This blog space is where you will find content that is provided in bite size format. It covers principles in positive psychology, leadership, pathfinding and other interesting ideas and resources.
Each One Teach One is a theme where we encourage you to share the insights and learning from your interaction with miPATH with others. In that way, the knowledge flows and more people can benefit from the initiative.
Crafting transformations that you can believe in
Why do we ask ourselves the same questions every year – could it be that the answers are different every time? And if we don’t ask the right questions, do we run into the risk of remaining stuck in old assumptions, stuck in the same box, with no way out.
Today’s ever changing environment at both personal and organisational levels demands fresh approaches and dynamically transforming answers.
How can we use questions so that it becomes a powerful way to reframe the way we look at our lives?
Maybe you should ask not what you want to be but what you would love to do. Recast you question beyond the boundaries of your immediate situation and daily existence, and cast it where you would like to be.
The key is reframing your questions in a way that make you think about core issues in your life and business, what is important to you, and the directions that you could move towards that would bring alternative realities, even satisfaction and happiness? Use this opportunity for redirection, for asking questions that will move you towards growth and change.
Ask questions such as:
- What was your greatest achievement in the recent past?
- What was your greatest disappointment?
- What, recently, brought you the most joy? Have you figured out ways to structure your life so that happens more often?
- What did you do that brought you the most regret? Have you figured out how to structure your life so that will happen much less often in the future?
- Who do you admire most and why?
- Who are the people who are most important to you? Do you make time to be with them in a way that is satisfying and meaningful?
- Where would you like to be five years from now? What are you doing on a regular basis to help you realize your hopes and plans?
- Are you engaged with people close to you in your personal life– and with your community – in ways that are meaningful and real?
- What do you want your organisation, community, country, and the world to look like a year from now? Have you figured out some small way that you can contribute to that vision?
The process of shaping and then answering important questions in our lives is about more than asking the right questions. Once we begin to answer them, we need to move towards action, redirecting how we act in our daily lives, in our friendships, in our families, in our communities, in our organisations. We must become able to frame the questions that will help move us forward in our lives and begin to act in a way that’s in tune with the answers we know are true for us in the future. The stuff of true transformations.
The I-Power initiative..social innovation activism
A while ago a friend introduced me to the I-power initiative. It is a very simple concept using social media to create a network opportunity for people who are passionate about personal development but also making a difference in the world. Watching their vlogs, reading the forums one is dazzled by the diverse opinions and ideas from the creators as well as the members who participate in the forums and discussions.
On their web page, they describe what I-Power Project 2.0 is about:
“It all started as a YouTube series, called ‘I Power’, about leading a pro-active lifestyle. Initially, the main attraction of the series was that it showed the more serious and intellectual side of professional gamer and extravagant Internet celebrity Chiren Boumaaza, aka ‘Athene’. It quickly turned into an international movement when its viewers started forming a community of ‘Self-Development Activists’ (SDA) on the series’ forums. The community revolved around not only self-help and psychology, but is perhaps even more known for its activism, primarily surrounding the topic of net neutrality.”
Watch them explain their mission on You Tube and then follow all the information on their You Tube site as well as the website.
Coco Chanel…changed the face of fashion
Gabrielle Bonheur ”Coco” Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist philosophy, menswear-inspired fashions,and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion.
She was the founder of the famous fashion brand Chanel. Her extraordinary influence on fashion was such hat she was the only person in the field to be named on Time 100: The Most Important People pf the Century. (Wikipedia).
Recently I watched the movie Coco before Chanel, which provided such interesting background to her life story and her gift of seeing beyond the fluff into the beauty of elegance, in particular how it could benefit women.
Currently, only one in ten FTSE board directors are women, and 25 firms have no women on them at all. Women are deterred from applying due to corporate boards being dominated by “old boys’ networks”.
–http://www.africa-news.eu/immigration-guides-uk/385-british-public-want-more-women-on-boards.html
Clearly Coco brought diversity into fashion – not only because she was a women and therefore offered a valued female perspective on fashion and women, but also because she was diffferent from the ‘ordinary’ person. She dealt with difficult situations in a pragmatic manner, yet was an incredibly sensitive and romantic person… She was able to step across boundaries in society through looking at men’s clothing and adapting it to her own world in her own way.
And most of all, she did not accomplish this on her own. She had a circle of loving friends who provided support and promoted her ideas. Coco’s success did not happen in one day.. it was not planned. It came about through her decisions and actions during critical times – she responded with agility and smart intelligence.
These are the qualities we hope women will embrace in their roles as Trailblazers.
Technologies of Self
(Wikipedia, 15 August 2008)
Authenticity
Authenticity is a technical term in existentialist philosophy, and is also used in the philosophy of art and psychology.
In philosophy, the conscious self is seen as coming to terms with being in a material world and with encountering external forces, pressures and influences which are very different from, and other than, itself.
Authenticity is the degree to which one is true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character, despite these pressures.
Greek origin: “Author”
Ecological Wellbeing
Ecological wellbeing refers to how effectively one deals with or manages…
- Environmental impact on one’s life
- One’s own impact on the environment
Financial Wellbeing
Financial wellbeing is secured when one…
- Lives within one’s financial ability
- Fulfils one’s physical needs, i.e. food, shelter, safety and security
- Fulfils one’s mental, emotional and relational needs in financial terms
- Manages effectively one’s day-to-day and longer term financial needs
Work or Career Wellbeing
Vocational or work wellbeing includes…
- Job satisfaction
- Fulfillment through work
- Fair pay for the quality and expected outcomes of one’s work
- Work-life balance
- Legacy
Social Wellbeing
One can claim social wellbeing when one…
- Is aware of, participate in and feel connected to self, to people and one’s community
- Establishes supportive social networks
- Maintain meaningful, healthy relationships, especially with pivotal people
- Can peacefully resolve interpersonal conflicts
- Makes meaningful contributions to the welfare of pivotal people and one’s community
Emotional Wellbeing
One can speak of emotional wellbeing when one…
- Channels one’s emotional energy in a positive, constructive direction
- Is aware of one’s feelings, i.e. to understand and assess one’s feelings
- Is sensitive to and be able to interpret correctly other people’s feelings
- Can express and apply one’s feelings appropriately to a specific situation
- Can appropriately respond to the emotions of other people
Mental Wellbeing
One can claim mental wellbeing when one…
- Performs up to one’s intellectual capacity
- Can focus well
- Has sound judgement and reasoning
- Has a positive and constructive mindset, including a positive attitude and positive thought
- Is governed by the constructive positive side of one’s temperament type
- Has a positive self-esteem
- Acts within one’s locus of control
Physical Wellbeing
Physical wellbeing is associated with…
- Cardio-vascular health
- Muscle strength
- Flexibility
- Physical energy
Strong as a Sweetgrass Braid
Sweetgrass is a herb that has a pleasant, sweet vanilla-like fragrance. It is called “fragrant holy grass” and has a long tradition of being used by First Nations people in North America. A popular method is to braid the sweetgrass. The sweetgrass braids can last up to two years, and has a variety of applications, for example incense, or rope. It is said that burning sweetgrass will attract positive energies to you. And if you smell the fragrance of sweetgrass when there is none with you, it means that someone is thinking positive thoughts about you….
Recently I was attending a workshop at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto where a first nations teacher was talking about the symbolism of braided sweetgrass and how it can be used to think about your life.
It struck me that to process of braiding sweetgrass is a perfect metaphor for describing what Strenghtsbuilder is all about…
The teacher mentioned that the different leaves can be seen to represent different aspects of your life. Woven together, a braid is extremely strong and flexible.
- It is very difficult to break a braid because it is extremely flexible and thick;
- You can use it to tie things;
- It does not burn easily, and once it burns, it smoulders over a long period of time which is why it is excellent to use as incense in a house;
- The fragrance of burning sweetgrass is so pleasant that everyone likes to have it with them at all times.
…But if you unravel the braid, those pieces become
- brittle and
- can easily be destroyed in seconds.
- It has no flexibility and
- dries out so that it burns quickly if you throw it into a fire.
Strengthsbuilder works like braiding sweetgrass.
You need to weave together all your unique strengths to achieve the success you want. Some strengths you inherited, for example your ability to be curious (your genetic make-up). You have other strengths, such as your external resources, skills and tools (for example being good with science). You might have decided that you want to become a Green Technology inventor.
To combine these into a strong braid to support you in your quest, you need to learn the way in which to combine all your strengths together to enable you to withstand the challenges and obstacles you will face. Strengthsbuilder is about building positivity. People who are woven from positive energy, is attractive to be around. So their circle of influence grows and they can achieve more in life. They are more resilient and able to deal more effectively with their boundaries and weaknesses.
Through starting to make this braid of your strengths, you start building your own unique wisdom and understanding of life…a way in which you will be strong, thrive, flexible and sustain yourself when storms roll ahead or the wind blow through the land.
Apupower – Food from the powerplaces of the Andes
Imagine discovering direct descendents from the Inca? And then to learn their teachings directly from them? And who would have thought they have a library of recipes of amazingly healthy food and nutritional supplements?
When I traveled to Peru, I came across Apupower. It is a wonderful recipe developed by a wellness expert who is also a direct descendent of one of the last living Inca families. Like most of his family, he is passionate about good food.
Part of his life’s work is to create new economic models to support the authentic preservation and recovery of indigenous knowledge, and the Apupower combines a secret combination of a variety of Andean products which he developed. Apupower has been tried and tested over generations, and is now gaining rapid popularity with adventure sport enthusiasts.
The formula is so rich, that one table spoon of Apupower is enough to climb the high altitudes of the mountains for a day.
Proceeds from sales go to remote communities who are balancing lifestyles they maintained for hundreds of years with the opportunities to participate in the new emerging economy of their country.
By buying Apupower you do not only look after your own health, but get access to a whole new way of life as you connect with the founders and their communities where these wonderful nutritional supplements come from.
For more information, visit their site on Apupower.
Love Chocolate? Buy these and preserve an ancient culture
“Still one of the only tribes left living the lifestyle that they have perfected over thousands of years, the Huichol tribe have a love for chocolate that now helps their survival. Brant provides for his ‘Huichol family’ by donating 100% of the profits from the sale of Shaman Chocolates. That’s 100% of the profits!”
http://shamangoods.net/
…..If you love chocolate and want to eat it plus keep a whole tribal culture alive, buy some chocolate from Shaman Chocolates!”
Mehul Sangham – Pioneering neuroplasticity, innovation and technology
Recently I had an excellent discussion with a young leader who has been immersed in the field of neurosciences and the implications for innovation and technology for a while.
He is currently formalizing his theories in a master research initiative. His writings can be found on:
http://mehulsangham.wordpress.com/
Mehul is one of the new generation leaders and trailblazers that are emerging across the globe. They work seamlessly with expert knowledge in unrelated domains, such as brain sciences, art, technology, and business.
I have seen this “convergence” as a key attribute of this generation, and continue to meet these young pioneers who are dedicated to participate in shaping a new hopeful world.
Presenting traditional leadership models and programs to this generation is simply preaching to the converted. They naturally have high EQ, care about others, know how to develop a personal and authentic brand and are natural networkers. As such the challenge is to develop and deliver new paradigms in leadership development that takes their current abilities to the next level.
Emilie du Chatelet played a key role in foundational theories for Einsteins work
“Wikipedia: Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du Châtelet (17 December 1706, Paris – 10 September 1749, Lunéville) was a French mathematician, physicist, and author during the Age of Enlightenment. Her crowning achievement is considered to be her translation and commentary on Isaac Newton‘s work Principia Mathematica. The translation, published ten years after her death in 1759, is still considered the standard French translation.”
This relatively unknown mathemetician took on mainstream science and questioned Newton’s theories of gravity. Her contribution is remarkable in a time when women were not allowed to be scholars, publish or make a contribution to science.
She made major contributions to art and science, including to Einstein’s work is well documented in the the Nova documentary A history of Einsteins Ancestors
This is one of her famous quotes:
“Judge me for my own merits, or lack of them, but do not look upon me as a mere appendage to this great general or that great scholar, this star that shines at the court of France or that famed author. I am in my own right a whole person, responsible to myself alone for all that I am, all that I say, all that I do. it may be that there are metaphysicians and philosophers whose learning is greater than mine, although I have not met them. Yet, they are but frail humans, too, and have their faults; so, when I add the sum total of my graces, I confess I am inferior to no one.”
Miriam Makeba
Since childhood I grew up with the music of Miriam Makeba and I loved singing her songs. She was a fierce fighter for human rights and was banned from South Africa during the apartheid years. Not only that, the South African government of that time stripped her of her citizenship of her own birthland.
Despite this hardship, she not only became famous and the symbol of “Mama Africa” but she continued right until her death to fight for justice and freedom for all people.
Women in Africa frequently walk singing in groups and meetings are started with or ended with group singing. No-one can stay untouched by it, and everyone is always warmly invited to sing along. Miriam’s music is therefore not only true reflection of authentic African voices with their lovely lilts and vocalizing, but she also helped to reinvent African music and open up the market to other African artists.
Her story is a true inspiration of overcoming struggle and creating a message of hope and joy.
Miriam Makeba’s You Tube Channel
Anita Roddick – Activist for women, the planet and new measurement of value
Today the Body Shop is known across the globe, with thousands of shops copying the concept. At the time when it was started, Anita’s bank manager did not even want to give her a loan.
Anita changed the way women view not only themselves, but she used the Body Shop as a platform for activism. Until her death she stayed true to her passion and her path, and reading her books and watching video clips of her speaking is a continuous inspiration.
Quotes from Anita Roddick:
“Women are good at picking up the rituals of body…men are hopeless at that!”
“I told the bank manager we are going to be combining knowledge from wise women around the globe. And we are going to be successful at it. Obviouslly he did not give me that loan.”
“It is about combing your talent and what you are passionate about…”
Spirit in Action – Documentary to inspire spiritual leadership
This documentary touches deeply through not only delivering a compelling insight, but the cinematography and authentic engagement and potrayal of the brave spiritual warriors is breathtaking.
This is a movie to watch as a medidation – leaving the day open afterward to integrate and maintain the energy and shift it brings about.
