Growth Mindset: Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

I used to not get out of my comfort zone. I just stayed wherever I was comfortable. As life went on, especially during my college years, I realized that in order to grow and become better than who I was yesterday, I had to get out of my comfort zone.

I really started exploring myself and doing things I did not do before. This has helped me to boost my confidence, experience, and knowledge in a lot of different aspects of life.

People who used to say that I'm not confident or don't have a lot of self-esteem now say that I am one of the most confident people they have seen. I know for a fact that many of my former teachers are very proud of the person I've become.

Now for a quote!

"If you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done."

Source: (Google Images)

Tech Tip: Downloading Canvas App

Downloading the canvas app on an iPhone is quite easy.

All you need to do is go to the app store and search "canvas". It should be the first one by Intrastructure. Double tap on "GET" and it should ask you for your Touch ID, if your phone is capable. After you give it your touch ID, it should be downloaded.

***Side Note: OU started using Canvas last semester. I struggled with using Canvas last semester, but it's so much easier this semester.***

The canvas app looks like this.

Source: (Google Images)

Week 7 Story: Always Ready To Help

On one fine weekday, Jethabhai's alarm goes off, he gets up, and gets dressed to go to the dukaan (store). After getting ready, he comes out to the dining area and asks Dayabhabhi for breakfast. Dayabhabhi serves it to him, he eats it, and he gets up to leave for the dukaan. Just as he saying that he is leaving, Bapuji and Tapu come there and Bapuji says, "Arre ruk, Jethia. Hum bhi tere saath aa rahe hai. Bahu, mein apne doston ko milne jaa raha hoon Nana-Nani Park aur Tapu college jaa raha hai." ("Wait, Jethia. We are coming with you. Daya, I am going to see my friends at Nana-Nani Park, and Tapu is going to college.")

All three of them (Bapuji, Jethabhai, and Tapu) say "Jai Jinendra" ("Bye.") to Dayabhabhi and leave.

As they are coming down the stairs, Jethabhai spots a rickshaw coming towards them, and Jethabhai says to Bapuji, "Arre yeh dekhiye, Bapuji, ricksha bhi idhar hi mil gayi." ("Look, Bapuji, we got a rickshaw right here in the society compound.")

Bapuji says, "Haan." ("Yes.")

The rickshaw stops and Jethabhai sees Mehtasaab getting out. Jethbhai asks, "Arre Mehtasaab. Kahaan se aa rahe itni subeh subeh?" ("Mehtasaab, where are you coming from so early in the morning?")

Mehtasaab responds, "Kalam ki refill lene gaya tha, lekin meri chhodiye, Gada parivaar ke teen peedhiya ek saath kahaan jaa rahe hai?" ("I went to get a refill for my pen, but forget me, where are the three generations of the Gada family going?")

Jethabhai responds, "Mein dukaan jaa raha hoon, Bapuji apne doston ko milne Nana-Nani Park jaa rahe hai, aur Tapu college jaa raha hai." ("I am going to dukaan, Bapuji is going to see his friends at Nana-Nani Park, and Tapu is going to college.")

Mehtasaab says, "Theek hai. Jaayye, aap ko late ho raha hoga. Shaam ko milte hai, Jethalal. Jai Jinendra, Chachaji." ("Ok. Go then, you're probably getting late. I'll see you later, Jethalal. Bye, Uncle.")

Bapuji responds to Mehtasaab, "Jai Jinendra." ("Bye.")

Jethabhai then says, "Chaliye, Bapuji. Aaja, Tapuda." ("Let's go, Bapuji. Come, Tapu.")

And then they leave.

Later in the dukaan, Jethabhai receives an invitation to go to an electronic exhibition in Kerala. He has his flight the next morning at seven, for which he will have to reach the airport at five. After coming home, he tells Dayabhabhi, Tapu, and Bapuji about it.

Bapuji says, "Jethia, tu airport jaayega kaise? Ek kaam karna, tu soda peene jaayega, to Sodhi ko puchh lena koi taxi waale ke liye." ("Jethia, how will you get to the airport? Do this, when you go to drink soda, ask Sodhi for a taxi driver.")

Jethabhai responds, "Kal ke liye taiyaari karni hai toh soda peene to nahi jaaunga, lekin mein Sodhi ke saath phone pe baat karlunga." ("I have to prepare for tomorrow, so I'm not going to drink soda, but I'll talk to Sodhi on the phone.")

Later, Jethabhai calls Sodhi and asks about a taxi driver. Sodhibhai says, "Mere hote hue taxi ki kya zaroorat hai?" ("What's the need for the taxi when I'm here?")

Jethabhai says, "Arre nahi bhai, tu kyun itni subeh subeh pareshaan ho raha hai?" ("No, no, why are you troubling yourself so early in the morning?")

Sodhibhai responds, "Mein kabhi dosto ke wajeh se pareshaan nahi hota, lekin agar tum taxi me gaye toh mein pareshaan ho jaaunga. Rab di saun, dosto ke liye jaan bhi haazir hai." ("I can never be troubled by doing things for my friends, but if you take a taxi, then I really will be troubled. I swear to God, I can sacrifice my life for my friends.")

And with this, Sodhibhai takes Jethabhai to the airport the next morning and Jethabhai is able to catch his flight on time.

***Author's Note: This was the best idea I could get from this week's reading. I wrote the first part of this story much better last semester, but this is all I could remember of it. The idea of this story came from when Lord Krishna lifted a mountain on one finger to save His fellow villagers from a huge flood sent by Lord Indra. Sodhibhai is always ready to help anyone in the society, as was Lord Krishna during His time.***

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Krishna.

Here's Sodhibhai and Roshanbhabhi!

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Sister Nivedita's Krishna, Part B

The second part of Krishna was about when Lord Krishna returned to Mathura. It was also about when He became the charioteer for Arjuna during the Mahabharata. Lord Krishna also consoled Gandhari when she lost all of her one hundred sons in the war of the Mahabharata.

The second part was an interesting read because some parts I knew about and some parts I didn't know about.

I know for sure that I am going to write a story about how everyone in Gokuldham Society is always ready to help one another in times of need.

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Krishna.

Lord Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer.

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Sister Nivedita's Krishna, Part A

For Week 7, I chose to read Krishna by Sister Nivedita. When I first chose it, I thought it would take forever to read, but I was quite surprised to see how short it was.

The first part of Krishna was about Lord Krishna's birth, about how He was born in jail to one mother, but raised by another mother.

The first portion of the book also talked about when Lord Krishna fought with the great big, Kaliya Naag, and when He lifted the mountain to save all of his fellow villagers from a gigantic flood sent by Lord Indra.

If I were to write a story, I would connect it with Gokuldham Society and how everyone is always ready to help one another.

Some of my favorite stories that I've heard of Lord Krishna are the first part. I look forward to reading Part 2 and see what it contains.

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Krishna.

Krishna fighting with the great Kaliya Naag.

Source: (Google Images)