My aim is to inspire people around the world one blog post at a time.
This is the place to nourish your mind, heart, body and soul.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch your own business. Maybe you want to escape the rat race and find peace in simple living. Maybe you want to improve your health. Whatever your dream is, it is valid!
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Dreams without action are just dreams. But taking action doesn’t necessarily mean quitting your job and burning the ocean. Small steps matter. It is the ability to plug away consistently at something over time that is the key. Small steps add up. You’ll get there!
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If you keep building slowly and consistently with passion each day, adding value that matters to you, then the growth will take care of itself. The keys to achieving success are patience and avoiding complacency.
Kill the Culture Crocodiles
"Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast" - Peter Drucker
The above is a well-known and often quoted saying attributed to the renowned management consultant Peter Drucker.
Paradoxically, many companies have some giant crocodiles lurking in the waters of their company culture. Sadly, these crocodiles prey on the harmony and vitality of the organisation and pose a significant threat to its well-being and success.
A toxic organisational culture left unchecked will ultimately destroy an otherwise great business.
Intuitive Leadership in a Sensory World
Imagine standing at a crossroads and trying to decide which path to take.
Sensing people are the ones who carefully observe their surroundings, noting every detail—the texture of the ground beneath their feet, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the faint scent of flowers in the air. They rely on concrete data and tangible information to guide their decisions, like a well-worn map that leads them from point A to point B.
On the other hand, intuitive people are the dreamers, the visionaries who see beyond the surface and into the realm of possibilities. They're less concerned with the details and more focused on the big picture, relying on gut instincts and flashes of insight to guide their decisions.
Karma is a Bitch
The phrase "Karma is a Bitch" emerged as a colloquial expression to convey the idea that negative actions or intentions can come back to haunt us in unexpected and often unpleasant ways.
It suggests that when someone engages in harmful behaviour or mistreats others, they will eventually face repercussions.
The use of the word "bitch" in this context emphasizes the harsh or punitive nature of karma's consequences.
It also implies that karma has a way of delivering justice with a bite, especially to those who have behaved unfairly or maliciously towards others.
But where does the concept of karma come from?
Why We Judge What We Don’t Know
Have you ever felt that people are quick to judge? Are you sometimes quick to judge?
Have you ever wondered why we judge what we don't know or understand?
Even the most hardened criminal gets his day in court, where all evidence is carefully weighed before judgment is pronounced.
And yet, as humans, we struggle to extend the same courtesy to one another.
The fifth habit Steven R. Covey mentions in his best-selling book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is "Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood".
I would argue that for most of us this is not the habit we have cultivated.
So, what are the reasons behind our inclination to pass judgment on what we don't know or understand?
Lost in the Crowd
In a world where social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram offer the tantalizing promise of instant fame and fortune, it's easy to get swept up in the allure of being rich and famous with just the click of a button.
But the reality is far more complex, akin to showing up once for a football or cricket game and expecting to be spotted by the television cameras amidst a sea of thousands of supporters.
Imagine you have dreams of becoming the next big thing on YouTube, with millions of adoring fans hanging on your every word.
Prioritise Your Life Or Someone Else Will
Imagine this: You wake up to a barrage of emails, notifications, and demands vying for your attention. Your to-do list seems to grow longer by the minute, yet you find yourself spinning your wheels, unable to make meaningful progress.
Sound familiar?
You're not alone. In today's fast-paced world, it's all too easy to be lured into the trap of being extremely busy but without purpose, constantly reacting to the demands of others instead of proactively charting your course.
The Art of Kintsugi
In a world obsessed with perfection and flawlessness, a Japanese art form celebrates imperfection and embraces the beauty of brokenness.
Kintsugi, or the "golden joinery," is more than just a technique for repairing broken pottery by joining the fractured parts with an Urushi lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
Imagine a delicate ceramic bowl, cherished for its elegance and craftsmanship, accidentally dropped and shattered into countless pieces.
In Western culture, the instinct might be to discard the broken pieces as worthless or attempt a meticulous repair job to conceal the damage.
But in Japan, the approach is different, one that honours the history and journey of the object.
Are You Civilised ?
I asked various people what it means to be civilised, and most responded by describing a set of behaviours, values, and characteristics generally considered refined, cultured, and socially acceptable.
They mentioned things like following laws and societal norms, being educated and knowledgeable, treating others with respect, being polite, demonstrating kindness, etc.
Do you agree?
Years ago, cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead was once asked what she considered the first sign of civilisation in a culture to be.
Given the nature of anthropological fieldwork, the student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks, clay pots, or grinding stones.
Surprisingly …
The Power of Silence
“Speak only if it improves upon the silence” - Mahatma Gandhi
In a world filled with constant chatter and noise, there's value in the power of silence.
Sometimes, silence speaks volumes, especially in moments of heated conversation or conflict where it has real power. After all, arguing with someone who doesn't argue back is quite challenging.
For example, imagine you're at a family gathering, and tensions are rising. Voices are raised, emotions are raw, and it feels like the room is on the brink of exploding.
The Search for Meaning
It's the height of World War II, and Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist, finds himself imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp and experiences firsthand the horrors of the war.
Amidst unspeakable suffering and unimaginable loss, Frankl begins to uncover the fundamental truths about human existence and the elusive concept of meaning.
The result is a powerful memoir called "Man's Search for Meaning" that holds lessons for us all.
In this memoir, he describes, through his experiences, his search for purpose and meaning in life, even in the most terrible circumstances.
Some of the key lessons we learned from Viktor Frankl are …
To Live is to Choose
"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there." - Kofi Annan
On this winding, sometimes bumpy road we call life, our ability to navigate through or around some of the obstacles and potholes can be challenging.
If you're anything like me, you've probably found yourself standing at life's crossroads more than once, agonising over which path to take.
Is Illness Accidental ?
Is illness purely accidental, or is there more to it than meets the eye?
This question delves into the relationship between our bodies, our work environments, the environments we live and play in, and our experiences. While chalking illness up to random chance or bad luck is tempting, the reality is often far more nuanced.
When we consider the role of stress in illness, it becomes clear that something more profound is at play.
Stress, whether caused by external factors like work or relationships or internal factors like worry and anxiety, can wreak havoc on your body.
Authentic Love
Have you ever felt like someone's words and actions don't match up?
As humans, we communicate in both verbal and non-verbal ways, but the complexity of emotions often makes it hard to interpret what someone truly means.
Paying attention to the unspoken language of emotions is essential. Just think about it; sometimes, the things left unsaid or undone can tell us more about someone's true sentiments than what they say.
As I write this article with Valentine's Day on the horizon, I know that many young (and perhaps not so young) hearts will fall madly in love. And as magical as that may be, love requires a sober-mindedness that forces us to pay attention to things we are prone to ignore when we are in love.
Heartbeats and Heartaches
"Sometimes my heart leaks tears like an old engine leaks oil until, eventually, I run dry and everything just seizes up." - Dion le Roux
Anyone prone to suffering from anxiety or depression will be able to relate to the experience of going about your day, navigating through the ups and downs, when suddenly, you feel it—the weight of emotion pressing down on you like a ton of bricks.
You try to shrug it off, but it clings to you like a stubborn shadow, refusing to let go. Each passing moment feels like another drop in the bucket until you eventually find yourself drowning in a sea of emotion.
It's as if your heart has sprung a leak, and no matter how hard you try to patch it up, the tears keep flowing.
The Simple Things
Life can be overwhelming sometimes, with the constant rush making it hard to appreciate the little things that make life worthwhile.
Do you ever feel you like hitting the pause button and occasionally the rewind button to savour a special moment again?
Think back to your childhood for a minute. What are the first cherished thoughts that come to your mind? Many things that make it onto your list will be simple things.
The Head vs The Heart
Have you ever been caught in a constant tug-of-war between the heart and the mind?
The heart operates in a realm of simplicity, cutting through the noise of rationalisation and intellectual convolution to arrive at a truth that resonates on a profoundly human level.
What the heart knows is grounded in authenticity, and often aligned with the core values and desires that define one's being.
You cannot and should not ignore it.
Communication Mishaps
"My mouth is wired to my heart and my brain. When I speak, I sometimes get the connections wrong." - Dion Le Roux
Imagine you're at a job interview, trying to impress the interviewing panel with your professionalism and communication skills. You confidently answer a question about your strengths, saying, "Well, I'm like a Swiss army knife! I have a tool for every ... uh, situation and can ... um, slice through challenges with ... precision?"
The hiring manager gives you a puzzled look, and you can feel the sweat forming on your brow. Your brain is desperately trying to backtrack, but the damage is done. "I mean, I'm versatile and adaptable, like ... uh, a chameleon in a business suit!" you hastily add, hoping to salvage the interview.
Five Going on Fifteen
Meet the pint-sized philosophers, the nippers with attitudes, and the mini versions of humanity that have seemingly swapped fruit juice boxes for espresso.
Forget building sandcastles; these mini-mavericks are busy texting on imaginary phones and debating which YouTuber is the best.
Hand a five-year-old a tablet, and you'll witness a digital maestro in action. They swipe, tap, and navigate apps with expertise that makes you question your own tech literacy. Siri, meet your miniature competition.
Let us have a look at a sneak preview that today's five-year-olds are giving us into their teenage years, and tell me if you recognise any of these …
Are You Ignorant About Your Ignorance ?
Imagine you're at a backyard braai (barbecue for my non-South African friends) where the smell of a lekker tjopie (chop) wafts, and you know that the neighbours are drooling. You sip your doppie (drink), and the conversation turns to the delicate art of braaing.
As a culinary maestro in your own right, you confidently jump into the discussion. You start sharing profound insights on the ideal grill temperature, meat marination techniques, and the sacred grilling-to-flipping ratio.
Congratulations! You might be experiencing the Dunning-Kruger Effect in action. It's that magical moment when you feel like the Gordon Ramsay of braai while your actual braai skills could use a bit of seasoning.
Anger is a Secondary Emotion
Have you ever felt angry, ready to explode like a shaken soda can?
My Afrikaans-speaking friends will know that we have some colourful expressions when we are angry, such as "Ek het my moer nou mors af gestrip", usually accompanied by one or two choice swear words in between.
But do you know that Anger is often just the superhero cape worn by other, frequently unnoticed, emotions? In other words, on the world stage, Anger isn't the main character; it's more like a sidekick that makes a dramatic entrance.