First, there is tamas, the quality of inertia, lethargy, and darkness. At tamas, life functioning is difficult as only the bare minimum is possible.

When one lets go of his or her resistances, tamas gives way to rajas, the level of activity, effort, and passion. Whereas at tamas, a person may be apathetic or simply lack the energy to take action, at rajas, the person is now fueled by motivation to improve his or her life. Here, there is a focus on both internal and external esteem needs.

Finally, the determination and dedication of rajas gives way to sattva, the state of being, harmony, and peace. At rajas, there’s a focus on material things: the car you drive, the size and location of your house, designer clothing, the latest technology, and so on. At sattva, the emphasis turns to who and what you are—and to experiencing a sense of balance, compassion, and peace.

Ultimately, all three qualities of consciousness are around us at all times. We can observe people and businesses stuck in tamas, seemingly unwilling or unable to grow and adapt, barely surviving. In others, we can notice an unquestionable drive to succeed in the world (rajas)—individuals committed to “making it to the top” and businesses focused on creating dominant market share. And in some individuals (but rarely in businesses) we can admire a state of balance and centeredness (sattva)—those that have transcended both rajas and tamas.

Perhaps you can even witness all three gunas within yourself—within different roles or Areas of Focus in your life and business.

When you observe resistance within yourself, say to completing a project or doing a household chore, the state of tamas is present. When driven by constant activity, rajas holds sway. When you enter a state of allowing—when things just seem to flow—you are in a sattvic state.

Become aware of these three qualities in your daily life. With greater awareness comes a greater range of choice. You will come to notice your resistances (tamas) more quickly, enabling you to transcend into rajas. Through the course of one’s inner evolution, sattva will begin to emerge on its own.

Related posts:

1. Our Love for Busyness
2. Seven Qualities of an Effective Coach
3. Elevate Your Consciousness

The human ego is fragile. It likes to think it’s perfect; it hates hearing that it’s not. How do you offer feedback in a way that others will be receptive to it?

Most managers and business owners use a combination of judgmental comments and personal criticism as their predominant mode of feedback. Judgment might take the form, “This report is terrible.” Personal criticism comes in the form of an attack, “You’re not good at this.” Obviously, these approaches are neither supportive nor helpful.

To overcome our innate resistance to feedback (even of the kinder, more gentle variety), the key is to help the person come to the necessary conclusions on his own and let him take ownership for improving his performance. The best way to do this is through the artful use of questions.

When you’re reviewing someone on a project, let’s say a proposal, you might ask, What’s the primary objective of the proposal? Follow-up questions might include,

• Do you feel this proposal has achieved this objective?
• Do you see places where the proposal may be improved?
• If there was a primary message that needed to be clarified, what might it be?
• What is the ideal response you’re looking for from this pitch?
• How else can you help ensure that it will receive that response?

This line of questioning allows the person to become aware of areas of improvement and take ownership for the changes.

A well-crafted question circumvents the ego’s defense system. Of course, your tone and intention in engaging in this style of dialogue is another important factor. If you come across as arrogant, all-knowing, and impatient, it doesn’t matter how well-crafted your questions are. If, however, you genuinely want to see the person succeed, he will intuit your intention and push for higher performance.

To overcome the feedback barrier: Don’t command, criticize, or give instructions. Compassion, not criticism reduces people’s ego defense systems. Ask questions with the intention of bringing out the best performance and best qualities in your people. If you do, everyone wins.

Related posts:

1. Six Principles for Effective Feedback
2. A Sign of Integrity
3. Reading with Purpose

Here are a few thoughts to contemplate to help smooth your ride into your workweek:

1. You can be compassionate with EVERYONE you meet—especially those who give you a hard time. Despite appearances, everybody is doing the best they can. The inner and outer battles of human beings are great and many.
2. You can let go of unnecessary struggle. You can allow everything and everyone to be as they are—even just for today.
3. You can change your metaphor for life. Life doesn’t have to be a struggle, a series of problems, a Lifetime-channel drama or a pain in the ass. Life can be a divine comedy, cosmic entertainment, a wondrous adventure or a cherished gift.
4. You can realize the power of love. Love is everywhere—whether you currently see or experience it or not.
5. You can take control of your inner adventure. How you experience an event depends on your perspective and how you “hold it.” You can choose to hold it differently.
6. You can smile more often. Smiles and laughter are contagious gifts we share with each other. It’s a beautiful thing.

For a reminder of this last point invest six minutes and watch this:

Related posts:

1. Five Powerful Practices for a Happy Life
2. A Penny for Your 50,000 Thoughts
3. 4 Powerful Principles for an Inspired Life