Critical thinking question.
Focus on values such as kindness, uncertainty, responsibility, fairness, and choice.
Critical thinking question.
Focus on values such as kindness, uncertainty, responsibility, fairness, and choice.
The session, led by Ms. Komal Khetal, focused on the concept of Ikigai—a Japanese philosophy that helps individuals find purpose and meaning in life. She explained how aligning our daily choices and chores with our core values can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life. By identifying our Ikigai, we can make better decisions, stay grounded, and approach challenges with clarity. Ms. Khetal emphasised that when we face difficulties, acting in line with our values allows us to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
We had a fantastic session led by Komal Khetal from Dreamtime Learning School, where we dove deep into the beautiful Japanese concept of Ikigai—your reason for jumping out of bed in the morning!
Ikigai is about blending what you love, what you're great at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for
Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) plays a bigger role in success than IQ ever could
Doing things because you enjoy them (intrinsic Motivation) beats doing them just for rewards or praise
Self-reflection is the first step to building a life and career that truly fits you
Ikigai = "reason for being"
It's about waking up excited and motivated
Passion + Skill + Purpose + Livelihood = Ikigai!
90% of success? Yup, that's EQ talking!
Understand yourself + connect with others = win-win
Empathy, resilience, and adaptability are key in the real world
Intrinsic Motivation = Doing it because you love it
Extrinsic Motivation = Doing it for the reward
The first one lasts longer and feels way better!
You all created your personal Ikigai trees! ๐ฑ
Roots = What you love
Trunk = What you're good at
Branches = What the world needs
Fruits = What you can be paid for
We talked about turning dreams into real-life plans
Tips on having open conversations with parents about careers
You can follow your passion and be practical—yes, both!
AI is changing the world—so how do we stay relevant?
Build skills AI can't copy: creativity, empathy, and curiosity
Stay flexible and open to new paths!
Complete your Ikigai trees ๐️
Reflect on your passions, values, and strengths.
Join us for more My Good School sessions like MAP (Music, Art & Poetry) ๐จ๐ถ
Keep exploring who you are and what lights you up
๐ฌ Ready to reflect? Reflection means taking a pause to look inward, thinking about what you felt, learned, and how it connects to your own journey. It's a powerful way to grow and discover more about yourself ๐ฑ
We'd love to hear what sparked your curiosity in this session! Share your thoughts, insights, or even your Ikigai tree with Manisha via email- mk@learningforward.org.in. Your story might just inspire someone else too ๐✨
A Heartwarming Glimpse into Our Sunday Session at Sunbeam School
We are delighted to share a wonderful summary of this Sunday’s session, beautifully presented by the students of Sunbeam School. Their creativity, depth of thought, and enthusiastic participation reflect the joy and genuine love they have for our Sunday School experience.
It’s truly inspiring to witness how these young minds express themselves so freely, embracing every opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow. Their reflections speak volumes about the impact of a nurturing and engaging environment—one where curiosity is encouraged, and learning is filled with meaning and purpose.
We warmly invite you to join us and experience firsthand the reason behind the students’ affection for our Sunday sessions. Discover how a thoughtful blend of creativity, values, and interactive learning makes each Sunday truly special.
Sunbeam School Lahartara
1. What was your takeaway from the session today?
2. What would you call your My Guide Inside?
3. How does your My Guide Inside help you?
4. Share your thoughts and feelings. Show insight and connections to this quote from My Guide Inside (Book II) Chapter One:
My guide inside of wisdom is "powerful knowledge." Wisdom will "grow with you and guide you."
- From Jataka Tales -
1. Why do we read about the Jataka Tales?
2. Did the story connect with you today, and why?
3. What learnings can we take away from the story today?
4. How do parents name their children?
5. Where is Takksila located? What is its significance?
6. What is righteousness?
7. Moral Integrity
8. How would you tackle the problem if you were in the Bodhisattva's place?
These are some suggestions you can choose from. Looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections!
You can email your reflections to - nk@learningforward.org.in
SUMMARY
The speakers emphasised the significance of education and self-discovery, sharing personal experiences and insights on inner wisdom, thought labelling, and the connection between thoughts and feelings. They discussed the intersection of Yoga and AI, the importance of personal experience and self-denial in storytelling and the path to enlightenment. The speakers highlighted the importance of embracing simplicity, compassion, and wisdom in making good choices and guiding us through life.
12.00 PM
We decided not to read the chapter from The Hidden Life of Trees and instead hosted an Open House to meet Ms Manish Khanna and discuss how we could better engage with Fellows and Interns. Kunal shared an update about the Impact Study, and we discussed how we could improve our program on Sunday and engage with a wider audience.
How can trees create their own microclimate?
The author explains that trees create leafy humus that can store moisture, and their branches can slow winds and create calmer air within the forest. Over time, these conditions reduce evaporation and create moist soil with better water storage, allowing more trees to thrive.
by (Sanskriti- VI)
In "The Peacock Wings," what I gather is that our life choices should prioritize goodness, embracing both the flaws and beauty of others.
by (Aadya- VI)
Woody Climate Control
When the annual leaffall of beech trees occurs, it creates an alkaline humus that has the capacity to store a significant amount of water.
by (Ibadat-VI)
What is a good life?
It is more than just the accumulation of possessions or the attainment of fleeting pleasures, the good life is a tapestry woven from the threads of happiness, fulfilment and purpose. It’s about cherishing the simple joys that enrich our days and nourish our souls.
The good life is not a destination, but a journey ...
A journey of discovery and growth…
“In life’s sweet dance, we find our song,
Each moment fleeting, yet ever strong,
Cherish the joy, embrace the strife,
For in the good life, we find true life…”
Sunday School Reflections From Jataka Tales-
1. Why do we read about the Jataka Tales?
2. Did the story connect with you today, and why?
3. What learnings can we take from the story "The Guilty Dogs"?
4. Thinking calmly and not hastily
5. Being Humble
We say that books are our best friends.
to become their friends, we have to read them.
Reading gives us the
opportunity to build ourselves; it helps us stand in front of people
confidently.
People say that
real life is not similar to books; it is all rubbish. Books prepare us for our lives. I also prefer to read books because they help
me to be more creative, confident, and charismatic from within.
WE GET LITERATE BY STUDYING, AND WE GET EDUCATED BY READING.
VAIBHAV JAISWAL 9D
LEARNING CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THE
LEARNING ATMOSPHERE IS POSITIVE
Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a
sort of "suffering torch," which I have a hold of for the moment, and
I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before passing it on to future
generations.
I am also exploring as much as I can.
PRANVI CHANDRA IX D
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHERS IN OUR LIVES
Teachers are those who make children knowledgeable and cultured. A teacher is a beautiful gift given by God, as God is the creator of the whole world and a teacher is the creator of an entire nation. A teacher is such an important creature in the life of a student, who, through his knowledge, patience, and love, gives a strong shape to a student’s whole life. A teacher shares academic knowledge and ethical values and assimilates moral values that help us shape our personalities as better human beings. Teachers play a major role in shaping students' lives and futures.
ANIMESH KASHYAP-VIII-B
My Golden Journey With My Good School
At first, I wasn't interested in reading. I thought that it was only a waste of time. Still, at the age of 12, my grandfather recommended a book. He said that if you like to study political science and history, you should read "Why I Assassinated Mahatma Gandhi" by "Nathuram Godse." I gave it a try, and I loved it. After that, I read more and more books, but when I joined My Good School, I felt that this was the place for me. Like we say, 'Birds with the same feather flock together'. For readers, My Good School is a paradise from my perspective. A famous quote by Fran Lebowitz that I carry in my mind is, "Think before you speak and read before you think." Every Sunday, I learn a new perspective to go with. A huge thanks to My Good School for this because the school teaches me values to live by.
Shaurya Chaturvedi VIIIB
How Learning Can Happen
Learning happens when we start
experiencing. The learning process begins when we start experiencing things in
our surroundings. Whether through reading or listening. When we read it, it is
the biggest weapon to win all the battles of life. Listening to TED talks and
podcasts increases our learning, and we learn new words.
Learning
always makes a change in oneself, so never stop reading, writing, and
listening.
"Learning is never done without mistakes and passion".
Diyanshu Agarwal IX-D
No one has achieved success in the past or present and has not done any hard work. Also, they had yet to achieve success on their first attempt. Success comes to those who find out their mistakes and improve on them. They take the time and opportunities to come; they create the opportunities and manage the time to do so. This is the best and easiest way to achieve good things in their lives.
Anmol Kashyap VIII-B
All lives have equal value. And so you say, 'Why do poor children die when other children don't? Why do some people have enough nutrition or reasonable toilets and other people don't?' So those basic needs that, through innovation, actually it's very affordable to bring them...to everyone.~Bill Gates
I believe that all lives have equal value. That all men and women are created equal. That everyone belongs. That everyone has rights, and everyone has the right to flourish. I believe that when people who are bound by the rules have no role in shaping the rules, moral blind spots become law, and the powerless bear the burden. ... I believe that entrenched social norms that shift society’s benefits to the powerful and its burdens to the powerless not only hurt the people pushed out but also always hurt the whole.~Melinda Gates
Small word, huh? Sure is, but it holds a tremendous meaning.
Appreciation- A feeling or expression of admiration or gratitude.
Is that it? I don't think so.
We often describe 'appreciation' as a core value. When in reality, it's a habit.
Yup! You read it right. Appreciation is not a value. It's a habit which you have to practice daily.
Now You must be wondering why you should practice appreciation? Shouldn't it come from the heart?
Well, yes, my wonderful readers, you are right. It should come from the heart. But for that too, you must be conscious enough to realize the good things happening around you. In a world full of negativity, consciously and willingly choosing to look at the bright side of everything is what makes appreciation a habit.
To appreciate something, you should take the time and patience to realize its value, whether it's an opportunity, a thing, or even a person. You can't appreciate a three-course meal you get each day unless you stop complaining about the taste of the food or about how much you hate potatoes. And take time to realize how blessed you are to receive that meal. You won't be able to appreciate your friend's efforts if you won't stop complaining about their bad jokes or loud laugh. Take time and appreciate them for their companionship and support. Instead of being upset with your mother for not buying you that colour box, try appreciating her for her kindness and love for you.
The world can be a whole different place if everyone starts appreciating each other for all the good things they do instead of complaining about their faults; we have to be conscious of actions to make appreciation a habit.
And as Mahatma Gandhi said-
Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.
So, let's start it today. From now on, each day take a few minutes from your day to sit alone. And with a deep breath, think of all the amazing things and people you can appreciate in your life. Trust me. It will make a huge difference [in a wonderful way].
P.S.- It is my first-ever blog.
Written by-
Geetankshi Tamta
(Brand, PR & Marketing Agent at My Good School)
Some people will choose expensive things, luxury items and valuable commodities over human beings, and some will give more importance to humans than any other things, even over the bag of gold and diamond. We all know very well that everyone is not the same. And therefore, one person can not change or bring goodness to others. First, we should be one to improvise our mindset, and we should be the ones to bring a good change in ourselves.
It is so true that people who have been close to death always give importance to other humans. These people respect all classes of people- from young to old and from poor to rich. I still remember the tragedy of my uncle, who once almost lost his life after being stuck under a rock while working. Nowadays, he is earning his life by serving as a driver. He has a very kind heart. He respects everyone. And sometimes he gives a free ride to the labours and workers as he has also been a labour and he knows their conditions of working and the level of physical hard work they do.
If we are kind to others, then goodness comes to us through 'Karma'. When we give others love, care and importance, we get it all back from others. Having a great affection towards earthly things like gold and diamond would make your heart much like coal. But if you give importance and are affectionate towards humans, your work and contribution will always be remembered and told. It is not only the humans to whom we should give importance but also the animals, plants and our mother Earth, as in this world, everything is interconnected to each other in some way or the other.
At last, I want to bring up a powerful thought to acknowledgement- "When we were born the world rejoiced while we cried. Therefore, do a work that the world will cry when you die with rejoicing and happiness”.
Written by-
Tenzin Jambey
Pestalozzi Children's Village, India.
Appreciation means expressing our gratitude to others or praising, admiring and complimenting others. We appreciate people by saying phrases such as You have a friendly personality, you are very respectful, etc. Appreciation is one of the great values which we possess. Appreciating others also shows our respect for them. We take and give Appreciation to many people such as our parents, teachers, elders, juniors, seniors, relatives, youngers, neighbours, etc. If we appreciate people positively, we, in return, will also get a positive response like thank you. We will get adverse reactions if we disrespect or say wrong about people. It means that Appreciation is one of our positive values.
At Pestalozzi, we all respect and appreciate every staff including Cheme Ma'am, office staff, housemothers, cooks, drivers, guards, cleaners, and our friends. We understand the work which they are doing for us. Pestalozzi provides us with every best thing possible such as education, food, clothes, entertainment, etc. Its main motive is to provide us with good education to improve our future. Pestalozzi encourages, helps and supports us to exceed our potential. It prepares us to face the world, its challenges and difficulties. Pestalozzi doing all these things for us, deserve respect and appreciation for their work.
Dear Leaders and Members of My Good School,
My school’s motto was: “Youth Shall Rebuild the World.” Our entire education process and curriculum was centered around the thought that learning is a life-long activity and schools must prepare students to be life-long learners. Understandably, the teachers too would teach with a method that nudged curiosity in us and inspired action. Often, the learning was done outside the classroom with well curated,long or short excursions. We had our own student parliament, elected by the students, every year. We fought elections with much fervor and the elected student government was given significant empowerment to decide on school rules, holidays, academics and student festivals and activities.
When at school, India was not some distant idea for us, she was a person, fully present in our lives. We understood our relationship with our country from experiences both academic and otherwise. I think our founder’s vision was to prepare the young to act constructively for society, nation and the world, whenever and however the opportunity presented itself.
What I learnt at school became my talisman in life. I looked at each opportunity professionally or personally to unlearn and learn constantly. Life has now become my school. Therefore in 2014, when I decided to drive across India for 51 days with three friends, there was not much hesitation in my mind and heart. I had done this kind of learning for several years, through travel and meeting people everywhere. What I discovered in those 51 days and also from my travels for over two decades form the beating heart of my first book: “Highway to Swades – Rediscovering India’s Superpowers.”
What Highway to Swades expedition taught me was that our country is full of amazing people and their wonderful stories. Stories of love, harmony, peace, enterprise, nature, creativity, knowledge, commitment, inclusion, heritage, culture, assimilation, individualization, community, wellness, beauty, sacrifice, rituals, food and the arts. I call them India’s superpowers and the book tells stories of Indians from across the country and all walks of life who live and strive for these superpowers.
What writing this book taught me was that we each have our own superpowers and we can call them to action for ourselves, our loved ones and for society at large. One of my superpowers is to listen and the other is to write and therefore I continue to engage with Indians everywhere and of all ages to understand more about who they, what they do, why they do it, what are their aspirations and dreams etc. This gives me immense hope as I think as a people we may be content but at the same time we are ambitious for our future as individuals and as a nation.
It is with this thought, that I want to engage with all of you, to listen more, to have meaningful dialogues and to see if individual or collective action is possible for what we care deeply about.
Looking forward!
Love,
Bhairavi
Joyful Days and Fun chimes,
With our loved ones are the best times,
Laughter surrounds us, and smiles spread,
As family and friends meet.
We may always want to be there,
With our family and friends,
But Alas! Not how our life wishes.
But the cycle continues.
And being the captain hurts,
For wasting time, we can’t afford
And to be lost amid not a good record.
Time continues,
Living never stops,
It does not wait for you,
It goes on.
But as time passes,
We ameliorate and improve,
Unlike stagnant water, we always groove
For we become better with every move.
I value my loved ones for being with me,
I love my time, for it is precious,
I love my Improvements as I move forward,
I love my life the most.
Anvesha Rana,
Grade 10-B,
Gyanshree School
It is definitely a tiny world inside our homes, like we say, and the moment one steps out, the circumference magnifies. The realization hits us that now, we depend on our social behaviour to make the outer world OURS.