What motivates you personally?

I am motivated to eat right, so I can avoid, or postpone getting diabetes, and other chronic health issues (which may or may not be in my genes). I have pre-diabetes, and diabetes may be just around the corner, but I am doing all I can to avoid it.

I am motivated to walk regularly. It is not only fun to walk - since I usually have the company of friends or pets to walk with - but walking also helps me stay as fit as I can.

I am motivated to read, to listen, to watch, and to hear, so I can keep learning more about the world in which I live in, and to think thoughtful questions to find answers to.

I am motivated to keep writing, and to answer questions on Quora. I do this, because I hope it will help me become clearer about my thoughts and beliefs, and also help me with questions I am still searching for an answer to, or direction and determination for the future. Maybe, my writing will help other people do that too. This is what keeps me going. And of course, sometimes I write, just to entertain you. It is wonderful when inspiration strikes me for a lighter piece, which is entertaining, humorous, or whimsical.

I am motivated to think about, write about, and speak about, things which I feel need to change, or improve, in the world that we live in:

Minoo Jha

· Thu

What are some examples of how empowering women leads to social change and inclusivity?

In too many parts of the world, women are denied many of the basic rights that men take for granted: * Education * Dignity * Opportunity * Respect * Safety * Security * Freedom * Property rights * Empowerment * Voice Women’s activities are largely restricted to the home. What’s more, they have to follow oppressive social and religious rules both inside the home, and outside the home. Risking severe punishment, if they dare to break any of those rules. This has to change. Women should have the choice to be included in whatever men are included in. The laws that apply to men should also apply to women. The freedom that men have, is the freedom that women should have. Even in the most advanced societies, women will have to shake off what they have been socialized to do….which is “settle for second place”, “use feminine wiles and guile to get what they want” and continue to depend on men to do things as much as possible Women who do not confirm to this standard are called names, “man-haters”, “cat ladies” and more. Women have to stay strong in the face of all of this, and keep taking steps towards greater and greater equality. Raise the bar on what you want for women. Raise the bar. You, me, we… You, me, we.. Can do hard things.

I am motivated to strengthen my friendships. Friends can make one feel blessed and rich.

Minoo Jha

· 2y

What three things make your life 1000 times better?

For me it’s just one thing. This piece I wrote tells you what it is… I Am The Richest Person In America I am the richest person in America Richer than Bill Gates Richer than Elon Musk or Mark Cuban It's okay if you are going, wait, what, wait. Richer than Warren Buffett Let me be even geo bolder Richer than that Zara fellow and the owners of Ikea Richer than the Vatican for all I know. Richer than all the richest kings in history And richer than the richest queens too Richer than the richest celebrities Yes Oprah and Sean Combs - it's true. Richer than the richest sports women and men Michael Jordan or Conor McGregor Richer than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Richer than Roger Federer. Why am I the richest person in America, dear reader I'll tell you now my poem is coming to an end I am richer than everyone in America, and in the world, Because I am rich in friends! And so I say thank you to you, past, present, and future friends. And thank you to family or relatives, who have become friends I am the richest person in the world, and in history Because the rich tapestry of your friendships has enriched my life from end to end. Gracias, Shukriya Deu borem korum, Danke sehr Tak, Dziękuję, Khop Khun Mak Kha Nanri, Salamat Shukran, Dhanyavaadhamulu Arigato, doh jeh Merci becoup!

I am motivated to become more and more self-aware, and to meditate on the things I have to work on, which self-awareness makes me aware of.

I used to be a person who was quick to get angry. Self-awareness and meditation is what helped me get over this.

Minoo Jha

· 5y

Why is it easy to get angry and hard to stay calm?

Hi Kashif, You asked, Why is it easy to get angry and hard to stay calm? Because of the amygdala. I talked about it in my post How Many Times A Day Do You Visit Ireland? Reprinting it here for people who want the answer to this question. Out of the millions of people we live among, most of whom we habitually ignore and are ignored by in turn, there are always a few who hold hostage our capacity for happiness - Alain de Botton How many times a day do you visit Ireland? By Ireland, I am not referring to the idyllic country. The one that’s across the Irish Sea from the country that’s across the pond. The one we associate with loved, celebrated and revered traditions such as… River Dance. St. Patty’s Day. Guiness. Waterford Crystal The Ireland, I am referring to is something else altogether. It’s “Ire”-Land I used a play on words to get your attention. “Ire” Land is the opposite of an idyllic country. It is the hell we create for others when we get angry and lose control of our words and actions. When we are in “Ire”-Land, we let our Amygdalas hijack our brain. And behave as a caveman or angry baboon would. What’s an Amygdala Hijack? The Amygdala is the part of our brain that controls the flight or fight reflex. When it is activated, a flood of stress hormones is released into our blood and we react with fear or with anger, or both, to a stressful event. Our Amygdalas hijack our brains before the rational area of our brains – the neocortex - can process the stressful event. Thus no sooner does the event enter as sensory input through our eyes and ears, when we completely and instantly lose it. From The Best-Selling Book On Emotional Intelligence It was Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, who coined the phrase, Amygdala Hijack. Your Amygdala has hijacked your brain, if normally a civilized person, you become brutish, mean, cruel, insulting, hurtful and angry, possibly even ridiculously so -- in response to a stressful event. And you do or say stuff which you later regret and feel awful and foolish about and wish you could take back. Some Typical Situations In Which Our Amygdalas Hijack Our Brains: * Someone makes us jealous or mad * Someone humiliates us in public * Someone disturbs our concentration * We don’t get our way * Someone takes something we cherish without asking us * Someone causes us a loss of some kind * Someone cuts us off – drivers let their amygdalas hijack their brains all the time. Here an example of what a horrible outcome that can have. * Someone interrupts us, or tests our patience * We find out someone has wronged someone we love * We find out someone has lied to us, cheated us, or made a fool of us These are just examples. Everyone has different hot buttons. What We Should Do In These Situations The appropriate response in these situations would be for us to: * Show forbearance * Walk away * Ask someone who is in a calmer state of mind to intercede for us * Express how we feel later when we are in a completely calm state of mind But Instead What We Do Is: * Use bad language * Scream and rant and rave * Raise our voices and make verbal and physical threats * Scare young children and others around with our demeanor * Hit below the belt * Say or do something destructive, abusive or obscene * Act recklessly * Hurt ourselves * Hurt others * Damage property Is this you when you are angry? What can you do about it? * Can you enroll in anger-management classes? * Can you talk to a friend or family member about it? * Can you ask someone to correct you every time you start to get that way? * Can you try to cure yourself through meditation or yoga? You bet you can! Here’s why… I did it. I actually cured myself of amygdala hijacks (temper tantrums in plain English), even though I probably hold a record of sorts for them. (also my tirades would have made McEnroe’s tirades appear like the woofs of a dreaming puppy). In fact, almost everyone who knows me closely remembers at least one of these exhibitions of amygdala hijacks (it sounds so much nicer than temper tantrums, doesn’t it?). But miraculously, I’ve changed. Amygdala Hijacks Begone! I’ve cured myself of these amygdala hijacks through meditation. Honestly, a while back, if you had told me I would be able to conquer my anger management issues and put them behind me, I would have dismissed you with an “Oh, yeah!!!!!” and laughed you off, secretly thinking you had no idea what a tough nut I was when it came to losing my head. But guess what – you would have been right. Even tough nuts to crack (like myself) can conquer their anger management issues. I am living proof of it! What’s My Method? It started with observing myself. And noticing all the little things (and frankly, everything is little once your neocortex has had the time to process it) to which I have a hair-trigger anger response. Doing this turned out to be an interesting and revealing, if humbling exercise. I found out there was a ridiculous number of things which could set me off. And some of them were truly weird. I found out, for instance, that we even get angry just because someone made us angry. Look At What You Made Me Do Meaning anger is a two-step thing. First we get angry with someone over something. And then we get angry with them because they made us get angry and made us do foolish, angry, destructive and ridiculous things as a result of getting angry. This was just one of many revelations. By making it my business to observe myself during the day… and discovering the triggers to my anger… I was able to then meditate on breaking the cycle. Observation and regular meditation were the two prescriptions I wrote for myself. And they cured me. What’s the dosage for this completely free, completely healthful medicine? I meditate once every morning immediately when I wake up. And then at other times in the day as needed. A Picture Helps… Also, when I meditate, I find it helpful to have a picture in my head of people who do not have anger management issues. Meaning I try to channel peaceful, easy-going role models and internalize them. In my very own family, there are many role models for me to choose from. And you should easily be able to find role models as well. Conquering Anger Has Been Life-Changing For Me And I know it will be life changing for you. So if you are tired of doing and saying things that you later regret and are ashamed of, I urge you… Get serious about anger management. Let’s stop the madness and the sadness we cause from our out-of-control anger. P.S. Thanks for reading. You know I was thinking…there’s out-in-the-open sadness. The homeless, the poor, the beggars on the street, the starving, the physical and mental illness we see around us – all these come to mind. That’s sadness we can see. Then there’s Behind-The-Closed-Doors Sadness. The sadness people cause each other behind closed doors. The sadness no one knows about. If you are contributing to this Behind-the-Closed-Doors Sadness, make a new resolution today to get a hold of yourself. Like I did. Like me…I’m sure you’ll be glad you did. And others around you will be relieved and gladder still. P.S. 2 Meditation has become a daily routine for me. I got started after reading this wonderful book called How God Changes the Brain. P.S. 3: While you try to mend your ways, it is important to have compassion for yourself, so that when you slip up (and you will), you don’t lose heart, give up and revert back to your old ways; you need to forgive yourself for your slips and move on. P.S.4: Links to the 2 books mentioned in this post, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence and How God Changes the Brain are featured below. I also thought you might enjoy this video on Forgiveness. Remember, the first person you have to forgive is yourself. And finally, here's a link to an article by the author of Narnia, C.S. Lewis on Forgiveness - where he makes a valuable distinction between excusing and forgiving.

Now, I want to achieve other things through self-awareness and meditation:

Minoo Jha

· 1y

Why do some people have a hard time with self-reflection?

Because you will find out that you are not as smart as you think you are, as nice as you think you are, as ethical as you think you are, as honest as you think you are, I could go on and on…. In this piece I wrote, I share my own humbling discoveries about myself - I Thought I Was A Flower I thought I was a flower. Silly me. In so many respects, I am still a bud. And have growing to do. In spite of the sunlight. In spite of the soil. In spite of the water. In spite of the many years I have been on the stalk. I am still a bud. In this respect and that respect. In so many respects. I am still a bud. And I still have growing to do. __ That being the case… Be patient with me. Be patient with me. __ I thought I was a tree. Silly me. I now see. I am just a branch. Of a very big tree. Called humanity. It will take some time. To shake off the idea. That I am not the tree. I have to chip away at the bark. That kept me in the dark. That kept me from seeing all this time. That I am just a part. Of this very big tree. Called humanity. __ Which is why, I ask... Be patient with me. Be patient with me. __ I thought I was the ocean. Silly me. I found out I am just a drop. Among drops and drops and drops. In a vast expanse. That's as wide as it is deep. Beyond what my naked eye can see. When I think about that. I pause. And lift up my hands. And express awe. And then some more. At this amazing vastness I was not aware I was a part of. Isn't it amazing, to think. This little drop that's me. Is part of drops and drops and drops. So vast, it's more than my naked eye can see. And to think I have been living in a bubble that was so tiny. I am glad my eyes have opened. But I have to get used to this. __ So please… Be patient with me. Be patient with me.

Minoo Jha

· 1y

What do you know about yourself? What do you still have to figure out?