Anika Dhar

Cantata comes from the Italian word cantare, which means "to sing." It originated in the early 17th-century, but, as with any musical form, it has evolved through the years.

At the very beginning, cantatas referred to a music piece that is meant to be sung. Loosely defined today, a cantata is a vocal work with multiple movements and instrumental accompaniment; it can be based on either a secular or sacred subject.

• It is the psychological process where a person tries to suppress certain thoughts but ironically ends up thinking about them instead.
• It was first explored by Daniel Wegner in 1987.
• Also known as the ironic rebound and the white bear problem. For example, when you try to suppress yourself from thinking of a white bear or a pink elephant, you're more likely to imagine one instead.

If we have a new idea, blog, online content or anything we have created, there is an inherent fear of putting it out into the world for everyone else to see. It is an inevitable fear that most of us face.

If creation is not happening, work is being avoided, innovation not getting worked on, there is a good chance we are living in that fear.

Being drawn to a fan community can have positive and negative effects.

• Fandoms can help support and connect individuals, providing a space for long-lasting friendships and romantic relationships to form.
• Fandom can help us discover who we are and what we want out of life.
• Learning everything about a particular fan can help give focus, skills and knowledge that you can aspire to.

On the other hand, sharing a contrary opinion could lead to people being ostracised or bullied.

The simplest way to get out of a stuck mindset is to do something, anything.

Our phones, especially social media apps, may drain our time and energy. Scrolling often starts when you're responding to a message, reading an article, or looking at a few pictures. Then, four hours later, you feel nauseated by the wasted time.

To avoid this, get specific about the reasons you're online. Go through the apps you use most and think about the core reason you want to check each app, the reason why you overdo it, and alternative to help you stick more closely to your core reasons. You may decide to limit your social media to 20 minutes a day, talk one-on-one with friends, or unfollow or muting half the people you follow.

We need to convert our mundane, routine tasks into something exciting, turning our work into our own motivation, igniting our energy:

1. Compete with yourself, beating your own time of accomplishing a certain task like replying to emails.
2. Work in an impeccable manner, taking a cue from the perfectionists. It is not good to be a slob at home, as it affects our productivity and mindset.
3. Get ready on time, put on work clothes and feel confident, professional, and productive.
4. Start your day with a 30-minute stroll or a Yoga session and get your body and mind moving.

1. Find someone who shouldn’t excel at a skill but does anyway. They’ll have insights that regular experts lack thus giving you more ways to pursue the skill.
2. Ignore the details and try to focus on the big picture. Once you grasp the key concepts, the rest should flow more easily.
3. Make bite-sized and attainable goals for yourself to increase likelihood of success. Having defined deadlines with very actionable tasks will get you to the finish line faster.
4. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, they are part of the learning process. Pushing yourself to get everything right just adds unnecessary stress and pressure.
5. Ask for help even if you don’t consider yourself a novice. It’s natural to be reluctant but most people are glad to advise and it speeds your learning.
6. Reward yourself for the steps you take, just enough to keep you going and to keep the morale up.

Studies show that positive thinking reduces stress, anxiety, boosts mood, and correlates with greater heart health.

Looking for the upside in every situation is entirely within your control. It is a skill that is wise to practice.