organisation La Winspire International.

With two PhDs and five post graduations, a hundred national awards and a dozen international awards, she couldn’t have asked for more. So how did she achieve this determination to succeed? And having been through several excruciatingly painful years with a man who was plain diabolical, it is incredible and phenomenal how life could change a woman from such an experience to become so hugely successful.

When Madhu heard the news of Venu’s passing away, though she was initially stunned, she was stoical. Years and years of hard-hearted, vicious, and sadistic treatment had moulded her into a highly resistant woman. He himself had made her so, with his criminally merciless attitude to her. Death is the end of all misery, for whoever it may be, and in Venu’s case, he had long been digging his own grave. She had learnt that after her separation from him, his own father rejected and refused to pay for his addictions and left him nothing. They fell apart with major differences, the root of which was all money. After Madhu quit the marriage, he went on to live with another lady, having a live72

in relationship for a year or so before he got finally married to her.

Hardly a few years into the marriage, came his ultimate end.

But Madhu did go for the cremation. She felt it was her duty and a courtesy of gratitude to a man that made her what she became. Though it was unexpected of her from herself, after a long time she broke down seeing his mortal remains. Her son Vishaal who was the most abused child by his father refused to come for the funeral. It was but natural. However, after much cajoling by his mother, he finally relented.

It was after all his father and however unfair or bad he was to him, he felt it was his final duty to bid him goodbye and did his duty. A saga that became one of the most crucial components in creating the turnover in Madhu’s life had come to an end. She was still sad that this had happened, and in her heart prayed for his soul so that he would finally find peace.

How Madhu Found Strength in Her Desolation Madhu had the most tumultuous phases in her life, much more than any that an average woman in an abusive relationship could have ever faced. In her younger days till her marriage, her life was filled with happiness, peace, and quietude. After her marriage she took to life just like any other woman would have been expected to, in a typical Rayalaseema household and especially from the Reddy descent. But completely contrary to her expectations, she had found that life became an utter misery with the very man who was supposed to be her ultimate soulmate and life partner. And the very acts that he did probably moulded her into what she later grew into. If her husband would have been normal, she would just have been another wife, and mother, and nothing more.

Most women, in fact, almost any woman in such an abusive relationship would end up a wreck, either seeking divorce or simply leaving, and in some extreme cases getting into fatal addictions and some even ending up in suicide. Though Madhu inevitably did 73

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seek divorce, it happened only after a considerably and intolerably long phase of marital life.

But there were factors which gave her phenomenal strength to face the consistent abuse and victimisation, and to that she was thankful. She had had a strong founding in the values of great books like the Bhagavad-Gita in her childhood itself. Ever since her early days in the convent school that she went to, she has had exposure to the teachings of Jesus Christ where she learnt that it was only the ones who suffered who ultimately succeeded.

When it began to happen to her from the early days of marriage itself, she spent more and more time with the Gita and that gave her great solace. As the treatment worsened, she grew more self-possessed and tolerant. The book gave her great spiritual satisfaction and strength to absorb all the misfortune pushed on to her. She acquired the books of Swami Vivekananda and studied them intensively. Every message and passage in his books positively built her strength. She connected strongly to his teachings.

One of the greatest influences on her life was her father himself. She knew what an ideal and resolute man he was and how he only wanted the best for her and his children. Though after her marriage things turned at little sour, it was only because of his social obligations and position that he may have been compelled to act thus. Her brothers themselves were an inspiration to her.

They always acted in goodness and their support to her financially or emotionally or otherwise, had helped her overcome several situations she faced with Venu.

Despite the fact that they also fell into the social taboo or rather compulsion of treating her a little differently after her marriage, she knew in her heart that they only wanted the best for her and whatever they did was only to give her happiness. Her mother was her best support, and hadn’t it been for her, her son Vishaal would have had no place to have been happy. She was there in Madhu’s most critical phases of life and that gave her lots of 74

strength, satisfaction, and happiness.

In the days when she was alone, she began to look beyond, and in time was introduced to the magnificent works of Robert Kiyosaki, Robin Sharma, Tony Robbins, Blair Singer, Mac Attram, Dr. Richard Bandler, T. Harv Ekar, Vidya Shankar team, Praveen Sharman, Louise Hay and several such others. She even obtained certifications from most of them. She also read the works of Rhonda Byrne and scores of such works which familiarised her with the way human perceptions work. She was introduced to the globally acclaimed spiritual guru Mahatria by someone and once she attended one of his sessions, she established an instant connect.

His sessions were all revealing about life and gave great energy to her. She began to attend his sessions with great regularity in Chennai and she found that every episode taught her a different meaning of life.

She realised that in order to be a real success in life, she must be a walking phenomenon. And for that she had to invest in herself. While reading books and watching programmes did a lot to help her, she began understanding that the workshops these magnificent people conducted, were soul revealing and rejuvenating in every way.

She developed a strong passion to attend the maximum number of workshops, retreats, conferences, and meetings held by these magnificent people and this gave her both an opportunity and a need to visit several countries abroad.

She learnt from all of their books about what life is all about, about health, wealth, and abundance, about developing perspectives that in turn strengthen a human’s personality. She learnt the value of money, about the principles of money management, about how to obtain financial freedom, what the power of positivity can bring about, and how like attracts like. She knew that and hence always kept an open mind and believed that only good can happen to her. In the worst of her situations when her husband caused her to become a complete wreck and left her 75

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penniless and hopeless, she just trod on confidently and silently, pursuing her goals and objectives with stronger determination, irrespective of what negative forces were thrust onto her and attempted to stop her. She began to believe in the power of the universe and that spiritual power it beheld, guided everyone including herself.

Since she had been only thinking of positive things all her life even in the dreariest, miserable, and hopeless moments, they put her ahead of anyone in a similar place. She never considered herself an unfortunate soul but looked at every episode as an opportunity to rediscover her own self. In a few months after Venu’s passing away, life began to become normal for her and her son.

She stayed in the same community where her parents also lived. So, she had the good fortune of meeting them almost every other day. Her son Vishaal who passed his under-graduation with a good score soon found employment with an automobile company which made her quite happy.

She wanted him to become as independent as possible and at the earliest age possible without depending on her or her parents. His individuality was striking, and she encouraged him to become a better person than anyone in his circle by improving his knowledge, skills, and abilities and most importantly attitude. Soon enough Vishaal obtained admission for MBA at Cambridge University in London and left to the UK to pursue the same.

Madhu decided what her purpose in life was. It was empowering people. It was to let them understand the power of their own thinking, and to let them know how the universe can influence their thoughts, behaviour, and attitude and how their perceptions of things can either build them or break them.

She was a live, walking example of this wondrous process.

Her life was a testament, a testimony to society, of how she grew out of the shell that contained and constrained her from accomplishing things. She understood how her thoughts allowed her to explore the expanse of human emotion and how 76

understanding them gave her the strength and fortitude to fight every adversity and finally stand out as a shining example to thousands of others.

She had seen too much of life in her four and half decades and now somewhere in her heart, wondered if she needed a companion. She contemplated with the idea that someone who thought like her and felt about things like she did, might give her more strength and leverage her purpose to reach the community at large. But she decided that till the time comes, her focus would continue to remain on what she was doing.

Madhu started to believe more strongly in herself after all the intense experiences she had been through, and also in the power of the divine, more than ever and understood that everything happens for a reason. ‘More than how the world sees you, it is how you see yourself and the world that should matter to you.’ Life definitely paves the way for a resolute soul which believes in itself. Madhu thus surrendered herself to the higher purpose that the universe has created for her and resolved to pursue the same with her relentless spirit.

Madhu now having understood what her purpose was, decided to pen down her life’s experiences and the different manners in which she found her strength and grit, and her way to success. If she was able to overcome all the misfortunes, difficulties, and challenges in her own life, so can everyone. She was certain her experiences with herself can be revealed to people so that they can learn from them and overcome their own challenges and find their success and happiness.

Madhu began to value each and every minute of her existence in the world to make it count and make it worthy. She decided her goal was to contribute and empower. ‘In the limited span of time each of us has, we must make every minute count,’ she would say.

One critical observation Madhu had all her life was that people did not really have open communication. Everyone communicates to 77

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react and respond but not truly understand. This, she had faced immensely in her life, not just with her close family but with several others. Discussions and open communication between people actually helps in bringing clarity to any issues and relationships.

As she grew popular and met thousands of people who attended her workshops and came to her for her counsel, she also learnt new experiences from such subjects and gathered substantial insights into the power of human thought and how it could be harnessed into leading us where we wish to be. She developed a deep understanding of how the Law of Attraction has helped her own self and also thousands of others through her. She went ahead to reduce these experiences to writing in the following chapters which could go a long way in making people understand the power of the human mind and benefit them.

As you go through each chapter, you will be presented with several ways that you can work with your mind and thought and connect to the universe, and find you the way to a wealthy, accomplished, successful and fulfilling life, filled with perfect happiness, joy, and harmony.

“Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.”

– Will Smith

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Do not be cowed down by even the most miserable experiences of your life.

The intent of the universe in creating you, is to demonstrate to you its power to make you happy.

That is why you have the power to think.

The power of your mind is simply phenomenal.

It can make you popular from a state of loneliness, from rags to riches, from grave sickness to the pink of health, and from depression to a state of joy and happiness. Recognise it and the world will recognise you

— Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two Chapter Two

The Magic of Law of Attraction

Belief is what I have in myself, Trust is what I have with people, and Faith is what I have in that unknown invisible force, which I know is working with me, for me and will carry me through — Mahatria Ra

People always complain that they can't do this, and they can't do that. If we look at our lives and concentrate on things that we don't have or wish to have, that doesn't change the circumstances. The truth is that we have to focus on what we have and make the best out of it — Nick Vujicic 81

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he Awakening is a message to everyone. The universe exists for you, since it has created you, and it has the power and positivity to give you everything you ever need, want or desire, such as health, wealth, love, abundance, fame, and success. But at the same time, it also has everything that can bring about ruin, chaos, destruction, devastation, and death. However, what you become in your life is solely dependent on you. The message that The Awakening brings to you is, that you can actually be what you want to be, obtain what you truly want and achieve anything you wish for, with the sheer power of your thoughts and actions, simply by harnessing the power of the universe through yourselves. Empower yourselves with great thoughts and those thoughts will turn to reality. The universe awaits your command, to give you what you desire, and everything guides you through the power of the Law of Attraction.

Once you understand it, and employ it appropriately, you will be able to see tremendous changes in your life, through which you not only become happy but share your happiness with everyone around you.

We are what our thoughts have made us. So, take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live. They travel far — Swami Vivekananda The mind is the creator of everything. You should therefore guide it to create only good. If you cling to a certain thought with dynamic will power, it finally assumes a tangible outward form — Paramahansa Yogananda Thousands of people since the dawn of history have discovered, deployed, and experienced this power in all its profoundness and stand testimony to its indubitable reality. Several of them started off simple in life but most of them had some incident or the other that put them on the path of discovery of themselves. And when they endeavoured to find the truth, they were awakened with enlightenment. It was the power of the Law of Attraction that put them on the road to success, making them great examples in history, for posterity.

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Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve — Napoleon Hill Ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, great scientists such as Albert Einstein, Thomas Alva Edison and Isaac Newton, the universal playwright William Shakespeare, the greatest musician of history Beethoven, and other highly accomplished people such as Victor Hugo, Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey and a great many others have been strong believers of this concept and have demonstrated how successful they have been in their lives. The entire life of Madhu is in itself a testament to the wonders of this magnificent aspect of life: The Law of Attraction!’

“All of this abundance begins to shine through a mind that is aware of its own infinite nature. There's enough for everyone.

See it. Believe it. it will show up for you.”

— Rhonda Byrne Everything is Energy. Your thoughts can build emotions, could result in actions, and can consequently determine results.

Your thoughts begin the process, your emotions amplify it, your action increases its momentum — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

What is the Law of Attraction?

In simpler terms, the Law of Attraction is a practicable philosophy that has long existed, for tens of centuries or since time immemorial, that suggests that all the positive results in our lives are an outcome of our thoughts, and any negative outcomes are actually resultants of our negative thinking.

Thoughts are an intrinsic form of universal energy prevalent in the human mind and have extreme potential to bring about phenomenal success in all aspects of life such as health, money, relationships, and fame.

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Rhonda Byrne in her landmark publication The Secret, explains the Law of Attraction clearly: Everything that comes into our lives and everything that we experience, in fact, the complete order of the Universe is determined, through the magnetic power of our thoughts. Like attracts Like: It is the Law of Attraction. You bring about what you think about.

It has been proven in scientific laboratories through cutting edge science that every thought is created of energy possessing its own frequency. When the energy and frequency of a single thought radiates out into the universe it naturally interacts with the material world. Science has time and again proven that matter or physical objects are also just packages of energy at the most infinitesimal level, the quantum level. And so, as our thoughts radiate out, they attract the energy and frequencies of like thoughts, like objects, and even like people, and draw those things back to you. It is thus how our Thoughts Become Things. It’s the Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction is based on the principal precept that 'Like attracts like' and the universe manifests the same in your life based on what you draw through your thoughts.

What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract.

What you imagine, you create — Buddha This law is one of the most potent forces in humankind; a powerful law that truly exists in the universe. You simply cannot avoid it, for it is perpetual, always with you, just like the air around, and it works for everyone, every moment of their lives. The reality that you visualize in your life is in truth, a manifestation of your thoughts, for it is you who are creating your own reality and are led by it; you are creating it either consciously or subconsciously in a cycle that is unending as part of the creation that never ceases its purpose.

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The Law of Attraction is the quintessential key on what your entire life is based on and understanding it and employing it correctly is what will determine your success.

If you have a genuine desire to change your life and seek empowerment of yourself to create the beautiful future that you are aiming for, you definitely must seek to understand this universal law and your own role in it. The Law of Attraction is your pivot for limitless possibilities, and however insurmountable a challenge or an obstacle appears, it will provide you the requisite strength and the direction to overcome it.

Nothing is difficult for the Law, and it opens up infinite possibilities, joy, and abundance, and has the power to change your life in a way that you would never have considered possible.

Be limitless, fearless, and unstoppable.

The only limits in life are the ones you make up in your mind – Dr. Madhurima Reddy

The Law of Attraction – A Brief Background Way back in history, somewhere around the year 1877, Helena Blavatsky, a Russian author, made a reference of the concept of Law of Attraction in print, in a context where she quoted that an attractive power exists between the elements of spirit. However, the concept was later more accurately discussed by Prentice Mulford who followed the proponent of the 'New Thought' Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, through which he went on to discuss the Law of Attraction in more detail and more clearly in his treatise 'The Law of Success' which was published about ten years later.

The New Thought that became the basis for the concept of Law of Attraction, was a movement that began in America in the 19th century as a spiritual movement that drew upon the ancient thought and accumulated wisdom from a long list of beliefs and cultures such as Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, Taoist, Vedic, Muslim, and Buddhist and such beliefs, in which a great 85

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value was entrusted to the interaction between thought, belief and consciousness and their effects within and beyond the human mind.

The twentieth century gave rise to several followers and teachers of the Law of Attraction who in course of time were able to make major contributions to spread the concept.

Authors and speakers on the concept such as William Walker Atkinson in early to mid-1900s, Wallace Delois Wattles who became famous for his book The Science of Getting Rich, Napoleon Hill who wrote the monstrously successful Think and Grow Rich in 1937, Norman Vincent Peale who gave the world The Power of Positive Thinking in 1952, Louise Hay who created ripples with her all time success You Can Heal Your Life, and followed by the works of Abraham Hicks in the latter part of the 20th century, all proved invaluable in the movement.

Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want, and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy, this is physics — Albert Einstein What you think you become. What you feel you attract.

What you imagine you create — Buddha The early 21st century saw the block buster works of Rhonda Byrne who with her film ‘The Secret’ in 2006, went on to capture a major part of the world audience with the concept. The film was followed by her book ‘The Secret’ in 2007 which quickly became an international best seller. This was followed by The Power, Hero and The Magic by Rhonda which did very well to sustain the momentum of The Secret. However, though the term ‘Law of Attraction’ became more popular only from the 20th Century, the concept and its inner meaning were long existent in the scriptures of the ancient religions since time immemorial.

Whether it is the Buddhist, the Hindu or the Christian or any other, with their subtly and powerfully meaningful messages, 86

they conveyed the concept in various forms, signifying and propagating the strength of prayer, faith, service, and gratitude.

The great gurus, saints, sages, prophets, and masters of divinity, who have earned their place in the scriptures of most religions have all understood and employed the Law of Attraction and have thus stood as an example to entire mankind with their accomplishments, achievements, and messages of success.

Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand — Bob Proctor The most famous and powerful leaders, inventors, scientists, educationalists, authors, doctors, researchers, philosophers, politicians, spiritual gurus, artists, musicians and several others such as Charles F. Hannel, James Allen, Emile Coue, Wallace D Wattles, Albert Einstein, Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, Steve Jobs, Louise Hay, Oprah Winfrey, Nick Vujicic, Robin Sharma, Robert Kiyosaki, Tony Robbins, Richard Bandler, Blair Singer, Swami Vivekananda, Parahamsa Yogananda, and Mahatria RA, and hundreds of others have been staunch believers and followers of the Law of Attraction and have all vouched, proclaimed and conclusively proved that, in their works and words.

“Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency.

As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the Universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency.

Everything sent out returns to the source – you.”

— Rhonda Byrne “All of this abundance begins to shine through a mind that is aware of its own infinite nature. There's enough for everyone.

See it. Believe it. it will show up for you.”

— Rhonda Byrne Belief is what I have in myself, Trust is what I have with people, and Faith is what I have in that unknown invisible force, which I know is working with me, for me and will carry me through — Mahatria Ra 87

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People always complain that they can't do this, and they can't do that. If we look at our lives and concentrate on things that we don't have or wish to have, that doesn't change the circumstances.

The truth is that we have to focus on what we have and make the best out of it — Nick Vujicic

What are the Laws of Attraction?

The universal principles of the Law of Attraction are essentially three: 1. Thoughts Become Things 2. Whatever you focus your attention on, grows stronger.

3. Like Attracts Like

Thoughts Become Things The first law is that your Thoughts Become things. And most rightly so.

Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.

– Mahtma Gandhi If you constantly keep thinking of a certain idea such as acquiring a car, a new house, starting a new business, having a grand vacation, or even a soulmate, your mind is emitting that signal to the universe which is ever ready to redirect it to your need and guide you to the right direction. In the process you inevitably find yourself on the path of achieving the same. A thought has a certain frequency and can actually be measured.

Just like an electronic device receives a signal on a certain frequency and gives us the required image or link to what we want, the human mind is capable of both acting as a transmitter of 88

thoughts as well as a receiver of guidance or directions from the universe. That is the power of your thought.

Thoughts shape the world. If you are reading this book by the light of a bulb, it is because of the thoughts that Edison kept thinking in his mind, due to which the electric bulb became a reality. His thoughts became things. Likewise, if the Wright Brothers did not have thoughts of flying, the aeroplane wouldn’t have materialised. If Sir Ronald Ross did not have thoughts of discovering the Malarial vaccine, probably the world would still be suffering from the deadly disease. If Gutenberg did not think of the printing press, it probably wouldn't have been possible to see anything in print. The best inventions that changed the world were all products of the thoughts of the inventors or discovers.

Whether it was Charles Babbage for computers or Galileo for the Telescope, whether it was Steve Jobs for Apple, or Bill Gates for Windows, whether it was James Watt for the Steam Engine, or Graham Bell for the Telephone, whether it was Columbus for America, or James Cook for Australia, or Vasco da gama for India, all the products invented, and all the places discovered, were simply the resultant of the thoughts these great people had.

And today each and every one living on this planet is able to witness the advantages these things had brought to the world.

Their thoughts simply became things, which you and I can clearly see, feel, and experience.

And there are great villains of history too who have harnessed the power of thinking, though in a devastating way. The world’s worst dictators and rulers used their thoughts too, but sadly to annihilate the world. If Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, or Pol Pot did not think of the worst genocides in history, they would never have occurred. Their thoughts were simply guided by the universe in the direction they chose to. Our thoughts can get us things and make us lose things too. It is just what we choose to think that inevitably gets the result of our thinking.

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What is important here is to believe the power of your thoughts. You are the creation of your thoughts yourself. What you have been thinking has led you to where you are. If you have been successful so far, you should be thinking of reaching a higher degree of the same. If you have been unfortunate either financially or academically or are in a poor state of health, it is because you have been entertaining negative thoughts and your position is only due to the thoughts you are allowing in your mind. You should stop your negative thinking and have only positive, happy, healthy, wealthy, and ambitious thoughts for your success and health, and it is imminent that you will find yourself on the path of accomplishing great things very soon.

The Mind is a powerful force. It can enslave us or empower us.

It can take us to the heights of ecstasy or plunge us into the depths of misery. Learn to use the power wisely — David Cushieri Like all the laws of nature, there is utter perfection in this law. You create your life. Whatever you sow, you reap! Your thoughts are seeds, and the harvest you reap will depend on the seeds you plant — Rhonda Byrne

Whatever you focus your attention on, grows stronger This is yet another of the three fundamental laws of attraction that can make or break you, since as part of the principal law, it is most powerful and has proven across civilization that it can both achieve absolute wonders and can prove unimaginably destructive. ‘Energy flows where attention goes’ is a popular saying. It is because it is the truth. Focus on positive things such as health, purpose, wealth, success, career, education, growth, recognition, relationships, soulmate, gratitude, appreciation, love, and likewise. Avoid focusing or thinking of negative aspects of life such as fear, criticism, hatred, gossip, crime, poverty, failure, aggression, 90

cheating, etc. The law of attraction is clear. What you focus on, will only get stronger. When you look at yourself in a mirror, remember to see how beautiful you are rather than how old or ugly you think you are, and that will already make you feel positive.

When confidence radiates from you, you are already more attractive to everyone around.

Focus can help change your life as your focus is feeding your target and creating a connection with you, bringing it closer.

Creating a crystal-clear vision of what you wish to achieve or where you wish to reach is the primary step, followed by focussing your complete attention on accomplishing it. As you learn to focus, you begin to understand either the ease or difficulty in reaching your goal and your mind helps you lay out a map to help you reach it. You must be obsessive about your focus on the target, and believe, and the magic begins.

Amazing things happen when you strengthen your focus.

You will discover a fresh energy that helps guide you to the set goal. You will discover strategies and pathways to reach there. You strangely begin to connect to people who can help you reach your target, which may seem magical but will be true. The universe is working to allow you identify and capitalise on new resources. You will begin researching the subject, get news on the same and begin to gain more and more knowledge on making the right plans in your endeavour to reach it or achieve it. That is how energy flows to where attention goes.

Imagine a tough exam which can get you a great career. How would you achieve passing it? Once you have a clear picture in your mind, won’t you research the preparatory material to help you focus on cracking the exam and the interview? If you have determined your goal, you should be preparing yourself to be better than others.

The power and intensity of your preparation is the focus you are putting your attention on.

When you know that the roadmap to your goal is clear, your mind will assess all the challenges you will need to face, in conquering it and provide you with the necessary strength and 91

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resources and strategies to confront the challenge. However tough a challenge may be, your unwavering focus to the set target will definitely enable you reach it.

Whether it is a job you are focusing on, or a house, a car, a business, a thing, or a person, when you pay complete attention to your focus, rest assured, for its just a matter of time before you own it. The law of attraction prevails abundantly in minds that are filled with purpose and resolve and not only facilitates but eases the approach to your objective when you demonstrate your commitment to achieve it.

One consistently observable thing across people is how they allow distractions and issues interfere with their focus. People have to be obsessive with a goal and dedicate themselves completely in its pursuit by devoting their entire focus and energy to it in order to accomplish it. Most people never go beyond a certain distance, simply because their focus is dispersed and their energy flow to their target is disturbed. This prevents them from getting what they really want, though they may keep up with minor successes.

When you have a clear result in your mind and you believe in a completely positive outcome, it changes your very behaviour and gives you momentum that allows you to take actions that will lead to the appropriate results.

When you fully align yourself with the idea that 'energy flows where attention goes' you become attentive to each of your thoughts and behaviour since your vision is now clear and you get to see the bigger picture.

Like Attracts Like Indeed, and undoubtedly so; and that is how the world is formed.

People with similar interests bond together. Clubs, Associations, Societies and Groups and such others, are clear examples of how like attracts like. People who are driven by success bond together.

You can hence see Millionaire Clubs, Clubs for CEOs, Societies 92

for Scientists, Engineers, Writers, Speakers, Artists, Musicians, Chefs, and all such. These are simple examples of how like attracts like. Even when people meet at a place for the first time, they form natural groups based on whom they meet, discover common likes and gel with. This is simply the Law of Attraction at work. You attract like minds, like interests and like tastes and then go ahead to form friendships and perhaps forge more stronger relationships and partnerships in future.

In a similar manner, gamblers, drunkards, drug addicts and even criminals are drawn together into groups. Thus, this principle that Like Attracts Like, becomes the fundamental principle of the law of attraction. Why do such things happen? Simply because the universe dictates it and gets like minds to meet each other. It doesn’t decide whether someone is good or bad in their likes, it is just a magnet and makes likes meet.

This law is not applicable to just people alone, but to everything you think about. If you keep thinking only of success, wealth, health and fame, the universe steers you into their path, and places manifold opportunities which will inevitably lead you there. When you meet a person for the first time, your mind immediately begins to analyse the individual, asses his or her tastes, and likes and interests, and if you have common interests, the person can eventually become a lifetime’s friend or even your soulmate perhaps. It is commonly observed that most marriages are successful when both the partners share common likes and interests. These common likes keep the bond strong and permanent. It is simply the law of attraction at work.

No goal or objective is difficult if you set your mind on the path of whatever you desire. The truth is while positive thinking results in positive actions bringing about successful results, negative thinking will only result in negative actions which subsequently end in negative experiences for anyone.

A person is only limited by the thoughts that he chooses — James Allen 93

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You will attract everything that you require. If it's money you need, you will attract it. If it's people you need, you'll attract it. If it's a certain book you need, you'll attract it. You've got to pay attention to what you're attracted to, because as you hold images of what you want, you're going to be attracted to things and they're going to be attracted to you. But it literally moves into physical reality with and through you. And it does that by law.

— Bob Proctor

The Law of Attraction also works around the following precepts: Vacuum Has no Place in Nature One's mind is either filled with positive thoughts or negative thoughts and it is impossible for one's mind to have a complete empty space. This principle of the law exhorts that unless you fill your mind with positive thoughts, there is every likelihood that negative thoughts creep in. Hence it is essential for you to always carry yourself with good thoughts, good ideas and great thinking that can inevitably create a path of success for you.

The Present is Always Perfect The message here is that one should make the best use of his or her current situation. How best you make of the present is what leads you to your future and by the time you reach there it again becomes your present moment. The future may seem grim or challenging if you look at your present state, with dissatisfaction on any account. However, once you accept that your present is likely to change only with your positive efforts and begin to introspect on what shortcomings your current position has and how to eliminate them, the resultant of your effort will definitely be an improvement of your present.

Likewise, if you observe that you are successful in business or happy in a current job, you often find that you get more and better opportunities during the time. People who are already in 94

gainful employment usually seem to find other jobs and higher prospects more easily when they are already happy in their present position. Success in business usually causes people to diversify into more prospective domains. These are all examples of positive thinking and positive action which in turn yields undeniably successful results.

To people who might wonder how a concept like the Law of Attraction can work, the answer is clear. Every atom in existence is a component of the universe; everything that exists is part of it, you, me, everyone else, every animal, bird, tree or living thing, every rock, every sand particle, every water drop and every molecule of air we breathe.

They are all manifestations of the power of the universe. The universe gives all and takes all. Its power is beyond our imagination. It exists solely for you and me. Your thoughts are the primary way that connect you to the universe. And it reacts to them just as any living thing. When you feed your mind with beautiful, rich, and positive thoughts, the universe responds accordingly and sends results that in turn make your life beautiful, productive, and successful. The universe is the universal receptacle of all our thoughts, positive, bold, creative, romantic, powerful, or successful and reflects back the same yielding dramatic results which you yourself would be stunned by.

The happiest people on the earth are therefore most successful and always spread cheer and positivity everywhere they go. They have established the right connect to the universe and it is what reciprocates the joy and happiness they are constantly in.

The power of the universe is unquestionable. It can be felt in everything that lies and exists all around us. It is in you and me and when you look deep into yourself, you will not fail to find it.

The simplest way to connect to the universe according to the Law of Attraction is to ask the universe what you want and express your gratitude for what you have. You will find that the entity responds with great certainty and gives you what you deeply desire.

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In the case of Madhu, all the challenges she faced only made her stronger since she never lost faith, faith in herself, faith in the universe. With all the pressures she had in her family life, she stood absolutely firm with great power and determination, believing only in herself, and knowing well that she would be a success, whatsoever may try to interfere with her purpose.

Achieving Nine academic qualifications with two PhDs and Five Post Graduation qualifications is no joke for any lady in an Indian household, unless she is driven by an unconquerable passion, grit, and purpose. Most contemporaries of Madhu though having post graduate qualifications and even in medicine, are sadly limited to their social confines, being happy as housewives, while Madhu has ventured out to the open world reaching out to hundreds of thousands to help them improve their own lives.

In her most miserable moments, the power of positivity never left her. She would often be reminded of the great Swami Vivekananda, who by thirty-nine had already conquered half the world with his messages of peace, positivity, happiness, and success.

His thinking was clear, his purpose determined, and his focus was steady on his objective. He had achieved at such a young age what took ages for other men. Madhu was led by his spirit and discipline and her interest in his philosophy guided her to explore some of the most renowned works on the concept.

They opened her mind to the infinite possibilities of the mind and the universe and gave her strength to confront the worst adversities. In the Northeast when her husband Venu was posted there and she was employed outside in a manufacturing industry, one of her employers ordered that certain female staff of the company including her, would get their remuneration only through him. Many of the women fell into his trap or some others quit since they had no other recourse. But Madhu knowing him to be a grave philanderer refused to accept her wages from him and also refused to quit her job. She had been taking several sessions for the employees and she believed that her mission would be incomplete if she gave up just because of him. She believed that if 96

she had to quit it would be on her choice and not because someone humiliated or disrespected her. She believed work was a prayer and if she had to leave, she would do it gracefully.

The director who was a recent entry into the company feeling rejected, ensured that she did not receive her salary through the accounts department which normally would disburse the same.

He made sure that she received no support whatsoever, in the case and further went on to increase her work pressure.

However, Madhu unfazed, continued to work without her pay and never made any demands or succumbed to any pressure from any source, believing her own sense of dignity and focused purely on her work. This went on for one year and finally when Madhu had to leave, the man utterly ashamed of himself, publicly apologised to her saying that he was yet to meet a woman of such great resolve. When Madhu was offered her entire dues, she still refused to take them and requested that her entire earnings be spent on the welfare of the women employees of the company. The management of the company was simply stupefied, and the employees were very grateful for her unselfish dedication to her duty.

Had it not been for her focus, Madhu would not have been able to accomplish this great result. It is impossible to conceive of someone who would work without wages for a year unless they are so driven by purpose. When Madhu went to Darjeeling and Sikkim on a visit, she happened to visit some of the most historically and culturally significant Buddhist monasteries there.

In her few days of stay, she was overwhelmed at the peace and tranquillity of the monks.

She interacted almost every day with some of the monks who explained how they could achieve such peace in their lives and how they led such simple lives. She witnessed that though they lived such meagre lives with the most basic material things, they were always happy and smiling. Their deep meditation techniques, prayers and chanting of hymns gave them the strength to live such peaceful lives and spread their happiness.

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Madhu learnt quite a lot of their culture and began to imbibe them into her own life and in course of time found substantial peace against every adversity that she later had to confront.

The Law is simply magical. Everything that exists in this world from a human perception, is the result of the Law of Attraction. It works without bias against gender, age, race, health, social status, or such other attributes. It purely works on our mental faculties. It uses the power of our mind to create things into reality, to make things materialize from thoughts. Anything, career, money, health, relationship, recognition, and fame; all can be accomplished by the law. At the same time, it can also bring about chaos, failure, death, and destruction, if wrongly used. It is the universal law that governs our lives, without creating distinctions between success and failure, happiness and sorrow, health and sickness, fame, and unpopularity. Everything that is, is a product of the Law of Attraction. You and I are all products of it.

Now it is time you understood the different ways in which these laws work and how you can understand them better and reign them in to rule your own life, how you can make unhappiness go away and rope in success and joy throughout your life. The Law of Attraction is waiting to be summoned by you. Learn it, understand it, use it and you can win over the world!

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Your thoughts are your biggest strength.

When you think big and visualize them often, health, love, happiness, fame, money, power, success, health, love, happiness, and everything you ever desired, will be yours. Try it. That is the power of the Law of Attraction. It is all in your mind; take hold of it and you will see for yourself that nothing is too big anymore – Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Three

Master Your Health

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

— Aristotle

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hat is the secret to good health, great energy, a satisfying life, and higher longevity? Is it a healthy nutritious diet, great physical fitness, or is it any medication? How is it some people who have had absolutely no hope from deadly diseases, or crippling accidents, and who were told by doctors that they would not survive beyond a certain length of time, defied all odds, and lived their lives to the fullest? Many doctors just say that such stories are just miracles because it baffles their senses how they could survive, heal, and spring back to life.

There are several cases of death-defying recoveries in the world that have simply stupefied the medical fraternity. How do these miracles happen?

While a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle with physical fitness will definitely help your body maintain its physiological balance, there have been a staggering number of cases where disease took grip of the most healthy individuals and ruined them.

It is not too difficult to believe that it is indeed your mind that decides how healthy you are and whether you heal or deteriorate further. Recovery from a debilitating injury or illness is not a miracle, it is the power of your own mind over your body. You simply have to believe.

Role of Happiness in Human Health Happiness is the highest form of health — Dalai Lama History has proved that since the dawn of human civilization the greatest creation discovered in the universe, is actually the human mind itself. Its power is so overwhelmingly phenomenal that its true potential is still incalculable, and it can work such wonders for you that in a sense would seemingly be impossible. The most important factor of human happiness is health, and happiness in 102

turn is the chief aspect of your life that determines your health.

As an established clinical psychologist and life coach, I have often seen several incredible stories of people who have been able to conquer every misery, disease and illness and have surpassed their life expectancy by a remarkable degree, just by being happy and satisfied. And I have realised that all of that was simply possible because of their consistent state of positivity and joy.

A healthy nation is a happy nation. And it truly is so. For centuries most Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and such others have been found to be the happiest and the healthiest countries, with their average life expectancy being over 82 years, much beyond the present world average of 72 years or so. Scandinavians believe in enjoying their life to the fullest.

Though their healthcare facilities are some of the best in the world, the true nature of their state i.e. their being consistently happy keeps them relatively healthy as opposed to the rest of the world. Happiness keeps them healthy and even wealthy.

While the Scandinavian nations testify that their happiness is the cause of their health and wealth, the world’s most unhappy countries such as Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Botswana, or the Central African Republic and several such others are also among the countries with the most unhealthy people, possessing no prospect of good living or prosperity among them. That is also why they are also among the poorest countries in the world. The misfortune of these countries is that their rulers probably do not comprehend why they have to strive to bring about happiness in their people in order to make them better nations with happier and healthier people. A happy nation has a happy leadership that works for bringing about greater contentment among its people, and happy people would indeed make for a happy nation and a very healthy one at that.

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Happiness definitely should not just be a transitory state of mind but should be understood as the one principal aspect of our lives that has a tremendous bearing on our health, and immensely contributes to either strengthening us or weakening us in our pursuits and our lives. Extensive research that has been ongoing for decades, has clearly established that happiness is the principal cause of good health and that the mind has an outstanding power over the body.

Happiness is the collective experience of satisfaction, joy, contentment, and such positive emotions. It just doesn't make you feel good but has a range of health benefits to all as well and has a great bearing on the longevity of a human being too.

A constant state of happiness has proven to be a successful remedy for a number of illnesses. Happiness promotes a healthier lifestyle, helps to improve one's immune system, protects your heart, lowers blood pressure, helps in lowering pain sensations, makes you feel more energised, makes you sleep better, relieves mental stress, and enhances longevity.

Many people find happiness in a variety of things. Some find happiness in wealth, some in education, some in love, some in serving others and some in gaining popularity, and many in gaining success, achievements or accomplishing something. But whatever are the causative factors of happiness, they inevitably bring the same result: a better state of health and increased confidence.

Happiness is responsible for producing such hormones by the human body that together work to enhance the feeling of joy, satisfaction, and contentment. When you are happy, the body reacts positively and releases hormones such as dopamine that makes you feel good, and endorphins that reduce pain and also serotonin that lowers stress and depression. These also work to lower the incidence of sickness in our bodies and help us recover 104

faster from any underlying medical conditions.

Thus, happiness works in myriad ways in keeping us hale, hearty, and healthy and enabling us be more energetic in living our lives. If we are looking for a way to achieve that perfect state of health and longevity, you must remember that it is just you who are responsible. Be happy and you will definitely be healthy.

Why People Become Sick and Unhealthy If you want to heal the body, you must first heal the mind — Plato It may often sound puzzling that many people who follow stringent diets, have seemingly healthy lifestyles, do not drink, or smoke, or have no unhealthy habits at all, keep falling sick. At the same time, people who are considered to lead unhealthy lifestyles such as eating heavily, drinking, smoking, not exercising and with such generally considered bad habits, rarely fall sick. It may be called the irony of life. But the one thing that people forget is that it is their mind that finally determines how healthy they are or can be and everything else is just secondary.

These days with the advancement of technology, we have groups which discuss only ill health or diseases or fitness groups who constantly discuss about healthy food and exercise. Then there are groups which keep discussing only health and happiness. The universe steers you the way you keep driving yourself with your thought process.

When you are discussing a sickness, you are afflicted with, by constantly talking about it or keeping on telling everyone about your illness, you are only adding negative energy to your system.

Your mind believes that you are actually sicker than you are and delays your recovery or worse, even aggravates your health. The moment you believe you are sick, it is quite likely you will be. And 105

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the more you talk about it, the less are the chances that you will make a quick recovery.

Why do people become sick and unhealthy? While improper diets, unbalanced medication, no physical movement, or bad habits such as drugs, smoking and excessive drinking, excessive stress and lack of sleep do contribute to ill health, people often tend to forget that their minds are the primary forces that determine their actual state of health. Considerable studies have been made over the last half a century by scientists all over the world and it has been indubitably established that stress and negativity actually interfere with the body’s immune system tuning down its responses. It is then that people become more susceptible to disease or infection adding further stress and impairing the body’s ability to protect itself from illness or recover from a sickness.

When an individual happens to become sick, or receives an accidental injury, it is quite natural to keep thinking, worrying, or speaking about it. But in doing so consciously or otherwise, they are stressing themselves out, resulting in their bodies releasing a certain hormone called cortisol which enhances their negative feelings, increasing their blood pressure.

This causes them sleep deprivation and even promotes unhealthy weight gain. In the longer duration this contributes to delayed convalescence and lowers the body’s ability to repair itself.

Their constant worry and state of unhappiness only makes matter worse and aggravates their ill health.

"Men and women are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.

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Role of the Mind and Consciousness in Health Your mind is the flag bearer of your health. Research has proved through evidence that the state of mind is a phenomenal factor in determining your health. Health and happiness are truly connected, and your happiness can genuinely impact your state of health. As a matter of fact, the saying that Laughter is the Best Medicine actually works wonders, and a simple survey can tell you that the healthiest people are the happiest people. An upcoming field in psychiatry, termed positive psychology, has been surveying aspects of various people's lives that play a strong role in emotional resilience, contentment, health, happiness, and their satisfaction.

It is now unfailingly proven that these factors of our lives can help us live much healthier and meaningful lives while lowering all kinds of stress simultaneously.

Your body is the temple that you are housed in, your entire life. You must learn to respect it, since it is the only one you'll ever have, and it is the only one through which you manifest everything.

Irrespective of its age, colour, shape, or size, it is your body that is a creation of perfection, and you must take the greatest care of it. It is possible your beautiful body has been overfed or under nourished, under-exercised or too pumped up with medications or drugs. All these could make it sick, and you could forever be feeling overworked, stressed, depressed, or perhaps bloated, and be vulnerable to various illnesses.

But what you must learn to do is to have a sense of selfrespect, which includes your body, and honour it. Perhaps you may not need a diet plan or a fitness trainer, but you must listen to your body when it speaks to you and then give it the royal dignity, love and care it needs. And how does it speak to you? By displaying symptoms of an underlying medical condition. It may be necessary to give it a doctor's therapy too depending on the seriousness of the condition, but alongside, unless you believe that you are healthy 107

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and constantly happy, it takes a real long time to recover your ideal state of health.

Positive emotions are generally induced by joyful experiences, and these have wondrous powers to cause all negative emotions to vanish. They help through their strengths and virtues against causing any physiological or psychological disorders and help in the building of resilience in the human body. This was stated clearly by Martin Seligman who previously held the Presidentship of the American Psychological Association and is considered the father of Positive Psychology.

Continuing and fresh research keeps adding to the findings, affirming the findings of such scientists and psychologists. When you are unhappy, stressed, emotional, even ungrateful, suspicious, doubtful or display such attributes, it is impossible for the mind to help you in any positive way, nor give you a state of good health.

The mind and body connection is unquestionable. Our feelings, beliefs, attitudes, actions, thoughts, behaviours etc., can truly impact our biological functions either in a positive or in a negative way. Simply speaking our minds decide how healthy we really are. Also, our treatment of our physical bodies such as feeding them or exercising them and such other actions, can also impact our minds, which are thus interleaved with each other. The mind and the body are inseparable and mutually influence each other in every aspect of our lives.

Our mind is the repository and the software that makes up our thoughts, our beliefs, our attitudes, emotions and so on. The brain is simply the organ which functions as the hardware for the mind to work. Our minds can both be conscious and unconscious and our reactions to situations cause our emotions while we may yet be unaware of why we react thus.

Each kind of emotion can cause the brain to trigger the release of a certain hormone which in turn can affect the whole 108

physiology of the body.

"The brain and peripheral nervous system, the endocrine and immune systems, and indeed, all the organs of our body and all the emotional responses we have, share a common chemical language and are constantly communicating with one another."

— Dr. James Gordon (Founder, Center for Mind-Body Medicine)

Stories of People Who Mastered Their Health “Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos- the trees, the clouds, everything.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

There are scores of stories that simply stupefy and baffle doctors and scientists about how patients who they declared to never recover or actually even die, made it back to normalcy. The stories of Louise Hay, Morris Goodman, Stephen Hawking, Norman Cousins, Oprah Winfrey, Nick Vujicic, Anita Moorjani, and dozens of others are sheer testimony to the power of their positive thinking, and how they have been able to live normal lives conquering their sicknesses and their natural handicaps and accidental injuries. Madhu herself is a testament to the power of how the mind could exert sufficient influence over the body and bring it back to a normal state of health.

Louis Hay was an American Author and Motivational Speaker who fought some of the most serious and traumatic experiences since her childhood including molestation, abuse, teenage motherhood, and separation and to top it all, a cervical cancer. She was raped when she was just five and survived. By fifteen she had to drop out of school because she became pregnant. She lived 109

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however, working on small menial jobs and finally became a successful fashion model. After her marriage which lasted just 14 years she was devastated, after her spouse separated from her for another woman. A few years later she developed cervical cancer.

By this time she had established herself as a great motivational speaker and had counselled thousands of people about the power of positivity.

She refused any medical treatment and believed that she was probably herself to blame for having carried her childhood trauma all the while which finally may have resulted in the debilitating disease. She later revealed that when she began to follow a therapy that consisted of forgiveness, gratitude, reflexology, nutrition, and regular enemas, she could heal herself within just three months.

Her experiences with cancer led her to write a book 'You Can Heal Your Life,' which went on to sell over 40 million copies and remains one of the best sellers. She lived to a ripe age of 90 and her Hay Foundation is known across the world.

Morris E Goodman is an American Motivational Speaker called the Miracle Man for verily defying death and walking out of the hospital from a completely vegetative state, baffling the best of the doctors. A plane in which he was flying, crashed accidentally, and left him completely immobile, making him paralyzed over the entire body rendering him unable to breathe, talk, swallow or even move, with such debilitating injuries, that doctors declared he would not survive the night. However, he lived through a ninehour surgery that made him only blink.

He was on a ventilator to allow him to breathe for several months. But in time he was able to regain control of his arms, legs, speech, and eye movement and within nine months could walk freely of the hospital on his own. Doctors treating him could only gasp in wonder and amazement at this incredible recovery which was nothing short of a miracle. A man who was not expected to survive a few hours, now is living a healthy life even at seventy110

five, and every part of his body fully recovered.

Stephen Hawking, the greatest physicist and scientist of the current century was afflicted with a rare degenerative disease called motor neurone disease in his early twenties, which gradually crippled him, completely disabling him from moving or even speaking too. He was condemned to a wheelchair and doctors treating him said he would not last even two years after his diagnosis. But he survived nearly four decades after the crippling condition and today is acknowledged as an individual of the highest scientific learning in the world.

His contributions to science are acknowledged the world over and he remains one of the most influential people of our times, and in scientific history.

"Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors."

— Norman Cousins Norman Cousins, a journalist from the west, was struck with a crippling disease called ankylosing spondylitis that also caused him paralysis preventing him from moving even his jaw. He admitted that he went through a heavily stressful journey to Russia that caused his immunity to weaken, making him vulnerable to unhealthy air around the hotel he was staying at, resulting in him becoming a victim to the disease. He believed that in order to restore his health, he had to stimulate the flow of adrenalin which was being suppressed due to the condition. He believed that his faith, confidence, hope and love would be more productive if laughter were added. So, he embarked on the therapy which astonishingly gave successful results. He recovered completely and went on to live to a satisfying seventy-five years.

Anita Moorjani, author of Dying to Be Me, which was a best seller on New York Times, was struck with Lymphoma, a lifethreatening carcinogenic condition at the age of 43. For several 111

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months she was treated with conventional medicine, to no avail.

Finally, doctors treating her declared that her condition had metastasized, and that her survival was impossible and that it was too late to save her.

She slipped into a deep coma following the condition.

However, thirty hours later, she startled her doctors by becoming conscious again. She declared that she had an NDE - Near Death Experience, which she said was however overturned by her father's relentless encouragement to her to fight her condition, and that she had to return to live her life fearlessly.

Within four days of her coming out of coma, her tumours were reported to have shrunk by 70% and in the next five weeks she was completely cured of cancer, only spending a few months on extended physiotherapy for her to regain her full strength. Her experience motivated her to author a book called Dying to Be Me, which was a runaway success.

Nick Vujicic is an Australian-American evangelist, author, and one of the world's most renowned motivational speakers currently. He is one of the greatest testaments to the fact that every human can conquer any adversity and rise above, and that no disability whatsoever, can actually disable one's heart or mind. He was born with an extraordinary condition known as tetra-amelia syndrome in which a person is born without any limbs. When he was born, his parents were so dismayed by his condition it is said that they ran out of the maternity chamber and vomited outside, refusing to even touch him. But gradually they accepted him and believed that it was god's plan for them and their child.

By seventeen he started to give talks to his local prayer group and gradually grew to become a well-known speaker championing the cause of the disabled. He is the author of several inspirational books on motivation and today travels across the globe giving talks and speeches that people throng to listen to, in thousands. He has 112

awed everyone in the world with his extraordinary abilities and lives a successful married life, having fathered four children.

Madhu had herself to fight a relentless fight against the chaotic conditions she had to face day in day out during her life with Venu. As the early months of her marriage progressed, each day brought about a new trauma into her life, and she would suffer with severe migraine which at times made her feel like banging her head against a wall to escape the pain. Her condition was often aggravated by constant neck and body pains depriving her of sleep and lowering her energies. But deep inside her, she never gave up hope that she would see better days. And true to the fact, once she started exploring the outer world, talking to people, reading, writing, and meditating, she found that all her physical pains vanished. When she finally discovered how powerfully the mind influences the body, she became enlightened and regularly practiced a set of tools and techniques aligned with the Law of Attraction. After learning of the many stories of people who mastered their health through their thought processes, she conclusively decided that the pain in one’s body is actually caused by the mind. Remove the thought and the pain is gone!

All these stories are true and the people who are quoted here are real people with real experiences who related them to the world either through their books or talks or TV shows. The idea that is clearly conveyed and established is that one’s health or physical condition is purely the result of one’s thinking and that the mind has a tremendous bearing on the body. The body acts as per the thought process of the mind and influences our health and performance to an outstanding degree. While positive thoughts of happiness, satisfaction and gratitude go a long way to give us good health and help us overcome any weakness, negative thinking has several bad aspects on our health causing depression, stress, pain, slow recovery or even aggravating a medical condition.

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unconscious state, it would be absolutely unwise not to seek immediate medical intervention. But in the regular course of time, the mind is so powerful that it can actually heal you or accelerate your recovery while your medical treatment is going on.

In medical terminology a term ‘placebo’ is often used when a drug or medicine is administered to humans. Actually, a placebo should have no effect on the recipient when he is just told that a certain medicine has been given to him to treat a certain medical condition when in reality, he has not been given the drug and only something as simple as a sugar pill or a vitamin tablet is given.

However, the recipient is made to believe that the proper drug has been given to treat his condition and then his mind begins to work in an astonishingly similar manner as if the drug has indeed been given.

It has often turned out that the effect of placebo has proven to have either the same or even a greater effect than the actual medication itself, which is designed to produce the effect, resulting in an effective treatment of the condition or an amazingly quick recovery or healing. That is the power of the incredible human mind. It can progress to heal you if you believe, and the placebo example is the best there is to prove that.

One might be awestruck how a person could survive a fourth stage cancer and revert to normal life, or how a person who has completely become paralyzed due to an accident could regain normalcy in due course, when medical science cannot fathom how such a thing is even possible. But such examples do exist in reality, where people who have even been declared dead, actually woke up and re-lived normal lives.

Examples such as that of Tony Cicoria, Anita Moorjani, Annabel Beam, Ernest Hemingway, Jane Seymour, Mary C. Neal, NDERF Contributor Laurie, Eben Alexander, Dave Bennett, Zack Clements and such others who were supposedly dead but 114

came back to life, are a clear testimony that the mind can rule over medicine.

All these people were in some calamity, either an incapacitating disease or an accident and were almost either on the verge of death or already declared so, but miraculously recovered and continued their normal course of lives. The human mind is the most phenomenal force in creation that almost anything is possible when you believe.

“Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

— World Health Organization, 1948

How to Heal Yourself – Conquer Sickness and Regain Health The Law of Attraction helps you in a variety of ways to help you heal yourself if you are sick, to help you recover if you have had any injury, or just to help you maintain a robust state of health purely with the power of your mind and your thoughts. The power, the formula and the secret to your health simply lies in your own hands.

People are desperately searching for quick solutions to accelerate their healing or recovery when their hope is lost, and perhaps yearning to help someone recover too. You might ask, so how does one go about in achieving the perfect state of health?

Or is it possible that we can heal someone else too? For that the answer is a complete Yes, you can. You can not only heal yourself but also be able to heal someone! When you put your energies and your intentions to work, we see astounding results that people generally term as miracles.

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But they are not miracles, and in truth they are simply the laws that govern the universe, and those who live by them find their rewards. The practice of healing yourself and helping heal others is possible with the substantial power that your mind exerts over your body. It is through affirmation and visualisation that your imagination reigns in the law of attraction, enhancing the great power that lies within you that creates magical and miraculous results. It is a multi-layered process that follows each other beginning with building belief, expressing gratitude, affirming your beliefs, and drawing the healing energy to yourself or sending the healing energy to someone you care about.

To build the belief the first thing you must do is believe that 'you definitely can!' This is the first step in the Law of Attraction.

Your mind and thought power have considerable potential to heal anything. Your inner self is equipped with incredible energy and power to heal itself from all suffering and pain or from any insecurities or emotional bondage. Whether it is a mental or physical condition, or a debility you may have had at birth itself, your mind is the miracle processor that can heal you. You can unleash the power with a simple belief that you can.

The power of gratitude is incalculable; when you feel grateful you draw all positive energies and that brings happiness to you, and happiness is just the right medicine for any sickness. Always be thankful 24/7, for everything around and to everyone.

Say thank you to everyone you meet either in person or virtually. If you can’t meet someone, thank him or her in your heart.

Be happy and grateful for all the things you possess, be it your home, your possessions, or your pets. If you are in a hospital, be thankful to your room and your bed, your nurse and your doctor and your medicine. If you are trying to heal someone, you must remember to be grateful for everything related to him. Also, you must encourage them to follow the same gratitude so that they heal faster. Let them understand that they should genuinely feel 116

grateful for everything and when they utter a thank you to anyone, they must feel it. The power of intention can channelize all possible energies that heal anyone. Gratitude when expressed genuinely, is the path through which the healing energies flow.

The power of affirmations has been discovered centuries ago and it has been a phenomenal force in healing. But what is an affirmation? Affirmations are simply declarations made by us in which we mention something we wish to achieve. In this case good health or quick recovery. Repeating them regularly carves these appeals on our subconscious minds and prompts them to help us realise our oft affirmed goals. They can alter our thoughts and mindsets and gravitate towards the law of attraction. They incredibly help in overcoming any negative emotions or self-talk, considerably improving the health of the body and the mind.

Emile Coue was a French psychologist who originally brought the idea to public attention using the phrase autosuggestions. When he told his patients that his medicines were very effective, patients believed him, and he found the results were more positive than he actually expected. So, he realised that the perception of reality can actually be affected by thoughts and beliefs. Louis Hay later changed ‘autosuggestions’ to the word ‘affirmations,’ though with the same principle.

We often find sportsmen or competitors in a competition whispering, ‘I can do it, I can do it!’ In saying so they are making an affirmation which in turn tunes the mind to deliver the maximum energy to the task. Positive affirmations improve your concentration, help you to sleep well, make you confident, increase your strength, endurance and performance, lower fear, and negativity, improve relationships, help heal quickly from ill health or injury, and on the whole improve the quality of your lives and contribute to your well-being.

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exact way it is given. Hence it is necessary not to use any negative statements such as 'I hope I won’t fail this test' but rather use a positive statement saying, "I know I will be successful in this test!'

When presented specifically, their effectiveness is vastly optimised, and the delivery is appropriate.

When using affirmations, it is always good to use the present tense. Instead of saying 'I wish to be healthy' you could say 'I am healthy.'

Always choose 'I or I am' when you create your affirmation, such as 'I am happy,' or 'I can do it.' Affirmations must be kept short and clear while being specific. Build them with strong positive emotions. You can use a number of tools such as phones, text reminders, message boards to write your affirmations and repeat them often and with complete faith.

Whenever you make a positive affirmation, it resonates with the universe giving you back the energy you need, to put you back on track and give you optimum health both in body and mind.

Examples of Positive Affirmations for Good Health I love my body I am peaceful I have relaxed sleep I am hale and hearty I am safe and secure I have perfect vision I am fully recovered I have great energy

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My knees are perfect My diabetes is healed My body heals rapidly I am healthy and strong I am happy and healthy I have the perfect body I am at a perfect weight I am healed and restored Life loves and supports me.

I only have positive thoughts I always attract all the help I need My heart is in excellent condition I am willing to move forward with ease I am filled with energy and enthusiasm I love myself unconditionally with complete acceptance When you think, feel, and believe it, it will inevitably happen. The speed at which it happens is based on how intensely you feel about it. Say your affirmations looking at yourself in a mirror. Meditate around them. The more you feel and think them, the quicker you recover and the better you feel. Don’t focus on the sickness, but feel that you are fully healthy, and the results will show.

When you channelize your emotions and thoughts strongly and positively, you are drawing a healing energy to yourself.

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where you ask the universe to send its light to heal you or heal someone else. The universe resonates with your thoughts, your visualisations, your affirmations, your beliefs, and your faith, and consequently the result is there for you to personally witness.

Health is the most important strength of a human being and one’s greatest asset. However rich or famous one may be, without good health, none of it is going to matter as he would have no happiness to experience or enjoy the state. Happiness is the key to good health. When you are happy, positive, and grateful, the universe in turn gives you more energies to enhance the feeling of joy, success, and great health. Use your mind to always manifest the best and positive feelings and good thoughts about your health, and you will be healthy and recover quickly from any sickness or debility. If you keep worrying and are constantly stressed about your health, it will only aggravate your condition drawing negative energies from the universe which will delay your recovery or constantly keep adding new problems to your health. So be happy and you will be healthy.

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The mind, the body, and the spirit, together constitute the harmony of your mind.

The gates of your soul are opened only when you are free of mental distractions even in a state of disability.

Your mind is the key to your state of health.

Any negative beliefs you may have work against the union of your mind and your body.

A happy mind makes way for a healthy body and together with your spirit, your mind and your body are the ultimate sources of your happiness.

— Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Four

The Key to Good Education

There is only one purpose in the whole of life: education. It is the manifestation of the perfection already in man — Swami Vivekananda

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Role of Education in our Lives

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hy do we need to be educated? What is education that is so paramount that our lives depend on it? In what ways does education help us in our lives? What has the Law of Attraction to do with education in our lives? The following passages will lead you there and reveal how LOA can be a strategic lever to help you obtain the education you desire and thus excel in life.

Education is the key factor of our lives that is critical to the growth of either an individual or humanity in its collectiveness. It is the single most essential aspect of human life that broadens our knowledge, and opens our minds to understand the what, why and how of life, develop new perspectives, innovate ideas, understand, and question beliefs and cultures and enables us work as a ‘human’ society. Further, education provides us with the necessary skills, knowledge and competencies and also enhances our innate capacities to find employment or provide us with the means to sustain our livelihoods.

Education is the key to our success in our future and obtain better opportunities in our lives. It helps enlighten and illuminate our minds and helps us plan for either employment or pursue a fruitful business or venture. It makes us think, behave, feel, and develop traits that help us to achieve success. It helps us obtain an overall satisfaction in our lives personally and also in the society.

It also contributes to developing our personalities holistically, improving our confidence, our strength and giving us a purpose, facilitating us to earn and maintain a certain status in the community, while also helping us to help others to be on the right path. Education is a continuous process, and the human mind begins to learn from its birth and ending with its death.

The more educated we are, the better are our chances in living a successful and happier life.

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Education is both academic and social. While academic and professional education is essential to give us the requisite knowledge, skills, confidence, and capabilities to find, choose and pursue a profession, social education helps us relate to the society, understand its makeup, its collective personality, its strengths and weaknesses, and helps us gauge opportunity and threat, and also helps us mould ourselves to find our niche in the world. A welleducated individual is not only educated academically but also socially and together they contribute to his or her actual education.

Without the appropriate education, we may miserably fail in our lives and experience only pain and agony in living unhappy, hollow, and dissatisfying lives. The advancements we witness in our society today are purely due to the vast amounts of education that is spread across the globe. The richest nations on the earth are the most educated nations and the poorest countries are so only because they do not have sufficient education. Therefore, it is imperative that we all strive to obtain a level of education that can not only help us survive or sustain but also helps us relate successfully to the world and be a happy, strong, and purposeful part of the society.

The secret of life is not enjoyment, but education through experience. The ideal of all education, all training, should be this man-making — Swami Vivekananda

Who is a Guru?

A Guru can be anyone who shows us the right direction to our lives, be it a teacher, a coach, a guide, a philosopher, or a mentor.

A Guru helps one to understand himself, gives strength to our personalities, builds confidence, teaches skills, and helps us imbibe knowledge, induces wisdom, creates, or develops our perspectives, shows us direction, and helps us prepare for the challenges ahead.

He is the dispeller of darkness, an intellectual leader and guide.

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He is the creator and the transformer of the self. He can be the most phenomenal influence in our lives. The greatest Gurus are the ones who enable our critical thinking abilities and help us develop our own perspectives which may actually vary from what we have learnt from them and surpass them in many ways. A great Guru is one who can help people realise and strengthen themselves and puts them on the road to purpose and success.

Why do we need Gurus in our lives?

We are born into a world without any knowledge, skills, or imagination. However, our minds are programmed to learn every moment as we keep growing.

We learn from our parents, our relatives, our neighbours, our classmates, friends, teachers, and everyone we meet or from everything we experience. But a Guru becomes a dominant aspect of our lives as he is the one who identifies who we are and determines how well we can be prepared for our lives in our future.

Gurus are essential for us to be successful in our lives because they enlighten us, inspire us, improve us, and transform us. They are the true elements of our lives that help us in our transformation. Our breakthroughs in lives are usually achieved when we follow the path that our Gurus have set. Great Gurus can magically transform our lives and be critical factors that determine our progress in our lives. One’s life without a Guru usually may not be as successful as the one who is led by a proper Guru. Hence one should choose the right Guru with virtues, qualities and characteristics that set us on the right and successful path. The greatness of a coach is to show the player how worthy he is. The greatness of a player is to live up to the capability.

For example, in the Mahabharata, Acharya Dronacharya made Arjuna realise his own immense personality and his outstanding skills. In the end Arjuna was able to use the very skills and win the battle against the side of his Guru himself. Sachin Tendulkar's coach Ramakant Acharekar was not a greater cricketer 126

than himself, but he showed him the right direction by which Sachin gained universal acclaim and success.

We all need Gurus and Coaches someone outside of us to guide us. They are the right people to rely upon, to unleash our true potential to channelize our emotions for the higher purpose to create legendary possibilities in each and everything.

Madhu’s Greatest Gurus of Education If you can teacher children, teenagers, and young adults and turn them into responsible, curious, and hardworking individuals when they go into the real world, then you have accomplished what a teacher is supposed to do — George Orwell All education is usually sourced to either a set of individuals or a system from whom we all learn. Teachers or educators have phenomenal power that can both make or break our lives. Teachers have the power to illuminate minds, evoke thoughts, elicit ideas, and inspire people which can make a difference to our lives.

Teachers are thus the greatest influencers of our lives, giving us a sense of direction and putting us on the path of our future. Today the reach of technology has given a new dimension to education and learning, giving us the ability to search and look for information beyond the classroom and in a way is also influencing learning in a different convention. Still a Guru or a Teacher in whatever form they may be, would be instrumental in allowing us find our direction in life.

The present civilization we see today is the resultant of the teachings of the greatest teachers, philosophers, and gurus who with their intellectuality, their wisdom and learning gave the world a direction since the dawn of history. Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Confucius, Chanakya, Epicurus, Descartes, Pythagoras, Gautam Buddha, Jesus Christ, and many teachers from ancient history to latter philosophers such as Nietzsche, Voltaire, Bertrand Russel, 127

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Francis Bacon, Rousseau, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, Swami Vivekananda, Martin Luther King, and several such others were some of the greatest gurus of education.

And almost everyone believed in the power of thought, the power of belief and the power of their own consciousness.

Madhu was highly influenced by several teachers both from the past and the present, with Swami Vivekananda being one of the chief influencers of her life. While she studied at institutions of higher learning run by Sri Satya Saibaba where she learnt to respect his philosophy, Swami Vivekananda's teachings inspired her immensely.

Swami Vivekananda was one of the greatest teachers of all time. He believed that education is a manifestation of perfection already in men. Just as a sculptor or a painter has a clear idea about how they shape their works, a teacher must have a clear idea of the goal of his teaching, he would say.

Through his words and works, Swami Vivekananda endeavoured to establish that man making is the entire purpose of education. We manifest through our thoughts, words and deeds, our higher nature, the truth, our beauty, and goodness. All our thoughts, actions and impulses lead us to this goal which would naturally be noble and harmonizing, and in the truest sense, both moral and ethical. He exhorts that we should combine the dynamism and scientific approach of the west to the spirituality of India. He also said that technical education and the development of industries would enable people to earn better than seeking for service and enable us to save for a rainy day.

Swami Vivekananda says that education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot unimplemented and undigested, all your life. He says that our assimilation of ideas must be life building and for man making.

We have more education if we have assimilated five ideas which make our life and character, than one who may have an entire library in his mind.

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"We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. What can a child do with science if he doesn’t understand the science of life? We teach our children to read and memorize history, but we don’t teach them to create history.

Proper education is not just formal education in an institution, but a combination of academics, essential life skills, social skills, soft skills and special skills that help an individual obtain mastery of his or her life.”

Swami Vivekananda's scheme of man-making is education through the light of the philosophy of Vedanta. The philosophy of Vedanta emphasizes that the essence of man is in his soul which is his possession alongside his mind and body. The perfection that is manifested in us through education is hence the realization of the immense power that exists in everything and everywhere in consciousness and bliss. Swami Vivekananda’s teachings were a breakthrough across the world, and in a short life of just 39 years he was able to capture the attention of the west with his finest oration and great writings, and till date he remains one of the greatest influencers of the century.

Madhu once read about Mahatria Ra in a magazine called Frozen Thoughts, and as she learnt about his philosophy, began to develop a strong desire to listen to his discourses. She finally went ahead and attended his sessions at Chennai and progressed to meet him in person. His teachings and philosophy were inimical. He had a very unconventional way of reaching out to people with his messages.

Blending spirituality with materialistic ambition, his philosophy exhorts one to follow a path that can provide breakthroughs in any aspect of human life through ardent desire, which could be spiritual, material, or emotional, just by harnessing the power of the human spirit through faith, in its immeasurably gigantic potential. Tens of thousands of people flock to Mahatria 129

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Ra to be audience to his enlightening sermons, and Madhu quickly realised the potential of his great philosophy in making leaders of common people by enabling them realize and maximize their potential. Attending several sessions of Mahatria over a few years, Madhu understood that his path demonstrated a clear direction and easy methods to understand and resolve life's questions and challenges. Today Mahatria Ra’s sessions have proven to be life changers for some of the biggest business leaders, politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, doctors, educationalists, and several others.

Madhu’s life also was profoundly impacted with Mahatria’s philosophy, giving her a more holistic and deeper understanding of life and also enhancing her spiritual strength to confront the world.

In addition to studying the philosophies of the ancient and latter history, Madhu also studied the works of the greatest teachers such as Rabindranath Tagore, Sarvepalli Radhakrishna, Albert Einstein, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Nelson Mandela, and such others.

But the most influential in her life remained Swami Vivekananda, Louise Hay, Mahatria Ra, Nick Vujicic, Oprah Winfrey, Anitha Moorjani, Jay Shetty, Tony Robbins, Steve Jobs, Blair Singer, Robert Kiyosaki, Robin Sharma, Dr. Richard Bandler, John Maxwell, and some others, all of whom believed in the power of the subconscious mind, the power of the universe and the power of human thought.

Madhu’s Experience with Buddhist Monks Madhu during her tenure at Assam, happened to meet some Buddhist Monks who had come to visit the station, where she was put up. She was introduced to them during a session she was conducting for some of the station personnel. Though their interaction was brief, the monks were very impressed by her proactive approach to people's empowerment. The monks 130

belonged to a few monasteries in Sikkim, and they requested her to visit them if she happened to visit Sikkim anytime. The brief meeting she had with them intrigued her as to how these monks led a different lifestyle. She began to study about them through whatever literature she could obtain. However, the more she read about them, the more she wanted to know. In a few months after the interaction, she laid out a plan to visit Sikkim, primarily to visit these monks and understand their way of living. And finally, when she visited Sikkim, she was awestruck at the beauty of the place and the cleanliness and discipline that the people of Sikkim observed. She spent about a week exploring the place visiting all the state’s four districts. In Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, she visited a monastery called Rumtek. Here she was able to speak to a few monks, but she was unable to gather much information, as the management of the monastery was in some conflict. She was suggested to visit Pemayangtse Monastery in Pelling, at West Sikkim, which she learnt was one of the oldest in the region.

The monastery was located at Pelling with a scenic backdrop of the majestic Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. She was dumbfounded with the majesty of the mountain range which occupied almost a third of the horizon, amidst which stood the mighty mountain. Later she proceeded to visit the monastery and was fortunate to meet some of the senior most monks there. She learnt the philosophy of their living, who followed the tenets of Buddhism to the core. They led an austere lifestyle, waking up early in the morning, and spending considerable time in meditation and prayer, complete with Buddhist incantations. Their diet was sparse and absolutely simple, and all of them were celibates. Yet they all were physically and spiritually strong and strictly followed the regimen set by the ancient order of monks centuries ago.

Madhu spent an entire day with them, enquiring about their routine, their daily lives and how they managed to follow such stringent living practices. She learnt that their meditation gave 131

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them the strength and will power to sustain themselves and the order that was laid cannot be broken.

Madhu was invited to partake of their lunch which consisted of a soup, a few vegetarian dishes, and fresh fruits, which she found satiating enough. She also learnt that the food habits of the monks are variable, and their order does not impose upon them to follow any specific diet and that they are more or less established by each monastery for itself. However, many of the monks followed a practice called Bhikku in their eating habits, which forbids them to eat anything after the noon of the day till the next morning.

This was quite an austere practice but many of the monks followed the practice as a routine.

They would have occasional visits to the neighbourhood of the monastery where they would feed the poor and share with the needy whatever they could. The monasteries themselves functioned with the alms donated by the people of the region but caring and sharing was part and parcel of their life.

Madhu learnt that their ascetic way of living only strengthened their minds and gave them more power to be focused. Their life was one of sacrifice and prayer and work. They lived with oneness and amidst a single purpose of working for and being at peace. The whole experience with the monks was very refreshing and calming for Madhu. She learnt from them that we are ourselves responsible for what we are and what we become.

When we count our blessings and be thankful for what we have, when we watch our thoughts, actions and emotions and are ever mindful of everything that we do, when we keep our life simple and uncluttered with things that do not matter, and when we discover empathy through compassion and help the others, we would inevitably find peace, contentment, and satisfaction in our lives. Madhu gradually imbibed many of these Buddhist principles into her own lifestyle, which gave her tremendous peace.

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Factors that Affect Education & Learning While it is universally agreed that education is the key to our survival and sustenance in the world, it is imperative to first understand the elements that affect our education. If we can endeavour to minimise the effects of these factors it would be more helpful in obtaining better education when balanced with the power of this law.

Some of the factors that influence education are: • Physiological Factors • Psychological Factors • Learning Environment • Instructional Methodology Physiological factors that affect learning either in kids, young adults or older people include Age, Physical Health, Sensory Perception, Fatigue, Type of environment, Time of the day, etc.

Psychological factors include aspects such as Motivation, Mental health, Reward and punishment, Praise or Criticism, etc.

Environmental factor for learning includes the Working Environment, Level of Comfort, Ambient Temperature etc.

The instruction methodology is a factor that covers presentation and organisation of the content, learning through practice, specialised methods of learning reinforcement, and timely testing.

How LoA Tools Can be Used to Improve your Education While all these are general factors that determine how much they influence your education and your learning experience, you might nevertheless desire to know how to apply the Law of Attraction to improve your education and get successful in your academics with great scores. The concept works well on studies and examinations as well, howsoever difficult they may be.

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However, your aim to be successful in your education, getting good grades and to pass any exams vastly depends on your feelings, your vibration, and your thoughts. You must first set your goal and take steps to reach it. Studying well and passing exams are definitely the most important tools to it. You should prepare, prepare, and prepare. However, the pressure of studying intensively can definitely be eased when you know the Law of Attraction's techniques to study. The Law of Attraction works by enabling you take actions that would accelerate and simplify your reaching the set goal. If you don’t study or prepare yourself for your exams with your books, you are not using the tools of the concept correctly and that could cause you to fail.

Focus is one of the key factors that can help you achieve success. When you focus on your properly set goal, you will obtain the required motivation too and that would make you happy and it is impossible to go wrong. The right focus will help you achieve vibrational alignment and makes it possible by breaking down any anxiety, fear, and doubt, and you end up doing extremely well.

Visualize that you have already achieved your goal. Say if you have a keen desire to get into a certain university or college, you must spend some time every day, thinking and visualising that you are already part of that institution.

Think that you already received your admission letter, visualize that you started attending classes and started doing assignments and tests. When you are preparing for an exam, feel that the test paper is easy, and you had effortlessly completed it.

Feel that you got the grades you desired, and that friends and family are congratulating you.

Use the Mirror Technique which is a fundamental tool of Law of Attraction. Some of the greatest people on the earth such as Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill have been known to use the mirror technique with success, making them some of the greatest orators in history. Speaking to yourself in front of a mirror is a powerful method through which the mighty power of the 134

subconscious mind can be summoned to help you prepare for studying comprehensive subjects and tackling the toughest exams with ease.

Say to yourself 'You are a great success. You will do extremely well in your exam. You are the best in your class. You are in the best institution. Your results are extraordinary, and you are an outstanding performer.' Once you asked the universe what you wanted openly, clearly and with complete faith, your subconscious mind transforms your reality, aligning it to what you desire and consequently making it happen.

To manifest your dreams, positive affirmations can act as powerful tools. They strengthen your ability to learn and master things faster, significantly enhance your confidence, and rise above others in taking up any educational challenges.

The greatest teachers, philosophers, public figures, scientists, businessmen and such other important social figures, always believe in their own strength and that gives them the power to take up challenges, making them achievers with their accomplishments and contributions.

Coming from a region where education for girls is considered no more important than tutoring their children at home, Madhu went a long way in accomplishing such wondrous achievements with her phenomenal breakthroughs in education, that almost everyone who knew her were simply stunned and stupefied. Back home in her childhood, her parents, her grandmother, her brothers, uncles and cousins, and relatives, neighbours; in fact, almost everyone from the region, considered a girl’s education of little importance.

Madhu had to marry even before she finished her postgraduation and her husband, her parents and in-laws convinced her at that situation, to discontinue pursuing higher studies. But once she realised that she faced an identity crisis and disrespect in her marital home, she began to realise that studies alone kept her mind from the trauma.

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She was an average student at school and even her college, but her marital experiences began to compel her to discover ways to strengthen herself and overcome the personal strife she was challenged with continuously. The trauma actually gave her the strength to outperform everyone in her class in every course she pursued.

She thus began to pursue one course after another, finishing her Post Graduation in English, Post-Graduation in Education, Post-Graduation in Psychology, and pursuing her M.Phil. And PhD which she completed successfully. In course of time, unlike anyone she had known in her entire family, social or regional circles, she achieved the unthinkable. She completed a total of nine qualifications including post graduate qualifications and earning her M.Phil., and a phenomenal two doctorates, with a number of international certifications and diplomas. She also did an NLP Masters in London, directly under Dr. Richard Bandler, the very creator of NLP. It is almost impossible to imagine the intensity of focus and strength an individual in her place would need, to accomplish something like that! She believed in herself, and the power of the universe, and that was the secret of her success. At the end she was able to earn a fortune and not just a living.

The Law of Attraction has several tools and techniques to allow you obtain success in all your educational pursuits. The chapter on Tools and Techniques discusses the methodology in more detail and the reader is urged to refer to the same.

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Real education is when you begin to visualise the power of your mind.

Your mind is filled with such vastness that can encompass the entire knowledge of all the books in the world and empower you to act for the greater good of mankind – Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Five

How to Accomplish a Great Career

Write your own book instead of reading someone else's book on success — Herb Brooks

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The Essence of a Good Career

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our career is based on the path that you choose where you go in your life. Your career is one of the strongest factors that decides how successful you are and how satisfying your life is. A good career is one you find rewarding in every way.

It should give you the financial strength you have aimed for, allow you to choose the profession you always wanted, giving your good scope for growth, giving you a position of value, and finally keeping you happy and satisfied with yourself and the people you care about. But choosing a career isn't easy unless you have a proper career plan, that determines the path you choose.

Steps Towards a Strong Career Make a Career Plan A good career plan helps you to pave your future securely. This planning usually begins as soon as you step out of high school.

Choosing the right stream of your higher education, be it Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Law, Technology, Business etc., is extremely crucial as these later become the determining factors in your career.

Once you have chosen your preferred stream of choice, it is essential you set your academic goals which can help you sharpen your focus. Accruing as much knowledge and developing skills in your specialised stream can help you become the ideal candidate for employers choosing you.

While it would be advisable to focus on specific subjects that can fetch you a prospective employment, it is also imperative that you master soft skills such as attitude, communication, writing skills, social skills, time management, team skills, and essential life skills, that can help you live without depending on anyone. These and your academic skills combined together would make you a perfect candidate for any company since employers would like to pick up 140

candidates who have the right balance of both academic and soft skills as they would find them more easier to train and be adaptable.

Set Your Goals A career plan is the first step that lays out both your short-term goals such as envisioning your position say in about five years, and your long-term goal that can go beyond ten to twenty years. While getting a good job can be part of your short-term goal, reaching your dream job or becoming an entrepreneur can be your longterm goals. While some of the goals may seem challenging, they would become more manageable when you set your career plan properly. Creating a solid career plan helps you grow easily in the professional path of your choice.

The career plan is a structured amalgamation of your education, your interests, skills, values, your goals, and your vision.

Ensure you have a realistic career plan which will inevitably become a critical part of your growth, your personality, and your development. If you fail to put a career plan together you might end up having a career crisis too.

Setting specific timelines for achieving your targets can help you immensely in your actual career. This way you are constantly motivated to pursue the set path and would more often than not, land the prized position of your focus. While there would naturally be several challenges in your pursuit of a good career, careful planning and a strong focus on your goals will give you the necessary confidence and strength to continue unwaveringly in your path and allow you to accomplish your objectives.

Look for a Mentor It would always be appropriate to look for a mentor when you wish to pursue a good career. Mentors can act as strong guides and help steer you in the path of the right direction in your career. Choose a mentor who is a master in your profession and someone who can 141

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give you the right guidance and advice for you to progress in your career.

The essence of a good career is your ability to plan your future, and visualise where you would be, not just in ten years, but where you might actually be after your retirement, say when you reach sixty or seventy.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams — Eleanor Roosevelt Survey and research what jobs are the most prospective for the next ten to twenty years and take the help of a good mentor to decide on one. The one which you choose must match your interests, your education, your knowledge, and skills, and show how it can make you grow.

Strengthen your professional skills by continuously preparing for the targeted job.

Strengthen yourself on essential life skills such as: • Oral and Written Communication • Critical & Creative Thinking • Problem Solving • Decision Making • Self-Awareness • Compassion • Interpersonal Skills • Stress Management • Emotional Intelligence 142

• Time Management • Teamsmanship • Social Skills Prepare a foolproof professional resume – This is the first document through which your profile is communicated to the potential employer. So, a well written, accurate and grammatically correct resume that effectively conveys your strengths and capabilities in a concise format must always be available with you.

Identify the best companies that you think can hire you, list them out, prioritize them in the order of your choice, and apply to them for the available positions you are eligible for. Once you apply but do not get a response within a reasonable time frame, do follow up once again. It is likely the concerned personnel may not have seen your application. A few follow up mails should show you a responsible response. All respected companies respond to their mails. Try different methods of communicating with them, through mails, phones, messages or even through any possible internal contact. You must overcome your fears to apply and follow up if you are serious about a job.

Once you receive the response and the interview call, with the level of your preparation, you should be easily able to get the job. Companies are constantly on the lookout for the best people to join them, and once they recognise that you possess all the traits they are looking for, you are in for an opportunity galore.

Companies become great only because of the people that work for them. Once you are in, your career path begins.

Give your best to the company you are working for. Learn to set achievable targets, ensure your knowledge and skills are in line and update with your job, maintain discipline, punctuality and be an excellent teammate and show the organisation that you are a dedicated, smart, and hardworking employee. Check the 143

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company’s set objectives and endeavour to align your personal goals with the same. Be a result-oriented worker who shows exemplary performance and productivity and maintain that consistency. Keep a careful record of every testimonial, incentive, award, or certificate that is given to appreciate your performance.

In course of time your performance will yield the necessary results.

If you are satisfied with your growth, you will be happy with the overall results of your career plan.

However, if you believe there are better prospects in other organisations after you have put in a respectable period of service in the company, you may restart the process of shifting to another, using a similar strategy. You may use the services of recruitment consultants too. And if you believe you have achieved excellent growth and garnered enough experience, and possibly have the necessary backing, you might venture upon an entrepreneurship yourself. Achieving the desired level of success is completely dependent upon you. Your constant improvement with yourself and your determination to be the best will work wonders for your career.

“All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.”

— Walt Disney Know your Purpose and Finetune your Focus “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

— Bruce Lee One of the most essential factors that is central to your success is your focus, your understanding of what you actually desire and truly yearn for. Once you have established that conclusively, just aim your focus on that one thing. You may have a bigger objective, a larger goal and huge mission, but they are achievable only when you determine your focus on the smaller 144

components of that dream and focus on them. Let the component of your target be as small as possible and put your complete focus on it. That way accomplishments get easy. Only once you reach there must you shift your focus to the next step. And your focus must display the grit and determination that you pursue it with.

In the Mahabharata, when Arjuna was tasked with bringing down the fish in the ceiling by looking at the mirror beneath him, he looked at the object with complete focus. The rest of the world became completely closed to him. It was the only target and that was it. He achieved the impossible where even the greatest warriors of the time who attended the event failed at it. That was the power of his focus. Karna was as good as an archer as Arjuna if not better, but even he could not accomplish it. He was doubtful and that made him lose his focus. But Arjuna knew he would bring down the target. Nothing else mattered to him. And that is how he finally ended up winning the prize, Draupadi.

Anything that you do with complete passion, focus and determination is bound to be accomplished, however large the ambition may be. Once you break it down to smaller ingredients or smaller steps, howsoever small, and concentrate on the sole objective of attaining it, reaching it, or accomplishing it, you are bound to be there. Most successful people do the same. They are plainly, completely, and fully focused; they set targets that are reasonable, and the results are always extraordinary. Only after they reach them do they shift their focus to something new or to the next step in their ambition.

Success does not happen overnight; it’s not magical, it is built step by step and it is your willingness, your purposeful pursuit, your strength, and fortitude with which you pursue your goal and the determination with which you seek success, that will take you to it. Never lose focus on what you aim at. You cannot shoot two birds at a time. An individual without focus is never ever successful.

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Imagine a sharpshooter. In order to get his target, he carries himself with ultimate focus becoming blind to the entire world around and targeting only the set object. And that is how sharpshooters or snipers are mostly successful and the most handsomely paid set of elite warriors.

A few keys to your success are: 1. Knowing your strengths and working to enhance them and identifying your own weaknesses and working strongly to eliminate or overcome them.

2. Setting realistic goals and making them as small and easy to achieve as possible. Try to predict all the challenges you may face in reaching the target, and it becomes easier to conquer them with your diligent planning.

3. Giving a reasonable time frame within which you can reach your goals, is essential to your path. In order to become a leader, you have to show yourself as one, to your closest circles first, and once you are there, endeavour to widen the circle gradually till you reach the top.

4. Working with strong focus, discipline, and determination in pursuit of the one and only goal. Persistence is one of the most crucial factors to get to success. If you give up easily you will never reach the pinnacles of success. Do not allow any distractions that will weaken your focus, whatever they may be. Working resolutely with a single-minded purpose will inevitably get you the success you always dreamt of. Do not allow any failure or setback work against your objectives.

On the contrary, every failure should give you more determination and make you more purposeful and focused so that things do fall in your way and leverage your endeavours to become successful.

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Every great human being in history has inevitably failed in the beginning, but these great people who created history, never wavered from their vision or objective, and did not allow setbacks, failures, or disappointments to demoralise or demotivate them.

They stood strong amidst failures and relentlessly worked against all adversities. And towards the end, success was their ultimate and the sweetest result.

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.

— Les Brown A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory — Arthur Golden Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great — Mark Twain Factors that Cause Career Failures While there are thousands of success stories of people who rose from nothing to greatness, there are also a pitiably equal amount of stories of people who having reached the pinnacle of success, could not hold on to it for some reasons and have miserably crashed, some quite tragically too. And then there are people who are never successful and remain a constant misery to themselves and everyone around, as perpetual failures.

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.

— Alice Walker But why do some successful people fail in their careers, and some never succeed at all? Some of these factors usually are the reason: 147

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• Undefined Purpose • No Proper Goal • No Ambition • Poor Self Esteem • Negative Thinking • Poor Professional Skills • Poor Social Skills • Lack of Commitment • Being too Lazy • Fixed Mindset • No Thinking Skills • No Career Plan • Lack of Proper Focus • No Determination • Too Much of Stress • Too Ambitious • No Discipline • Always Complaining • Fear • Complacency • Mediocrity • Avoiding Criticism 148

• Lack of Introspection • Setting Unrealistic Goals • Lack of Belief in Your Self • Too Many Responsibilities All these factors can wreak havoc with our lives and can be major contributors to failure. Being far too ambitious and setting unattainable unrealistic goals can also be fatal to one’s career, just as not having any ambition or purpose to one’s life. While it is true that great men learn from failure, and rework their plans to achieve success, it is essential not to allow any of these elements to hamper our growth and interfere with our success.

Some Greatest Success Stories of History Abraham Lincoln, the greatest President of the United States, and the man who worked to abolish slavery from the world, was born in abject poverty as the son of a woodcutter and carpenter. But his humble origins did not stop him from becoming the most powerful man in the world. His entire education and career were self-made with little help from others. He was able to identify opportunity, his visualisation of success, his determination, his discipline and his vision, and his empathy towards people who were considered slaves, will always remain as examples of greatness in humankind.

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.”

— Abraham Lincoln Albert Einstein, who is revered today as one of the greatest scientists ever born, and the proponent of the ‘Theory of General Relativity,’ was expelled from school for his rebelliousness and his outwardly thinking. He despised rote learning which was viewed seriously by the institution which threw him out. Rather than 149

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being beaten, he worked relentlessly up the career ladder and in 1921 won the Nobel Prize in Physics.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” ― Albert Einstein Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and one the richest men in the world, quit Harvard midway. His start-up Traf-O-Data was a miserable failure burning a large hole in his revenues. Undeterred he went ahead to found one of the greatest software companies of today with a net worth of 131 Billion Dollars. His greatness also extends to philanthropy of the highest kind with Melinda and Gates Foundation through which thousands of impoverished children from across the world are educated and taken care of.

It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure — Bill Gates Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, started the venture in a garage along with one of his closest friends. Incredulously, as the company began to witness success, he was thrown out from the very company he started. Not discouraged and pursuing his goal with renewed energy he established Next and Pixar, and eventually got back to Apple, subsequently becoming its CEO, and giving the world some of the finest communication devices in mobile technology.

“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

— Steve Jobs Oprah Winfrey, grew up in utter poverty, survived molestation and rape both as a child and in her early teenage and became pregnant at fourteen itself. She, however, became a successful anchor after she interned at a radio station. Though she was fired by a producer claiming she was unfit for television, she left to Chicago and 150

launched the Oprah Winfrey Show from a small time show AM Chicago. Today she is one of the most talked about social influencers of the modern world and is a multi-billionaire and spends a large part of her fortune on charitable activities.

“The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but on significance — and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” ― Oprah Winfrey Walt Disney, creator of the greatest cartoons Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Tom & Jerry, and such iconic creations, had lost utterly in his early endeavours including being fired, experiencing multiple setbacks and massive failures including bankruptcy several times. However, his grit and resolve never failed him. His cartoon Mickey Mouse took over the world a few years later, and today Walt Disney Pictures is one of the largest movie production companies in the world regaling audiences with entertaining movies of the highest kind.

“Somehow I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy.”

— Walt Disney Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance and the Ambani Group, was just a simple clerk in the beginning, working at Yemen.

However, he returned to India and ventured into business. His sheer intelligence in identifying opportunity and relentlessly pursuing his ambition enabled him to envision growth. Years later after he passed on, his sons Mukesh and Anil went ahead to build on the strong foundation he laid, making Reliance, one of the biggest corporates in the world, with presence in global industrial sectors such as Telecom, Infra, Retail, Petroleum, Entertainment, and several others.

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"Our dreams have to be bigger. Our ambitions higher.

Our commitment deeper. And our efforts greater. This is my dream for Reliance and for India."

— Dhirubhai Ambani JK Rowling, is the creator of Harry Potter, the character that wove awe, magic, and sensationalism among hundreds of millions of children and young adults in the world and was one the most successful book series and movies in English literature and entertainment history. But she had a terrible life in her early teens and as a young adult.

She grew up with a strained relationship with her father and had to deal with a perpetually ill mother. At twenty-five she got married into an abusive relationship which ended in divorce and leaving her as a single parent leading her into depression and suicidal. Her first book 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' was rejected by all the major publishing houses she approached.

However, her persistence paved way as she got the book published with an advance of just 1500 Pounds. But in just a few years, she is recorded to be the first author in the world to become a billionaire through book writing.

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default — J. K. Rowling Henry Ford, the man who created one of the most popular car brands of the world, was an automobile engineer. But the car design he modelled first was not successful and he lost backing of several investors which dealt a mighty blow to his aspirations, leaving him terribly bankrupt. However, his shrewdness allowed him to finally find a partner who agreed to finance his ambition without interfering in it. In just a few years, Ford became the talk of the town, the world over, making it one of the most affordable 152

cars of the day. Today it remains one of the most talked about brands in the automotive sector across the world.

There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.

— Henry Ford Vincent Van Gogh, recognised as one of the greatest painters in history, and is considered as the founder of modern art, was never successful in his lifetime. His paintings were not of interest to any art promoters of his day. He was able to sell only one painting all his life, though his works were prolific and covered multiple themes and genres and were bold, artistic, and emotional. He suffered mental illness, breakdowns and considered himself a complete failure. Finally, he tragically shot himself to death at just 37. Ironically after his death, his real talent was discovered, and his works quickly grew to prominence catching the imagination of the world by fire. Today he remains one of the most prominent painters and artists of modern art fetching his works millions of dollars.

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘ You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

— Vincent Van Gogh Dr. Madhurima Reddy, herself is a great story of success, from the kind of background she hails. Born in an orthodox family from a region that abounds in conservativism when it comes to the education of a girl, she crossed all barriers and societal pressures and went ahead to pursue her higher studies and her career, never stopping or giving up against any adversity.

Going against the traditional taboos that typically go against women in the region, where the education of women is considered more of a chore than a necessity, she defied all odds, defying convention, obtaining twin doctoral qualifications and a total of 153

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nine highest qualifications, while earning hundreds of medals, certificates, awards, and honours from organisations across the globe. Today she is recognised among several countries as a renowned Clinical Psychologist, Life Coach, Business and Wealth Coach, Motivational Speaker, Counsellor, Therapist, and Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming. Also, as an entrepreneur and founder of La Winspire International, she is respected widely in the global training community.

How to Manifest your Dream Career The Law of Attraction will be a source of great help when you desire to obtain the right career and the right degree of success in your life. The universe exists to give you what you want, based on how truly you want it and what steps you take to get to it. By setting things in motion for any objective, in appropriate and accurate steps, you will be able to manifest your dream career.

Setting your goals and making a plan, discovering what you actually want, eliminating doubts in yourself that could limit your abilities, identifying signs such as surprise offers, invitations, meeting someone who can help you correct your path or strengthen your purpose, developing good habits, moving forward resolutely, taking responsibility for yourself and your purpose, learning from mistakes, attempting various strategies, undertaking calculated risks, having the right mentor, developing relationships, staying constantly positive and showing gratitude, are some of the steps which will certainly help you in your journey to success. Once you consistently follow all these aspects in your pursuit for a successful career, the universe will make it undoubtedly possible for you to be at the level of success you have visualized.

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Be limitless, fearless, and unstoppable.

The only limits in life are the ones you make in your mind — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Six

Get Name, Fame & Recognition

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them — William Shakespeare

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What is your idea of Being famous?

What is Fame? How do people become famous?

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istory has shown us some of the greatest achievers who have become forever famous with either their personal achievements, or their contributions to the world. Most of these accomplished individuals will remain famous throughout history and will be remembered for posterity. However, several people will also be remembered in history for achieving fame or rather infamy, for the most destructive acts against humanity. Fame can be both for short periods of time lasting a few weeks or a few years, or sometimes permanent in history.

What kind of fame do you wish to achieve? That of Abraham Lincoln or Mahatma Gandhi, or that of Adolf Hitler or Osama Bin Laden? You can choose.

Some of History’s Most Famous People Great Scientists like Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Galileo, or Stephen Hawking, Philosophers like Socrates, Buddha, Aristotle, Jesus Christ, or Swami Vivekananda, Explorers such as Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, James Cook, Writers like Valmiki, Shakespeare, John Milton, or J.K. Rowling, Artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, or Michelangelo, Singers like Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, or Mohammed Rafi, Speakers like Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Adolf Hitler, or Jawaharlal Nehru, Politicians such as Julius Caesar, J.F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela or Indira Gandhi, Sports persons such as Maradona, Usain Bolt, Sachin Tendulkar, or P.V. Sindhu, Actors like Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, or NTR, Business Leaders such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Mukesh Ambani, etc., are just a few examples of the greatest accomplishers of history.

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So how did they end up becoming famous? What is it that they had that others did not, though they too were normal human beings? What were the factors that contributed to their success that they remain exemplary for their accomplishments and contributions?

Name, fame, popularity, success, and recognition are all possible for everyone, everyone indeed! Everyone who stands as a historical or a popular figure has also been just another human being. But they chose to become extraordinary because they did things differently unlike others. It all began with their ability to think and act beyond others.

The definition of fame has drastically changed with the advent of internet technologies where anyone can be famous for a short period using social media with something as simple as a short video or a simple tweet, that draws instant attention and goes viral across the world in a matter of minutes.

However, if you wish to be famous in a way that your name remains recognised and remembered for a long time you must set upon doing things differently that can showcase you to the world repeatedly and earn you tonnes of money and great waves of popularity, making you recognised, respected, renowned, rich, and ultimately, famous.

Fame, however, is too fragile a thing in our world. And in order to achieve a degree of fame, one must be prepared to work both hard and smart for it. How famous do you want to be? Is it in your family, among your friends, at your office or your organisation, in your neighbourhood, in your city, in your country or in the whole world? What attributes do you have that can get you to be famous?

Do you have an inborn talent or a cultivated skill or capability? One cannot be famous just by chasing the idea; name and fame are natural consequences to what you do to be successful in your life, and fame just falls in.

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How can you become famous?

Fame and recognition are not too difficult to achieve when you know, understand and work for your goal. The first thing that you should do is to identify a skill or talent or a strong ability you have.

Then focus strongly on improving the skill, by practicing or developing it, spending a few hours every day on the same, consistently. Even as you keep improving yourself that way, establish a short-term objective and set it as a goal. After you set your goal, calculate the steps and the time you will need to reach the goal. Break up your targeted goal into the smallest steps possible and figure out how to conquer each step.

For instance, if you wish to become a writer, start reading varied content such as newspapers, different genres of books, articles, movie scripts, poetry, literature reviews, watch high quality documentaries, and so on. After you have spent say about six months in religiously following the routine, begin to assess your honed-up skills. Begin by writing atleast three to five pages each day on different themes. Develop your dialogue writing. Develop your scripts. Write articles about varied things, especially ones which interest you. Ask qualified professionals to review your works or take the help of a mentor who can identify your shortcomings and help you overcome them.

Practice online tests of your writing skills continuously and never stop reading and writing. Once you believe you have reached the level or the standard of a good writer, start sending small articles to different newspapers, magazines, or online sites. Create a blog of your own and start uploading your works every day.

Promote yourself on social media, email your blog link to publishing companies requesting for writing projects or work. In time you will see that your consistency will pay off. You are already on the road to becoming famous.

JK Rowling the creator of Harry Potter, sent excerpts of her first book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, to several publishing houses, who never responded. But she continued to 160

send them repeatedly, hiring literary agents, and finally, she received a response from one who wanted to see the rest of the book. She says it was the best letter she received in her life. The book then was chosen by Bloomsbury Children’s Books in 1997, which was republished in 1998 using the original title. It became so successful with another six titles following. Worldwide the books were a craze and millions of copies were sold out in no time.

In 2001 the first movie was made on Harry Potter.

With her series of books and movies on the central character Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling reached the stature of being the first billionaire author in the history of literature. And she will forever be as famous as one of the best and most successful writers in history.

Essential Things You Must Do to Be Famous 1. Develop a Valuable Skill If you are lucky to be born with inborn skills, such as drawing, painting, singing, etc., you should further improve them to the strongest degree. If you wish to acquire a certain skill which you do not have innately, you can choose to obtain mastery in the same with the help of the best teachers in the skill. Howsoever you obtain a skill, in order to be the best, you must keep improving and progressing further, strengthening the skill. Spending atleast an hour or two on practicing your skill every day without a break will inevitably make you highly skilled in the area of your choice.

2. Set an Achievable Target One of the first things in the path to obtain fame in what you do, is to set up a realistic goal that you can reach. As stated earlier, ensure that you lay out a roadmap to reach the set target.

Keep the steps as small as possible so it is easier for you to cross each step. If you wish to master the guitar or the piano for example, first start learning the principal notes along with their 161

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notations and then the basic chords. Later you can get into chord combinations. Gradually you can progress into accompanying songs and singers. If you try to accompany people singing with just knowledge of a few notations or chords, you’ll never be a great guitarist. You have to prepare yourself to be there and take baby steps to achieve the same. Your preparation will one day take you to the centre stage as a worthy performer.

3. Understand Challenges Every set goal will pose certain challenges for everyone. In the path to your target, you must be able to identify those challenges beforehand and expect what hurdles to cross, in order to reach your goal. Once you know your challenges, it will be easier for you to understand how to beat them and allow you to develop the necessary skills or capabilities to overcome the same. Challenges can be anything which can prevent you from reaching your goal.

You must be able to expect the unexpected too, and also be prepared to take up alternative measures to confront them. Life is filled with challenges, but those who succeed are the ones who are prepared to take on them, however tough they may look.

4. Accept Failure No one ever succeeded without failing in their efforts to reach their goals. However, if you are disgruntled and frustrated with your failures and stop your efforts to pursue a goal, you might as well understand that it is the end of your journey. Every failure is an opportunity for you to grow stronger and develop the strength to conquer it. Be prepared for rejection, for refusal, for sudden withdrawal of support, resistance, even for an accident that could prevent you from reaching your goal. And always have an alternative plan to pick up from where you failed.

5. Believe in Yourself Let not the fear of rejection or setback weaken your resolve or your determination to reach your target. Believe that you can do it and your mind will allow you to garner the necessary strength to 162

overcome any difficulty in your path. Your skills, your determination and your confidence are the only strengths that will take you across any challenges. If you were rejected because you failed in a test or in an interview, ensure you are prepared better for the next one. But do not stop pursuing your goal.

6. Focus Only on One Thing Do not allow any distractions to interfere with your journey to your goal. There may be several such distractions such as family obligations, professional constraints, financial matters, etc., which can prevent you or slow you down from going further. But keep them in their place and pursue your goal with a singlemindedness of purpose. Once you have your complete focus on your goal, you become blind to the entire world around and you will discover a seemingly stronger determination building within you with which you can easily achieve your goal.

7. Do Not be Complacent with Short Successes If you wish to become famous and successful, you must understand your goal first. Let us say you had achieved one of your lesser goals.

But once you reached it, what next? Small successes while can be satisfying, will only give you temporary happiness. You must develop a degree of ambition that can make you truly famous.

Reaching a small goal is appreciable, but your next target should be a higher one. If you always wanted to be a manager in your company and after some time became one, while enjoying your success, your next target should be to become the General Manager or the Vice President of the company.

If you allow self-satisfaction or complacency to set in since you achieved a small goal, you will cease to become famous. So, develop a sense of ambition and determination, and work relentlessly to achieve it 8. Show your Gratitude Once you accomplish your goal, be grateful to everyone who helped you in the path and show your gratitude to them. Develop 163

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a sense of giving, even if you have not yet reached your goal. When you start giving out, things will automatically fall in place, easing your way to fame. Givers are the most loved and respected people, and being famous becomes easy once you start showing gratitude and start helping others. Develop this trait as one of the most important traits in your journey to become famous; it will go a long way in helping you reach where you wish to be. Some of the most successful people in the world today are great givers. Whether it is the Melinda Gates Foundation or the Ratan Tata Trust or Azim Premji Foundation, the people behind them are all great givers and philanthropists and part of their success is owed to their generosity through these charitable organisations that they give through.

9. Do Not Allow Fame to Overpower you Being famous has its own dangers of putting your entire self to risk, and you might yourself be responsible for that. Once you attain your farthest objective, you must never allow the success to get to your head. Francis Bacon said, ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ This only implies what happens to most famous people. They fail to understand that being famous is standing on a slippery rock and if they do not act in accordance to the position they reached, it is quite easy to lose it. The loss of Presidentship to Donald Trump primarily happened due to his inability to understand the limitations of his power, which led him to act irresponsibly in many matters of the state, finally making him lose his power.

How to continue to be Famous As agreed, fame is a fragile thing to hold on for long; but there are still many ways for one to remain famous for a long time. If someone has attained fame for a certain major accomplishment he had, there are two ways to maintain that position. One is to continue adding to the accomplishments which should each surpass the previous one, making you more famous with each newer accomplishment.

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However, you must be careful in not overdoing it and losing your hard-earned reputation with a mistake, since such a thing can make you lose your fame and lower your renown once again. The other way to remain famous for your original achievement is to keep attempting any other that could surpass even previous expectations. That way your renown remains unflickered for your original achievement. What higher prize can one obtain beyond a Nobel Prize? Well, you never know!

Madhu’s relentless pursuit for success enabled her to become the best version of herself in the years that followed her travails.

She invested heavily in herself, spending millions and considerable time in her own education, and career, earning more and more qualifications, certifications, skills, and knowledge, as she went from country to country to attend world-class conventions, workshops and meet globally renowned intellectuals, business leaders, speakers, and gurus.

As days progressed in her educational career, she worked relentlessly and as the years passed, she became renowned as one of the most qualified women of the nation. She endeavoured to pursue her passion with a fierceness that is both exceptional and exemplary and progressed to achieve nine academic qualifications that included two Doctoral qualifications and a series of post graduations.

And it is not just academics; she went forth and obtained an enviable set of certifications and recognitions from across continents. And her achievements obtained her considerable name and fame. Several globally renowned organisations from across the world continuously requisitioned her services to help their employees through her online and offline workshops and enlightening sessions.

To date, Madhu has received over a hundred nationally and internationally acclaimed awards, including a World Record from Lead India Foundation, Primetime Global Excellence Education 165

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Award, TIME Cyber Media International Education Awards for Most Innovative Trainer & Coach, SWI International Award, Indian HR Convention HDM Award, Catalysts International Award, and scores of other awards for her massive accomplishments.

She soon achieved considerable fame and continues to cross more and more milestones with her relentless pursuits. She became a Peak Performance International Trainer & Coach for Life, Wealth, & Business, Clinical Psychologist, and an Educationist with her strong experience in Teaching, Training, Coaching, Mentoring, Healing and Counselling. This humongous experience and a vision to create a positive change in people led her into instituting her entrepreneurial venture La Winspire International Training & Solutions LLP. La Winspire soon became a hub of various training programmes especially on various aspects of Life Coaching. Some of the signature programmes of La Winspire are 'Mission to Billions, Art of Parenting, Men and Women Magic, Peak Performance Life Coaching, Women Excellence, Advanced Law of Attraction, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Soft Skills, Life Skills, College to Corporate, Awakening the Warrior Within You,' and such other life changing sessions. The institute also began conducting workshops on Emotional Mastery, Business Mastery, Wealth Abundance, Parenting, and such other topics of importance. Counselling and coaching services are a key component of La Winspire. Institutions such as YSR NITHM, CBIT, Kennedy Global School, Oakridge International School, St. Mary’s College, Yousufguda, and several such others continuously sought her services.

Several key programmes also are customised at the institute such as Health and Wellness, Work-Life Balance, Leadership, Negotiation Skills, Communication, Positive Attitude, Goal Setting, Time Management and Personal Effectiveness, Stress and Anxiety Management, Art of Relationships, Life is Beautiful, 166

Power Talks, Memory Improvement, Decoding Facial Expressions, Etiquettes, and many such personality development programmes.

All the programmes are delivered through scientific tools and techniques, with in-depth assessments and interpretations, to make a marked difference in people’s lives.

Madhu's obsession with the quality of these programmes ensured that their structure, presentation, and delivery were optimum and achieved the desired outcomes. She was quite diligent in picking up the best trainers in the training circuitry of the region and was able to easily make a mark in the arena. The sessions were made available on a one-to-one basis with individuals, employee teams for corporates, residents of elite housing communities, government officials and many others.

Companies such as Google, GE, Microsoft, HSBC, Innominds, Infosys, Dr. Reddy’s, One Plus, Synchrony Financial, Wipro, and International Banking institutions and hordes of other corporates soon reached out to her to have her coach their personnel. NRI’s would queue up for her online sessions from the US, UK, Australia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Singapore Philippines, Nepal, Oman, and such other countries.

During the Covid-19 scenario, which gripped the entire world in its vice and the whole globe declaring a lockdown, Madhu visualised an opportunity to offer online training programmes. She restructured most of her flagship programmes and began to deliver them online. Within no time scores of companies across the world queued unto her and sought her services, giving her yet another feather in her cap. While the work from home concept caught on to the entire corporate world, it proved to be an immense opportunity for her to scale her sessions to a massive level reaching up to even over three thousand people at a given time online. She also gained acclaim at how she was able to empower people to fight the pandemic, through her insightful sessions.

In her 24 years of professional experience, she had also touched thousands of lives of victims of natural disasters such as 167

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tsunamis, floods, and earthquakes, not just by her empowering sessions, but also through material help, as a noble philanthropist to the needy.

She gained universal recognition from each and every company and individual who attended her programmes and her fame has been on an overdrive since.

How to Achieve Fame Using Law of Attraction While you prepare yourself for your journey to fame, the Law of Attraction can itself be a great ally in your success story. Believing in yourself is the primary step, eliminating all limitations from your mind in pursuit of your objective, imagining that you are already famous, taking action, risks and confronting challenges, having the necessary visualizations, studying the lives of other famous people, being grateful and asking the universe to manifest your dreams, and affirming them on a regular basis, will all help you realise your objective of becoming famous and being there for an appreciably reasonable period of time. Consistency is the key to success.

When you know what you want and have already made the plans to obtain it, the determination itself will give you the strength to beat every hurdle and cross every obstacle to take you to the portals of success. Once you are successful, your name and fame are the natural resultants. Your willingness to go the extra mile and the tenacity and the resilience with which you pursue the path of success will inevitably be the determinants of the volume of your success.

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Investing in yourself emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, educationally, and financially, will allow you to become the best version of yourself. When you are the best version of yourself, you will be a powerful magnet to others, to inspire them more and grow more nationally and globally – Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Seven

Being Bountiful, Wealthy and Prosperous

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.”

— Swami Vivekananda

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“Prosperity and abundance start in the mind.

If you feel and believe that they are part of your life, soon they will be.”

– Remez Sasson “Invest first in education. In reality, the only real asset you have is your mind, the most powerful tool we have dominion over.”

– Robert Kiyosaki

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ow do you end up becoming rich and prosperous? Where do we start? How can you reach the stature of moving around with millionaires and celebrities? How can you become one of the most talked about people as a successful person?

Is there a way to all these objectives? Before we venture to address these queries, let us first understand how the journey to wealth begins.

Why is wealth important to everyone?

Joe to Jonah: 'I always wanted to ask you Jonah. How would you like your life to be?'

'Joe, I am just like anyone. I wish to be consistently happy, contented, comfortable and satisfied, with a fulfilling life. Wouldn’t you too?

‘Hmm Jonah, I guess so. But what do you think can actually make us and keep us happy always?'

'That's easy Joe, I am sure we would all be happy, if we can get what we want, buy what we want, wear what we want, eat what we want, go where we can, and live however we want. Don’t you think so?'

'Sounds interesting Jonah. But how can we get everything we want?'

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'If we have the Aladdin’s lamp Joe, I guess we can get all that!!’

‘Oh Jonah, if only wishes were horses!’

Welcome to the real world! Here we have neither the legendary Aladdin’s Lamp nor a genie that can grant wishes, but what can actually get you what you want is:

Money! Wealth! Riches! Prosperity! Abundance!

Irrespective of whether one agrees or disagrees, the fact is, that money is the most important factor in the world. Money is important for you to get a good quality of life, give you what you desire, take you where you would like to be, and live in a manner that is truly fulfilling for you. If you are wealthy, you are recognised and respected all around and you simply get what you want. Let us be honest, everyone wants to be rich and wealthy; don’t you agree?

I know you want to be rich, and so do I, and everyone else too.

Wouldn’t you want yourselves to study in a world class college, or put your children in such educational institutions which give them the best education? How can you accomplish your dream of obtaining that rich villa, that beautiful farmhouse and that awesome car? How long will you put off travelling to your dream vacation? How can you fulfil your long-time ambition of owning a successful company? And if you are sick by any chance, wouldn’t you like to be treated in the best hospitals? And I am sure you know that everything that is ‘best’ obviously costs a lot of money?

And in the unfortunate instance of an unforeseen crisis, such as a natural or an economic disaster or social strife, isn’t it essential that one should have enough money to rebuild their lives rather than depend on charity?

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Money per se, is the single most essential factor in our lives.

It can give you every comfort and luxury you choose, a great home, a quality education, a great business, a good lifestyle, a respectable circle, and social stature, and consequently a good life.

When I say money, I mean enough money. Though putting a figure to having enough money is difficult, being rich means, reaching and maintaining a long-term stature of fulfilling all your wants and needs without ever having to even think twice of a quantum of money for spending on something, even in a sudden spell of misfortune.

Money and your Mind - What kind of 'wealth' grooming did you have?

All of us grew with certain beliefs about money that we received since our childhood. The way our mind is conditioned about wealth and being rich goes back to our very infancy. Your perception of money is influenced by the money beliefs that were deeply imprinted in your mind like patterns. Your mind then attempts to match the external reality with the beliefs imprinted on your brain, your ingrained reality. Your mind makes you interpret things based on your experiences to ensure that they fit within the beliefs you had about money. In truth, you are building your own conceptions based on the money imprint you have and perceive it to be the actual reality.

Now, how many of you have heard these comments before?

• Money is the root cause of all evil.

• Money is not important.

• Money is the least priority in my life.

• Rich men are sinners.

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• Rich men can never be human.

• The rich have no place in heaven.

• There are far greater things in the world than money.

• Money means working too hard.

• Too much money is needed to do something.

• Money is a very scarce commodity, • Happiness can never be bought with money.

• Money is never enough.

• How can I be rich when there are so many poor people? …. and blah blah blah!

I honestly believe that all such sayings you have heard are highly vicious, are truly uninspiring and demotivating, and derail all ambition to succeed. Sadly, most of us have been conditioned from our childhood to believe that money is a monster, that it is evil, that the rich are wicked and greedy, and that you cannot be good if you are rich. With the way that most people have received this grooming about wealth, the idea of being wealthy becomes sadly weakened.

I guess almost everyone who was not born rich would have heard these comments. With such conditioning right since childhood, most people sadly grow up to believe that what they heard since their younger days is actually right. But the bitter truth also is, that this is the general trend of people who actually do not have enough money, to believe these sayings and are therefore in a perpetual state of penury and misery.

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in our conditioning by our parents, neighbours, friends, and probably most things you see around including the internet. The indisputable truth is that our lives are shaped by our beliefs. But the best part is these beliefs that limit people in pursuing wealth and ambition can be changed. These are just beliefs, and you can definitely change your beliefs. Change your beliefs with the ones that work, not ones which shackle you and prevent you from rising high. Money does not create evil, it is honestly only the lack of it that does.

“If your motivation for acquiring money or success comes from a non-supportive root such as fear, anger, or the need to “prove” yourself, your money will never bring you happiness.”

— T. Harv Eker Many people fail because they limit their beliefs. The fear of failure itself is the greatest cause of failure. This fear is the primary force that prevents us or stops us from doing things that actually can help us move forward to reach our goals. The reasons can be many for this fear. But once you understand the reasons for this fear, you are on the first step to achieve what you always wanted.

So, if your mind has been corrupted by such sayings and beliefs, that are holding you back, it is time to replace them with the thoughts of the rich, the powerful and the prosperous. And that is the first part of your journey to wealth and abundance.

How can you become rich and wealthy?

The starting point of all achievement is Desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat — Napoleon Hill Only one in a million ever became rich in a lottery. But as far as life is concerned, in order to achieve the prosperity, you dreamt of, and reach the success you aspired for, you should begin to believe, use your thought and act in that direction.

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Remember, thoughts lead to actions, and actions lead to results. And once you do it correctly, wealth, money, richness, success, fame, and everything will simply follow you.

Some of the richest people having started from a scratch never actually focused on money. Money came naturally to them.

It is the obvious by-product and the clear outcome of what they did and how they rose to their accomplishments.

The richest man and the poorest man in the world are biologically no different from each other. However, ordinary people sometimes become extraordinary and stand out from the rest because they realised the potential they possessed and allowed that force to manifest itself taking them on to the path to success.

Everyone is born with great potential to do great things. Once you know that you and Elon Musk or Bill Gates are made up of the same matter, you would perhaps understand the underlying factors that made them successful.

The following are some practices of the richest men and which when applied to your own life, can also put you on a similar road to success: Become the Best of Yourself What is the one thing that sets you apart from the others?

Everyone is uniquely equipped with skills, talents, or abilities that they may or may not be aware of. However, they can prove to be life changers when identified, strengthened, and put to good use.

When you are extremely and indisputably good in an area, your skills and talents will be greatly sought for. And it can be the most rewarding experience for you to use your abilities to create wealth for yourself. When you are the best in a certain field, opportunities will find their way to you. If you wish to be successful in such a manner, you should truly excel by constantly focusing on strengthening the skill to even a better degree. Once you wish to excel in a certain area, you should research and endeavour to 177

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imbibe the qualities of the most successful people in the area. This would better equip you for taking on any prospect that could come across.

Successful people always invest every possible resource on themselves such as time, energy and money and keep improving themselves. The best sportspersons, speakers, singers, artists, writers, or such other professionals, always find time for themselves to be the best in their class. One of the aspects of being rich is hence to be among the best in the arena and be prepared for any challenge, which in turn could turn into a prospective opportunity.

Eliminate Beliefs that Limit You This is the first step on your road to riches. Set aside any beliefs that prevent you from thinking you can't be a millionaire. First decide that you wish to become not just a millionaire but a multimillionaire. Let the idea be embedded deeply into your mind.

After you have decided, believe that you are on the path of success.

And imagine yourself as having attained the riches you desired to possess. Once you begin to manifest the idea of wealth in your mind, you will automatically begin to charter the course that you need to take, in order to actually achieve it. There is abundant wealth all around, waiting to be picked up. You must begin to understand that your money is with someone else. You just don’t realise it. You just have to strategize to get to it and make it yours.

Create unique products, services, or new ideas; the world is just too huge not to render you opportunities. You just have to use your mind’s lenses to explore, discover, get creative, and further yourself. Most importantly do not be around anyone who doubts your capability and keeps questioning your objectives. Naysayers are a notorious set of people who act as major obstacles in your journey to success. Rather look for a mentor who can help you cultivate a greater and a more positive outlook towards wealth and prosperity. Having complete faith in yourself is one of the primary steps in your search for success and prosperity.

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Sketch Your Plan How exactly do you propose to earn those millions? First create a proper plan. Explore the various ways in which money can be earned. Lay out all the opportunities that you can see before yourself. Choose one that fits your competence and capability.

Explore the opportunity more closely by shortlisting the challenges and prospects in the opportunity. Do you have the strength to address the challenges? In your plan ensure that each step is realistic and doable, and that you have sufficient capability to do so. Break down the challenges to miniscule components so that it is easier to meet them. For instance, if you plan to make $10,000 in the next one month, first plan to earn the first $100 and then you will begin to see how easy or tough the idea is. Perhaps you have a product or service that you can sell for $10 to ten people, or $50 to just two people. And then you will understand how to work out the strategy to reach larger audiences. If you could successfully target a hundred people for $100 each, you got your 10K already. Just multiply the hundred people into more and you should see money flowing.

Always remember, it’s easy to sell less expensive things to a larger number of people than sell expensive things to a fewer number. More expensive things usually may have larger profits but are difficult to sell. However, once you are seasoned enough you will know how to juggle with many ideas.

Stop Focusing on Money The rich do not focus on money, though it is the ultimate objective.

Rather, they explore ways of improvising their approach to it. They focus on their strengths, their service, reach and delivery. And these aspects are so powerful that they speak for themselves. Rather than believing that they are in competition with someone else, they believe that what they are doing is a new creation. In doing so, 179

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they are eliminating competition already, from their minds. The idea of competition can create a perpetual doubt in your mind. So, cast it aside. A free mind works more clearly.

Once you begin to deliver to your customers with confidence, your product becomes a self-seller, giving you a word-of-mouth referral which in business terms is the biggest seller. When you have been able to set a goal on how rich you aim to get, you should learn to never lose focus on your target.

Do not be put off by slow returns or initial setbacks.

Perseverance is the key. In time, the success you visualised will be yours. The richest and most successful enterprises were not built in a day, they are examples of diehard dedication, discipline, and determination. Walt Disney once said, "We don't make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies."

Make Money Work for You The rich are intelligent people. They don’t tie up their money in the locker, rather they put every penny to good use, so that it keeps yielding more and more, and multiplies itself, as it is reinvested continuously. The rich continue to buy assets from which they keep getting further returns. Usually financially unwise people buy liabilities thinking they are assets. Money that is not invested in an asset which pays you back regularly, tends to be lost in no time as liquid cash is the easiest thing that can be spent off in unnecessary expenses. Talk to a trustworthy financial consultant who can help you take accurate and worthwhile financial investment decisions, such as investing in stocks or bonds. Interest that is saved is money earned too.

Invest in assets and schemes that earn you passive money each month. Passive money is money you earn from an investment that assuredly pays you back regularly. Investing in real estate is a great idea considering the massive and consistent upheaval in the segment. Get rid of any debt that holds you down and makes you 180

lose money. With growing opportunity each day in the contemporary world, the options of investing in safe avenues are plenty. The rich utilise their money with diligent judiciousness when making an investment, and that inevitably fetches positive returns.

Create Connections with the Rich Rich people are a careful community among themselves. One of the first things for you to get into their group is to create connections to them and use every opportunity to spend with them. In order to do so, you have to have something of value to them. You can perhaps exchange your skills or knowledge that might be of interest to them and let them gradually absorb you into their community. Rich people are usually open to ideas and if your ideas interest them, they could be potential investors in your idea too, which in time can make you rich yourself. Being in groups of wealthy people can get you great connections in time and help create a separate path for your own success. When you spend time with such communities, you learn the art, the science, and the strategy to create wealth.

Believe in the Power of Giving When you express gratitude and show the same to someone who has either done some service to you or is in your employment, it speaks volumes of your graciousness. Appreciation and gratitude go miles in getting you closer to your goal. When you show these, the performance of the receiver improves giving you better results.

For instance, when you shower your employee or subordinate with your thankfulness for some achievement he had, it acts as a great morale booster encouraging him to perform even better. The succeeding result shows on your overall performance making you more successful. The power of giving is too great. Whether you give to someone who has done some service to you, or you donate to the poor and needy or have helped someone in need, all such deeds will pay you back in volumes.

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Money can do a little for you, but it can do a lot through you.

And what money can do, money alone can do. So, every good human being has the moral responsibility to be rich — Mahatria Ra

How to Remain Rich and Wealthy Develop a Mindset of Financial Growth Getting rich and remaining rich are only possible when you get as creative as possible in discovering more ways of making money.

You must nurture a strong mindset of financial growth, investing in multiple streams of income, picking up better and bigger projects in which profitability can be better assessed. Be open to new ideas. The rich always focus on scouting for profitable opportunities.

Network with the Rich & Successful One of the secrets of the rich is to constantly maintain their connections with others in the wealth club. They connect with other successful and rich people who have great drive, talent, and an immense potential to be successful. They thus keep meeting and interacting with them at social gatherings, business events and conferences. They understand that this is an intelligent way of investing their time, since this is the time that they discover the various opportunities that the others are pursuing and prospecting.

Also meeting other new people in the circle can often lead you to new ideas and can also establish strong connects with influential people who can be strong sources of help at a later date.

Break Free from Your Comfort Zone One thing that you must learn is that there is no easy way to success. Extricate yourself from the routine of a 9-5 job if you wish to aim bigger. Unless you push yourself beyond your limits, and 182

out of your comfort zone, you will not reach the wealth that you dream of. If you want to reach there, you must explore every possible opportunity and business idea that sounds promising.

Becoming rich is rarely possible when you do not take risks. Every successful person has a story of hard work behind, and if you do not dare, or expand the limits of your own potential, it is difficult for you to join the millionaire club.

Explore Multiple Revenue Flows One of the easiest and quickest ways of making good money is to explore multiple income channels such as Stocks, mutual funds, real estate, potential start-ups etc. Always build up more passive income such as property rentals, royalties from patents, copyrights on your works such as your book or an app you may have created, dividend stocks and index funds etc. When money comes in different streams, you always have more to invest in a more promising prospect.

Invest with Calculated Risks The wealthy know how to make their money work for them.

Investing is the most appropriate option when aiming for higher results. While saving money is important, too much of money lying idle is not a wise thing. Healthy returns can always be expected from smart investments. However, all investments come with a certain degree of risks. So, never gamble on major financial decisions without proper risk assessment, and conduct your due diligence choosing the best options that match your financial needs and your business objectives. The rich are extremely careful with money, remember. If they were not, they never would have become rich in the first place.

I have a problem with too much money.

I can't reinvest it fast enough, and because I reinvest it, more money comes in. Yes, the rich do get richer — Robert Kiyosaki 183

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The Rich Never Overspend The higher your spending, the lower is your balance. Most people with lesser incomes buy expensive cars, houses, clothes, and such things, but the wealthy spend their money more cautiously, since they know that the lesser, they spend, the more they have to grow their riches.

The Rich Keep Bettering Themselves and Never Retire The rich and famous are usually well read about. They are always ahead in understanding a fresh business opportunity because they tend to understand everything of what they might want to do.

They care little for entertainment but spend consistent time on self-improvement. In the wealth club, your lack of knowledge of a certain business you might wish to undertake or are actually doing, can be fatal. You must be the best in what you do and that would add to your wealth undoubtedly. And retirement! What is that?

Zero to Millionaire Stories How these people became really rich from nothing Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey, considered to be one among the most influential women in world history, is a story of a person from real rags to riches. Born in abject poverty to a single mother in Mississippi, she herself was a victim of child abuse having become pregnant at the age of 14 itself and losing her child in infancy itself. At 19 she became a co-anchor for a local news channel and from then on, she never looked back.

Her growth as a speaker, an actress, an author, a talk show host, and television producer, was truly stunning. She won the hearts of the Americans soon and travelled across the world hosting her talks and won millions of fans in every continent. Her endorsement of President Barack Obama was reported to have 184

fetched him over a million votes, giving him the Presidency of the US. The number of awards she has been given is uncountable including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Till date she is one of the most spoken about influencers of the modern world.

Between 2004 and 2006, Oprah was listed in the World's Billionaires by Forbes. She was counted as the richest woman in America who was completely self-made and today stands as an icon of exemplary courage, reach, influence, wealth, and philanthropy.

As America's first black 'Multi-Billionaire' she has established the power of the concept of the law of attraction being a great believer and proponent of the same.

Tony Robbins Tony Robbins was the third son of a garage attendant, and his mother was a housewife. They used to live in perpetual poverty and money was never enough, with his parents constantly fighting over the same. His mother remarried but he was forced to leave home at 17 itself. His stepdad had put him in a good school before and Tony excelled in his academics. Then he worked as janitor at his uncle's cleaning business but later with help was able to graduate with excellent scores. From working as a salesman, he saved enough to buy an apartment. He later found a job with Jim Rohn who was a self-help expert.

He read a tremendous volume of books on psychology, personal improvement and such books which improved his thinking and knowledge. Though he had personal problems for a short period he broke his shackles and began offering his own seminars. He progressed to radio and worked on his books Unlimited Power in 1987 and Awaken the Giant Within in 1991.

From then on, he didn't have to look behind. His belief in the law of attraction has helped him immensely and his sense of gratitude has always paid off. Today with a wealth of over 440 Million USD, he's one of the foremost life and performance coaches whose 185

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sessions are attended by the biggest billionaires of the world and even Presidents of major countries.

T Harv Eker T Harv Eker is one of the most recognised speakers and writers on money matters today. As a child of European immigrants to America who had just 30 dollars to begin their life, he had had severe scarcity in his childhood so much so that he had to work from a tender age of 13 itself. He sold newspapers, suntan lotions, ice creams and small-time souvenirs to people. As he grew, he realised the importance of money and how people related to it.

After experimenting with several companies and not tasting success, his venture with a retail fitness stores saw a growth even he couldn't anticipate. Within just two and half years the business grew to ten stores and part of it was sold to a Fortune 500 group.

Though he tasted failure even after this, he began to develop theories on the money mindset of people. He promised that if he ever became a millionaire, he would help thousands of them become millionaires too. His book 'Secrets of the Millionaire Mind' became a phenomenal success in which he illustrates several concepts that differentiate between how millionaires and the poor think, through their money blueprint. In the book he also gives several suggestions and ideas how people can change that poor mindsets just through the power of thought and action and in turn obtain riches.

To date he has helped over two million people find purpose in their lives through financial freedom and stands tall in the world as a major contributor to how change can be effected simply through the power of the mind.

Rhonda Byrne Rhonda Byrne, one of the most prominent advocates of the law of attraction in the world today, was desolate, broken and was in 186

utter misery at a certain stage in her life in 2004. Her daughter then gave her a book by Wallace Wattles 'The Science of Getting Rich,' which was written in 1910. This book became a major inspiration for her as she read and reread it. It led her to conduct her own surveys and research into the concept and soon she wrote the book 'The Secret.' This book took the world by storm and within no time, millions of copies were sold across the world. Time Magazine featured her as one of the most influential figures in the world in their TIME 100 that year.

She is a great advocate of the law of attraction and has touched millions of lives enlightening them about the power of thought and how it can be applied in the most important aspects of life. The Secret was also made into a movie which grossed into over 300 million USD along with the book. Later she also authored The Power, The Magic and Hero, all of which speak of the various ways in which the law can be applied.

As one of the most important influencers of the world, Rhonda has brought light into millions of desolate lives and has shown that people have all the power within themselves and that they just have to awaken to it.

Dr. Madhurima Reddy Though the author of this book, was born in reasonable prosperity, her marital phase made her life a severe struggle and truly despondent, as she had to experience a tremendous loss of her wealth. In just a few years post her marriage, she was confronted with the harsh reality of life and how it can change the face of destiny. At a certain point of time when she realised that her life was being reduced to utter misery, she decided to fight the adversity that she was being dragged into.

She began to create the best version of herself, improving her knowledge, skills, and academic qualifications, and with her profile she was able to get miscellaneous training and counselling 187

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jobs to start with. In a few years she progressed into a remarkably powerful individual and helped thousands of people with her sessions. Scores of international corporates continue to flock to her for her invaluable sessions. She conducted hundreds of sessions for their employees in various aspects of life in areas such as Clinical Psychology, Life Coaching, Neurolinguistic Programming, and such others. The Covid19 pandemic proved to be an opportune time since she could reach out to thousands of employees of corporates online.

Her steady dedication to work, her discipline and her beliefs in herself led her to be highly successful. She has already entered the multi-millionaire club and is progressing steadily on the path to becoming a billionaire, as an example of one of the strongest women leaders of India.

Money at its very essence is energy. Treat money the same way you treat energy, and you will attract abundance — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy There are hundreds of success stories of people who believed in the power of their thought and the law of attraction, and have made tremendous accomplishments in their lives, while also contributing to world progress. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Lady Gaga, Jim Carrey, Steve Harvey, Andrew Carnegie, Jay Z, Kayne West, Jack Canfield, Joe Vitale, Lindsey Vonn, Nick Vujicic, Jon Jones, Con McGregor, Russel Brand, Brian Tracy, and multitudes of others to name a few. All these inspirational stories should only help you discover the immense power of this incontrovertible law and learn to apply it to your own life and perhaps in time, add your own name to the accomplished list.

How to Develop a Multi-Millionaire Mindset There have been theories and arguments that people's mindsets are each configured to a certain financial figure like a thermostat, 188

beyond which they cannot comprehend the figures. For example, if a person regularly makes about a hundred thousand dollars in a year, and if by chance makes multiples of it, his mind normally does not know how to deal with it, and it makes him behave and work in such a way that he will soon lose the excess money and reach back to the same figure that has been engraved on his mind through unwise decisions.

However, it is all a matter of thought. If people begin to think beyond the said thermostat of the money mind, there is every possibility of achieving millions. This can definitely be achieved when changes are made to your routine. To start with, one should think like a millionaire. The first step is to remove all possible negatively impacting and limiting ideas that derail your growth.

Change your thinking. The rich and wealthy constantly think about money, developing ideas and pursuing plans that can fetch more and more money. The poor think of money only to pay bills and their standard expenses and once done, go back to their routine jobs. This act of focusing on more will soon reap decent benefits, enabling you to think, prospect and pursue ideas. People who spend considerable time planning their wealth inevitably make better decisions leading to better results and subsequently, financial independence.

Learn the Habits of the Wealthy Keep looking out for opportunity. Buying stocks, real estate or venturing into a business. Millionaires constantly look for opportunities to invest, since that is how money principally grows.

Get into the habit of seeking financial advice before you invest. Seek a competent financial advisor who has established credibility so he can guide you appropriately.

Survey any investing opportunity carefully, conducting your due diligence, and spend enough time to understand every aspect 189

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of the avenue. Never take instant financial decisions which could be disastrous. Never get impulsive on any financial decision but allow yourself to study the entire prospect thoroughly and then take a decision.

Always ensure that your investment is insured properly against any risk. You may have seen how many investors suddenly became paupers because they did not insure their hard-earned investment. An insurance may cost a little money, but it is the wisest decision that you will have made.

Protect your assets against needless taxation and unexpected lawsuits. Always hire a finance specialised competent legal advisor.

It is appropriate to transfer your assets to a family business where you are personally not liable in the event of a lawsuit or taxed for unfair reasons. This can save you enormous amounts of money and protect your wealth.

Avoid unnecessary expenditure and develop the habit of successful negotiation in any deal. Sell at higher prices and buy at lowest prices. Plan to achieve your financial freedom gradually.

Quick gains usually vanish quickly. Remember, the wiseman built his house upon a rock.

Among others, be a visionary, love your work, always remain focused, constantly improve your knowledge and skills, and stay connected with the right circuits.

Affirmations to Bring in Wealth & Abundance into your Life These affirmations may be spoken by you either loudly to yourself or silently for a few minutes twice each day, so that the idea of becoming wealthy is reinforced in your mind. These are only to give you an idea. You can create your own affirmations and use them too. But all the affirmations must say that you are actually experiencing the wealth so that all your further actions go towards strengthening your intention in pursuit of the same.

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• I feel joyful about money now.

• I am always in the flow of money.

• Money expands in my management.

• I always have an abundance of money.

• I believe in the universe and am abiding by its success laws.

• I can create anything I want and have everything to help me do it.

• I am using my full potential to create limitless wealth.

• Whatever I wish to buy I can.

• I am helping people create opportunities for themselves.

• I have all the abilities to gather all resources and capital to achieve my goals.

• I always take actions to increase my wealth.

• I find abundance and wealth wherever I look.

• I am a millionaire and getting stronger.

• I am grateful to be a millionaire.

• I am grateful that I have met all my family needs and wants, and, have plenty to help others.

Manifest Wealth through the Law of Attraction The Law of Attraction is always in action just like the unseen gravity but which you can feel all the time. It is the most powerful law in existence.

“Like attracts Like.” This means that whatever you are focused upon you draw into your life. When you are focused on what you want, you are attracted to what you want. When you are 191

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focused on what you do not want, you attract what you do not want.

If you focus on saying 'I want to have money,' you attract a situation, where you only want to have money, but you do not attract money. However, if you focus on a situation in which you feel you already have the money, then you attract a situation wherein you can buy anything of your desire.

If you always wanted more money, but still haven’t gotten enough, it’s time for you to analyse how you feel about it. Does it make you happy, frustrated, angry, or jealous? A happy emotion attracts a happy situation. and a negative emotion resists a happy situation. When you focus on pure abundance in your life and let go of any limiting beliefs about money, wealth or prosperity, the law kicks in and starts to take you on the journey of success.

Money is no vice, unlike what a general belief that is prevalent. It is what we do with it that can be vice or virtue, and how you earn, is what is evil or good. If you make good use of money for yourself and humanity it is a virtue, if you do unscrupulous things with it, it definitely is a vice, depending on your thoughts about it. If you have earned it by doing things against your conscience, then you would be feeling bad and the same will generate negative energy in and around you. Like everything else, Money is energy too and flows with the same consciousness. If you do not like something, it will not stay with you.

If you hear someone talking bad about you or despising you, you would not like to be with that person. If you tell someone, you do not care about that person, that person would not like to stay with you. Similarly, if you talk such things about money, why would it like to stay with you?

Attract Abundance by Redesigning Your Money Blueprint If you desire money and wish to attract abundance, you will have 192

to redesign your money blueprint. You must change all your negative notions about money, and you should begin appreciating money while asking for it.

You should be convinced that if you are asking for money, that is your right, and it has to come to you, and you are not doing any sin by designing money.

Most importantly you must understand that everything must constantly be in circulation, or it will get stale. Like a room always needs to have cross ventilation, if you stack up money and hoard it, it will get suffocated, so it should be in circulation. The more it is in circulation, the bigger it grows. Keep using and watch new flows come in.

Lastly, you need to have the purpose for that money. Like what you would do with that money. Say, you want to buy a car, a home, or take a holiday; the moment you have its purpose, you will be able to get money. Energy cannot be left suffocated, so it is with money and so when you seek abundance.

Our financial lives are determined in our subconscious mind embedded like a money blueprint. Just like a blueprint for a house, your Money Blueprint is how you relate to money in your mind.

Your thoughts, feelings and actions are all part of it.

The process of manifestation wealth is essentially through this: Thoughts – Feelings- Actions – Results What kind of thoughts, beliefs and habits do you have? How do you generally feel about yourself ? What kind of confidence do you have in yourself ? How willing are you to take action despite inconvenience, discomfort, or fear?

The truth is that your thinking, your character, and your beliefs are critical to determining the level of your success. So, where do your thoughts and beliefs come from?

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The level of your success is based on your thinking, your beliefs, and your character. These come essentially from the conditioning you have received since your childhood from parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, leaders, media, culture and so on.

You must learn to identify such limiting beliefs which place doubts in your mind about your own ability to succeed and eliminate them from your mind. Practicing a series of positive affirmations can help reinforce your faith in yourself. And place your faith in the universe at all times. The power of your gratitude also can take you a long way in the path of your success.

Visualise that you already have achieved the success and the prosperity you have on mind. When you begin to believe that you already are wealthy, your mind begins to create images of financial gain creating a mindset that is receptive to such thoughts, providing you with the necessary motivation to push forward to the path of bountifulness. The wealthy find it easier to get richer because they see the money they do not have as if it is there, and treat the money that is already there, as the means to get it. That is how the rich get richer.

The Law of Attraction stipulates all these methods to achieve one’s goal of becoming wealthy and successful. When followed judiciously, you become a genuine money magnet and abundance flows all around.

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Wealth, prosperity, abundance, affluence or plentifulness are always around, made available to all of us, by the universe.

But the reason for all the poverty and the impoverishment in the world is that a major part of its people, do not believe in themselves. Only the ones who do, are the ones who rule — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Eight

Relationships

If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace — Franklin D. Roosevelt

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About Relationships

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elationships are the bedrock of the human society. They are the primary forces that drive the world and give us an identity of a civilized community. Relationships begin the day we are born. As an infant your mind is initially influenced and moulded by the primary people you know. When your needs such as food, care, protection, stimulation, and social contact are met by someone, usually beginning with the mother, or a nurse, you begin to understand the value of that relationship. The human mind begins to create a pattern of expectations based on how we are treated from our infancy. As you grow and begin to relate to the others, your mind begins to develop its own perspectives and moulds your own behaviour. The experiences with your parents, your siblings, your neighbours, your classmates at school and college, your teachers, the people you work with, your romantic partners, and all the people you meet alongside your journey in life; all of these become the determining factors in how you finally relate to the society.

Relationships are the key factors on how happy and satisfied we are in our lives, and thus they are the cornerstones around which our entire experiences in the world are built.

Relationships can be of varied nature beginning with familial relationships which include parent-child-sibling-inter and intra family relationships, social relationships which include relationship with friends and acquaintances, romantic relationships which involve intimacy, and work-related relationships which involve associations with co-workers, business partners, client relations and allied parties.

Whatsoever the nature of a relationship may be, aspects such as trust, reliability, stability, and satisfaction with the relationship, become the core of maintaining and continuing the same. All 198

relationships are based on three central aspects. How rewarding is the relationship? What costs are involved in a relationship? What are the expectations of the parties involved, in a relationship? Once these three aspects of relationships are clearly understood, the relationship is more defined and would either strengthen overtime or weaken and dissipate, as the case may be. However, strong relations work well in creating emotional balance in people ensuring a higher degree of happiness and satisfaction with the same, while relationships that are compromised can be detrimental to everyone involved creating disharmony. Thus, relationships are the key to the sustenance and progress of the world.

He who knows the universe and does not know himself, knows nothing — Jean de La Fontaine

Types of Relationships • Relationship with the Self • Relationship with the Others • Relationship with the Spirit

Relationship with the Self How much do you love, care and value yourself ?

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relationship you have with yourself and are the most valuable aspects of your personality while also determining how you relate to everything and everyone else in your life. Agreed most of us are and have been conditioned to live either by our family or our teachers or some other influences. But we need to introspect and understand ourselves and see what values and opinions are unique to ourselves. There is no greater dignity than independence and defining yourself and loving yourself unconditionally make the actual you.

There are several aspects of our lives that we don’t control, like where we are born, to whom we are born, our colour, race, faith, language, how we look, and such other things. But there are things that we can fully take charge of, about ourselves.

Like what we can do to improve ourselves, how we can be more healthy, how we can perfect our abilities and stand out among the others. No one is born an achiever, even if they are born to the richest parents, and no one is a failure even if born in the most impoverished communities. It is what one makes of his life that determines his stature in the world. When you value and respect yourself, about what you are, how you are, what you do, what you are capable of and how happy you are with yourself, you begin to understand how important you are. And everything you do, your perception of the world, of the society you are in, in fact life itself appears more beautiful.

How do you Love yourself ?

The relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have — Jane Travis Simple examples of your self-love can be shown in actions that you take when you are wanting to look better, wanting to be 200

healthier, wanting to do more in your work, in your family, in your society, and in general wanting to be more acceptable and recognised in the world. When you set a routine of waking up on time, exercising, grooming yourself to perfection, wearing the perfect clothes, and setting yourself to do something, preparing yourself for a challenge, demonstrate self-discipline, etc., you are displaying self-love.

Also doing the things that you love, savouring your favourite food, buying yourself special gifts, visiting the places you wanted to, decorating your living, and working spaces with the colours, textures and scents you love, and generally pampering yourself, are also indication of your self-love. When people begin to watch your actions in the way you carry yourself with poise and confidence, you naturally become more attractive to them.

When you focus on your own positive qualities and admire them yourself, the Law of Attraction is invoked to show you greater things about yourself. You must know that everything you feel and perceive is purely from your perspective. You must constantly remember that you are bigger than anything you care about in life. You must know that you are more precious than anything you own. Everyone and everything that come into your life is only after you. Know your own importance and you will understand that you are irreplaceable. Be yourself and inevitably you can be what you want to be.

When you Don’t love yourself Enough Very often we find people constantly complaining, not only about everything around them, but also about themselves. When you neglect yourself, have a low self-esteem, and hate certain qualities that you possess, you constantly feel guilty, betrayed, and displeased with yourself, and you would definitely feel isolated and become lonely.

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You would also be dissatisfied and unhappy since you unconsciously cut off the love you deserve and attract bad elements to yourself making you feel further bad and worser. When you continuously blame others, complain about things, and keep whining, you are also isolating yourself from the good things in your life and from the good people who can be helpful to you.

People do not like to be around sad, unhappy, unhealthy, untidy, low esteemed, complaining, condemning, and disgusting people, who not only do not care about themselves but criticise everything in the world. Such attitude shows that you disrespect yourself and everyone, and you reject any possibilities of positivity in your life.

So, the first thing to do in order to be happy with yourself, be loved and be respected is to care for and respect yourself unconditionally and show it to yourself and the world that you care. When you care for yourselves, you care for the world.

All the time that Madhu remained in marital relationship with Venu, she was never given proper treatment and neither cared for nor was loved but exploited and disrespected miserably. Her son also was miserably treated. Her experiences were nothing but full of sadness and sorrow. But when she realised that if she kept complaining about her emotions, she was only getting lonelier. So, she gradually accepted that into her life and began to look at life more positively. She began to show more care for herself in improving her education, her capabilities, and her household duties and in taking care of her son.

As she vigorously worked to make herself happy and keep herself satisfied, she realised that she possessed a great inner strength. She discovered how happy she felt when she began to demonstrate the self-love, she developed for herself, so much so that even Venu was astonished. All the misgivings, ill treatments and ill health soon flew over her as she simply ignored these negative aspects of her family life. She did her duties sincerely as 202

a spouse and a mother and committedly fulfilled all her roles and responsibilities. She also improved her professional performances and gradually was able to redefine herself as an extraordinary woman with great spirit and strength. Even after her separation and living as a single mother, she only showed more attention to her son who gradually grew to imbibe most of these qualities, which in turn helped him become a dynamic personality.

Relationship with Others How we define our relationships with everyone else in our lives is dependent on how well we define ours with our own self. A strong familial relationship from an early stage in life usually goes a long way in determining how we develop relational perceptions. All relationships are based on the premises of love, companionship, care, bonding, trust, support, and security for the ones involved.

All relationships have an immense impact on psychological, emotional, and social makeup of human beings.

Each type of relationship passes through various phases from early childhood to adolescence, from young adult stage to old age, and each phase of relationship transforms continuously based on the type of relationship and on mutual expectations and attitudes towards partners.

Though the present age seems to contravene the established order of familial and personal relationships to a certain degree, bulk of the world society still follows the traditional marital relationship model which has proven to be the strongest of all relationships and thus becomes an important part of our social structure. A great relationship can give you a happy, fulfilling, and exciting experience and a meaningful and purposeful existence.

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define the purpose and health of the relationship and what it can lead to. However, one has to be mindful of certain factors that can cause a relationship to be either successful or a failure and lay out their lives accordingly.

Important Factors in a Relationship In order to understand the important aspects of a relationship, we have to first determine the kind of relationship that is in question.

What is your aim in getting into a relationship with someone? In the question of intimate relationships around which most of this topic’s focus is, is it a long term or a short-term relationship you are looking at?

Are you looking for a marital relationship or just a temporary arrangement such as an indefinite live-in relationship? Once the kind of relationship one is aiming at, is determined, other factors will kick in to take the bonding to the next stage. Irrespective of the nature of the relationship however, certain aspects remain largely common to most relationships and help to maintain their stability.

Compatibility - This is the foremost aspect of a relationship.

Usually when relationships are made, each of the partners must have proper understanding of their personal requirements and expectations from the other and must offer no ground for any possible conflict. Easier relationships are made when partners come from similar backgrounds, such as belonging to similar economic, linguistic, cultural, or professional backgrounds, have similar tastes and understanding of each other's personalities and family backgrounds. In doing so they have a reasonable understanding of their partners' lifestyles, traditions, professional requirements, and such aspects and find it easier to accommodate themselves into their lives.

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Partners with different backgrounds, different aims, thought processes, and different goals can display conflicting attitudes and can find it extremely challenging to adjust with each other, causing the relationship to crack or fail. So, partner compatibility is essential when a relationship is struck, and becomes the foundation of the entire endeavour.

Respecting each other, understanding, accepting as they are, expressing love, appreciation, gratitude and thinking of each other as a team; not as 'you versus me,' rather 'you plus me are one.' The understanding that working as one team in life, works wonders, bringing about immense value and togetherness, whether it is with a couple, parents, siblings, children, friends or even teams at work.

Attitude - The attitude of partners in a relationship to each other becomes vital in taking it to the next level. Showing proper love, care, affection and attention, spending time with each other, displaying trust, respect, honour, and commitment to your partner are quintessential elements of lasting relationships.

Trust - A relationship based on complete trust between partners will have the maximum strength and will last for a long time. In fact, trust is the primary factor that holds a lasting bond between partners. When there is sufficient trust, the relationship will have a strong resilience to any other factors that can shake the foundation of the relationship such as a financial dispute, or a disagreement of some other nature. Loyalty, honesty, dedication to your partner and actions based on the same are central to demonstrating the trust factor between partners.

Having Realistic Expectations - What are your expectations from your relationship? Having reasonable expectations from a romantic relationship will ensure longevity and a stronger relationship.

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demands and expectations which can turn the bond into an incompatible relationship and cause it to fail and cause subsequent breakups. Love and intimacy cannot be demanded. They have to be demonstrated through words, expressions, and thoughtful actions.

Having too many expectations can put a partner in stress and put an unhealthy pressure on a relationship. All through, one must make their partner feel loved, accepted, and valued while strongly relating to each other emotionally. Unfair and nonrealistic expectations can cause either of the partners to crash and could lead to unsavoury consequences.

Invest time for deeper relationships, not on addictions or ways of exploitation in the name of love or marriage or some benefit. Rather understand who is in your room, which means in your life, in your mind; and make the right choices about it.

At times partners even have to compromise, to allow the bond to work. A healthy and successful relationship always lies within mutually fair expectations and works a long way in bringing happiness and success to the relationship.

Communication – One of the key factors to a relationship is having the right communication. When there is the right degree of communication between partners, a meaningful emotional connection is maintained between them. Each of them makes the other partner valued, respected, and loved, which add to emotional fulfilment. They feel completely accepted and coexist peacefully with the right degree of happiness and contentment. In a strong romantic relationship, both the partners must be quite communicative with each and express their wants, desires, shortcomings, problems, challenges and state their feelings clearly.

This also leads to understanding their mutual compatibility and works progressively on the relationship.

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Open conversational communication should always be valued in any relationship. Lack of it will inevitably ruin it. When partners in a relationship know what they want from each other, and can comfortably express their needs, desires and fears, trust and respect are naturally built, strengthening the relationship, letting it last for a long time perhaps even for a lifetime.

Commitment - How committed are you to the relationship?

Having a strong sense of responsibility to a relationship demonstrates your commitment to the same. Committed partners work for the common goal of making their relationship work. A proper commitment lays out a framework of actions between them which when appropriately followed allow the relationship to progress meaningfully. Commitment is again reflected in your trust, respect, love, and honesty to your partner.

When you are committed to a relationship, you would venture to accept certain shortcomings in your partner and adapt yourself to the same. Commitment also leads to a greater sense of security in a relationship which is an essential part of the bond.

Committed partners should voice out their expectations to each other in the beginning of a relationship itself, which can cause lesser conflict in the future. Loyalty to your partner is one of the main aspects of your commitment. However, in a successful relationship, partners must allow each other a certain sense of freedom. Toxicity arises in a relationship only when it is based on subordination. When one of the partners begins to display control, it leads to feelings such as emotional dependency, and being trapped, and causes needless frustration, weakening the relationship.

Other Aspects – Also several other factors determine the meaningfulness, the longevity, the happiness, and success of a relationship. Factors such as giving each other time, regular conversations with each other, understanding and sharing 207

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responsibilities, displaying gratitude, having sufficient physical intimacy, respecting, and understanding each other’s emotions and supporting them, acceptance etc., are important to a relationship.

Also, being prepared for sudden changes in their lives such as a temporary loss of a job, a change of employment, a new business proposition, a business pressure, or a financial crisis, loss of someone close, and such others, also can have a grave impact on relationships. However, when all factors are appropriately balanced by committed partners, relationships add value and meaning to our lives, making us happy and satisfied and setting us as examples to others.

Amid any unexpected or extended challenges of a multidimensional relationship across the familial, social, and personal frontiers, if you are still happy, it means you are happy with the one relationship that matters most to you. And that one happy relationship will give you the strength to overcome all the challenges in all the other aspects of your life. And if you are unhappy or dissatisfied with your life, it is possibly because the one relationship that matters to you is in turmoil. And that could ruin you.

Relationships are like small plants, which once have germinated, must be nurtured, by spending time, energy, love, and commitment. If you have invested sufficient resources in a relationship, all the expectations that might come up will still be managed. If a relationship is neglected it gives rise to unsavoury expectations which become unmanageable and ultimately destroys the relationship. Hence nurturing relationships is most essential for a healthy, peaceful, and successful life.

Relationship with the Universe You are a creation of the universe, and thus it fully relates to you and understands everything of you. However, it does not impose on you to think or act but gives you the free will and responsibility 208

to do so. Thus, we become products of our own thought and action.

Happiness or unhappiness, success or failure, health or sickness, wealth, or poverty, and all such essential elements of our lives actually lie in our hands, and the universe exists to ensure that, for it has created you and takes the responsibility to listen to you and act accordingly. The universe is always in action, like the law of gravity, whether you believe it or not.

Just as you value your relationship with yourself and the others, you must respect and value your relationship with the universe. It is your guiding spirit and the consciousness that drives everything in creation. You must learn to bow to it and respect it, revere it, converse with it, and abide by it.

In order to foster and savour your relationship with the universe, you must first connect to it. You connect to the universe by first asking it what you desire, what kind of relationship you wish to manifest, and what you are willing to take up to achieve the same. Your thoughts should lead to actions. Start by accepting responsibility to yourself and to everyone around. Be grateful for everything you have. Stop criticising people or cursing a situation.

If you have had a bad experience, stop thinking about how terrible it was but rather be happy that it did not get any worser. Thank the spirit that you are alive and be grateful instead of condemning and feeling sorry and bad for what you went through.

Start visualising the person you wish to have a relationship with. First establish if the person you chose is a realistic goal. Lay out the various steps you would need to reach the person. Do you have the necessary strength or capability to reach out to the person? Ask the universe. What does it take to reach the person?

When you are clear with your intention, its very power makes the universe work out the magic for you and lead you to your goal.

When you ask, ensure you do it with complete faith. And it will work. The universe that has created every speck in creation has also 209

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created you for a purpose. Life as you see it is entirely as you see.

You make it, you break it.

A strong connection with the universe, the universal spirit or consciousness or God, or whatever you call it, gives you great strength, confidence, peace, resolve, energy, emotional strength, and direction to help you with your pursuits.

When you speak to the universe, you receive enlightenment, fresh perspectives, see newer opportunities, and renewed strength to pursue them. Learn to identify and recognise the signs the universe sends your way and work accordingly. Prayer and meditation, along with visualisation, work very well as the instruments of connecting with the universe. Inculcate them in your routine and follow them religiously every day. Each day you will discover a newer strength and sense of direction when you do so. It is the universe giving. Be prepared to receive and in turn develop the practice of giving. As you give so shall you receive.

Believe and you will receive.

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The Journey to receive love from the universe starts with loving yourself unconditionally — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Nine

Divine Relationships – A Soulmate

“Our universe grants every soul a twin - a reflection of themselves - the kindred spirit – And no matter where they are or how far away, they are from each other - even if they are in different dimensions, they will always find one another. This is destiny; this is love.”

— Julie Dillon

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Who is a Soulmate?

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everal people have defined the word 'Soulmate' in several different ways for nearly two centuries since the great English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge first used the word in 1822. A soulmate is one who is a complete reflection of yourself in another form; someone with whom you feel a bond so strong that it appears almost unearthly. It is a bond one experiences with someone in such a way that no other relationship comes close. A soulmate is one who accepts you and you accept the person completely, in an understanding that can never fall apart. A soulmate while is usually considered romantic, can be of many ways; it can be one’s spouse, a live-in partner, a platonic relationship or can include a close friendship, and not necessarily of the opposite gender. A soulmate is someone in whom you visualize yourself and feel part of. Your soulmate actually completes you. It is a divine relationship that gives your life proper course and meaning.

Did you ever experience such a closeness to someone? A someone with whom you feel close in every possible way, a someone who you feel has been born only for you? A someone who also thinks and feels the same of you? Someone you know will always be there for you and never leave you? Then you are most fortunate. Because you have already found your soulmate!

Why is a Soulmate Important?

Even if a person has lived all his life and has not been able to connect with anyone in such a bond, it is likely the person has never attempted to want one, and it is certain the person has never found happiness in life. A life without a soulmate may be an empty life that has not found the right degree of happiness or the required level of satisfaction. It is extremely important for one to have a soulmate in life, as such a partner can define your life, can add meaning to your life, add value to your life and lets you see things

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in a more positive perspective. It is said that the universe creates a soulmate for everyone and in time we would be able to find ours.

But in order to know who our soulmate is, we have to look for signs that communicate that he or she is just around. A soulmate can give you such happiness just by being around, even when everything in your life has temporarily failed. And that happiness will redouble your energy to fight for an even more successful life.

Such is the role of a true soulmate.

“I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…

In life after life, in age after age, forever.”

— Rabindranath Tagore Who is your soulmate?

We are all connected by a divine force. We are the results of its intention. Just as we are inseparable from the cosmic energy and cosmic dust from which we were created, we share a connection with everything and everyone around us. There are no good people or bad people in our lives. Everyone whom we met and shared either a relationship or an association definitely have some impact on our lives. Whether good or bad, they leave us with experiences that have taught us something important, based on which we change our outlook of life, and strive to be better.

But what if who you call the right person, who has all the attributes you wished for and always dreamt of, desired, yearned for, is just around you? What if you have not recognised the one who should matter to you? You may question where the person is!

The truth could be that the person may have always been around.

You may have just not recognised it!

Why could you not recognise it? It is because you have not allowed your thoughts to accept that the person is around. You would have probably been thinking that you are not worth, or powerless to attract, or that you just don't have the right traits to 215

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draw people to you.

When your mind is filled with these negative thoughts, it is impossible for the universe to act contrary to what you are thinking constantly. So even when the right subjects are being sent to you, you are choosing to ignore them purely by your resistance. You are not using your energies to actually manifest your ideal partner.

But if you strongly believe in your intention of attracting the right partner, you will be able to see the world in a different and a more positive and colourful perspective. When you have faith, belief, and trust in your honest intention, the inevitable soon shows up. Just be willing to receive. And you surely will.

There was this old friend of mine who was enamoured by one of my female colleagues. He always spoke respectfully of her, would try to draw her attention, choosing to be most helpful in her work, always at her side, and supporting her in team meetings and even personally. He would be the first to wish her, place flowers on her table each day, shower her with gifts and demonstrated such goodness that people would be dumbstruck with his devotion, which sometimes also worried and perhaps annoyed her. Though she enjoyed his attention the lady never reciprocated his affection, choosing to believe it was her right to be so treated, because she hailed from a rich family and was good looking, but looked down upon him with conceit and disapproval, all the while accepting his gifts.

She later confessed to me that she did not like the man, though she did not have any valid reasons not to like him. He was a senior, better paid, handsome and had all the qualities that every woman would wish for, though not from as rich a family as her.

She simply could not accept him, the way he wanted to be. This went on for two years without any positive result for the man. In time her parents began to look for matches for her and when the news came to him, instead of being disappointed, he simply smiled and said that he believed in the power of his intention and if they 216

were noble, she would definitely be his. And he believed it with such strength that sometimes people would find it laughable the way he believed it and how contrarily she treated him.

Though her parents found several matches, none of them matched the quality she desired. Finally, when several colleagues spoke to her and told her that he was one of the most deserving men ever, and that her life would be definitely meaningful with him, she began to develop a more positive and receptive attitude towards him. In time his efforts paid off, and the two were united in wedlock, being accepted by both their families. With two grown up children now, and successful entrepreneurs, they remain one of the happiest couples, I have seen. His intention and focus were very clear from the beginning, and he never faltered in his belief that she would inevitably be his. The power of his faith was so great that even though she could not bring herself to like him, eventually she did.

Several years later when I met her again, I asked her how she changed into accepting him. She said that she was unclear in her own mind at that time and had only negative thoughts. She felt too superior to everyone and could not bring herself to marry a man who was not too rich. But when she allowed her arrogance and dislike of him to dissipate, she realised what a great mistake it would have been if she had rejected him.

In other words, this is just one example of how powerful your belief can be and how your intent can manifest and make you realise what you have always dreamt of.

A soulmate can be anyone who is close to you, with whom you can relate at the highest level; someone beyond whom you cannot see anyone or anything else. When there is complete trust, affection, understanding and respect for each other, without expectations, the very person may be your soulmate, that one person who would always stand by you, no matter what. However, 217

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your soulmate may just be around the corner, and you may have not even realised it. The universe keeps sending signals of your soulmate and if you are looking for your soulmate, you must endeavour to identify them and understand them, and follow them. Eventually when you do, you will find your soulmate and can lead a fulfilling life.

Characteristics of your Soulmate

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Someone who shares your interests, aspirations, goals, visions, and ideas.

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Someone who has similar likes and dislikes.

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Someone with whom you feel an instant connect.

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Someone in whose presence you feel most safe, secure, and comfortable.

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Someone with whom you feel extremely happy and always desire to be with.

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Someone who is never jealous of you.

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Someone who never judges you.

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Someone who respects your opinions though who may differ with you occasionally, and is transparent, and honest with you in everything.

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Someone in whose presence you never feel threatened or intimidated.

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Someone who doesn’t question your intentions or decisions but supports you in each and every aspect of your life.

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Someone who knows your flaws and accepts them instead of questioning them.

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Someone who knows your strengths and weaknesses and

always encourages you to overcome your weaknesses and helps you do it.

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Someone who knows immediately if you are in any kind of pain or discomfort and goes out of the way to ensure your pain is reduced.

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Someone who can actually visualize your own thoughts.

Someone who gives you complete peace and satisfaction.

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Someone with whom you can feel completely free and boundless.

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Someone who gives and shows you a purpose of life.

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Someone who shares both your pain and pleasure.

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Someone who loves you infinitely.

However, your soulmate need not necessarily be a romantic partner, though most of us do find a higher degree of satisfaction in such relationships. A soulmate can also be a friend who shares most of your traits, your ideas, your goals, and is unquestioningly willing to stand by you, come what may.

In case you are now looking for your soulmate, it is time you begin manifesting one. The universe will help you if you simply follow the symptoms and signals it is sending you across. You may have met the person long back, and perhaps you just could not recognise it.

Who is Not your Soulmate?

First and foremost, the law of attraction says that you cannot target a certain individual and expect only that specific person to be your soulmate. You may like the person, love the person, or do everything that makes him or her happy. But the universe doesn't guarantee that the individual will be your soulmate. It is a matter of free will of an individual upon whom you cannot impose.

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It is however likely that with your honest and genuine efforts you may invite the attention of the person or even make the person fall in love with you, but unless the person reciprocates your interest mutually, within a reasonable span of time, it is fruitless to pursue such an individual. Rather you must look for other signs from other people that will indeed direct you to your true soulmate.

Also, if a person is so obsessed with an individual and uses his or her power to make them surrender by force or gratification, such a relationship is never fulfilling, nor would it signify any happiness in their lives. Even though such relationships do occur all the time, they are filled with toxicity and unhappiness often leading to some catastrophe. No one must ever compel an individual to be coerced into a relationship. Such partners can never be soulmates. We constantly see broken relationships, or one-sided afflictions which cause disasters. Trying to force, or oblige, or coax a person into a relationship can rarely give successful results.

Let us understand that no one is absolutely perfect in any way. It is impossible, unjustifiable, and even unfair to expect a partner who is perfect in every sense. We ourselves may be imperfect in several ways that we don't even know. As such, for a relationship to truly work, there should be a strong compatibility of values between partners. Howsoever close two partners may be, it is not possible to accept each other’s views and opinions all the time.

Having similar backgrounds socially, professionally, and financially, sharing similar likes and dislikes, having similar tastes, eating habits, viewing issues in a similar perspective, sharing similar habits and hobbies, sharing similar opinions, perceptions and perspectives and such things which are common between partners, go a long way in keeping a relationship well nurtured, strong, and 220

steady. For a relationship to last, if the degree of compatibility is high, absorbing, and flexible, it definitely continues to remain strong and can weather even moderate conflict in the relationship.

How Can You Find Your Soulmate?

Instead of making your intention subjective, i.e. making someone a target, you may take actions that can steer your desires in the direction of your soulmate, who need not necessarily be the person you may have expected to be so. However, most positive actions lead to successful results when your intention is honest, sincere and without expectations. Your relentless endeavours to connect to the person of your choice may still bear fruit, if you are able to make the person see how much he or she matters to you and to what extent you are willing to go to reach them. There are few measures that you can take that can inevitably yield positive results leading you to your perfect partner, your ultimate soulmate.

What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other, to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.

–– George Eliot

When you actually have decided to find your soulmate, these aspects are important: 1. Have a genuine intention The power of intention is such that it will lead you to act in the direction of your goal. Your intention will enable you to create a roadmap towards your goal. Write down your intentions and organise your actions as to where to start, how to proceed, watch out for obstacles in your path, find the strength to move forward and consequently you will attain your goal. Once you charter down your plan, you will begin to understand where you stand and what 221

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you should do to gain strength and overcome any impediments across your path. Faith, belief, persistence, and determination will ensure your intention rewards you in the right manner.

2. Trust your instincts and your intuitions The first thing that happens to you when you are in the vicinity of your soulmate, is that you would begin to have intuitions about the individual. It could be someone you work with, a relative, a childhood friend, a classmate, or just someone you met somewhere.

Your interactions with the person often give you a gut feeling, whether the person is going to be part of your life. Trust your instincts, since they are the first signs the universe is sending you.

When you feel happy, comfortable, energized and even intimate when you are interacting with an individual, you are possibly being drawn towards each other. All further steps you take may be based on this intuition.

3. You become best friends Like attracts like, is the chief principle of Law of Attraction.

Constant interactions between people with similar interests and likes will lead to developing relationships. When you understand each other on a deeper level, converse frequently, meet each other, go out often, and help each other, you are laying the foundations for a strong relationship. Becoming best friends is one of them.

Soulmates are always the best friends, between whom there is perfect harmony, joy and understanding.

4. You respect each other Respect for each other becomes critical in your search for your soulmate. Once you have found someone whom you might wish to get close to, you will begin to develop a lot of respect for each other. Once you begin to respect likes, dislikes, opinions, ideologies, goals, aspirations, interests, etc., your understanding of each other 222

becomes stronger and adds commendable value to the bonding.

And this becomes a valuable step in your search for your soulmate.

5. You share your vision One of the key factors in developing a great relationship is when you realise that you have shared values and ambitions. Once both of you have a common goal and begin to realise that you can count on each other for support in pursuing that goal, you will find your bonding growing more intense. If you do not have the same vision, it is unlikely that the relationship will progress further. When you meet someone who thinks, acts, and does things like you, you are already on the path of finding your ultimate partner.

6. You challenge each other Partners who respect each other should work to identify mutual weaknesses in each other and challenge each other to get the best of themselves. In discussing these openly, you are giving each other a chance for mutual support and personal development and growth.

Genuinely concerned partners should strive to allow their partners to move out of their comfort zones and venture to further their careers and their lives. This leads to gratitude in the future and is a constant reminder of the understanding you mutually have.

7. You resolve differences and fight for the relationship Conflict is integral to any relationship, even of soulmates. In the path to life, you are bound to experience hurdles, which could be in the form of financial, familial, health, work, or something else.

Sometimes partners may find elements of mutual discord on these aspects. But together when both of you struggle and fight these obstacles, you will find that you have greater strength together, showing that you are keen on making your relationship last rather than allow your individual egos to disrupt the relationship. True soulmates always fight for the relationship and that is how find each other. Learning not to be judgemental of your partner and learning 223

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to forgive each other even when wrong, will strengthen mutual trust and respect. All trying times in life for us, are the ones that show the true power of a relationship, and when we look back upon them in the future, our bonds with our partners only get stronger.

8. Desire to be together No partners can always be together 24/7, due to various reasons, even if sharing a common residence or otherwise. It is about striking a proper balance between being with each other and being away from each other. Here mutual trust and faith are essential aspects.

Being away from each other can still cause factors such as jealousy, suspicion, or anxiety to creep in. When partners enjoy quality time together, and openly discuss their obligations for being away for a certain period, it gives scope for a stronger relationship and the bonding can weather all rough times and temporary separations through such strong mutual trust.

9. Being transparent An extremely important part of a relationship is the ability of the partners to be mutually honest with each other. A lack of transparency between partners can lead to serious discord ruining any relationship. Being open, honest, frank, and unpretentious with your partner are essential to keep a relationship as strong as possible. It can be a profound factor in developing stronger intimacy with each other as it is a demonstration of the trust you mutually have of each other. True soulmates have the highest degree of transparency between them which becomes a strong basis for a lasting relationship, even for a lifetime.

10. Being grateful This is one of the strongest aspects of any relationship. When you are grateful to everything that has happened to you, and to 224

everyone whom you have met in your life, things will begin to move in your favour. Gratitude is the greatest force in the universe.

When you show thankfulness to your being, to everything around, in your thoughts and your actions, you draw tremendous power from the universe, that makes you even more stronger in every possible way.

Be grateful not just for the good things that happened to you, but even for setbacks, disappointments, bitter moments, for they have taught you something valuable. It is from such moments that we learn more of life and the people we live among, and that should be cause enough for your gratitude. Your gratitude displayed in your attitude will be simply magnetic and soon someone will come your way and make you complete.

Divine Relationships Divine relationships should be based on You + Me = One. It is about being completely together, as One Team, not You Versus Me. It may be soulmates, partners, friends, or family members. It is only thence that a relationship becomes divine. The relationship thus becomes almost sacred, completely dedicated to mutual support, aspiring towards each other's elevation in all aspects of life. It can define itself through its profoundness of spirituality, mysticism, and energy, transcending into a love of impeccable order.

In order to sustain and grow a healthy relationship, there are certain mandatory rules which must be followed by all: 1.

Understanding importance of expressions between partners.

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Discuss how you feel about each other regularly.

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Invest quality time on your relationship.

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partner’s birthday, favourite food, actor, colour, music, travel experiences; showing genuine concern for an issue and helping it ease down, and several such things can strengthen a relationship considerably.

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Allow for more discussions than debates.

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Have a more and genuine kinaesthetic approach through a sense of touch to your partner, such as hugs, pecks, and such things as an expression of the language of love. These touches must be with a pure intention and can be between partners, friends, parents and children, siblings etc.

You will know that it is your soulmate only when that someone makes you begin to question and see things in a different light, and completely changes your reality, unlike never before, and perhaps never after.

It is an experience like no other you have felt; it’s so revolutionising and possessing and you will feel that, you are being recreated, because of that someone — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Ten

Passion and Purpose

The two most important days in your life: The day you were born and the day you find out why with passion and purpose — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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“Passion is the genesis of genius.”

—Tony Robbins “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion.

For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.”

— Bishop T.D. Jakes Are We Passionate in Life?

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ow happy or satisfied are you with your life? Are you finding something missing in your life? Do you wish to find out what can make you lead a more positive, healthier, and happier life?

How happy or satisfied are you with your life? Are you finding something missing in your life? Do you wish to find out what can make you lead a more positive, healthier, and happier life?

Why are some people always happy, exuberant, successful, and celebrating, and why do some people appear to be dissatisfied, unhappy, unhealthy, and constantly in a state of misery? Out of billions of people that have been born on the earth, why do we find only a few thousands that have achieved greatness? Why are only 2% people actually leading meaningful, joyful, and successful lives, while the remaining 98% are just living dreary, languishing and perhaps, at the most, compromised, and complacent routine lives?

We often hear statements like 'I am passionate about my work, she is living her passion, he spoke with great passion, or he loved her passionately, he is not passionate about his career, he made a passionate appeal, or I have great passion for cooking or travelling, or reading or painting or cricket or chess or dogs etc… ' So, what do you understand from such remarks?

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How do we define passion?

Howsoever it may be defined, simply put, passion is an extremely strong emotion, a kind of burning enthusiasm to do something, or an intense feeling for something or someone, which usually becomes a compelling force in pursuit and achievement of that objective. Passion can also indicate an extreme degree of suffering an individual is willing to undergo to achieve something he loves or desperately desires to achieve. In terms of romance and intimacy between people, passion indicates a great affinity between partners and an extreme degree of fondness, love, and constant craving for each other.

In other words, passion is an important part of our lives, and those who realise their passion and work towards their goals with passion, will inevitably find success and joy, with the result that their lives are most rewarding, accomplished and fulfilling.

Extraordinary people are ordinary people who did everything with a great passion and a purpose and thus became extraordinary. When we learn their passion, we become them.

The 18th Century French Philosopher and Writer Denis Diderot describes Passion as: "Penchants, inclinations, desires and aversions carried to a certain degree of intensity, combined with an indistinct sensation of pleasure or pain, occasioned or accompanied by some irregular movement of the blood and animal spirits, are what we call passions. They can be so strong as to inhibit all practice of personal freedom, a state in which the soul is in some sense rendered passive, whence the name passions. This inclination or so-called disposition of the soul, is born of the opinion we hold that a great good or a great evil is contained in an object which in and of itself arouses passion."

So how do we know if we are passionate about anything or not?

Most people are extremely good at doing a certain thing, such as 231

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playing an instrument, painting, gardening, cooking, singing, speaking, writing, reading, travelling, photography, exercising, blogging, sporting activities, or computer gaming, etc. Some people are also very good at their jobs. That is because they are passionate about them. Your passion can relate to anything when you do it with great devotion, dedication, determination, and discipline.

However, most people may not be good at any of these and perhaps are only focused on their jobs or earning, which may not necessarily be from the fields of their choice. Maybe they have not even identified a passion they may have.

If you enjoy your job and do it with absolute dedication, yes you definitely are passionate about it. But if you do not enjoy your work, and are constantly complaining about it, or if it disinterests you and dissatisfies you, you are undeniably not passionate about it.

Did you find your passion yet? So how do we find our passion? And how do we use our passion to improve the quality of our lives? Let us, therefore, understand how to find our passion and how to use it to make us better, happier, and more satisfied with our lives.

But before venturing further on, do you know your purpose?

It is important to know how the term ‘purpose’ relates to passion and how together they can decide on how progressive and successful our lives can be. Passion and purpose go hand in hand in allowing us to find the true meaning of our lives.

Knowing Your Purpose What is your purpose and how do you find out what it is?

Just as complex as it is to define life, purpose can be defined in myriad ways. But the crux of your purpose is figuring out what makes you happy, excited, successful, and satisfied. How you relate to people and in turn inspire them with your positivity, also can determine and strengthen your purpose. I have known many 232

managers and employees of corporates who come to tell me that they earn well, have strong family lives, had great villas and cars and comforts.

But they simply did not seem satisfied with their lives.

Howsoever they were compensated or treated by their companies, they simply did not seem to reciprocate the value their employers gave them. Their purpose was a question to them. And sadly, they had no passion in it. But they just kept living a drab routine.

The meaning and definition of purpose changes from individual to individual, but the central aspect of purpose is the one factor that motivates you to wake up in the morning each day.

It directs your life, influences your decisions and behaviour, and affects your livelihood. It can also relate to how you show your responsibilities to your family and the people who matter to you.

Purpose can mean many things to us. If your purpose is achieving your target for a certain period, and you did it, what next?

At every stage of your life, we have a purpose. In our childhood and as we grow up, studying well and passing with good grades in school is our purpose. Getting into college, finding our profession, earning a placement, and joining a good company can be our next purpose. Falling in love and finding a romantic partner may perhaps be the next. And whether you become a family or not, your new goals and aspirations may further build up and give you a new purpose. Maybe it is to establish an entrepreneurship or buy a property or go on a holiday.

So, as we keep growing and find our footing in the world, our purpose keeps changing. Purpose isn't a fixed point at which you always stay after you have reached it. It keeps changing with the way the world changes for you, based on your outlook, your priorities, your expectations, and experiences. A purpose is an objective and a goal for which you dedicate your entire time, energy and all your resources in pursuit of the same.

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Your purpose is vague, unknown or a question when you discover a void in your lives, when you feel that you have no goals, no ambitions, or no interest in anything. But eventually you will find it when your skills, abilities, talents, and natural gifts confront the void and make you realise your purpose. Then you will find that life is not meaningless or empty as you may have felt before.

But in order to undergo the transformation you must be willing to leave your comfort zone and strive to understand what your true purpose is. You may be a celebrity or a socially recognised person.

But what is the point if you are unhappy? There is no point in being overexposed but underdeveloped in character. It is time you look deep within yourself and begin to question what your true intention is. It is time to make changes to your life in order to reach the zone of true happiness. When you pursue your purpose with a single-mindedness, with a focus of oneness and with absolute passion, it becomes realistic and more achievable. Everything else would seem secondary. And your passion becomes the engine that drives your purpose.

Thus, passion and purpose together determine the degree of our success, the quality of our lives and where we are headed to in our future.

But if you are still unsure of what your passion or purpose are, do not be confused or disturbed. Most of the people who live around you are in the same situation. But once you to begin to make changes in your own routine by subjecting yourself to a careful introspection, you inevitably will find it.

First Things First Before you embark on the journey towards finding your passion and purpose, start with small changes in your life. Follow these things religiously, and with complete dedication, and you will find that nothing is a challenge in the real sense. These things will feed and develop a great passion in you and set you firmly on your 234

purpose. Try them regularly and as a daily routine. These are the essentials of your own discovery.

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Wake up early say before 5 am.

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Do a little meditation, say for about twenty minutes.

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Go for a 20–30-minute walk.

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Go for a swim if you have the facility.

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Reduce eating too much meat and cereals and replace them with fresh vegetables and fruits.

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Avoid stuffing yourself with snacks between meals.

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Always keep your stomach a little free by eating smaller meals with a sense of mindfulness.

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Drink enough water regularly, say about a glass every hour.

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Gradually reduce your alcohol intake and smoking habits, as they can be injurious to your health.

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Avoid becoming a lazy person, overcome laziness.

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Lower your time spent of watching TV.

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Avoid spending more than a few minutes on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Practice reading everyday for atleast half an hour.

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Spend time every week with your good friends.

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Do not be in the company of people who discourage you, demotivate you and criticise you for everything.

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Avoid toxic people, get away as far as possible from them.

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Spend time with nature, such as going for a trek, walking in the woods or a garden, sitting by a lake, etc.

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Try to be happy and spread cheer everywhere you go.

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Never be idle doing nothing.

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Keep yourself busy or engaged.

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Maintain a diary of your activities each day.

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Review each day’s progress.

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Plan your work and free time for the next day.

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Get a pet and spend a little time with it.

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Do a little gardening, water the plants, trim branches etc.

Connect with nature and show it your love.

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Set a small daily target of something and try fulfilling it, with love and passion.

How to Live with Passion and Purpose Ask What you Love or Like Most It is impossible for humans not to love anything; you surely must have something you like. Maybe you like watching a game of soccer. Maybe politics interest you. Maybe you like to paint or play the flute. What do you often find yourself doing? If you are not sure of even that, ask your friends and family members what you constantly talk about; they can give you an idea of what you might like, based on their observations of you. Remember the things that make you happy, things that give you joy. When you realise that something interests you keenly and something exists that you like, it is an indication that you are on the right path to finding your passion and purpose. Write down everything you love doing.

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Also write down all the things you hate doing or talking about. If it is your job that disinterests you, try looking at the positive things of your job. Try to compare your present position to similar positions in other organisations, through surveys or personal enquiries. Are you better off or worse? Based on that you should either quit and find a new job or try to focus on the aspects that bring you some satisfaction in your job and thus try to enhance their scope. It could be just that you haven't seen the positive side of your job. And if your very profession sounds disinteresting, then you must list out and pursue options which interest you, in which you find better opportunity.

Pradeep was a software engineer. He would slog day in and day out working for his company. Even after working for two years continuously, his job did not charm him. It stressed him out. He felt no motivation from his bosses. He was depressed and disenchanted. Not that the company treated him badly. It was just that he felt it that way. As a young teenager he had learnt the guitar and also sang well. He had won at several school and college competitions as well. But his parents had warned him time and again not to ‘waste’ time on them as his career was ‘elsewhere.’ He was compelled to pursue what he did not particularly like and was obliged to join the present company. Two years and not satisfied, he began to find something really missing in his life. He was dreary and sad.

One day he and his team had an outing at a well-known resort and there he found some live singers on a stage in the lawn, setup for his team. Some of his friends who knew he played the guitar and sang well, pushed him to perform on stage in front of a large audience which included the top management of his company. Not wanting to refuse them, he went ahead and performed for the first time in this company. His stage performance dazzled everyone, and he became an instant star.

Everyone was pleased with his show. He became the talk of the 237

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company. When he began to be appreciated by his colleagues, his managers, and was even awarded by the management of his company, for his talent, he was quite inspired. He found a new energy in him that motivated him to work in his regular job with more cheer.

His management then made him the head of the company cultural team and gave him such assignments with music which reduced his work pressure and ignited his passion. He soon became quite famous in his company and was showered with incentives regularly. His passion always existed in him, all it needed was a spark, and it ignited at that instance on stage. If you have something positive in you, you must allow for opportunity to find you and must always be ready to recognise the signs and capitalise on them.

Identify Your Skills and Talents Everyone is good with something. It is just impossible for someone not to be skilled or interested in anything. Just find what moves you, inspires you, attracts or interests you, and you are not far from reaching happiness. Jot down everything that aligns with your likes. It can be a hobby or an activity or simply a task. What are your own values? List down all the things that you value and respect. List all the skills you have and the natural gifts you may have been born with. Some people are born with such talents like drawing, painting, singing, or dancing. Perhaps you are good with sports, or maybe you have good speaking skills. Maybe you are good trainer or good with gardening. Your passion need not always translate into a job. But if your job is based on your passion, you can do an incredible job at it. If your job and passion are different however, you can still pursue your passion with great interest, and it becomes a great motivation for you even to do your job. Talk about it, write about it, show people you are good at it, and you will find yourself becoming more and more happier.

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Shortlist Your Interests One may have several interests or hobbies. But it is impossible to be passionate about all of them. So, shortlist them by narrowing them down to just a handful, by taking into account what you love most from among all of them. You may love cricket, and trekking and painting and cooking and singing and training and reading and gaming and gardening and....but how many can you focus on?

Be reasonable and pick just one or two and put your whole energies into them. You will become the best in that and be a recognised individual for that specific skill. Opportunity to capitalise is just around the corner.

Be Curious, Ask Questions, Explore, Discover, Learn When you are looking at improving yourself and be recognised in order to be happy, you must begin to explore yourself. You must learn to be curious about things, develop your self-awareness; you must ask questions out of the ordinary, and explore and discover things which you earlier did not bother about. Learning always improves you and makes you a leader. The more you are knowledgeable about things that matter and even things that don't seem to, you become a magnet to everyone. By being aware of the happenings in your own field you might even discover a better career opportunity.

If you are not curious and do not attempt to explore things around, you may be closetting yourself from potential opportunity, that can help you grow further.

Be with Passionate People We all admire someone or the other in our own close circles. Why do we do so? Because we like certain qualities in them that are truly inspirational. I knew about a retired airforce officer who later set up a highly successful security organisation. Even at seventy, he never lacked discipline or lost his passion. He would jog five kilometres each day and was the first to reach his office each and every day, for twenty-five years to date. He had thousands of happy 239

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employees spread across several states. He was knowledgeable and knew a great many things about the government, about the corporate sector, about the society, about life’s challenges, about medicine, and even about acting. His discipline was exemplary. His staff both feared him, respected him and at the same time loved him. It is simply impossible not to be inspired by such people.

When you have such passionate people around you, you learn from them. If you are mentored by such great men, you are even more fortunate. Being with people with such great traits would greatly impact your own success. So be around such people.

It helps you learn from them making you inculcate such qualities through which you can be a better person yourself.

Keep Improving Your Skills Your passion feeds and boosts your purpose. When you are passionate about anything, you should invest your maximum time and energy in strengthening it. The more you spend time on your passion, the better you will get in it and the higher your respect in your community. So, whether it is badminton, or skating, speaking, or writing, drawing, or painting, cooking, or gardening, keep spending more and more time in that interest and you will find greater satisfaction with yourself.

Try Newer Things You may often find yourself wanting to do something different from what you regularly do. Such as acquiring a new skill. Maybe you always wanted to draw, and you could not. Maybe you always wanted to learn the piano and you possibly could not. Maybe something prevented you from pursuing that interest. But do not let such interests die out. Fan them and let them be reignited. Try newer things and you will find a new chord of joy and happiness taking hold of you.

A great internationally renowned motivational speaker had 240

come from very humble beginnings. He found that his parents did not have the money to pay for his college when the time came. He worked in the neighbourhood running errands for people for paltry amounts and worked at a book store occasionally. It was a question of survival. But he always had a great interest for reading from his childhood.

With what little money he could save, he bought used motivational books from the very store he worked at, on credit, and began reading them. Soon he was so inspired that whenever he spoke to his friends, they would listen to him with awe and respect. His ability soon earned him a good reputation and the neighbourhood counsellor was so pleased with him that he arranged for a state scholarship that earned him a place at college.

From thence there was no looking back. In about ten years after college, he became one of the most successful international speakers and an established author. Had he not tried his hand in trying something new, he probably would not have become as famous as he today is.

Be Strong and Determined When you pursue a passion, it is possible you may be hindered with obstacles and challenges. Maybe you could not meet the right people. But do not let any setbacks demotivate you. If people such as Steven Spielberg, Colonel Sanderson or Walt Disney left their passion because of their early setbacks, the world would have missed out something beautiful on its canvas that these great people drew. Never allow any failures demoralise you from pursuing your passion howsoever bad they may seem to be. Just be relentless, unstoppable, and limitless. The only things that stop you are the ones you make up in your mind.

Purpose dictates our life and passion fuels our purpose.

When you find them both in your life, and align yourselves to them, you will not only find a sense of direction to your life but 241

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will have drawn up the roadmap to your success and your ultimate happiness. All successful people in the world, whether they were kings, men of science, politicians, explorers, philosophers, inventors, and discoverers, all of them were led by their purpose, which in turn became successful due to the passion they put into its pursuit.

Most people ignore the beautiful things that life gives them and choose to be overcome by the negative aspects of life. The world would be a much happier place if everyone found their purpose and allowed themselves to pursue it with passion. But change begins from the self, and you probably could start with your own self. Discover your purpose and your passion today and sow the seeds of harmony, happiness, satisfaction, success, and fulfilment of your life, and as you progress, you will have spread your happiness around allowing others to discover their own through you.

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When you live life with passion, you see how powerful you are and what you are truly capable of. True passion with what you do decides what your purpose is, giving you a proper direction for a successful and meaningful life — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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Part Two

Chapter Eleven

Tools and Techniques

All the power is within you.

It you who are the master of your destiny.

It is you who can create, direct, control, influence and take possession of your life and decide where it is headed. Whatever you want your life to be, it is only you, who make it thus — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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he Law of Attraction works on various aspects of your life, as discussed so far. If we follow certain procedures on allowing this law to guide our lives, we can gain health, wealth, and prosperity, receive love, obtain social recognition, find our passion, and reach the ultimate happiness and satisfaction in our lives. It might however be a little confusing as to how to invoke the law. To help you understand them better and receive abundance, you can follow the following methods and the procedures listed here, which will enable you to regain control of your life and allow you find your way to happiness.

The Law of Attraction works on various aspects of your life, as discussed so far. If we follow certain procedures on allowing this law to guide our lives, we can gain health, wealth, and prosperity, receive love, obtain social recognition, find our passion, and reach the ultimate happiness and satisfaction in our lives. It might however be a little confusing as to how to invoke the law. To help you understand them better and receive abundance, you can follow the following methods and the procedures listed here, which will enable you to regain control of your life and allow you find your way to happiness.

Given below are Eleven ways through which you can manifest your desires and realise your objectives. In order to understand them clearly and have successful results, it is imperative that you follow the given tools precisely, as they are known to work only when practiced with great devotion and dedication.

1. Self-Affirmations An affirmation is actually anything you say or think. When we use words to communicate, they not only influence others but can help transform our own selves at a very deep and emotional level.

Positive self-affirmations can direct our minds consciously and subconsciously, and work against negative, or unhealthy thought patterns. Our beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and behaviour are profoundly altered when our affirmations are spoken with faith.

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They are so powerful that they can actually strengthen your intentions in your pursuit of major goals and objectives. Several thousands of people have proven to the world how their positive affirmations have been able to change their lives when followed with dedication. By repeatedly using affirmations they have the power to tune the mind into accepting, believing, compelling, and strengthening the repeated statements as the ultimate truth. An affirmation opens the door to positivity. It is a starting point on your path to change. In essence you are saying it to your own subconscious mind that you wish to change.

When you make a complaint about anything in life, it is an affirmation of something you do not want in your life. Each time you are angry it means you wish to be more angry, and every time you complain about being a victim, you are actually saying that you wish to be a victim. When you change the way you think, talk and act into a positive state, the Law of Attraction works as per your thought process. If you think positive, you get positive results, and if you think negative, you will get disastrous results. It is as strong as the law of gravity itself.

If you say your affirmations positively, but again complain and think about bad things, you will gain no benefit out of it. If you desire for your affirmations to work quickly, you need to prepare a conducive atmosphere for them to grow in, by developing an open and a positive state of mind. For a seed to grow well, the soil should be rich. If it is poor soil, the germinated seed will not grow well. Thus, every thought you have is important and precious; and each positive thought you have, delivers something good, while every negative thought could bring in a bad result i.e., it may just keep out the good from reaching out to you. If you have many negative thoughts regularly, you are disallowing any goodness to happen to you since they act as barriers to them reaching you.

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Daily Activity – Self Affirmations So as to allow affirmations to work correctly, you must practice them regularly and believe they are already in process. To start with, you can stand in front of a mirror and say out these following affirmations to yourself, with verbal and non-verbal communication, looking directly into your own eyes, connected with your mind, body and soul: • I am healthy • I am happy • I am beautiful • I love myself • I am strong • I am rich and wealthy • I am a money magnet • I am confident and powerful • I am strong and successful • I am honest and truthful • I will only do good things • I am hale and hearty, and healthy • I am always true in my heart • I forgive everyone and myself • I deserve and accept the best • I always have positive thoughts • I have self-esteem and great energy • I am open minded and am receptive • I am a creative and a wonderful person

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• I am grateful for my health and happiness • I always surround myself with positive people • I have faith and confidence to be successful • I am grateful to everything and everyone in my life You can also say these and create your own affirmations based on these. The quality of our own affirmations is a direct reflection to the quality of our lives.

The mantras to the happiness of your world are: • Self-Affirmations • Self-Awareness • Self-Introspection • Self-Consciousness 2. Self-Awareness When we are fully aware of our thoughts and feelings, we learn more of our own behaviour and attitude and it becomes easy to react or respond to a given situation.

What is Self-Awareness?

It is simply an aspect of your consciousness; when you fully recognize your skills, abilities, emotions, feelings, strengths, weaknesses, perceptions, and likes and dislikes, and understand how they influence your behaviour, or your attitude to yourself and others, you become self-aware.

How is it important for you?

When you understand all these aspects of your emotions and abilities, you recognise your character which in turn allows you in understanding your own thoughts and actions. The Law of Attraction is constantly responding to the way we allow thoughts to vibrate with the universe. We should know how and why we 249

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think and act in a certain way, and when we consciously do, we tend to think and act positively allowing manifestations of whatever we desire to be realised.

All negative thoughts can be healed from our minds through self-awareness, self-consciousness, and self-introspection on a daily basis. Words are your emotional expressions, and they have great impact on your own self. Abuse, anger, jealousy, criticism, pride etc., are some of the emotions you need to get rid of. Once you learn to overcome these emotions, your mind will be at peace and be a powerful resource for you to bring in positivity into your life.

Thoughts —> Emotions —> Actions —> Results Learn to accept. You can take control of any emotion that results from your acceptance. When you do not accept anything, it becomes a negative emotion leading to a miserable experience and negative consequences.

Acceptance = Positive Emotion Non-Acceptance = Negative Emotion Being self-aware and accepting things also establishes that you accept accountability, making you feel responsible for everything you do. Unless you have complete self-awareness, you would not know your weaknesses and shortcomings and you will not be able to improve yourself.

When you are disturbed, ask yourself this question: ‘What am I not accepting?’

How to Improve your Self-Awareness

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Identify factors that lead to any negative thoughts and eliminate them.

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Learn and master your responses to situations.

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Take a little time before giving quick responses to things.

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Understand and focus on things that make you happy and satisfied.

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Do not allow bad or good moods to control you.

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Reflect and introspect on your own thoughts and actions.

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Do your own things yourself actively to make yourself feel good.

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Take feedback from friends and well-wishers and act accordingly.

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Practice meditation regularly.

Your self-awareness offers you several benefits: 1.

Makes you always live in the present, keeping you aware of who you are and what you desire.

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You can distance yourself from toxic people around you more easily. Helps to improve relationships.

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You realise and accept any mistake you make and take corrective action. Helps in clearer thinking and effective decision making.

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You are grateful for everything that happened with you and to everyone you had met.

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You are aware of your personal limitations and know where to draw the line when you need to take a decision.

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You become more confident and spiritually and emotionally stronger, since you know what you are capable of and what you can achieve.

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You become more productive by your enhanced performances, as you are able to control your emotions and become more proactive than reactive.

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8.

You will be aware of the toxic people in your life.

3. Power of Intention An intention is actually a demonstration of what we are giving our attention to, directing our energies, and focusing on them consciously or unconsciously. As you are aware, intention just like the Law of Attraction draws what we intend, either good or bad.

To intend is to think of a purpose and direct our thoughts in its pursuit. With proper intention, the universe itself can be summoned to allow us align ourselves with what we desire and obtain it in reality.

But intention does not often appear to be working for several people who may have read, tried, followed, and practiced what is said. Some of the reasons why its power doesn't yield results is that its purported followers have clearly not allowed the right thoughts to enter their mind. Even the smallest doubt in your mind can stop the positive action from happening from an intention. A strong change in beliefs has to first take place.

Negative or limiting beliefs can work against your efforts to change. Your beliefs must be at the deepest level, at your subconscious level and if you have negative beliefs at that level, the best of your intentions and efforts will produce nothing. However, meditation is a strong tool to help you shift from the negative energy that is limiting you to a positive state.

Another reason why intention can fail is because the strength of the action required for the intention is weak. Sufficient action has not been taken in pursuit of the intention. Intentions are not a wizard's wand to create magic, rather they are like pointers towards the direction you need to take, to realise the intention.

Some people give up too soon on their efforts and that puts an end to the endeavour. If you have strong faith in your intention, you will put your best strengths and resources in its pursuit and 252

never compromise and never give up. Your energies vibrate with the universe, and you are gradually pulled into the right direction only when you relentlessly work for your objective. Results from the power of intention can be served on a platter for you to savour, but only if you pursue the intention with complete faith, belief, and action.

Your intention should revolve around these aspects in order to make them work: Learn to love and respect yourself more than anything else. When you value yourself at the highest level, you will begin to value everything equally and that sets your intentions straight.

Live a purposeful life. When you live a life with purpose, you put all your energies in drawing its full meaning, which gives you a great sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.

Establish peace with everyone. When you have only good friends around and have complete peace of mind and spirit, your spiritual strength is enhanced several times allowing you to focus and concentrate on what you desire.

Strive for success. Do not be put off by any setbacks, major or minor, when you have created an objective and are working towards it. Keep striving for success. When you break up the task of accomplishing a goal into the smallest components, it becomes easier to overcome each challenge and consequently you will reach your target without much difficulty.

Attract prosperity and abundance. When you allow your mind to see things differently, by looking at the richness of everything, at the illimitable vastness and magnificence of creation, you will understand that the universe is filled with unlimited treasures. In your mind if you constantly keep thinking of scarcities and wants and needs, the universe reverberates with the same, allowing things to become more scarce and lesser for you. Get rid of such feelings of lack of money, or property, health, romance, or 253

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wealth. Think and believe that you have enough, and it will inevitably happen. If you keep thinking of poverty, you will remain poor and if you keep thinking only of abundance, you will gain riches soon.

Always keep a few thousands in your wallet, never spending them and if you did, replace the deficiency at the earliest. When you do this, you feel that you always are having money with you.

That feeling itself multiplies the avenues from where your money comes. Think grand and grand things will happen.

Be with and attract only good people. Always try to be in a company of strong, self-motivated, confident, and resourceful people. Their vibes will rub off on to you, developing your own positive traits, which will help you rediscover your objectives and visualise the success of your own life. When you are constantly in the company of great people, you will learn the art of success, abundance, wealth, and prosperity.

Be grateful for everything you own, for everything that happened with you, for everyone you met in your life. Whether it is a good or a bad experience should not matter to you. Your experience with them has provided you with a learning which would make you what you are and stronger. Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools of intention and when you show it, it pays you back in multiple ways.

Learn to forgive. When you forgive yourself for any mistakes you had done, you will also learn to forgive everyone who may have wronged you in any manner. Forgiveness gives you phenomenal strength of character and gives you great peace, strengthening your resolve and the power of your intent.

Stop worrying and begin enjoying life. When you worry, you are stressed out, and you are drawing negative energies and emotions that interfere with your values and positive ideas. When you ignore the things that trouble you and you only look at the brighter side of life, you will find that the causes of your worry 254

soon disappear and give you a more defined purpose of life. Stop worrying about anything and begin to enjoy your life. Things will stay where they are based on how you wish them to be.

Your mind, body, and soul should be aligned completely.

What you say, what you do and what you feel has to be aligned with each other. This is most important to attract abundance in all areas of life. Intention is one of the greatest tools of the universe, part of its laws and you yourself are a part of its very intention.

When you are a part of its intention, don’t you think all your intentions are indirectly connected to it? Use your thoughts and actions to lead you only on the positive aspects of life and you will find life vastly fulfilling and happy.

4. The Power of Gratitude and Appreciation Of all the laws that govern our lives, gratitude is the strongest. It is considered the mother of all emotions. When we express it abundantly and genuinely, miracles simply happen. How would you react if you gave a gift to someone, and they did not thank you for it? Would you ever like to give him another? The universe also responds in the same way. Life behaves exactly this way. So as to attract more of the blessings of life, you have to express your gratitude in myriad ways. When you truly appreciate and thank life for what you already have, you are attracting more and more blessings into your life.

An attitude of gratitude is so powerful that it can have you attain happiness, peace, health, wealth, and prosperity. However, while it is indeed natural to be grateful for whatever we have, we also can be grateful for the things that we do not have yet.

When you are grateful, you are definitely not complaining, and when you are complaining about something, it means you are not grateful. Gratitude and disturbance are enemies and hence cannot co-exist. So, when you allow any disturbances that make you complain, you are being ungrateful. You must try not to allow both to occupy you at the same time. Both cannot co-exist. Either 255

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you can be grateful or always keep complaining.

Prepare yourself to show your gratitude for all the things you have experienced in your life so far. Prepare yourself to appreciate everything you have experienced in life, and you are summoning the spirits of happiness towards you. Write down a list of things that you are grateful for and thank the universe for the same.

You write them down the way you want, but generally like this: I am thankful for my life.

I am grateful to be born in my family.

I love my body and am thankful for it.

I am happy and grateful to my parents and siblings.

I am thankful for my education and to my teachers.

I am thankful for my job and my career.

I am happy I have a wonderful spouse and children.

I am grateful for the house I am living in.

I am thankful for my health.

I am grateful to have good friends.

I love my strength and confidence and am grateful for that.

Life becomes rich only through our gratitude and only then can life be counted worthy.

5. Ask, Receive and Give We have heard of the tale in the Arabian Nights where a lamp when rubbed, springs forth a genie from it and says "Your wish is my command!'

The law of attraction works precisely like that genie. You have to ask the universe what you want, visualise what you asked, believe in it and then you will surely receive it. When you order 256

food either from a cafe or online, you have placed your ask. When you booked your car or a house, or something else, in placing the order, you listed the items you wanted, which is an example of 'asking,' You would then begin to visualize them, won't you?

You would then 'believe' that your food, your car, or your house are on their way to be delivered to you.

And now you are prepared to 'receive!'

In a similar manner, if you desire anything strongly, the first thing you should do is to ask. Then visualize your ask, then believe that it is enroute and then be prepared to receive it.

Of course, when you have set your objective or set a goal, you know what steps you have to take to have the target delivered to you. When buying a house or a car, you would begin to plan your finances and then go ahead and book it. Your thought led to action resulting in your ask and your belief in it and your readiness to receive it.

How do we ask?

When you are clear in your intention about what you wish to ask, you have established your ask. You should ask the same thing over and again with a single-mindedness of purpose. You must not change, or dilly dally on what you wish to ask. Or you are sending conflicting signals both to the universe and your subconscious mind which can act contrary to what you wish for. Hence be focused, be specific, and visualise them every day, in a strong positive sense. For instance, you wish to buy a vehicle, be sure to visualise what make and model you are aspiring to acquire. When you are specific with your asks, you are in a clear state of mind, knowing what you want.

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order to do that, you should have a constant picture of the property you have asked for, in mind. You must read about it, see its pictures and videos, talk about it to others, dream about it and make it part of your daily routine. You can even use vision boards. A vision board is a simple board on which you stick images of the property you have asked for. Every day you look at it, the image fortifies your intention and purpose.

Believe in it: Now that you have asked for it and are visualizing it every day, let your dream house be the subject of your existence.

Imagine you already acquired it and are living in it. Make changes or additions to the house in your thoughts. This is how you begin to believe in it. When you feel you already have it, the universe will simply manifest your belief and begin to lead you in the direction of your target.

Receive it: When you have asked, visualised, and believed in what you asked for, the next step is how ready you are to receive it. You must receive it with full faith and happiness, whatever you asked for. You will then experience the real joy and fulfilment of obtaining what you always dreamed of.

Whether it is a job, a villa, a car, an instrument or losing weight or successfully completing a project or your exam, or achieving the perfect state of health, or a relationship. Once you ask, your positivity in accepting the gift will determine how happy you are with its receipt.

The Power of Giving: This powerful tool in the law of attraction is part of our expression of gratitude. When you give anything to anyone without any expectation of gain in return, you are sending great positive vibes to the universe. Whether it is time or money, a material benefit or a personal help, or plain social service, when you give, you create strong values for yourself.

Giving not only gives you great peace and happiness, but also immense satisfaction and demonstrates a strength of character. There is no greater joy than the joy of giving. When you care for a destitute 258

child, feed a hungry dog, take care of a homeless man, help a sick person in a hospital, support a friend in a project, help someone improve his performance, sponsor a child’s education, or anything as such, the power of giving offers great satisfaction, generates tremendous positivity, and draws abundance towards you. The value of a person is seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. So, be a giver and you will always receive abundance.

However, giving must not have any selfish intent. One must wholeheartedly give without any expectations in return, or the whole effort becomes diluted and purposeless. Giving creates great personal and social impact and paves way for you to be socially recognised, drawing great forces to support you.

6. The Seven Dimensions of Life I. Physical - Physical activity or exercise of a minimum of 45 minutes is mandatory for a robust state of your health. You should have neither any reasons nor excuses to escape from this. Take ownership of your own body with self-discipline and you’ll begin to see positive changes starting right from yourself.

II. Mental – Meditate for atleast ten minutes each day to calm your mind and free it from all noise or thoughts. When you do this regularly, you will find new strength in the way you think and perceive things.

III. Intellectuality – Focus and develop ways to master these five aspects of life: 1. Money. 2. Power. 3. Fame. 4. Position. 5. opposite Sex. Understand which of these five are always controlling you.

Master yourself by diligently introspecting and understanding what is keeping you away from all these essential components of life. Being hale and hearty in body, mind and soul and allowing yourself to explore ways to master these five aspects of life will make you intellectually aware and a positively strong individual.

IV. Emotional – ‘EQ has to be more than IQ to succeed in anything.’ Being either an architect of your life or a victim of 259

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circumstances relies on your Emotional Intelligence. What we feel in a relationship is not as important as how we express it.

Channelise your emotions for a higher purpose, but don’t spit them. Emotional health is critical for all. Everything starts in our minds and is manifested to reality in our lives. The mind is an extremely powerful tool to either create or destroy. Your inner world attracts the outer world. The way you respond to things makes the difference. Irrespective of what issues or challenges you face, your perception in resolving them is essential. Sickness starts in the mind first. So, keep your mind free and uncluttered.

V. Psychological - How you perceive things is part of your psychology and your nature. Your psychology allows you to understand and better interact with people and situations, by improving your communicative power, in building relationships, instilling self-confidence, allowing you to gain insights into people's behaviours and attitudes, enhancing your career, and working to make you self-aware, confident and keep you healthy in body and mind. Be aware of trigger points for your positive and negative thoughts and your mood swings.

VI. Social - The size of your social circle is not as important as to what you choose to contribute to it. When you have positive interactions with the society regularly and give back to it, whether it is in the family, the neighbourhood, the society at large or humankind on the whole, the oneness you have with them determines your purpose. Treat the world as a ‘Vasudaika Kutumbam’ or ‘one family’ of which you are a part along with everyone. When you recognise this aspect of life, you are socially aware of yourself and all the others around, making you a better personality.

VII. Spiritual - Having complete faith in the universe without any conflicting thoughts is an essential factor of your life. Spirituality is not so much about believing in God or the divine, but about you aligning with the ancient universal laws that always govern us.

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Believing in the power of the universe is everything.

7. The Power of Happiness Happiness is the only key to a wholesome life that is purpose led, passionate, satisfying and fulfilling. It is the only way to attract abundance in your life. Do we need a reason to be happy?

When you find happiness in everything, in a cup of tea, in the smile of a child, in the bark of a puppy, in the beauty of nature, in the eyes of your love, in doing your job, in lending a helping hand to someone, in living your life the way you desire, and everything, you find life satisfying. Happiness comes through demonstration of your love, expressions, feelings, and emotions.

Count your blessings in making you happy with the smallest things in life. List down all the things that make you happy and content and also jot down things that make you sad, worried, uncomfortable, or unhappy. When you strive to eliminate all the things that make you unhappy, only happiness remains and reigns supreme. Practice doing that and soon you’ll feel complete.

8. Heal Your Mind and Yourself The mind is the most powerful tool you possess. It has power over everything you perceive and allows you to experience and visualise everything you see and feel. The mind has the power to induce and create thousands of emotions and experiences for you. For example, when a nurse administers an injection for treating some medical condition of yours, if you feel it is going to be painful, it will indeed be. But when you accept it that it is going to be beneficial for you, the pain factor disappears and is replaced by the idea that it is good for you.

Likewise, if you are suffering from an ailment and the doctor gives you a medicine, you begin to believe that it will heal you.

Even if the doctor hasn't given you the exact medicine to heal you, your belief that the doctor's drug will heal you, itself is therapeutic and becomes the basic factor for your recovery. It is called a placebo 261

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effect. The power of your mind in making you believe that it will heal you, actually does heal you. And it has been proven for centuries.

There are hundreds of stories of how people who have been told that they have no chance of recovery from either an accident or a sickness, but who miraculously overcame their debilities and lived long. It is because of the power of their beliefs that they will be healed, and they inevitably were.

When you feel continuously stressed, your pain is amplified resulting in fatigue and ill health. But if you remove the stress factor and believe you are fine, you surely will be. When you remove negative thinking from your mind and disallow any thoughts that cause you pain and stress, when you choose to be continuously happy, helpful, and grateful for everything, even your bad experiences; your mind automatically heals you. While physical drugs are important and are primary for certain treatments, the mind plays a tremendous role in allowing yourself to recover. If you allow yourself to believe that you will be healed either in mind or body, you inevitably will.

So, allow yourself to believe in the power of your mind and the universe when you are sick or have had an injury and are stressed or in pain. In addition to the drugs prescribed, you should allow yourself to accept that you are being healed. Visualise yourself as energetic and normal as ever, and you soon will find strength in your body and mind that will help you in quicker convalescence.

Remember that your mind is your greatest gift and the greatest power source of your life. It is endowed with limitless abilities and when you understand it and align with its purpose, you will realise infinite possibilities for yourself.

9. The Power of Forgiveness The act of forgiving is a great personality trait and can bring 262

substantial goodness to you. If we allow hatred, envy, jealousy, vengefulness, resentment, anger, and bitterness to prevail in our lives, we can never allow peace to reign in our minds, and it works against every tenet of happiness. The past may have had several bad experiences for you, but if you keep holding the misery of those experiences in your mind forever, you will never be able to move on with happiness. Your affirmations won’t work if you have remnants of those negative emotions in your mind.

Sadness, fear, insecurity, blame, dissatisfaction, apprehensiveness, regret, and all such emotions in your mind work against your own peace and prevent the gift of joy and happiness from reaching you, by acting as real barriers. These emotions reflect a refusal to forgive something that happened in the past. You are never able to live in the present and cannot enjoy the joy of the moment if you keep allowing them to run in your mind, holding you back. You are stopping yourself from forgiving and thus becoming trapped in a mire of negative energy that can work against everything positive that you may have conceived.

Your thoughts, words and actions are powerful in influencing your life’s direction whether for good or bad. Avoid wasting your energy on negative thoughts and emotions and flush the trash out of your mind. When you blame others, you are shifting responsibility for your feelings on to someone else. You must master your ability to respond, by taking responsibility for your own feelings and reactions over a given situation. Your mind is corrupted only if you choose to allow it to be corrupted. The act of forgiveness actually is not just condoning someone for some act they may have done against you, but to shed yourself of that event, that pain and that negative experience in your life.

It is just an act of freeing yourself from the negative energy that surrounds you when you have those weak thoughts and emotions.

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calmness and peace prevail in your mind and your spirit. When your mind and spirit are free from guilt and negative emotions, you can focus on greater things in life, by simply shedding the garbage you’ve been carrying all the while. Forgiveness is simply letting go. Howsoever bitter or serious your experiences may have been with something or someone, holding on to the same by repeatedly thinking of them, and refusing to let go, also impacts your physical health, and weakens your focus, determination, and confidence in yourself, compromising your intentions and preventing you from progressing towards any of your goals.

Forgiveness is an important aspect of manifestation. Let go of past situations, past people, and events. Imagine and visualise that you forgave them. Cover those very people with blessings and if possible, show an act of gratitude to them for the experience they gave you.

Say these things in your mind or vocally too: 1. I am ready to be healed.

2. I am ready to forgive and be forgiven.

3. I can forgive others since I have forgiven myself.

4. I am grateful and forgiving.

5. I am forgiving, loving, gentle, kind and caring and I know life loves me.

Stop feeling that you are a victim of a circumstance. Forgive yourself and forgive everyone who caused you pain. Let go of your guilt and stop contemplating punitive actions or emotions. Love yourself without compromise. Do not repeat the same mistakes you made, and do not punish yourselves for any mistake you unintentionally did. We are the creators and architects of our own lives. Release grudges, stop resenting people, avoid being angry, let go of vengeful thoughts you may have against someone who you believe may have wronged you, eliminate bitterness, stop believing 264

you are a victim, do not nurture ill feelings against anyone however bad they were to you, release and let go of all misgivings. The more you forgive, the better is the state of your mind. Forgiveness, hence, becomes an excellent tool in your pursuit of realisation and your objective of gaining the ultimate happiness, joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment of life.

10. Ho’oponopono – The Hawaiian Healing System A Miracle Formula This is the entire mantra of the Hawaiian method of healing and practice:

I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

Thank you.

I love you.

Originating in Hawaii, Ho’oponopono is an ancient healing method through which we can achieve stress reduction, resolve conflict, and receive energy from people or even places. It has been proven to be successful even in modern psychology, wisdom transformation and spiritual applications. The concept is based on the Law of Interconnection of life and is a powerful mechanism that can relieve the most stressful and trying challenges we may face. Ho’oponopono lays out basic principles of how we can practically harness the energy of the universe in transforming our consciousness from an individual to larger groups.

The term Ho’oponopono translates to 'to make right or rectify a mistake, a wrong or an error.' In effect it is about making it right with anyone; an ancestor, a family member, a colleague, 265

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friend, or anything with whom or which we have a relationship. It can also include other living creatures, objects, or places.

Though practiced from ancient times, it came to be revealed to the world through the works of Morrnah Simeona and later adopted and popularised by her student Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. The central philosophy of Ho’oponopono revolves around four aspects: 1. Lomilomi - A practice that produces and dissipates energy from the practitioner's hands at specific places on the human body that act as trigger points. This is usually done as a massage or given as a bioenergetic treatment. The therapist is the one who leads the sessions while the subject passively receives the treatment.

Bioenergetic treatment or therapy centres on the concept that we all are surrounded by a certain force field of energy which is referred to as 'aura.' Bioenergetic practitioners or therapists help in clearing any blockages in the flow of this energy through 'chakras' or the seven energy centres of the human body, allowing the subject to experience faster healing.

2. Conflict Resolution Methods - This involves working to resolve conflict among groups, communities, organisations, or families, through a spiritual mediation and the act of forgiveness.

3. Elimination of Dark Energies such as Curses, Possessions or Evil Spirits – The Hawaiians have a deep-rooted belief in these phenomena and use the technique to rid their people or places of such energies.

4. Cleaning of Physical Places from Spirits, Dark Forces and Bloodshed - The people of Hawaii believe that the lands they live on were lands on which heavy bloodshed and wars took place, since there were constant feuds between neighbourhood tribal groups.

The memories, the bad energies and footprints are believed to have remained in those lands on which the battles took place. This concept is used to clear and clean up the land from all negative 266

energies so that everyone living at such places can get to live in harmony.

Showing patience, kindness, empathy, gratitude, and compassion to fellow beings and seeking forgiveness for any negative emotions, themselves create a positive energy through which healing can take place. In Ho’oponopono, the subject however, need not be the one who has to demonstrate these emotions. It is the therapist, the healer and the practitioner who inculcates these traits and then works on the subject. When he experiences healing, it automatically heals the subject, transforming negative energy to positive energy and causing the healing process.

Ho’oponopono is gradually transforming itself into various forms of healing and is even used at international wellness and healing workshops by major corporates and even government organisations, since it has proven to be highly effective in healing people of various ailments both of the body and of the mind. As a valuable tool in the Law of Attraction, you will be able to garner excellent benefits when you learn and practice its methods.

The only practice you need to do when practicing Ho’oponopono is repeating the mantras in complete surrender, faith, and acceptance, and you will find results happening magically: "I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. " 11. Self-Love as a Healing Element You are the most important part of your 'self.' Everything you experience in your life is based on your perceptions. When you treat yourself with great love and self-respect, you naturally draw similar people into your life, who love and respect you too. And you must love yourself unconditionally. If you feel bad about yourself for anything, you are creating a block against love, and on the contrary, you will attract people and events that keep 267

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continuing to make you feel bad. Always focus on the good qualities you possess and what you love about yourself, and the universe will show you more of you, that is even greater. Self-love is a phenomenal force that can heal you physiologically and psychologically by rejecting bad energies that surround you when you think poorly of yourself.

How does self-love look like?

Did you get real with yourself ? When you fully understand your own thoughts, feelings and your outlook of life, and endeavour to become the best version of yourself, then begins the transformative and actual self-love you should have. It can also mean that you may have to do certain things you don't wish to do, such as walking out of a certain toxic relationship that keeps you dissatisfied, or a job that is unfulfilling which keeps you unhappy.

In demonstrating self-love, you care for yourself by showing yourself how good you are and how best you can be, whether in body, or mind or spirit. Simple things such as wanting to be in perfect health, being in good shape wanting to look good, having the best grooming, wearing your choicest clothes and footwear, all are indications of showing yourself your self-love.

When you strive to improve your skills, your abilities, your knowledge, your communication, your intelligence, your intellectuality, your confidence, your awareness, your public relations, and your attitude, you are becoming a better person. Your efforts on yourself, spending time, energy, and money on yourself in making yourself emotionally stronger, and thus an attractive person, are all indications of self-love. Your self-care should nurture everything of yourself, your body, your mind, your heart, your soul, and your spirit.

However, if you always wake up late from bed, not maintaining a good sense of hygiene and feel lazy, indulge in binge eating, drink and smoke too much, when you do not care for your 268

own health and are in poor physical form and have a careless and irresponsible attitude, have no self-discipline, punctuality, or concern for anything, you are showing that you do not care for yourself, and that only translates to you not caring for anyone else.

You would experience a loveless, purposeless, passionless, and meaningless existence, when you do not love yourself. When you live without self-love, you are in a constant state of misery and you attract all the negative energies around to yourself making you and keeping you constantly empty, sad, unfulfilled, and unhappy.

You are living a goalless life without any objective or ambition when you deny yourself the goodness you can have for yourself. People who do not care for themselves also do not have good friends or good relationships and invite gloomy and pathetic people into their lives making their lives all the more dreary, and directionless.

Get out of your comfort zone and lead a more fulfilling life.

Invest time and energy in yourself. Some things you can do to improve your self-love can be: 1. Wake up on time.

2. Meditate for a few minutes every day.

3. Exercise or walk for atleast half an hour.

4. Eat lightly, smoke and drink less.

Use your will power to stop.

5. Sleep properly – Neither too little nor too long.

6. Take care of your sense of grooming.

7. Develop a positive attitude.

8. Improve your knowledge, skills, and communication.

9. Empower yourself by being self-aware.

10. Follow your passion with devotion.

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11. Get rid of toxicity in your life by walking away from people who make you feel low, sad, and unhappy.

12. Spend time with good people, and successful people who carry themselves with great pride.

13. Develop a sense of grandeur in your perception and visualise great things about yourself.

14. Always pamper yourself with what you love.

15. Set an example to others by being the best in your body, and spirit, in your heart and in your mind.

When you show self-love of the highest quality, you attract great positivity and healing energy from the universe which can be a great healer of your body and soul. Your relationships will be stronger, you will gain success in everything you do, you will be able to reach your goals more easily and you become a money magnet yourself attracting abundance in your life. Practice selflove as often as possible and you will witness remarkable changes in your life that will only make you grow stronger and give you greater happiness.

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All the power is within you.

It you who are the master of your destiny.

It is you who can create, direct, control, influence and take possession of your life and decide where it is headed.

Whatever you want your life to be, it is only you, who make it thus — Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

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CONCLUSION

A

good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit, said the great John Milton in his wondrous treatise Areopagitica. In line with the same, through this effort ‘The Awakening,’ I believe I have done my best in presenting an expansive understanding of the concept of the Law of Attraction, from the thousands of experiences I have personally gained all through my life. There is no substitute for experience, and it is experience that brings out the best in you. From the time my conscious had awakened, I can recollect a multitude of the great experiences I have had. And the vast collection of my life’s experiences has given me an uninhibited perspective into the world and has refined my perception of life and defined my purpose, which is, to reach out to the world and endeavour to make it a better place for all.

In the immeasurable immensity of the world that we live, there is substantial opportunity for everyone; you just have to see it. You were born for some purpose which the universe has for you.

But it is up to you to discover that purpose. You can choose to be either a great leader or just live an average life of a middle-class man or even be a failure. But all of it lies simply in your hands. So, you become what you wish to make of your life. In that way, I am certain this book has been quite helpful for you to understand what meaning you wish to make of your life.

Through ‘The Awakening,’ I have endeavoured to illustrate what can motivate you to find your purpose, inspire you with stories of greatness and make you understand how to find success, fame, prosperity, health, and wealth. But in order to achieve all that, you have to work on yourself, relentlessly, determinedly, and uncompromisingly, and chisel yourself to perfection, so that you get everything you truly deserve.

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The greatest of men Abraham Lincoln and the worst villain of history, Adolf Hitler, were both plain men. But one chose to eliminate slavery to benefit mankind and died for it, and the other chose to make slaves of men and rule over mankind and lost his life to it. It is how these men and thousands of others chose to work with their minds. Inevitably it is your mind that is the strongest tool through which you can achieve greatness.

The Awakening is a humble endeavour of just one of the several that I have planned to bring forth for you, in the time ahead. Just as this book, each of my forthcoming books would be designed for bringing out the best in you, and should you follow the principles and practices I layout for you, I am certain you will make great accomplishments and undoubtedly be on the path of fame, glory, and success.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy, MA., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D, Ph.D, Hon Doct., D.Litt.

Dr. P Madhurima Reddy is an Entrepreneur, a Peak Performance International Trainer & Coach for Life, Wealth, & Business, Clinical Psychologist, and an Educationist with an experience of more than 24 years in Teaching, Training, Coaching, Mentoring, Healing and Counselling. This humongous experience and a vision to create a positive change in people led her into instituting La Winspire International Training & Solutions LLP, in association with Continental Hospitals.

Hailing from a renowned family with a great heritage, she has however, had to be content in the highly orthodox and brutally conservative culture of the Rayalaseema region, where most women, even to this day are compelled to live a life confined to the four walls of a home. With complete lack of support and extended suffering, confinement, and disavowed even after her marriage, she began to divert her focus on studies, and soon realized that books, studies, and motivating people, gave her immense satisfaction and peace. Her persistence, diehard determination and relentless strength made her rediscover her own strength and gradually led her to establish herself as one of the most sought-after trainers and Clinical Psychologists in India.

Today her unique programs based on Law of Attraction & Wealth Abundance are famous across the globe along with her TV shows. She obtained international certifications in Personality Development, Leadership, Emotional Mastery, Wealth Coaching and Mastery, Advanced Law of Attraction, Advanced DMIT, Business Coaching, Behavioural Sciences, and Certified and Licensed NLP Master Practitioner (UK). She is a recipient of well over a hundred national and international awards for her excellence in coaching and training. She has attained absolute mastery in conducting Life Skills workshops for thousands today.

She has conducted innumerable national and international workshops on various concepts for organizations, professionals, and individuals of all walks of life. She has coached and transformed top CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Doctors, Pilots, Advocates, Trainers, HRD Heads, Sports Persons, Actors, Film Producers, Bank Managers, Corporate Clients, Home Makers, Students and individuals across the globe by unleashing their internal spirit that drives them to excellence. She was also the founder and Ex-President of one of the leading Toast Masters clubs in Hyderabad.

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AUTHOR’S ACHIEVEMENTS 4 Key speaker in GOA-2020 Olympics conference 4 International Excellence Award Malaysia 2019 for Best Life & Business Coach 4 SWI INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2019 for inspiring Woman Entrepreneur of the year 4 TIME Cyber Media Pvt. Ltd. International Education Award for Most innovative trainer & coach of the year 2018.

4 TIME Cyber Media Pvt. Ltd. International Education Awards for Best training institute of the year 2018 for La Winspire.

4 Being Women as Catalysts International Award 2018 4 Prime time global excellence education award for best Corporate Trainer NLP, Law of Attraction 4 Best vocational training institute award in Telangana 2017 for La Winspire.

4 Indian HR Convention HDM Awards - 2016 for Corporate Trainer NLP, LOA Training & Coaching awardee.

4 Author of a book titled “Inspirational Quotes for Effective Living” 4 Presented more than 50 papers in National and International Conferences and over 35 publications in Journals and anthologies.

QUALIFICATIONS M.A (English), M.Sc. (Psychology), M.Ed., M.Phil. Ph.D. in Education, Ph.D. in English, Hon Doctorate Human Behavioral Sciences, D.Litt. and several Diplomas / Certifications at National and Internationval level. She has been personally coached by spiritual guru Mahatria (Life Skills), Dr. Richard Bandler (NLP), Tony Robbins (Personal Excellence), Robin Sharma (Leadership), Mac Attram, Blair Singer (Marketing Strategies) & T Harveker (Marketing Strategies.)

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AUTHOR’S ACHIEVEMENTS 4 Key speaker in GOA-2020 Olympics conference 4 International Excellence Award Malaysia 2019 for Best Life & Business Coach 4 SWI INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2019 for inspiring Woman Entrepreneur of the year 4 TIME Cyber Media Pvt. Ltd. International Education Award for Most innovative trainer & coach of the year 2018.

4 TIME Cyber Media Pvt. Ltd. International Education Awards for Best training institute of the year 2018 for La Winspire.

4 Being Women as Catalysts International Award 2018 4 Prime time global excellence education award for best Corporate Trainer NLP, Law of Attraction 4 Best vocational training institute award in Telangana 2017 for La Winspire.

4 Indian HR Convention HDM Awards - 2016 for Corporate Trainer NLP, LOA Training & Coaching awardee.

4 Author of a book titled “Inspirational Quotes for Effective Living” 4 Presented more than 50 papers in National and International Conferences and over 35 publications in Journals and anthologies.

QUALIFICATIONS M.A (English), M.Sc. (Psychology), M.Ed., M.Phil. Ph.D. in Education, Ph.D. in English, Hon Doctorate Human Behavioral Sciences, D.Litt. and several Diplomas / Certifications at National and International level. She has been personally coached by spiritual guru Mahatria (Life Skills), Dr. Richard Bandler (NLP), Tony Robbins (Personal Excellence), Robin Sharma (Leadership), Mac Attram, Blair Singer (Marketing Strategies) & T Harveker (Marketing Strategies.)

--- J

R

­ ayesh anjan IAS, Principal Secretary to Government Industries and Commerce (Tex) Department(FAC), TS

Knowing Dr. Madhurima Reddy well, I am glad she has ventured to write explicitly on the things that should matter to everyone in their lives. I am very sure The Awakening gives great insights into the concept of Law of Attraction. Wishing the book every success.

In a world of uncertainty and chaos, Dr. Madhurima attempts to inspire people to find meaning to their lives by relating them to the way things work as per the laws of the universe, of which the law of attraction is considered an integral part. It makes for an excellent read.

--- Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna, Indian Actress,

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Producer, And Television Presenter

Principal Conservator of Forests, Govt of Telangana

The power of Law of Attraction is phenomenal.

Dr. Madhurima has illustratively conveyed its scope in The Awakening, intermingling the concept with her own personal experiences and has thus shown herself as an example of how positivity can change a person’s life.

I’m glad Dr. Madhurima Reddy has ventured to write this wonderful book based on the Law of Attraction. I am certain the reader will find it vastly interesting and that the message conveyed in the book will be immensely helpful to all.

--- Dr. G K Ganapathy Reddy

--- ­M.Nanda Kishore,

CMD, Stayfit India

All the riches in the world are just in your mind. Get what you want.

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Managing Director, REFL ---- Ramky Group

ISBN number: 978-93-90850-68-6

Sin g

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www.lawinspire.com

by

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Founder & CEO Success Gyan

MA., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Phil., Ph.D, Ph.D, Hon Doct., D.Litt.

DR. P. MADHURIMA REDDY

--- Surendran.J

Dr. P. Madhurima Reddy

--- R.Shoba, IFS

The whats, the whys, and the hows of life’s success are illustratively explained in this book. I was quite impressed with the author’s own story and how she overcame every misery in her life and fought to become a success story. A must read for all. ­

G I V I N G YO U P O W E R YO U O N LY D R E A M T O F

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Awakening

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Trainer, Best Selling Author of Sales Dogs, Little Voice Mastery & Team Code of Honor, Advisor to Rich Dad author Robert Kiyosaki

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The

ewor

--- Blair Singer, International ­

Pretty aptly named, the book actually causes you to awaken to the realities of life, and how you can steer yourself to success. Be prudent, be realistic, and be focused. These three elements will make what you wish to be. Beautifully conveyed, the Law of Attraction is explicitly and effectively presented and is sure to positively impact everyone who reads The Awakening.

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That we all are products of our own thoughts is an interesting thought in itself. Dr. Madhurima’s work makes us introspect ourselves deeply and identify the factors that can either make us or break us. The law of attraction is well explained here and makes the book a great ally for us in our moments of despair.