Canteen Fundas

 We spoke about the importance of physical energy in energy management last week,’ sad Rinku. ‘How to go about it bhaiyya?’ ‘Physical energy is the fundamental source of fuel for work, mental and physical,’ said Rakesh. ‘This physical energy’s derived from the oxygen- glucose interaction in our bodies. It means that our breathing and eating patterns affect our energy the most. Small improvements to our breathing, food, exercise, hydration and sleep patterns lead to significant changes in physical energy available to us.’ ‘Breathing bhaiyya?’ asked Rinku. ‘Yes,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘Deep, smooth rhythmic breathing increases physical energy, calms our mind and improves concentration and performance while shallow breathing depletes energy rapidly. Extend your exhalation to twice your inhalation period, a 3 second inhalation followed by 6 seconds of exhalation, and notice the difference. Longer escalation helps maintain a healthy work-recovery ratio.’ ‘Wow,’ asked Rinku. ‘Does food ...

  ‘Ankita turns high quality work in all areas,’ said Rinku. ‘And so easily and tirelessly.’ ‘Yes, said Rahul. ‘We put in longer hours and get tired which affects our performance. She aces everything and still has lots of energy left. How?’ ‘It’s about her energy management,’ said Rakesh. ‘In ‘The Power of Full Engagement’ authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz say high performances result from managing energy, not time.’   ‘What’s managing energy bhaiyya?’ asked Rahul. ‘Good energy management is optimizing the energy of our ‘performance pyramid’ – our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects,’ said Rakesh. ‘We then access the right quality, quantity, focus and force of energy which changes the quality of our thoughts, behaviours and actions resulting in high performance. We basically engage with life fully leading to great results.’ ‘Whoa,’ said Rinku. ‘Never thought energy management had so much to it. So, energy management helps us to work longer hours witho...

 ‘Bhaiyya, Rahul heard his favorite sportsmen saying ‘focus on the process and the results will take care of themselves,’ said Rinku. ‘Ever since he’s studying at his own pace and getting poor marks.’ ‘But I’m enjoying the process yaar,’ asked Rahul. ‘Marks will take care of themselves.’   ‘The idea of focusing on the process is also to get the right results,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘It doesn’t mean we ignore results. Right processes get the right results. One leads to the other. Not one at the cost of the other.’ ‘But how will focusing on process improve results bhaiyya?’ asked Rinku. ‘We should focus on results to improve results right? The fear of bad results makes us study harder.’ ‘When we focus on results– marks, winning, performing etc – we put unhealthy pressure on the outcome, on ourselves,’ explained Rakesh. ‘This extra pressure, and fear, interferes with our execution in exams and we don’t achieve desired results as often or as easily. Worse, we don’t enjoy the proc...

 Ankur didn’t get selected for the college basketball team,’ said Rinku. ‘He puts in so much effort into his game. He so deserved to be picked.’  ‘Manish got selected instead,’ said Rahul. ‘He’s isn’t half as good. He doesn’t deserve to be in the team. Very unfair.’ ‘But Manish made it and Ankur didn’t,’ said Rakesh. ‘Which tells us it’s not just skill and hard work. Ankur’s missing an important ability that Manish has.’ ‘What bhaiyya?’ asked Rahul.   ‘Deserve-ability – your belief about what you deserve,’ said Rakesh. ‘Despite great talent, hard work and doing everything right, if you feel you don’t deserve success, you’ll not get it. On the other hand, someone with lesser talent but a stronger belief that he deserves everything, gets it.’ ‘That’s crazy,’ asked Rinku. ‘How bhaiyya?’ ‘Because we don’t get what we deserve, we get what we expect,’ said Rakesh. ‘Not getting tickets after waiting longest in line, getting the worst seats, not getting a piece of cak...