Swami Mukundananda - Founder of Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog (J.K.Yog), a non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas - talks about seven ways to achieve success.
- Positive thinking: Humans continue to believe that power, money and material possessions bring happiness. All of us do know the story of King Midas and the Golden Touch. The choice remains with us to be content.
- Taking responsibility for emotions: What should one do to overcome negativity and adverse sentiments? There is no justification for harboring negative thoughts. Our feelings are a choice we make. The responsibility to control our mind is our own. We are accountable for harboring pleasant and miserable feelings. Understanding the thin line between stimulus (circumstances) and response (emotions) provides us with the lever to control our sentiments.
- Inspiration: One can gain from being inspired by positive people and actions. History has so many examples.
- Purity of Intention: One should be propelled towards the right things and focused in the right direction.
- Acquiring Knowledge: The purity of good intentions has to be backed by a mindset to acquire good knowledge. Albert Einstein said, ‘Science has succeeded in denaturing the plutonium atom. But it cannot denature the evil in man’s heart.’ This is where spiritual science comes in.
- Discipline and self-control: It is the battle between the mind and the intellect. The latter is rational and looks for value, does not get distracted by immediate gratification of the mind. But senses can rebel like children yearning for immediate joy. The Vedas talk of two classified happiness — Shreya and Preya. Shreya as the immediate bitter that turns into nectar, like physical exercise; and Preya as nectar, which becomes poison with over-indulgence. Choose the beneficial path and try ignoring the so called ‘pleasant’ one.
- Growing in the face of problems: The final mindset is to develop the ability to face problems in life. Be it at school or work, one cannot run away from reality. Facing challenges leads to growth. Your prayer should not ask for a life without obstacles, but a path to face the obstacles that provide lessons. Like the wise man who said, “I prayed to God for strength, and he gave me difficulties to overcome and become strong.”
Swami Mukundananda, famous book, 7 mindsets for success, happiness and fulfilment.