Don't look now but aren't you moving at a much faster clip than you ever have before? Are you not packing in much more into your day, gathering more info than before, answering more mail than before, making more presentations than before, striking more deals than before? Aren't you partying more, buying more, spending more? Ever since the 'liberalisation' and 'globalisation' revolutions hit India, we have been living on speed, coping with the dizzying pace of change, anticipating the challenges that face us and updating our skill set before we are declared obsolete.

We live in times that are both exciting and 'stress creating'. True, the opportunities are legion for us to make money and to be successful. At the same time, the stakes are so much higher and the safety nets are off. We must sink or swim by our own efforts. We no longer have the luxury of security, whether of jobs or relationships. All bets are off and we are forced to survive by the seat of our pants.

So how do we cope?

Accepting Responsibility
Perhaps the very first thing we should do, though admittedly not the easiest, is to look at reality in the face and accept it. Yes, things have changed. Yes, life is tougher today. Yes, there's a lot more on your plate. Yes, the responsibility is killing. Once we know where we stand, it is much easier to handle the situation. Most of us spend a good deal of time resisting the moment. This is natural because it is really not easy to accept things as they are. As the Buddha says, the natural tendency of the human mind is to swing between craving and aversion. We crave for what is pleasant and shrink from what is not. The present times force us to be more capable, more efficient, more proactive than many of us are comfortable being. These are times that require us to expand and grow. So, give yourself space for feeling what you do and move into acceptance mode.

Exploring possibilities
Once we accept what is, the possibilities of the situation flash out at us. For truly, the opportunities before us are enormous. The more challenging the situation, the greater the opportunity for growth. If time is the problem, we learn to be creative about its usage. Perhaps you can take on a flexi-time job. Perhaps you can telecommute? Perhaps you can take a dabba rather than waste precious time cooking? Explore possibilities all the time. Perhaps you have been laid off from work. There are endless possibilities here too. Instead of looking for another job, re-examine your options. What would you really like to do? What is the ideal job that you would like to have? What kind of contribution do you dream of making to the world? Consider going back to college and studying. Look for ways and means of making money out of doing what you really love to do. Make this lay-off work for you.

Living the moment
Once we understand that life is about growth, all the difficulties and challenges of the moment become fun and enjoyable. Stretch yourself as far as you can. Challenge yourself. How fast can you deliver on a particular deadline? Compete with yourself all the time. If you have been able to complete an assignment in four hours, set out to complete it in three and a half. If you have been able to get 'x' number of deals for your company look to make it 'x+y' the next time. Life becomes enjoyable and fun when you start competing with yourself and convert your work into a game. Every morning give yourself the task of improving your performance in one area. Put your heart and soul into achieving this. If you don't, no matter. Commit yourself to doing it next time. See where you can cut off a few moments and use whatever time you save to reward yourself, with, say, a half-hour of TV or even better, a spot of Reiki or meditation. Live the moment with zest.

Remaining Focused
Anything can be done if your focus and concentration are sound. Unfortunately, too much stress and tension have a debilitating effect on these faculties, making it difficult for us to do what we have to do when we have to do it. So work on getting the focus straight. One handy exercise is to keep the body absolutely steady for five minutes. Do nothing, save sit, resisting attempts to scratch or itch or move. Keep up the practice, increasing the period as and when you find it possible to do so. You will find that slowly, your focus and concentration will have sharpened substantially, making it easier for you to get a grip over time. Yoga too has many exercises to help you sharpen your focus. Here is one: stand on the right leg, with the left folded behind. Join both the hands in a namaste above the head and looking at one point in front of you, remain steady for 40 counts. Repeat with the other leg.

Experiencing Peace
Take time off every day to get in touch with yourself and to plumb the depths where peace and joy reside. This is a zone of self-renewal and self-nourishment. If you spend even half an hour with yourself, you will find yourself much more able and efficient in coping with the rigours of the day. You will be much more present in the moment and therefore more able to address the issue. The level of ease and peace in your being will shoot up dramatically when you are in touch with yourself, making life that much more easy. How to meditate? Try the spiritual discipline of Japa. Repeat the name of your favourite deity or, if you are an agnostic, use a positive word like peace, joy or love. Remain as present as you can and you will gradually find that your attention is moving into the deeper recesses of your being. Your breath will become slower and you will find yourself experiencing greater peace. This may take several months to happen because going within is difficult for the mind whose tendency is to move outward. Persist, however, and you will soon have a precious zone of peace for you to dip into.

Cultivating discipline
To cope with the present times, we need to be disciplined. There was a time when we could afford to be lax and indifferent, but not so any more. Set yourself a timetable on the various tasks to be accomplished and stick to it. The best way to cultivate discipline is to recognise that that is your basic nature. Learn the great skills of foresight and planning. Only these will help you to achieve your goals without succumbing to the pressure of it. There can be no achievement without discipline. With this range of skills and an attitude of never-say-die, the opportunities of the present times will be open to you. Enjoy your success. You deserve it.