#YourBetterSelf

Through his book entitled, “The Purpose Driven Life” Rick Warren helped me realise in a deeper way that as individuals we all have different forces that drive our lives. “There are hundreds of circumstances, values and emotions that can drive your life” , writes Warren.  He goes on to list five common aspects as the driving forces in the lives of people, namely: guilt, resentment and anger, fear, materialism and the need for approval. I found that list quite insightful.  I became more curious in trying to understand what really was the driving force behind my thoughts, feelings and actions during the various circumstances I encountered or found myself. Whether it was thinking through a situation, identifying my feelings or making a decision about how to proceed, I have generally used Warren’s list as a filter to help me understand my own motivations better.  This is an on-going process because as human beings we are evolving each day. What may have been the driving force...

What’s Love got to do with It? Today is Wednesday 14th February 2024. The date is celebrated as Valentine’s day. A day when hundreds of people celebrate love with their partners and loved ones. The day has an interesting history, based on Saint Valentine. The story is told that St Valentine wedded couples against the laws of his time, thus celebrating and promoting love. He was killed for that. He died for what he believed in, Love.  Incidentally, today is also Ash Wednesday. It is a day marked by traditional Christian churches signifying beginning of  the Lent season. Lent marks forty days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving for spiritual purposes. I have been reflecting on this co-incidence and wondering what intersects the two celebrations: Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. They seem worlds apart, yet today they are marked on the same day. Love is the notion that emerged during my reflection. Immediately, the question arose: “What’s love got to do with it?” Interestingly, th...