Srikumar Rao's Blog

Would you rather be pushed by great pain, or pulled by a grand vision? I was interviewed recently by Marc Champagne and recommend his book Personal Socrates. In this podcast, we explore how our perceived reality shapes our happiness. I hope you like it. 🧠 A Sample of Topics Covered: • Why your reality is…

The post The Construct of Reality: Reimagining Success and Fulfillment appeared first on The Rao Institute.

I was in the checkout line at the supermarket. In front of me was a young, athletic man who had grabbed a sandwich from the deli section. I knew him slightly. He was an investment banker and a rising star at his firm. He had gone for a jog and was still in his sweats.…

The post You Did It! It’s All Your Fault! appeared first on The Rao Institute.

Look back on your life. Do you have questions or regrets about things you did? Or things you did not do? Have you wondered what would have happened if you had taken a different fork in the road of life? Think of how much emotional energy you spend on such speculation. Should you have joined…

The post No, You Did Not Make a Mistake! appeared first on The Rao Institute.

I have written, in an earlier blog, about the tendency of our minds to seek experiences outside, always outside. Steve took stock of his day before turning in. His head was abuzz when the alarm woke him in the morning. He hit the snooze button and grabbed an extra ten minutes before jumping out of…

The post What a Tuning Fork Can Teach You appeared first on The Rao Institute.

My last three blogs – they are here, here and here – have generated animated discussion and calls for more on the topic. It has also prompted some to ask deep questions. One reader asked how I would react if my grandson was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Would I counsel him to think of…

The post Pushback! appeared first on The Rao Institute.

In my last two blogs – they are here and here – I suggested that the way you view your life is dead wrong. And this mistaken view leads to the sorrow and pain you experience. You think you are an independent agent, and you do things and make decisions. You control your destiny, for…

The post Where’s the Proof? appeared first on The Rao Institute.

My last blog touched many a raw nerve and I received dozens of responses. There is a LOT of interest in delving deeper into the question of destiny vs. free will. In the West – and increasingly in the East as well – we resonate with the ringing declaration of William Ernest Henley in his…

The post Are You Really the Master of Your Fate? appeared first on The Rao Institute.

I am going to touch on some nerves in this blog. And, quite likely, stir up some controversy as well. Stick with me even if what I say seems outlandish. When you come to terms with it, many of your problems will simply vanish. Poof! Just like that! My grandson, Krish, visited me with his…

The post Are You Really Driving the Car? appeared first on The Rao Institute.

Mario Bauer is a serial entrepreneur and a world traveler. We spoke a few months ago when he was in Sri Lanka and he invited me to be a guest on his podcast – From Doubt to Drive. It is for entrepreneurs and one of the most listened to podcasts in Europe. But the lessons…

The post Another Podcast You May Like appeared first on The Rao Institute.

Kodo Sawaki Roshi, better known as Homeless Kodo, was an influential Zen Master. I have written about him in an earlier blog. Here is another of his teachings: To you whose life is about money, money, and more money Human happiness and unhappiness doesn’t only depend on money. If the balance in your savings account…

The post I Need Money! Money! Money! appeared first on The Rao Institute.