AIESEC India, Author at AIESEC

Curiosity, Gratitude & Spirituality – 3 Steps for a Meaningful Life

It’s easy to take life for granted. We assume we’ll live to be at least 80, we’ll always have that job, our tea will always be hot, we’ll always have food to eat, and that our pet will always come up to us showing love.

Already thinking how can all this be true? Of course, our tea won’t stay hot forever, within the next second we might face a huge recession and lose our jobs and who knows we might live till 80?

So we know that nothing is permanent, right?

But, sometimes we fall into the trap of acting like things are permanent, that everything will stay the same. We start ignoring opportunities that can change our lives to better, being satisfied with what we just have.

We didn’t think if our comfort will always be exactly as it is. In other words, we lose touch with our strengths that add “meaning in life” and fall into the trap of taking things for granted.

Here are these strengths and how they can help us achieve a meaningful life:

Curiosity

If you are high in curiosity, you love to explore what’s new and unique. Novelty is your best friend. Making inquiries is your default approach. Trying new foods and different cuisines, meeting new people, and making trips to new places are ways you fulfill your curiosity forever.

When you utilize curiosity to explore the world, you are looking, wandering, and wondering– you are looking for experiences, you are looking for adventures. Along these lines, you are attempting to understand your experiences and your general surroundings. That sort of attempt and sense-making is known as coherence and is the main component of meaning in life.

Gratitude

Gratitude goes beyond expressing thanks to somebody who has been decent to you or has given you a gift or a blessing.

People who are thankful have a wide feeling of gratefulness for life– they appreciate their very own life, regardless of whether they are in the midst of battles. They rush to catch themselves underestimating life or taking life for granted.

These people are thankful for every opportunity that comes their way, and they never let a good chance pass by.

These are the people who can quickly move their concentration from autopilot thoughtlessness to mindful attention. They notice what is great around them and what could be made greater by simple efforts 🙂

Spirituality

Spirituality has been defined consistently as the search for or communing with the sacred.

But what is sacred?

Sacred is one of a kind to every individual. It can be spending time with your kid, taking part in a religious custom, enjoying the magnificence of nature, or even contributing to other people’s development.

Gautam Buddha was also a teacher, did you know that? Teaching was holy to him.

Even traveling solo is sacred because many people do that not just to explore the world but to explore themselves. They travel around and notice things. They leave a mark wherever they go. They find themselves and find a meaning of their life.

Meaning of life fits this strength like a pen in hand. If you are investing time deliberately engaging in what you accept as sacred, unique, or heavenly, it would be almost difficult to not see that as meaningful and important in the meantime.

When we permeate something as holy we are pressing significance filled goals and vitality toward that path. We are demolishing the effect of taking life for granted.

By using these strengths, we can achieve anything!

We can easily overcome every situation or battle we are fighting.

How? Because these strengths never let us give up and we hope for better and taking every chance we get as an opportunity.

So, how are you using these strengths in your favor? Let us know in the comments!

3 Ways How Solo Traveling Can Make You A Better Leader

Whenever it comes down to thinking about what traveling alone can mean to me, these words define it the best – initiative, intuition, decision and action.

It’s more like designing an art. Taking a leap of faith to start, listening to the calling of the heart, and just doing it the way we want.

Philosophical? Maybe.

Before we begin, this space is not about telling you what solo traveling is or how you should probably do it. Google has enough for it.

The idea is to understand the relevance of grabbing any travel opportunity that comes our way, to help ourselves become more of who we are.

Being on your own, for your own self, in an unknown place, around unknown people can be frightful. But that’s exactly why one should do it.

It’s fearful. It’s daring. Hence, it’s exciting.

You’ll never know what’s coming your way and how will you deal with it. That’s what makes it so thrilling. It’s similar to taking risks in a business.

Everyone is always asking us to take up challenges, right? There you go: being alone makes you rely on your own spontaneous decisions, and to have faith in them.

It teaches you to take big life decisions.

The more adventurous your experience is, the more enlightening your own reality is.

Here are a few ways how traveling on your own can be a journey to leadership:

1. It helps you understand your inhibitions

It’s often said that it’s only when you’re put in a hard situation you’ll learn how you’ll deal with it.

Becoming self-aware is one of the key aspects traveling alone teaches.

You understand your fears, attributes that hold you back and your behavior in unexpected or unusual situations. This is exactly how you get to know yourself better and realize your potentials.

You must build on your instincts around people and the environment.

It helps to gain the capacity of dealing with critical and analytical activities like managing teams, assessing people and identifying opportunities.

2. You learn how to find a way in the chaos

As the only person responsible for your life, you learn to become self-reliant and start searching for solutions in a menace.

You try and talk to locals for directions, finding places to feed your stomach, knowing more about the city and its culture. The entire journey revolves around you making attempts to finding a way out.

You’re usually clueless about what will happen next and how, but you still keep moving forward to discover. There’s a solution to every problem, known or unrevealed. To search for it is up to us.

3. It pushes you to stay out of comfort and embrace challenges

As a traveler, if we shift our approach from ‘why do I have to tackle this problem’ to ‘I need to take a next level challenge’, the scope of personal growth intensifies.

Comfort brings in ease, inviting fear and resistance to difficulties. On the other hand, overseeing comfort over opportunity upskills strength, maturity, and quality of life.

Even in business, the best of ideas emerge when a workforce chooses to think on broader spectrums. They come out of distinct realities and not from easy situations.

There might be a hundred reasons for you to escape traveling alone, but if you can dare to dream, you can become what you envision.

Venture on your own to discover, enhance and rebuild a new life.

If this interested you, you can read 7 Things I Achieved, Thanks To My Exchange in Turkey

Would you like to travel alone while working on an amazing project? Learn about our exchanges!

Written by

Vanyashree Chaudhary is a light-hearted Journalism student from Delhi. She’s crazy about her love for graphic designing, Oreo shakes and Daft Punk. Find her the happiest while she’s traveling!

4 Upcoming Health Crises and How You Can Prevent Them

“It is health that is the real wealth and not pieces of silver and gold.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

Health crises have been on the rise among all age groups. Everyday we are being greatly affected by the changing environmental and social factors. And the lack of proper healthcare systems in most economies, especially the developing nations, doesn’t help.

We are not the only ones concerned.

In 2015, the United Nations set 17 Goals to achieve Sustainable Development in the world. One of them is Good Health and Well-Being, which aims to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all, at all ages.

In total, 13 targets have been set out by the UN to promote and execute the same. They include achieving universal health coverage, improving early warning systems for global health risks, etc.

Youth have a big role to play here. Not only we are the leaders of tomorrow, but we can undertake these targets and make a difference today. It’s our chance to act as catalysts to the current scenario, towards a healthier and sustainable future.

So, do you agree that it’s time to start caring for a healthier world? Then check these 4 upcoming Health Crises and some preventive measures you can take to deal with them!

1. Cardiovascular Diseases

Due to the changing lifestyle and environmental conditions, cardiovascular diseases and heart issues are one of the major threats to good health and wellbeing among young people. These are triggered by high blood pressure and a stagnant lifestyle, apart from genetic causes.

Stress also plays a crucial factor in contributing to the build-up of several heart diseases.

The best way to prevent these diseases is to introduce a change in the hectic lifestyle, with regular exercise and healthy eating habits.

2. Obesity

Obesity is a form of malnutrition which has serious consequences, influencing the health and well-being of individuals.

You can think that obesity is caused by consuming more calorific energy than you burn. However, it is a much more complex and deep-rooted condition. It is triggered not only just by one’s eating habits, but also by genetic disorders, and even due to environmental and lifestyle factors.

In a way, the world is making us obese, and it’s up to us to fight it!

The long working hours which are common nowadays, the availability of junk food at a cheaper price when compared to healthy food, the comfort of getting an Uber everywhere, instead of walking a bit. All of this contributes to obesity.

High stress level, for instance, leads to the release of stress hormone Cortisol, which in turn triggers the release of fatty acids, relocating them and increasing the appetite.

Changing your habits to live a healthier routine – with a balanced diet and exercises – will help. However, preventing obesity can be a challenge for people who have medical and genetic conditions. Hence, seeking medical advice from certified doctors at the initial stage, to rule out the possibility of any medical risk is also very recommended.

3. Mental Health

Mental Health has been a taboo in the society since time immemorial, but it’s past time to address it. Young people’s mental health is a worsening health crisis, according to Mary O’Hara, an awards winning social issues writer and author.

It has been termed as a ‘silent catastrophe’, because of the stigma associated with it. According to the NHS’ report of 2018, almost 400,000 children and young people aged 18 and under are in contact with health service for mental health problems.

Anxiety and depression have been prevalent in people under 25 years of age due to innumerable reasons, and the lack of effective treatment has made suicide one of the major causes of death in the age group.

Seeking medical help and talking about it are ways through which the mental health of the youth can be nurtured carefully. But we can all play a role.

Noticing warning signs and behavioral changes in the people around us can help in acknowledging and addressing a problem before it’s too late.

4. Environmental Quality

The levels of pollution and deteriorating conditions of living rise every day, especially in developing countries like India. For that, it has made Environmental Quality one of the biggest upcoming health crisis in the world.

In fact, today roughly a quarter of all human disease and death in the world can be attributed to something that the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines as environmental factors, broadly.

They include not just environmental pollution, but also unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and hygiene, workplace hazards, industrial accidents, climate change, poor land use practices, and poor natural resource management.

Innovating and inventing sustainable and renewable sources of energy can reduce environmental pollution. Developing the health sectors of economies globally can help in reducing the risk factors associated with the diminishing environmental quality of the 21st century.

The youth of the world is taking initiative by promoting healthy environmental practices that promote sustainable development.

A healthier world can only be achieved if the youth takes initiative to acknowledge these upcoming health crises.

“Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time”
– Bill Gates

The points you just read about threaten the health and well-being of the masses, and it’s time we all carry out effective measures to ensure that they are being adequately addressed and managed.

It’s no longer just about our health, but about the health of generations to come.

If you want to contribute to a healthier world, you can check for a position in one our Global Volunteer projects!

Written by

Malawika is a Mass Communication student from Delhi. She is an astrophile, passionate about Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, and loves to listen to the Arctic Monkeys, her favorite band. Find her at her happiest while exploring new cities and justifying her love for the color orange!

The Lion King And His Road To Leadership

For most of us, The Lion King was an important part of our young lives. It is a moving story about the circle of life, that portrays a lion cub’s journey to adulthood and the royal throne.

If for some reason you don’t know the story, here’s a brief summary.

Simba is the son of the powerful and beloved King Mufasa. He is an honored prince who is far from danger, as he grows up in a very caring family and a protected environment. But his happy days turn into tragedy when his cunning and evil uncle, Scar, murders his father and influences Simba to think that the tragedy was a fault.

Scared and guilty, Simba runs from the kingdom and lands in a jungle. There he learns to live a carefree life with his new friends Pumbaa, the warthog, and Timon, the meerkat.

The story rolls on for some time and takes a turn the day his father’s spirit visits him and asks him to go back and defeat the wicked Scar to repossess his Rightful Throne.

After rewatching The Lion King for the umpteenth time after growing up, it becomes clear that the movie was full of life lessons and that it shapes our own lives.

With The Lion King we learned about right and wrong, the importance of following your heart, and some other things that we’re about to list for you now:

1. Respect others, regardless of who they are or where they stand

“Mufasa: Simba, everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As a king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.

Simba: But dad, don’t we eat the antelope?

Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.”

From a young age, Mufasa taught Simba that even though lions are the most powerful animals in the kingdom, they would be nothing without the other species existing in their ecosystem.

Life is all about respecting and treating others the way you wish to be treated.

There are leaders and then there are those who lead. Every individual is an important part of your life and you must respect that person. That is what makes you a good leader.

Actions, not position matters.

2. Lead by Example

“Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe in you.”

– Mufasa

Scar was under the impression that all of the animals would become his loyal followers once he became the next king. However, this was not the case.

He learned it the hard way that demanding respect is not the same as earning respect.

Simba, on the other hand, became a leader in his own right, by treating outsiders Timon and Pumbaa with respect. The same applies to us – leadership is not just about having a glamorous title, but rather it is earned by gaining the respect of your co-members.

If you are a leader of a team, your responsibility is to lead and make sure that your members are growing with you along the way.

3. Believe in the Power of Hakuna Matata

“It means no worries for the rest of your days!”

– Timon and Pumbaa

Is there a better life motto than this?

No, we reply. Because we’ve all been there, thinking about how much time we waste worrying about what needs to be done, instead of focusing on the task at hand.

While some worrying is healthy, chronic worrying actually makes you far less productive at work.

Living by Timon and Pumbaa’s “problem-free philosophy” will help to keep you focused on one project at a time, motivating you to get those tasks checked off your to-do list.

4. Leadership is not about position

“There’s more to being king than just getting your way all the time.”

-Mufasa

Right in the beginning, Simba famously sings about how he “just can’t wait to be King.” But seeing his father Mufasa meet his untimely fate due to his position showed Simba that being King isn’t a role to take lightly.

Mufasa taught Simba some great lessons about life and leadership and made some big decisions as a ruler to keep everyone safe and content.

A leader must know what he’s in for and be willing to accept the full responsibilities of the role – for better or for worse. Deep inside we all are very powerful to accomplish great things. All we need is the realization that ‘I Can Do It’.

5. Become a Lifelong Learner

“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.”

– Rafiki

One of the major plot points throughout The Lion King is watching Simba grow from a rambunctious cub to a fierce lion.

Along this journey, Simba learned valuable lessons from Mufasa, Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa. All of them shaped him into an effective leader once it was time to take his rightful place as King.

A good leader should strive to be like Simba by taking a lifelong learner mindset.

Realize who you are and unlock your true potential, by tapping into the power of your deepest motives and values. True leaders commit to perpetual growth, discovery, and learning.

Another sub-life-lesson, just because everyone tells you that you’re a lion, doesn’t mean you can’t do non-lion-y stuff. You should be whoever you want to be, and eat whatever you want to eat.

As you can see, just because it’s tagged as “childhood movie” doesn’t mean it’s just for children!

There are many lessons we can – and should- take from our childhood. So next time you are wondering what to do on a Saturday night when it’s raining, just think to yourself “Hakuna-Matata!”

Which other movies have inspired you to be a better person? Let us know in the comments section below!

If you liked this blog, you may also like: 6 Life Lessons That FRIENDS Taught Us

Written by

Studying bachelor’s in biotechnology, Aayushi is a really passionate person, who loves to read and travel. She believes people, places, and stories have the power to change anyone and help them understand the purpose of life.

3 Incredible Uses Of Cryptocurrency That Are Changing The World

Moldova is a small, landlocked country in Eastern Europe that has witnessed a consistent rise in energy prices over the past five years, and imports three-quarters of its energy. However, that could soon change, as the United Nations Development Programme is trying to power a Moldovan university with a cryptocurrency funded solar energy, an innovative step on their part.

Over the past few years, cryptocurrencies have grown magnificently, and because of its versatility, people are looking at it as an alternative currency.

One of the most unique things about them is that they are decentralized, and not controlled by any government or bank. They work on a unique system called ‘Blockchain’ that facilitates transactions easily and accurately.

So far, it has been used mainly for business and monetary transactions, but now, with changing trends, it has alternative uses that not other existing monetary systems allow!

Here are three ways in which cryptocurrencies’ alternative uses are making the world a better place!

1. Going Green

Cryptocurrency can help people access solar-based energy and shift from carbon-based energy, which is a huge step towards sustainable development.

For example, thanks to a project called the Brooklyn Microgrid, people who already have their own solar panels are able to sell environmental credits to residents who don’t. And guess what, they can do that using a phone app!.

Environmentalist or not, everyone will be happy to hear that cryptocurrency can be used to make the world greener, too!

2. Making Travel Easier

With cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin becoming more and more known and accepted by retailers worldwide, they have the potential to be used for basic transactions everywhere.

This may make travel easier as it eliminates the need to exchange currencies when people travel from country to country. It calls for a shift from traditional monetary systems to a more unified and widely acceptable cryptocurrency, facilitated by digital transactions!

Hence, your next international trip might be more simplified with the use of cryptocurrencies!

3. Accountability of institutions

Cryptocurrency can be used to encourage accountable business and governmental practices. The key lies in its technology itself- the blockchain. The blockchain is a digital ledger-like system that ensures and enables tracking of every transaction with complete transparency.

Surprisingly, it can also be used to battle ethical issues such as electoral frauds, and other frauds that involve money. All of this according to Santiago Siri, the founder of Democratic Earth, which is a non-profit that is designing an app to combine voting with blockchain.

Hence, cryptocurrency can help ensure fair elections and much more stable governments than before!

These are only a few ways in which cryptocurrency can change and impact the lives of millions and be a stepping stone towards a more sustainable environment.

The avenues of innovation widen as people are exposed to better technology and provided with adequate requirements that foster growth and development.

“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight.

We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all”

– Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General, UN

Do you also know other technologies which are changing the world for the better? Let us know in the comments!

If you liked this, you may also be interested in 4 Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing The World!

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