I’m back in Singapore, landed early this morning and after three weeks of being with my parents, I am happy to be back home. It’s times like these that I realise that yes, Singapore is now home. I have a deep, almost spiritual connection to India, but after being away for so long, I realise I can’t live in the country anymore. It’s noisy, chaotic, and rushed, and I can take it in small doses. But back in Singapore, I do miss the family connections, the food, and the shopping. 

Today’s quote is by one of the greatest English novelists of the Victorian era, known for works such as A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and Oliver Twist: Charles Dickens. His writing combined sharp social criticism with deep compassion for the poor, the vulnerable, and the overlooked. Dickens believed strongly in moral responsibility, human kindness, and the redemptive power of empathy, values that echo clearly in this quote. 

This quote gently challenges how we usually define intelligence and success. In a world that often prizes logic, achievement, and sharp thinking above all else, Dickens reminds us that wisdom is not just something we learn with the mind, but something we live through the heart. A loving heart reflects empathy, compassion, and the ability to see beyond one’s own concerns. It understands people not as problems to be solved, but as human beings shaped by circumstance, pain, and hope. This kind of wisdom allows us to respond with kindness rather than judgment, patience rather than anger. It doesn’t deny reason, but it balances it with humanity. Without love, intelligence can become cold or self-serving. With love, even a simple understanding becomes powerful.

Dickens suggests that love helps us grasp truths that logic alone cannot. A loving heart recognises suffering quickly and responds instinctively. It knows when to forgive, when to listen, and when to act with gentleness instead of force. This wisdom often shows itself quietly; in everyday choices, in generosity, and in moral courage. It is less about being right and more about being humane. The quote also implies that love deepens perspective. When we care, we learn. When we open ourselves to others, we gain insight into life’s complexity. True wisdom, then, is not detached cleverness but engaged understanding, the ability to live well with others, not just think well about things.

Today’s verse from the Bhagavad Gita describes a person who moves through the world with emotional steadiness. Not detached in a cold way, but centred, grounded, and balanced. Such a person doesn’t provoke unnecessary conflict, nor do they crumble when the world is chaotic. Krishna isn’t asking us to suppress emotions. He’s showing us a higher way to relate to them. Instead of being pushed around by praise, blame, fear, or envy, the wise person remains anchored in inner clarity. That anchor creates a calm presence that others instinctively trust. This verse also flips a common belief: spirituality isn’t about escaping the world. It’s about living fully in it without losing yourself. People who are internally stable uplift others simply by existing; they create safety. Their calm doesn’t shrink the world; it softens it. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s awareness and balance. When you know who you are and what matters, you don’t get pulled into every storm. You become the still point in your own life.

Today’s motivation is about loving oneself. Love yourself so deeply that you don’t need to rely on others to feel complete. You’re a beautiful soul. You have so much tenderness and compassion within you. You do everything with so much sincerity. Remember, you always have yourself. You deserve your own love more than anyone else. When you truly love yourself, you naturally attract people who are good for you. There’s mutual respect and genuine admiration, rather than a constant need for approval or reassurance. Those who can’t see your worth don’t deserve to hold any power over you.

And that’s all I have for you this week. Stay strong, stay positive, and remember to love yourself so much you don’t need anyone else to feel complete. As I wrote some time back, be your own best friend!