19Jul 2016 by aryask@gmail.com
Puppy is present

Puppy is present

self-awareness
My friend drops off his puppy, a beautiful black Labrador mix. I take her for a walk and while she hurries in an escapade of smells in the grass, I begin to open up to her. I told her that I feel dull and weary today and that I’m no stranger to this, a kind of rhythm that I’ve grown to know. The vulnerability is all over my body and speech and my care to belong is bare. She then pulls on the leash and yanks my arm, giving me the felt sense that the universe is a field of many forces, a bunch of pushes and pulls, with varying degrees within each, and the multiplicity of such events going on simultaneously. While the ego wants to control it all into a certain fashion, the…
Read More
02Jul 2016 by aryask@gmail.com
Creating flow and connection (inside out)

Creating flow and connection (inside out)

mindfulness
“People who are most resilient, and find the greatest peace in their lives, have learned to tolerate extreme sensations while gaining the capacity for reflective self-awareness.” -Peter Levine, In an Unspoken Voice Our thoughts, feelings, and sensations emerge from the body. Wherever you happen to be right now, whatever you happen to be doing, there is life energy coursing through your nervous system. Sometimes it can be stressful or intense and sometimes calm or euphoric. The picture above happens to be me standing on top of Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, an astonishing view where the river meets the ocean. Being present to our inner sensations is the foundation of self-awareness. Could be hunger or the intense heat of the summer sun that might make you feel exhausted or uptight. How we…
Read More
18Jun 2016 by aryask@gmail.com
A day on design

A day on design

design thinking
San Diego is an exciting place to be and it was clear at the all-day Design Forward Summit in Downtown. Being around innovators and executives of all kinds including Don Norman, director of the Design Lab at UCSD, the Kevin Faulconer, mayor of San Diego along with a slew of other presenters who provided spins on the value of design thinking as a social and economic force. At times the term “design” was tossed around like bird seeds in a basement and I would lose interest. I started asking people “what’s another word for design?” After all, it is about rethinking existing narratives and keeping things fresh. For me, it’s about mindfully shaping the conversation, as a holistic approach to problem solving. I would overhear people flipping it saying “what isn’t design?”…
Read More
10Jun 2016 by aryask@gmail.com
Adding meaning and self-awareness

Adding meaning and self-awareness

happiness, leadership
What’s your life goal? What’s your favorite daily routine? Does it match up? Regardless if you're clear about the answers, I've found the following exercise to be fun and effective. Marshall Goldsmith, a renown author and thought leader on executive coaching, offers a simple advice: track your behaviors. In an excel sheet list essential habits that add meaning to the day. Things like “did I exercise?” “Did I read?” “Did I say thank you?” "how happy was I today?" “day's highlight?” "day's lesson?" For 30 days spend 1 minute each day to mark ‘yes’ or ‘no’, a number, or a short comment for each item. Every 10 days you can include a column to summarize your scores. After 30 days graph the data and take a look. The mirror does not lie. Adjust your behavior as needed, and…
Read More