I know the power of words. Words form our beliefs, habits and destiny. We literally shape our world with our words. So I decided to take control of my emotions by writing down my daily situation and choosing joy despite the negativity that surrounds. By writing and solidifying each day’s resolve to “steal” joy, I was changing my internal circumstances which I knew would soon spill over to my external circumstances.
Read MoreMake way, Kayak and Orbitz - Flystein got me such unbelievably cheap air tickets I'm half deciding whether to share this or not!
Read MoreEvery once powerful empire face an impending eventual collapse. Consider the ancient empires of old: the Persian, Roman, Turkish, Mongol and Egyptian empires - they once rose to great power and they eventually fell to horrific economic ruins and dusted glory. As empires rise and fall according to times, so do individuals rise and fall according to seasons.
Read MoreEver noticed how a vacation leaves us refreshed and ready to tackle our jobs with new drive? A change of environment - sights, sounds, faces, encounters, experiences - they offer rejuvenation and renewed perspective. Sometimes all it takes is a quick change of environment to change your inner perspective. In my case, all it took was a pool of water.
Read MoreIf you’re taking a train heading south while you had intended to head north, what do you do? You’ll immediately get off the train at the next stop and board the correct train heading north. You will do whatever’s necessary to get you to your destination. Isn’t it crazy then that we know to do the right thing in the case of a train ride but we don’t apply the same principle to life in general?
Read MoreA young man went to film school in college. He graduated and worked in the State Treasury in Sacramento, California for six years. One day, he discovered a shoemaking workshop, was fascinated, took the class and started making shoes on night and weekends. He lived and breathed soft leather, wool, quality rubber soles and stitching. He became a master in his craft. First he would sell a pair online. Then two. Then three. Soon the orders would back up to more than he could manage.
Read MoreWhat you want isn't shiny, expensive or showy. What you want doesn't yell for attention. What you want isn't the social commodity of cash, credit and career. What you want doesn't shout from the mountaintop. What you want is something deeper.
Read MoreWhen you most feel like giving up, that is the time not to.
Read MoreKindness is not natural. What can I say? We’re born imperfect, and we have to work on our kindness. At least I do. So even when I don’t feel like it, especially when I’m in a bad spot myself, I got to remind myself daily to practice kindness. Kindness is a choice.
Read MoreWhen things are out of your control, when the lack of provision is starting to wear you down, the power is still within you to turn things around.
Read MoreAs long as we breathe, problems are bound to present themselves. Life isn’t a bed of roses. Life is a freeway. It’s a journey filled with fast and slow days, smooth traffic and congestion, good and bad people, ups and downs. If problems are coming our way whether we like it or not, we’ve got to change the way we perceive them rather than to throw our hands up in despair and give up.
Read MoreOur emotions frequently get the better of us especially when we are ill equipped with the true knowledge of a matter. Having only heard of the exorbitant cost of electric space heaters, I almost allowed a couple of dollars of electricity bill fuel yet another domestic argument.
Read MoreIn desiring friendship, first be a friend. In desiring a listening ear, first be a listening ear. In desiring time, first give your time. The principles of sowing and reaping is an irreversible universal law of nature and life. As surely as a farmer sows his seed in winter, he would surely reap a harvest in summer.
Read MoreIn the event of an emergency, pull out the life vest from under your seat and put it on yourself first before attending to a young child if you’re traveling with one. Yes, take care of yourself first, and only after you’ve done that do you care for a young child or someone else in need. Herein lies an important lesson: We got to first feed ourselves before we can feed others. We got to first prosper on the inside before we can bless someone else.
Read MoreIt dawned on me that nothing I do, no amount of success in my career, no amount of cash in my bank account matter as much as the joy you bring or the grace you extend to another human being. Success comes and go, but lives touched, remain alight for eternity.
Read MoreMarriage is hard work. It takes more than just passion, love, smiles, cuddles and snugs. It takes more than just effort, compromises and giving ins. It takes sacrifice, selflessness and humility. Growing up with little love, attention or money, I learnt to be selfish. Whatever little love that’s dished out to me, I take. Whatever little attention that’s given to me, I take. Whatever little money that’s made available to me, I take. I know little about giving. Because I was so starved of everything a child needs growing up, I brought my lack into adulthood and into my marriage.
Read MoreWhat if I could control my response to people and circumstances? What if I let no one or circumstance steal my joy? What if I let inner joy rule my life? Day 1 unfolds.
Read MoreIn this short, sweet and straightforward post, I share simple methods to eating well. There is no one-size-fits-all diet. If there is, we would all be looking the same, wouldn't we?
Read MoreWhat is the difference between a diet and a fast? Dieting means you restrict a certain type or category of food for the purpose of losing weight. Fasting means you refrain from eating for a specific window of time for the purpose of cultivating self control and food management. This is my story of intermittent fasting and the incredible benefits I've reaped from it.
Read MoreThis comes a little late especially when we’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, seasons during which we struggle to eat right and avoid putting on weight. Oh wait, there’s the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration in a few days’ time. Ah, the joy of communion, but oh, the temptation of all of our favorite food! Aarrgghhh… how do we celebrate joyfully without the guilt centering around food?
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