The Third Puzzle
A brilliant psychological experiment that shows how we learn to give up so fast.
Nov 28, 2025·5 min
Om SwamiOm SwamiOm SwamiOm SwamiOm SwamiOm Swamiसंकल्प · Sankalpa · The act of resolve
Self-help — but the kind that does not flatter you. These reflections are about discipline, attention, and the deeply unglamorous labor of becoming. No life hacks. No five-step plans. Just the work.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
If a piece moves you, do the thing it asks. Then come back.
Begin with this
February 1, 2013·5 min read·19
If you let them be, negative thoughts are like bubbles that rise to the brim and disappear. Be aware and patient.
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Where to start
Three reflections on practice, focus, and follow-through.
81 of 81 reflections
A brilliant psychological experiment that shows how we learn to give up so fast.
Our life is shaped by the decisions we make. But there are three decisions in particular that set the course of your destiny.
If you could go back in time, would you really do anything differently? Could you, even if you tried?
By bidding farewell to the calendar
The great philosopher-sage Sri Aurobindo had something beautiful to say about praise.
Plus, an exciting announcement about Wildr.
Gentle speech is a sign of spiritual evolution.
Here's a funny story with a beautiful message...
There is a solution to every problem. Here's an unusual way to getting past your problems.
What is behind procrastination and how to overcome it? Keep walking.
Paying attention is not just about what you want to focus on but also what you want to take your mind off of.
Here are three magic words that can take your communication skills to an entirely different level.
Here are three golden principles of making your new year resolutions work
Here is why working to our full potential is the key to lasting happiness.
Here are the four levels of competence and something to think about your time management.
Here's a beautiful story to make you think this weekend...
The train of success travels on the bridge between intention and skill.
Our willingness to serve than be served is sometimes the only difference between heaven and hell.
What does it take to realize a dream? Here's an inspirational true life story.
When you face light, your shadow is always behind you...
Here's a beautiful story from the life of Pablo Picasso offering us an insight on gaining mastery.
Keeping a promise requires sincerity and discipline, something we can learn from nature.
Here's a beautiful story with an inspiring message...the way to lead our life.
Ever wonder what is the secret of happy people?
Do heaven or hell really exist or are they a mere figment of imagination?
Here's my version of the four truths of human existence.
Simplicity is the seed of positivity that grows in the ground of reality.
No matter how many clouds of what color, the sky goes back to being blue. Don't let go of your goodness.
Here's an effective, positive and practical way of providing constructive feedback. The Sandwich Method.
Here's a beautiful story illustrating how we shape our own world and attract a certain type of people.
The story of the Chinese Bamboo tree has a beautiful lesson on the art of building a new habit.
Life is all about choices. At some point in time, you have to decide which path you want to walk.
A guiding principle is like a lamp. Dispelling the darkness around us, it helps us make better choices.
False rumors are like fleeting clouds. Don't react and they will dissipate on their own.
No matter how fascinating your dream, how great your plan, you must be in touch with reality if you want to succeed.
Here's a beautiful short story from the life of Jesus Christ with an important lesson on compassion.
Rocks of opinion sit there gathering the moss of emotion and distort your view of reality. They hinder your growth.
Making the right choices at the right time sometimes makes all the difference between being a pearl or simply a drop in the ocean.
A beautiful story from the life of Buddha gives a profound message of mastering the most difficult emotion.
When you keep walking with patience and discipline, the path to fulfilling your resolution continues to unfold. One step at a time.
All moments must pass, all seasons must go, giving way to the next. This is the truth of Time.
Our happiness depends a great deal on a sense of personal fulfillment and that, in turn, depends on pursuing what matters to us.
Think of compassion as sacrifice. It is putting other person's interests before your own. It's a choice.
All other things being equal, there is a fundamental difference between those who succeed and those who don't.
Forgiveness is letting go, it's a gift. It is as much about the recipient as the giver.
Learn the art of directing your attention from hurtful and negative thoughts to happy and positive ones.
If you asked yourself these questions, you might be living your life a bit differently. Read the story.
The question of my bread is a material question, but of my neighbor's bread is a spiritual question. ~Nikolai Berdyaev
On your path, Nature always gives you cues. It pays to pay attention to them. How? Read the story.
Memories can be like black holes: deep and mysterious. To forget someone you've got to go past the memories.
When provoked, it's so easy to lose your sense of judgment. Mindfulness is the antidote to provocation.
Lasting attraction is based on truth. If you are a real flower, butterflies will come to you automatically. Truth attracts.
Just like a series of water drops make up a waterfall, a series of thoughts make up your mental state.
Gratitude is like a sticky date pudding with ice-cream. Warm so it heals, cold so it soothes.
No one offered Love any place on their boats, except one. Who? Read the story.
How long it will take to get there is not always dependent on the speed alone. There are four factors.
"So long as I get somewhere," said Alice. "Oh, you’re sure to do that," said the Cheshire Cat, "if you only walk long enough."
If two bulls are fighting, one angry and the other one calm, who will win? Read the story.
Regardless of the rain of adversities or the slush of problems, the vehicle of happiness runs on three wheels.
No matter how beautiful the sandcastle, it's temporary. Waves will wash it away. What are you holding on to?
The same fire that warms up a room can burn down the house too. Anger results from misdirected emotions.
Are you riding the weight or carrying it? Either way, let go. Forgive yourself for peace and bliss.
The negativity of others is like a river. When negative thoughts start they flow non-stop. Don't take a dip in that river.
You see in others what you have in you. If you believe in yourself, you can instill the same in others about themselves.
Just like rain water collects in a pond, virtues congregate in a kind heart. Be compassionate to be strong.
Before giving in to a distraction, ask yourself: is this my best move?
A bogey or a birdie; a bunker, or, an ocean of opportunities, you won't know until you play. What's your fear?
People may lie 1. to hide information, 2. as a matter of habit, or 3. to gain attention.
Even in a pool of negativity, in the mire of disagreements, you can rise and shine like a lotus.
What they see in you is a reflection of their very self. What you don't have in you, you can't see in others.
When you throw a stone at a tree, not only does it reject the stone, it gives you a fruit too. Don't keep emotional stones.
Look at our planet Earth, providing for everyone, it's ever tolerant, resilient and compassionate.
Both positive and negative emotions are like mushrooms, they grow rather rapidly.
Being grateful to others is being grateful to God. Express your gratitude to those around you to experience peace.
With persistence and discipline, 'Impossible' becomes 'I'm possible'. That's how our race has progressed.
Being positive is a matter of choice. Positive people are happier people and generally more successful too.
Just like a lotus stays above mire and water, you can stay above negative thoughts and emotions.
In the inner world, in your mind, friends and foes are positive and negative thoughts that live together.
Here are three approaches and a few pointers to quit smoking. It requires immense discipline.
Life continues to move while most people are stuck in their desires, goals and hopes. Why do you do what you do? Reflect on your actions.
What is the definition of success? Who is a successful person and what price is fair to attain success?
Looking for something else? There are eight more themes in the library.
Browse all themesIt is not possible to completely bury your regret until you nurture self-forgiveness. Find out how.
