It’s rightly said that an intense desire alone can make dreams come true. This intensity also expands when you have faith in your desire. Faith is belief, yes — and, conviction is the cornerstone of belief itself.

While it is agreed that we are all entitled to have a conviction that certain things are true or real, a strong belief in what you desire when manifest will give you the strength to hold on until it reaches fruition.

It would also help your cause a great deal if you have a deep feeling of knowing, more so by using motivational statements "I know I will be relaxed and energetic," or "I know I will create financial security.” They sound simple, but they have a profound effect on your psyche.

Belief is everything — that you believe you can do it is belief. It’s a positive feeling. It brings positive connotations.

Likewise, if you say that you don’t believe in something is also a belief — that you don’t believe in something. The idea is not a negative feeling, but if it is related to what you feel you can achieve but think that you can’t, you will not be able to reach your goals.

It’s only when you believe that everything is possible would you be able to develop a sense of knowing that it is going to happen, and also work.

It gives you a sense of expectation — and, when you expect your desire to become a reality, you will have the full conviction to enable your desire to manifest itself into being a happening thing.

The ICC is a listless body. It does everything it doesn't want to do right, even while playing cricket with a straight bat.

Sorry for the generalisation -- I lament, but agree, with Robert Blake, "To generalise is to be an idiot."

I don't mind being called an idiot in the context of ICC's choice of Test cricket greats in an all-time legendary list of players that, "otherwise," casts a magical spell on generations of fans.

It's first horrendous to omit Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar in the Top 10/20 -- and, rope-in Dale Steyn, next... way ahead of Michael "Whispering Death" Holding.

It's obvious that tons of newsprint will spill "bitter" bile on the selection, now and in the days to come, but the fact remains that ICC is living in mediaeval times. Or, the epochs of the maharajahs whose fancies ruled the mind of kingdoms.

It's always been a case of "colour" ruling the roost with ICC. Moderates would not fancy the "take," yes; but, it's increasingly, and shockingly, becoming apparent that there are two rules for the same thing... as far as ICC is concerned.

Not just on the field of play, but even outside of it.

Instances are just too many -- they are all part of our mind's canvas.

But, now comes the real dud -- this "ludicrous list" -- of an exercise, an exercise in futility, or misplaced logic...

Is it any wonder that you find Rahul Dravid way down the rankings -- notwithstanding his excellent overseas batting average that stands next only to Sir Don Bradman's? It is not rocket-science -- it denotes the hallmark of a truly great batsman. Dravid is, doubtless, one. Period.

Let the Third, or Fourth, Umpire intervene and declare ICC rankings of "greats" as not just "plumb" LBW, but clean bowled, caught-behind, clearly or of the faintest of edges, run-out, by a margin or a whisker, handling the ball, obstructing the field, hurling a beamer etc., etc.,

We don't want, or need, such tamashas -- or, heights of imbecility -- that bring dishonour to the willow-cherry sport, its players, and also fans.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008, was not just a horrific day. It freeze-framed a gory picture -- the most scary of all in the history of free, independent India.

It was also, quite in opposition to Winston Churchill's famous phrase, our worst hour.

In one fell swoop, terror's perfidy of hate destroyed the template of India's glory, her famous tryst with destiny.

Not just Mumbai, the entire country was stunned, shocked, rocked, and shaken beyond belief.

It's worse than a huge earthquake -- it was a quake >Richter 10 on the human psyche, or mental scale.

One was lost, desolate and wobbled beyond relief.

Terror hit us like a tempest -- a tempest which Shakespeare would never have imagined in his fertile mind, or compass of his genius.

It's something that was unprecedented -- it dented India's spirit, her sense of pride, her sense of tolerance, no less.

We paid a big price for what -- our weak political resolve.

It's high time we had a national government in place -- people of stature to run the engines of power with honour, dignity, integrity, courage and strength.

We don't need politicians we are familiar with anymore. We need men and women of steel, vision, and candour, drawn from different fields -- who are endowed with the will to change India and, in turn, change the world... for the better.

Is this asking for the impossible?

Richard Firshein is one of world’s much-read and appreciated columnists.

A leading physician in integrative/complementary medicine, Firshein is also a gifted wordsmith. He writes on health and medical subjects, for the lay and/or the specialist reader, with simplicity, precision, and clarity.

I first got to know Firshein when I read his much-acclaimed book, Reversing Asthma — rated one among the Best 100 Books of the Last Century… I was immediately drawn to his ideas.

I was so impressed that I sent him an E-mail, suggesting that I’d be delighted to do a story on his “hands-on” asthma treatment plan — as outlined in the book.

I got a swift, positive response from his office. I sent him a handful of questions. Firshein responded promptly. My story appeared in the Sunday supplement of one of India’s leading dailies.

It did not take long for me, thereafter, to establish a regular channel of communication with him. As luck would have it, I happened to be one of the first writers that received a review copy of his yet another landmark work, The Nutraceutical Revolution [2000]. I reviewed the book — and, also wrote an in-depth article on his work on reversing asthma, in a medical journal I edited, at that point in time.

I admire Firshein’s impressive range of work, and also his writing — he knows this quite well.

Ah, he makes my day when he reverts on his articles’ final edits, with one or two suggestions, but only when appropriate, and just as promptly — “It’s fine, please go ahead.”

Wait a moment... Firshein has been enormously kind to offer me the publishing rights for an updated India edition of The Nutraceutical Revolution [now rechristened 20 Wonder Nutrients]. It is, doubtless, a dream-come-true for me.

The new book is scheduled to roll out of the press this fall.

We live in a funny, or is it a mad, mad world?

I am not referring to the great, old Hollywood movie — It’s A Mad, Mad World. Or, Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, another equally brilliant film, which was set at a time when crossing the English Channel, in our flying machines, seemed quite like climbing Mount Everest astride a camel.

What I am referring to is… the wonder world of medicine — where the wonder drugs, or ideas, of today, are replaced by the more wonderful drugs, or ideas, of tomorrow.

Or, in some cases, great ideas… gone askew.

Just think of it. It’s Sunday morning, and I chance to see an amusing news-item. That alcohol — nay, three glasses of wine a week — may keep arthritis at bay!

Gosh!

It sounds quite akin to the good effects of smoking, as some believe, can stall the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease on memory loss — the difference being of degree.

Is this not just a small price to pay and tide over a big problem, you’d ask. Or, whether such “incursions” could lead to cancer, heart disease, or cirrhosis. Maybe, maybe not. Go figure!

It does worry me — albeit, I don’t smoke or drink — that some enterprising prankster may soon recommend Alzheimer’s and arthritic individuals to smoke, and drink wine in small doses, as a way to good health and well-being.

Maybe, this is a far-fetched “initiative” to suggest all by itself — unless, it becomes a paradox of contrasts. Again. Of some jug-head aiming to conquer disease in their own Utopia!

Whatever it is, I shudder to think of improbabilities — lest they happen!

To use your imagination, you need not resort to buying expensive books, or gadgets, including self-help books. For example, whenever I am dispirited, I close my eyes and imagine that I am in an isolated place in Nature — in a flower-filled meadow, or a lovely sun-baked beach in the Caribbean. I imagine it now — and, I am there!

So, can you!

It’s simple. By imagining yourself in a nurturing situation you begin to have the very same physical and emotional effects as actually being there. I believe that all of us constantly generate a flow of mental images and mentally-induced situations. At any given moment, for instance, we are all formulating ideas, worrying about something, picturing a past event, or day-dreaming about the future. When we use such images to our advantage, we can not only help ourselves but also others. If this ain’t “self-help,” what is?

To pick another example. All great men and women, down through the ages, have actively encouraged their imagination. In so doing, they have recognised, or recognise, that imagination provides them access to unconscious processes related to health, illness, and spirituality.

Here’s one method I follow:

I use repeated “counter” mental images and/or creative imagery for a few moments of quietude every day. Through this process, I am able to draw in positive life energies. These energies, I feel, help me produce changes for the better. They also not only help me reduce tension, and promote self-healing, they are also endowed with the power to help you achieve goals: like giving up smoking, improving your academic scores, or increasing your athletic ability.

So, what are you waiting for? Your “self-help book” is within your own imagination. Just use it, and enjoy the benefits.