Tag Archives: Mahatma Gandhi

“My Life is my message.”

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“My Life is my message.”

-Mahatma Gandhi, leader of Indian independence movement in British-ruled India

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was always helping and concerned about others. His aims in life included truth, non-violence, spirituality, honesty, discipline, and loyalty. His name, Mahatma, means “a great soul.” He was chosen as “Man of the Millennium” by the BBC.

Once, while Gandhi’s train was pulling out of a station, a European reporter ran to his compartment window. “Do you have a message I can take back to my people?” he asked. It was Gandhi’s day of silence, a vital respite from his demanding speaking schedule, so he didn’t reply. Instead, he scrawled these words on a scrap of paper and passed it to the reporter: “my life is my message.”

EXERCISE:

If your life were your message, what would the people around you say about you? Given, hopefully, many successful and meaningful years ahead, what new or different messages would your legacy include?

Please consider reviewing the links below to examine Gandhi’s extraordinary message in greater detail.

http://www.biography.com/people/mahatma-gandhi-9305898
http://www.history.co.uk/biographies/mahatma-gandhi
http://www.mkgandhi.org/

A great quote from Mahatma Gandhi

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“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”

– Mahatma Gandhi, pacifist leader of Indian independence movement

563Image from Flickr by ginnerobot.

It is a common custom in many parts of the world to remove one’s shoes before entering the home of a friend or colleague, so as not to bring any unwanted dirt into their residence and thus soil their surroundings.

Gandhi is asking us to consider the idea that negative or undesirable thoughts from others are a pair of metaphorical “dirty shoes” that can leave unpleasant remnants in our minds, polluting our inner world.

Exercise:

How can you limit or completely stop others in your professional and personal lives from “messing” with your mind?

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

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“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

– Mahatma Gandhi, pacifist leader of Indian independence movement

494Image from Flickr by digitalmoneyworld.

How long do you expect to live? These days, life expectancy is going up a good bit due to new advances in medicine.

Another, perhaps more important, question to consider is how long do you expect to live in excellent, good or even modestly good health?

Exercise:

About 70% of our current health status is within our control, and about 30% is genetic. Consider the following exercises as sources of gold for a longer and healthier life:

1. Get an initial health check-up or physical from a well-regarded medical professional.

2. Evaluate your exercise, nutrition and lifestyle optimization strategies as a few first steps toward a more vibrant and healthier life.

3. Explore any of the following books and resources as you embark on this journey:

Younger Next Year: Turn Back Your Biological Clock, by Dr. Henry S. Lodge and Christopher Crowley

Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength, by Bill Phillips and Michael D’Orso

The RealAge Test (www.doctoroz.com/realage)

Dr. Andrew Weil, the former surgeon general of the United States, has amassed a wealth of information on health at www.drweil.com.

I am a big fan of the website half.com to find gently used books at a hefty discount.

“An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”

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“An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”

– Mahatma Gandhi, pacifist leader of Indian independence movement

I’m not a big fan of gossip, negativity and conflict. For me, revenge is never sweet – and the idea of war is inconsistent with everything I hold dear.

When you look into the animal kingdom, you only see examples of killing as a means of eating and survival. Humans seems to have an appetite for conflict over the millenniums and today all you need to do is watch TV for the latest news report, sporting event, or reality TV show to see this.

Exercise:

How can you channel your inner Gandhi to make your own life, communities, and world more peaceful places?

#34: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

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– Mahatma Gandhi, pacifist leader of Indian independence movement

We’ve all heard many similar quotes that speak to this truth, such as “givers gain” or “shift your life from success to significance.” I really like the idea of losing oneself in a good way: in order to find our flow, our true north, and our purpose.

When I give, I grow; I feel like I’m living a more expansive and true life. When I get, I feel good, but it’s not the same. When I do get, I am sure to take note of the pleasure and joy that the process offers for the giver.

Exercise:

Where can you serve and both lose yourself and find yourself at the same time?

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