"False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil." Socrates
Lying is something you do by choice. You think about what you want to say and then act on it. It is a conscious decision made. Thus it is controllable and utterly WRONG!
Well, some white lies may be justified! When your sister is pregnant and she asks if she looks fat, you cannot reply by saying, “Yes, actually you look like Shrek’s wife Fiona!” You are obligated to tell a little white lie and say,” No, you have never looked so beautiful.” If you refrain from doing so, you may end-up losing your sister indefinitely and be cut from any duties as aunt of the unborn baby!
However lying to yourself is a very different story. What is your favourite lie about yourself? Is it that you are a fun-loving human being and the truth is that you hate life and would rather commit suicide? The reality of it is that lying ALWAYS backfires.
By lying to yourself, you are trying to justify something which is wrong or not true. You never learn to deal with the truth and certain issues efficiently and you obtain a mental state of “there is nothing wrong with lying.” It is like being an alcoholic. The first step to recovery is admitting that you are one, and then taking various measures to recover. Lying will only set you back, and escalate into something more serious.
By adopting such a state of mind, you may also feel comfortable lying to others. All trust in you will be lost. With no trust, you can have no relationships. And like Abraham Lincoln said: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Not ALL who wander are lost
According to the dictionary a wanderer is defined as; “To proceed in an irregular course.”
The statement suggests that some wanderers are in fact lost...but to me to wander means to search. To be lost suggest that you will not be found. But, in life wanderers who search do find their destination in life.
People search all their lives for their little niche in society. The place where they fit, a place where they feel comfortable and where they can be themselves .It is part of human nature to be uncertain in some aspects of life. You date a skater-boy only to find that you actually prefer a jock, you eat steak only to find you are a vegetarian, you participate in sports only to find that you are only interested in poetry. Ultimately you find your destination.
The wandering stage of one’s life is not always a pleasant stage. You may be teased for dressing like Madonna (you thought you looked like her and thought people would find you interesting) .You may be ridiculed for singing in the school choir (you are a boy who want to impress the girls, and they all seem to like the singing sensation of the Backstreet Boys) This is a stage of uncertainty, a stage of unknown.
This wandering eventually brings you to your destination, the place where you want to be...a place where you are allowed to be YOU and accepted for it.
The statement suggests that some wanderers are in fact lost...but to me to wander means to search. To be lost suggest that you will not be found. But, in life wanderers who search do find their destination in life.
People search all their lives for their little niche in society. The place where they fit, a place where they feel comfortable and where they can be themselves .It is part of human nature to be uncertain in some aspects of life. You date a skater-boy only to find that you actually prefer a jock, you eat steak only to find you are a vegetarian, you participate in sports only to find that you are only interested in poetry. Ultimately you find your destination.
The wandering stage of one’s life is not always a pleasant stage. You may be teased for dressing like Madonna (you thought you looked like her and thought people would find you interesting) .You may be ridiculed for singing in the school choir (you are a boy who want to impress the girls, and they all seem to like the singing sensation of the Backstreet Boys) This is a stage of uncertainty, a stage of unknown.
This wandering eventually brings you to your destination, the place where you want to be...a place where you are allowed to be YOU and accepted for it.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
How do you step from the top of a 100-foot pole?
HOW DO YOU?????I suppose very, very carefully and with extreme caution.
For a superhero this would be a very easy task.
Spiderman would...simply shoot out a web and swing from this pole to another
Superman would...point his arm upward and fly
Batman would....spread his bat-wings and fly
Captain America would... simply belt out “because I am Captain America” (and he would be on the ground)
Inspector Guru would...just extent his guru-leg and walk on
Wolverine would...jump and fall the living daylights out of him, but will heal in about 30 seconds
The HULK would... get angry, turn green, become the size of the Big Ben and the 100-foot pole would seem like a 1-foot pole
Silver Surfer would...never be in this position because he is always off surfing somewhere
Magneto would...attract a large magnetic figure, step onto it and from there proceed to the ground
Ironman would...beat the pole into the ground
Storm would...create a flood of some sort and swim to safety
Catwomen would...jump because cats always land on their feet
Wonderwoman would....jump, fly, walk or whatever (she is wonderwoman and can do anything)
To be very realistic I would...simply SLIDE (yes like a fireman) and NOT step from the top of a 100-foot pole, unless I am trying to commit suicide off course!
For a superhero this would be a very easy task.
Spiderman would...simply shoot out a web and swing from this pole to another
Superman would...point his arm upward and fly
Batman would....spread his bat-wings and fly
Captain America would... simply belt out “because I am Captain America” (and he would be on the ground)
Inspector Guru would...just extent his guru-leg and walk on
Wolverine would...jump and fall the living daylights out of him, but will heal in about 30 seconds
The HULK would... get angry, turn green, become the size of the Big Ben and the 100-foot pole would seem like a 1-foot pole
Silver Surfer would...never be in this position because he is always off surfing somewhere
Magneto would...attract a large magnetic figure, step onto it and from there proceed to the ground
Ironman would...beat the pole into the ground
Storm would...create a flood of some sort and swim to safety
Catwomen would...jump because cats always land on their feet
Wonderwoman would....jump, fly, walk or whatever (she is wonderwoman and can do anything)
To be very realistic I would...simply SLIDE (yes like a fireman) and NOT step from the top of a 100-foot pole, unless I am trying to commit suicide off course!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
You ARE what you DO
“You are what you DO, so why not DO the exceptional.” This slogan is splashed across the SANTAM building in Durbanville, and gets one thinking.
What we do defines our being. It is scary to know that all my accomplishments and failures defines my being....I want to be perceived as extraordinary.
If I lied to my mother about breaking her new vase, does that make me a liar?
If I took my brothers chocolate out of his drawer, does that make me a thief?
If I did not tell my sister she looked fat when she was pregnant, does that make me untrustworthy?
If I feel hatred towards rapists, does that make me a hater?
The things I do out of anger, frustration, fear, anguish and heartache forms part of this ‘being’ .But is it fair to be judged and defined in accordance with these acts. These actions are mostly irrational reactions to something negative that occurs. These are actions I would not want to be defined as. On the other hand, there is no such thing as a perfect human being, this is a concept with which I myself sometimes struggle. Because:
I want to be perceived as good
I want to be perceived as extraordinary
I want to be perceived as honest
I want to be perceived as trustworthy
I want to be perceived as loyal
I want to be perceived as loving
I want to be perceived as hardworking
I want to be perceived as a energetic
I want to be defined as a friend
I want to be defined as a Christian
I WANT TO BE EXTROARDINARY!!!!
And yet, my actions do not always portray these characteristics. Does this mean I am NOT extraordinary???
What we do defines our being. It is scary to know that all my accomplishments and failures defines my being....I want to be perceived as extraordinary.
If I lied to my mother about breaking her new vase, does that make me a liar?
If I took my brothers chocolate out of his drawer, does that make me a thief?
If I did not tell my sister she looked fat when she was pregnant, does that make me untrustworthy?
If I feel hatred towards rapists, does that make me a hater?
The things I do out of anger, frustration, fear, anguish and heartache forms part of this ‘being’ .But is it fair to be judged and defined in accordance with these acts. These actions are mostly irrational reactions to something negative that occurs. These are actions I would not want to be defined as. On the other hand, there is no such thing as a perfect human being, this is a concept with which I myself sometimes struggle. Because:
I want to be perceived as good
I want to be perceived as extraordinary
I want to be perceived as honest
I want to be perceived as trustworthy
I want to be perceived as loyal
I want to be perceived as loving
I want to be perceived as hardworking
I want to be perceived as a energetic
I want to be defined as a friend
I want to be defined as a Christian
I WANT TO BE EXTROARDINARY!!!!
And yet, my actions do not always portray these characteristics. Does this mean I am NOT extraordinary???
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Are we afraid of the wrong things?
F= Foolish
E= Emotional
A=Anguish
R= Ridiculous
It is part of human nature to be afraid. But what does being afraid mean? Why are we afraid of the unknown? Why are we afraid of things we know we cannot change or predict? I am afraid of the dark, afraid of being raped, afraid of being mugged, afraid of small spaces, afraid of having my heart broken, afraid of never knowing the true meaning of love.....
Fear changes people. It limits your capabilities. It changes personalities and diminishes aspirations. When you allow fear to take over your life, you are not living. We have adopted a culture of fear.
This culture is very much influenced by the media. The media has the rest of the world convinced that our country is taken over and ruled by crime. We tend to be most afraid of the things that are publicized the most. We are more afraid of being mugged than we are of dying from a terminal illness. Yet Africa has the largest number of people infected by HIV/AIDS and its death toll is almost quadruple the amount of people who get mugged. We tend to more afraid of containing the mad cow disease than we are of getting a heart attack. And yet, we drive at high speeds while under the influence of alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and do drugs.
This means that we as individuals do not think for ourselves anymore. We believe that which is told to us, and cast it in stone. It is time to start thinking rationnally about fear.
E= Emotional
A=Anguish
R= Ridiculous
It is part of human nature to be afraid. But what does being afraid mean? Why are we afraid of the unknown? Why are we afraid of things we know we cannot change or predict? I am afraid of the dark, afraid of being raped, afraid of being mugged, afraid of small spaces, afraid of having my heart broken, afraid of never knowing the true meaning of love.....
Fear changes people. It limits your capabilities. It changes personalities and diminishes aspirations. When you allow fear to take over your life, you are not living. We have adopted a culture of fear.
This culture is very much influenced by the media. The media has the rest of the world convinced that our country is taken over and ruled by crime. We tend to be most afraid of the things that are publicized the most. We are more afraid of being mugged than we are of dying from a terminal illness. Yet Africa has the largest number of people infected by HIV/AIDS and its death toll is almost quadruple the amount of people who get mugged. We tend to more afraid of containing the mad cow disease than we are of getting a heart attack. And yet, we drive at high speeds while under the influence of alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and do drugs.
This means that we as individuals do not think for ourselves anymore. We believe that which is told to us, and cast it in stone. It is time to start thinking rationnally about fear.
Colour of the wind...
The wind is BLUE....it brings calmness and rejuvenation as is blows gently over you, the wind is youthful
The Wind is RED...it takes action and is confident
The wind is YELLOW...it brings joy and happiness
The wind is BLACK...it is vigorous and fierce, it symbolizes stability
The wind is BROWN...it is conventional and earthly
The wind is ORANGE...is brings vitality
The wind is PURPLE...it is magical and truthful
The wind is GREEN...it symbolises new life, nature and well being
The wind is WHITE...it is heavenly and pure
The wind is PINK... it is loving and beautiful
The wind is GOLD... it is wise
The wind is grey....it is mature
The wind comes and goes, sometimes more intense than other, it teases you, making you wait for more, wanting more. The wind has a heavenly feel but it is fierce. It is unpredictable and exciting.
Its soul is one of love and hate. It has an honest soul, expressing its feelings. Its verbal nature makes it trustworthy and friendly. The wind is a friend.
The Wind is RED...it takes action and is confident
The wind is YELLOW...it brings joy and happiness
The wind is BLACK...it is vigorous and fierce, it symbolizes stability
The wind is BROWN...it is conventional and earthly
The wind is ORANGE...is brings vitality
The wind is PURPLE...it is magical and truthful
The wind is GREEN...it symbolises new life, nature and well being
The wind is WHITE...it is heavenly and pure
The wind is PINK... it is loving and beautiful
The wind is GOLD... it is wise
The wind is grey....it is mature
The wind comes and goes, sometimes more intense than other, it teases you, making you wait for more, wanting more. The wind has a heavenly feel but it is fierce. It is unpredictable and exciting.
Its soul is one of love and hate. It has an honest soul, expressing its feelings. Its verbal nature makes it trustworthy and friendly. The wind is a friend.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
If I were the BOSS...
I would NOT:
· Have different office hours than my employees
· Treat my employees as if they are my slaves
· Be unreasonable
· Have a “chamber of secrets”
· Punish my employees for creativity and a pro-active attitudes
· Pass my work down to employees, just because I feel like it
· Accuse without knowing the facts
· Take leave just because I feel like it
· Tolerate attitude towards any member of the organisation
I WOULD:
· Believe, trust, support and motivate
· Listen
· Care
· Be honest
· Participate
· Encourage patriotism
· Explain as many times as needed
· Discuss
· Be approachable
· Laugh
· Be adventurous
· Firstly praise then discuss mistakes
· Have a four day week (for all employees)
· Create a ‘friendly and fun’ organisational atmosphere/culture
· Reward performance
· Be a friend, confidant and someone who deserves respect
I would NEVER:
· Be the stereotypical egocentric maniac that thinks employees should fall to their knees every time the boss walks in
Just because once upon a time I was that “CEO fearing” employee who hated every moment of working for that company.
Just because I know that respect, trust and friendship will contribute towards MY organisations bottom line which would be my ultimate desired future state.
· Have different office hours than my employees
· Treat my employees as if they are my slaves
· Be unreasonable
· Have a “chamber of secrets”
· Punish my employees for creativity and a pro-active attitudes
· Pass my work down to employees, just because I feel like it
· Accuse without knowing the facts
· Take leave just because I feel like it
· Tolerate attitude towards any member of the organisation
I WOULD:
· Believe, trust, support and motivate
· Listen
· Care
· Be honest
· Participate
· Encourage patriotism
· Explain as many times as needed
· Discuss
· Be approachable
· Laugh
· Be adventurous
· Firstly praise then discuss mistakes
· Have a four day week (for all employees)
· Create a ‘friendly and fun’ organisational atmosphere/culture
· Reward performance
· Be a friend, confidant and someone who deserves respect
I would NEVER:
· Be the stereotypical egocentric maniac that thinks employees should fall to their knees every time the boss walks in
Just because once upon a time I was that “CEO fearing” employee who hated every moment of working for that company.
Just because I know that respect, trust and friendship will contribute towards MY organisations bottom line which would be my ultimate desired future state.
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