Author: thegoodlife

I am a Mindfulness and stress management coach and an ex Marketeer with a decade of experience in Strategic Brand Management.

Acceptance vs Compromise

Did you have a conversation where you held back and are now wondering if you did so with acceptance or was it a compromise? Read here to test for yourself, so that next time, you stand in your power and call the shots.

Hold! There is a difference between acceptance and compromise

Did you just have an argument or a conflict where you held back and are now wondering why did you do that?

Or just took a decision to change the course of your career and wondering if you gave in, gave up or made a conscious choice for your betterment?

More often in life, we come across situations where we have to take a call. And with all the grooming and conditioning we have got over the years, we feel empowered when we assume active role in the whole process of the argument. That’s the way, we know battles are won. We are the makers of our destiny and we are the creators of our own path. And this translates to taking charge, making changes, controlling ourselves and the environment around to chart out our path.

So, its obvious that in my sessions, when I ask my clients to “SURRENDER”, I get asked this question inevitably- What do you mean by surrender? Should I give in and just accept what’s being offered and not act? How will I bring changes to my life if I don’t have a control over it?

And my answer every time is- There is a difference between “Acceptance” and “Compromise”, though on the exterior, sometimes they may seem like the same. The onus of deciding where do you lie, is completely within you. No one else can decode it for you for the answer lies within you.

So, time for a soul check!!

Coming to describing how I differentiate between “Acceptance” and “Compromise”, the following points need to be considered.

Difference between Acceptance and Compromise
  • Acceptance is when you go with the flow, which is surrender. Compromise is when you are not too happy with what’s happening, but you still do it, maybe to avoid conflict.
  • When you accept, you feel empowered unlike compromise where you feel victimized.
  • When you are in acceptance, you sail much faster because you have everything supporting you, unlike compromise where you settle for what you don’t internally subscribe to.
  • Acceptance makes you feel empowered unlike compromise which makes you feel that you have given your powers to something external of you.

An example to illustrate the point- More often in life, we choose from amongst the many options given to us, at that time. We choose option A over option B and step forward. Somewhere down the road, we realize this option isn’t working out. So, what do you do? Shift or abandon your dream or choose some other option to fulfill it? And that’s what decides if it was acceptance or compromise that you were operating from.

Top 2 tips to identify if it is acceptance or compromise

Ask yourself these two questions to identify your state of being.

  1. Do you feel empowered after you made that choice or exercised that option?

If the answer is “YES”, that’s acceptance, If its “No”, it’s compromise. Sit with yourself, eyes closed, relaxed posture. Relive the experience and see how it feels in your heart centre. Does it make you feel strong and at peace? If yes, Bingo! You are on the right path.

2. Do you feel closer to your mission/goal after exercising that choice?

If “YES”, you are in a state of acceptance. If “NO”, you are in a state of compromise. This question gives a clarity of what is your ultimate end. More often than not, we get so caught up in the means, that we forget that there are number of ways to reach the end, provided the end is clear in our head. So, if a shift means that you have just adjusted your means to reach the same goal, WHY NOT!! That’s wonderful. That is how you work with the universe.

To know more, watch this video:

So, next time, you are stuck in a situation, where you don’t know where you stand and if the choice you made was the ideal one, ask yourself these two questions and be rest assured after that. You have done your part and you have done it wonderfully well. Trust the process and release. And that’s what I call- SURRENDER!!

Make that long stay at home a joyful experience- The mindful way!

It’s a seemingly grim situation outside with so much happening due to the global spread of the novel Covid 19! Most of it is outside our control and THIS is what is worrying us- The uncertainty.

The best way to contain the spread is to stop physical contact with people around i.e. Social distancing. This also means that all of us should stay at home/indoors to stop non essential human contact.

But as human beings are, anything that binds us ( read Rules), makes us feel trapped.

So, I have received a few calls from friends and family and people who I do interventions with asking me how to stay sane while being full time at home and hearing so much of bad news around. People are anxious about what is yet to come… And then someone like me says- Hang in!! Why not just be “Where you are now” rather than going ahead to “Where would all of us be”!!! Mindfulness eh… In the times of Corona! It can’t solve the problem but… Some people reply.

Or maybe it can!

So, amidst this social distancing, thought of sharing a few things that can make your stay at home, one of the most enjoyable experiences of your life. Try them out and let me know if these things made any positive difference to the way you look at things. I am sure they work wonders!

1. Work on your physical self

Mindful yoga

Start that long pending fitness routine that you wanted to begin, but didn’t get time to. This is the time to remind yourself that your physical health is of utmost importance. Spend at least 30 minutes doing dance, yoga, cardio or any workout that you wish to. Please don’t complain that there is no time. If nothing else, you have the usual office travel time to give to your health. Take charge!!

Use this opportunity to boost your immunity to fight off illnesses with home made readily available ingredients and recipes. Increase your intake of Vitamin C through citrus fruits like orange, berries, guava, lemon etc. Use honey, turmeric as a part of your recipes to make interesting items which even your picky kids (if you have) would love to have. Make the most of your home stay to detoxify and strengthen your immune system.

2. Connect with your family

Yeah! They do exist. There is a life beyond phone, mails and browsing and trust me, it’s way more beautiful. It’s time to revive and relive your good old days. Play family games in your free time. Talk to your family members over a nice of cup of tea/coffee or hot chocolate, watching over the sunset. What about a round of Uno? Treat yourself people!! You deserve this for yourself and your family!

Pick up that phone and talk to that long lost aunt or your cousin you have been meaning to call for ages now. Practice social distancing and use technology for social connecting. Of course, maintain physical distance even at home !!

3. Stay off any forwards or news about what’s happening outside or anything which is not in your immediate control.

Stop that urge to constantly check your phone to get a dope on the latest Covid numbers!! Know that it will not help even if you are completely updated on the news dope. Maybe if you had invested in the stock market, it would have been a wonderful strategy to stay glued in to the charts.
It’s tough time and more so because of our obsession with wanting to know every little detail about what’s happening outside. Relax!! Battles aren’t won if you compare yourself with the might of your enemy.

Simplify things! All you need to know is what can go wrong and how, how can you stay safe and keep others safe and in worst case, how can the situation be tackled if need arises. Take responsibility to practice safe measures and keep people around safe. That’s it!!! Period.

Have the belief that if each one of us just does his/her part 100%, the task is simpler and winning over is a strong possibility.

Now don’t say- But!!! People don’t understand. They aren’t doing their part!!! Trust people. They have enough common sense to deal with themselves. And if they haven’t, at least you take charge of yourself.

4. Practice mindfulness

Watch your breath!

Trust me, in spite of all that’s going on, every moment is still joyful if you just stay in the HERE and NOW. Sit back and look outside your window. I am sure you will be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of everything outside. Take this time to connect with everything around and be in the NOW of things. This is a beautiful time to realize and look inside and connect with yourself. Maybe you will be surprised with what you find. Maybe this is the beginning of something entirely new for you, your calling or your priorities.


If you need any guidance on how to practice mindfulness, you have many online resources to refer to. If you want to do a guided practice at home, you can reach out to me for sit at home online sessions. Drop in a mail at goodlifeprojects.nimisa@gmail.com

Do apply these ideas or maybe just test these out and see how the little mindful acts will work wonders to your physical, mental, emotional and social health.

Wish you all stay safe and come out stronger!

Gratitude and Wishes!!

Why so much talk about mindfulness?

Mindfulness! Ever heard of this term? If yes, that’s great. Makes it a bit easier. For those who haven’t, we will try to take you through the basics of mindfulness here and how can it help in your daily life.

What is mindfulness?

Starting from the very basics, let’s look at what exactly is mindfulness.

As a starting point, Mindfulness is a state of being in the present with full awareness and involvement. Now to be fully aware and stay involved, you need to also accept the moment as it is in full and let your mind attend to what is happening NOW! And the biggest challenge is this- How to be in the present moment when our mind wanders off easily to either the past happenings or the future anticipations leading to stress and anxiety. Being mindful, brings the mind back to the present, away from the pain of the past and the worries of the future. It is an innate thing that we always had and have, but which we seldom exercise.

How can mindfulness help me?

Mindfulness is a state of being which is extremely empowering. But to be in this state, needs practice and training of our ever running minds. Through some techniques and small changes in the way you respond on our daily lives, you can slowly incorporate mindfulness in your life which over a period of time if practices regularly, becomes a state of natural being for you. You heard it right!! This transition isn’t such an uphill task except for attending to our mind and emotions. Well!! 🙂

Ok. To bring you on board, let me share a few ways practicing mindfulness can positively impact your daily life.

1. Reduces stress and negative emotions

Several studies have shown that practicing mindfulness regularly can reduce stress and negative emotions and improve mental well being. Since, mindfulness focuses on staying in present, it greatly reduces the stress and bad feelings that happen because of dwelling on the past and the future. It also empowers you to accept your current emotions in full and deal with them in a responsive manner. Certainly the power of HERE and NOW!

2. Mindfulness helps you focus better

Just the simple act of being in the present, tunes the brain so much better that it is able to focus better and longer. It tunes out distractions, improves memory and helps in decision making. And what wondrous results you produce, if you focus on the task at hand completely. Ain’t it?

3. Mindfulness enriches relationships

People practicing mindfulness tend to exhibit empathy and a non biased approach which works wonderfully well in cases of conflict and difference of opinions. It also helps people feel optimistic and relaxed and much more open to counter opinions as well.

Well! Another reason for practicing mindfulness and keeping up the decorum of the room.

4. Mindfulness fosters creativity and innovation

Since people who practice mindfulness look at things around with no baggage, they usually tend to think creatively and the novel way of looking at things fosters innovation. Mindful people ar more open to ideas and are resilient to setbacks, enabling them to innovate and create something new. Not just this, mindfulness can even reduce the cognitive decline happening due to ageing.

Wow! Cool enough to foster a whole gang of creative genies around.

5. Mindfulness is good for the heart and sleep

Practicing mindfulness stabilizes the breath and relaxed the heart. It tends to lower High Blood pressure, thereby putting the heart at ease. Also, with reduced stress levels, cardiovascular health remains good. The relaxation response induced by mindfulness is not just heart friendly but also helps in insomnia and improving the quality of sleep.

After all, what’s good for the mind is good for the heart as well! And some real good snooze!!

These are just a few ways in which mindfulness can affect your health and life positively.

Isn’t it a good idea then to let this wonderful thing creep in your life and make it beautiful, healthy and stress free?

To know a few simple ways to start mindfulness, please click here.

5 ways to feel less stressful this new year: 2020 alignment

Hi everyone! There was a reason I didn’t call out 2020 Resolution and instead calling it 2020 Alignment.

This is on purpose! Since I believe that once you are aligned, resolutions aren’t really needed. You automatically do what is the best for you. And what more! This alignment with your own physical, mental and emotional self, does wonders to you by drastically reducing the bad stress that you experience and dramatically increases your productivity.

Let’s take 2020 as a year to chill out a bit more and connect a lot more 🙂 We have a list of 5 simple, daily things that you can do this year to beat that stress and kickstart your year on a fantastic note!

1. Express Gratitude

Thankful people are often happy ones! And ain’t that what we strive for? Gratitude is an appreciation for what one recieves, tangible or intangible. Being grateful opens you to numerous possibilities and opportunities because you are receptive to what is on offer and make the best out of it. Multiple studies show that gratitude helps you feel more positive and improves your physical, mental and emotional health. It reduces your stress levels drastically and improves your ability to deal with adversity. Practicing gratitude in daily life aligns you to your better self and trust me nothing can be more powerful than being aligned!!!

So, get it on with a journal and start practicing gratitude on a daily basis!

2. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful way to align. Its a moment by moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, emotions and everything around with a gentle, nurturing spirit. Mindfulness can turn off the fight and flight response of your nervous system by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This in turn switches off that bad stress you have been piling on and enables you to stay focused and relaxed.

3. Practice slow yoga

I specifically mentioned slow yoga since there are umpteen number of set ups out there who do some form of yoga or the other. I personally believe, in the original, age old definition of yoga as a union! Union of mind, body and thoughts. So, a slow session of yoga with lot of emphasis on breath sync can do wonders to the stress that might be daunting you by slowing down the breath and releasing some of those happy chemicals in your brain.

4. Rationalize your To- Do list

Take a step back and look at your To-Do list. Is it too long or too over promising? Ah! Take a hang of your daily schedule and set in only as much as you an handle. Putting too much on the table on a regular can spin you around. Of course there will be days which would be crazy, and that OK. Make it a conscious choice of creating your priority list and work on it. And boy! do keep time for your rest as well there. Your body will thank you for this.

5. Make time for some hobbies/leisure activities

And make it a part of your priority list!!

When you do something you enjoy and which is out of your regular work routine, you not just use your grey cells and body, but you also fuel your creativity. And being happy makes you stay calm and helps you in managing the other aspects of your life much better. So next time, before you say that your life is too hectic to make space for anything other than work, check your priority list and ensure that you feature on the top of it!

These were extremely doable things that can be made a part of your daily life and help keep that bad stress miles away.

Yoga for stress management

“If only stress could burn calories, there would be so many supermodels around.”

The way stress perpetrates our lives, is unprecedented. A recent well-being survey, 2019 by Cigna highlights that nearly 82% of the Indian population suffers from stress! And this is not good stress that we are talking about. This is stress that negatively affects the physical and mental well-being of a person.

Knowingly or unknowingly, stress affects us much more than we expect. Its only when the accumulated stress starts manifesting through some physical ailment or a major drop in productivity, that we take cognizance of it. While talking of mental health, it’s important to understand that it’s not a standalone thing that we are talking about. Its about a holistic take on health since there exists a close connection between our physical and mental health.

One of the most effective ways to manage the counter effects of stress is through yoga! It wonderfully combines both physical and mental fitness with a non-biased awareness. One of the most fundamental principles of yoga is that the body and mind are one and connected. Stress in one part will affect the other and vice versa.

According to yoga, each physical state or asana, creates a certain mental state and each mental state assumes a certain physical state. In this article, to keep things simple, I would share 5 simple asanas which are great for physical fitness and for beating that bad stress away.

1. Standing forward bend (Uttanasana)

Standing forward bend (Uttanasana)

This is an excellent stretch pose for the hips, hamstrings and the calves. This pose also strengthens the knees and thighs and helps heal and rejuvenate the body. This asana incorporates active exhalation and hence is an excellent pose to calm the mind and relieve stress. To get more from this pose, one can have the arms clasped behind the back. This helps in opening the chest and reversing the tightness in the shoulders.

2. Eagle pose (Garudasana)

Eagle pose (Garudasana)

This pose requires balancing of the limbs and focusing on a single point, thereby encouraging controlled breathing and hence lowering of stress. The intertwining of arms and legs in the pose frees up the tightness in shoulders and hips, thereby making the body relaxed and stress free.

3. Child pose (Balasana)

Child pose (Balasana)

This is a resting pose that quiets the mind and eases stress. This asana soothes the adrenal glands which accumulate a lot of pressure when we are stressed out. This restorative pose is an excellent to calm the nervous and the lymphatic system.

4. Reclined bound angle pose (Supta Baddhakonasana)

Reclined bound angle pose (Supta Baddhakonasana)

This pose helps in opening the hips, inner thighs, and groins. These are the spots where we hold tension and stress. A highly relaxing pose, this can melt away your daily worries as you lie on the ground.

5. Cat cow pose (Bitilasana Marjaryasana)

Cat cow pose (Bitilasana Marjaryasana)

This mix of pose is done alternately and is a wonderful way to relax and massage the back and spine. These two asanas when done together, creates emotional balance, relieves stress and calms the mind.

So, next time when you feel your stress buttons are being pressed, just get on your mat and do these simple poses to ward off the unwanted stress away.  And what can be better, if you combine these with simple breathing exercises (pranayams) to feel energized and happy!