Tag: self-reflection

Ambrosial hours

Have you ever woken up between 3 AM and 5 AM, only to find yourself enveloped in an inexplicable calm? These are the ambrosial hours, also known as Brahma Muhurta—those precious moments before the world is fully awake, revered across cultures as a time when the barrier between the physical and spiritual realms seems to soften. It’s said that during these hours, intuition sharpens, creativity blossoms, and a deeper connection with the divine is within reach.

Ambrosial hours

Why the Ambrosial Hours Hold Magic

I remember a conversation I once had with an old mentor who was deeply spiritual. “The silence at dawn,” he said, “whispers truths that the noise of the day drowns out.” He spoke of how, in those early hours, the electromagnetic cacophony that fills our modern world quiets down, offering a rare opportunity to listen—not just to the sounds around us, but to the whispers within.

Science and Spirituality Collide

Studies indicate that our brainwave patterns shift naturally during these hours. The brain drifts into a state where alpha and theta waves, associated with deep meditation and creativity, are more prominent. Ancient texts from different cultures, from Vedic scriptures to monastic Christian teachings, echo this idea. They mark this time as sacred—a window for prayer, meditation, or any practice that feeds the soul.

How to Make the Most of the Ambrosial Hours

I used to think waking up early was only for productivity hacks or rigorous schedules, but that perception changed after a quiet morning a few years ago. I woke up unexpectedly at 4:15 AM and, instead of going back to sleep, I sat by the window, breathing in the stillness. There was something profound in the solitude; it felt as if the universe was leaning in to listen.

Practices to Consider

  • Mindful Meditation and Journaling: Use this time to anchor yourself. Breathe deeply, let your thoughts flow without resistance, and write down whatever comes to mind. The clarity at this hour is unparalleled.
  • Set Intentions: I recall reading a quote from the poet Rumi: “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” Visualize your day, set your intentions, and allow this quiet power to infuse your goals.
  • Creative Expression: Whether you write, paint, or play an instrument, let these moments of heightened energy guide you. One morning, I found myself sketching out an idea for a project that had eluded me for weeks—the breakthrough came as if from nowhere.
  • Spiritual Practices: Engage in prayer, chanting, or read a passage from a sacred text. You might find that words resonate more deeply in the early dawn, as if carried by the stillness itself.

Embracing Your Role as Creator

One lesson I’ve learned through this practice is the empowering realization that I am not just an observer of my life but its creator. By intentionally tapping into these sacred hours, you align with the flow of the universe. As my mentor used to say, “When you meet the morning with intention, the universe responds in kind.”

Building Your Ambrosial Routine

Start small. Set your alarm for just 15 minutes earlier than usual. Here’s what I found helpful:

  • Prepare Your Space: Keep a cozy blanket, a journal, or your favorite spiritual book nearby.
  • A Gentle Awakening: Invest in a soft alarm or use a gradual light to wake up without jarring your senses.
  • Mindful Rising: Before you rush to start your day, take a moment to sit at the edge of your bed, close your eyes, and breathe. Ground yourself in the silence.
  • Relish the Quiet: In these moments, reflection flows easily. Sometimes, the answers you seek during the chaos of the day reveal themselves in the tranquility of pre-dawn.

The Transformation Awaits

The ambrosial hours are not just a time on the clock; they’re an invitation to connect deeply with yourself and the universe. Embrace these moments and watch as your inner world transforms—bringing clarity, inspiration, and a profound sense of peace that echoes through the rest of your day.

The 95:5 Rule

The 95:5 rule

Have you heard of the 95:5 Rule? Based on research by Professor John Dawes, this rule states that at any given time, only about 5% of buyers are actively in-market for a particular product category. The remaining 95% represent future buyers who will enter the market when the need arises.

But what does this have to do with your career? Turns out, quite a bit.

Think of your career journey like a long hike. At any given point, you’re actively exploring a small number of opportunities – maybe 5% of what’s out there. These could be new roles within your company, a promotion you’re chasing, or skills you’re actively developing. This is your “in-market” 5%.

However, the vast majority of potential paths are not yet on your immediate radar. They represent the 95% of future possibilities that will become relevant as your circumstances and goals evolve over time. Just like a hiker can’t see the entire trail at once, you can’t pursue every career option simultaneously.

To make the most of the 95:5 Rule in your career:

  1. Actively invest in the 5% – Give your full energy to the opportunities you’re currently pursuing. Whether it’s crushing your current role, learning a new skill, or interviewing for a dream job, be “in-market” with gusto.
  2. Keep an open mind to the 95% – Don’t get tunnel vision. Keep scanning the horizon for new possibilities, even if you’re not ready to pursue them yet. This could mean attending industry events, growing your network, or simply staying curious.
  3. Trust in the journey – Just like a hiker has faith that the trail will open up new vistas, trust that your 95% of future possibilities will become clearer with each career step. Each role, project, and connection is shaping your path.
  4. Regularly reassess – As the “in-market” 5% shifts, periodically reevaluate your career priorities. Are you still energized by your current focus? Is it time to bring some of that 95% forward into active exploration? Pausing for self-reflection keeps you agile.

By embracing the 95:5 Rule in your career, you can balance active pursuit with open-minded exploration. Focus on the most impactful 5% while trusting that the 95% will continue to reveal new opportunities as you grow. Your career hike may be long and winding, but it’s all part of the adventure.

Do not focus too much on the outcome, instead reflect on the process

In a parallel world much like ours, there lived a man named Tobias. Tobias was not unlike many of us, laboring under the belief that his worth was measured in outcomes, achievements, and success. His life was a constant race, his mind perpetually spinning, from one goal to another, from one task to the next. He was forever chasing the horizon, never appreciating the journey.

In the same world, there also existed an ethereal being named Seren, the embodiment of wisdom and insight, who observed Tobias’s life with concern. Seren decided to guide Tobias, hoping to teach him the importance of the process over the outcome.

One day, as Tobias was engrossed in his work, he heard a whisper in his ear, “Tobias, why do you strive so relentlessly for the outcome?” Startled, he looked around and saw no one. But he had heard the question, and it lingered in his mind. “Because that’s what defines my success,” he finally answered the empty room.

Seren, invisible yet present, gently said, “Is success the ultimate destination, or is it the journey itself that matters?” Tobias was taken aback. He had never considered this perspective before.

Driven by curiosity, Tobias decided to explore this new perspective. He asked Seren to guide him on this journey of self-reflection, and Seren agreed. The following day, Tobias started his work as usual but with one significant change – he would focus on the process, not the outcome.

Over time, Tobias started noticing a shift in his perspective. He began to appreciate the beauty of the process, the joy of learning, the thrill of challenges, and the satisfaction of overcoming them. Each task became an opportunity to grow, not just another step towards an elusive goal.

Seren then introduced Tobias to the concept of “flow,” a state of complete immersion in an activity for its own sake. This concept, developed by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, suggests that the deepest sense of satisfaction and joy comes not from achieving a particular outcome but from the process of engagement with the task itself.

In his pursuit of flow, Tobias discovered that he was more creative, more productive, and, most importantly, happier. He learned that the journey was not a means to an end, but an end in itself.

However, Tobias also realized that focusing on the process did not mean ignoring the outcome entirely. It meant giving the journey its due importance, treating it with the same respect and enthusiasm that one would typically reserve for the destination.

This shift in perspective wasn’t always easy. There were times when Tobias felt the pull of his old habits, the allure of outcomes, the urgency of achievements. But with Seren’s guidance and his newfound insight, he would gently steer himself back to appreciating the journey.

As Tobias embarked on this new path, he found his relationships deepening, his stress levels decreasing, and his sense of fulfillment increasing. He was no longer just going through the motions of life; he was experiencing it, savoring it, living it.

In the end, Tobias realized that his worth wasn’t tied to outcomes. It was woven into the fabric of his journey, the steps he took, the challenges he faced, the growth he experienced, and the person he became.

This tale of Tobias and Seren is a metaphor for our own lives. We often focus on the outcomes, the destinations, the tangible achievements, while neglecting the process, the journey, the intangible growth. Psychology teaches us that our well-being, happiness, and fulfillment lie in the balance of both.

So, let us strive to be like Tobias. Let us appreciate the beauty of the process, the joy of the journey, and the growth that comes with it. For, in the end, it is not the destination that defines us, but the journey that shapes us.