“Who am I?”
Do you often ask that question? It’s a very basic question that we should ask ourselves. It speaks about our calling and identity. The answer guides us in what we should do, what the significance of our life is, what our calling is, and so on.
The program I attended recently, The Courage to Create by ECI asked this question in quite an early part of the discussion, the question of “Who am I?”
“I am a son of God, through Jesus Christ” It’s in my mind while trying to answer that question. Kelvin Sim (the Master Coach for the program) seems to disagree with such point of view as it more explains the perspective/identity given by environment outside us, such as religion, pastors, and friends.
To answer the question, Kelvin brought us instead to look into our past memories. In that journey, I found the things that made me into who I am today, memories that shaped me, both joyful and hurting moments. He taught us to deal with it instead of ignoring and suppressing it. It’s the way to find who we are.
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You guys may think where I have been the past weekend. I’ve been participating in a three-day intensive seminar called The Courage to Create, organized by ECI (Executive Coach International). A place where we are being developed to create our destiny. A program where we can clear our emotional clutters and work in our goals and dreams.
The preparation
One coach is assigned to each of us before the 3 days intensive program. I met my coach Tan Xing Jian, 2 weeks before the event. His role is more about preparing me to go into the program. He also pushed me to do my homework (which is very important in ECI). If you are curious about the homework, it’s much more about our observation on the life we have right now. It’s about the questions we often ask ourselves, the behaviors we keep on doing. And the most important of all are the 25 memories we have on events in the past.
The program
The 3 days program is very intensive. It was quite far from the place where I stayed and I had to stay overnight in the area. They started at 9am, the first two days ended around 2am, and the last day lasted about 7am in the morning. I’m even surprised that I survived the 22 hours non-stop (except a little break here and there).
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Blogging made me better with written words; but how about spoken words or public speaking?
I experienced that quite some time ago, even before I took my break and my holiday. That night I had church small group gathering and I was not in the mood of attending. It is the men’s fellowship where most of them are fathers in their 40s and 50s, while I’m the only one in the 20s. Because of earlier commitment, I came. As I was so tired, I planned to be just quiet in the meeting. I was planning to observe and not to talk too much.
Fortunately, I changed my mind. I was thinking to myself, “I’m so tired and wanted to be alone, but usually I can write and blog when I am tired. So… why didn’t I speak as I blog?” That moment, it changed my attitude. I visualize myself blogging while speaking, and eventually, came to my surprise, I managed to share a lot of thoughts that night. I enjoyed the event and I’m leaving the event not so tired anymore.
Now it’s my turn to share the lesson to you; how you can use your experience in blogging while speaking in public.
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Should you write more or less?
I would like to thank Rummy, this message is all started by what he commented in Jean’s post on Writers’ Blockhead. I am encouraged by what he said on how my posts have made some impacts. It’s not to boast about it as he also pointed his disappointment seeing how I wrote less these days.
I am honored by his expectation. I would love to write more and I’m looking forward to. But sometimes I have to sacrifice writing for some more important thing. I can just write more and more but I might be starving. And I may need to eat more…
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Do you dare to make your life an open source project?
Imagine your life is an open source project… Let’s say a Wordpress project!
People will be able to download it from internet, check out your PHP source codes, modifying it with all sorts of plugins and themes, and making it a custom-made blog for them.
Do you dare to make your life the same way?
It’s an idea raised by my friend, Ferry, a.k.a The Lazy Koala. He is a smart guy with whom I shared much of my life stories during university days, and even many times after. He is a smart guy, a scholar in IT and software engineering field, an expert in developing open source project.
I was sharing how I lose faith in blogging and he was suggesting that it might be good if I practice doing it before writing it. Sharing it as I’m doing it, sharing it as if my life is an open source project (just like Wordpress), open for others to review and contribute.
If you haven’t got an idea of what open source project is, check out the following definition from the home of open source project initiatives…
Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.
~Open Source Initiatives (www.opensource.org)
Now imagine a life similar to an open source project. It might also gives you greater rewards just as explained. But peer review and transparency? Mmm… that might be painful. Let’s take a look of what it takes for an open source project called LIFE.
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Do you enjoy your success journey?
As promised, Reason-4-Smile got a new theme. The new tagline is “Happiness in Success Journey”. It’s pretty much inspired by Joyce Meyer with her program, Enjoying Everyday Lives. I wanted to do the same thing, or I should say the mini version with this blog: sharing and encouraging you to be happy and to enjoy your journey towards your dream.
As you can see, there are quite a number of changes that I have made with this blog. The new theme is taken from Wordpress Fun by Smashing Magazine. I find that the theme is quite fresh and fun, instead of melancholic and rigid as in my previous theme. You will see more updates coming in, but for now, let’s keep it simple and sweet. Hopefully it will make it easier for you to navigate through my blog as well.
The success journey
When you travel towards your objective, be sure to pay attention to the path.
~Paulo Coelho
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Big question, little book, answer within. That’s the subtitle of the book. It’s really a little book, not very thick, not even 100 pages. It’s a simple book but I enjoy reading it. The message is straight forward, clear and encouraging. That is to just become who you are.
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I don’t have any problems relating to people. Really. It’s true. I don’t ever get irritated or upset with anyone: as long as I’m alone. It’s amazing just how easy life is when I’m alone and isolated. The worst in me can lie dormant for years as long as there’s no one around to awaken the sleeping giants inside of me.
Weekly Battle Plan @ EveryMansBattle.com
The sleeping giant inside me is awakened. At least it is one lesson that I can bring back from my holiday with my parents and relatives.
The quote above came true during my holiday. Being single and living alone overseas, away from my parents and family, it’s a “privilege” for me to manage my own pace and activity. On the other hand, family holiday offered me a different experience, a journey with others is always slower and more demanding, partly caused by conflict of interest and misunderstanding.
No matter how much you think you have grown, it doesn’t matter unless you relate with people.
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Do you enjoy Reason-4-Smile?
I have blogged regularly for 9 months and it was both fun and challenging. I have learned a lot of things from both what I read and write in blogosphere. I really appreciate all the support from all my faithful readers, and I wanted to share a few updates with Reason-4-Smile and I.
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She is old, in fact, she is very old. She is my grandmother and she is in quite of a critical illness right now. She was brought from my home-country Indonesia to Singapore, supposedly for an operation. Unfortunately, what the doctors in Indonesia did made her not at the suitable condition to get the operation done. We are waiting for the doctor’s decision right now.
A senile giver
She has been here in Singapore for a few days. I have visited her several times and my last visit put me into great admiration for her. Despite her senile and sedentary life, her love to her grandchildren really shines through.
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Hello and welcome! I am Robert, sharing with you articles in personal management and personal development. Check out the 
