Calm for Life

MATS Institute of MANAGEMENT and ENTREPRENEURSHIP

BOOK REPORT

ON

BOOK

“CALM FOR LIFE”

(Paul Wilson)

SUBMITTED BY-

ANURAG SANTANI

ROLL NO. - 07

BATCH 2011-2013

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INTRODUCTION

ABOUT AUTHOR

Paul Wilson describes himself as a spiritual "uncomplicator". Others describe him as a teacher, author, columnist, musician - with a focus on meditation and peacefulness.

Until recently he wrote a syndicated newspaper column on meditation that reached a weekly audience of several million. He now does this online.

He's the businessman-author who wrote all those books with 'Calm' in the title (over a dozen, in 24 languages, more than 10 million in sales), and started the 'little book' phenomenon that swept the world with the Little Book of Calm.

He is equally well known as a teacher of meditation. He has taught over 1,000,000 people to meditate. His methods are taught in India, China, South East Asia, the Middle East and in dozens of western countries.

OTHER BOOK WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR

The Calm Technique Instant Calm The Little Book of Calm The Big Book of Calm Calm at Work Completely Calm The Little Book of Calm at Work The Little Book of Sleep Calm for Life The Little Book of Hope

What prompted the author to write the book?

It’s very easy to find peace and quiet when you're on the mountaintop, in the forest, on the secluded beach, at the retreat centre, or in the ancient temple.

But how do you find it in the thick of a noisy, non-stop modern world?

The author was prompted to write this book because when things get challenging, He can tap into it. A deep sense of peace and certainty comes flooding back, no matter what's going on around him. And that’s the secret he wanted to share with the whole world.

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http://www.calmcentre.com/1quiet/many/manybooks.asp

http://www.calmcentre.com/1quiet/col/column.asp


SUMMARY OF CONTENTS OF THE BOOK

The book “Calm for Life” by PAUL WILSON focuses mainly on skills and powers that enable any individual to accomplish extraordinary things.

Much of the understanding that allows this is a distillation of centuries of tradition and training, while other aspects come from modern scientific or qualitative research.

Paul Wilson starts the book with an explanatory statement that what will it takes to be calm in the thick of a noisy, non-stop modern world.

The author says CHOOSE TO BE CALM.

You see this in many contexts. In prisons, hospitals and nursing homes, for example, those who believe they have some choices in their menu – even though they receive essentially the same food as those who feel they have no choice – are significantly healthier, happier and more satisfied than those in the latter category.

It’s not always easy to see this, but you have the power to be happy or unhappy, to be tense or relaxed, to be contended or depressed, to be rich or poor, and to be well.

Moreover author discuses the Pleasure of Calm.

Here’s something you can do tonight to prove to yourself how pleasurable the simple act of being calm can be:

Run a warm bath. Throw in those expensive bath salts you’ve been saving for a special occasion – or

add five drops of lavender and rose oils. Light a candle, turn off the lights. Take a warm face towel and drape it over your face as you sink down into the tub. Tell yourself you have all the time in the world. Then listen to the sound of your

relaxed breathing as you begin to forget there’s another world outside.

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When you know how to maintain a sense of inner calm, you will be:

Better able to cope everyday problems Emotionally more resilient Happier and more optimistic More energetic and mentally alert More creative More tolerant.

Author says – Every person who has calmly taken control of their lives and achieved things of significance – for themselves and the world around them – uses holistic principles to produce their success.

Reductionism Holism

Parts The whole

Structured Creative

Rational Intuitive

‘Prove it’ Open

Linear Non-linear

Quantitative Qualitative

Western Eastern

Hierarchical Synergetic

Opposite Complementary

Categories Individuals

Discrete Connected

Future/past Now

Precise Fuzzy

Static Flowing

Masculine feminine

Interventionist Self-correcting

Single notes Harmony

Mechanistic Humanistic

The two ways of thinking

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When trying to understand any aspect of life using reductionist thinking, most of the efforts is concentrated on understanding the parts rather than the whole – whether the parts are organs of the human body, or construction methods used to build the pyramids. On the other hand holism is a view of the world that focuses not on the parts, but on the whole.

In addition the author says “When you can influence the way you think and behave, you can influence the direction of your life”.

When you choose to use the power of your mind to effect positive change - in terms of psychology, self-improvement, health and performance – there are nine principles that apply. They are:

The power of choice The power of calm (In matters of the mind, the more mental effort you apply to

any given situation, the less will be the result) The power of substitution (Substitute negative feelings by positive ones) The power of subconscious (To turn any idea into reality, all you have to do is get

your subconscious to take on the task. Visualize things) The power of emotion (Motivation comes from emotion, not knowledge) The power of imagination(A vivid imagination compels the whole body to obey it) The power of repetition The power focus (Your focus becomes your reality) The power of NOW (Now has no time attribute. Now allows no room for

knowledge {past}, the imagination {future}, regret or anxiety)

Thus, the author says that --

Kick off your shoes.

Take off your wrist watch.

Forget about all the pressures and responsibilities

of your everyday life.

You have all the time in the world.

And just relax.

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Take it easy, do virtually nothing for 20-30 minutes.

You deserve it.

It is your right.

It will help you become a better human being.

The benefits will multiply over time.

Moreover Paul Wilson explains about one formula i.e.,

M+B+F = C

Where,

Effort GoalM = Motivation

B = BeliefF = Focus

C = Consequence

Motivation requires the Law of Substitution

Belief says “You can because you think you can”

Focus says “The biggest achievements in life require singular focus, at least for part of the time”

Finally Consequence says “Essentially, the more real you can make your consequence seem, the easier it is to realize it”

And most importantly he gives stress on to the diet. He says diet plays a major role in how you feel. It influences how you deal with the stresses and strains of life. Most things that grow or be vegetarian is suggested.

Secondly learn to enjoy your exercise and lastly Love what you do.

There are varieties of psychological reasons why people do not achieve or attract the levels of success they desire. Foremost among these are:

It is not their central or core needs values. They don’t think they deserve it.

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They are afraid. They don’t think they are capable of it. They think it’s not up to them, and is all a matter of luck, fate or privilege. They try too hard.

The contents of book provide knowledge that it is not hard work that fuels the journey to the future, but the emotional and intellectual energy of every people are more important. The contents of book also summaries that people are worried about future/past and not concerned about NOW i.e., the present.

The contents of book gives a idea believing that the goal is not to predict the future, but to imagine a future made possible by changes in life-lifestyle, work style, regulation etc. The future is not what will happen, the future is what is happening. The book is about CALM, for shaping the future.

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KEY LEARNING’S FROM THE BOOK

Paul Wilson offers a masterful blueprint for what people must be doing today if it is to fulfill the dreams of tomorrow. By showing that the key to future is to learn to become CALM for success and prosperity, author reveals an entirely new definition of what it means to be successful. However lean and fit our future, it still needs understanding. But the understanding we have in mind is not the understanding of spiritual guru or therapist or physicians. Instead it is an amalgamation of collective intelligence and imagination which possess an enlarged view of what it means to be CALM. It is not about symbol vs. thoughts or beliefs vs. trust, or efforts vs. consequence.

As a management student what I learnt and like to share with my other management friends are –

Being calm is a choice. It is easy to become calm – at WILL. From this calm state, you can achieve extraordinary things. You possess Nine Mental Powers that can help you to enhance your life in ways

you may never have believed possible. Your greatest power and your maximum potential come from your calm centre. Calm and achievement are easier to gain when approached holistically. You are totally centered when you exist in the moment - NOW

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CONCLUSION

After reading the book “CALM FOR LIFE”, I came to the conclusion that author of the book is very brilliant. He is very insightful in the area of teaching CALM and qualities of life that needed to be possessed to be a successful individual.

The examples in the book were very helpful in understanding the material. After reading this book eyes are opened to the idea that we can build our future as per our desires. It gives knowledge that life is not easy. It gives knowledge how to be CALM and get success and prosperity with few to no problems. The author had mentioned that being CALM is a choice and at will.

After reading this book, I realized that there are so many different components in making a life succeed. The book provides the knowledge that it is not the hard work that fuels the journey to the future, but the emotional and intellectual energy of every individual. By showing that the key to future is to learn to become CALM for success and prosperity, author reveals an entirely new definition of what it means to be successful. After reading this book I came to know that future is not what will happen, the future is what is happening”. The book provides a complete concept that there is need to challenge protectors of the past. An ambitious and compelling dream which provides emotional and intellectual energy, defines the journey to the future. At last I can conclude that it is not a Reductionism approach to achieve success in life, it is the Holistic approach i.e. focus not on the parts, but on the whole.

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Calm for Life

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