Sogyal Rinpoche’s quote conveys the essence of meditation as an experience of openness and freedom rather than control or effort. To “be spacious” means to let go of grasping, judgment, and resistance, allowing thoughts, emotions, and sensations to arise and pass naturally. In this space of awareness, the mind becomes vast and clear, like a sky that holds everything without being disturbed by passing clouds. Meditation, in this sense, is not about stopping thoughts but about expanding the inner space in which everything can exist peacefully. 

Sogyal Rinpoche (1947–2019) was a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and the author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, a widely acclaimed work that introduced Tibetan Buddhist teachings on life, death, and compassion to a global audience. Born in Tibet and educated in both traditional Buddhist and Western settings, he played a major role in bringing Tibetan spiritual practices to the West. His teachings emphasised mindfulness, compassion, and the understanding of the mind as the path to liberation.

This was a pretty quiet week. BB is at home this week resting and relaxing before he starts looking for jobs or internships. GG is busy with school and studying for exams. As for me, things are the same. I have applied for a position which, on paper, seems perfect for me. It checks all the boxes and is in a field I enjoy working in. If I get the position, I will work with old friends and make new friends. And everything came together so beautifully, including references in that field. I was so hyped up about this role that I sent in the application a month before the due date. Since the due date, I have been watching my email like a hawk, hoping that today will be the day the email comes in about an interview. I am disappointed every morning! I am trying to keep a positive attitude and hoping the universe knows what it is doing for me. 

Which segues into today’s motivation. This week, I learned that we should find comfort in the fact that things are unfolding for us exactly as they should. The last leg of the journey is always the most difficult. We should be patient and embrace the beauty that surrounds us. We’ve already overcome many things successfully. There are so many beautiful lessons we have learned from our experiences over the years. We have everything within us to get to where we want to be. Don’t waste energy worrying; don’t doubt the path. This is a time for celebration. We’re about to step into the fullness of our hearts’ greatest desire.

This resonated so much with me, and I am learning to be patient and wait to experience the beauty that will surely unfold in front of us. 

That’s all from me this week. If you are able to, please send positive energies my way so I get the email or call I have been waiting for. Take care, stay safe, and remain positive. Remember, things are exactly where they are supposed to be.

Happy Diwali to everyone who celebrates this beautiful festival of light, laughter, family, food, and celebrations!

It’s been a week since I returned to Singapore, and this week was an extension of that week, during which I took a break from work. And add the preparations for the festival; I was rushed off my feet, yet I didn’t work or walk as much as I usually do.

Today’s beautiful quote is by W.B. Yeats, an Irish poet, playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. A key leader of the Irish Literary Revival, he co-founded Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. His poetry often explored the tension between the material and the spiritual, the seen and the unseen, a reflection of his deep fascination with symbolism, myth, and the hidden “magic” of existence. The quote speaks to the idea that wonder, beauty, and mystery already exist all around us. It suggests that magic isn’t something rare or external; rather, it’s woven into everyday life: in nature, art, human connection, and quiet moments. What we often lack is not magic itself, but the awareness to perceive it. As our perception deepens through mindfulness, curiosity, or emotional growth, we begin to notice the extraordinary in what once seemed ordinary.

Today’s motivation is about challenging negative thinking. Each time you feel like negative thoughts are starting to take root in your mind, take a pause, and come up with at least three things you’re grateful for. Try to feel the sense of abundance in your heart. This gratitude practice will reduce the feelings of heaviness that come with negative thoughts. Gratitude enables you to look beyond the disturbing picture that your thoughts paint at the moment and appreciate the things that you often take for granted. You don’t have to remain at the mercy of your negative thoughts. A simple shift in your perception of that moment can open your mind to new possibilities.

BB’s national service stint is coming to an end, and we are having serious conversations at home about what he will do/wants to do in the future. GG is busy with school and projects and has started prepping for her semester exams, which will start next month.

That’s all from me this week. As the world celebrates the festival of light, may the festival bring light, love, laughter, and prosperity to all, and may all your wishes come to fruition.

And just like that, my ten-odd days in Bangalore ended, and I landed in Singapore early this morning. The week I spent with my parents, one-on-one, was very fulfilling. I took them to doctor appointments, went to the bank on their behalf, and tried to make their life a little easier. With my father’s Parkinson’s disease progressing fast, it’s hard for him to do all that he used to do, so I spent time not only with him but also with my mom trying to teach her some tech so she is not as incapacitated as she might be when he declines further. I am also seriously considering visiting them at least a couple of times a year, with or without my family, and spending a week to try to close up loose ends.

In today’s quote, American researcher, author, and professor at the University of Houston, known for her pioneering work on vulnerability, courage, shame, and empathy, Brené Brown describes perfectionism as a heavy burden disguised as protection. Many people believe that striving for flawlessness will keep them safe from criticism, judgment, or failure. However, perfectionism doesn’t protect; it restricts. Instead of allowing us to grow, take risks, and embrace authenticity, it weighs us down with fear and unrealistic expectations. Brown likens perfectionism to a massive shield: it seems like it offers safety, but in reality, it prevents us from moving forward freely. True progress and fulfilment come not from perfection, but from vulnerability, courage, and self-acceptance.

BB and I crossed paths with each other; he returned to Singapore, almost when I was leaving. So I didn’t get to spend time with him after being apart for almost a month. So this week, I will spend some time with him. And his national service is also coming to an end, which is a huge relief for him, I guess. GG is super busy with school, so there’s no real update from her side.

That’s all from me. I am super exhausted because for a 4-hour flight, I need to leave for the airport about 6 hours ahead of time so that I can navigate the horrible Bangalore traffic!

Take care, stay safe, keep smiling, and remain positive!

Namaskara from Bengaluru! I arrived in India’s Silicon Valley earlier this week to spend a few days with my parents. Because my father is ill with Parkinson’s Disease, not allowing him to move around, I am here to help them with bank work and taking them to the doctor and any other small jobs I can do to make their life slightly easier. It’s a lot easier for me to fly down from Singapore, as I am currently only working part-time from home than my sister, because it’s a lot easier and cheaper to fly from Singapore, and I also don’t have to apply for leave. So I decided to fly down to meet them since it has been almost a year since I last saw them.

American essayist, poet, and philosopher, and one of the central figures of the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson, highlights the dual nature of passion. On one hand, passion can be an unreliable regulator; it may lead to impulsive choices or unchecked emotions if not balanced with reason. On the other hand, passion is also a powerful driving force, like a spring that propels us into action, energising and inspiring us to pursue our goals and dreams. Emerson’s point is that while passion alone should not govern our lives, it needs balance with wisdom and discipline; it remains an essential source of vitality and creativity. Passion fuels ambition, innovation, and courage, giving life momentum and meaning.

I finished my epic walk this week! I started in January 2021 in the midst of the pandemic, when I was looking for motivation to get my steps in. Staying at home meant that I had to walk inside, and in 2020, I realised without any solid motivation, I could not find it in myself to walk. I started by deciding to walk to my home in Mumbai. I put the start and end destinations on Google Maps and started plotting my steps daily, weekly, and monthly. By the end of the year, I had reached India’s northeastern border in Manipur, where it borders Myanmar. By this time, my parents had decided to move to Bengaluru to a retirement community, so I adjusted my goals accordingly. The entire year of 2022, I was walking across India and reached my home state of Maharashtra in January 2023. From there to my home in Mumbai took me to about mid-February, and once I hit my home, I started walking to Bengaluru, which I reached sometime in August 2023. After that, it was time to head back to Singapore. Coming back, I took the east coast route, meeting the chicken neck and exiting India the same place where I entered it around the end of 2023 to early 2024. Then I spent time walking across Myanmar, Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia before reaching home sometime this week. To give some data, in almost five years, I walked about 14,500 km and more than 22 million steps! This was a good motivation for me, and I think I will do something similar but different to continue my momentum. 

Today’s motivation is about focusing attention in a difficult situation. When you’re in the thick of a difficult situation, you only have to focus all your attention on one thing. That is, releasing attachment to all types of dark thoughts. Do not believe anything your mind comes up with during this time. You don’t have to worry about finding the next course of action or coming up with an explanation for why things are happening this way. Simply let your thoughts go. Reset your mind. Leave no space for damaging stories or beliefs. These stories can limit what you believe is possible for you. Remind yourself that your circumstances will shift. You won’t always feel this way.

That’s all from me this week. Take care, stay safe, remain positive, and remind yourself that things won’t always remain this way; they will change and for the better!