Moments Of Insight ...

Monday, August 3, 2009

Finding the magic

Coaching involves developing your self-belief. It means focusing the lens within. It means understanding that change starts with you believing that things will get better for you. It means having faith. It means believing it before you can see it. It means not giving up. It means considering and making choices. It means developing your potential even when nobody else can see what you see or feel what you feel. It means commitment. It often means having the courage to be bold, to step up. Courage does not mean that you proceed without fear. Instead, courage means proceeding amidst your fear. It means action. It means doing something different. It means experimentation. Sometimes it means blazing your trail by taking the road less travelled.

The spouse ...

I know of at least 4 coaches who yearn for a much deeper connection with their respective spouses. There tends to be an underlying feeling of sadness that the relationship could be so much more than what it is today, so much deeper. If only the spouse would consider either therapy, life coaching or a counselling/coaching related personal development training course. Then there would be hope for a healthier reality. The person I was back then when we met has changed, has become more conscious and has come to realise a few things about himself AND, as a result, a few possibilities/senarios have revealed themselves. Is this not a good example of hoping that change will happen when someone else changes? Isn't this one of the core issues? i.e. facing outward instead of inward? Who am I to judge? I am one of the 4 mentioned above.

The space within ...

Thirty Spokes converge on a single hub.
It is on the hole in the centre that the use of the cart hinges.
We make a vessel from a lump of clay;
It is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.
We make doors and windows for a room.
But it is the empty spaces that make the room liveable.
Thus, while the tangible has advantages
It is the intangible that makes it useful.
Lao Tzu

Reflection

Why reflect? What is reflection? How does one reflect?

Imagine looking in the mirror at yourself. As human beings, we generally find it easy to notice our physical attributes when looking in the mirror. We may notice a new pimple, or that you may need a haircut or that you've got a great smile. In a similar manner it's possible to reflect on one's thoughts, actions and emotions. I'm sure that there are other forms of reflection as well but let's start with these 3 to get a sense of how the process of reflection can be a catalyst for realization which, in turn, has the potential (not a guarantee) of sparking tranformative practices that could lead to a greater sense of fullfilment, a feeling of being whole, being complete. Reflection involves the act of observation, similar to the noticing of a pimple in the mirror. The process of reflecting on your emotions, actions and thoughts may, at first, require some props to get the ball rolling. These props could take the form of journalling as well as developing a keen sense of awareness of what is. The thing with reflection is that it takes courage and stamina to witness more than just the obvious and then to act on it. Someone once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result.

Realization

It brings along with it understanding, acceptance, self-forgiveness and a desire to be a better person. I can be a lot like the dad I remember from my childhood. Often I become that person. Often it is I that drives the wedge between myself and those very dear to me. I can be become super critical and never pay any compliments. I can harm without saying a word. My expression or lack of response says enough to induce the damage. This is me. I accept that this is a part of me. A part that I once disowned. My mission in life is to be a better father and husband. This is easier said than done!

Underworld, Rise of the Lycans

What a beautiful and tragic love story. Definitely provides more insight into the other 2 Underworld movies. I'd give it a 7/10. Special effects were great and very clever of them to use some of the characters the appear in the original and sequel, helps with character development. Not for younger viewers and definitely not for non-fantasy movie lovers. Quite dark but then again its expected given that it's about a love story between a lycan (werewolf) and a vampire, almost like a Romeo and Juliet.

Check out the trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA35RJfkHjc

Sunday, August 2, 2009

H1N1 Symptoms

My family fell ill with flu-like symptoms over the weekend. We're all on anti-viral medication but I may need to take my 1 year-old and 3 year-old to hospital this morning. I came across the following CDC video on the typical symptoms of H1N1 since our city has recently been hit by the virus. As a lay-person, its almost impossible to determine whether we should go into quarantine given the similarities between H1N1 and the garden-variety flu. It's still helpful to educate yourself so enjoy the 3 min video.

Nobody tells you that ...

You tend to befriend your children's friends' parents. It started early when my eldest got home from pre-school oneday with a tiny request, i.e. daddy, can Mark come over to play, then it was Cammy, followed by Olivia, Tait, etc. More recently, its been Luke.
You will still become annoyed with other people's children.
You never regain the sleep you lost and continue to loose ;-)
Younger children are SUPA destructive and that it may be best to temporarily place your more expensive items in storage.
Children are expert manipulators who will test you on every corner
Children a mirrors so watch what you say or do

Chronicles of Riddik for PS3

I recently purchased a new Sony Playstation PS3 game console after much research and pondering on my needs vs what's available in the market. I chose the PS3 because it gives me a gaming console, DVD player and Blu Ray player all in one device. This means less financial investment, more space on my TV stand and ONE remote for all 3 (the PS3 wireless game controller).

I also bought my first PS3 game, i.e. Chronicles of Riddik. Games have really come a long way from the days of the original Atari and Commodore64 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_64) consoles, my first gaming console being the Commodore64 (thanks dad!). Riddik is amazing, it's like I'm a movie character where I have control over what happens next. Offcourse, the walkthoughs help ;-)

Growing up a Trekkie

Some've argued that the Star Trek TV series created a disillusioned generation because of the great disparity between what Star Trek "promised" about our future and what our scientists really accomplised. I disagree. Instead, my view is that Star Trek inspired and continues to inspire both young and old, specifically in terms of the possibilities for the future. Imagine a future in which interstellar travel is the norm, where teleporting to work is the norm, where food replicators are used in the home instead of stoves, fridges and microwaves. Just imagine ;-) And remember, it's only a movie.