18 July 2014 - QA 4

Even though I know what is good for me, I still am still attracted to self destructive habits such as laziness and selfishness. I feel like it has something to do with my childhood. What is the best way to remember what is forgotten from the early years?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

When you label yourself saying, 'I am lazy', you justify being lazy. If you label yourself saying, 'I am bad', it gives one the license to remain bad. Do you see what I am saying? The first step is to remove these labels, peel them off. Know that you don't know who you are, and how creative and strong you are. You should say, 'I don't know who I am'. When you don't know who you are, then you stand a chance to improve; you get that determination to say, 'Okay, I am going to do this!'
Start with simple things, and be determined to follow them. For example, say, 'I am going to walk a kilometer today', and do it!

I remember, when I used to walk home from school, I would count every step. It was almost half a kilometer, and I would say, 'Step one, two, three, four', and so on. I would walk home with full awareness. Even when you walk, do it with awareness, and determination. Say, 'Today, I reached home in 20 minutes, tomorrow I will do it in 18 minutes. Then I will do it in 15 minutes, and with full awareness.’
You set the challenge for yourself and fulfill it. This is the way to increase your confidence and capacity.