What are the articles in this page?

I have been a columnist and book reviewer with many magazines and newspapers. Here is a sample of my writing. Please google my name, Vani Mahesh, for others.

How to talk so kids will listen

Parenting is of course best done using commonsense. Who knows our children better than us! But sometimes adults are clueless about where they are going wrong in disciplining children. That is when good parenting books help. One such excellent book is ‘How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk.’ The authors Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish offer simple solutions to the everyday battles we have with our kids. Their methods help parents refrain from accusing and threatening to get children to cooperate. This book is worthy of being in every parent’s bookshelf!

Miracles of mindfulness

Are you bothered by a rushed life, stress and to top it all off, a constantly wandering mind? Well, if you say yes to the above questions, then start reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s ‘Miracles of mindfulness’ right away! Here the author shows you simply and clearly how to be in the present, slow down your fast paced life and get to a place of peace and calm.

If you do not have the time to read the book, here are some techniques you can try to be more mindful and in turn peaceful.

1. Focus on breathing : Whenever you feel stressed, start breathing in and out slowly, counting the number of breaths. Needless to say, more breaths you count, the more restful your mind gets.

2.Observe mindfully: Focus on a flower, an insect, the tea you are drinking - anything that your are currently doing for a minute or two.

3. Listen mindfully: Turn on the music that you like and listen with complete focus, for at least five minutes.

Fight Against the Odds

Andre Agassi we know is an iconic tennis player who broke records and set new ones repeatedly. Suprisingly, the predominant theme of his autobiography “Open” is not his wins, but his losses –both his tennis-court losses but also a plethora of personal ones. This book is not only for tennis lovers. This book is for everyone who wants to get ahead in life despite odds. Agassi’s tenacity to swim against the odds and fight to get what he wants will certainly inspire any young mind. The book humanises our heroes and gives us the hope that if they can do it, we can do it too.

Get Creative

Do you have a passion that you have buried deeply since life got too hectic? Then read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. You have to commit yourself doing the little exercises the book asks you to do daily for twelve weeks. That is when the life changing magic happens! Not only your creative juices flow and but life feels a lot lighter and more enjoyable. The book provides you with essential tools that help cope with negativity when it raises its ugly head as you embark on a new journey.

Big Little Lies

Very rarely comes a novel that deals with complex human emotions in an easy to understand manner. Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies is one such. With a brilliant plot and writing, the author takes you on a roller-coaster journey of her four protagonists – mothers who meet at school. Each hides a secret behind a happy face. A must read for all women and girls above sixteen to understand what needs to be told in the open and not hidden. Though the theme of the novel is grave, the writing is light and easy that makes the book unputdownable.

Emotional Intelligence

Is Emotional Intelligence (EI) just a buzz word or is it something we all have to acquire to live affably in this world? It certainly is the latter. The phrase EI was coined by Daniel Goleman. He argues, and we cannot deny, that a high EI is more important than a high IQ. So what is this EI? Goleman sums it up as below -

Recognize, understand and manage our own emotions
Recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others

And how do you achieve this? How do you teach this life-skill to children? Do read Daniel Goleman’s book for the answers.

Vani Mahesh

Author, speaker