Personal Development Articles

My invitation to you to live a meaningful and happy life.



Archive for April, 2008

Be Your Best!

“There are principles. We do have conscience and those two things make all the difference. They impact our thoughts and how we see everything around us. We see how vital it is to pause in that space between the stimulus and response so that we can listen to our conscience and exercise the attributes of the heart to make the ‘best’ choices. We see that there are purposes higher than self toward which we can focus our energies and efforts with passion and confidence that we can create quality-of-life results.”
– Stephen Covey

I re-read the statement above as today I have a deeper understanding about it.

I have read in the e-mail previously that goes “Kadang-kadang, orang yang kita sayang itulah yang paling susah disayangi.” This is Malay language which is translated into “Sometimes, the person we love is the hardest to love.” I ponder and I agreed. It is not easy to love someone and make him/her feel loved the way he/she wants it. Different person have different definitions of love and the way he/she wants to be loved.

My question is “But isn’t it much easier to love someone who has loved you so deeply and showered you with love?” They are supposed to be the easiest people to love for all their love and contribution for you. If you don’t love them well, care for them, how are you going to love others? Those you need to reach out first with love and trust, those not very lovable and those you’d really love to love but not easy to be pleased.

The thought suddenly came to me and all of a sudden I have a different perspective. Is it too difficult to be your best for your loved one? Loved one can be your parents, spouse, family members, best friends, your inner circle, etc. If it’s difficult, how are you going to be your best for your clients, boss, colleagues, friends, society and those who need your help?

I will:

1) Everytime I become selfish, I have to remind myself that I’m here to give, not to complain.

2) I will make better use of my time.

3) Everytime I feel annoyed, tired of giving, I will speak tactically to voice out my opinion.

4) I will take full responsibility of my tasks and will follow it through.

5) I will make sure that the people around me are better and happier than before.

I am grateful to have the pleasure of reading great books from great people that educates my mind because my conscience will direct me back to course if I’m off course.



Discipline - fear it or strategize it?

I have read a lot of personal development books that tells me that to be a successful person (regardless of how you define success), you need to have discipline. Discipline to do what you don’t like to do. Discipline to do what you have to do. I have never doubt that discipline is very important, but I can’t stop wondering what is the best way to cultivate discipline after 25 years living in this world?

Academics will say that we should cultivate discipline in kids when they are small, because, the way I look at it, discipline has very much to do with habits. Disciplined enough to wake up on time. Disciplined enough to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Disciplined enough to have adequate sleep so your body has enough rest. Disciplined enough to save your money even though your spending list is longer than Rapunzel’s hair! Read the rest of this entry »




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