Introspection Archives - Page 2 of 5

Deep Origin Leads to Greatness!

15th Apr 201622nd Jun 2016
by J-D

I have been writing insights (what I use to call posts) for the about ten years now. Originally the writing came as expression of frustration and avenue for creative outlet.

Now the writing, and website, is an expression of, and avenue for supporting people to live, not just survive.
Deep inside we all long to live a life worthy of the gifts that have been bestowed upon us.

I add value to entrepreneurs and leaders at all levels. …Those who firstly realise that in order to fully be alive you need to challenge yourself.

Today more than ever my focus is becoming clear. What started out as an exploration with a foggy lens is becoming a laser-like focus and this journey is what I use to help others do the same. I have spent thousands on searching for the path of wisdom. I have spent years developing the mindset that brings fulfillment in ALL areas of life. I am not satisfied with second-best! I am only interested in a life that is better and better every day.

Introspection

Bad Day

14th Mar 201622nd Jun 2016
by J-D

We all have a bad day every now and again. Sometimes they accumulate and you just have to take a break.

…This too shall pass

Introspection

Bad Day

14th Mar 201622nd Jun 2016
by J-D

We all have a bad day every now and again. Sometimes they accumulate and you just have to take a break.

…This too shall pass

Awareness

Alive Questions

26th Feb 201622nd Jun 2016
by J-D

Perhaps you have already downloaded your copy of the Alive Today! manifesto – Great! If you haven’t done so yet, head over to downloads and grab your free copy. I’d love to hear from you if you have any feedback, so head over to the contact page and leave me a note.

The reason that I am mentioning this is not merely to give free stuff away but to hopefully challenge us all to ask some valuable questions. Read more “Alive Questions” →

Awareness

Alive Questions

26th Feb 201622nd Jun 2016
by J-D

The reason that I am mentioning this is not merely to give free stuff away but to hopefully challenge us all to ask some valuable questions. Read more “Alive Questions” →

Awareness

CAUTION! – Don’t Get Me Wrong :-)

19th Feb 2016
by J-D

I’m a passionate guy and I communicate passionately. Translation: I can be loud and rather harsh when I am trying to get my point across. A few times in the past I have seen how people mistakenly interpret my best attempts at communicating, what I thought was something insightful and true, as harsh and accusative.

Just this week I explained a challenging situation to a colleague and he very eloquently replied that he does not truly know the other party involved in the situation and at the receiving end of my communication. He did however know me and suggested that instead of reaffirming my point, simply ask the other person how they understood what I said, i.e. what did they hear?

Now, I have been facilitating for years and have hundreds of hours of coaching under my belt but when I am emotionally involved the game changes in an instant. I have to remind myself of what I potentially sound like and I should perhaps come with a warning that reads “CAUTION! Don’t get me wrong.”

Perhaps we should come with some sort of warning sign – “CAUTION! – I bite” or “CAUTION! – I cry easily” or even “CAUTION! – I withdraw when confronted”.

Perhaps we will approach one another with a bit of a different perspective. Perhaps we will get a little better at this living thing.

Awareness

Did You Rest?

15th Jan 2016
by J-D

If you where fortunate enough to have a holiday – I would like to know – did you rest?

Do you know what the word means for you? As with purpose there is no universal definition of rest. There is a universal result but our journeys are different.

Perhaps you should ask: “How do I feel after the holiday?”

This Was 2015

18th Dec 2015
by J-D

Thank you all for reading, following and engaging.

For me 2015 can be summarised in one word: wait. I think that so much of life is lost in the anxiety of waiting instead of life gained by transforming the wait into the peace of patience.

Peace to you

Awareness

The Greatest Mystery Ever

16th Nov 2015
by J-D

In our little Westernized world – i.e. the dominant Western values of individualism, selfishness and personal gratification – we happily strive after happiness. Just last night I watched The Pursuit of Happiness and realised how big this implied drive is in our society. Today I read an article on happiness and that also made me think of Martin Seligman and his concept of PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning and Accomplishment). This, in turn, made me think of the work by Victor Frankl who wrote Man’s Search for Meaning. Man’s Search fro Meaning is frequently listed as one of the most important books of the 20th century.

I also watched this video where Dan Gilbert asks why are we not happy – worth the watch – really funny and informative. This video on the other hand is of Kelly McGonigal who actually helped me look beyond my own paradigm of stress in a way that was refreshing and inspiring to realise how to make stress your friend.

Along with this I reflected on some of my philosophy classes I attended as an undergraduate student and I now lecture. This includes the key concept of telos, or purpose, as well as eudamonia, or happiness, that was used by the Greeks. The idea is that life’s telos is eudamonia – to have purpose in life means to strive after a state of being healthy, happy and prosperous – sounds great! Now we just need that 10 step, 5 goal, personality test, just add water recipe…

Read more “The Greatest Mystery Ever” →

Awareness

Intensity = Creativity

13th Nov 2015
by J-D

I recently read an article that demonstrated how the level of intense emotions we experience correlates to the level of creativity we demonstrate. Whaaat?!
That means that most working environments (I have experienced) kills creativity because, in general, it is not acceptable to demonstrate intense emotion. Please, go ahead and argue that one…

Yes there are some positive changes in the working environments but in general we are expected to keep emotional stuff to ourselves, especially the intense kind. Emotions are in general still not welcome at work.

Off-stage it is a different approach. Normally our private lives are filled with drama, colour and EMOTION. When I am alone in my car I will turn up the music and sometimes resort to some shout therapy in order to experience intensity. I just want to feel the intensity of life. The ups or the downs, but just feel! Truth, beauty, boldness, rejuvenation; just feel and feel intensely.

I want to go from just surviving to feeling alive today!

Right now as I write this post it is an expression of INTENSE emotion and passion to see a world where we get out of self-imposes imprisonment, live authentically and feel with intensity. It demonstrates the catalyst for and the power of creativity. It is to look beyond and fully comprehend what I cannot see. To be motivated to encourage others to step out, take risks and lead.

In the article the author differentiates, for example, between pleasant (which is low intensity) and desire (which is high intensity). If you get a chance to read the article, great! If you don’t have the time to read the article, just think about that one example of pleasant vs. desire. What do you desire?
Okay, just be careful here, I am not saying that if you desire a heap of cash you should go rob a bank. Use your common sense here.

…But I think you know what I mean – what are the things that are actually fueling the fire in your belly but that you allow to get extinguished by the day-to-day mundane. Because let’s be honest, it is your responsibility to act upon it or develop the patience to act upon it later (but not let it die in the meantime – be wise).

Bottom line: Where is the emotional intensity that propels us to create? Isn’t that why we are here? Are we not fundamentally part of a Great Creative Force?

Go from survive to alive today! >>