Ubuntu

An anthropologist studying the habits and customs of an African tribe found himself surrounded by children most days. So he decided to play a little game with them. He managed to get candy from the nearest town and put it all in a decorated basket at the foot of a tree. Then he called the children and suggested they play the game. When the anthropologist said “now”, the children had to run to the tree and the first one to get there could have all the candy to him/herself. So the children all lined up waiting for the signal. When the anthropologist said “now”, all of the children took each other by the hand and ran together towards the tree. They all arrived at the same time, divided up the candy, sat down and began to happily munch away. The anthropologist went over to them and asked why they had all run together when any one of them could have had the candy all to themselves. The children responded: “Ubuntu. How could any one of us be happy if all the others were sad?”

Reflection

Ubuntu (oo-boon-too) is a philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as “I am what I am because of who we all are.” Ubuntu can be translated as “human kindness,” but its meaning is much bigger in scope than that - it embodies the ideas of connection, community and mutual caring for all.

We cannot exist in this world without other people. We all share a connection and community; the minute we remove the collectiveness behind this, we have nothing but ourselves and that's a lonely place to live, as we need each other every day. It is impossible to be human on your own, yes you have your own values and ideals towards life, but you have to be able to share it with others, otherwise what's the point. There is so much we can learn from this African ideology. The beauty of Ubuntu is that it’s in action all the time and never ends. People are all around us, you exist in a shared humanity and it is your responsibility to build on it, to expand Ubuntu within your community and then into the wider community and so on…

With the power of Ubuntu - cultures, races, languages and religions will all be honoured as we are all the same, we are all human in this world, we share the same heart beat and the same colour blood. Stop fearing and slating other cultures and other religions because when you get to learn the roots of another, you realise they are just like you. Every breathing human has hopes and dreams for a better, peaceful and enjoyable world as we all live in a shared spirit of one. It’s time to embrace Ubuntu, live it, express it and share it… "You are who you are because of all of us".

May you have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela 

Bad by name, bad by nature?

(From “A Long Walk To Freedom" by Nelson Mandela)

During Nelson Mandela's imprisonment on Robben Island, one particular commanding officer was the most brutal of them all: "A few days before Badenhorst's departure...... I was called to the main office. General Steyn was visiting the island and wanted to know if we had any complaints. Badenhorst was there as I went through a list of demands. When I had finished, Badenhorst spoke to me directly. He told me he would be leaving the island and added: “I just want to wish you people good luck”. I do not know if I looked dumbfounded, but I was amazed. He spoke these words like a human being and showed a side of himself we had never seen before. I thanked him for his good wishes and wished him luck in his endeavours. I thought about this moment for a long time afterwards. Badenhorst had perhaps been the most callous and barbaric commanding officer we had had on Robben Island. But that day in the office, he had revealed that that there was another side to his nature, a side that had been obscured but still existed. It was a useful reminder that all men, even the most seemingly cold-blooded, have a core of decency and that, if their hearts are touched, they are capable of changing. Ultimately, Badenhorst was not evil; his inhumanity had been foisted upon him by an inhuman system. He behaved like a brute because he was rewarded for brutish behaviour."

Reflection

As the world has lost a great leader in the past week, I decided to share this moving story. It’s a great reminder not only about the quality of Nelson Mandela’s nature, but also, every human being on this planet has a side to them which is one of goodness. When you can look into a person’s heart and extract that goodness where other people get the chance to recognise it, they will have no choice but to express it. As the story suggests, if you can touch a person’s heart in a thoughtful and caring way they will be given the opportunity to change. Kindness is contagious, its hard-wired within all of us, that’s why it makes us feel so alive. It’s an expression of our true selves. People who are seekers of kindness always identify the goodness in the world and experience life with such a high level of appreciation. Always, always look for the kindness in people - at times it can be hard -  but you have the potential to help a person identify their own concealed goodness and thus, in turn will embrace it for lasting change.

May you have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” - Nelson Mandela.

Double-sided Solution

(Author Unkown)

A father was reading a magazine and his little daughter every now and then distracted him. To keep her busy, he tore one page on which was printed the map of the world. He tore it into pieces and asked her to go to her room and put them together to make the map again. He was sure she would take the whole day to get it done. But the little one came back within minutes with perfect map. When he asked how she could do it so quickly, she said, “Oh…. Dad, there is a man’s face on the other side of the paper….. I made the face perfect to get the map right." She ran outside to play leaving the father surprised.

Reflection

When I read this story the first thing that came to mind was a tapestry. Have you ever seen the back of a tapestry? It’s messy, dull and looks like a total mess, but when you turn it around its a display of carefully chosen and well arranged materials. This is the same with the challenges we face in our lives. At first we see it as a complex, unachievable mess, but there is always another, ‘better’ side to the experience we are in. It’s just a matter of perspective. The happiest and most successful people I know, see challenge as an agent for growth. These individuals are reflective, they are creative and always see the other side of the problem. Remember the saying “every coin has two sides”, well so do the obstacles we face everyday, it's just up to you to choose the more fitting and opportune side. It's the joy of conquering these obstacles that makes life so meaningful and accomplished. A good start to identify the other side of a problem is time, use time as your advantage. Quit banging your head against the same brick wall over and over. Take time to think things through and find creative solutions. It's scary to see how rushed we all are, the more complex a problem, the more time you will need. Don’t dwell, but don’t rush… find that balance and problem solving will become enjoyable!

May you have an awesome week!
Darren Zwiers

"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful" - Joshua J. Marine.  

"Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings" - John F. Kennedy.

Whose Problem?

(Author Unkown)

A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a simple informal test you could perform to give me a better idea about her hearing loss. "Here's what you do," said the doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That evening, the wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?" No response. So he moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still no response. Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again he gets no response so; he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again there is no response. So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?" "James, for the fifth time I've said, CHICKEN!"

Reflection

It’s funny how quickly we go around saying this person does this and does that and has this issue and that fault, when the problem may just be within you. Now I'm not saying if a person is always late, it's you that's late - what I am pointing out is a little bit of patience and tolerance makes peoples 'faults' seem more manageable. Everyone is fighting their own battles and it's not up to us to be the one to go around judging their personal challenges. Sometimes we can't change who people are or how they act, but we can certainly change how we view them and tolerance is a very good start. Once you can master this, you will learn how much easier it is to have relationships with people you find difficult.

The next time you find yourself judging a persons faults, remember the problem may not be with them, it could very well be within you!

May you have an awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature" ~ Voltaire.

Think Simple

(Author Unkown)

One of Japan’s biggest cosmetics company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee amount to do so. But when a workman was posed with the same problem, did not get into complications of X-rays, etc but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Reflection

It is true that we all face problems of various sizes in our lives. For the most part, we are able to quickly solve them without much trouble at all, yet other cases can be far more difficult and when it comes to solving them, we tend to talk too much about the problem and allow less time solving it. There’s a famous quote that says “we are too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet”. We get so entangled in our problems that we forget to stop, remove ourselves from the situation and look at it with an ‘outsiders’ perspective. The good news is that every complex problem has a simple solution. There’s no need to always have to ‘tackle’ them. A huge obstacle for people is the way they view their problems: if you think that problems are completely threatening, or that having them is a sign of weakness or failure, and you see yourself as a bad problem solver, you won’t solve the problem at all! If you can be optimistic and look for the benefits and opportunities inherent within the problem, you are more likely to solve it effectively and efficiently. I believe that if you can apply this positive mindset to the obstacles in your life, you and the people around you be will be able to focus on what is really important, rather than dwelling on something that is out of your control. Rather apply all your energy and attention on creating a solution with long-lasting effects, than beating yourself up about something that is just there to challenge you.

May you have an awesome week, where problems become simple steps to higher levels of achievment.

Darren Zwiers

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them” - Albert Einstein.

Leaving Footprints

(Story adapted from a talk given by Stef Duplessis)

There was a lost traveler who came across the footprints of a mule. The traveler was lost, so he figured that he’d follow the footprints; guessing that the mule knew where it was going. When the traveler looked closer he noticed that there was a drag mark on the right footprint and that there was a trail of grain that followed the prints. On the horizon he saw a village and a commotion in the village market. Making his way nearer, he came across an old man pleading for help. “My mule is lost, my mule is lost” the old man cried. “It has with it my only food, it is my only livestock, has anyone seen my mule?” No one in the market helped the old man and the crowd soon dispersed. The traveler asked “Old man tell me, this mule of yours does it have a lame leg? Does this mule of yours have grain on its back, one bag with a small hole in it?” “Yes, yes, yes!” replied the old man, “This is my mule! Where did you see it?” “I’m sorry” said the traveler. “I never saw your mule, but I can tell you where it’s been.”

Reflection

This is the same with our lives. We leave behind a track, a silent trail telling people, who and what we are, where we have been and how we have contributed to the world. A serious question you need to ask yourself is what footprints are you leaving behind? Are you leaving behind prints of contribution or greed, kindness or animosity? I know each and every one of us want to leave behind footprints of value, honour and achievement, yet we tend to forget that everything we do in our lives is recorded and when we look back and reflect, we always wished we did more or made better choices. Every day that passes is another day added to your legacy; accidental or not, you are always creating a legacy. Every moment that passes is an opportunity to do something great in your life, and when I say great I don’t mean cure hunger in Africa or find the answer to world peace, it can be as small as making tea for a colleague or letting the car go in front of you, because these small acts of greatness create small footprints which show the world who you are. Greatness isn’t something out of reach. You become great by the type of person you are, and what you accomplish during your time here. You have the power to consciously choose to influence and shape the future and to leave behind footprints of dignity, grandeur and respectability. Make sure that your footprints are seen for what you want to be remembered for.

May you have an awesome week, where the footprints you leave behind are one’s worth following, a path with no regrets.

Darren Zwiers

“No legacy is so rich as honesty”

― William Shakespeare.

The Mechanic and the Surgeon

As this email marks my 3 year anniversary of A Monday Inspiration, I would like to take the moment to thank you for being a part of what has been an awesome 3 years of writing. I always love hearing your thoughts, comments and feedback. So don't be shy to hit the reply button... Looking forward to many more Mondays in your inbox ;) 

A heart surgeon took his car to his local garage for a regular service, where he usually exchanged a little friendly banter with the owner, a skilled but not especially wealthy mechanic. "So tell me," says the mechanic, "I've been wondering about what we both do for a living, and how much more you get paid than me.." "Yes?.." says the surgeon. "Well look at this," says the mechanic, as he worked on a big complicated engine, "I check how it's running, open it up, fix the valves, and put it all back together so it works good as new.. We basically do the same job don't we? And yet you are paid ten times what I am - how do you explain that?" The surgeon thought for a moment, and smiling gently, replied,"Try it with the engine running.."

Reflection

After reading the above story, you can see that both the heart surgeon and the mechanic love what they do. But if the mechanic lived with the perception that his job was essentially the same as the heart surgeon and he was therefore underpaid he would certainly be unhappy. There is no way we can live our lives looking at other people, compare our skills with theirs and come to a conclusion on who should be earning more. There is a saying that goes “When you compare what you want with what you have, you will be unhappy. Rather compare what you deserve with what you have and you'll discover true happiness." There will always be someone prettier, smarter or richer than you… If you keep comparing yourself against others, you will lose your own sense of purpose. Helen Keller couldn't’t of said it any better; “Instead of comparing our lot with those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are among the privileged." Stop comparing your self to others. We are all born to be different. We all have different mindsets, we interpret things differently, we have different experiences and we feel different emotions. The most successful people in this world celebrate their differences and use it to their advantage. At the end of the day, it is better to be the original you than to be a copy of somebody else as the best copycat in the world is still a copycat. Live life your way.

May you have an awesome week, where you can truly define your values and become the best version of YOU!

Darren Zwiers

“Everything you see or hear or experience in any way at all is specific to you. You create a universe by perceiving it, so everything in the universe you perceive is specific to you” – Douglas Adams.

New Beginning

A man and his wife had been arguing all night, and as bedtime approached neither was speaking to the other. It was not unusual for the pair to continue this war of silence for two or three days, however, on this occasion the man was concerned; he needed to be awake at 4:30am the next morning to catch an important flight, and being a very heavy sleeper, he normally relied on his wife to wake him. Cleverly, so he thought, while his wife was in the bathroom, he wrote on a piece of paper: ‘Please wake me at 4:30am – I have an important flight to catch’. He put the note on his wife’s pillow, then turned over and went to sleep. The man awoke the next morning and looked at the clock. It was 8:00am. Enraged that he’d missed his flight, he was about to go in search of his errant wife to give her a piece of his mind, when he spotted a hand-written note on his bedside cabinet. The note said: ‘It’s 4:30am – get up.’

Reflection

I was taught by my grandmother and reminded by my uncle about the following statement - "never let the sun go down on your anger". This is a powerful message that we should all practice in our relationships. Not just with our partners, but with both friends and people we interact with every day. It is so important to end your anger at the end of every day. It's not healthy holding onto disputes and conflicts as these just turn into long held grudges which sadly turn into animosity. No one likes to hold a grudge, yet we tend to lead ourselves into one plenty of times. The answer is to never go to sleep angry, always do your best to resolve strife before the day is over. We are all human and yes we do run into conflicts from time to time, but the true victor knows how to end discord before it turns into a grudge.  What's the point of spending life on earth being bitter and angry? Life is so fragile and we have no idea what tomorrow brings. In the end, you will be remembered for how you treated others during your life and a grudge or postponed argument is something you do not want left pending. We are so lucky to get the opportunity to renew ourselves and relationships everyday, utilise this gift and it will certainly increase the quality of yours and other peoples' lives too.

May you have an awesome week, where you find the inner strength to end all current conflicts and have the courage to renew broken relationships.

Darren Zwiers

"For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind" - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The Boy & the Nettle

Adapted from one of Aesop’s Fables

A boy, playing in a field, touched a nettle ever so gently and it stung him. Running home with tears in his eyes, he tells his father that he tried to be gentle. His father says that being gentle was what had caused the problem, and that if he had grabbed the nettle firmly, it would not have stung him. This is because the stinging “hairs” of the plant are squashed and cannot penetrate the skin in the same manner. From this the father deduces a moral for his son. The world is like a field, and you are bound to come across nettles in life. The trick is to either avoid them or grab them, thereby avoiding the painful sting.

Reflection

How often have you started a personal or professional project, big or small and lost motivation shortly afterwards, causing you to give up entirely? There are a few reasons (and far more excuses) for this; one big one being the lack of passion behind your actions. Everything you do in life, big or small, needs to be done with all your might, with extreme passion and commitment. There is no way a person can bw successful without the drive to experience results. Excellence is measured by action and anything short of that commitment won't get you far. A good friend of mine shared a great TED video with me this week "The Key to Success? Grit by Angela Lee Duckwoth" and she very smartly explains that IQ isn't the only thing separating successful people from those who struggle. It's grit. Not the salt to prevent snow from freezing, but rather the perseverance of effort, a long-term goal combined with a powerful motivation to achieve results. A child who is top of his class is measured by the result of his performance in the class, not by his IQ or background. Don’t ever settle for being average as an average performance is a limited performance. It's time to become more committed than ever before to your goals. As Lord Chesterfield says "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well". The world is full of 'average' people, yet people in this world appreciate excellent results, so don't be that 'average' person, be brilliant in everything you do. Grab every opportunity with might and strength, don't let people stop or sway you. Keep you passion continuously alive and you are guaranteed to reach high levels of success.

May you have an awesome week, where all your actions translate into incredible outcomes.
Darren Zwiers

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

A New Set Of Eyes

On 9 December 1958 a man by the name of Sydney Bradford entered the Wolverhampton eye hospital in the Midlands of England. At the time, Bradford was 52 years old and had been effectively blind since infancy. He had come to the hospital to receive a corneal transplant, which surgeons hoped would provide him with vision for the first time in his life. Within days of the procedure the doctor entered his room to remove the bandages. Bradford described the experience ,"I heard a voice coming from in front of me and to one side I turned to the source of the sound and saw a blur. I realised that this must be a face". Imagine for a moment seeing a face for the first time. Or perhaps the rich maroon of a glass of wine or the exquisite pallet of a butterfly's wings. How moved would you be by the experience. Now fast forward a few years; you seen that face hundreds of times and you barely notice the butterfly as it flits past you on your morning walk. What has changed? Why does the site not leave you reeling in delight at the sheer extravaganza of visual pleasure?

Reflection

The sad truth is that we have been jaded. We have become numb to the things we see too often. The world is no less beautiful, it is our eyes that no longer see and witness this beauty. Remember when you were a kid, the world was a constant source of wonder. Everything was new, fresh and exciting. Well, we all still live in this same world - so it's us that has changed. Due to evolution and human growth, we have become accustomed to our surroundings and things have become the 'norm', but that doesn't mean we cannot constantly appreciate the immense beauty that we usually take for granted. If the sun never rose for an entire month, how delighted would we be when it rises again. Why should we have to wait for something to be gone in order to truly appreciate it? This is the same for everything in our lives, our surroundings, our families our friends, our possessions and the list goes on. Don't wait to appreciate the small things around you. Right now look around you and pretend you are seeing things with a new set of eyes. Slowly look at the textures, the colours, the shapes and appreciate how beautiful everything around you is. If we can change how we see ordinary things, I can assure you our lives will become so much more enriched.

May you have an awesome week, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary! - Darren Zwiers

NOTE: I’ve been attempting (and succeeding!) in noticing the beauty in small things for a while and I would love to hear what you find. I have created a new Facebook Page, like it and share your discoveries here - http://bit.ly/bits2013

"The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands, but in seeing with new eyes" Marcel Proust

Get In The Wheelbarrow

Upon completing a highly dangerous tightrope walk over Niagara Falls in appalling wind and rain, The Great Zumbrati was met by an enthusiastic supporter, who urged him to make a return trip, this time pushing a wheelbarrow, which the spectator had thoughtfully brought along. The Great Zumbrati was reluctant, given the terrible conditions, but the supporter pressed him. “You can do it – I know you can” he urged. “You really believe I can do it?” asked Zumbrati. “Yes, definitely, you can do it” the supporter gushed. “Okay” said Zumbrati “get in the wheelbarrow…”

Reflection

When encouraging people, be ready to take on the responsibility of that backing. How many times have people said "you can do it" when in the back of their minds they had their doubts. Yes, it is very important to encourage people to push them beyond the boundaries, but if you are going to push them, make sure to be responsible. There is a fine line between risk and responsibility and if you the one boosting that drive, be aware of all the calculated risks that go with it so that your council is sound and honest. How different would your advice be if it involved you? Of course you would think about it in more detail and not rush into it so quickly. Next time you give encouragement think of the wheelbarrow, would you be so quick to jump into it. At the end of the day when people ask for your reassurance, they are trusting your judgments - don't abuse that trust.

May you have an awesome week!
- Darren Zwiers

"Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What's Behind A Word

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by and took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."

Reflection

Words are certainly the most common use of communication among humans today; the amount of ideas and thoughts that we all express verbally or are expressed to us verbally on a daily basis is astounding. Behind all these words  reveal a hidden meaning; the intentions, the feelings, the emotions, the tones and overtones, the vibrations that they carry. With this in mind, it's surprising how little attention we pay to the words we use every day. What's even more fascinating (and we all guilty of this) is how quickly we can draw up our own conclusions simply because of how we are feeling at that exact point or the mindset we in. How often has someone suggested something innocent to you and you barked back at them, then later regretting how you responded.

The more we clear ourselves of negative energy, the more sensitive we can become to the subtleties behind the words we hear and speak everyday. Entering a conversation or discussion with a positive attitude will change the outcome of what's been spoken dramatically and will also strengthen the relationship to whom you are engaging with.

May you have an awesome week!
- Darren Zwiers

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another" - Napoleon Hill.

Toss Some Rocks

A lecturer at a university is giving a pre-exam lecture on time management. On his desk is a bag of sand, a bag of pebbles, some big rocks and bucket. He asks for a volunteer to put all three grades of stone into the bucket. A keen student duly steps up to carry out the task, starting with the sand, then the pebbles, then the rocks, which do not all fit in the bucket. “This is an analogy of poor time management,” trills the lecturer, “If you’d have put the rocks in first, then the pebbles, then the sand, all three would have fit. This is much like time management, in that by completing your biggest tasks first, you leave room to complete your medium tasks, then your smaller ones. By completing your smallest tasks first you spend so much time on them you leave yourself unable to complete either medium of large tasks satisfactorily. Let me show you..” And the lecturer re-fills the bucket, big rocks first, then pebbles, then sand, shaking the bucket between each so that
everything fits.

Reflection

We can all agree that we live in a very fast pace world, if we cannot manage our time, it will manage us and nobody wants to run into that downward spiral. We've heard the famous saying "time is money" but time is far more precious than money… it is priceless and fleeting. If we cannot manage our time effectively, we will loose a whole lot more than just money. We can miss out on our goals, our precious family moments and of course the opportunities that life has on offer for us. Time management is a crucial aspect in our lives and must be taken seriously. It is important to plan and prioritise our activities, to set realistic deadlines for the things we want to achieve. If we allow sand and water issues to fill up our day, then we won’t have anything left to fit in the big important tasks. Of course things 'come up' and we have to redirect our focus from time to time, but having a solid plan of our allocated time will allow us to keep on track achieving the larger, greater
things in life.

This isn't as simple as it sounds, so in the next week or so, take a few minutes in the morning to plan your time, not just at work, but in your personal life too. Allocate your big to small tasks and never put off until later what you can do right now!

May you have an awesome accomplished week!
- Darren Zwiers

"Until we can manage TIME, we can manage nothing else"   Peter Drucker. 

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along" Napoleon Hill.

The Blind Leading The Blind

A blind man had been waiting a while at a busy road for someone to offer to guide him across, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Excuse me," said the tapper, "I'm blind. Would you mind guiding me across the road?" The first blind man took the arm of the second blind man, and they both crossed the road. Apparently this is a true story. The first blind man was the famous jazz pianist George Shearing. He is quoted as saying after the event, "What could I do? I took him across and it was the biggest thrill of my life."

Reflection

We are all born with a unique set of capabilities, but unfortunately we handicap ourselves towards them by hiding behind a lack of self-confidence, self-awareness or even an unnecessary complex. We tend to believe that we cannot do certain things and this prevents us from taking take risks that open the door to new and exciting opportunities. By taking the next, sometimes scary, step we get to learn astonishing things about ourselves as we get to discover our hidden abilities. Recognising these "hidden" abilities are what makes life worth living for, it's the "thrill" as in the story above. They direct us to a new higher understanding of our self… So the next time you're in a predicament of "can I, should I, would I be able to," just do it and you will be amazed at how much power you have contained inside you. Every single human being, regardless of race, sex or spiritual belief, has the incredible capacity to accomplish far beyond what they think their limits are… they just need to cross the road ;)

May you have an awesome week, where the things you thought were impossible are now brand new additions to your experience bank.
- Darren Zwiers

"...there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think... - Winnie The Pooh (A.A Milne)

Quiet Time

There once was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long time; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.” So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn alone. After a while, the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied “I did nothing but sit on the
ground and listen. Amidst the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and gently moved it in that direction.”

Reflection

I love this story, as it has such a powerful message to learn. A peaceful mind is essential for our effectiveness in handling life. It keeps us calm no matter what the situation is. It allows us to always stay rational and positive. A peaceful mind can think far better than a worked up mind. It can find solutions much faster and will keep you focused on what is important. We cannot immediately escape from turbulent situations in life, but we are all faced with the same choice; either we can panic and jump to conclusions or we can be calm and logical. It's true that the outcome of every situation all depends on the mindset of the person being challenged. When things get extremely chaotic, when you feel overwhelmed or in a state of panic… Stop, be silent, listen to your intuition and it will lead you in the right direction. This, of course, is a practice and you should exercise your mind regularly. I would suggest a few minutes of silence in your mind every day, and you will see how effectively it can assist you through life with absolute ease and clarity.

Have a peaceful week, where harmony is your minds greatest weapon. - Darren Zwiers

"To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him" - Buddha.

A Tail of Happiness

Once there was this kitten that was chasing its tail. It just chased it and chased. An older, wiser cat came along and he watched this kitten. The cat watched the kitten for a long time. Then he asked the kitten, "Kitten, why do you chase your tail?" The kitten replied, "Because I will find happiness in my tail." The old cat watched for a time longer then he said, "I, too, use to chase my tail because I thought I would find happiness there. But I realised that I didn't need to chase my tail for wherever I went it seemed to follow." And the old cat got up and walked away with his tail whishing behind.


Reflection

No one can expect to be happy 24/7, yet it seems the pursuit of happiness has become a total preoccupation. It's just not possible to live in a state of utopia, where happiness is an everyday constant. It's true that so many people chase happiness so much that it actually becomes artificial. Happiness can't be something you chase, it is the result of things you do and posses in your life. So instead of being on this 'pursuit' of happiness, rather focus on your family, your friends, focus on the needs of others and your work. Be grateful for all these things in your life. Do the very best you can with all the things you posses and I can assure you happiness will follow you.

Have an Awesome week,
Darren Zwiers

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions - Dalai Lama.

Goodness Within

There was a father who had three sons and a magic ring. This magic ring had the power to bestow the gifts of kindness, generosity and grace to the one who possessed it. The father had used it well his entire life. Eventually, however, the time came when the father knew he was dying. Unwilling to give the magic ring to only one of his sons, he sent the ring to a jeweler and asked that two other identical rings be made. Afterwards, he called his sons together and told them “I have loved you my entire life and now I must pass along to you my most cherished possession. I give each of you a magic ring. These rings will bestow kindness, generosity and grace. Use the rings well, that you may have a long life and prosper with God’s help.”

Now, after the father died, the sons believed that only one of them actually had the magic ring. They began to argue and complain. Each believed that another brother had the magic ring. Eventually they took the rings to a judge and demanded “tell us which of these is the magic ring!” The judge answered “it is impossible to tell by looking at the rings. I would suggest we wait and watch to see who lives the most virtuous life like your father. The one who lives well will be the one who, obviously, possesses the magic ring.”

Each of the brothers agreed to this idea. And each of the brothers lived as if he possessed the magic ring. From that day forward, each of the brothers was filled with goodness, thoughtfulness, and honesty.

Reflection

We can never hold a symbol, item or relic in our hands and say that it will bring us more love and happiness. Kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity all come from the heart and is manifested by the way we live. We can remind ourselves of items that resemble these virtues but it is impossible for them to orchestrate the way we respond to the world and the people around us. Goodness comes from within you, so rather than focusing on how to find these virtues, focus on how you can use the abundance of greatness already given to you. We spend a lot of our time with our noses in self-development books, we go to lectures to hear how to become a better person, now I'm certainly not saying these are bad, they crucial to your growth, what I am suggesting is to stay focused on what's inside of YOU, focus on what you already posses. You have an innate kindness that's always ready to express itself. An awesome life is not about the possessions we hold in our hands, but rather our attributes we hold in our hearts.

Have an Awesome week,
Darren Zwiers

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller 

Words In The Wind

A man badly insulted his neighbour. Realising his mistake, he went to his teacher to ask how he can get forgiveness. The teacher told him to take a bag of feathers and drop them in the centre of town. The man did as he was told. Then the teacher asked him to go and collect all the feathers and put them back in the bag. The man tried but couldn't as the feathers had all blown away. When he returned with the empty bag, the teacher said, "The same thing is true about your words. You dropped them rather easily but you cannot retrieve them, so be very careful in choosing your words."

Reflection

So often we don't take our words seriously. We shoot our mouths off without even realising the harm we are causing. Words can make someone smile, giggle, laugh and cry. They can build someone up, or tear them down. The truth is that you can never ever get these words back again. They are forever. It's time to pay attention to our words, it's time to change our negative speech into a language of positivity, encouragement and meaning. Words aren't just a mundane everyday thing we use. They hold a far greater power than you could ever imagine and they will last for generations to come. You remember the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me”? Well words can definitely harm someone, far worse than broken bones. Make sure the words you choose are always thoughtful and considerate. People who use caring language are always highly respected. There is no denying that... Be one of those people.

Have an Awesome week,

Darren Zwiers

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are endless.” – Mother Theresa

Little Things Are Important

Michelangelo (1475-1564) was one of the greatest artists, poets, and sculptors of all time. One day a visitor came to his studio in Florence. The visitor looked at a statue that was in the making and commented, "I can't see that you have made any progress since I was here last time."

Michelangelo answered, "Oh, yes, I have made much progress. Look carefully and you will see that I have retouched this part, and that I have polished that part. See, I have worked on this part of the statue, and have softened the lines here."

"Yes," said the visitor, "but those are all trifles."

"That may be," replied Michelangelo, "but trifles make perfection and perfection is no trifle."

Reflection

Life is made up of little things, little things that count a great deal. It's the small intricate details in our lives that most people ignore, yet it's these details that make a huge difference in how we shape ourselves and our relationships. When we consistently do the little things well, we are successfully building a solid foundation to support our journey to greatness. By focusing on the little things in life we are creating a habit of perfection and thus the stepping stone to bigger and bolder things. What are these small things? They could be anything from making your bed in the morning to the way you speak to people around you. These tiny pieces of your everyday life combine into the whole web of who you truly are. If you can master this, then you won't have to make drastic changes in order to notice an improvement in the quality of your life. All you have to do today is to be absolutely brilliant at the small things. At the end of our lives, all we will be left with is the journey. It will be the time spent on becoming who we are and it's all these small things that add up to the person we become… Make sure you are brilliant at them.

Have an Awesome week,
Darren Zwiers

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen." - John Wooden

The Art Of Saying No

There was a man who forged swords for a Maharaja. Even at the age of ninety, his work was carried out with exceptional precision and ability. No matter how rushed he was, he never made even the slightest slip. One day, the Maharaja asked the old man, “is this natural talent or is there some special technique that you use to create your remarkable results?” “It is concentration on the essentials,” replied the sword–crafter. “I took to forging swords when I was 20 years old. I did not care about anything else. If it was not a sword, I did not look at it or pay any attention to it. Forging swords became my passion and my purpose. I took all the energy that I did not give in other directions and put it in the direction of my art. This is the secret to my mastery.”


Reflection
The most effective people we know in this world today concentrate on their “areas of excellence.” They focus on the things they do best and on the activities that will advance their life and work. When sticking to a definite purpose, they find it easy to say no to the less worthy distractions. Yes, this is easier said than done, we all are humans and will constantly be distracted by so many things in this world, but it is essential to not waste your energy on unwanted activities and things that will deviate from your goals. Sometimes as hard as it is, we need to master the art of saying NO to others and to ourselves, gracefully in order to achieve our destined goals and ultimate purpose.

My message to you this week is to focus on what you good at, make it your highest priority and stop wasting time on the things that are diverting your course of greatness.

Be Awesome,
Darren Zwiers

"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it" ~ Napoleon Hill.

Grab The Bull By The Horns

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked at him and said, "Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter." The young man stood in the field awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out came the biggest, meanest looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through. The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood pawing the ground, it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one he thought. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through. The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull, he said to himself. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He threw his hands to grab..... But alas..... The bull had no tail.

Reflection

It's frightening to look back on our lives and see how many opportunities we have missed because we never had the courage to snap it up right away. You remember an old proverb that says "Opportunity knocks only once"? Well it certainly does. That single moment in our life comes only once and never returns. We may end up getting similar opportunities later on, but that exact one will never come again. Too many of us let opportunities pass because we think a better one will come later… You'll be waiting all your life for a better opportunity. Successful people never wait for the next better opportunity. They grab what comes along and make the most out of what is given to them at that exact moment.

Life is full of opportunities, some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult and some even hidden in a special way, but once we let them pass they may never again be available. So, always grab the first opportunity you see.

May you have an awesome week, full of exciting opportunities
- Darren Zwiers

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations” - Charles R. Swindoll

Life is tough, that's a given.

Author Unknown

When you stand up, you're gonna be shoved back down. When you're down, you're gonna be stepped on. My advice to you doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles.

It's no secret: You'll fall down, you'll stumble, you'll get pushed and you'll land square on your face. But, every time that happens, you get back on your feet. You get up as fast as you can, no matter how many times you need to do it.

Remember this- success has been and continues to be defined as getting up one more time than you've been knocked down.

If experience has taught me anything, it's that nothing is free and living ain't easy. Life is hard, real hard, incredibly hard. You fail more often than you win. Nobody's handing you anything. It's up to you to puff up your chest, stretch your neck, and overcome all the difficult. The nasty. The mean. The unfair.

You want more than you have now? Prove it! You want to be the very best there is? Get out there and earn it!

Once you decide that, you will know where it is you want to be and you won't stop pushing forward until you get there! That's how winners are made.

At the end of the day, success is what we all want. We all wanna win and the race will be won. There is no question about that. So, come on. Get out on top! Run faster! Dream bigger! Live better than you have ever before. This is in you! You can do it!

Do it for yourself. Prove it to yourself.

May you have an awesome week. - Darren Zwiers

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.” – Greg Anderson

The Price For Patience

A little girl visited a farm one day and asked to buy a large watermelon. That big one you got in your hand costs 3 dollars said the farmer. I’ve only got 30 cents replied the girl. 30 cents will buy you a small watermelon replied the farmer. What about that one asked the farmer pointing to a small watermelon in the field. Okay, I’ll take it smiled the little girl. Here’s your 30 cents but leave it on the vine. I’ll be back for it in a month. Pretty smart little girl. She knew her patience would be rewarded. By waiting one month, she could have a big, ripe watermelon for the price of a little green one.


Reflection:

Patience is hardest to find when you need it the most and we should expect patience to be the hard work we usually find it to be. Patience isn't something that comes naturally or easily, it's something that requires serious effort and as with all things that require effort, the reward is great. Once achieving even the smallest 'slice' of patience, your character will transform into something far greater than you could imagine. Unfortunately most people get patience wrong, they believe that patience and waiting are the same thing. Of course waiting is a part of patience, but its only one element to it. Patience is all about working hard at overcoming the instant desire to react without thinking first.

May you have an awesome week where you adopt the right attitude to practice perfect patience. - Darren Zwiers

Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. - ― Joyce Meyer

Empty Wheat Stands High

Once upon a time there were two brothers who grew up on a farm. One went away to University, earned a law degree and became a partner in a prominent law firm in the country’s capital. The other brother stayed on the family farm. One day the lawyer came and visited his brother, the farmer. He asked “Why didn’t you go out and make a name for yourself so that you could hold your head up high in the world like me?” His farming brother pointed outside and said “See that wheat field over there? Notice that the heads of the wheat that are standing up are empty, while those that are well-filled are bowed low.”


Reflection:

There is a valuable lesson we learn from the above - it is fundamental to be humble in all our achievements. Each one of us has our own  unique talents, skills and abilities. We should never put others down just because we think we are better than they are in some ways. There are going to be times when we have to swallow our pride for the greater good. This is probably one of the most difficult things to do, but it builds a strong a character within each one of us and therefore we become wiser. Humility makes us a better listener and in turn a more valuable friend, colleague and family member. It allows us to truly examine ourselves and our personal traits without shame or judgment and it assists us to get to know ourselves like never before.

May you have an incredible week!
Darren Zwiers

“Praise can be your most valuable asset as long as you don't aim it at yourself” - Orlando A. Battista.

Making an Impression vs. Being Impressed

By John C. Maxwell 

Admired for her beauty, Jennie Jerome (Winston Churchill's mother) glided through the loftiest social circles in Great Britain. Once, on consecutive nights, Ms. Jerome dined with England's premier politicians: Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and his chief rival, William Gladstone. When questioned about her impressions of the two men, Ms. Jerome made the following observation: "When I left the dining room after sitting next to Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest man in England. But when I sat next to Disraeli I left feeling that I was the cleverest woman."

Reflection:

Though each of these men achieved impressive accomplishments for Britain, the definitive quality that separated them as leaders was their approach to people. What can you learn from this? Instead of living a life telling people how great you are and how much you know, you should rather be humble in your ways and seek the greatness in others. I can guarantee that you would rather be around a person who expresses genuine interest in you, rather than a person who continualy parades their brilliance. Many people pursue greatness and of course there is nothing wrong with that, but they go about it in the wrong way and make it all about them. It is always possible to see the good in others and it is your responsibility to encourage it, you just need to listen more, slow down and take peoples' interests to heart.

May you have an incredible week, and may you find the patience and sensitivity to bring out the greatness in others.

Darren Zwiers

Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes. ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Towards Humility

Author Unknown

There was a young man who wanted to be humble. He went to an old wise man and said to him, "What must I do to acquire humility?" The old wise man thought for a minute and replied, "Go out and find someone who is beneath you. Give him something that you have or do something for him that needs to be done." The young man immediately left and came upon a homeless man on the street. He took the man to a restaurant and bought him a nice hot meal. After that, he returned to the wise man and told him what he had done. He then asked him, "Do I now have humility?" The wise old man replied, "Not yet!" The young man's face fell and after a while, he asked the wise man, "What else must I do to acquire humility?" The wise man said, "Go out and find someone else who is beneath you and do something nice for him." This upset the young man and he asked, "How many people do I have to help… 10 people?"

"No!"

"100 people?"

"No!"

The wise old man replied, "You will have obtained humility when you can no longer find anyone that you think is beneath you!"

Reflection:

In simple terms, humility is the absence of pride. It is important to never base your self-worth on how you compare yourself with others. Lack of humility will enhance your ego and instil a false sense of pride deep within you. A healthy and uplifting way to obtain humility is to keep focusing on yourself and how you, personally can improve and in turn improve the world around you through your own positive growth. You can't just wake up one day and have mastered humility, it is one of those traits that will keep on challenging you throughout your life. Truth be told, we are all far from perfect, but that doesn't mean we can't strive for perfection. If you work hard on the attribute of humility you can reach a high level of self mastery... never stop working on this.

May you have an enlightening week, where you are able to maintain pride about who you are, your achievements, your worth – but without arrogance.

Darren Zwiers

"On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom."  ― Michel de Montaigne

Who will you be tomorrow?

Story by Steve Goodier

One man sat at a stop light. The woman in front of him was going through papers on the seat of her car, and when the light changed to green she didn't go. A green light is not a suggestion, you know, it is more of a commandment. But she didn't notice. When the light turned red again, she still had not moved. The man in the car behind her now started screaming and beating on his steering wheel. A policeman tapped on his windshield. 'You can't arrest me for hollering in my car,' the man said. The cop asked for his license and registration, returned to his car, talked on the radio for a while, and finally handed the papers back. The driver protested, 'I knew you couldn't cite me for yelling in my own car!' The officer replied, 'I didn't want to cite you for shouting in your car. But I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, 'That man is out of control. He's going to hurt someone!' 'Then I noticed a bright yellow 'Love Is a Choice' license tag, and a 'Give Peace a Chance' bumper sticker, on your car and I was sure you must have stolen the car', as your behaviour did not reflect the bumper stickers.

Reflection:

Are you always the person you want to be? For a minute, forget what you want others to see you as and step out of your body and watch yourself behaving in all situations, good and bad. What do you think you would see? Would you be proud of your actions or shocked? A true test of character is to see how people act when they think no one is watching, We've seen people act really strange and out of character when they feel no one is watching, this has even happened with powerful, respectable leaders. People may act perfectly on record and when they think they off record they act in a completely different way, sometimes very badly. At the end of the day being true to yourself is where it all counts, because if you not true to yourself and act in accordance of who is watching or listening you are not going to be seen as a genuine, independent person. Knowing what you believe and truly walking your talk is the first and greatest step to Integrity. So the choice is yours… Be you, the most honest you that you can be!

May you have an awesome week and always find it in you to do what is right especially when nobodies looking.

Darren Zwiers

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken" - Oscar Wilde

Right Place, Right Knowledge

It doesn't matter who you are or where you are in the world, your skills, knowledge, abilities and experiences are only useful if you are in the right place.

A mother and a baby camel were lying around, and suddenly the baby camel asked, "Mother, may I ask you some questions?" Mother said, "Sure! Why son, is there something bothering you?" Baby said, "Why do camels have humps?" Mother said "Well son, we are desert animals, we need the humps to store water and we are known to survive without water." Baby said, "Okay, then why are our legs long and our feet rounded?" Mother said, "Son, obviously they are meant for walking in the desert. You know with these legs I can move around the desert better than anyone does!" Baby said, "Okay, then why are our eyelashes long? Sometimes it bothers my sight." Mother with pride said, "My son, those long thick eyelashes are your protective cover. They help to protect your eyes from the desert sand and wind." Baby after thinking said, "I see. So the hump is to store water when we are in the desert, the legs are for walking through the desert and these eye lashes protect my eyes from the desert, then what are we doing here in the Zoo?"

Reflection:

It doesn't matter who you are or where you are in the world, your skills, knowledge, abilities and experiences are only useful if you are in the right place. Too often we tend to spend our time trying to achieve things in the wrong places. We focus our energies in the wrong channels and thus causing us to lose hope when we struggle to succeed. You have the ability to achieve great things in your life, but only if you are in the right place where you can utilise your bank of knowledge and skills to take you in the right direction. Don't waste your time trying to catch birds when you are a fisherman… know your place! Yes, life is a constant discovery and we are always learning new things as we go along, but make sure you know your skills, your place, and then the path you follow will take you to exactly where you need to be. What's the point of storing water in your humps when you don't ever step into the desert?

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca

Share Your Blanket

Story by Howard Schultz (chairman & CEO of Starbucks) - Excerpted from his acceptance speech for the Columbia Business School's Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics

In Israel, Mr Schultz went to Mea Shearim along with a group of businessmen. He had the opportunity to have an audience with Rabbi Finkel who told them the below story...

As you know, during the Holocaust, the people were transported in the worst possible, inhumane way by railcar. They thought they were going to a work camp. We all know they were going to a death camp. As they went into the area to sleep, only one person was given a blanket for every six. The person who received the blanket, when he went to bed, had to decide, 'Am I going to push the blanket to the five other people who did not get one, or am I going to pull it toward myself to stay warm?'After hours and hours in this inhumane corral with no light, no bathroom, cold, they arrived at the camps. The doors were swung wide open, and they were blinded by the light. Men were separated from women, mothers from daughters, fathers from sons. They went off to the bunkers to sleep. And Rabbi Finkel says, 'It was during this defining moment that we learned the power of the human spirit, because we pushed the blanket to five others.' And with that, he stood up and said, 'Take your blanket. Take it back to America and push it to five other people'.

Reflection:

This is probably one of the most powerful messages I have learnt, because even in times of distress it is crucial to help and care for others… even when you are going through the same ordeal. Let it be financial or a physical ailment, it is so important as a human being to rise above it and take action to help others in the same place. We humans have been placed in this world to achieve and experience many great things and one of these great opportunities is to care for the people closest to us, irrespective of our own current situation. It is no excuse to say "I can't help because I am going through my own issues". If this were the case then who will rise up to help? Yes, it can be difficult to give the care that people are looking for, but you can make the difference in your own unique way. Kindness is not defined by giving money or physical items, it is the quality of being generous and considerate. Be compassionate and make your mark in this world one of kindness, deep

love and care for others even in times of personal distress.

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around - Leo Buscaglia.

Aim for the shore

If you give up on your goals, you are actually giving up on yourself

It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4th, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to be the first woman to swim the 21 miles from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. The water was numbing cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit… less than one-mile from her goal. Later she said, "I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it." It wasn't the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to fail. It was the fog. Two months later, Chadwick tried again. This time was different. The same thick fog set in, but not only did she make it she beat the mens record by two hours because she said that she kept a mental image of the shoreline in her mind while she swam.

Reflection:

There are so many times in life where we fail, not because we are afraid or because of what others think, but because we lose sight of our goals. Without always keeping an eye on your goal, you could lose your sense of direction and very quickly want to give up without even realising how close you are. This is easier said than done and yes there may be days when you just want to give up, throw in the towel and just move on, but it is so important that you always keep your eye on the prize. If you give up on your goals, you are actually giving up on yourself and this is no way to conquer and achieve the things you set out to do. Imagine how great it will be as you accomplish every step and expect each success to materialise. Celebrate your successes in your mind every morning and evening, never stop and I assure you, you will conquer your goals irrespective of what is in your way.

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs. - Mario Andretti

Uprooting Habits

Conquer your bad habits soon or they will conquer you!

A father wanted to wean his son away from his bad habits. The father took his son for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all. "Now pull out that one," said the father pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. "Now take this one out," said the the father, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. "It's impossible," said the boy, panting with the effort. "So it is with bad habits," said his father. "When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted." This lesson with his father changed the boy's life forever.

Reflection:

This story holds such a powerful message. We form bad habits and then wonder how we can rid ourselves of them, most of the time it's just way too difficult as we identify these habits too late when they have grown deep roots into our personality and character. Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to arise from. Now there is no immediate cure to get rid of these bad roots, just like the above story, it's almost impossible to uproot them once they have fully grown on you. The good news is that it is much easier to replace a bad habit with a good habit. Pick one bad habit that you want to change in your life today… only one to begin with and figure out a way to replace it with a good habit. Be patient with this process and don't forget it is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. Conquer your bad habits soon or they will conquer you!

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character." -  Stephen Covey

Gifts From The Heart

A young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather container so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher. After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart. Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student challenged his teacher, "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?" The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter. Heartfelt gifts deserve the return gift of gratitude."

My Message:

I'm sure you've received a gift from a young child. The natural and proper response is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because you love the idea wrapped around the gift and of course you want to encourage to child to continue the beauty of giving. Now gratitude always takes hard work as it doesn't come naturally. Sometimes we find it hard to show total appreciation for gifts we receive from people. This is because sometimes we only value the item given rather than the feeling and thoughtfulness embodied in it. It's important to never forget the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions wrapped around the gifts we receive. Don't just look at the item, look at the person giving it and know with certainty that gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly and without expectation. We don't love to be loved; we love to love." ~ Leo Buscaglia

The Hedgehogs

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The hedgehogs, realising the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive. The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

My Message:

None of us in this world are perfect, we all have our own unique issues and unless we accept other peoples' imperfections, we are never going to come together. This is what makes life, and the relationships we're in, so dynamic and real. It's so important to learn from those around you who have different perspectives, habits, hang-ups, goals, wants and fears. This is what makes us all human. You know that beauty often lies in the depths of imperfections and flaws. By dealing with the imperfections in our own character and in the character of others teaches us to be patient, tolerant and accepting. If everyone and everything we came into contact with was perfect or the same, we would never develop the capacity to be tolerant of differences, or to give the precious gift of acceptance to those we love most. As a result of this we may grow as human beings and come to see things in a fresh way, and adjust our ideas of what is truly perfect by learning the beauty of having patience

to get on with everyone around us.

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"Accepting all the good and bad about someone. It's a great thing to aspire to. The hard part is actually doing it." ― Sarah Dessen

The Big Five

In Africa, people on safari talk constantly about the Big Five animals. They focus all their time and energy on seeing and experiencing them. It's like a personal pilgrimage. The Big Five consist of the African elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhino, lion and leopard and was originally named by hunters for being the hardest animals to catch on foot. It's now a term tourists use and aim to see when going to the beautiful South African bush.

My Message:

I've always loved the idea behind The Big Five, "the hardest things to catch on foot"... We know this for a hunter but what about you, what is your big five? The five things you most want to do, see, or experience in your lifetime.  The five things so powerful to you, that if you experience them before you die, then you will feel that your life has been a success by your own personal definition. A lot of people feel as if they are adrift in the world. They work hard, but they don't seem to feel as if they getting anywhere worthwhile. One of the reasons that they feel this way is that they haven't spent enough time thinking about what they want from life, and haven't set themselves formal goals and personal targets. It's now your time to create your big five ambitions for life. Think about them, write them down and do everything in your power to achieve them. After all, would you set out on a major journey with no real idea of your destination? Probably not!

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"All successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose." ~ Brian Tracy

Believe What You Feel

From "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom

On this day, Morrie says that he has an exercise for us to try. We are to stand, facing away from our classmates, and fall backward, relying on another student to catch us. Most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than a few inches before stopping ourselves. We laugh in embarrassment. Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl whom I notice almost always wears bulky, white fisherman sweaters, crosses her arms over her chest, closes her eyes, leans back, and does not flinch, like one of those Lipton tea commercials where the model splashes into the pool.. For a moment, I am sure she is going to thump on the floor. At the last instant, her assigned partner grabs her head and shoulders and yanks her up harshly. "Whoa!" several students yell. Some clap. Morrie finally smiles. "You see", he says to the girl, "you closed your eyes, That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too – even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling".

My Message:

Putting trust in others can sometimes be very difficult. At times it sounds easy but in practice it can be very scary. One of the reasons why we tend not to trust people and give them the slightest benefit of the doubt is based on previous experience. Yes, if a person has done something wrong to you before then you have every right be wary, but if this is a first encounter you should be open to new possibilities. There are still good people in the world; you just need to give them a chance. When you meet someone for the first time, if it's in business or even on a date don't form any negative thoughts about them. Just because someone looks a certain way does not mean he/she is what you perceive them to be. As the story suggests "Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel." Master this and you will open your world to a whole new channel of possibilities.

May you have an Awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts. - Harold MacMillan

In The Same Boat

Two men were out on the ocean in a boat. One of them began drilling in the bottom of the boat, and the other, aghast said "What are you doing? Stop drilling!".  The first man replied: "It's all right, I'm only drilling on my side".

My Message:

This story has a deep message for us to learn. In this life we are all pretty much in the same boat. Every good or bad action we do has a consequence that will impact those around us. It is these consequences that will either sink or keep the boat afloat. While some of us are doing good deeds and bringing out the best in others, other people are damaging and sinking the boat we share. It is important to be the one who is keeping the boat afloat and not the latter. It is your role to assist people and encourage them to be effective individuals, find ways to show them how their part in society contributes to their mission in this world. We are all looking for a leader and we will keep searching until you stand up and make your positive mark. Let's keep the boat afloat by teaching others not to sink it.

May you have an enriching week!

Darren Zwiers

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success". Henry Ford

The Richest Man In The Valley

A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth. One day while riding around his estate on his favourite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by. Hans said, 'I was just thanking God for my food.' Carl protested, 'If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn't feel like giving thanks.' Hans replied, 'God has given me everything I need, and I am thankful for it.' The old farmer added, 'It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.' I don't know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you.' Carl snorted, 'Dreams are nonsense,' and galloped away, but he could not forget Hans' words: 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.' He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his house that evening. Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, 'Carl, you are as strong and healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight.' Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards through the night. The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologised for becoming so upset over the old man's dream. At about nine o'clock, a messenger arrived at Carl's door. 'What is it?' Carl demanded. The messenger explained, 'It's about old Hans. He died last night in his sleep.'

My Message:

Many people today derive their personal worth from the possessions they own. Their personal collection of expensive things defines what they are and who they can be. The idea of this is slightly frightening as how can a person weigh their personal worth with material items. The core essence of life isn't about what you own but rather what you do with what is given to you. How do you define wealth or success? Is the person who has the biggest house, the fastest car and the most fashionable wardrobe the wealthiest man? That all depends on what he does with his possessions and how deeply he appreciates it. The wealthiest person is the one who is most grateful to what they own right now. This is why they could say with all of their heart that they lack nothing.

May you have an enriching week!

Darren Zwiers

Who is rich? The one who is appreciates what he has… Talmud—Avot 4:1

To Love & Be Loved

Once upon a time…. A very poor man lived with his wife. One day, his wife, who had very long hair asked him to buy her a comb for her hair to grow well and to be well-groomed. The man felt very sorry and said no. He explained that he did not even have enough money to fix the strap of his watch he had just broken. She did not insist on her request. The man went to work and passed by a watch shop, sold his damaged watch at a low price and went to buy a comb for his wife. He came home in the evening with the comb in his hand ready to give to his wife. He was surprised when he saw his wife with a very short hair cut. She had sold her hair and was holding a new watch band. Tears flowed simultaneously from their eyes, not for the futility of their actions, but for the reciprocity of their love.

My Message:

Real love is mutual and is connected with reciprocity. Love is definitely not about expectation. If you start expecting things out of love it will almost always ruin what you are sharing in your relationships. It is a common thing that we give to others and expect the same in return when the time comes. We all know the famous line of "I owe you one" or "you owe me one"… This isn't what love is about. It's about giving of yourself completely and not expecting anything back in return, that is real love. Expectations may cause more stress than joy. They spoil the beauty of giving, which may lead to disappointment if the person doesn't return the kindness; and can tie your intentions to an internal score card, which places a wedge in the relationship. If you really love the people closest to you then start giving without conditional terms… If we can all achieve this then the above story will be something which we can all experience.

To love is nothing, to be loved is something but to love and to be loved by the one you love, that is everything.

May you have an awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

Pleasure is a necessary reciprocal. No one feels, who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please. What pleases you in others, will in general please them in you." ~ Lord Chesterfield

Someday Isle

I read the following article yesterday and it deeply moved me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is guilty of living on this Island. This week's email follows a slightly different format as the below article is too good not to share.... Enjoy!

"Everybody wants to achieve great goals. They want to be happy, healthy, thin, rich, attractive, financially independent. We all want the same things. But what happens is people decide I want these things but before they start they decide they want to take a vacation and they go to a wonderful place called Someday Isle. And on Someday Isle they say someday I'll lose some weight and someday I'll take that course and someday I'll finish it, and someday I'll send out that letter and someday I'll save some money, and someday I'll get out of debt. And who are they surrounded by on this wonderful fantasy land? Other people who are on Someday Isle. And what all these people day in and day out do is think of excuses. They think of reasons why not to get started. And this is what we've found is that successful people take action, and unsuccessful people take vacations on the island. So I'm going to give you the first secret of success today; it is vote yourself off the island, for life. No more Someday Isle. If you get an idea today, tomorrow, yesterday, if you get an idea take action on it now. Move now, move quickly. Because 95% of your success or failure in life is determined by your habits. And anything that you do repeatedly over and over again becomes a new habit. So therefore if you develop the habit of moving quickly and with focus and purpose, you become a completely different person than people who develop the habit of going to the island before they take any action." ~ Brian Tracy

May you have an awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

 "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." — William Durant

Changing Course

The captain of a ship received a message one night, "Change your direction 15 degrees North to avoid collision." A little indignant, the captain replied, "I am the captain of a large ship and recommend you divert 15 degrees South." The captain received the reply, "We are a lighthouse."

My Message:

It doesn't matter who you are, life always requires flexibility. It's important to understand this and be willing to make an adjustment. Flexibility needs to be continually exercised in all areas of our lives… work, marriage, families, friendships and so forth. Being flexible isn't about being a weak or passive individual, it's the total opposite. Flexibility is a conscious choice, a skill, and a beneficial approach to the ever-changing, always evolving world we live in today. You can be firm in your convictions, passionate about your values and true to your intentions, yet at the same time be flexible enough to make significant changes and be open to new ideas along the journey. Sure, being flexible certainly isn't an easy task, however, just like your physical body, the more attention you place on expanding your flexibility, the more likely you are to do it. As you learn and enhance your ability to be flexible, your relationships and experience in this world can and will grow in ways you would only dream of. Life and the people around you are always changing. The more easily and quicker you can adapt, the more successful, happy, and appreciated you will become.

May you have an awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times". Everett Dirksen

House Of A Thousand Mirrors

(A Japanese Folktale)

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often." In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

My Message:

What we reflect is what we are… All the time!!!

Happy, positive people see the reflection of their warmth and friendly attributes in the world and unhappy negative people see the reflection of their sadness and unwelcoming attributes. The energies that you put into the world have a massive effect not just on others around you but most importantly yourself. If you have an outgoing, uplifting attitude towards life then that is exactly what the world will give you back. What you project is what you will become. Have you ever wondered that when you're in a bad mood, people irritate you more, you can't stand to be around them and when someone says something innocent you snap back… Could it be that you're projecting differently? How about the opposite. Why is that when you're in a good mood it's a pleasure to be around people and you are always willing to help them?… Did you change or did they? The answer is obvious. You get what you give in more ways than you can imagine. We see things in others that exist within ourselves, the

good and the ugly. Don't you agree that its far better to always see the good? Well…. in order to see the good in others it's essential to show it yourself and only you can do it, so don't hold back, express your positivity a thousand times over.

May you have an awesome week!

Darren Zwiers

"You get the best out of others when you get the best out of yourself."Harvey S. Firestone