Pain

When something hurts, we often only notice the external pain. What treats wounds best is the acknowledgement of the internal pain. Pay attention to the real cause and the solution will surface.

Journey

Where is the place you would like to explore?

The general public will probably name out the most interesting places they see that everyone else has been to. Very often, these are places of tourism that everyone wants to visit in their lifetime. When our eyes see as beautiful, our mind thinks it is beautiful. Therefore, this is the place we put in our bucket list of all the other beautiful places we must visit before the end of our lifetime here.

When can you finally finish off your bucket list?

Like most people, you would probably think that you need to work hard for money, save up most of it in order to be able to finally buy a ticket to get to the place where you want to visit. You would probably also think of the exchange rates which you might need to start buying the currency when the price is low, in preparation for the vacation that is coming.

What do you need to bring to enjoy fully the experience?

Many things. You will probably pack up a whole luggage full of what your mind thinks is a necessity. Wherever you go, you have to bring all the so called basic necessities in your life. You lunge along all your beautiful clothes, shoes, bath needs, facial needs, hygiene needs, vanity needs, and etcetera. Some will even go to the extreme to bring along a hair dryer, towel, blanket because of the insecurity of not having everything from home.

How do you enjoy your time there?

People of the current era have the luxury of digital devices being made smaller and more convenient. Everywhere everyone goes, there will be a whole bunch of people taking photos for remembrance. While this is to ensure that you have a record of the happy moments in life, this is also something that binds people in a responsibility to capture nicer angles each time a picture is taken.

Why do you want to visit the place?

Perhaps this is the most important question of all. There is always a reason for every action. Sometimes you may argue that it is impromptu but there is an explanation for the way you react to any situation. Even if you feel that you are taking the trip because of the beautiful pictures you see on the internet, it means something has captured your heart. You just have to look deeper.

Life is simple and yet not so simple. As simple as we want life to be, there are always situations that come along that seems to make it complicated. It is not complicated at all, it is just our mind playing a trick on us. We are just used to the norm. Whatever that appears to be out of the norm is a problem. To our minds, problems are out of the way complicated.

It is all in the mind. If you think that all problems cause chaos, then that is what will come into your life. On the other hand, if you see all problems as opportunities for you to explore your strengths, everything becomes easier. We are so clogged up in our mind to think in one way we forgotten that there is always an alternative way to everything. We are too concentrated in the problem itself we lack the ability to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Find the light. If you understand nature well enough, you will understand. Perhaps the only place you need to visit is the place that keeps you sane and promotes your calmness. The place need not be somewhere only reachable by plane or ship or car. It can be near home. Perhaps you only need to take a stroll to the garden near your home in the heart of the night.

Everyone is asleep. There is stillness. There is total silence. There is tranquility. There is space. Dreams are travelling in every direction. The sky is almost pitch black. You concentrate in the darkness. You see some blinking spots amidst the darkness. All of a sudden, the sky is bright with beautiful stars lighting up your life. Life is beautiful. When daylight comes, your exploration continues.

When you remove all distractions, the journey of life begins.

 

We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.

Valentin Louis Georges Eugene Marcel Proust (Marcel Proust), French author, 1871-1922

Embrace

The start of a new day.

Every day is a new day. What makes today special from any other day? The whole of Malaysia is feeling it. Today marks the first day of the second wave of panic in the capital city. The whole country has been talking about the spread of the virus again, after a long time of relaxation. Why is there a second wave, some may ask? Will the country’s economy be able to withstand the calamities?

Our country has created history in many ways just within a span of two years. Year 2018 is the year the people made history. Finally, the people have decided that the ruling party is a bygone. Everyone worked together to realize the change that is much needed over decades. Everyone is happy with the results. The opposition party has finally taken over the government.

When change is expected, there is bound to be unhappy people too. Those who are weak emotionally cannot withstand the stress, or rather, they have never had to withstand such high demands of them. They easily jump ship. Perhaps this is just a political game but this has made another change in history. Whatever that the people wanted is very short-lived.

Soon enough, there is another change in the government without seeking the agreement of the people. There was not a second General Election to determine who the people wants to rule the country. Everything was predetermined or so describes by the people who are not happy with the outcome. What is it that we really want in a country that we live in?

Shortly after the change in parliament, we are hit hard with a tsunami of a lockdown. One that affects the entire world, at least we know we are not alone. The economy comes crushing down. Everyone is worrying about food stocks and medical supplies. Everyone is thinking how to solve the issue of insufficient funds in their businesses and wages.

As time goes by, as the number of infected cases decreased, people become more relaxed. We can see the economy slowly picking up day by day. Somehow, comes another turning point. A point where political interest is put above the safety of the people. In such circumstances, an election is held. What happened to the so called Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of not having large gatherings? So here it is. Here comes the second wave. Can the country withstand this second hit?

A handful of people have been self-made millionaires over the period of a month because they have a different mindset. They see opportunity in every crisis. They took the opportunity and they definitely took action. They are a beautiful bunch of people. When everyone is panicking, they are calm. Only the calm is able to see a clear path. Only the calm is able to walk the path.

Who are you?

Most people are just normal people. When we see an obstacle, we will pause and somehow wait for the obstacle to remove itself from our path so that we can move on. However, if you have been living through your years observing nature, you know that the obstacle is going nowhere. You have to take matters into you own hands to find a way around the obstacle.

This pandemic has proven to be a huge obstacle throughout the entire world. It is here and it is here to stay for some time. We can choose to be afraid of it or we can choose to live alongside with it. Are you willing to be afraid your entire lifetime? Perhaps you say that you are not worried of yourself, you are just worried for your loved ones. Then what are you waiting for?

Life goes on. Life goes on no matter what happens. How you want to live your life is in your hands. You can choose to make the difference or you can simply remain in the same spot. One is definitely full of challenges, while the other may seem to be more stable but it also has its own challenges that you may not yet see. If you love your family so much, do what is right for them.

Living is to embrace change.
If you are constantly worrying of the unknown, you are only putting unnecessary stress upon yourself. Use that energy instead to make things better, for something new.

 

Our heart is wide enough to embrace the world and hands are long enough to encompass the world.

Dr Amit Ray, Indian author and spiritual master, 1960-present

Organize

What do you have in mind today?

Most people will think of the things that needs to be done today. But have you forgotten about the things that are still undone from yesterday? There are so many things each person have to handle every single day. How do people get by and still have time for fun?

Are you a person who has to scramble through things every single day just to finish a task? How much time do you need to find something you need? How does your desk look like? How anyone lives through their daily lives really depends very much on the person and has got nothing to do with the aesthetics of what our eyes can see.

Some people live great in a total mess. These are called the creative bunch. We may see papers everywhere, totally disorganized and we get a headache but for them, this is their way to higher understanding. If one day, you cleared up their desk, they would have a hard time looking for that one thing that they need at that very moment. If left in a mess, it would just take them seconds. If all organized up, it would probably take them hours if not days, and in some cases, they may not even be able to locate it in their entire lifetime.

Some people need space for clarity. If things are in a mess, they cannot function at all. They need everything to be organized. You will see that their desk is often empty you really wonder how anything can get done. Where are the notes? Where are the “to do” lists? Where are the plans? Everything is just not there for anyone to look for. If someone puts something on their desk, they would be freaked and they immediately want it off. So, they get on is in the speed of light and then leave their desk empty again. There would probably be files upon files elsewhere as long as the desk is empty.

Most people are a little bit of both. You are probably the messy person when you are busy and the tidy person when you have a little time to get organized.

It is perhaps the greatest feeling of all to get things lifted off your shoulders. It makes you feel light. How you want to do it depends on the task itself and how you actually organize its route to finishing. Sometimes, drastic measures are necessary.

Humans are social animals. We need to live amongst other people and get things done together. Even if you are an introvert, there is no avoiding human contact. Even if we are all in a lockdown, there is no avoiding communication between each other. Everything needs to be planned out strategically in order for anything to work out the way it should. Time will tell that if we work together as a team, we are stronger.

A team means there is a leader. The leader is responsible to get things organized and moving. A great leader will plan small tasks for each member of the group. A great leader knows who is best at each task. A great leader gives opportunities. A great leader encourages brain storming. A great leader builds paths for exploration and enhancement. It is all about how well the person can deal with situations in a strategic way.

You may have thoughts that the current situation do not permit any organization because it is ad-hoc and of high urgency that needs to be done this very second. Sometimes, you just need to jump into action before even having the time to think. This happens all the time in stocks and business where decisions a second later can mean a total disaster. It is okay during that urgent time. Have you ever thought what needs to be done afterwards? Most people forget this. Post-mortem. When you have been stripped off your rights to think then, you think afterwards. Can it be done better? Is there another path to take? How to tackle such situations in future? These are all very important information for the entire team so that when you are not there to guide them through, they can function as they should.

Think the way successful people do. Organize your thoughts to help others help you.

 

Once you have a clear idea of your priorities – that is your values, goals and high leverage activities, organize around them.

Stephen Richards Covey (Stephen Covey), American educator and speaker, 1932-2012

Intelligent

What is the purpose of life?

Every single being on earth is here for a special reason. If we are talking about this scientifically as a whole, we know that the air composition is as such so that we can all breathe. Plants exist to provide vital needs of life. Animals exist to provide comfort. Humans exist to provide intelligence.

Have we, as human beings, done our part in providing the intelligence that the entire world needs? What is the proof that we have done our part as dwellers of this earth we call home?

Over the past centuries, since the first civilization of men, we have made history in many ways. Great people have created many things for a noble cause. Somehow along the way, we as descendants stray from the initial course of our ancestors. We have our own mindset.

Paper and ink were created for a noble cause. It is to document knowledge and wisdom. In the modern society, paper is used in very much the same ways but we have made it more comprehensive. The human minds have developed in a complicated way. Paper is a must in law, accounting, and also business. Has anyone ever realized that the filing of papers for all purposes have put a burden on the environment?

While everyone is busy having a set of documents of their own, trees are being cut down to produce the paper that each of us need. Then when the documents become irrelevant or overdue, we just throw them out in the trash. Environmentalists are promoting recycling of papers. This is also for a noble cause. How many people are really segregating their trash into separate bins?

Many people keep the papers to use as placemats. Perhaps it is for convenience sake. While this saves them money to buy a real placemats, and saves them time to have to clean up the table after every meal, it is really putting a huge stress on the environment. Soiled papers are usually just thrown in the trash together with leftover foods and plastic containers.

People may start to argue on this matter as paper is biodegradable. Do you really know how paper is made? Is it really that biodegradable? Have you tested it out yourself instead of just believing what others want you to believe? Raw papers are biodegradable over a period of time. But the white sheets of papers that we use in our documentations are not exactly that biodegradable. They are all bleached and most are coated for easy adherence of ink. What is the environmental impact of bleach, coating, and ink from paper that we throw out?

The human minds are always working towards correction of past mistakes. We know that overusing of paper is not the way to go for the future.

Computer and the World Wide Web is created for a noble cause to ease communication and reduce use of old technology. This really is the greatest creation. Just take it this way, there is always pros and cons to every decision we make. We just have to weigh between the two to take action accordingly.

People who are not in the semiconductor industry probably do not know that all electronics have a trace amount of certain hazardous substances that we do not want leaked out into our soil and water. Everyone is talking about lead-free. How many people know that lead-free is just a term used to say that lead is not present over the threshold (limits set by regulatory bodies for safe usage of humans)? It does not literally mean lead is not present. Sometimes, it is just not detected by the laboratory instruments.

We are responsible for the safe usage and handling of all electronic items that we use until the end of its life. Always empty out the data inside and send them for recycling in proper facilities. This may sound like a huge hassle but it is the only right thing to do. One mouse or keyboard may not make a difference in the dump but if everyone just continue throwing out their electronics as regular trash, heavy metals can easily seep in to the soil and contaminate everything from agriculture to fishery. What is safe to eat then?

Humans are the most intelligent species on earth. It is our duty to protect our home and all that live in it.

 

An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.

Victor Marie Hugo, French poet and dramatist, 1802-1885

Feeling

What do you have in mind when you first wake up in the morning?

Sometimes we wake up having a clear mind of what we want to do. Sometimes we are just blank. Sometimes we might be all cluttered up and totally confused how we can get over the entire day without screwing up. Whatever it is in the mind on whichever day, it is really up to us to make the best of everything there is at our disposal.

Think back.

Have you ever had a day when you wake up and the sky is clear?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up and your mind is blank?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up with a broad wide smile?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up with the feeling of fulfilment?
Have you ever had a day when you wake up knowing you can take the day?
Remember that day. Remember how you feel that day. Remember your accomplishment for that day.

Many people think that it is by luck. Perhaps. But what if it is not luck that made the difference? What if it is you that actually made the difference?

Whatever you feel and however you feel plays an important role in making your day for you. Luck is not always there. If you are solely counting on luck to live your life, you are bound to be disappointed many times over. You will then start to blame this and that for life not happening the way you want. You become depressed and you start to think lop-sided in all directions. Your life is going to be topsy-turvy. There is no doubt about it.

How you feel inside makes your emotion. Emotion is the strongest tool we have to amend the way things work. If you feel broken, your emotion is probably sad or angry. These will turn into negative thoughts. What are you telling your subconscious mind? There is no use just feeding the bad wolf in you. You are just going to be destructive of yourself and others. What is the value in that?

There is always a choice. Life offers us many chances. Whether we choose to see it and take it is entirely up to us. You can feel happy even if there is thunderstorms outside. You just need to learn to see the beauty in everything that comes your way. Life is full of ups and downs. If you are able to understand this, your mind will completely change for the better.

Take life one step at a time.
Stay calm even if you feel like things are bogging you down.
Stay calm even if you are broken inside.
Stay calm even if you are all alone.
The only way to get out of a difficult situation is to KEEP CALM!

Talk to people around you. They may not understand how you feel but letting other people know what is happening in your life helps you a lot. This is a great time to connect. This is a great time to talk things out. You never know, may be one of the people you are talking to will be able to enlighten you in an unimaginable way. You only have one mind. Let others in to help you. There is no need to feel shy about your situation. Though there may not be a direct solution for you, telling other people will let out a little stress within you. Deep inside, you know you need that.

Even if you are an introvert, you can still do this. Social media these days have span far and wide. It has reached even the unreachable. There are groups for introverts. Perhaps you will feel more secure connecting with the like-minded. Tell your fellow members. Tell them your problems. They may not have any solution for you but telling someone can always release some burden off your shoulders. Perhaps when you feel lighter, you will be able to find a solution on your own.

Feeling makes emotion that feeds your mind. Always remember the happiest moments in life to quickly bounce back stronger from any situation.

 

It’s often just enough to be with someone. I don’t need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You’re not alone.

Norma Jeane Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe), American actress and singer, 1926-1962

Kindness

Amidst the hustle and bustle life in the city.

Life is a state of being. Life is strange in many ways. It has been known scientifically that we are all made up of matter but we lack the understanding of what matter really is, and what really matters in life. Perhaps we are being clouded by the things we see around us, material things. Perhaps our minds are too congested to even think what life really means.

We seek kindness in our everyday life

We hope very much for people to be kind to us in all directions. We hope our life to be smooth sailing all the time. While having hope means a lot to those who lack of something but what hope really means is the lack of ability to make it come true. What then, can we do to make our dreams become reality? What is it that we need to fulfill in order to not just relying on luck and hope?

What we want others do for us we have to first do for others. If you want people to be kind to you, you have to first spread the kindness. This has been known through history of mankind but somehow the transmission of information has been halted due to many reasons. It no longer matters the reason information is not brought to us, it only matters what we do to correct it.

Whatever that had passed, leave it to the historians. Whatever that will happen in the future, leave it to the predictors. Our responsibility is to identify what we want and really take action into seeing it through. Some people are quick to decide while some takes much longer to find themselves. Perhaps we have been looking too hard to find something that is there in plain sight.

Most often, we spend time over thinking. This does not help at all, and in fact, it complicates the matter so much you become confused. When your mind is overwhelmed, it functions is a berserk way. Everything seems important. Everything seems urgent. Everything seems to matter. You get stressed. You try to control your emotions. You become depressed.

Depression is somewhat a silent killer. Many people do not realize that when a person is in that state of mind, that person would be thinking of many ways to self-destruct. While that person may have depression, they will be seemingly normal in the eyes of others. They are great actors. They are able to hide the side of them that they do not wish to show anybody. Even their closest family may not be able to identify that they need help.

What can we do then? If we are not able to identify, we cannot help them.

Perhaps we have been looking in the wrong direction. We do not treat the symptoms, we have to cure the disease. How about being kind to everyone around you? How about treating everyone the same? How about lending a helping hand to people even if they did not ask for help? How about having a conversation with the people you care about? How about stopping your procrastination and aimless jokes about other people?

Making fun of someone makes you feel great but can cause a disaster in the person’s life.
Making fun of someone makes other people laugh but can cause the person to silently bleed.
How do you feel when one day you are the one in the hot seat?
How do you feel when someone makes fun of something you hold dearly of?
Always put yourself in the shoes of others before spitting out words.
Always use your brain before your mouth.

Being kind to others means being kind to ourselves. While this may not make sense now, it will all come together when the time is right. The universe works in a very simple yet complex way. The universe knows no emotion, it only works towards what is true to our minds. What you think, you act. What you act, you get. Just remember this. What goes around comes around.

Be kind to yourself and others. Kindness will find its way back to you at times when you need it most.

 

We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin), English filmmaker and composer in silent film, 1889-1977

Anew

What is the meaning of life in the absence of a chance?

Everyone gets their chance at life. Sometimes, it is easy to see but most of the time, we lost the connection with our inner self. Every time we face with a challenge that is the time we need to remember to first look within.

Many people out there will say that there are so many ways to solve a problem if we just look outside. The world is at large and there is bound to be a solution somewhere. We love to surf the internet in search for that one suitable way of overcoming the obstacle. Sometimes, it is great to see what others do when they are facing the same problem as us. However, we have to understand one thing, we are all individuals. Even the slightest difference in ourselves will create a totally different outcome.

Sometimes, we might even become overloaded with information. With the minds of over 7 billion people in the world, everyone seems to be resolving their own problems in their own ways. While we are in search of the best solution, we can also get confused with the vast information we find over the web. What are we going to do about it?

First choice we see is probably through trial and error. This is the fastest way to set ourselves through the learning process. We take action to do our best to hopefully reap results of our hard work. We learn through failure. We learn through success. Each and every step of the way is a crucial learning point. It is only important that we actually learn from experience.

Second choice we choose is probably find a mentor. This is a great way to become a better person with the guidance of a successful one. Great mentors produces successful mentees. However, if we are just following blindly what the mentor says without incorporating our own ideas, we will succeed one way or the other but we sometimes also lose ourselves in the process. This may be a good thing in some cases, but may not be so in most. We have to remember one thing that we are all built differently for a reason.

Many people forget that there is a third choice that is the most ignored choice but is also the wisest choice. Amidst all the learning over the years from machine or other humans, we are ourselves. We can only learn so much to be someone but it will only make sense if we look deep within to find ourselves. We are so immersed in the outside world we keep forgetting that the most powerful source of energy is from within. The sun is the mother source of all energy on earth but our minds is the ultimate source of all energy in the universe. There is a universe within us.

Living through life over the years seem to be great. Day in day out we do the things that we think is for the best of ourselves and the people around us. With each challenge we face, we learn a little bit more. However, we forget one very important action, to have checkpoints.

Each one of us should have checkpoints every now and then to measure ourselves as a whole. We love to live day by day thinking that our life is perfect. Just because we managed to solve all the problems that arise along the way. Just because we went through each challenge easily. This only means that we are able to overcome life as we live by. Have we ever stop and take a look at ourselves every now and then? Have we ever taken the liberty to just remember to check-in to ourselves to see how we are doing? Have we ever taken time to understand ourselves the way we should?

There is a calling. A wakeup call. This is not the usual wakeup call in the morning to make us get out of bed. This is one that we really need to wake up to see that we need to change and start anew. The current life is great but we have forgotten to check in. This checkpoint tells us that we have not been taking good care of ourselves. This checkpoint is the result of our misunderstanding in life. This very checkpoint is the turning point that makes all the difference, it is a matter of life and death.

Search within to find your calling. It is time to start anew.

 

I always liked the story of Noah’s Ark and the idea of starting anew by rescuing the things you like and leaving the rest behind.

Zachary Israel Braff (Zach Braff), American actor, 1975-present

Objection

Can I be a public speaker if I’m an introvert?
Can I run my on business if I’m a slow thinker?

We are humans and with our humongous brains, we tend to overthink things. Sometimes, totally irrelevant things. We love to worry about anything under the sky that has got nothing to do with the situation we are in. Why is that so?

With such a massive brain, we should be geniuses creating magic around the world and yet, we just keep getting comfortable in the same place every time. We keep giving ourselves lames excuses not to venture into new realms. We keep having objections that do not even exist at the time we are faced with the opportunities. We love to just give up without even trying. Why is that so?

Everything happens for a reason.

I keep insisting this very point. If something is happening to you at this juncture, there is always a reason behind it. Perhaps you do not see the good in it right now but it surely will bring you value at some point of time. You just need to be open-minded to see for yourself the great things that are coming your way. If you just keep yourself in the little box you have been in the whole time, nothing will be able to penetrate through to you. You do not learn from mistakes. You do not get value in return from your wrong-doing.

It is your own obligation to acknowledge your failure in order to improve yourself. It is your own obligation to see that you learn from your past to create your better future. It is your own obligation to start something new to change your life, and see through to it. It is only when you are determined enough to do whatever it takes and believe that all actions you have taken is to help you reach your goals, you will succeed in life.

Even if you fail now, it does not mean you are not progressing. You learn along the way. You learn from your mistakes. You learn to make better choices.

If you fall into a ditch, it is okay. You get drenched in through and through. You get down and dirty. You are totally soiled and demotivated. What do you do?

You can get up, climb out of that filth, and start anew.
Or, you can go with the flow, get washed into the deep ocean, and drown.
Or, you can swim across oceans to find the best island to settle down.

Whichever way you choose is not important. What is important is how you look at whatever situation you are in. Some people get up easily which is great. Some people just give up and give in. Some people are slower in making decisions but they have set up high ambitions and make it happen. Which kind of person do you choose to be?

There is no right or wrong in whichever path one chooses. There is only the question of whether or not you will regret your non-action when the time comes for you to take your last breath. We will all die one day. Perhaps the only question we should ask ourselves every single time we reach a decision juncture is, “Am I going to regret it?”

Each of us has a limited time in this life. While I do believe that our soul lives on as an energy mass after death, I still would like to make the best out of this physical body of mine right now in this life. What I do with my limited lifetime here is entirely up to me. What you do with your limited lifetime here is entirely up to you. There is no need to compare to one another. Never ever let anyone else control the way you should live your life. You deserve to make your own decisions. You deserve to be your better self. You deserve the freedom to choose.

When someone else tell you no, you only need to tell them “OBJECTION, this is my life! I choose my own path and I will be responsible for every action that I take.”

 

I should have no objection to go over the same life from its beginning to the end: requesting only the advantage authors have, of correcting in a second edition the faults of the first.

Benjamin Franklin, American polymath and inventor, 1706-1790

Create

Why now? Perhaps the question one should be asking is why not now, instead of why now.

Now is a good time. Considering the situation around the world right now, it is a good time to start anything that we have been dreaming of doing. This is a calling. A calling for something to change.

All along, we are just living the life we thought was the life that is. Day in day out doing the same routine over and over. Life is just as is because it is just as is. There seems to be no way out of the situation at all. Life seems to be fixed, whatever life we are living.

A farmer seems to be just living the life of a farmer. Wake up, head out to the farm, sow seeds, water the crops or harvest the crops. Send the reaps of hard work to dealers and get some money in return. During the lockdown, people are just not allowed to move around too much. Though categorized under essential services, because of the lockdown, a large number of harvested crops are left to rot. Farmers have no choice but to take another route. They go online. Now, consumers can directly purchase from them at a cheaper price, while they are making higher profits without the need to go through middle men. It is a win-win situation.

As for the middle man. Life was great prior to the lockdown. They source for good stuff, then they resell to the end user at a marked up price. There is no need to produce anything to sell, they only need to know where to find something to sell and where to market it to the right audience. However, during the lockdown, many things cannot be done. Perhaps it seems like efforts lost in translation. If they do not change the way they run their business, there will be no business to run after this ordeal. When people can no longer move around like before, it is a good time to bring the business online.

When everyone goes online, this will mean the initial online businesses will be affected because the pie has been cut into way too many pieces. Perhaps this is a great time to think out of the box. What else can you do differently from all the other businesses out there? How can you differentiate yourself from the norm? How to find your perfect niche within an ocean full of sharks.

Some may say that it will be easy for things that people will definitely need to buy to do business. How about those things that are considered redundant?

Nothing ever is redundant. It is the perception of people that makes things useful or not. There are more than 7 billion people in the world. There bound to be people finding something that you are offering. You just need to know where to market and how to market. Knowing the where and how is of utmost importance for any business, regardless of whether or not you are in an industry that many say is dead now.

Take tourism for example. Many companies have ended their business because it is impossible for sustenance when nobody is allowed to travel around. Perhaps it really is the right time to think of something else. Perhaps tourism is not the right business for you. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to change your business model. Every business should be able to sustain even if they are running for at least 6 whole months without any income. If the business is running on a day to day basis, then there must be a weak point in the business model itself. If you are still holding on to it, you will just end up stressing yourself about it right till the end.

It does not matter what life throws at us. It only matters how we look at life. When you know that something is not working well, stiffen your heart, cut loss, and let go. There is no reason to keep hanging on to something that you know will end up nowhere.

The old you will have to first die to create the better you. You do not die literally, you just let go of everything that are pulling you down, and you start anew.

 

To create is to live twice.

Albert Camus, French-Algerian philosopher, 1913-1960

Inspiration

Anything can be inspiring when you have an open mind.

We have mostly forgotten about what nature brings us as we get through our day to day busy lives. Our daily routines are the usual wake up, clean up, eat up, rush up, work up, then back home, settle down, and finally rest. Sometimes we end up sleeping late and everything gets delayed the next day to the point that we can no longer handle. We skip that first meal of the day because we do not have time. We get stuck in traffic because we left our homes later than usual. We cannot finish our work because we arrived late in the morning. When we finally get home, we have very little time to settle our mind that causes us to not get the good night’s sleep that we needed after a long day of work. Then we wake up late again the next day. It is a vicious cycle.

Has this ever happened to you? I know it has for me.

Perhaps this is life, you say. But there is always a way to a better life. Well, it is easy to say. Plan it. Schedule everything you want to do. As you tick it off your daily routine list, perhaps you will feel better. Just perhaps, you will be able to stick to that routine you have planned so nicely. That perfect routine for your day to day life.

Majority of the people on this planet have similar mindsets because they have been brought up to believe so. They are living in the environment that tells them this is their life and there is no other path for them to choose from. Is that really so?

Open up your mind!

Your mind is the one most crucial asset you have from the beginning till the end. Everyone has a choice whether to waste all the space in the mind thinking that life is as such or to use it wisely.

Planning is great. But there is always another way. We can incorporate something different into our daily routines. There are more than seven (7) billion humans beings in the world and the numbers are probably increasing by the minutes. There are more than seven (7) billion minds out there waiting to be tapped. Knowledge and wisdom is in abundance.

Everyone has been brought up differently. Everyone is able to give you some insight one way or the other. It could have been that neighbour who introduced to you the beauty of meditation. It could be that other person on the internet that has enlightened you in certain ways. There is no limit to how and where. That person may be half way around the globe, with technology, no place is too far to reach.

In your weekends, do something out of the norm. Get back to nature. Reconnect yourself with nature. You have worked hard all your workdays. Unwind with every chance you get. There is no need to look far, nature is around us.

People may have the idea that it is difficult to do many things with young children or pets around. Says who? It is all in the mind. It is all limitations you tell yourself. Everything can be done. You just need to look for the how. Find ideas from everyone else. Include your children and pets in your activities. Yes, you may face difficulties but if you never take the first step, you never know.

Just give yourself a chance to make things happen.

My personal experience. I always like to bring by dogs around wherever I go whenever I can. But because the country that I live in do not permit pets in many places, I had to search high and low to find those that allow pets. They cannot follow me to work. They cannot follow me to the shopping mall or the market place. Even places of nature has restrictions on pets. It is really difficult. It is okay. There is the internet. It allows me to find what others are doing with their pets during day offs. They give me ideas I could have never thought about on my own. Little by little, we figured more we can do with our beloved pets.

Life is when you open up your mind and let inspiration find you.

 

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (Ella Fitzgerald), American jazz singer, 1917-1996

Independence

Being independent is the ultimate goal we all have, whether or not we realize it.

When we are born, we are all dependent on the people around us. We depend on them to feed us. We depend on them to protect us. We depend on them to nurture us. Whatever we need, we depend on someone to provide. As we grow, step by step we learn to do things on our own. We no longer need anyone to feed us, carry us around, or help us change dirty diapers. We learn to find ways to deal with incidents that happen around us. We become more and more independent with each passing day.

Though there will be some who are still dependent on their parents even after schooling years. Perhaps they have been heavily protected to the point that they do not realize they have a life to live. Perhaps they do not understand that their parents will one day leave them behind. Who is to blame for the dependency of such children? Some would blame the parents for being over-protective. In actual fact, everything falls back to the individual themselves. They cannot blame other people for their unwillingness to take one step out of their comfort zone. If they are able to show their parents that they can do it on their own, there is no reason their parents should hold them back.

What is the meaning of independence?

It is being in a state of freedom from external control.
It is being in a state of not depending on another for the sustenance of live.
It is being in a state of capable of thinking or acting for oneself.

The state of being is one that every individual should focus on. Very often, we depend on external views to enable us to make decisions that matter in our life or the life of others. Why is that so?

Humans are sociable creatures. We love to think that our every decision will affect many things around us. Many of times, this is true. Every single decision we make could have a huge impact on the lives of others. Perhaps it is our responsibility to get opinions of others before making that big decision of ours. While the opinions of others may be important to guide us, it should never ever override the ultimate decision we make. There will be people who disagree with us one way or the other. As long as the decision we make is for the better of the majority, we have to pay a small price of the unhappy minority.

Every individual is different and have their own mindset. It is impossible to make every single person happy about our decision. As long as the decision we make is a well-thought one which gives a positive impact to the world, nature, and community, we have every right to stand firm to that regardless of what the haters say.

Some people are very keen on living in their own box. We can try to explain to them the positivity of our decision but they are just reluctant to listen. It is okay. The best way we can go about this situation is to make things happen through our decision. Results will explain everything. When we show them the great achievements of our doing, there is no reason for them to continue their objection. Never ever should we give in to their lame excuses. Never ever should we try to argue with them. Time will tell.

How to be independent?

Life is simple. Independence is achieved when we are free and easy.

It is easier said than done. Humans have created borders and countries. Each country has its own leaders. The independence of the country is very much dependent on the leader itself. However, there is no hard fixed place we cannot venture. We only need to know how to do it. There have been solo or group travelers who have been around the world, through borders of numerous countries, just on their bike. This is the state of freedom we all seek but never get to doing.

Independence of an individual is easy to achieve. Independence of a country requires strength and courage of many individuals to provide a better livelihood for their young. Cherish the freedom we have and be grateful for the sacrifice of our forefathers so we can live peacefully in our home country.

Selamat Hari Merdeka!

 

A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Seneca the Younger), Hispano-Roman Stoic philosopher, 4BC-65AD

Solution

There is always a solution to a problem. We just need to know where to look.

Problems exist everywhere. It is part and parcel of life. It is not the matter of whether or not a problem exists, it is a matter of how to solve the problem. A problem can be big or small. It really does not matter the size. There is always a solution.

Most often we like to avoid what is inconvenient to us. But life is ever changing. How can we ever avoid circumstances that we do not like? Even if we choose to do nothing now, we still have to face the consequences at some point of time. Whether it is now or later, we still have to face whatever challenge life brings us. This is how we can improve.

Life is about moving forward. Humans, after a certain point in life, would probably have found a place they feel comfortable in, the comfort zone. While this sounds good, it would mean we are stagnant as it is. It feels comfortable not to change and change seems to be a huge problem. Still, every problem has a solution. We just need to learn to step out of this comfort zone that we have created for ourselves.

There is no place in this world that is a one size fits all. Everyone has a different opinion of their comfort zone. Some are just content. They are happy with the way life is. They do not want to change anything in their life. But life changes. We age. People around us will die. One way or the other, we still need to get out of that comfort zone to face all that is placed upon us. There is no eternity to comfort. It would be easier to adapt if we are to constantly change the way our mind works.

Open up the mind!

Some people just love challenges. They are always in the competent mode. They love to push themselves over their own limits. They love to thrust beyond boundaries.

It is through perseverance and commitment that one can succeed in life.

Life is ever changing and we all know that it is a fact. Why do we want to get ourselves stuck at that moment? It is great to live in the moment but never ever to get ourselves stuck in that very moment for the rest of our lives.

When someone leaves us, we can mourn, we can feel sad, we can cry, but only at the moment. After that, life goes on. Whatever that has happened, just let it stay in the past. Throughout our lifetime, we will miss the person every now and then, but we do not need to loop our minds to remind us of the sadness when the person left. In fact, we should live life to the fullest to show respect to the person.

When a decision is made without our consent, and problems arise, it is easy to blame and say that the person made the wrong decision. It is convenient to say that it is not our problem. But we always have to look at it in the big picture. How is that problem affecting my life? Perhaps we do not see it now. Sooner or later we will.

When a problem is placed in front of us, it is only rightful to look at the problem and find ways to solve it, rather than to say “it has got nothing to do with me”. Take one problem at a time. Ponder upon it, read up on it, and research about it. Whatever means we have, we give it a try. Whether or not we succeed in finding the solution is depending on our actions.

Sometimes there are problems that require no solution because over time, the problem will dissolve itself. Sometimes there are problems that require no solution from us because someone else will be on top of it. Sometimes there are problems that require very little effort simply because they are recurrent and we are familiar with it. Sometimes there are problems that require tender loving care because they involve people around us and one wrong step could cause an emotional breakdown.

We can search high and low, there is no place in this world that is problem-free. But a solution is always around.

 

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.

Colin Luther Powell (Colin Powell), American politician, 1937-present