THE BOOK OF LIFE LESSONS: IT'S YOUR STORY, TELL IT YOUR WAY

grow as a person, and make every experience unique and worth trying? When you want to feel at ease, ask yourself what has become wearisome and discard it. As you do so, stay organized and declutter your mind.

Define your happiness:

Dr Manimekalai Mohan Founder & Managing Trustee SSVM Institutions, Coimbatore,

"Life is short, so live it to the fullest," they say! Despite its short length, this statement carries profound meaning and reminds us of our duties and responsibilities towards ourselves and others without compromising our values and morals.

Everyone is as unique as their DNA, and we are responsible for every action we take, inaction we commit, learning we do, and unlearning we experience in life. The 'life is a book' is a commonly used metaphor. What if our life is like a book with only plain pages? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could fill it with beautiful stories, images, and inspirational and transformational anecdotes? Do you ever wonder what stops us from writing our own life stories?

Human minds are conditioned in certain ways from very rudimentary years. Our lives are shaped by external factors like society, beliefs, communities, and backgrounds. Times are changing, and so is the thought process of younger generations. Kids today are not interested in being tied down to a template of learning, they know what they want and are willing to let go of what they do not want. Here we need to agree that the children of this generation are more logical, ahead of their time, and never cease to surprise us with their approach to living a meaningful life.

If you are a parent or guardian striving to create a path full of beautiful experiences for your children, please read on to discover the five golden principles:

Do not Act to Impress:

It is not unusual for humans to behave impulsively to impress others. If not curtailed at a young age, that urge becomes a compulsion, an obsession, and a bad habit. To avoid comparing themselves to others and getting bogged down by the pressure, children should be taught to be honest about their abilities and inabilities. All of us want to be accepted and appreciated for our abilities, but there are blind spots. Do not waste time impressing others unnecessarily. To achieve this, do the following:

Be honest with yourself

Accept compliments humbly

Embrace growth with others and give them their due credit

Challenge yourself:

Every day, we face a variety of troubling scenarios. Over time, it becomes monotonous to master daily tasks. If you want to climb up the career ladder and make a difference in your life, you shouldn't stay in your comfort zone. Do you know that newer tasks build your confidence, help you

Happiness is a by-product of everything we enjoy in life. We all know that happiness is short-lived, and various learning curves can make us feel disappointed and sad. Various philosophies and studies agree in unison that happiness has to be within and should never be altered by external influences. Lifetime happiness depends entirely on how you perceive a given situation.

Accept Failure:

None of us want to fail. Be it in exams or otherwise, failure is a very unpleasant experience. The fear of failing can lead to unnecessary anxiety, disrupted confidence, and despair. These are strong emotions that need to be dealt with mindfully. Instead of suppressing or avoiding the fear of failure, face it with grit and determination. It is okay to be wrong in your endeavours, as every experience serves as a valuable lesson. Don't be afraid to experience everything so you can choose right from wrong!

Live like a Prince/Princess:

There are no kingdoms or royal courts like earlier, but that should not deter you from leading the life of a prince or princess. We commonly refer to and treat our children as members of our own royal family. However, even as you do that, make sure to draw the line at overpampering them. It's time to teach responsibility. If you are wondering how to do that, follow this:

Inculcate a strong sense of selfrespect and responsibility to protect ‘the Dharma’

Cultivate a strong urge to contribute to the public welfare

Encourage the child to grow into a kind, compassionate, yet be the firm administrator