Dikshi Gupta

Radical Self-Love

September 28, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

We live in an age of trust and collaboration. People are motivated by those who come across as self-reliant and optimistic at each stage and each generation, from the charismatic doctor to the enthusiastic, inspiring speaker or the caring and friendly teacher.

Self-love encompasses Self-esteem, self-worth, and self-image. They are structures that denote how we look at ourselves, view ourselves as individual entities, and represent our personalities to the rest. Confidence is the secret to a fulfilling life, high self-esteem, and practicing self-love is where it all begins.

Loving and taking care of yourself and putting your happiness as a priority isn’t selfish. It’s a necessity. Practicing self-love does not indicate that you are self-absorbed or selfish or that you ignore others. Instead, it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion. Contrary to popular belief, spending time on yourself isn’t seen as egocentric. If you’re guilty of continually thinking not-so-happy thoughts or being there for everyone except yourself, relax, practice self-care, and brighten your mindset.

Steps to increase self-esteem and find inner peace:

1) Get to Know Yourself

What brings you joy? What are your passions? Take out time to get to know yourself as a person. Plunging into this exercise can be a fantastic way to discover things about yourself that maybe you never knew before!

2) Remove the Negativity in your Life

Encircling yourself with negative energy is a surefire way to get wrapped up in negative thoughts yourself. If your desire to feel happy and peaceful is taken away by something or someone, it requires immediate attention or entirely eradicates the negativity from your life.

3) Use Positive Affirmations

Using optimistic mantras or affirmations to help solidify your mind’s positive thoughts can be a helpful tool to get through the hard days!

4) Practice Gratitude

There is goodness to be found in every single day if we seek it. I can guarantee that there are always at least a couple of things that you can be thankful for in your life, including on days when it feels like there is nothing to smile about.

5) Listen to what your Heart wants

Our heart sometimes tells us things that we don’t want to hear. Perhaps this comes in the form of a gut feeling that we neglect because it needs us to make complicated or unpleasant choices or need more power from us than we think we have to offer.

6) Give yourself Grace

Let go of perfectionism and treat yourself with the same forgiveness you give to others. We are all on a path to better ourselves and to continue making progress, and no one, including yourself, can be expected to be flawless all the time!

I think the real secret of happiness is knowing that it’s an inside job. It’s about understanding that life doesn’t happen to you; it happens for you. After working on myself and my growth, I’ve learned that having a high sense of self-worth or high self-esteem and knowing you are worthy of being happy is the secret to true happiness and leading a complete and joyful life. Download JoyScore to get more insights on living a Joyful life.

Your Ultimate Guide To Sun Salutations

September 24, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Yoga is the science of well-being and helps integrate our mind, body and soul. Sun salutation is one such yogic sequence which helps us to live a healthy life.

The Sun is our ultimate source of life and energy. And a straightforward way to express our gratitude to the Sun is to practice Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation. The name is derived from Sanskrit words ‘Surya’ meaning the Sun and ‘Namaskar’ meaning greetings or salutations.

Humankind is a composite of 3 distinct components – Mind, Body and Soul. And Sun salutation is a tool to keep these components healthy and in sync.

Why Surya Namaskar?

Primarily, it ingrains more discipline in you. It brings great stability in your life despite the sheer dynamism prevailing it. Secondly, it’s an amazing full body workout. It tones the muscles and gives flexibility to the body. Thirdly, it helps relax the mind and build mental focus. Read on to know the how part of it.

When to do Surya Namaskar?

It is recommended to do Sun Salutation early in the morning with an empty stomach. If you’re pressed for time, you can do it in the evening as well, but ensure you have an empty stomach. Start by performing 2 rounds of sun salutations every alternate day and slowly shift to 2 rounds everyday. Increasing the number of rounds drastically has a negative impact on the joint muscles.

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Amidst all this chaos… roll out your mat and get set in motion. Sun salutations are a combination of 12 asanas that work holistically on your body. When performed along with the movement of breath, it stimulates the vital organs, thus helping in removing toxins from the body and bringing balance in the pranic energy. Follow @joyscoreinc for more insights on living a healthy life. #sunsalutation #yogainspiration #yoga #suryanamaskar #energy #healthylife #theultimateasana #improvesmetabolism #healthy #goodstart #joy #mindfulness #healing #fitness #wellness #healthylifestyle

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Benefits of Surya Namaskar.

There are 12 unique and powerful sequences and mantras in Sun Salutation. Chanting these mantras while performing every sun salutation offer many holistic benefits. The mind is focused on the chanting rather than the discomfort of the body thus helping in strengthening the mind.

Following are few more benefits:

Surya Namaskar strengthens the nervous system and also makes endocrine and thyroid glands more active.
It is quite beneficial for children too as it helps improve mental concentration, self-confidence and optimism.
Many Practitioners say that there is enough air in the lungs to breathe in and breathe through the action of breathing during the Surya Namaskar, and it acts to deliver more oxygen to the blood. Carbon dioxide gets rid of the body, and blood circulation is better.
It invigorates the entire digestive system and cures/prevents constipation.
Regular practice helps in getting rid of redundant fat accumulation especially around the stomach area.
It also helps reduce the risk of heart disease, high/low blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis.
It helps in preventing menstrual disorders.
It strengthens the back and all the joint muscles with consistent practice.
It improves knock-knees while walking and helps retain proper posture.
It helps in improving immunity as we tend to inhale more oxygen while performing the asanas and chanting the mantras.

Wrapping it up

Like all other yoga asanas, it’s essential to learn Surya Namaskar, under the expert guidance of a trained yoga teacher, to reap the maximum benefits and avoid injuries. In case of any medical condition, consult your doctor before taking up this routine.

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A Guide To Self-Confidence

September 18, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Craving a freshly baked pizza post-workout is the greatest battle one can have with themselves. It starts with remembering the last time you had a slice or two at your favorite pizza place. But then, remember the calories and all the crunches you are going to have to do for the flat tummy. Horrendous diet vs. that extra push to lift the weight. Which side do you think would win? Probably the pizza!

Today it might be just pizza. Tomorrow it may be french fries. Then comes the burger overflowing with cheese. And on it goes. The real question is, can you stand against yourself and say no? Can you let go of that little extra but mouthwatering bite for the sake of your healthy body?

What you choose is where the self-empowerment stems from. Picking the tough side (which might be inherently good for you) and sticking to it, with a ‘come what may’ attitude, cultivates the habit of having power over your choices.

Self-empowerment means having conscious control over the choices you make which ultimately decide who you are. People confuse it with motivation many times. But it’s not self-empowerment unless you identify what it is that you want in life and take action to achieve that goal. Taking control and responsibility of decisions seems easier to comprehend but to act on it, is where the courage lies. Developing an action-oriented nature is not possible overnight. The small steps, for instance, the earlier example, where making a simple choice looked like a huge war, impact our decision-making power. When we inculcate the habit of evaluating our choices and opt which benefits us in the long run, it becomes simpler to choose an alternative in a spontaneous situation, since our mind has been habituated to react in a particular pattern.

Similarly, having control over our reactions is a process toward self-empowerment. Initially, it might look tough, but over time it is one of the greatest forms of self-mastery. We hold the key to our reactions and yet tend to give it away in an unlikely situation. For example, how to be poised in an argument or how to subtly accept rejection, might be tough for some people to follow. Under such circumstances, it is recommended to mentally take a step back and observe the emotions that unravel. How do you feel? Angry? Disdained? Provoked? Furious? Acknowledge it. Let this phase pass until you know these emotions don’t do the talking. This helps in separating the real you from the current state of your mind which would be a roller coaster of sentiments. Once you rise above these sentiments, you decide how to give an effective response, which is appropriate for that particular situation. You have to take that call. Self-Confidence makes you feel more in control of the situation you are in and also life, in general.

Once you acknowledge the small areas which need work, you can start experiencing resistance from your mind to accept the change. Fight it. But once you overcome this resistance, the empowered feeling pushes you farther to become a better version of yourself.

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Working From Home Has Got You Working All The Time

September 3, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Everyone across the globe is struggling to figure out how to navigate through the new normal and maintain a balance.

People who have had the option of working from home are now joined by those who have been forced to work from home because of the pandemic. People feel trapped under the heap of tasks, like keeping children entertained when they aren’t helping them with online classes.

When you work from home, physical boundaries between work and personal life start fading away, and we find ourselves torn between the two. Despite how organized you are, it can be challenging to manage your career and household in the same space. The disruption of not physically seeing colleagues, friends, family, and uncertainty can lead to burnout and anxiety.

Working from home is going to be with us for quite a while, but here are some tips to better integrate the different facets of life:

Start your day with things that do not revolve around work and make you feel relaxed before the work hour kicks in like a coffee ritual, 10-15 minutes of yoga or a walk.

Avoid waking up to check work emails as it can cause discomfort or tension.

Slip out of your comfortable sleepwear and get dressed – it will give you a sense of working in the office.

Maintain a designated workspace that separates work from personal chores. Keep the doors shut to avoid distractions.

Set a time to focus on specific tasks and stick to it. Do not let household chores interfere with the time allotted for work. Use a timer or block your calendar to manage distractions.

Avoid non-essential activities like scrolling through social media and seek your partner’s help in household chores.

Take breaks to prevent feeling overworked. Get up every hour and stretch or walk around.

Close your laptop and call it a day after a specific time, especially on weekends and holidays. Being available every time sets an expectation and diminishes the work-life balance.

Connect with co-workers through tools like Slack/Teams/Phone/Zoom to effectively communicate and avoid a disconnect in the work structure and team.

Spend 5- 10 minutes to talk with colleagues about non-work events to build a connection with them.

Carve out time for yourself. Call friends and family, spend time with them, or indulge in a hobby.

Watch entertaining content and limit news consumption. Listening to negative news can elevate your anxiety and let your mind wander when required to focus.

WFH does have some benefits – less time spent in the car, more time spent with family and more flexibility in creating a work schedule. So optimize those hours for things like exercise, cooking meals and give yourself a break from the computer screen.

Develop a transition period of at least 30 minutes between ending work and starting your chores. Have a cup of tea, step out for fresh air, explore the JoyScore app to let go of some steam, relax and engage yourself in mindfulness with meditation, doing stretches, learning new nutritional facts, and the list goes on.

Any change requires time to adjust. Maximize the positive lifestyle benefits of working from home. As you adapt to this change, spend more time on the JoyScore app as it will help you calm your mind and improve your life’s Joy Score.

Stuck at Home? Take a Journey Inward

September 2, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Six months ago, life was running at its own pace and we were busy in our daily routine. But the pandemic has made our lives come to a screeching halt and left us perplexed, wondering what will happen next as the entire world seems to be in chaos. Now, we are stuck at home and our anxiety is spiraling out of control. The key now is to remain vigilant and arm yourself with facts rather than surrender yourself to worry and anxiety. It’s important to take a journey inward to introspect and be aware of what is going on inside you to overcome the anxiety and stress.

We feel stuck when we are unhappy with where we are and cannot move forward or take any action. Getting stuck in this web of confusion can be frustrating because it feels like you are on the road to nowhere with no alternative. But think of it the other way, as it might be the gift of time we have been craving for, to pause, to take a journey inward and reflect, to befriend our minds, to deepen your understanding of yourself and our place in the universe.

In the hustle and bustle of life, we are sometimes worn to exhaustion that we often struggle to find the time and space to address our interior life. It is vital to take a moment to press the reset button and give yourself some relaxation. The art of meditation is a mysterious journey that takes a lot of practice and a peaceful environment conducive to explore yourself and pay attention to the subtle inner cues without any distractions or devices. Silence gives us the mental space and time to listen to the inner voices we carry and get to know ourselves more intimately.

Meditation improves focus and helps us identify which feelings can be trusted and which instincts might need to be contained, as they might cause us to get off track or get lost en route. It helps you battle your temptation like craving for sweets, repeatedly checking the count of ‘likes’ on our social media. This inward journey makes us grow stronger by setting aside obsessions. It also helps us reduce negative emotions, focus on the present, increase patience and tolerance, and gain a new perspective for stressful situations.

While we were catering to the outer world, you can now utilize this opportunity to attend to your inner self. Cultivate an awareness of the sanctity of life through our app ‘JoyScore.’ Delve within to familiarize yourself with your mind, breath, and heart. The application helps you be mindful. Furthermore, it enables you to find ways to celebrate the simple and slower pace of life and make the journey more gratifying.

The journey to enlightenment is only a click away.

Celebrate Small Joys in Life

August 17, 2020 by Dikshi Gupta

Is your definition of ‘Celebration’ restricted to that perfect moment? Most of us celebrate upon achieving some milestones in our life like promotion, marriage, buying a new house/ car, becoming parents, etc. But what about the small joys and simple pleasures? They are around us, but to enjoy them, be open to noticing them. We live in a world of tremendous competition, where everyone is rushing to accomplish something. While we are wrapped up in the normalcy of our daily lives, we overlook the simple joys.

We worry and crib about so many things, which shoots up our stress levels that we seldom think of these little joys that we should be thankful for. To combat this stress and anxiety, try to shift your focus to notice and rejoice the small bits of happiness, for they add richness and depth to existence and do wonders for your mood. These are usually unplanned, sometimes unexpected, and some of the sweetest parts of life.

Ever wondered what if the sun stops shining? Without the sun, life would cease. One of the biggest mistakes we commit is to take these little things for granted, e.g., our toes. A small thorn in our toe can make the entire body feel the pain and suffer. Celebrate because you still have the sun shining, celebrate because you have toes, celebrate because you have a roof over your head. Celebrate these small joys instead of occasions.

Often, we wait for something significant to happen and let the tiny sparks of happiness fade away. Instead of waiting for happiness to find you, create Joy and Happiness for you. Look for things that make you smile. There are plenty of little things in our daily routine, no less than a celebration, that can make us excited and joyful-

Pet Friendly Joy — Joyful friends with pet

Playing with a child and enjoying their laughter.
Finding money in a cloth worn after a long time
Making your favorite dish/ eating healthy
Inviting friends over dinner for no reason
Spending leisure time in a hammock
Getting a compliment from someone unexpectedly
Sound of birds chirping/ the smell of rain
Waking up mid-night and realizing that you still have time to sleep
Sunshine on a cold day/ breeze on a hot day
Witnessing/ Performing an act of kindness
An unexpected day off
Getting animal Love and Compassion

Make a list of things you are thankful for and revisit it daily to remind yourself of all the incredible things and people you have in your life. Do not take things for granted. Embrace, acknowledge, and celebrate simple joys amidst the chaos. Life happens around us while we wait for the big things hoping they will give us inner peace or happiness. Enjoy the simple pleasures and be joyful, for one day you may turn back and realize that those were the things that mattered. Try to continually appreciate little things and see how the magic unfolds for you. Lastly, stop worrying because when you do so, happiness comes your way.

Start watering the seeds of Joy within you through our app JoyScore, a self-guided, self-development platform that promises to elevate joy. Join us and experience your life getting crowded with unexpected delights.