Stress & Calm

I've been collecting studies, researches and opinions about the effect of stress at the workplace. It is amazing: people are not 100% sure about it.

In a very empiric way, it is obvious that a stressed person is less productive. However, there are also professions like firefighters or TV series directors seem to proof that theory is wrong and stress turns into their friend.

So, I can only talk about my own experience then...

My professional life started in a very ambiguous way and it is not something I am used to mention in my curriculum vitae. I started to work as an employee at the biggest bank at the time in Brazil. My shift went from 2 through 9 pm, and the stress was high. At that point, I didn't follow a meditation routine or even a spiritual life, and so I was suffering in my mind, body and emotions, going there, working like a donkey, going back to a very conflictive home and again next day all the same... Stress was very high; the main consequence was the mistakes I used to make, plus my co-worker-kind-of-boss' bad temper.

After a while, I retook my spiritual practice, and calmness took over me. Situations didn't change, on the contrary our responsibility was increasing (and my co-worker's bad temper too), but I felt much more relaxed and easy. Yes, at that point, I could not avoid the toll of the physical effort in my own body and I must admit I was often sick, but my mind at least was clear, which allowed me to change job and start a career.

My first benefit by embracing that calmness we all have inside was to strengthen my mind and in this way, to shield myself from the bad consequences coming from the environment. With stress, you are affected by all that is around you, physically, emotionally and mentally. Using meditation, at least I got to keep a strong mind and I start to help shaping the places I went to work.

It took me a few years to end the emotional and physical aspects of stress and reach a point today when I feel I am healthier than 20 years ago. And nowadays, besides meditation, my main medicine is silence and calmness.

We cannot avoid stress and its consequences without a proper moment or two when we focus ourselves in the self, in the moment and place where we are. With meditation and silence practices, gradually we can do it even though we are in the middle of very stressful situations.

When success is worse than failure

Success is an interesting subject. If you check that word, or a synonym, you would seldom hear it in any old text. Did they say Moses was successful in fulfilling his task?

From last century, however, something happened and success turned into obsession. Do you know why? Looking at nature, you can see as success is natural. Even when there is a failure and a species goes wrong, nature changes into some kind of success... Go to any garden during 6 months and just watch there.

Of course, when humanity started to heavily intervene, the balance was lost, but still you will see all species trying to have success, which is more than survive; besides being able to live, any species want to reproduce and find a happy spot in this planet. And those who fail, eventually nature take care and turn into success too.

My guess is that, as with nature, with men and women: success used to be natural, normal, and so normal that nobody comments about it. It is like going to London and get amazed to listen to people speaking English... It is normal, nobody will even notice.

But with the present obsession for success, something different is happening. On one hand, people ARE experience failure, and heavily. It is hard for people to keep a big picture and they try and try, sacrificing family life, health and friends, without realizing what they are renouncing is part of real whole success; after all, one day we all retire and so, what is the point of having success just part of our lives? This kind of success at a long term is worse than failure.

On the other hand, success panic is around. So many young people are famous nowadays and some not so young too, becoming famous overnight without the right preparation... In nature, success happens after a while, sometimes a long time, because you need to be prepared to take over the responsibility of success. The best way to solve that is not evading or delaying success, but embracing it naturally. Not changing main habits is key and instead, using success to help you to do good things in the world. Enjoying without getting lots into it.

After all, success is natural, it has to come and when it comes, just live your life better.

82 Reasons to be a leader

January 12th 2015 I will be having two birthdays in the same day. On one hand, I will be 50 years by having been born in a warm night in São Paulo, Brazil. On the other hand, I will be 32 years of having started a very meaningful change in my life.

For celebrating, I have compiled this list because the most valuable gift I have ever received from life is the possibility of being a leader. By summing up both ages, I have got 82 reasons to be a leader. I do hope this is a gift to you, someone I appreciate and I dedicate this document.

1. By reflecting on before taking any decision, which empowers that will be done.
2. Every day you will look at your family, home and friends from a new perspective.
3. Being able to convince others from his/her own example.
4. Never again "stand" others’ behavior; instead, tolerate and help them to change.
5. The great tragedies will cause an inner change that will transform the world.
6. Being able to forgive an unlimited number of times.
7. Living life at 100% happiness and 0% sadness.
8. The love you have for life will be fully satisfied.
9. The pressures are increasing and only you can handle.
10. You can develop the values you need for living and fulfilling your personal goals.
11. Tolerating by giving others the best of herself/himself.
12. Life becomes a challenging funny game.
13. Every step taken is an achievement.
14. You have everything to transform the world.
15. Your specialties are a key part to change the world.
16. The world is living immersed in uncertainty and leadership hands you tools to manage it.
17. The world needs your qualities, talents, all you have and are.
18. You will never experience a failure!
19. Facing situations without aggressiveness, with total internal stability.
20. Living life with 100% challenges and 0% problems.
21. To discern the best paths to follow in the journey of life.
22. You will develop your intelligence completely.
23. Each day will begin as a new chapter of your life.
24. You are the source of harmony in your circle of influence.
25. Channeling resources so that great and needed projects take place.
26. The incredible wisdom that is in you is exactly what others need to find a solution to their problems.
27. Seizing moments of silence and introversion to release inner creativity.
28. To embrace those who are considered enemies as a student hugging a teacher.
29. Achieving others’ cooperation because your job is to serve the world.
30. Learning from others through observation.
31. Everything that happens to you contributes to your personal development.
32. Being able to sit at the end of a day and "pack" whatever happened, not carrying grudges for the next day.
33. Your thoughts create a unique vibration, helping others in their time of need.
34. You're an example every day of the year.
35. You need to explore and use your potential completely.
36. You will always see each other as friends and always feel deep compassion for everyone.
37. Empowering people, creating new leaders.
38. You'll always be a satisfied person.
39. No impossible obstacles to a leader.
40. Others can help you, but you are the one living the life you live.
41. Your character can impact many others and change their lives.
42. May all your temporary stages turn to be valuable in your life overall.
43. The source of knowledge you have cannot be without being used.
44. To change the intentions of others through your own example.
45. When deciding something, that decision is imperishable, as are its results.
46. Establishing a new ethic code that makes to live with others easier.
47. To translate into reality what exists in thoughts.
48. Motivate, motivate and motivate others.
49. Adapting to any environment, without losing personal values and principles.
50. Others’ company is enjoyed at a very deep level.
51. You are the star that reminds many others of their own brilliance.
52. Your thoughts impact the atmosphere in which you live.
53. Being so flexible that everyone feels you are part of their lives.
54. Your past is a source of inspiration and values, but does not define your present actions.
55. You will never feel disappointed.
56. As a leader, your family will have a clearer guide for the coming uncertain future.
57. Your present is a present life has given you.
58. You are the sun that illuminates the lives of many.
59. To turn your personal introversion into source of energy for others.
60. You will stop blaming others and be responsible for your own life.
61. Small tragedies will be a temporary chaos you will overcome with love, dedication, patience and perseverance.
62. Each conquest changes life and a bit of the world.
63. Your future, it is you who generate.
64. To experience the BEING in all its fullness.
65. Every day you will look at the sun as if it is the first time.
66. It gives meaning to your possessions and actions.
67. Sharing values without having to preach them.
68. Teaching others through silence.
69. Transforming a cloudy day on a sunny day in others’ minds.
70. Building a new world.
71. What your relationship with others will be like just depends on you.
72. You are the hero of your own story.
73. It makes you fulfill your goals, objectives and vision.
74. There is no other way to create your future.
75. Your relationship with others will always be that of a disciple who learns from the smallest gestures.
76. You will no longer complain about situations, as you are the one who designs your life.
77. Sharing premium wisdom.
78. Your relationship with others will always be that of a teacher who shares fundamental secrets.
79. The world needs a lasting meaningful change.
80. It is the only way to truly satisfy your mission on the planet.
81. Your life and the lives of others always make sense.
82. It's your life, and it is you who have to carry on that life until its fantastic conclusion.

About dreams... Can you still chase after fireflies?

What is the difference between a dream and imagination?

Many things in the world today used to be just someone's dream: an airplane, this device you're using to read this blog, and this blog itself. Nowadays, we don't even look at it twice; it is common, a part of day-to-day life.

Which other things would we have if those who imagined them were able to make them into a dream? You see, there is a difference between imagination and a dream.

Everyone imagines things: your spouse imagines where you have been last night, your friend tries to imagine why you didn't call him or her back and your boss imagines perfect teamwork.

From that point, you need power and courage to consolidate it into your mind, to give it shape: your spouse reaches the conclusion you were working late and decides to buy you a small token on the way home; your friend, as any good friend, makes the decision of calling you instead of waiting, and your boss starts to see in his mind how a perfect teamwork would do its work.

Until it is not a dream, it cannot become a reality. Until it is not clear in your mind, you won't see it in practical life.

But, what about those wild dreams we have of being an astronaut or the next president? They are of course "fireflies", imagination; it comes and goes.

Is it worthwhile to make it real? When you look at the world today, the most incredible things came from these "fireflies". It is like someone was able to chase them, hold them and make them into something useful in life.

Do you have "fireflies" surrounding you? Get hold of them; the world probably needs some of these wild ideas to change the situations we live or watch everyday.

And the year has come...

The "New Year effect" is known to be finished by January, 12th... It is around that time when you "get into the real world" and start to lose hope on marvelous changes. By the end of February, nothing of those wonderful realizations and resolutions will remain.

So, you still got time! You are aware of your desire to change; it is still in your mind and heart. This is the moment when you have to change the dream into vision, the desire into action. This is the moment when you should sit down and REALLY plan your new year.

Things don't happen just because they should; they happen because something has created the energy, so that takes place. Inertia, my friends, is the Universal Law, especially if you remember that does not mean only to be stuck; inertia is also about something moving in a uniform motion too.

Your resolutions defy the very essence of that law, so the Universe has everything ready to boycott your ideas and actions: you will postpone, your friends will convince you to postpone it until it is not practical anymore, your wife or husband will make you forget about that, etc. etc.

To create change means to be a leader and leaders have a strategy to do what they must do. And that is what you have to do, a strategic plan for your life, or at least for your year.

The essence of that plan is easy enough: what is your aim, when you want that to happen, how to do it and how to face obstacles. One hour is more than enough for a particular change for the year.

After creating the plan, just put into action. If you feel so, share with other people, get them by your side. Then, enjoy sailing through new waters, discovering new lands of opportunity and changing your life!