Monday, 31 May 2021

Qualifications and Certifications, does it matter?

 At one point, I did dream of getting a Nobel prize in physics. I am always in awe of Nobel prize winners. I have followed them year after year. Nevertheless, I didn’t do much in physics. Having won numerous other awards and educational qualifications, I realized a few things ten years back.

1.    I was getting qualifications year after year. Many of which I didn’t even bother to mention.

2.    I was wearing a mask. A mask to prove myself to people/ colleagues/ clients/ bosses. Instead of being happy within, my energy, efforts went into making them happy.

3.    Making others happy came at a cost. A cost of frustration, jealousy, resentment, anger, guilt, blame, worry and tension.

4.    I was getting certifications. Don’t know how earning those, has helped me here in India. I have yet to figure it out. It came to a point where I felt enough is enough-when for a job interview the interviewer asked me, ‘Do you have _____ certification’. He named few certifications. I told him that he had my resume already. I had written all my qualifications, certifications in it. Then if I did not possess the certifications they expected in the candidate, why did they call me and wasted my time. Are they even looking at the qualifications and certifications I have?

I realized that people most of the time point out the things you don’t have rather than what you have. “Oh, you only have these qualifications, you don’t have those qualifications”. Full stop. I realized that I need to refabricate and use the qualifications and certifications I have because no matter what I had there will be a set of people who will demand more.

Being in the OD/ HR/ L&D area and mindfulness coach, my main aim is to make my clients understand that happiness is the key. I work with clients to achieve mindfulness, which in turn will create value in their personal and professional life. It increases productivity, effectiveness, better decision-making, and better risk analysis.

And mind you, being mindful does earn sufficient money and far more, and the way you want to earn it. Being mindful, you do not have to worry about what people think. You know your job and you know for sure that your productivity and efficiency have increased.

So do I have a qualification in Mindfulness? Technically, yes, I do. I have already completed my basic, advance, Abhidhamma (all three levels completed) in Vipassana theory and practice to understand and dive deep into mindfulness. Do I need more certifications? No, what I need is how do I practice the skills I have gained over the years.

 Have your qualifications and certifications helped you and in what way? Why are you earning those in the first place? Qualifications and certifications, do they matter, and to what extent?

 With gratitude

Sonali Wagle

 

Friday, 14 May 2021

Application of the Bhayabherava Sutta in Daily life

 Dealing with Fear and Anxiety.

I presented a paper at the 'Antevāsikānaṃ Pāli Parisā' conference, University of Mumbai.
Title: Application of the Bhayabherava Sutta (discourse) in Daily Life.

We live in uncertain times. Changes are happening at the speed that they become blur before one can know what is happening. Most of us are scared and fearful of the events that have grasped us. One of the challenges that we face is how to handle such uncertainties that lead to fear. The citta (mind) like a pendulum dwells in one of the emotional states – fear, doubt, guilt, anger, and resentment. Out of this fear is the most captured of the emotion. Fear comes in
various facets. Fear of failure, fear of death, fear of losing a loved one, fear of loss, fear to suffer, fear of change, fear of unknown, and fear to face fear.
The Bhayabherava Sutta captures the essence of how to handle fear. It gives a direction on the process to be followed when one is in the fear zone.
To know more about how the Sutta can be applied in daily life to deal with fear and anxiety, do write to me on wagle.sonali@gmail.com

Friday, 7 May 2021

Generosity and Kindness

 

Generosity and kindness examples could be seen today at Mahim, maternity nursing home, vaccination center, Mumbai. The BMC has made fantastic arrangement at the venue.

Outside in the premises, tents are built for people. There were two areas one for senior citizens above 70 years of age and the other age group. Water bottles were provided to all. Another area was made for people to wait for half an hour post the vaccination.

The staff was extraordinary good, polite, courteous. The police were humble. Never in my life have I seen the BMC so well equipped with so much of service a case study to look for.

This gives me the faith in humanity in human existence. Being a mindfulness practitioner, this is a classic case of the mindfulness shown by the entire BMC staff and Mumbai police.

With gratitude

Sonali Wagle