We live in a paradise all our life long, without having the vision to see it or the wisdom to perceive it.
We get drown in our day to day narrow life paths. We do not take time to look at the beautiful things around, these exquisite flowers that grew by themselves on the border of the road, this beautiful sun so bright that we can not face it directly, this beautiful music we listen to without perceiving the notes, these charming creatures that surround us and that we take for granted.
Instead of concentrating on all the enchanting matters around, we let our thoughts lead us to the dark corridors of negativity and pessimism. We negate all the beauty God created and we get ourselves into a state of denial. We concentrate on the small black spots and with practice, we teach ourselves to take pleasure in doing so.
The truth is it's not easy to learn pessimism. It's even an elaborate complicated process. It involves a lot of thinking and processing, and instead of taking things as they are, turning them again and again in our spirit and reaching to conclusions that have minimal probability to happen, then taking these conclusions as starting points for other endings that based on these have acceptable chances of happening, and repeat the process over till we get to a dark spot where the probability to get is high, but how? Based on the conclusions of the conclusions of the conclusions of the tiny probability that we based ourselves upon in the first place.
How's that for a twisted process? While all it takes to go the other path is a nice song hymn in the morning or a 5 minute walk in the sun or a beautiful word to a neighbor? Why not try the easiest process from time to time? Why not learn to be happy when it's so easy?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Internet, a matter of performance!
More than a decade ago, the World Wide Web came into existence. At that time, it was curious and entertaining, and a little bit informative. It was a tool, that someone could avoid altogether without remaining aback.
Today, I don't think it's possible to anyone with good sense to stay away from the World Wide Web. It has become something indispensable, not for the social aspect, which is important in itself since it keeps people in contact in a seamless way, and not for the virtual world, which is entertaining but nothing else, but for the availability and richness of information that you get each and everyday at your fingertips.
Today, I cannot imagine myself for example not using google (or any other search tool) 10 times a day to look for almost anything, concerning my work or my leisure or my activities, which makes me wonder how people still negative to the technology and the web are performing?
Today, I don't think it's possible to anyone with good sense to stay away from the World Wide Web. It has become something indispensable, not for the social aspect, which is important in itself since it keeps people in contact in a seamless way, and not for the virtual world, which is entertaining but nothing else, but for the availability and richness of information that you get each and everyday at your fingertips.
Today, I cannot imagine myself for example not using google (or any other search tool) 10 times a day to look for almost anything, concerning my work or my leisure or my activities, which makes me wonder how people still negative to the technology and the web are performing?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A wonderful day!
Do you want to have a great day? Follow this advice:
For a day to begin on a positive note, and thus for you to put all chances on your side for having a good day, it must begin with a walk in the morning. Motion is essential. If you don't like walking, how about swimming? If swimming is not possible for you, try jumping, trampoline, anything as long as it involves motion, a lot of motion.
Motion sets you up, and boosts your emotions for the coming day, the effect could be even doubled if you listen to nice vigorous, energizing music while moving.
Next on the list is a nice cup of coffee. If you're against caffeine intake (even though caffeine is good for the heart on low doses), an orange juice can do the trick. The important thing is that you feed yourself with that extra energy boost.
Then it's time for goal setting or goal review. If you've never been into goal setting, now is the time to begin. This need not be a one in a year activity. It should become a daily routine. Each day before you do anything else, you should spend 5 minutes to fix your goals, according to your needs and wants. In my opinion, these change every day, even by a tiny portion, and if you take the habit to review your goals and objectives each and every day, you will set yourself for ultimate success because each day, you will know what needs to come next on your list, and what you need to do to stay on the track.
Next, you should translate your goals list into daily tasks. Things you have to do in order to eventually reach your goals. Reaching your goals could be immediate or it could be on the long term, but what you need to do here is divide your goals into daily actions.
Next, what you need to do is obvious: The actions related to your number one goal. Nothing less! If you work on a job that doesn't fit with your goals priority, change it so that it fits or change your job. If you think you cannot, then you need to change something in your head, not because there is something wrong with your head, but you need to change how your head is programmed.
OK? Your next activity would then be what's next on your actions list, and then what's next, and so forth.
At the end of the day, you will not only have passed a wonderful day, but you will have a wonderful night as well, with the feeling that you have done something worthy during your day, and in expectation of the wonderful day coming ahead.
For a day to begin on a positive note, and thus for you to put all chances on your side for having a good day, it must begin with a walk in the morning. Motion is essential. If you don't like walking, how about swimming? If swimming is not possible for you, try jumping, trampoline, anything as long as it involves motion, a lot of motion.
Motion sets you up, and boosts your emotions for the coming day, the effect could be even doubled if you listen to nice vigorous, energizing music while moving.
Next on the list is a nice cup of coffee. If you're against caffeine intake (even though caffeine is good for the heart on low doses), an orange juice can do the trick. The important thing is that you feed yourself with that extra energy boost.
Then it's time for goal setting or goal review. If you've never been into goal setting, now is the time to begin. This need not be a one in a year activity. It should become a daily routine. Each day before you do anything else, you should spend 5 minutes to fix your goals, according to your needs and wants. In my opinion, these change every day, even by a tiny portion, and if you take the habit to review your goals and objectives each and every day, you will set yourself for ultimate success because each day, you will know what needs to come next on your list, and what you need to do to stay on the track.
Next, you should translate your goals list into daily tasks. Things you have to do in order to eventually reach your goals. Reaching your goals could be immediate or it could be on the long term, but what you need to do here is divide your goals into daily actions.
Next, what you need to do is obvious: The actions related to your number one goal. Nothing less! If you work on a job that doesn't fit with your goals priority, change it so that it fits or change your job. If you think you cannot, then you need to change something in your head, not because there is something wrong with your head, but you need to change how your head is programmed.
OK? Your next activity would then be what's next on your actions list, and then what's next, and so forth.
At the end of the day, you will not only have passed a wonderful day, but you will have a wonderful night as well, with the feeling that you have done something worthy during your day, and in expectation of the wonderful day coming ahead.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Positive Thinking and success
Do you believe in positive thinking? Well for it having an effect on your mind and spirit for the short term, absolutely. It does have an effect, but the problem with positive thinking is that it gets you to sit and dream, to mask realities and substitute your dreams to the reality.
For instance, I can feel positive about myself, the work I have done, the education I have undertaken, and this will make me feel good, and feeling good can either lead me to do something good out of self-confidence, or to sit and relax and do nothing :) Still, if I do not get my feet on the ground and evaluate myself, work and education pragmatically, I may become as fat as a pig, I may lose my job, and I can end up broke or jobless. This doesn't mean that I should be negative either. I neither need to be positive nor negative, I can be just normal thinking and outcome and action driven... This in my opinion what can lead to success, and not positive thinking. And when I say action, I mean motion, trial and error, because I believe in making mistakes and correcting them. I even believe that learning = 0 if one makes no mistakes.
There is no such thing as having a skill or knowing something without making mistakes and learning from these, and obviously our education (school and family) puts us in the wrong direction when it comes to making mistakes. We grow up and we become adults while developing the feeling that mistakes are wrong, that we should avoid them at all costs, and thus we grow up unable to take risks, unable to do anything, immobilized by our fears, and waiting at anytime for failure to show its head. Positive thinking while it can deliver us from this fear feeling, cannot by itself lead us to make change, to take action or to be outcome driven, we need other tools for that.
For one of these tools, check the Ultimate Success Formula, it's amazing!
For instance, I can feel positive about myself, the work I have done, the education I have undertaken, and this will make me feel good, and feeling good can either lead me to do something good out of self-confidence, or to sit and relax and do nothing :) Still, if I do not get my feet on the ground and evaluate myself, work and education pragmatically, I may become as fat as a pig, I may lose my job, and I can end up broke or jobless. This doesn't mean that I should be negative either. I neither need to be positive nor negative, I can be just normal thinking and outcome and action driven... This in my opinion what can lead to success, and not positive thinking. And when I say action, I mean motion, trial and error, because I believe in making mistakes and correcting them. I even believe that learning = 0 if one makes no mistakes.
There is no such thing as having a skill or knowing something without making mistakes and learning from these, and obviously our education (school and family) puts us in the wrong direction when it comes to making mistakes. We grow up and we become adults while developing the feeling that mistakes are wrong, that we should avoid them at all costs, and thus we grow up unable to take risks, unable to do anything, immobilized by our fears, and waiting at anytime for failure to show its head. Positive thinking while it can deliver us from this fear feeling, cannot by itself lead us to make change, to take action or to be outcome driven, we need other tools for that.
For one of these tools, check the Ultimate Success Formula, it's amazing!
Los jovenes de la edad de la informacion
Vivimos hoy en el mundo de la informacion. La informacion hoy es disponible facilmente, no cuesta mucho (sino nada) y viene en formas multiples, de manera que uno solo tiene que decidir que quiere adquirir cierta informacion, y ya. Tiempos atras, las cosas no eran tan faciles... Cuando estaba yo en la universidad por ejemplo, buscabamos a la informacion en los libros que estaban carisimos, y en las enciclopedias que no eran al alcanze de todos.
Y a pesar de todo, los jovenes de hoy en la universidad y la escuela no hacen el minimo esfuerzo para buscar la informacion. Desde hace 6 anos que enseno en la universidad, los estudiantes estan cada vez mas perezosos, cada ano menos educados, y cada vez mas ausentes durante los cursos. Avanzan el pretexto que la informacion es disponible y al alcanze y que pueden adquirirla cuando quieren, pero no suelen levantar la mano o hacer el mas minimo esfuerzo para hacerlo, o asi parece.
Aun mas, es cierto que la informacion es facil de adquirir, pero cuando un profesor como yo (modestia puesta a parte) con mas de 15 anos de experiencia, viene a dar un curso, es porque tiene ciertas cosas que decir o dar, que no existen en otra parte, porque si la informacion existe y es disponible, la experiencia no lo es. Cuando un profesor como yo intenta dar a esos alumnos un tanto de su saber, los alumnos tienen que ponerse listos y estar atentos al 100 por ciento porque esa informacion no es del dominio publico, y puede ahorrarles horas y horas de errores y de problemas.
Me pregunto hoy, dos horas despues de haber terminado de dar a mi curso, a donde van las cosas, y que credibilidad van a tener los alumnos de hoy en el mundo del trabajo y da las empresas, viendo lo poco atentos que estan en clase, y la poca importancia que dan a los esfuerzos de sus padres que trabajan dia y noche para proveerles educacion y informacion. Es una verdadera pena!
Y a pesar de todo, los jovenes de hoy en la universidad y la escuela no hacen el minimo esfuerzo para buscar la informacion. Desde hace 6 anos que enseno en la universidad, los estudiantes estan cada vez mas perezosos, cada ano menos educados, y cada vez mas ausentes durante los cursos. Avanzan el pretexto que la informacion es disponible y al alcanze y que pueden adquirirla cuando quieren, pero no suelen levantar la mano o hacer el mas minimo esfuerzo para hacerlo, o asi parece.
Aun mas, es cierto que la informacion es facil de adquirir, pero cuando un profesor como yo (modestia puesta a parte) con mas de 15 anos de experiencia, viene a dar un curso, es porque tiene ciertas cosas que decir o dar, que no existen en otra parte, porque si la informacion existe y es disponible, la experiencia no lo es. Cuando un profesor como yo intenta dar a esos alumnos un tanto de su saber, los alumnos tienen que ponerse listos y estar atentos al 100 por ciento porque esa informacion no es del dominio publico, y puede ahorrarles horas y horas de errores y de problemas.
Me pregunto hoy, dos horas despues de haber terminado de dar a mi curso, a donde van las cosas, y que credibilidad van a tener los alumnos de hoy en el mundo del trabajo y da las empresas, viendo lo poco atentos que estan en clase, y la poca importancia que dan a los esfuerzos de sus padres que trabajan dia y noche para proveerles educacion y informacion. Es una verdadera pena!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Soif de verdure!
Les gens qui aiment Beyrouth sont nombreux. Les gens qui habitent Beyrouth sont également nombreux. Les uns et les autres sont unanimes. Ce qui manque à Beyrouth, c'est l'espace vert.
Vue d'en haut ou vue d'en bas, la capitale du Liban n'a que 0.5% d'espaces verts publics répartis sur 49 parcs, dont le Horch de Beyrouth (photo ci-haut). Personnellement, j'en connais 4 ou 5 pour m'y être promené à différentes époques de ma vie, et ils restent très agréables malgré leur taille réduite, leur entretien qui laisse à désirer, et le peu de verdure qu'ils offrent.
Et si on sort de Beyrouth, ce n'est pas non plus le paradis. Loin de là! Certes on trouve plus d'espace, il y a plus de verdure, mais des parcs publics, les municipalités n'en comprennent pas l'intérêt.
Pour revenir à Beyrouth, on ne peut qu'applaudir et attendre avec impatience les projets de verdure annoncés qu'ils soient encore sur papier ou dans l'imagination de certaines personnes. Que ce soient les 72,000 mètres carrés de jardins publics annoncés par Solidere près de la côte, ou les autres 23,000 mètres carrés de jardin du pardon annoncés par la même compagnie. Il faut dire que la compagnie a acquis une grande partie du centre-ville de Beyrouth selon des méthodes qualifiées parfois de non catholiques, alors la moindre des choses serait d'en faire bon usage au profit des Beyrouthins.
Autre projet intéressant, et sur un plan plus large sortant du cadre de Beyrouth, celui annoncé par le parti vert d'exploiter 8.5 kilomètres longeant le fleuve d'ordures de Beyrouth pour en faire un espace vert public.
Espérons enfin que dans l'avenir au lieu de se battre pour une position dans la municipalité sur base politique, les aspirants aux titres nous présentent un plan de reforestration du pauvre Liban qui tourne aujourd'hui du marron clair au noir aride.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
TV v/s Silence - Moi je préfère le second
Et si elle arrêtait de débiter ses idioties, la Mireille Mazraani sur la MTV? Ou mieux si on arrêtait cette émission à la con?
M'énervent tous avec ces blagues que je connais depuis mon enfance! Et ce qui m'énerve plus, c'est le rire idiot de la Mireille, à la culture tellement sous-développée que ça rend le spectacle plus écoeurant que comique. Comment se fait-il encore de nos jours que des gens pareils aient le culot de se montrer à la télé, bikell 3ein bal'a comme on dit... à Achrafieh!
Une demi heure déjà de ces insanités que ma femme semble aprécier particulièrement, et qui ont le don de m'irriter. Et si j'éteignais la télé d'un coup? Je vais essayer un peu pour voir ce que ça va donner?
Et hop, j'ai éteint... Silence... 1 2 3 elle n'a rien dit... Wallah wallah ma femme elle connait. Enfin... Khayyyyyy le silence! Au diable la télé, si seulement je pouvais m'en débarasser une fois pour toutes!
M'énervent tous avec ces blagues que je connais depuis mon enfance! Et ce qui m'énerve plus, c'est le rire idiot de la Mireille, à la culture tellement sous-développée que ça rend le spectacle plus écoeurant que comique. Comment se fait-il encore de nos jours que des gens pareils aient le culot de se montrer à la télé, bikell 3ein bal'a comme on dit... à Achrafieh!
Une demi heure déjà de ces insanités que ma femme semble aprécier particulièrement, et qui ont le don de m'irriter. Et si j'éteignais la télé d'un coup? Je vais essayer un peu pour voir ce que ça va donner?
Et hop, j'ai éteint... Silence... 1 2 3 elle n'a rien dit... Wallah wallah ma femme elle connait. Enfin... Khayyyyyy le silence! Au diable la télé, si seulement je pouvais m'en débarasser une fois pour toutes!
Attitude and where it can lead!
If you watch a successful guy, you can undeniably see his success through his attitude, right? But do you think that his attitude is dictated by his success? Think about it before you answer.
On the other hand, watch an unsuccessful guy, and also check that his attitude is congruent with his lack of success. Same question: Do you think that due to his lack of success, he has developed this kind of attitude?
Well, the truth is that things work the other way. It's a person's attitude that dictates his results in life Shut your mouth - End of the story!
Actually, this is not to say that attitude cannot be influenced by what happens to someone (whether it is success or failure), but in turn IT WILL INFLUENCE WHAT WILL COME LATER, so the best thing for someone who wants to take charge and control his future is to take hold of his attitude and work and model it so that it only gives him better results.
Yes my friend, you should take care of your attitude, and yes this includes the tiny little things, and the small little 'foolish' habits that you have acquired over time, like if you smile or not, like if you stand upright with your head up or with shallow shoulders and evasive look.
If you don't believe me, try something now, NOW...
Stand up with your head up, a nice confident look in your eyes, your shoulders back and breathe deeply, done? Ok put a silly smile on your face, and make the following sound with your lips "Tchuk Tchuk Tchuk".
Now try and feel depressed or sad. Can you?
Of course you can't, unless you change one of the elements above, that I told you to do, right?
Now that you understand the power of Attitude, you can model your attitude to do whatever you can think of, instead of playing the victim role. Go and do the right thing, and give me your feedback.
On the other hand, watch an unsuccessful guy, and also check that his attitude is congruent with his lack of success. Same question: Do you think that due to his lack of success, he has developed this kind of attitude?
Well, the truth is that things work the other way. It's a person's attitude that dictates his results in life Shut your mouth - End of the story!
Actually, this is not to say that attitude cannot be influenced by what happens to someone (whether it is success or failure), but in turn IT WILL INFLUENCE WHAT WILL COME LATER, so the best thing for someone who wants to take charge and control his future is to take hold of his attitude and work and model it so that it only gives him better results.
Yes my friend, you should take care of your attitude, and yes this includes the tiny little things, and the small little 'foolish' habits that you have acquired over time, like if you smile or not, like if you stand upright with your head up or with shallow shoulders and evasive look.
If you don't believe me, try something now, NOW...
Stand up with your head up, a nice confident look in your eyes, your shoulders back and breathe deeply, done? Ok put a silly smile on your face, and make the following sound with your lips "Tchuk Tchuk Tchuk".
Now try and feel depressed or sad. Can you?
Of course you can't, unless you change one of the elements above, that I told you to do, right?
Now that you understand the power of Attitude, you can model your attitude to do whatever you can think of, instead of playing the victim role. Go and do the right thing, and give me your feedback.
People who think they are intelligent?
I hate people who make themselves intelligent!!! Does this sentence mean anything?
Well it doesn't as it is written, but if you translate it to arabic, you will understand what I mean.
People can either be intelligent or not! They cannot look intelligent if they are not, no matter what they try. So what do you think happens when people try to make themselves intelligent, especially when they are neither intelligent nor the least logical???
Whatever the subject, they begin giving you stupid arguments that even my kid of 4 years would frown at for their lack of congruence. And then they give you a pitiful smile (the worst experience is when they have some black teeth).
So what should we do when we have in front of us such a specimen? Should we move away? Should we try to make them intelligent by talking to them? My choice is usually to let go, but it's not always easy!
Well it doesn't as it is written, but if you translate it to arabic, you will understand what I mean.
People can either be intelligent or not! They cannot look intelligent if they are not, no matter what they try. So what do you think happens when people try to make themselves intelligent, especially when they are neither intelligent nor the least logical???
Whatever the subject, they begin giving you stupid arguments that even my kid of 4 years would frown at for their lack of congruence. And then they give you a pitiful smile (the worst experience is when they have some black teeth).
So what should we do when we have in front of us such a specimen? Should we move away? Should we try to make them intelligent by talking to them? My choice is usually to let go, but it's not always easy!
The Ultimate Success Formula
Very simple to define and use, try it, you won't regret it:
1 - Know your outcome (What you want and why?)
2 - Take Massive Action
3 - If your actions are not leading you towards what you want, take corrective measures
AND REPEAT...
The question that can arise is how far you should go in your actions and corrective measures before reaching your outcome and before renouncing?
Well the answer is "as long as it takes", which means you should never stop UNTIL you reach your outcome.
The Power Analogy that can be made here is the following: When your kids are learning how to walk, how far should they keep trying before renouncing? The good sense answer is "As long as it takes", and the same should hold true for your outcomes.
So my invitation to you today is the following: Take courage, apply the Ultimate Success Formula, and when you begin reaching your goals, drop me a line, I will feel happy for you!
1 - Know your outcome (What you want and why?)
2 - Take Massive Action
3 - If your actions are not leading you towards what you want, take corrective measures
AND REPEAT...
The question that can arise is how far you should go in your actions and corrective measures before reaching your outcome and before renouncing?
Well the answer is "as long as it takes", which means you should never stop UNTIL you reach your outcome.
The Power Analogy that can be made here is the following: When your kids are learning how to walk, how far should they keep trying before renouncing? The good sense answer is "As long as it takes", and the same should hold true for your outcomes.
So my invitation to you today is the following: Take courage, apply the Ultimate Success Formula, and when you begin reaching your goals, drop me a line, I will feel happy for you!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Where being Good is not enough anymore
- Reason says "If you do a good job, you will have a good result"
- Practice says "If you do a good job, you will have a poor result" ;)
Unfair, yes, but this is the truth...
How many times you hear the following expressions
I've been a good husband, how come my wife left me?
I've been a good parent, how come my child is on cocaine, or let's say my child is so bad?
Well, the truth is Good is not Good Enough
This is not pessimistic, this is just a look at how things turn out in real life.
You will ask "What about a poor job?"
Well, a poor job won't lead to a poor result, it will lead to hell... It will lead to you getting out. NOW...
What about "An Excellent Job"! Well here, you're beginning to climb the stairs... Yesss, if you do an excellent Job, you will get a GOOD Result.
That's it? you say
I understand you, again you feel it's unfair. But again, I repeat, who said the world was fair??? The world is not made for average people, it's not made for good people, it's not even made for excellent people. This is the truth of the matter. All these live, at various levels, but where do the rewards go? you may ask? Well, believe it or not, everything remaining (that is often more than 80% of what there is) goes to the outstanding people. These aren't actually any better than the excellent, they only have a tiny difference as a matter of fact, this being in their mindset.
So, my friend, I invite you today to disregard all your past experiences, and start from scratch. Do not look at doing a good job, this is not in your standards. Think Big, and look for excellence, and once you're there, do one step more every time, and then you will live the difference you were meant to live in the first place, the difference God meant for you, and only you.
- Practice says "If you do a good job, you will have a poor result" ;)
Unfair, yes, but this is the truth...
How many times you hear the following expressions
I've been a good husband, how come my wife left me?
I've been a good parent, how come my child is on cocaine, or let's say my child is so bad?
Well, the truth is Good is not Good Enough
This is not pessimistic, this is just a look at how things turn out in real life.
You will ask "What about a poor job?"
Well, a poor job won't lead to a poor result, it will lead to hell... It will lead to you getting out. NOW...
What about "An Excellent Job"! Well here, you're beginning to climb the stairs... Yesss, if you do an excellent Job, you will get a GOOD Result.
That's it? you say
I understand you, again you feel it's unfair. But again, I repeat, who said the world was fair??? The world is not made for average people, it's not made for good people, it's not even made for excellent people. This is the truth of the matter. All these live, at various levels, but where do the rewards go? you may ask? Well, believe it or not, everything remaining (that is often more than 80% of what there is) goes to the outstanding people. These aren't actually any better than the excellent, they only have a tiny difference as a matter of fact, this being in their mindset.
So, my friend, I invite you today to disregard all your past experiences, and start from scratch. Do not look at doing a good job, this is not in your standards. Think Big, and look for excellence, and once you're there, do one step more every time, and then you will live the difference you were meant to live in the first place, the difference God meant for you, and only you.
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