Category: energy

A Purposeful 2026: A Reflective Exercise

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn 2026, belief, energy, engagement., EQ, family, happiness, hope, Leadership, Life, new-year, Personal Excellence, purpose, Purpose Quest, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, Spiritual, success, ValuesLeave a comment

As we welcome 2026, many of us feel the familiar mix of gratitude, exhaustion, and anticipation. The year has given us moments we are proud of, and moments that remind us how imperfect, human and evolving we are. Before we rush into 2026, this is a valuable moment to pause, to breathe, and to reflect on how purposefully we lived in 2025.

Over the years, through the Purposeful Leadership series, I have written about the importance of aligning who we are, how the quality of our leadership begins with the quality of our inner world and how we lead. As I look back on 2025, I am reminded again that purposefulness is not a grand concept; it is a daily practice.

A simple way to explore your own experience of purposeful leadership is through three lenses: purposeful self, purposeful team, and purposeful organisation.

Continue reading “A Purposeful 2026: A Reflective Exercise” →

The Complexities of Purposeful Self-Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 5)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, engagement., EQ, happiness, Leadership, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, purpose, purposeful leadership, PurposefulnessLeave a comment
The image depicts the complexities encountered when attempting to enact purposeful self-leadership
Illuminating Purpose Amidst Complexity

In the last post, we explored how to develop purposeful self-leadership by articulating a purpose statement and taking small, meaningful steps to live in alignment with it. While this process is deeply enriching, it is not without its challenges. In this post, we explore the complexities of attempting to enact purposeful self-leadership in our lives (De Silva, 2024).

Understanding the Notion of Self-Leadership

The idea of self-leadership is inspiring. It suggests that we can take charge of our lives, lead ourselves with clarity and conviction, and live in alignment with our purpose. However, understanding this notion deeply can be complex. Many mix purpose with goals when in fact it is not. A goal becomes more meaningful when it is based on a purpose. It requires us to accept responsibility for our thoughts, emotions, and actions—something that can feel both empowering and intimidating. The concept may seem abstract or idealistic, especially when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.

Continue reading “The Complexities of Purposeful Self-Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 5)” →

Developing Purposeful Self-Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 4)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Ecology, energy, Environment, EQ, family, happiness, Health Care, hope, Leadership, Life, Personal Excellence, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, Spiritual, Struggles, success, ValuesLeave a comment

We explored the notion of Purposeful Self-leadership in the last post, part 3 of this series titled ‘Start with the Self’. Today we explore how to develop Purposeful Self-Leadership and in the next post, we can explore the complexities of such an aspiration. In the first two articles of this series, we explored the two key concepts of purposeful leadership: purposefulness and leadership, and the three branches of purposeful leadership: self, people, and organisations.

Developing Purposeful Self-Leadership starts with articulating a purpose statement depicting our sense of purpose at the current stage of life. The first version of the purpose statement is only a glimpse of our purpose as finding purpose is a lifelong journey. However, having a sense of purpose begins the quest and gives us the drive and desire to be purposeful. Being purposeful improves our clarity about our life purposes and helps us fine-tune our purpose statement, leading to us being more purposeful. This cyclical process not only improves our sense of purpose and purposefulness but also attracts abundance to succeed in vocations aligned with our life purpose, gives us happiness and peace of mind (De Silva, 2024).

Continue reading “Developing Purposeful Self-Leadership (Purposeful Leadership – Part 4)” →

Start with the Self (Purposeful Leadership – Part 3)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Compassion, energy, happiness, hope, Leadership, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, purpose, purposeful leadership, Purposefulness, Relationships, Spiritual, Values1 Comment

Purposeful leadership starts with the purposefulness of the individual holding the leadership role. How can a purposeless individual help people and organisations to be purposeful? I am not claiming that all leaders are purposeful self-leaders. Many are not, and as a result, the people and businesses are not purposeful. In this article, we explore the notion of purposeful self-leadership. Given the need to keep these articles short, we will explore how to develop purposeful self-leadership and the complexities of such an aspiration in subsequent articles. In the first two articles of this series, we explored the two keywords of the concept of purposeful leadership: purposefulness and leadership and the three branches of purposeful leadership: self, people and organisations.

A useful question to ask at the outset is what is purposefulness and how do we know we are purposeful?

Continue reading “Start with the Self (Purposeful Leadership – Part 3)” →

Decluttering My Life this Pandemic

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, Environment, family, happiness, Life, Love, psychology, purpose, ReleasingLeave a comment
My Decluttered Home Work Space

Many things have been written about the impact of the pandemic, positive and negative. I have reflected on the pandemic from various view points in my blog posts over the past 10 months. I choose to share one aspect of the pandemic, decluttering my life.

I had developed the habit of filling all documents such as bank statements, a habit I learnt from my father. This was way before personal computers entered our life. Once computers arrived I was used to storing all files I created and received as well as emails that I thought would be required I the future. This habit started when I started working in 1982 and has been going on for the past 38 years.

Continue reading “Decluttering My Life this Pandemic” →

Your Children Are Not Your Children

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Compassion, energy, family, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Soul Nourishing Poems, Spiritual, Struggles, ValuesLeave a comment

When I first read these lines in the ‘Road Less Travelled’ by M.Scott Peck, quoted from the original writings of Khalil Gibran, I was confused. What are you saying? My children are my children, I gave birth to them and I did what it takes to grow them in to purposeful adults. However, after listening to it and reflecting on it, I realised how profound these words were. I have created a video with these words of wisdom as you see embedded in this blog. I recommend you watch and listen to the words in the video, reflect on it and then read the rest of the blog.

I believe the impact this video creates is different from person to person. I also believe the impact this video creates for you is determined by the journey of your life so far, where you are in your life now and your aspirations for the journey ahead. Therefore I feel the best contribution I can make is to write about what this poem means to me. Perhaps that might give you another perspective for you to reflect on, perhaps nourish your perspective and move you on to further reflection.

Let me reflect on the verse in two parts;

Continue reading “Your Children Are Not Your Children” →

Being The Person You Are Destined To Be

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, energy, engagement., happiness, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Personal Excellence, purpose, Relationships, success, Team Excellence1 Comment

Six questions you need to ask yourself to be the person you are destined to be – A presentation by Marshall Goldsmith.

Engage in this sincere presentation by Marshall Goldsmith and reflect on the six powerful questions he is prescribing. You may at-least start thinking in a manner that leads you to discover who you are meant to be. Enjoy the journey.

The following process can be used to create a learning experience for your team using this video.

Continue reading “Being The Person You Are Destined To Be” →

Rays of Enlightenment

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Ecology, energy, Environment, happiness, hope, learning, Life, Personal Excellence, Pictures that Speaks, psychology, purpose, success, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

A photo taken at a rain forest in Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka.

This is a photo taken during a nature walk with my team. I remember sitting down on this bench to take in the energy of the beautiful rain forest. As I reflected I felt the paradox of the place; the sounds of nature and the voices of people, the trees and the cement bench, the forest and the road, the cool wind and the warm sun rays. One of my colleagues had taken this photo at that time and I was fascinated with the rays of sunlight coming towards me, as if the universe was sending me rays of enlightenment.

The Courage To Fail – Path to Success

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Communications, energy, engagement., hope, Inspirational Speechs, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, success, ValuesLeave a comment

A Thought Provoking Talk by Les Brown

As you watch this video, reflect on your attitude towards failure, rejection and setbacks etc. What steps would you take to reinforce your attitude or change your attitude to enjoy success?

Purposefulness in Team Members – Can It Be Developed?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, energy, engagement., happiness, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Personal Excellence, Relationships, Sales, service, success, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Developing Purposefulness in Team Members – My presentation at the Asian & African Retail Congress in Mumbai India,

A presentation made to leaders in the retail industry at the Asia & Africa Retail Shopping Center Congress. Practical application of leadership and personal develop ent methods delivered with powerful concepts and personal experiences.

As you watch this video, reflect on steps you are taking and further steps you can take to develop purposeful team members in Your organisation.

The following process can be used to create a learning experience for your team using this video.

Step 1 – A moderator (an expert from your company) to open the session, explaining the importance of the session.

Step 2 – Show the video – let participants absorb, take notes and write down questions to ask later

Step 3 – Have a Q&A session and a discussion

Step 4 – Agree on actions to be taken based on the video

Step 5 – Participants to say how the session was useful.

Emotions that Motivate you

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Communications, energy, engagement., hope, Inspirational Speechs, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, success, ValuesLeave a comment

A Power Packed Talk by Tony Robins

As you watch this video, reflect on your motivation (motive to take action). How does emotion (energy in motion) creates that motivation from within that helps us make a difference?

How To Create Delightful Self-Sustaining Service

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, energy, engagement., happiness, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Personal Excellence, Relationships, Sales, service, success, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Ron Kaufman discusses his New York Times bestselling book Uplifting Service,

A proven path to delighting your customers, colleagues, and everyone else you meet. The book exposes a massive wound in a subject area that has become buried in weak distinctions, inadequate practices, and popular but shallow clichés. Ron explains the 5 key elements to build a self-sustaining service culture that can uplift an individuals, transform an organization, and ultimately change the world.

As you watch this video, reflect on steps you can take to engage the fickle minds of your children, team members and yourself.

The following process can be used to create a learning experience for your team using this video.

Step 1 – A moderator (an expert from your company) to open the session, explaining the importance of the session.

Step 2 – Show the video – let participants absorb, take notes and write down questions to ask later

Step 3 – Have a Q&A session and a discussion

Step 4 – Agree on actions to be taken based on the video

Step 5 – Participants to say how the session was useful.

Can The Fickle Mind Be Engaged?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, engagement., EQ, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Personal Excellence, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Engaging the Fickle Mind

A post-lunch keynote by Ranjan De Silva that kept an audience of almost a 1000 professionals entertain, energised and engaged at the National HR Conference of Sri Lanka, organised by the Institute of personal management (IPM). A real life testimony of how to engage the Fickle Mind.

As you watch this video, reflect on steps you can take to engage the fickle minds of your children, team members and yourself.

The following process can be used to create a learning experience for your team using this video.

Step 1 – A moderator (an expert from your company) to open the session, explaining the importance of the session.

Step 2 – Show the video – let participants absorb, take notes and write down questions to ask later

Step 3 – Have a Q&A session and a discussion

Step 4 – Agree on actions to be taken based on the video

Step 5 – Participants to say how the session was useful.

Something Inside So Strong – To Make You Rise Above the Odds …

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, purpose, Songs for Growth, Spiritual, Struggles, success, ValuesLeave a comment

Something Inside So Strong – Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Choir

As you listen to this powerful song, let the strength inside you awaken and fight against the odds so that your bright light will blind the darkness.

Lyrics

The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The further you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can deny me, you can decide
To turn your face away
No matter ’cause there’sSomething inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone, oh no
There’s something inside so strong
Oh, something inside so strongThe more you refuse to hear my voice (ooh-weh ooh-weh ooh-weh ooh-weh)
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho (ooh-weh ooh-weh ooh-weh ooh-weh)
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time, you squander wealth that’s mine
My light will shine so brightly it will blind you
Because there’sSomething inside so strong, strong
I know that I can make it
Though…

Wake Up and Convert Dreams in to Reality

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, energy, happiness, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, Soul Nourishing Poems, ValuesLeave a comment

Wake Up – A Poem by Jesse Oliver

As you listen to this powerful poem, let the words touch you deep inside so that you can wake up and turn your dreams in to reality. Reflect on the good thoughts you dream of, that goes to sleep when you wake up. Think of a baby step to take for you to live those dreams.

Joyous Humility

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, happiness, hope, Leadership, Personal Excellence, Pictures that Speaks, Sri Lanka, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Mental Toughness for the Sri Lankan Cricket Team

This is a moment of Joy and Humility. The humility of being trusted to spend 3-days with the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in 2003 in helping them in developing mental strength. The joy of learning from this amazing team while been entrusted to share some essential mental techniques with them. The joy of liberating and galvanising the energy, passion and confidence of this team that makes a cricket loving nation of 20 million proud.

Moments that Fuel You to Your Destiny – Your Freedom

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, happiness, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, purpose, Songs for Growth, StrugglesLeave a comment

One Moment in Time – Dana Winner

Think of one moment in time that you were more than you thought you could be. Reflect on it. Take in the feeling deep in to your heart and use it to create more such moments as you race with your destiny and find your real freedom.

Let Belief Fuel Your Success

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, hope, Life, Personal Excellence, Songs for Growth, successLeave a comment

Don’t Stop Believing – Glee

https://youtu.be/JseWhrUz9TY

Reflect on the times you stopped believing when challenges seemed unmanageable or you felt you did not have the strengths to deal with situations. Keep believing in yourself that you can be the best version of yourself as you listen to and watch this performance. Belief generates positive energy and attract abundance. The reverse is also true. Take baby steps to make a difference and enjoy the journey to greatness.

Time We Must Unite – To Heal the World

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, energy, happiness, hope, Life, purpose, Songs for Growth, SpiritualLeave a comment

As you watch and listen to this authentic, passionate, and united performance, reflect on the baby steps you can take to create unity in your little world to heal this planet of not only the medical disease.

Dealing With Negative Energy in Motion (e-motion)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn energy, EQ, Purpose Quest2 Comments

We can make sense of emotions as e-motions or energy in motion. If the energy in motion in your being is positive it would create positive emotions and if the energy is negative, it creates negative emotions.

Image Credits: Livescience.com

Positive energy gets created with positive thoughts, memories, habits, actions, learnings, relationships, sounds, visions, soothing environments, fragrances and tastes etc. The reverse is also true.

When I realised that getting back home from Dhaka was going to be difficult, that my customers would postpone work assigned to me, having to be self-confined indoors to be safe from the virus and not been able to be with my family when they needed me created negative emotions.

In addition to the anxiety of not being in control of the unknown as well as physical comfort & safety, a part of these negative energy was generated when memories of the 2009 recession where I was struggling financially came back to my mind. Another part of these negative energy was generated when a negative habit of sleeping late and waking late, which I had eliminate some time ago returned. Thankfully I was equipped with tools of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to erase bad memories and giving up bad habits. Continue reading “Dealing With Negative Energy in Motion (e-motion)” →