3 simple ways to enhance our internal immunity to safeguard from illnesses

Dear reader,

Last few weeks, I heard from many friends about incidences of them or their family members having fever like viral, dengue or chikungunya. I was told that in Delhi, there was a waiting list for getting admitted in many hospitals.

Ever wondered why some people catch fever and others in the same household or locality do not? Can we say that those mosquitoes or viruses selectively chose these people? Is it linked to internal immunity? How do I improve my immunity instead being in fear or suspense of when my turn may come?

THAC – The Health Awareness Centre in Worli, Mumbai gave me an answer from basic principles.

If a seed is thrown on a tiled floor, will it grow into a plant? No. Why? Because it needs an environment that supports its growth. Similarly, dengue or viruses need an acidic environment to grow.

Our body is alkaline by design. If we maintain the alkaline environment in our body, even if any of these viruses enter our system, they don’t find supportive environment and body defence system eliminates them with ease.

If we have acidic environment in the body, it is ready recipe to allow these viruses to grow.

What increases acid levels?

1.     Food leaving acidic residue on digestion: Food items including processed foods, animal products, milk & sugar leave acidic residue on digestion.

2.     Lack of sound sleep: Body needs 8 hours sleep in darkness in line with the Circadian cycle. Body does its repair and regeneration work while we sleep. This work is at its peak in the duration between 8 pm to 4 am. Liver cleanses kms of blood capillaries neutralising toxins and acids. It works to its best when brain is inactive.

3.     Excessive stress, buzz, thrill: In all of these situations our body generates adrenaline, cortisol, other hormones which leave behind an acidic residue. The feel good of constant adrenalin rush can have consequences for the body.

We can strengthen our immunity levels by consciously balancing the acid causing activities in our life-styles.

1.     Adding foods that leave alkaline residue: Fresh fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, nuts & sprouts.

2.     Ensuring 8 hours of sleep in darkness, regularly. The sun sets slowly & our body follows a similar rhythm. Exposure to screens (phone, TV, Kindle, Computers etc.) hinders the sleep hormone melatonin from being generated.

3.     Balancing excessive buzz with spending quiet time, soft music, having aroma around you, dimming lights after sunset etc.

Some more understanding on fever, why it happens and how to assist the body to heal itself is given here on THAC FB Post on fever.

An earlier note on our healing experience with THAC is posted here.

Wishing you wellness and strong immunity ahead.

warm regards,

Rohan 

You(1) You(2)- Enabling higher level of thinking

Dear Reader,

In the book “Originals” author Adam Grant mentioned about a unique firm. In 2010, its returns exceeded the combined profits of Google, eBay, Yahoo, and Amazon. It wasn't a tech giant; it was Bridgewater, a hedge fund that has been recognized for making more money for clients than any hedge fund in the history of the industry. Bridgewater anticipated the financial crisis, warning clients in 2007 about the impending crash. It is a 150-billion-dollar fund with 1500 employees. For 40 years, since inception it has been a top performing manager & industry innovator. The firm has received over 50 industry awards and recognitions for innovation, performance, research quality, client service, operations quality, top workplaces etc.

This 2 million times downloaded culture document summarizes the culture there.

In the above document, I found a very useful concept that can enable higher thinking:

Think of yourself as a designer of your machine. You wish it to accomplish some goal. The machine is a combination of processes, design and people, including your own self. This machine produces outcomes. By comparing the outcomes with the goal, you can tweak the machine till it produces desired outcomes. 

You have 2 roles in this machine. You(1) and You(2):

You(1) is the designer, observer of the machine, who thinks of the whole system with a higher perspective. He/She includes 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd order consequences in the plan.

You(2) is the emotional, active player, executor. He/She thinks of only self, has a short term perspective and is mainly concerned about 1^st order level consequences.

Here are some examples of the order of consequences:

-       1^st order consequence of waking up and going for exercise is discomfort of leaving your bed & sleep. 2^nd order consequence is you feel good after the exercise. 3^rd order consequence is your health is better.

-       1^st order consequence of eating a favourite meal is the instant gratification. 2^nd order consequence is how we feel when after eating it. 3^rd order consequence is the impact on health.

-       1^st order consequence of shouting at someone who made a mistake is the instant release of anger & frustration. 2^nd order consequence is the person feels demotivated. 3^rd order consequence may be increased attrition or team’s non-performance.

You(2) is active most of the time. The trick is to keep you(1) awake and include 1-2-3 order consequences.

Most conflicts persist because of you(2) to you(2) level conversations among people, both parties only thinking of self and 1^st order consequences.

During a confrontation, pointing out someone’s mistake, expressing disagreement etc., if we can ensure that we are at you(1) level addressing the other person also at his you(1) level, the conversation would be very fruitful.

May this mail take your interactions & thinking to a new level.  

Warm regards,

Rohan

Upholding self esteem of others

Dear Reader,

Here is a story that I found while reading Dale Carnegie’s “How to win friends & influence people”.  It is about how important it is to uphold self-esteem of people, even if they have made a mistake.

The story is quite applicable even in current corporate settings.

Ms. Mazzone, a marketing specialist for a food packer, was given her first major assignment – the test-marketing of a new product.

In her words: “when the results of the test came in, I was devastated. I had made a serious error in my planning, and the entire test had to be done all over again. To make this worse, I had no time to discuss it with my boss before the meeting in which I was to make my report on the project.

When I was called on to give the report, I was shaking with fright. I had all I could do to keep from breaking down, but I resolved I would not cry... I made my report briefly and stated that due to an error I would repeat the study before the next meeting. I sat down, expecting my boss to blow up.

Instead, he thanked me for my work and remarked that it was not unusual for a person to make an error on a new project and that he had confidence that the repeat survey would be accurate and meaningful to the company. He assured me, in front of all my colleagues, that he had faith in me and knew I had done my best, and that my lack of experience, not my lack of ability, was the reason for the failure.

I left that meeting with my head up in the air and with the determination that I would never let that boss of mine down again.”

When a person makes a mistake we have a choice between pointing at the mistake or the person. I feel that the way we handle someone’s mistake can define the quality of our relationship with them.

Warm regards,

Rohan

Contribution received from super boss- A real story

Dear Reader, In a recent workshop, we asked participants to share events where they experienced priceless contribution from others at work. This is what one person shared:  “A few years ago I handled sales in Gorakhpur territory. The main distributor Mr Khosla was a big shot. Despite all my efforts, I could not organize a meeting with him. My boss in Delhi kept following up on my targets, questioning my sales acumen that I couldn’t even get a meeting with the distributor in a month. I was at my wit’s end. One day I got a call from my super-boss Anil, from Mumbai. I explained my problem: Mr Khosla does not give appointments, instead gets junior employees to meet me. Next evening, I got a call from my depot that Anil is coming tomorrow morning. Anil landed and said. “let’s go!!” As we went from meeting to meeting, I realized how much people in the trade respected him even after him being away for 4 years. He went to Mr Khosla’s office and got a meeting with him on the spot! Anil introduced me to him. He was humble & inspiring all along. It changed me forever. Since then whenever I hear a manager in my team mentioning about his junior struggling in the field with remarks like “he can’t do it, it is not in him”, I encourage the manager to listen, understand & help the junior resolve it. Today Anil is Asia Pacific CEO of a Fortune 500 company.” May this story inspire you to make your team members winners. We also welcome you to share experiences where you received priceless contribution from your peers and/or bosses. Warm regards, Rohan

Sphere of Silence - a practice to take charge of your day

Dear Reader,

Have you ever wished to be in-charge of your 24 hours? That one day you will remain calm and centered despite an ever-increasing, overwhelming to-do-list?? That one day you will have clarity on long term goals and progress towards those goals everyday?? Do you wish to live a life of choice, rather than reacting to day-to-day events?

I started to practice “Sphere of Silence” and found my days were more productive & running by my plan. It’s a concept created by Vijay Easwaran, a successful enterpreneur. Special thanks to Nithya Shanti for sharing this idea and Vijay’s book with us in his workshop.

The concept is to spend an hour in silence each day in a structured manner. One hour without any distraction or break, no mobile, laptop, mails or any other communication with anyone.

For this practice you need:

-       Journal / notebook & pen

-       a book to read

-       a clock (Insight Timer mobile app is useful)

The first 30 minutes of the practice is the Path of Duty, the next 20 minutes is the Path of Knowledge & last 10 minutes is the Path of Devotion

I.        The Path of Duty Past (10 mins) A.    Reflect back on yesteday and where you could have improved or done a task better B.    Analyse why the task was not done, if not done Present (10 mins) A.    Write down all your plans for the day B.    Underpromise & over deliver Future (10 mins) A.    Set your goals for next seven days. B.    Set you short term goals for 12 months C.    Set your long-term goals for 5 years D.    Write these goals every single day

II.      The Path of Knowledge (20 mins) 1.     Pick a book from any field that will enhance your knowledge 2.     Read the book for 15 minutes 3.     For the next five minutes, summarzie all the important points you remember 4.     Check & add the points you have missed out 5.     Read these points the next day, before you continue reading the book.

III.    The Path of Devotion (10 mins) This is your private conversation with the Creator / Creation / Universe / The Force. It is done in whatever way you feel comfortable. Pray seek and ask the questions in your heart that need answers. Your 10 minute reflection must also be written down.

Click here for more details of the practice 

I managed to find 1 hour despite my tight schedule! I have been practicing it daily for last 15 days in a row. I find it very effective. Best part is, it pulled me to itself instead of me pushing myself. Simply because it seems to be aligning me to my flow of life!

May this mail and the concept assist you in creating a life you desire.

Warm regards,

Rohan

P.S. as on 4 May 2016 it is 60 days of daily practice!!