Kiran Bedi, social activist, retired police officer, former tennis player and noted politician, joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972, thereby becoming India’s first woman officer. Bedi is someone who needs no introduction. Her achievements are remarkable. Bedi is forthright, commanding, inspirational, and truly believes in equality and justice. She has fought for the rights of women all her life. An excellent orator, Bedi, recently delivered an inspirational speech to the students of a leading management college on ‘Time Management’.
We have 86,400 seconds in a day, which is a lot. Look at the kind of wealth that we have. Sometimes during a crisis, even one or two seconds make a difference—every second matters. So can’t 60 seconds out of 86,400 seconds be put aside in meditating or showing gratitude? The best part is that every day, these 24 hours come back. Every night when you sleep, the balance sheet is completed. If you have wasted your day, it’s written off. There is no credit left, no overdraft. Each day opens with a new account. You cannot carry it forward. Every 24 hours that God has given each one of us has to be put to great use.
Yoga is important for your overall health and energy. Every morning pranayama and some other basic exercises should be done to draw energy. The other thing is sleep well. Work hard all day and sleep well in the night. If you work hard today, you will have a good life tomorrow. This is the only time to study hard. My mother used to say, “If you study hard today, you will enjoy the rest of your life.” You have to plan your day daily. Your minimum six or seven hours of sleep is a must for energy. Switch off your mobile phones, chats, emails and just sleep.
Playing is also important. You don’t play to compete but to get energy. Unless you play, you won’t get energy. The more you play, more your overall health will improve, and your haemoglobin count will go up.
Plan, Prepare, and Succeed the Kiran Bedi Way
An inspirational talk by Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer, to the students of a leading management college.
Having healthy relationships through family and friends, spending good quality time with them, like watching a movie or having a meal with them are also important for your well-being. There is one kind of relationship that draws out energy from you— these are toxic relationships. You got to reject such relationships and let them go. When you gossip, lie or backbite about somebody, you only drain energy. Always replenish and detoxify your energy levels.
There are three periods in time management—there’s a past, present and a future. Your past is not meant for brooding but learning for experiences. Past is nothing but a memory for experience. If you keep crying about your past, you are only draining away energy. Learn and move on from your past. Your present is for living, learning and preparing for the future. Your future is for planning, but live in your present.
Your past is not meant for brooding but learning for an experience. Your present is for living, learning and preparing for the future
“The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.”
By Mahalakshmi Hariharan
