How many steps a person has to take to be considered a person?

In a very old song, a question is posed: how many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?[1]

Although no answer is given, for me it means society measures people according to parameters related to results: how many, how much… and yet, people don’t really take into account the effort others are doing.

Years ago I was a professor at a university near Bogota and I gave the students (who were all managers) homework about leadership. After giving marks, I was approached by one of the groups, (the one with fewer marks); of course, they were complaining, but their reasoning still echoes in my mind so many years later: I didn’t value their effort, only the result.

So, just take a look at yourself, understanding what you have done and the reasons behind, so that you would reach to this point: accept what you see, celebrate it.

Take a look at others and take your time to understand their own reasons: accept what you see, celebrate with them.

Results will come, maybe not the ones expected, but they will come and when they come, you can act accordingly, but don’t let that preventing you to acknowledge a person as they are, including yourself.

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[1] Blowin’ in the wind, by Bob Dylan

Have we grown up and just forgotten how to be children?

A friend of mine recently conducted a workshop about the inner child and it was very successful! But it was the bad side of the inner child: harming my inner child.

It may happen because we refuse to let that little child emerge and shine through us.

In fact, we are complete beings who have chosen, whether it is willingly or not, to play a part at some point in time. We choose to be what we think is to be 30 years old or 15 years old, but we have the main basic ingredients needed to be a 6 years old or 60 years old, at least in our awareness.

So, are you a little depressed? Things are not working right? Have you fought with your best friend? You have all the components of a 6 years-old, who would be joyful by running under the rain, always hopeful and looking for a way to make it up with their best friend.

Come on… stop reading this (not now, please, just one or two lines more), go outside and just be happy by seeing… things… All is awesome for your inner child’s eyes. Try it; I am sure you will enjoy a lot!

When being creative is the solution, the only solution

 The 9 points puzzle.

Out of the box!

Just do it!

 

Creativity is a spark that changes reality in ways that are often unthinkable before it emerges. It makes life a funny experience and a it creates a novelty.

But creativity is more than that as it changes the mindset enabling the person to see something else… beyond the situation…

When you allow creativity to take up the flow of your life, it means you are allowing yourself to dare, to go against the odds and to think beyond the present paradigm.

Problems emerge partly because of the way you get into the depth of the present life; by being creative you are moving away, moving towards a new horizon and new possibilities.

In reality if you have a problem, the ONLY solution (at least one of the first ones) is to challenge your concepts and ideas, to try something new, to be creative.

So ignite the spark and a fire in your life, burning the old and open space for the new to come into your existence.

 

Calming down… there is a storm coming

When storms come, we tend to be dragged by them. After all, they are more powerful than us… or not?

We have created as a civilization, several means and tools to protect ourselves from this incredible force of nature and although our protection may not be perfect, it has good potential.

Now, what about the storms of life? Like a pandemic, a financial crisis, divorce, health issues, someone dear who just departed…

By using the same approach, there should be means and tools to protect ourselves from the effect of such storms, and one of them is very simple: just calm down.

Calmness has a deep effect in the mind, by creating a series of thoughts and constructive emotions that protect us from the worse effects of the storms we are going through, which will guide us and prevent harm.

Of course, it is not easy to be calm during the storm, but by practicing a lot, the accumulated calmness will work out pretty well during the worse stages of the crisis, coming up naturally.

How can you practice calmness? I meditate; other people go to hills or beaches, others prefer to be in silence for some time everyday, there are those who love to pray.

Although the means and tools will be different for each one, by generating a routine in which the experience of being calm is valued, even prioritized, the next time a big storm comes to your life, you will be prepared and probably, you will be able to offer shelter to others too.

Leaving a legacy to others

We live relative short lives, but we create interesting phenomena like a torch race, passing to another person something valuable.

It could be an object – a watch, maybe an expensive shirt.

It could be an idea or a dream – a better bicycle, new house in the mountains.

It could be a tradition, a style, and a way of life…

We all will someone else something valuable, sometimes by passing them physically, sometimes by inspiring them.

What if we start to prepare that torch in advance? After all, one day we will have to pass it by...

By preparing it, you may enhance it and excel.

So, with that mind, I leave you with a question for your reflection: Which type of torch are you passing to others?

Learning the math of life

Math is a bit intimidating for many, since it works on logic and we humans are more than logical.

However, there is a logical process in terms of life in general as we make effort and we get results out from it, it sounds simple… and yet…

The math of life is much more complex, as it works in a different way:

• It is not only the effort we do. Intensity, intention, awareness, attitude, strength, others’ cooperation and so much more impact on the effort itself. To get the best results, we must invest time and energy enhancing all of this.
• There is a method, tactic or strategy that shapes the effort and makes us to experience the best result possible. Although trial and error is still the general rule here… which is not so effective.
• But most of the time, the result is beyond our reach. In fact, in Hinduism, it states we should act without expectation in relation to the results; selfless act is the right path.

To be a good mathematician of life, check the level of effort, choose the best tactic and be happy whatever the results are.

Opening doors and windows

Crisis has closed business… has separated many people… has finished many dreams off…

Well, there is no way back and there is no way to transform things overnight. However, we can still do something and there is a secret behind all of that based on doors and windows.

You see, sometimes we try to push through a closed door, what is not so sensible since it is, well, closed. Then we look for other doors and maybe we find them; some will be closed, some will be open. This is basically life.

However, we forget that besides doors, there are also windows… We don’t think of them as an entrance, but they are.

Sometimes, the way out of a crisis is not a door – not a logical process, or an expected one. Sometimes, it requires creativity, breaking a paradigm or changing a perception.

So, if your way out of the crisis is not working, think a bit more, reflect much more and be creative about it. You will come out and I am sure your life will be much better.