Deliberate

Sometimes we do things accidentally but most of the time, deliberately.

Though we may not realize, most of the actions and reactions we think is spontaneous is actually deliberate. We have deliberately conditioned our mind to think a certain way, hence act the same way we thought is correct or normal.

We are all born and bred differently. The word bred may sound animalistic, which may offend some readers. We always put ourselves one point higher than animals simply because we wear clothes, live in a house, drive around in a car, surf the internet, and travel the world. Before our forefathers advanced themselves, we were merely just another animal. The only difference is the proportion of our brain versus our body. We have a much larger ratio compared to all other animals.

To humans, having a much larger brain ratio is a blessing because our brains allow us to think differently from all other species in the world. We are able to use our motor skills like no other animal can do. We are able to use our thinking caps like no other animal is able to. We are more superior than all other living beings on earth, or so we think. Sometimes we appreciate ourselves so much we have forgotten the basics.

There is a certain limitation to the things that we can do. While we try to be positive and think that we are capable of anything, there are some things that we will leave out, whether or not we agree to letting go of it.

How often do we see academicians having six packs? How often do we see sportsmen taking a slow walk in the middle of busy streets? While there may be some who would challenge themselves to the max, most would just concentrate on the one thing that they are good at. We usually only either love reading or love sports. Only a very minute percentage of the world’s population would be eyeing to do both at the same time.

Where can we find the balance? We are so well-versed with our skills we sometimes lack the connection with nature. We lack the skills to sense danger.

If we bring our pets out for a walk, we will probably look around, walk, play with our cellphone, and chat with friends that we meet along the way. Our pets, on the other hand, have a very different perception on every walk. They will follow us when all condition is normal. Sometimes they will be distracted with a bird or squirrel. But there is one thing that they have and we lack, be vigilant all the time. They always know when danger lies ahead. If we are to observe their movements, we will know too.

Our pets can be playful this moment and all of a sudden just stand still looking at one direction. Their senses are much more sensitive compared to ours. We should always trust animal instincts.

Animals know before a storm hits. We have literally lost this skill to the protection we made for ourselves. While buildings can protect us from the sun and wind, they are also shielding us from our senses. We can no longer tell when is a good time to sun the clothes we just washed. We can no longer tell when a hurricane will tear down the place we call home. We have been made to believe that we are safe in our house, that no harm could ever come to us if we are to stay put in our house.

It is time to step out of the house. It is useful to sometimes do things out of the ordinary. While it may sound scary, we can always prepare for the worst. We can deliberately challenge ourselves to living next to nothing. We can volunteer to become someone we are not. We can choose to be different from the rest. We can make drastic changes to the way we think or do things. We can stretch ourselves over and over to educate ourselves with the sense of preparedness in all situations. Life is not about just being, it is conquering life itself.

Be deliberate. Be spontaneous. Be prepared. Be courageous. Be one with no regrets.

 

Human nature and deliberate effort must unite, and then the reputation of the sage and the work of unifying all under Heaven are thereupon brought to completion.

Xun Kuang (Xunzi), Chinese Confucian philosopher and writer, 310BC-235BC / 314CB-217BC

P.S. The “Early” post was deliberately scheduled one hour after noon yesterday. It is not accidental.

Commit

To start something is easy, to commit to something takes effort.

In life, we always encounter new things. Each time we do, we have the urge within us that says “… is a good idea. I should start doing ...” It is easy to say to start doing something or have the thought of starting something new. The urge seems strong at the very moment we encounter. It seems to be the most important thing that we must do at that time.

“Wow! This is a great workout plan. It is easy. It only takes five (5) minutes a day to have that shapely body that I am dreaming to have. I can do this. Let me sign up for this course to transform my body so I can feel confident.”

Has anyone ever experienced this? We sign up a coaching plan at a gym, it could be the pumps, pilates, yoga, or whatever that is hot at that moment. We tell ourselves that we are committed to make it happen. We will take it seriously. We will be there for every single coaching with the instructor. We go there relentlessly every single day for a week, perhaps a month. What happens after a month? Temptations happen. An outing with our friends, the very important project in office, family matters, etcetera. We end up finding every little reason to skip the gym and then, we are back to where we were before signing up, sometimes even worse. Then, we tell ourselves that gym does not work.

“Wow! This is interesting. It keeps me focused. At least I have something meaningful to do during my free time rather than watching movies online.”

Has anyone ever experienced this? We finally find something of interest to us. We find time for it because we know we needed a break from whatever we are in. We sign up for knitting, cooking, music, painting classes. We tell ourselves that we will be happy doing what we love. Life is not just about work. Life can be doing something we love. We attend classes and stay committed to the projects tasked to us for a month, perhaps a year. What happens after a year? Distractions happen. That other hobby seems more interesting. I am bored with this current one. We end up with all the tools and materials that collects dust in the store. Then, we tell ourselves that this is not the right hobby.

“Wow! That person is so rich he can pay for so many ads space. He is the right person I should be learning from on how to make money online. He has been here for so many years, so many testimonials, he must be good.”

Has anyone ever experienced this? In this world of information technology, there are various gurus out there teaching their lifelong knowledge to us. We sign up for several gurus thinking that learning from a variety of sources would make us see which the right path is for us. We perhaps need desperately the enlightenment that the gurus provide. We are all in for the challenges because we know success is awaiting for us. Now is the time to start. We commit hours a day to learn. We learn for a week, a month, or a year. We hope to see success but we never see it. What happens after that? Doubt happens. We give up learning. We give up all our past efforts. Then, we tell ourselves that this only works for the successful people, not for me.

Success does not come overnight. Success take a lot of effort and most importantly, commitment.

Have we ever ponder on the reason someone else is successful and we are not? Have we ever taken the time to really understand what that person did in order to stand where they are standing now? What is it that they are doing that I am not? This is the most important question that we must seek the answer to. The answer is just one simple word, COMMITMENT!

Everyone has gone through this stage of starting things but only a few actually stay committed till the end. We have to be clear of our vision, of what we really want to achieve in life. Everything is learnable. As long as we are committed to make that change to our life, we will succeed one day. We have to believe that we can do it. We have to start doing it. We have to stay in it irregardless of whether or not the people around us agree with us. We only have ourselves to answer to. As long as we do not do anything against the law or harming the world, what is stopping us?

Self-doubt is a success killer. Once we commit to something, stay till the end to see the outcome.

 

We should think about our strengths, priorities and goals, which will further help us manage our mind and commit ourselves to success.

Dr Prem Jagyasi, Strategic leader, author, publisher, and global speaker

Investment

Investment sounds like a huge word that has everything got to do with numbers.

We often associate investment with stock markets, foreign exchange, and crypto currency. These are things that only some can understand and a handful are good at. We have heard of horror stories where people sacrifice themselves when the market falls. It is probably due to bad investments. While this may be true, there are some that excel at the very same time. There is opportunity in every situation.

Who is to tell how the future looks like? Nobody will ever know unless we are willing to take the first step. Understanding something that is not in our area of expertise can be hefty. We could spend all the time we want on it and still find that it is not something we can digest. This is the time where people seek advice from the experts. Just be careful that there are many out there that portray themselves as the king of the industry but are merely just employees of the stocks company. If they are that great, they would be somewhere else already, not stuck where they were ten years ago.

There are safer options in for us to invest in. These are created specifically for those who want a taste of the market but are not up for the risks. Financial experts have created mutual funds, unit trusts, and even bonds to cover the rest of the people. Anyone can invest in this. There are even insurance policies that are tied to investment funds. They are all handled by the so called experts who uses our money to invest in the big market. If we choose a low risk type of investment, they will play it safe but returns are inherently lower. If we choose a high risk type of investment, they will choose the high earning stocks from the market to invest in. While these are high earning, they are also high risk.

There is not much difference in investing directly or indirectly. We are still controlled by the big market itself. We can only see reports on paper and online. There is nothing physical to hold on to.

Some people feel more secure with a product. The market is vast. If we do not understand the numbers, it is probably a better choice to invest in something we can see and touch and hold. Besides giving us a sense of security, it is also easier to understand.

People who invest in properties, buy when the market is low and sell when the market booms. Or, we can choose to keep the properties for rent collection. Either way, this type of investment seem to bring us stable returns. Whether or not earnings exceeds invested amount is another matter. Some property owners have the mindset that if the property is not making money through rentals, it could be temporary. When it is the right time, the property can be sold for a bulk of money. Real estates do not crash as easily as the stocks, though related but there is still difference. Whatever happens, people still need roof over their heads.

Never to put all eggs in one basket. While we may have the perception that properties are more secure, it is always wise to spread out our investments. Even if we choose to invest in properties alone, we can always invest in different areas, states, or even countries. If one country is to fall, we still have another to hold on to.

We tend to invest in everything that earns us money in return. But is everything valued in monetary terms?

Perhaps we have overlooked on the one thing that is the best investment in our lifetime. OURSELVES. We are willing to invest in gadgets to hopefully ease our life. How much are we willing to pay to invest in ourselves? We are versatile. We can invest our money in books and courses to learn about the new ways of life. We can invest our time in taking action of what we have learnt, of seeing that we commit ourselves through to success. We can invest our knowledge in helping those in need, to educate and nurture them to become their better selves.

What are we willing to invest on? What are we hoping to get in return?
Investment with passion and action brings return.

 

The most important investment you can make is in yourself.

Warren Edward Buffett (Warren Buffett), one of the most successful investors in the world, 1930-present

White

White is the mother of all colours.

People from various countries and cultures have different representation of colours in life. While some prefer to have everything white, others may think that white brings disaster.

In the Chinese cultures around the world, white represents death. This is true at least for the older generation. We see very little pure white in the house of a Chinese family. Even when the walls are painted in white, it actually has a tint of yellow or pink in it. This is because after the death of any Chinese person, everything in the house is dressed in white, including the living people in the household and visitor. It is a form of respect for the dead. Back then, any other colour was forbidden.

As years past, it is not easy to get everyone attending funeral to be dressed all in white. While other colours may be allowed, the most commonly used colours are tinted white, blue of all hues, grey, and black. In the recent years, most colours are acceptable as long as they are not in any hot tones or have flowery patterns. This shows how time changes the way of life.

While white is commonly used for funerals in Chinese cultures, there are some that uses red instead. Red is the hottest colour known to humankind. The reason for such use is when a centennial passes on. This is because the person has lived up to such an age quite unreachable for the norm, it is a celebration and descendants are not allowed to mourn. Everyone in the family is happy that their elder lived such a long great life and finally able to meet with their maker.

Whatever white means to Chinese cultures, it does not matter as much anymore.

White is now commonly used in many places. People are prone to using more white than ever in their lives now, thanks to the trend makers.

The Western culture is so widely spread that people in most countries around the globe now wear white in weddings. A bride in white means purity. Love is the purest thing on earth. Love conquers all. Love means having a lasting relationship together as husband and wife, through thick and thin, health and sickness, wealth and poverty. Everyone is following suit this very culture. As time goes by, other tints of white are also acceptable to the brides. The most common tints are ivory, pink, blue, and olive.

White is also widely used by professionals. Doctors in white robes gives us the feeling that the area is free from bacteria and viruses. Scientists in white lab coats gives us the feeling that the experiments conducted in laboratories are safe for humans. Chefs in white aprons gives us the feeling that the kitchen is hygienic and the food they serve is edible. Beauticians in white uniforms gives us the feeling that the products they use is to make us brighter and healthier. Pilots in white shirts gives us the feeling that we can count on them.

While esthetics play an important role, changes in preferences also make a huge difference.

More electronic devices and accessories are changing from black to white. If we dare to be different, we will be the change maker and most often, these are the people who contributes largely to impact the lives of others.

It all started with Apple. They are the first innovative people to use white in their products. It may have had a rough start but it has proved that determination and believe puts them where they are now. Other companies are moving toward white because it gives their products a sense of classiness. White is trending and will remain in trend for many years to come.

While white may be the future, we have to acknowledge that white is not a simple colour to maintain. Dust can be seen easily. If we are to spill coffee, it may stain as well. Our hands can also cause dirt build up on any white surface. While we use white lights at home, the ultraviolet rays from them can cause any white products to turn slightly yellowish over time. It is unavoidable. All that matters is how we take care of all the whites we have.

White is the new norm. Though easily tainted, it is up to us to preserve.

 

White. A blank page or canvas. So many possibilities.

Stephen Joshua Sondheim (Stephen Sondheim), American composer and lyricist, 1930-present

Choice

Every decision we make is by choice.

We are born in an exciting world. A world full of choices. There is no right or wrong in the choices we make. It is from the different perspective that guides us to make the best choice in a certain situation.

Everyone is beautiful. Whether or not we trust ourselves is another matter altogether. Somehow, we, humans love to take seriously what others say about us rather than what we think about ourselves. We are always careful of words that come out of our mouths. We are always alert of how we dress at certain occasions. We may even put on makeup just to respect the norm in the office.

Has anyone in the urban society ever thought that it is the beauty in the soul that matters, not what we see on the outside? It is by choice we follow the flow. Nobody is pointing a gun at us to force us to choose hiding our true selves.

Some people have the privilege to be raised by understanding parents who are always supportive of their children. They are always there to guide the children to decide based on choices available. When start from young, these children will grow up to have good judgements. They had a great head start, which makes them better individuals.

There are some who are not as privileged. Kids born rich are sometimes given way too many choices. Often, they are given unlimited amount of money to spend whenever their parents do not have to the time to be with them. Without proper guidance, it is easy for such children to sway from their roots and become irresponsible of the choices they make.

I happened to be born to a family whereby the elders are always right. We had to listen to their advice or else we would regret for the rest of our lives. Words that somewhat form threatening sentences has been the way I was brought up. How can someone been born to such a limiting belief environment progress in life? I was trained to be a “YES” person to all the demands of seniors. I had no choice. Did I?

It is because of the way I was brought up, the results I produce is very much around the limited choices I have, I do not know how to think out of the box. I only know how to chase dreams, I do not know how to achieve them. I only know how to be an employee, I do not know how to make money work for me. I know my life is stuck. What do I do? What choice do I have?

From the subjects that I choose to study, to the university I choose to learn from, to the job that I choose to work in, everything was a big package. I was born a normal person in a normal family that do not encourage creativity.

I remember as a child, I was the rebellious one. I had my own thoughts. I would fight for my right to get something even if it did not belong to me. I would throw tantrums just to get to sit in the swing. I would fight back at my sister. I would argue with my parents. Back then, I was the most caned of the siblings. Everything I did, any choice that I made seemed wrong. Perhaps I was not strong enough. My soul broke. I ended up being the good girl following instructions of elders. Did I make the right choice?

Based on the situation back then, that seemed like the best choice. But situation changes every second. Just like the situation we are all in right now. We have been through thick and thin of growing up. I am grateful for all the situations I have gone through. I know now I am on the right path.

Many say that the world is going through apocalypse, all the curfew, all the lockdown from travels is a hassle. It will drive the economy down and kill many businesses and countries. Perhaps it is also by choice. We have chosen our path, which is to live our life as convenient as we want to but we have forgotten the responsibilities we have for earth.

We are all children of Mother Nature. She is teaching us a lesson. Whether or not we learn from this… is by CHOICE!

 

Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.

Roy T. Bennett, Author of The Light in the Heart, https://thelightintheheart.wordpress.com/

Class

When I say I have class, it has two meanings.

Learning is a continuous process. I used to think that graduating from the university means I am more superior to everyone else who is non-graduate. Not that I would look down upon the lower educated people but more like holding myself higher than most. I am not alone.

I know of many graduates who have the same thoughts as I did. Note that I wrote “did”, not anymore. Now that I have been through most of my life observing everything around me, the environment, the people, and everything else, I realize that learning does not end in university. We live our whole lives learning the meaning of life. Most often, we learn more from the lower educated people.

Albert Einstein is the world’s most well respected icon but how was his education journey? Great minds are creative; minds that are continuously moving, thinking, nurturing for the better, and more. Everything that is thought in class nowadays is mostly to adhere to the rules and regulations set upon by the authorities. Any students that think differently are considered a rebel. Is that the correct way to run a typical classroom?

There are alternatives for the younger generation these days. More countries are allowing home schooling. Children are allowed to stay home to learn from certain mentors that their parents see as good influence. However, the children will still have to go through the same syllabus and examination as those in the classic classroom settings. This is a route different from the norm and is gaining popularity. Children are allowed more out of the books learning chances which open up their minds. It’s a good thing.

Our minds are always very busy. Some meditators say that the human mind is a monkey mind. We each are born with a brain, a different brain that makes us all unique. Our brain will think of various thought at any one second of our lives. We have to learn to calm the mind. This is the only way to declutter and think better, especially when life is bogging us down with the unknown.

The only way we can succeed is to put ourselves up for challenges. Any type of challenges that comes our way, we face it. It is only when we face our challenges, we will learn in the process. This is an outdoor classroom, a never-ending classroom. The world is vast and the thing we ought to learn is limitless. The more we learn, the better we achieve.

What has achievement got to do with class?

This brings upon the other meaning of class. Some say the high born are the high class people. However, I do not agree. Class is inborn. Class is attitude. A person with class will stay humble even after achieving high goals. A person with class has a broad vision to motivate other people to success. A person with class is acknowledged by others, not self-proclaimed.

This comes back to early education, most importantly the values instilled upon by the first educators, the parents. Being the child of a teacher, I have heard my mother say many things. I used to think negatively but now that I am all grown up, I choose to think differently. When the parents complain that teachers are at fault for their misbehaving child and vice versa, it is simply a learning curve for three parties; the parents, teachers, and most importantly the child.

Children are the future. Every single person that the child encounters plays a huge influence in their lives. Parents nurture, teachers educate, everyone else adds to the spice of life. If every person has similar understanding, the world would be a much better place as everybody is ready to help everybody else. This is the ultimate challenge for every single human being.

Let us not stop there. We are born into a world of biodiversity. Our class begins on the day we are born to the day we return to Mother Nature. Let us all learn through observation of all living beings and thrive together.

Almost all of the world-class athletes and other peak performers are visualizers. They see it; they feel it; they experience it before they actually do it. They begin with the end in mind.    

Stephen Richards Covey, American educator & author (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), 1932-2012