#YourBetterSelf

I recently bumped into an interesting book by Deepak Chopra (https://www.deepakchopra.com/), where he explains the seven spiritual laws of success. Deepak calls the fifth law, the law of intention and desire. In one of the paragraphs, I find his distinction of attention and intention quite interesting. He writes, thus: “Attention energizes and intention transforms. Whatever you put your attention on will grow stronger in your life. Whatever you take your attention away from will wither, disintegrate and disappear. Intention on the other hand, triggers transformation of energy and information. Intention organises its own fulfilment” It is the last statement that captures my imagination in light of how many people make beginning-of-year-resolutions. Intention organises its own fulfilment. Many-a-time, the word resolution is used to indicate decisions that one has made with the aim of making some change in their individual lives. For instance, one may say, I will stop smoking in 2024. Or ...

As a self-proclaimed student of life, I have made it my mission to become observant each day. It is interesting what one can see, hear, sense, smell or even taste when one is open to learning.  In fact my mentor and former supervisor - Professor Michel Lejeune once told me that learning does not stop in the classroom. It goes on even when we have long left the classroom aka graduating. But the question remains, “How many of us are actually open and willing to learn daily?” So as 2024 has just begun, many have been involved in setting new goals or resolutions for themselves as individuals and organisations as corporate entities that have a vision towards achieving their identified goals.  One may ask however, “what is it that makes some individuals and organisations achieve their resolutions and others not?”   After posing such a question to several people, there are various versions and answers one would get.  Among the many answers one would get to the above questio...

A very happy new to you all dear readers and followers of my Blog posts.  It is always a pleasure to share reflections on insights that I pick up on this life’s journey. I believe we are called to do better, be better and have better. It is what we were created for. And as a human species on earth, we have been endowed with special abilities like no other on earth.  My blog is entitled #YourBetterSelf for that very reason. At the beginning of each new year, many people make effort to set new goals or revise the ones from the year before. This depends on their personal circumstances. I have learnt that there are also creative ways this can be done, so as to stay on track, in being effective. But that will be a story for another day.  For this post, I was struck by the parallel depth of a story I have always heard around the Christmas season. It is the story of the three wise men who embarked on a journey to seek for the new born king, that they could pay him homage. On th...

  Growing Up.   About two weeks ago, I met one of my avid readers of my Blog at the supermarket, while I was doing grocery shopping. Unknown to him, I have deep respect for him for the way he carries himself. After exchanging greetings, he asked me: “Are you not publishing the Blogs anymore?”   My response was, “I have been having some down-time. But I will resume soon.”   After we parted, I asked myself: “What has prevented me from publishing my the posts consistently of late?” And as I rummaged my brain for answers, one thing kept coming back, again and again. That one thing is: growing up. And so I asked myself, “What has growing up got to do with anything? ”   I am still seeking for answers. But, one interesting phrase I came across sheds some light to possible answers to the question that is filling my mind. The phrase reads : “Growing up is losing some illusions, in order to acquire others.”   As 2023 is gradually coming to an end, may be th...

  It was John C Maxwell who coined a phrase on change that is quite insightful. He said, “Change is inevitable, growth is optional!” As I have pondered over that phrase in light of what has transpired locally, globally and individually since COVID-19 happened, nothing really remained or stayed the same. Whether one contracted COVID or didn’t, whether someone lost a loved one or didn’t, whether someone lost a job, business or didn’t, the fact is that change happened. Perhaps one would ask themselves: “What lessons did I learn through the change?” or “ How did I grow through the change?” As I think about possible responses to the questions, I have come to realise more and more that growth is intentional. In fact one can choose to grow, or not choose at all to grow. Change is inevitable, growth is optional. Another interesting phrase on change that I have come across says, “Change is the only constant.” What does a phrase like this possibly mean? One way to think of it is ...

  So in 2015, I met a wonderful lady. Her name is Deyshun Diesel. She is one of the pioneer South African women who scaled the famously daunting mountain Everest. At the time of our meeting, Deyshun was presenting a talk on leadership and business development, based on her experience of climbing the Everest. She used the term known as Base Camp for expeditions that adventure the Everest peak. It is the inspiration of my theme for this post, as I write from the Pearl of Africa, my home, my Base Camp . According to Deyshun, Base Camp is the place on the Everest were all Climbers are further prepared mentally, physically and emotionally to summit the peak. She says averagely it takes about two months to summit the peak, yet about 9 days to return from the top of the mountain to its bottom. The reason for that, is the body has to acclimatize to the altitudinal conditions of the mountain. There is even a place where oxygen becomes quite limited and one’s body has to adapt to the con...

So last week on my way from Lanseria I accidentally visited Maggie’s Farm. Well my son spotted the place. While my eyes were focused on traffic, he was able to notice the Antique sign. So after a brief bargain, I made a U-turn and went back into Maggie’s Farm (the home of the chicken pie). https://www.facebook.com/homeofthechickenpie . What a surprise and warm welcome we had. The venue has such a pleasant atmosphere. As we arrived, we were greeted by a peaceful and serene vibe. The highlight was the Cradle Antique Store operated by Peter. His passion as a Collector exudes with such ease as he explains the historical details of some rare collectible items in the Store. The store is home to items from the 1800s meticulously preserved over the years and still in mint condition.   I watched as he and my son Judah interacted about the vintage Camera collection in the store. When I asked Peter what inspired him to open an Antique Store, he answered with beaming pride, “I have alw...