Little instructions to better your life

Sing in the shower
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated
Watch a sunrise at least once a year
Never refuse homemade brownies
Strive for excellence, not perfection
Plant a tree on your birthday
Learn three clean jokes
Return borrowed vehicles with the tank full
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them
Leave everything a little better than you found it
Keep it simple
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know
Be forgiving on yourself and others
Say ‘thank you’ a lot
Say ‘please’ a lot
Avoid negative people
Wear polished shoes
Remember other people’s birthdays
Commit yourself to constant improvement
Have a firm handshake
Send lots of Valentine cards, sign them
Look people in the eye
Be the first to say “Hello”
Return all things you borrow
Make new friends and cherish the old ones
Keep secrets
Plant flowers every spring
Have a dog
Always accept and outstretched hand
Stop blaming others
Take responsibility for every area of your life
Be there when people need you
Don’t expect life to be fair
Never underestimate the power of love
Drink champagne for no reason at all
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation
Don’t be afraid to say “I made a mistake”
Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”
Compliment even small improvements
Keep your promises no matter what
Marry only for love
Rekindle old friendships
Count your blessings
Call your mother
And your dad too, if they happen to be alive.

Finding independence within us

‘Independence’ is one of most important aspects of our life. Each one of us, be it humans or animals, want to be independent by all means. To understand Independence, one needs to first understand the opposite of it, that is Dependence.

Dependency is created when we look for someone to fulfil an emotional need. There are two main categories in relationships, those we choose and those we find ourselves. The obvious choice is a relationship where we hope to find happiness and self-worth. This special relationship we choose can bring a sense of change and a feeling of wholeness in our life. But if these expectations are not met, we experience sorrow because of the feeling that we have a subtle right over the other person, for example my wife, my son, my mother et cetera.

Imagine, if we can feel whole within ourselves, how would be our relationships be then? Probably more stable and more giving.

Spirituality teaches us that we do not own anyone. When we become whole, we are less dependent, less possessive, less vulnerable and much more giving.

A wise parent today should send out into the world an independent individual, with an understanding that the child is not an extension of the parent but a spiritual being, who has the right to be free and full just like parents. This allows the child to be free to make his/her own journey. All of us also have an equal opportunity to explore a relationship with the ONE who is perfect, full, whole, and available all the time. One who is the source of energy, love and power.

So let’s connect with that ONE and free each other of unnecessary bondages to achieve supreme happiness in life.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Stay Safe While You Surf

7 tips to remain secure while using public Wi-Fi hotspots

Public Wi-Fi hotspots can be a hacker’s paradise, as they are usually unsecured. The following measures can help users stay safe, whether they are connecting in the coffee shop next door or in an airplane 35,000 feet in the air.

1. Pick the securest network: Although many hotspots have no security set, some do. If possible, select those that use some form of encryption. To find out which networks are secured in Windows 7, left-click on the wireless network connections icon. Hovering the mouse over each SSID will display the security type. Try to avoid networks with the security type, ‘Unsecured’. In Vista and XP, secured network SSIDs are displayed with a lock when users click open wireless network connections. Choose networks secured with WPA2 encryption, then WPA. WEP is a last resort.

2. Set network location to ‘public’: When connecting to a new network connection with Windows 7, the ‘Set network Location’ windows pops-up automatically. Set the location to ‘Public Network’ when prompted. This blocks file and printer sharing, which are common routes for data snoopers.

3. Harden data defences: Antivirus software and security suites are great, but data defences also need to be hardened. In Windows, hide folders that contain sensitive data — just right-click on the folder and select ‘Properties’ and then under ‘General’ tab, set the folder’s attributes to ‘Hidden’. You will still be able to see the folder, although its icon will appear transparent. Then go into Windows Explorer. Click on ‘Organise’ button and then select ‘Folder and Search Options’ to launch Folder Options. Click on ‘View’ tab and then select ‘Don’t show hidden files, folders and drives.’

4. Opt to not save passwords: Do not store your username and password anywhere, especially when it comes to banking sites and the like. If you have trouble remembering your password, use a utility like LastPass.

5. Use HTTPS and SSL: Many websites use HTTPS and SSL to make connection more secure — both are protocols that provide encrypted communications. For example, you can access Gmail via http://www.gmail.com or https://www.gmail.com. The latter is a more secure option.

6. Remove sensitive data from laptop: If possible, remove sensitive data like spreadsheets, bank files, or documents with a social security number from a laptop. Leave them on your home machine.

7. Use a firewall: Turn on Windows Firewall, and use the setting for public networks for more secured access. There are several robust firewall third-party solutions, such as ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 9.2, which protects against hack attacks, controls how programmes access the internet and offers identify protection.

Positives of having an open heart

Why do we feel afraid to open our hearts? Probably because we don’t want to be hurt, or look foolish, or we feel that others would abuse our trust.

Opening the heart is to be able to have trust for yourself and also to understand that there is a higher being than myself looking after me so that I can feel safe.

What does it mean to have an open heart?

To have an open heart is to feel contentment and happiness, to be free and peaceful — not hiding nor pretending. You are then open to experiences and can become really adventurous. If my connection is with Supreme, then it is easier to have good relationships with others. When you open your heart, you are able to communicate with others openly.

How do we begin to open our heart?

One way to open the heart is to develop the nature of having good wishes for others. To become an easy person to be with is to create a space within ourselves to have good wishes.

It is important to start thinking differently about ourselves.

To create good wishes for others and for the self is the starting point of being able to create changes in the world around you.

We can create positive and empowering atmosphere when we have a connection with each other that is positive and meaningful. When we feed our mind with good thoughts, then we begin to feel content and happy.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Top 9 Worst Apple Apps

Users want to know why they were even considered

Nearly 25 billion apps have been downloaded worldwide, and while many of them have been good, some of them have flummoxed users. A lot of these apps have already banned or put into question by the company, but users want to know why they were ever even considered.

1. Baby Shaker:

The purpose of the game is as horrible as the name. The app turns the name. The app turns the iPhone motion sensors into a way for the player to torture and silence as animated crying infant on the screen. Apple has pulled it from the store.

2. Smuggle Truck:

This controversial game allows users to drive a truck full of immigrants through the desert. Many found the game to be racist and Apple banned the app.

3. I Am Rich:

This app, basically a fancy screensaver, cost USD 999.99. Once bought, the app makes a glowing red gem appear on the phone screen, followed by the words, ‘I Am Rich’. Eight people bought this no-purpose app before removal.

4. Gay Cure:

This now banned app grossly attempts to help turn gay people straight through ‘biblical teaching’. The insulting app caused 150,000 people to sign a petition asking the company to ban it, and it was done.

5. Beauty Meter:

Originally intended for users to rate the face, body, and cloths of those who uploaded photographs, this free app encouraged superficiality. There was no way to prevent nudity. When a partially nude image of a under 15-year-old iPhone user turned up on the app, iTune pulled the plug.

6. iFart:

This app is useless. It asks for USD one simply to make fart noises.

7. Hold On!:

The concept of this ‘game’ is to press a button in the middle of the screen so that phone can record how long you have been holding it.

8. iNap@work:

This app manages not only to promote laziness, but to also put your career in danger. It helps workers get away with taking a little snooze on the job by playing fake sound effects of typing, stapling, and other office activities.

9. ChickOrDude:

This app ranks you on a gender scale from 0 to 100. All you have to do is scan a photo of yourself and upload it to the app and it determines how feminine or masculine you look. — Agencies

Pass it on

The game of kindness

Give a flower
Eat lunch with someone new
Listen with your heart
Visit a sick friend
Clean a neighbour’s walk
Offer a hug
Give an unexpected gift
Make a new friend
Pick up litter
Say “Hello”
Call a lonely person
Open a door
Help carry a load
Plant a tree
Pass a kindness on
Buy someone’s meal
Cheer up a friend
Thank a teacher
Give a blood
Read to a child
Do one kind act everyday
Leave a thank you note
Offer your seat
Tip generously
Be tolerant
Let another go first
Bake cookies for someone
Tutor a student
Give a compliment
Lend a hand
Give a compliment
Lend a hand
Give a balloon to a child
Offer a ride
Celebrate the day
Respect others
Encourage a child
Walk a dog
Do a favour
Forgive mistakes
Drive courteously
Share a smile

Learning from our past

There is a saying that goes, “The past is already gone. The future is not yet born. Therefore, only the present is in our hand.” Hence, the present is our wealth. We practically own it now. If we become aware of it, there is a choice for us to enrich it, enhance it, invest it and increase it manifold.

Living in the present ensures exploring the possibility of advantages, looking on the brighter side of situations and future advantages. In practical life, some situations are to be left alone, so that time can heal such situations. One must focus on what is happening at the moment. Appreciate what is right about the situation and build on it. Pay attention to what is important right now.

Somewhere it becomes necessary to forgive and forget. Compassion is a powerful tool to release us from the clutches of botherations of the past and some situations in the present too.

Whenever we become unhappy in the present or are unsuccessful, it is time to learn from the past. When we understand that something is interfering with our enjoying the present, it is time to look at the past and learn from it. When we learn from the past, we can improve the present better than the past.

Past is past. By conducting a post-mortem of the past, we cannot make the past better. But the lessons we learn out of the past events can be applied in the present by doing things differently to enjoy the present. By fully living in the present, we are able to appreciate the world around and we become more effective and make progress.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.