Activating “pie in the sky” notions
“You will eat, bye and bye, In that glorious land above the sky; Work and pray, live on hay, You’ll get pie in the sky when you die” (Joe Hill – 1879-1915) This quote is originally from the song “The...
View ArticleThe need for bravery in a crisis
“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance” (Bruce Barton) Facing a crisis is not a new concept for the world...
View ArticleUse giftedness to enable service
“Success is never owned. It’s rented and rent is due every day” (ANON) His great-aunt hovered over him as he began to practise his scales and exercises. The little boy was perched on an oversized piano...
View ArticleAs focused as Florence
Potential is only realised with laser-focus and gritty determination. The little girl knelt on the floor in her nursery bandaging a doll’s arm, comforting the doll and then putting it to bed. Taking...
View ArticleDrowning in depression?
“What is depression like? It’s like drowning, except everyone around you is breathing” (Anon) Like joy, happiness, fun and pleasure are part of the experiences of all human beings, so also are moments...
View ArticleContribute…and then some more
One of the saddest songs I have ever heard is “Creep”, written and performed by Thom Yorke of the English alternative rock band, Radiohead. The song was released as their debut single in 1992, but the...
View ArticleCultivating humility
“Truly great men and women are never terrifying. Their humility puts you at ease” (Elizabeth Goudge) Comedian Groucho Marx reported one day that he had a nurse who was so arrogant about her beauty...
View ArticleSo, what’s your punchline?
“When I was a kid, only Batman had a cell phone. He had a car phone. Man, can you imagine having a car phone? But technology has not altered our lives, other than perhaps how we go about them. We are...
View ArticleOvercoming adversity through adaptability
“If you are kicking up a storm, don’t expect clear sailing” (P P Sullivan) Although some people allow adversity to bend or break their spirits, others swiftly adapt to their new context and overcome...
View ArticlePatience is more constructive than anger
“An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth” (Bonnie Friedman) In our fast-paced world, expectations grow – partly as a natural consequence of development and the realisation of less than...
View ArticleActions speak louder than words
“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion” (Paulo Coelho) While meaningful words do have positive impact and can indeed encourage, persuade and influence, actions speak louder than...
View ArticleGoing for goals hammer and tongs
“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach” (Benjamin Mays) Whomever I speak to of late, people seem to be tired and overwhelmed at best or...
View ArticleCultivate confidence consistently
“Confidence develops when you have a deep sense that you can handle the emotional outcome of whatever you face or pursue. Another way to put it is that confidence is the felt sense of a “can-do”...
View ArticleA compelling vision drives achievement
“Workaholics are addicted to activity; super-achievers are committed to results. They work towards goals that contribute to their mission. In their mind’s eye, they see the end they want and the...
View ArticlePreparation precedes performance
“I will prepare and someday my chance will come” (Abraham Lincoln) It is not uncommon to come across a great little invention and think, I wish I had thought of that. But bringing even simple ideas to...
View ArticleDon’t be slothful
The phrase ‘don’t be slothful’ is not a statement that one wants to receive nor is the phrase fair to the sloth. “Sloth”, commonly, is used to describe a person’s assumed laziness, inactivity,...
View ArticleEstablishing profound relationships
December is a time of the year when families attempt to get together, sometimes family members flying from different parts of the world to be with loved ones and close friends. It is often a time of...
View ArticleLiving, not just surviving
I want to live this year – not just survive. The world’s population has just endured two really tough years – not just on account of the corona virus COVID-19 pandemic with all its variants, but also...
View ArticleMistakes can be valuable
“Your willingness to learn and adjust positively from mistakes and shortcomings will largely determine how far you will travel the road to success” (John Maxwell) Human beings really struggle to learn...
View ArticleGrowing your mental strength
“A mentally strong person knows how to control their thoughts. Instead of letting them run wild, they observe their thoughts and watch them pass. They understand that their thoughts are not who they...
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