Self Development | iberwang

19Jan/100

Lessons of Life | Alexander The Great

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last.

He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carr them out without fail."

With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

"My first desire is that", said Alexander, "my physicians alone must" carry my coffin."

After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury".

The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin".

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared bring the question to their lips.. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.

Lessons to learn from last 3 wishes of King Alexander...

I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world".

With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. . . .

LESSON TO LEARN

Remember, your good health is in your own hands, look after it.

Wealth is only meaningful if you can enjoy while you are still alive and kicking.

What you do for yourself dies with you but what you do for others, lives on. "Legacy".

Tagged as: good health, last wishes No Comments

11Jan/100

The Best Job In The World

Some of us may have routine jobs that involve waking up, driving through a jam, frantically looking for a parking lot, sitting in a cubicle, working on file after file, playing Solitaire in between, taking a coffee break, working on file after file, and then heading home.

However, Ben Southall, who became an international celebrity when he won the Best Job In The World contest.

Southall, if you recall, beat 34,000 entrants, including a Malaysian who was on the shortlist, to get this posting on picturesque Hamilton Island off the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

But if you think he did nothing but laze around the beach all day with his girlfriend, consider this. According to the report, Southall worked seven days a week and up to 19 hours a day. He visited 90 “exotic locations”, made 47 video diaries, and gave more than 250 media interviews – including a chat with Oprah Winfrey.

He also posted more than 75,000 words in 60 separate blogs – the equivalent of a small novel (or 150 Monday Starters) – uploaded more than 2,000 photos, and “tweeted more than 730 times”.

And you know what? He has done such a good job that his contract which ended on Jan 1 has been renewed.

Tourism Queensland has just offered him a new 18-month, six-figure (in Australian dollars, of course) contract to promote the state worldwide.

So what really are the best and worst jobs in our country. Are the best jobs the ones that pay the most and give you the most company benefits and media publicity?

We often lament about our stress level and what we would give to be able to have a good night’s sleep and not feel like they belong to the company 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In the careercast survey, the methodology used was to tabulate points based on the five core areas that are key to every job, and stress is one of them. Apart from stress, the other areas are environment, income, outlook and physical demands.

I believe that one of the key components to making a job great is that we are able to have a sense of belonging in the place where we work.

It does not matter whether we are a long-time worker nearing retirement or a fresh graduate. It does not matter whether we are struggling with a new work culture because our previous place of work is so different from the one we just moved into. It does not matter whether we are the so-called invisible workers that our busy bosses never take notice of.

What is important is that we know that our work matters, that there is a sense of ownership and what we do contributes to the greater good of the company. It helps that the people around us, from our colleagues to our bosses, make us feel that we belong. Whatever we do, we are appreciated. Nobody tells us that we are newbies and that we should behave like them or forever be seen as outsiders.

We celebrate our differences and work together as one, like different parts of the same body. In that way, we slowly overcome our daily trepidations and feel that we truly belong.

And that would make any job the best job in the world.

Tagged as: sense of belonging, the best job No Comments

3Jan/100

KISS Your Resolutions?

Well, we are in the third day of the new year now. So how are you getting on with fulfilling all those New Year's resolutions that you have carefully drawn up yourself? Still too early in the day to tell? Or will it be the same thing as last year where we break them almost immediately?

According to Dr Lawrence Walter Ng, an author of 'Passion For Extraordinary Performance, "making resolutions at the beginning of the year is a great start and also the first step to achieve your ideal life or ideal self."

Consistenly setting resolutions is one way to remind yourself of continuous self-improvement. However, there are some people who find it difficult to keep their resolutions while others find that making resolutions never works for them.

In fact, New Year's resolutions are something that state your intention to personally change yourself at the beginning of the year so that you have a brand new self for the new year.

Some people are kind of enthusiastic to make their resolution in the beginning of the year because they have the "New Year new beginning" concept. In fact, we should not just make resolutions in the beginning of the year; we can also make resolutions during some special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, celebrations an so on.

While some of the targets we have set for ourselves in our New Year resolutions can be achieved easily, most of us tend to procrastinate and that is when things can fall apart.

For us to achieve better results in keeping your resolutions, there are five simple steps we can follow:

1. Make It Realistic

Many people give up their resolution easily because they set their pledge too high. When making a new year's resolution, pick a goal that is reasonable to attain. Make it simple, specific and straightforward.

For example, "Jogging three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) after work", "Spend only $200 for shopping every month", or "Appreciate a person a day."

2. Make A Silent Emotional Decision To Change

Take a moment to feel how passionate or eager you are to achieve the resolutions. Feel the need to make those changes possible. Remind yourself of the emotions of love, support and care to enjoy the better lifestyle that you deserve. Then youa re ready to move out of the current zone to a next level of your resolution.

3. Put Up A Visually Influencing Poster

Put up some intersting poster with pictures or words that can motivate you every day when you look at it. You can also create three simple daily action plans to remind you of what to do to keep it up and work on it little by little every day.

If you decide to jog three times a week after work, put up a poster/little photo of a person jogging at your desk. Do action plans like "Leave office at 6.00pm", "Jogging at the park", Minimum 20 minutes for jogging." Action plans are the guidelines to ensure you achieve your resolutions every day.

4. Get Supportive Friends

Share your resolution wiith your close friends so that they don't just motivate you but also remind you when you stop monitoring your resolution. Many people won't commit to resolutions if they are not accountable to someone. Having a supportive friend or buddy will make a big difference in your transformation.

5. Reward Yourself

If you have successfully kept your resolution for three weeks or more, celebrate. Psychologist have found that 92% of the people were keeping their resolutions. However, after two weeks, 90% of them had quit monitoring them.

Therefore, if you are able to break through this myth and continue carry it out to the third week, you should reward yourself.

Set little goals and a short timeline and then exceed it. Once you achieve it, reward yourself with your favorite movie or food, as long as your little rewars do not clash with your resolution.Do not spoil your resolution if you give yourself too many rewards.

So KISS your resolutions. Keep It Simple and Straightforward.

Tagged as: change yourself, keep it simple, new year resolutions No Comments

1Jan/100

When You Fall…

Nick Vujicic, born with no limbs, faces obstacles every day of his life. It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

Tagged as: nick vujicic, when you fall, yes you can No Comments

31Dec/090

Discover Your Passion

So what is stopping you from living the life of your dreams? The fear of failure? The fear of being laughed at by your friends and family? The fear that you are not good enough?

Many people gave up their dreams even before they got started because they judged themselves purely on their current state. They forgot that everone has the capacity to grow. As motivational guru Zig Ziglar says: "Go as far as you can see, and when you go there, you will always be able to see futher."

It is your life, your goals and aspirations that you want to work towards afterall. Ask yourself: " Am I making the most of my life, of every moment?"

As Fiona Harrold, best selling author of 'Be Your Own Life Coach' says: "There doesn't have to be anything wrong with you to want to run a check and make changes if you have to."

Discover your hidden passions, put form and structure into mere aspirations or simply be your cheerleader. Discover what you would love to do even if you don't get paid for it!

Renowned British filmaker John Boorman once said: " What is passion? It is surely the becoming of a person. Are we not, for the most of our lives, marking the time? Most of our being is at rest, unlived. In passion, the body and the spirit seek expression outside of self."

It has been said that "our passions are the winds that propel our vessel. Our reason is the pilot that steers her. Without winds, the vessel would not move, and without a pilot she would be lost."

If you want to live a happy and fulfilled life, you must take the time to discover your passion and have a good pilot to guide you.

If you look at the life of someone who is just existing, it is very much like watching a soap opera. You may not have watched it for some time, but when you tune in again after a few weeks or even months, much of the same stuff is still going on.

What is your purpose? What is your dream. If you do not know yet, it may be time to reflect the matter.

Happy New Year 2010.

Tagged as: fear of failure, goals and aspirations, life of your dream No Comments