2014: Raising The Bar: The Power Of Determination

In line with the national theme for this year, our focus today is on the Power of Determination, which is considered as the first step of other steps that must be tied together, in order to achieve whatever our intentions are for 2014.

And for us to overcome the many obstacles ahead, there is now also the need to change the way we think and do certain things in life.

In the process, let us always be grateful for our many achievements, which will serve to boost our commitment on the road ahead for the benefit of All.

The journey continues…

2014: Raising The Bar: Achievements And Leadership Building

For the past six years as part of our activities for the Community, we have spared no effort in building Awareness and Understanding about Values that we believe are not only very important tenets to live by, but also very germane to Leadership Success.

Such a mission has primarily been accomplished through the issuance of bi-monthly Newsletters and other equally important inspirational activities which we continue to undertake diligently from the heart.

To commemorate the 6th Anniversary of our short existence therefore, it is with much pride that we have found it to be both appropriate and timely to devote the 100th episode of our online publication to the important value of “Achievements for Leadership Building”.

Indeed our youth, do need and deserve our help and special assistance in teaching them the importance of Leadership Values for the effective discharge of their respective duties and responsibilities, in their daily lives for the benefit of All.

And on this joyous occasion for “our small up and coming organisation, we hereby pledge to raise the Bar in giving us all the gift of an inner strength of character, a sense of belonging, of identity and of much needed confidence for us all to consider The Future as something worth working hard and smart for.

In the process we will continue to instill in us all the Sense that we really do have much worth, with tremendous untapped potentials, which when put to good use will help ensure the Sustainable Prosperity of our beloved Seychelles.

We thank The Force Beyond, and us All for our continued devotion and support in this direction in 2014 and beyond. What a ride…!

Our journey continues…

2014: Raising The Bar: The Benefits Of Individuality

Our focus today is on the Benefits of Individuality, whereby we will be better able to be who we are as individuals and to know that “wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are”.

In the process we will endeavor to “always be a first version of ourselves and not a second version of someone else”, and to “stand out but and not to fit in” for in the end “those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”.

And the way forward in 2014 is for us to “never accept no one’s definition of life, but to continue define yourself”.

Our journey continues...

2014: Raising The Bar: Making A Difference

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

Indeed a lot of people would make a difference in the world, if more people would take Responsibility for their action for there is always the need for us to focus on helping each other develop the right attitude in the discharge of our daily lives, both as individuals and as a community.

In so doing let us always remember that “Every life matters. Everyone has value. Little things mean a lot”.

The journey continues...

2014: Raising The Bar: Cultivating Lifelong Learning

Today we explore ways and means to commit ourselves to being lifelong learners.

Indeed those of us who desire to live a fulfilling live need to continuously develop a curious and equally hungry mind.

By being lifelong learners, therefore, we will be better able to absorb more facts, and acquire a better understanding of our fast changing World, full of Uncertainties and Insecurity, affecting our daily lives.

In response, the time to make lifelong learning not just a habit but above all a Priority is

Our journey continues…

2014: Raising The Bar: The Gift of Maturity

Our focus today is on the Gift of Maturity, which begins to emerge as we gain a better understanding of ourselves (both individually and collectively).

And with self-knowledge comes a greater awareness of who we are, what our true goals are in life, and what direction we want to set for our lives.

In the process, we will be better able to increase the amount of our independence and individuality, whereby working much harder for the recognition and rewards we seek and to be less willing to accept failure and limitation in any form.

And our drive and determination will grow, as does our ability to take charge.

Our journey continues. 

2014: Raising The Bar: Cultivating Lifelong Learning

Today we explore ways and means to commit ourselves to being lifelong learners.

Indeed those of us who desire to live a fulfilling live need to continuously develop a curious and equally hungry mind.

By being lifelong learners, therefore, we will be better able to absorb more facts, and acquire a better understanding of our fast changing World, full of Uncertainties and Insecurity, affecting our daily lives.

In response, the time to make lifelong learning not just a habit but above all a Priority is now.

Our journey continues…

Raising The Bar: May Day 2014: Leading A Fulfilling Life

Labour Day is the celebration of a Promise fulfilled. It is also a call for further action, a reminder that we must always defend that Promise to ensure that dignity and opportunity remain the birthplace for all workers.

We are all aware what’s at stake and what we have to do to make a profound contribution to our Community, our Seychelles and our World.

Labour Day therefore is an opportunity to honour the work we do, to stand up and speak out and to take pride in what we do. Indeed since the work of every person is built on the work of another, we all have to rely on one another, for hard work connects us all.

In this vein to further strengthen our commitment to keep building on our achievements in 2014 and beyond, there is now the need for us all to also develop ways and means leading to living a fulfilling life. “All work no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

In so doing we will be better able to spice up our daily lives, to come to peace with the way things are, to challenge ourselves, to go for our dreams, to develop the necessary sense of humour, to be happy and to live life on our very own terms.

Through Unity of Purpose and by working hard Together, we will be better able to address the challenges ahead.

Happy Labour Day to us all.

May The Force Beyond continue to guide us on our journey.

Tribute to St. Pope John Paul II and St Pope John XXIII

It will be recalled that on Sunday 27th April, 2014, our world was able to witness live the canonisation to Sainthood of two 20th century Popes by his Holiness Pope Francis I, at the Vatican.

Today we have the honour to pay Special Tribute to our two Saints whose extraordinary lives were influenced by events of that century and whose great deeds will always hold a special place in our hearts and mind… essential elements and indispensable Values for the proper discharge of our duties and responsibilities as humans, for the benefit of All in the 21st Century and beyond.

Almost two decades ago, in his Address to the 50th Session of the United Nations on 5th October 1995, in which I had the privilege to participate, St Pope John Paul II spoke candidly at length on the Hope of a better future for Human Society. He saw the need for a Common Human Patrimony when taking into consideration: - The Risk For Freedom; The Rights Of Nations; Respect Of Differences; Moral Truth And our Civilisation.

And today it is both timely and appropriate that we showcase his Vision on the “Role of the United Nations and the Future of Freedom” and on how to overcome “our fear of the future”.

This is being done at a time when there is far too much turmoil, uncertainty and insecurity in every corner of our globe whereby there is now an urgent need for our Family of Nations to transform itself into a “Community based on mutual trust, mutual support and sincere respect” for the sake of Mankind.

Thus, let our Recognition and Respect for their Vision and Mission be of much use for our ongoing Value enhancement process, and equally important in Seychelles’ quest for a Non-Permanent Seat on the United Nation Security Council in 2016, especially in the subsequent discharge of our related duties and responsibilities should the candidature be successful.

Through “Unity of Purpose”, we thank and pray for his Holiness Pope Francis for his much active, ongoing Good Deeds for the benefit of Humanity.

Our journey continues...

The Quest For Peace

It will be recalled that in our last episode [part 50] dated 09th May 2014, particular emphasis was placed on “The Hope for a better future for Human Society” and on how to overcome “our fear of the future”.

Barely two months later, it is now abundantly clear that this sacred wish of ours is fast becoming more and more elusive, for wars, turmoil, terror and insecurity have multiplied and intensified, causing more deaths, pain, destruction and suffering of countless innocent civilians, women and children throughout our global village.

The recent deadly missile attack on Malaysian Airlines MH17 over wartorn Eastern Ukraine is yet another catastrophe needing the undivided attention of the International Community.

Today we wish to express our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to ALL who have lost loved ones through this most tragic man-made disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are also for ALL sufferers across our world endlessly yearning for some unconditional love, compassion, peace and security.

May the Force Beyond continue to guide us ALL always…

Accepting Other People’s Differences

As part of our ongoing “Peace Series” today we focus our attention on the Value of Accepting Other People’s Differences, in our endless quest to better our Global Village, for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.

In so doing, we will be better able to open ourselves up to others in enabling more opportunities and possibilities to flourish, to grow spiritually, to learn to Compromise more often whereby reducing the prevailing heightened level of “our fear of the future”.

To those of us of the Christian Faith, we wish us all a happy feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Our journey continues…

Expressing Your Feelings In A Disagreement

As part of our ongoing “Peace Series” today we provide us with some basic guidelines on how to express our feelings in disagreements for the effective Resolution of Conflicts, be it personal, professional, national, regional and international.

In the process, we will be better able to compromise and to find long lasting solutions to our differences in enabling us to move forward in unison towards the attainment of our objectives, for the benefit of all parties concerned.

May the Force beyond continue to guide us in our related noble endeavours to find common grounds for a more peaceful and prosperous planet Earth…our one and only home.

Our journey continues…

What is Meant by 'Spiritual Growth'?

As part of our ongoing (peace series) today we wish to express our sincere congratulations to Sir James Richard Mancham,  Seychelles Founding President on the official launching of his new book entitled “Seychelles – The Saga Of A Small Nation Navigating Through The Cross-Currents Of A Big World”.

At a time when the Safety and Security of our Global Village is getting deeper and deeper into jeopardy, causing much suffering, misery and despair all over and when we in Our Seychelles have found it appropriate to dedicate the month of September to Learn, Teach and Share Peace, the publication of this latest fine work of art by Sir James, will without doubt be of much Value in our endless quest for Internal peace, External peace and Global peace.

As Ambassador for Peace, Sir James knows much about what it takes to be Resilient, and that through the past 75 short years of his life, he has always demonstrated that nothing was insurmountable and above all that there is nothing in our world that can conquer the Human Spirit. 

In the process we will learn that while adverse surroundings play an import role in our lives, if we are willing, we do not have to be dominated by them, but to use them effectively to inspire us as a Small Island Nation continue to strive for something better for the benefit of All.

We take this opportunity to wish Sir James, continued success for his noble endeavours for the betterment of our Seychelles and our world.

Please accept, Sir James, the assurances of our highest consideration.

2014: Raising The Bar: The Value Of Emotional Resilience

Our focus today is on ‘The Traits, Benefits and Development of Emotional Resilience’, essential elements and indispensable values for the proper discharge of our duties and responsibilities (both individually and collectively) during this prevailing time of Wars, the Ebola Crisis and Climate Change causing much heightened uncertainty and mistrust on a global scale, whereby affecting the growth prospects of all Nations, in our Global Village of today.

In the process, we will have a better understanding on how to cope with Stress and become more Resilient in the face of Adversity in being better able to turn the prevailing negative events into positive and lasting solutions, for the benefits of all.

And the time to have a more Optimistic World View is now.

2014: Raising The Bar: The Benefits Of Spirituality

In line with the prevailing need for us to have a more Optimistic View of the turbulent and weary world around us, whereby our Stress Level is always on the rise, our focus today is on ‘The Benefits of Spirituality for Mental Health’.

In the process we will be better able to recognise the Value of Prayer, the benefits of Gratitude towards God, of seeing stressful situations as test of strength and not the least, on how to make good use of ‘The Law of Attraction’ in our daily lives to create Positive Change, for the benefit of All.

May the Force Beyond continue to guide us during this most difficult period of modern Human History.

Our journey continues…

2014: Raising The Bar: The Value Of The Law Of Attraction

As part of our ongoing Spiritual Values Series our focus today is on how to comprehend and make full use of the “Law of Attraction” for the proper discharge of our duties and responsibilities in our daily lives, for the benefit of all.

In the process we will be better able to have more control over what we attract and develop more positive thoughts and feelings whereby focusing more on our dreams rather than our frustrations, during this period of heightened stressful global uncertainty and insecurity.

For the need to have a more optimistic world view is now.

Our journey continues…

2014: Raising The Bar: The Benefits Of Optimism

In view of the many prevailing and ongoing highly adverse circumstances affecting our sustainable growth process, whereby there is now the urgent need to have a still more optimistic view for the future of our Global Village, our focus today is on the “Benefits of Optimism”.

In so doing, we will be better able to increase our positive thoughts level, see the brighter side of life, reduce our stress level and not the least, enjoy health benefits, for the benefit of All.

Our journey continues…

2014: Raising The Bar: Homage To Our Elders

As it has been customary for over the past three decades, today we focus special attention on our elders, especially on what they have learned and what they continue to teach us, while we continue to learn new ways on how to survive in this old world...now considered as a “Global Village”.

Indeed the mysterious process of aging is not just the process of getting older but the presence of being elders in our family and in our community.

While the word Elder often denotes an end to the prime of life and the beginning of decline, being an Elder in the Spiritual Sense is truly an honour...something we could even look forward to as we follow in the footsteps of those before us.

Thus, in the discharge of our daily duties and responsibilities let us always give due recognition to both the caregivers and those receiving the benefits of care.

May we be Graced to age well, and be role models to those who come behind us, for the benefits of many generations to come.

The journey continues...

2014: Raising The Bar: Overcoming Your Fear Of Rejection

As part of our ongoing “Spiritual Value Series” our focus today is on the importance of overcoming our “Fear of Rejection” for Peace of Mind and long term Success.

This is being done with the full knowledge that during the course of our journey on Planet Earth, there will be always hundreds of door slammed in our faces before one opens, whereby there is always the need to take rejection Gracefully.

Indeed Rejection is simply a part of the risk of living whereby we can always learn more from it and equally from Failures than from Acceptance and Success itself.

Since accepting Rejection is a tremendous Personal and Professional Growth Process, the next time you are in this situation of utter rejection seek Wisdom and Guidance of the Higher Power on what you should be doing and on how you should be doing it.

Our journey continues...

2014: Raising The Bar: Spiritual Value Series: The Power of Acceptance

It will be recalled that in our last Episode much focus was placed on the how to “Overcome Our Fear of Rejection”.

Today much attention is being given to the “The Power of Acceptance”. In the process we will be able to further develop a better understanding that while there are certain things we can change in our life, there are things that we simply cannot change.

In so doing we will be better able to improve the way we live, feel and accept people, circumstances and situations that are way beyond our control, for much needed Inspiration and continued Inner Peace in 2015 and beyond without which life will be simply miserable.

And the time to continue enjoy this precious gift of the Higher Power is now!

Our journey continues.