Category: psychology

Herd Immunity of a Different Kind

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Environment, happiness, Health Care, hope, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Spiritual, World affairsLeave a comment
Image Credits: Elegentthemes.com

While trying to avoid any infections of the vulnerable is our responsibility, it is important that we do it in the most holistic and helpful manner.

Taking precautions to prevent being a conduit in spreading the virus based on social distancing and hygiene guidelines is important. This can be augmented by strengthening our immune system. Good quality and timely sleep, exercises, fresh air, nutrition and being stress free is important to keep a strong immune system.

Continue reading “Herd Immunity of a Different Kind” →

Slowing Down – Living life (a poem by Ranjan)

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Ecology, happiness, hope, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Soul Nourishing Poems, SpiritualLeave a comment
A photos taken at the Udawattakele rain forest in Kandy Sri Lanka – reminding us to let the sunshine through the clutter of life.

Frenzy of activity when the world went into pandemic mode,

Figuring out ways to be safe, sustain income, reduce cost, and stay afloat.

New ways of working from home, office or hybrid mode,

Going online to communicate, learn, teach, shop, work and stay aboard 

Months flew through birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, funerals and more,

Spiritual celebrations, special days and public holidays galore.

Learning a new way to be, sharing home space and more,

Balancing time between family and work, finding ways to be.

Governments, hospitals, law enforcement and all,

Had their plates full trying to keep us safe and well. 

Quarantine, testing, tracing, lockdowns enforced,

Masks, glows, sanitizers were used when forced.

While lockdowns and vaccines were invented for avoiding death,

Continue reading “Slowing Down – Living life (a poem by Ranjan)” →

The Moral Foundation of Value

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Compassion, Leadership, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

“The first principles of value that we need to rediscover is this: that all really hinges on moral foundations. In other words, that this is a moral universe, and that there are moral laws of the universe just as abiding as the physical laws” – Marting Lucher King Jr.

The importance of value for organisational and personal purpose came into my radar about 25 years ago when I was in the mid thirties in age. I have incorporated this notion in my leadership development practice in developing leaders and helping them transform organisations. As I started inquiring in to this notion as a part of my doctoral studies a few years ago, having learnt to look at things critically from different paradigms, I realised the complexity of the notion of ‘values’.

Continue reading “The Moral Foundation of Value” →

Values – The Compass of Morality

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Conflict, engagement., Knowing, Leadership, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Sales, Spiritual, Struggles, success, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

Think of the last time you had to make a difficult decision. A time where options were difficult to pick from. A time where the more materialistically profitable option did feel right. I have faced many such situation. I would like to share my personal experiences to help shed some light on this dilemma.

When I have such a dilemma I reflect on my aspired values to find direction as per the quote by Idowu Koyenikan in the visual above. The five values I attempt to live by are summarised I the following statement.

Continue reading “Values – The Compass of Morality” →

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” →

Loving Intentions

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Cash Flow, Ecology, family, happiness, Health Care, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, SpiritualLeave a comment
This years Christmas present from my eldest daughter – a symbol of abundance & purpose

My new year’s message last year was ‘I wish you a new year and new decade overflowing with abundance & purposefulness’. Having gone through perhaps the most ‘interesting’ year of our life, I wonder if this wish had an impact or not. I suppose it depends on how we look at 2020. While many of us had challenges in our jobs, businesses, finances, relationships and health, it is important to reflect on and find the hidden gifts. 

Continue reading “Loving Intentions” →

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” →

Who Are You?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, hope, Knowing, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Spiritual, Struggles, ValuesLeave a comment

Do you really know who you are? Well, I am still discovering who I am and I am not sure if I will ever find the answer. However, everyday I live with this question in my mind, I see a little bit more of who I am.

So, how do we find who we are?

Continue reading “Who Are You?” →

Taking a Break – Is it Purposeful Behaviour?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Economics, family, happiness, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, Purpose Quest, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment
Image Credits: Humanperformancepsychology.com

I decided to take a break from social media, blogging, tweeting and newsletter writing during October. This is partly to allow my mind to settle down and rest after the extensive online work done in the past 6 months from April to September. It is also due to my calendar getting filled with corporate sessions for clients in UAE, Africa, Solomon Islands. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.  

On the personal side, it was my second daughter’s wedding which gave us a lot of joy and I needed to release myself from work for this important life event.  We also had two other wedding anniversaries and four birthdays in the family during the month. It looks like October (my birth month) is becoming a month of family celebrations and this perhaps would be the month I take time off from work in the years to come. 

Continue reading “Taking a Break – Is it Purposeful Behaviour?” →

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.

When We Judge a Book by the Cover!

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Compassion, happiness, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for Growth, Spiritual, success, ValuesLeave a comment

I Dreamed A Dream by Susan Boyle

An amazing perforce that stunned the audience and judges at Britains Got Talent.

Reflection Guide:

As you watch this video, think of the times that you have pre-judged someone by your initial perception. How many time have they surprised you with the real substance in them. Reflect on times that you had been in the receiving end. What learnings do you take from the reflection and what steps would you take to change your attitude and help other change their attitude.

Songs for Growth

How Is The Pandemic Serving Us?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Conflict, Ecology, happiness, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Spiritual, Struggles, success, Values, World affairsLeave a comment
Image Credits: Wired.com

In the one before the last blog post (two Wednesdays ago) in the ‘Purpose Quest’ series, I attempted to list down questions that came up during my various interactions with various audience over the last 6 months of the pandemic. I started attempting to write about how I responded to those question and the insights I had regarding the first two questions related to goals, in last Wednesdays blog post. Let me attempt to respond to the third questions;

What is the purpose of the pandemic? How is it serving us?

Continue reading “How Is The Pandemic Serving Us?” →

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?

Inspiring Online – Opening Up New Possibilities.

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

A screenshot captured by a participant of the ‘Mastery of Self – NLP online’ session.

It was a common occurrence to have participants take photos during in-room sessions and publish it widely on social media during my work before the pandemic. After having taken my work online over the past 6 months and conducting various organisational and personal transformation webshops for leaders, teams and individuals, I was pleasantly surprised to see this photo on LinkedIn.

A participant from r-pac Bangladesh, Rakibul Alam has posted this photo with the message: I am not the best but I can be better. Yes I can do it in a better way, no one can hold me down! Special thanks to my Guru Ranjan De Silva.

This type of gesture gives me confidence to do this work, even online. This comes at a time when I have started conducting in room sessions for companies in Sri Lanka, with the mindset that my type of work requires and in-room experience for best impact. However due to travel restrictions I don’t see myself flying for a while and this gesture gives me confidence to innovate newer methods to make online learning experiences to my overseas clients in a more enjoyable and effective manner.

Attitude of Gratitude For Those Who Raised You Up

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, hope, Leadership, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for Growth, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

You Raised Me Up by Westlife

Reflection Guide:

As you listen to this song, reflect on those who raised you up so that you can stand on mountains and walk on stormy seas, specially during times of troubles and heart burn with an attitude of gratitude.

Lyrics

When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary
When troubles come, and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I…

Songs for Growth

Goals! What Goals?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Ecology, happiness, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Spiritual, Struggles, success, Values, World affairsLeave a comment
Image Credits: Saba.com

In the last blog post in the ‘Purpose Quest’ series, I attempted to list down questions that came up during my various interactions with various audience over the last 6 months of the pandemic. I will attempt to write about how I responded to those question and the insights I had, in the next few blog posts. So let’s begin with the first two questions. Both of them are related to goals;

My goals have become irrelevant due to the pandemic? What do I do now?

Why do I need to have goals when they can become irrelevant due to uncontrollable situation?

Continue reading “Goals! What Goals?” →

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?

Let the Daffodils Heal You

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Communications, Environment, happiness, Health Care, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Releasing, Soul Nourishing Poems, SpiritualLeave a comment

Daffodils – William Wordsworth

As you listen to this poem, reflect on the wonders of nature and let it heal your pensive mood or broken heart.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continue reading “Let the Daffodils Heal You” →

A Common View Made Rare by the Pandemic

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Environment, Knowing, Life, Pictures the Speak, psychology, Sri Lanka, World affairsLeave a comment

This was such a common view, having been on a flight at least twice a month, over the past 15 year until the pandemic arrived. I was on a flight only once in the last 6 months and that too a special flight that repatriated standard Sri Lankan’s home. I feel relived that I don’t have to pack my bags every fortnight and this is likely to continue for many more months. Stumbling upon this picture that I had taken on one of my flights, evoked mixed feelings. I am not sure if I am actually relieved or if I am going to miss my travel. Well I suppose this is food for thought dished out by the pandemic.

Questions about Purpose

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, Conflict, Ecology, happiness, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Spiritual, Struggles, success, Values, World affairsLeave a comment
Image Credits: thamarathorpe.com

The last six month opened up amazing opportunities for me to reflect on the notion of purpose. These opportunities arose during conversations with family, team and clients in trying to make sense of the pandemic. These opportunities arose during webinars conducted to help people with their concerns, anxieties, stress and other psychological challenges. These opportunities arose from the 150 plus participants from 15 countries taking part in the four ‘Mastery of Self’ through NLP, online certificate courses over the past few months.

In this blog post I will attempt to list down the questions that came up. Some of these questions were already asked earlier, some of these are modifications to the old questions and some of these are new questions.

My goals have become irrelevant due to the pandemic? What do I do now?

Why do I need to have goals when they can become irrelevant due to uncontrollable situation?

What is the purpose of the pandemic? How is it serving us?

Is our purpose changed due to changing realities?

I am struggling more due to the pandemic. Is it helping me to find purpose?

Am I struggling more during the pandemic because I try to live purposefully?

Do our values change with situations? Arn’t they supposed to be fixed?

Isn’t values an important component of our purpose?

My purpose is clashing with the purpose of some of my family. It is prominent now because I spend a lot of time with them. How do it deal with them?

Are religious people more purposeful than non-religious people?

Does spirituality become more important than religion for purposeful people?

Does the notion of Purposeful living taken a new meaning with the pandemic?

Are world leaders being purposeful in the way they are handling the pandemic?

I will reframe from answering these questions to provide you the opportunity to reflect and answer these questions. I am not sure what that process will do. I will be delighted to hear from you the answers that came up and how these questions and answers served you.

I wish you purposeful living.

The Coin That Makes The Difference

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Inspirational Speechs, Leadership, learning, Marketing, Personal Excellence, psychology, Relationships, Sales, service, success, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

What can a coin reveal about your service mindset? Listen to Ron Kaufman and discover.

As you watch this video by customer service guru Ron Kaufman, reflect on the ‘coin’ that is preventing you from reaching specialness. What will it take to pick up YOUR coin and get rid of it today?

Who Needs Healing? The Society, You or Both?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, societal, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

As you read this quote, reflect on how well or sick the society you live in. Do you see the level of wellness and sickness or are you blind to it? Have you adjusted to the society or are you trying to adjust the society to be well so that you can be in sync with it. What baby steps would you take to heal the society? If you do not see how sick the society is, do you require some healing/ If so what step would you take? Hope these questions are helpful in finding success, happiness and peace.

Do You Believe?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn belief, happiness, hope, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, Songs for Growth, successLeave a comment

I Believe I Can Fly – R Kelly

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc

As you listen to this song, reflect on those things which you believed were possible, when you were a child. Those beliefs are still embedded deep inside you. We may believe such dreams are impossible now. However the mind has amazing potential. Think of baby steps you can take today to make those dream come true.

Lyrics:

I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I’m leaning on the everlasting armsIf I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to itI believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day (Night and day)
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly hooSee I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, ho ohIf I can see it hoo, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to itI believe I can fly
I believe I can…

The Pandemic and Temporal Aspect of Purposefulness

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Environment, family, happiness, Health Care, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Relationships, societal, Spiritual, success, Values, World affairsLeave a comment
Image Credit: Nationalpost.com

In the last 8 blog posts in the ‘purpose quest series’, we explored how the pandemic impacted eight important pillars for purposeful living; spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, physical (health), financial, environmental and societal. Let’s explore the ninth pillar, the ‘temporal’ aspect in this blog post. As in the past eight blog posts let me attempt to describe my personal experience during the pandemic. 

The word ‘Temporal’ has two broad applications; relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs (secular) and relating to time. I use the word in relation to the use of time. The temporal aspect of purposeful relates to the use of limited time. The purposeful person attempts to utilise most of the time for purposeful activity, which requires letting go of non-purposeful activity.

The last eight weekly blog posts in the ‘purposeful quest’ series illustrated how my time was allocated to purposeful activity in spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, physical (health), financial, ecological and temporal areas. These activities took most of my waking time and there was rarely any time remaining for non-purposeful activity during the approximately 16 hours of waking time.

The sense I make from this reflection is that the pandemic gave me so much opportunities to be purposeful, that it left me with almost no time for non-purposeful activities. This way of life has kept me occupied in meaningful and energising activity, giving me inner success, happiness and peace. My purpose is to inspire others to live a purposeful life and I hope this series of blog posts will inspire you too to live a purposeful life and find Success happiness and peace.

Say ‘No’ to Distraction and Say ‘Yes’ to ‘Mastery’

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, EQ, happiness, Health Care, hope, Inspirational Speechs, IQ, Leadership, learning, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, success, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Robin Sharma – on the dangers of your devise and other non-value adding addictions on your success and how to gain monomaniacal focus, using practical and neurological information.

As you listen to this powerful speech by Robin Sharma, reflect on steps you can take to kill the distractions of your life, build purposeful habits and give life and energy to your special talent … to achieve mastery purposefully.

How You Lived Will Epitomise Your Death

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Compassion, happiness, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Soul Nourishing Poems, Spiritual, Struggles, success, ValuesLeave a comment

How Did You Die? – Edmund Vance Cooke

Reflect on the deeper meaning of this poem as you listen to it and read the lyrics below. How did you respond to trouble times? What did you do when you fell down? What is real success & failure? How would you face life’s challenges from now onwards?

Read by Shane Morris – Full Poem:

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way

With a resolute heart and cheerful?

Or hide your face from the light of day

With a craven soul and fearful? 

Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce,

Or a trouble is what you make it,

And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts,

But only how did you take it? 

You are beaten to earth?

Well, well, what’s that!Come up with a smiling face.

It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,

But to lie there-that’s disgrace. 

The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce

Be proud of your blackened eye!

It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts;

It’s how did you fight-and why? 

And though you be done to the death, what then?

If you battled the best you could,

If you played your part in the world of men,

Why, the Critic will call it good. 

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,

And whether he’s slow or spry,

It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,

But only how did you die?

Protect Your Secret From Complacency

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

As you read this quote by Aesop, reflect on a baby step you can take to protect your secret – your special character and values, from getting swallowed up by complacency.

Liberating Empathy

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Compassion, EQ, family, happiness, Health Care, hope, Learnings that Matter, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, societal, Spiritual, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

Can empathy be developed or Liberated? As you watch this video, reflect on this questions. Consider how important empathy is for leadership success. Is there an ideal amount of empathy? Could empathy be too much or two little? What steps would you take to liberate the ideal amount of empathy from within you for your leadership success.

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.

The Pandemic and Societal Aspect of Purposefulness

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, family, Health Care, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, societal, Spiritual, Values, World affairsLeave a comment
Image Credits: shethe people.tv

In the last 7 blog posts in the ‘purpose quest series’, we explored how the pandemic impacted six important pillars for purposeful living; spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, physical (health), financial and environmental. Let’s explore the eight pillar, the societal aspect in this blog post. As in the past seven blog posts let me attempt to describe my personal experience during the pandemic. 

With lockdowns being imposed, offices closed, and people starting to work from home, my clients either took the assigned transformational work online or postponed them. This gave me the illusion that there will be a lot of free time. Since I was in Dhaka, while engaging with the foreign ministry and the high commission to arrange repatriation flights, I joined my friend I was staying with to distribute dry rations to people who were financially affected due to lockdowns. In addition I arranged some help for some relatives and friends who were looking for financial assistance and guidance.

To help with the psychological challenges faced by many, my team in Dhaka helped me to produce some videos with mental tips to deal with challenges and anxiety releasing meditation. While using social media to get these to people who needed it we started conducting free webinars to help people deal with the present and gear up for the future. After returning to Sri Lanka I had the opportunity to join my team to conduct psychological first aid for the medical staff of the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), the command center fighting the pandemic in Sri Lanka.

I believe most of the above opportunities were provided to me to help be purposeful during the pandemic. My purpose to inspire others to live a purposeful life and these opportunities helped me share the idea of ‘purposefulness’ and show how it can help to make sense of the pandemic, deal with anxiety & stress and adjust their way of life to respond positively. While all these were related to giving, my time without any financial benefit, I enjoyed the happiness of giving, learning & building relationships in the process. I feel purposeful.

Living Life To The Fullest as the Captain of Your Life

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Compassion, happiness, hope, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Soul Nourishing Poems, Spiritual, Struggles, success, ValuesLeave a comment

O Captain Mu Captain – Walt Whitman

Reflect on the deeper meaning of this poem as you listen to it and read the lyrics below. Who is the captain of your life? How will you live to be able to be happy on your last day feeling that that you lived it all.

O Captain, my Captain our fearful trip is done
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people are exulting,  
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring  
But O heart! heart! heart!  
O the bleeding drops of red,  
Where on the deck my Captain lies,  
Fallen cold and dead.  

O Captain, my Captain (x3)

O Captain, my Captain rise up and hear the bells  
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding  
For you they call (the swaying mass)
their eager faces turning (their eager faces turning)
Here Captain! dear father!  
This arm beneath your head  
It is some dream that on the deck, 
You’ve fallen cold and dead. Dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still  
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will  
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done  
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with this object won
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!  
But I, with mournful tread,  
Walk the deck my Captain lies,  
Fallen cold and dead. Fallen cold and dead.

Simple and Unassuming life for a better body and mind.

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, happiness, Health Care, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

Eric Berne’s – Transactional Analysis presented.

As you read this quote by Sir Albert Einstein, reflect on a baby step you can take to go towards a simple and unassuming manner of life that has potential to have a positive impact on body and mind.

Fail Big – Leave Big

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Inspirational Speechs, learning, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, Struggles, success, ValuesLeave a comment

As you listen to this amazing speech, reflect on what will you leave behind (not what you will take with you, because we don’t) and how will you gain what you will leave.

Childlike Learning – Is it a thing of the past?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn EQ, happiness, learning, Pictures that Speaks, psychology, Relationships, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

This is a moment from an in-room learning experience pre-pandemic. This a photo taken after an activity related to the ‘Six Thinking Hats’, conducted for one of my clients in Dubai. It now 4 months of online learnings using ‘webshops’, a concept innovated by my team to attempt to create an experience close as possible to the fun and interactive in-room experience.

While some participants who have experienced our in-room and online learning experiences say that they got a similarly impactful experience, my fervent wish, for the sake of the quality of learnings, is that we move back to physical venues as soon as the situation starts permitting us to. Given that life in Sri Lanka is limping back to normal, we have already conducted 3 days of in-room sessions and many more are lined up. I cant tell the impact these have had not only on the participants experience, but also on the quality of our contribution.

Pandemic and Relationships

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, EQ, family, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, Purpose Quest, Relationships, Spiritual, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment
Image Credits: Americaamplified.org

When lockdowns happened in mid-march I got standard in Dhaka without flights to return home. Therefore my experience is quite different to those who were with families and had to spend a lot of time with them while working or not working from home. However since returning home about 2 months ago I have been largely working from home that gives me the experience to reflect on that reality as well.

Being away from home with the uncertainty of when I will return home increased the concern towards me by mother, wife and daughters at home as well as my siblings and other relatives from various part of the world. The 10 weeks in Dhaka resulted in more communications with all my close family and other relatives more than ever before. Conversations among relatives resulted in each one inquiring from others about how they are affected by the pandemic, the impact on livelihood etc. Therefore there was concerned among each other for each other, much more than usual. Continue reading “Pandemic and Relationships” →

Did the Pandemic Stimulate you Intellectually?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, EQ, Health Care, IQ, Knowing, learning, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Spiritual, Values, World affairsLeave a comment

When the world started changing due to the pandemic it had a big impact on my focus on my intellectual development process. This blog post tells my story and I hope this will help you to reflect on how the pandemic affected your intellectual development.

Image Credit: medspace.com

Let’s start with the question, what is the meaning of intellectual? While different people may make sense of the word ‘intellectual’ in different ways, based on their thinking, to me intellectual is the quality of my thinking and understanding aspects I am concerned with. The stronger my intellectuality becomes,  I tend to understand aspects I am concerned with and the related complexities in a deeper manner. The shift in priorities brought about by the pandemics resulted in some interesting changes to my intellectual development processes.

Continue reading “Did the Pandemic Stimulate you Intellectually?” →

What Inspires You?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, happiness, hope, Leadership, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Soul Nourishing Poems, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

A collection of Ranjan De Silva’s favourite poems recited by him with short introductions and debrief of each poem at an online Rotary meeting between Rotary Club of Colombo Reconnections Sri Lanka and Rotary Club of Nanganallaur, India.

As you listen to these poems reflect on what inspire you. Is it the selection, a particular poem, the themes, the words, the way they are recited, relevance to you, your mindset or anything else?

The poems include;

  • If you think you can you can
  • Little Cloud
  • Risk
  • Rose
  • Cookie thief
  • Love is separateness
  • Plea of a graceful lady
  • Determination of an extra-ordinary man
  • Forgive me when I whine
  • Anyway

Soul Nourishing Poems

Make a Little Change, Make a Big Impact!

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for GrowthLeave a comment

Man in the Mirror Performed by Michael Jackson (with lyrics)

As you watch this performance listening to the words or reading the lyrics, reflect on who you see as you look at. yourself in the mirror. Reflect on the change you need to start making to prepare yourself to change the world.

Songs for Growth

The Sweetness of Defeat

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, Soul Nourishing PoemsLeave a comment

Defeat – a Thought Provoking Poem by Kahlil Gibran – Read by Shane Morris

Reflect on the sweetness of your defeats as you listen to this poem. 

Defeat, my Defeat, my solitude and my aloofness;

You are dearer to me than a thousand triumphs, And sweeter to my heart than all world-glory.

Defeat, my Defeat, my self-knowledge and my defiance,

Through you I know that I am yet young and swift of foot, and not to be trapped by withering laurels, and in you I have found aloneness, and the joy of being shunned and scorned.

Defeat, my Defeat, my shining sword and shield, In your eyes

I have read That to be enthroned is to be enslaved, and to be understood is to be levelled down, and to be grasped is but to reach one’s fullness, and like a ripe fruit to fall and be consumed.

Defeat, my Defeat, my bold companion,

You shall hear my songs and my cries and my silences, and none but you shall speak to me of the beating of wings, and urging of seas, and of mountains that burn in the night, and you alone shall climb my steep and rocky soul.

Defeat, my Defeat, my deathless courage,

You and I shall laugh together with the storm, And together we shall dig graves for all that die in us, And we shall stand in the sun with a will, And we shall be dangerous.

Kahlil Gibran was the key figure in a Romantic movement that transformed Arabic literature in the first half of the twentieth century.

Soul Nourishing Poems

 

Is EQ the answer that IQ could not provide?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, EQ, IQ, Knowing, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, RelationshipsLeave a comment

In the name of psychology and neuroscience, Daniel Goleman shares his insights on why IQ is not an accurate predictor of how well one does in life. A new metric is called for, one he calls, ‘Emotional Intelligence’. Everyone has the capacity to develop their emotional skills and improve their EQ. This video shows you some examples of ways to cultivate your emotional intelligence so you can put them to work at home, in the workplace, and in your relationships.

Attention! The word ‘depression’ in this video simply refers to feelings of sadness and not ‘clinical depression’.

The following process can be used to create a learning experience for your team using this video. Continue reading “Is EQ the answer that IQ could not provide?” →

The Beautiful Paradox

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, hope, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, Pictures the Speak, psychology, purpose, Team Excellence, Values1 Comment

coaching pic

This is one of my favourite pictures that depicts the essence of learning. This is an executive coaching process underway for senior executives of the John Keells Holdings at the Cinnamon Citadel Hotel in Kandy, the Hill Capital of Sri Lanka. A peer coaching process where peers who participate in the coaching process, becomes a part of the coaching team together with the coach.

The beanbags and the dress code signify the informality of the process, the blend of colours signifies the diversity of the aspirations, hopes, concerns, issues, methods and solutions of the participants. The disorderly nature of the white chairs in the background with bags thrown around signifies the messiness that needs to be experienced in the learning and growth process. The flip charts signifies the formality of the work to be done. The sweets, water, snacks and tea provided shows the care taken to ensure the comfort of the participants.  The intense listening and focus of the participants shows the seriousness, rigorous and the respect show to each other and the process.

Overall a beautiful blend of the soft and the hard, the messiness and the orderliness, the informality and formality, the soft and the hard touching hearts and minds for real, purposeful transformation.

Pictures that speak

Paying it Forward

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, hope, Leadership, Life, Love, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for Growth, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

Because you Loved me – song of gratitude by Celine Dion

As you listen to this song, reflect on those who helped you and are helping you grow to you your fullest potential. What kind of sacrifices did they make and are making? These could be your family, life partner, friends, teachers, colleagues.  Is this person who helped you, your own self? Feel the emotions you experience as you listen to the song, each time with a different person in your life in mind, including yourself. Could you give a name to these actions ? Reflect on what you would do to pay forward?

Songs for Growth

Elevator Behaviour & Life

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, hope, Life, Love, psychology, purpose, RelationshipsLeave a comment

How to Love and be loved – an inspirational Speech by Leo Buscaglia

As you listen to this multi-emotional speech, reflect on how you were loved and how you loved. What can you learn from Leo, the Doctor Love about love and living life to the fullest. What baby steps would you take today to Learn, Laugh, love and Leave a Legacy ?

The Difference You Can Make

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

Only You can make the difference – a poem by Leo Buscaglia

https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Tth7BSQgt8

As you listen to this short poem given to Leo Buscaglia by a Vietnamese Girl, think of the times you made a difference by understanding someone else and not reacting, even if the other person was responsible for it. Remember the pleasant surprise in the other person and the bond you created with each other. Or remember someone else who did this to you. My plea to you, make a promise to yourself to understand and respond with love, immediately it happens. The time is Now!

The Fathers Gift

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, hope, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide:

As we celebrate fathers day, let’s reflect on the greatest gift your father gave you.

My loving father taught me that no one is perfect and that I can be happy if I accept myself for who I am, improve areas that can be improved and give of my best to the world, starting from my own little world, my family, my team, my community and so on.

I love and respect my dad; Stephen Richard Francis De Silva, who left us 16 years ago to enjoy eternal happiness.

Quotes for Reflection

Healing for the Healers

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Health Care, hope, Life, Pictures the Speak, psychology, purpose, Releasing, Spiritual, Team Excellence, World affairsLeave a comment

IDH Session 15 June 2020

What else can be more gratifying and humbling than to be trusted by the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka with the nerve center fighting covid-19 in Sri Lanka, the Infectious Disease Hospital, popularly known as IDH. The team of 300 medical professionals led by the Director of Quarantine of the Ministry of Health – Sri Lanka, Dr. Mahendra Arnold benefited by this initiative.

These héros and heroines have contributed to the machinery of the Sri Lanka government that has eradicated the community spread of covid-19. The statistics speak for the amazing work they have done with less than 2000 infection in the Island, no community spread for 7 weeks,  74% recovery rate, 0.5%  mortality and less than 1% infection rate (only from quarantined overseas returnees and a spread in a navel base that is now under control).

These healers were gifted with psychological first aid based on Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Releasing to help them learn how to heal from inside out.  The workshops organised by Intercontinental Institute of Human Resource Management (IIHRM) was delivered by my Team and me. We salute all the companies who supported this initiative.

We hope and pray that these healers will get mentally stronger to continue their noble cause.

Pictures that speak

Being a Point of Light

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, hope, Leadership, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for Growth, SpiritualLeave a comment

Points of Light – By Randy Travis

When you see what’s wrong and try to make it right, you become a point of light.

As you listen to this song, reflect on the times you were a point of light, when others were a point of light for you and when you could have been a point of light. Write down situations in your life that you can and you will be a point of light to make this world a better place.

Songs for Growth

Releasing Anxiety

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Health Care, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Releasing, Spiritual, World affairsLeave a comment
anxity releasing
Image credits: lightworkerhealing.com
Last week I wrote about how we can become an Abundance Magnet as a part of the weekly ‘Purpose Quest’ series I commenced two weeks ago. Today I focus on an aspect of the story that I wrote last week, releasing anxiety’. Anxiety was arising due to my  inability to return home  to Sri Lanka and impending drop in revenue when the reality of the pandemic was getting clearer.  This blog post is dedicated to illustrate how I released such emotions using Releasing Techniques that I was learning and teaching since October last year. When we have an emotion, we either repress it, express it or escape from it. Initially I repressed it by telling myself that this will pass soon, flights will be arranged for me to return and clients will continue their work. My sleep that night was not comfortable as something from within was nudging me to take this more seriously. So how did I respond to this call? Continue reading “Releasing Anxiety” →

Connect the Dots

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Inspirational Speechs, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Spiritual2 Comments

Commencement Speech by Steve Jobs

Reflect on where you are today and how you got here. Was your journey well planned an choreographed. Connect the dots backward and noticed the amazing plans of a higher power. Reflect on how you would respond to opportunities and choices of the future.

Inspirational Speeches

How Was Your Soul Tested?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Relationships, Spiritual, Values, World affairsLeave a comment

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Reflection guideline

Reflect on what you saw, heard and felt during the past few months of the pandemic. How was it different to what you experienced before. Did something from within urge you to reach out, help out, ask for help, leave your ego aside, reprioritise what was important in life. This reflection could help you understand how your soul was tested during these challenging times.

Quotes for Reflection

The Healing Experience

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Life, Personal Excellence, Pictures that Speaks, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Values, World affairsLeave a comment

Blue Waters 2 June 2020

Gardens of the Blue Waters resort, usually filled with holidaying tourist, quietly healing.

The lone healer, in the boiling hazmat suit symbolic of the amazing medical team, setting up Covid tests for another batch of quarantined returnees from overseas.

I watch from the balcony of my little ashram (hotel room) in anticipation for my turn to clear the final hurdle, before I am cleared to return home to my family.

Although missing the dip in the sea, soaking in the pool and relaxing on the lawn, experiencing the cool breeze, sounds of the ocean and view of the sea, beach, pool and the gardens is a confirmation I am back in my motherland.

Yes! I am back, it’s not a dream anymore.

Full of love for the universes and all its living beings, I feel so thankful and hopeful.

Pictures that speak

Life is Worth Living

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Leadership, learning, Life, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for Growth, Spiritual, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

Life is worth Living – an inspirational song by Justin Bieber

As you listen to the song, reflect on the how you feel when you look at the long road ahead in your life, on who who gave you direction and help when you were confused, and on the mistakes you made and how you responded. Moving on reflect on how would you respond to such situations and how would you help others who are on the journey of life.

Songs for Growth

Little Things to Big Things

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Inspirational Speechs, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Spiritual, Team Excellence, Values1 Comment

If You Want to Change the World, Start Off by Making Your Bed – William McRaven, US Navy Admiral

One little task leads to another and to another and to the big achievements. One little person can be the strongest link. One little hope leads to big hopes. One little bit of compassion leads to unlimited love.

As you listen to this inspirational speech, reflect on the little waves you can create now that will create ripples leading to waves that makes this world a better place.

Inspirational Speeches

What is Your ‘Cookie Thief’ moment?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, Relationships, Soul Nourishing PoemsLeave a comment

The Cookie Thief – A Poetic Story – Recited by Ranjan De Silva

I have experienced many ‘Cookie Thief Moment’ in my life. What about you? What was yours? What did you learn about your Beliefs, Attitudes and Values from that moments? Is there any over-due actions that must be taken now to respond to that moment. What ‘baby steps’ would you take to respond to the old ‘Cookie Thief Moment’ and prevent new ‘Cookie Thief Moments’ from happening?

Soul Nourishing Poems

Danger or Oppportunity?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Ecology, family, Health Care, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Quoates for Reflection, Relationships, Spiritual, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

Reflection Guide

Yes the pandemic has many dangers in the medical, economic, social and psychological fronts. While recognising and reflecting on it, do reflect on the opportunities you have already recognised and yet to recognise.

Unlocking the Power of Mind

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, family, Health Care, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Sales, Spiritual, Team Excellence, ValuesLeave a comment

An introduction to Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and simple steps on how to unlock the power of mind and unleash our potential. A powerful and thought provoking 27 minute presentation by Ranjan De Silva at the ‘Unleashing Your DNA’ seminar at Zayed University Convention Center, Dubai, UAE.

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.

Please send a message if you would like to receive a white paper that can help in your learning process.

I hope this learning process was useful in providing online learning to your team during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

Dynamic Life

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Knowing, Pictures that Speaks, psychology, purpose, SpiritualLeave a comment

These are a set of pictures taken by me in Bangladesh during a leadership retreat for a client. The contrast of the four pictures provided me a great sense making opportunity.

Photograph 1 was at dusk, photograph 2 was at dawn and photograph 3 was at noon. After taking photograph 3, I realise the angle of photograph 1 was not the same as photograph 2 and 3. So I go back at dusk next day and try to re-capture photograph 1 and end up taking photograph 4. So what sense do I make from this?

The sense I make is that same way the tree looks different in different conditions but is not affected by the conditions, I may look different to different people given their conditions. Seeing the tree at dusk differently the second time informs me that I could look different to people as live evolves. The fact that the tree continues to grow in all conditions irrespective of ecological condition that supports and destructs and people who care for it and harm it. The people who consume from it are not necessarily those who nurture it and experience it. This shows me that life is dynamic and I need to choose my from the feedback I receive and respond appropriately to allow myself to grow in sync with the universal energy system.

I invite you to reflect on these pictures and make sense of it with regard to the dynamic nature of your life, the feedback you need to take and how to respond to the call of the universe to grow in a synchronic manner.

A Tribute to the Champions

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Health Care, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Songs for Growth, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

This song ‘We are the Champions’ by Queen is dedicated to all the front line people such as medical care givers, military, pilots, cabin crew, delivery people, taxi drivers, hotel staff and numerous organisations such as the Rotary movement who is fighting the pandemic.

Please remember to smile and say a big thank you to any of the champions you meet. They need all the encouragement to keep fighting.

Is Your Purpose Searching for You?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Ecology, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Spiritual, World affairsLeave a comment
purpose quest-1

This series of ‘Purpose Quest’ will be illustrated with narratives of how we search for purpose. The question is, Are we searching for ‘purpose’ or is ‘purpose’ searching for us?

On the 14th of March, when I boarded the Sri Lankan airlines flight UL 189 to Dhaka I did not realise that I will have to stay in Dhaka for 10 weeks due to flight restrictions. The WHO had declared Covid-19 as a pandemic a few days ago. My mother was encouraging me to stay back without going as I had just recovered from a cough. I was hearing how passengers coming in to Sri Lanka from Europe were being taken to quarantine centres.  Was the universe trying to inform me and help me make a purposeful choice?

Continue reading “Is Your Purpose Searching for You?” →

Variety is the Spice of Life

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Ecology, Economics, family, Health Care, Inspirational Speechs, Leadership, Learnings that Matter, Personal Excellence, Pictures that Speaks, psychology, purpose, Purpose Quest, Quoates for Reflection, Relationships, Songs for Growth, Soul Nourishing Poems, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Soul Nourishing Poems

Over the past two months I switched to a daily blog from the monthly blog I used to write. This was prompted by the pandemic and lockdowns that provided me the opportunity to spend more time indoors and online.

Learnings that Matter

I initially started with online learning videos and soul nourishing poems to share my life work for those needed to learn and those looking for inspiration while being at home.

Quotes for Reflection

Thereafter I introduced quotes for reflection and yesterday I added motivational speeches. Some of this work is from others who have inspired me, some from my colleagues and some my own presentations.

Inspirational Speeches

As I was reflecting on the purposefulness of my life yesterday, my mind went on to the online work I am doing. Something from within prompted me to expand my contribution to have one type of blog everyday of the week.

Songs for Growth

That prompted me to think of other types of work that inspired. Music and Art were two other areas that came to my mind and therefore I decided to experiment with ‘Songs for Growth’ and ‘Pictures the Speak’.

Pictures that speak

I needed one more. What is the seventh category? And then, ‘Purpose’ which is the core philosophy of my life, that I have been writing for the past 4 years, but have not focused too much on over the past 2 months popped in to my mind. Yes I miss writing those ‘purposeful living’ blogs. So the seventh category became ‘Purpose’ Quest’.

purpose quest-1

I invite you to join me in exploring the wonders of life through these seven categories. I welcome comments, feedback , life experiences, ideas and questions from you so that we can create ripples that makes this world a better place.

Pressure Reveals the True You

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, Inspirational Speechs, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Spiritual, ValuesLeave a comment

Pressure Reveals the True You 

Watch Michelle Obama’s speech about her husbands Presidency and reflect on the pressure situations you had been in and how it help reveal your true nature and core values.

Inspirational Speeches

This Too Shall Pass – A Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Soul Nourishing Poems, Spiritual, World affairsLeave a comment

The Too Shall Pass – A Should Nourishing Poem – Helen Steiner Rice

Mediate on the challenges you went through in the past and how it passed, as you listen to this poem. Then reflect on the challenges you and your family and friends are facing in relation to the pandemic. Then reflect on how this too shall pass leaving us stronger and with a better world. Reflect on what you need to do today to prepare for the new reality.

Soul Nourishing Poems

 

Need or Greed

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide

Reflect what you need in the minimum for sustain yourself and meet your commitments till the next assured cash inflow. Reflect on what you need and what you can give, how you can give and when you will give.

Quotes for Reflection

To Love is to Nurture – A Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

Meditate on the poem and reflect how you make sense of the notion of Love. Does this prompt you to re-think the way you make sense of Love. Does the new way make you feel more peaceful internally. Reflect on baby steps you would like to take to test in reality your new way of making sense of love. 

Enjoy Bette Midler’s song recited in a poetic manner, defining ‘Love’ by Ranjan De Silva

Soul Nourishing Poems

Man – The Most Insane Species

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Environment, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, SpiritualLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide:

Reflect on how you knowingly or unknowingly destroy nature. Reflect on how it is directly or indirectly an act of destroying God’s creation and disrespecting God grand plan to help all living being live in peace and harmony.

The Road Not Taken – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

The Road Not Taken – by Robert Frost

Has the pandemic given you the opportunity to take a road not taken? Imagine the positive difference it can make for you and your little world. What baby steps would you take today in identifying that road and the baby steps you need to take today.

Arousing Sympathy

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment
www.ranjandesilva.com

Reflection Guide;

Jennifer Niven’s wish for measles or small pox or some easily understood disease has been granted with Covid-19. Her intention was that the disease will help people be more sympathetic. Reflect on how the pandemic has helped you to become not only sympathetic but also empathetic and compassionate. Reflect on baby steps you can take to make the best our of this opportunity.

Love and the Rose: A Poetic Definition

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Reflect what Love is to you. Is it River that drowns, a razor that leaves the soul to bleed or an endless hunger? Or is it nurturing – like a seed in to a flower.

Enjoy Bette Midler’s song recited in a poetic manner, defining ‘Love’ by Ranjan De Silva

Rethink Wish List

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, SpiritualLeave a comment
https://www.ranjandesilva.com

Reflection Guide:

Reflect on what you used to wish for before the pandemic and what you wish for now? How has that helped you to make sense of your purpose in this world? Reflect on what steps you need to take to live your life with your renewed wish list and renewed purpose.

https://youtu.be/mZmjv9bbrxk

Is Covid the Greatest Disease?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, SpiritualLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide:

Reflect on the greater disease of humanity, the hunger for Love and hunger for God. Reflect on what we can do to show a little LOVE to those who need it so that we can ensure the greater disease is not forgotten in the pandemic. Reflect on how to protect your family, friends and self from the spiritual disease, in addition to the medical disease. 

Quotes for Reflection

 

A Million Pieces – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

Soul Nourishing Poems

 

 

 

 

 

A Million Pieces – Recited by Jon Jorgenson

We all have felt broken, let down, and practically shattered to pieces specially during this pandemic. How do you build yourself back up from such a low point? In this inspirational poem, Jon Jorgenson talks about how there is beauty to be found in every downfall. This poem is for Anyone going through a trial of any kind.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Blurring of the Boarders

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Ecology, Economics, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide:

Reflect on the divisions in your life such as interests, beliefs, geographic boarders, status, economics etc. that has become irrelevant in your life due to the Pandemic. Reflect on how such blurring of the boarders are affecting you positively and negatively, in the short term and the long term.  Reflect on baby steps you can take to power-up the positives and negate the negative.

 A Mental Vacation

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual1 Comment

Free Online Videos

 

 

 

 

 

A Mental Vacation through Alpha Meditation (35 mts) – by Ranjan De Silva

 A simple explanation of the benefits of meditation and a guided meditation session to help you take your brain to the alpha brainwave frequency, that provides you a deep mental relaxation at a conscious state. Take your mind away from the turbulence of the current world, improve health & well being , quality of sleep, focus, creativity, relationships, peace of mind and purposefulness. 

I hope this could be useful in providing online learning to your team during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

The following process can help you get good value from this video:

Continue reading ” A Mental Vacation” →

Is the medical crisis curing the ecological crisis and causing an economic crisis?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Economics, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Releasing, Spiritual, Team Excellence, World affairsLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide:

Reflect on what we have done to create the medical crisis that is curing the ecological crisis and causing an economic crisis. Reflect on the change in consciousness we need. Reflect on one simple step we can take to make this world a better place, medically, ecologically and economically.

Quotes for Reflection

Love is separateness

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

Love is separateness: recited by Ranjan De Silva 

Love is Separateness is Soul Nourishing Poem by Khalil Gibran written by M. Scott Peck in his book The Road Less Travelled. Parents sometimes fail to appreciate the individuality of their children, and instead regard their children as an extension of themselves. It is a mild but nonetheless destructive forms of parental narcissism. These are perhaps the finest words ever written about child rearing,

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

Biggest Learning from your Mother

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Knowing, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

Today’s Quote for Reflection

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Reflection Guide:
As we celebrate mother’s day in Asia today, reflect on your biggest learning from your mother. Share it and learn from each others mother.

Quotes for Reflection

 

 

Don’t Give Up – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Don’t Give Up recited Tushar Das

Poem that reminds us never to give up and never to give in as there is an answer for everything. Live your life with an attitude of gratitude.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

Interaction Personalities – Learning Video

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, family, Knowing, Leadership, Life-Insurance, Marketing, Personal Excellence, psychology, Relationships, Sales, Social networking, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Free Online Videos

For Leaders at all levels and Sales & customer service Professionals

 

 

Interaction Personalities (10 mts) by Ranjan De Silva

Helps understand your quality of interactions by understanding the five interaction personalities of yourself and others. This in turn helps improve the way they interact with others, especially when dealing with conflicts. Includes free self assessment to find out your interaction personality. 

I hope this could be useful in providing online learning to your team during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

The following process can help you get good value from this video:

Continue reading “Interaction Personalities – Learning Video” →

It’s no laughing matter … or is it?

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn family, Health Care, Knowing, psychology, SpiritualLeave a comment

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Reflection Guide:

Reflect on what you can do to create contagious laugher and good humour. Use this great immune booster in addition to all the other steps you are taking to boost immunity and precautions you are taking to fight cover-19. Stay safe, stay positive, stay hopeful.

Quotes for Reflection

Winners – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Winners: recited by Ranjan De Silva

A Poem dedicated for winners. This poem describes behaviours of real winners and appreciates them. This poem is an ideal gift for those in your life you consider real winners.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

Disaster or Pimple-Level Problem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, family, Health Care, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Releasing, Spiritual, World affairsLeave a comment

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Reflection guide:

Reflect on how you rate the impact of the pandemic in your life. Would it seem a lesser problem if you look at it from a broader view point. How would this help you to respond with less anxiety and more effectiveness?

Quotes for Reflection

 

From Up There – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, SpiritualLeave a comment

Soul Nourishing Poems

 

 

 

 

 

From Up There by Jon Jorgenson

A poem that helps change the perspective of life. Experience how different our perspective of life is when you look at it from up there. 

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

A Better Way to Sell – Learning Video

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Retail, Sales, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Free Online Videos

Today’s learning video – for those selling anything or service anyone … thats everyone 

 

A Better Way to Sell (10 mts) by Ranjan De Silva

Helps you generate spectacular results by learning a better way to sell through Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). We All sell ideas, our talents, our brand image, our professional practice & products etc. Find out a better way to sell to generate better results. 

I hope this could be useful in providing online learning to your team during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

The following process can help you get good value from this video:

Continue reading “A Better Way to Sell – Learning Video” →

The determination of an Extra-Ordinary man – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

The determination of an Extra-Ordinary man: recited by Ranjan De Silva

A poem for all the men and the men in the lives of women who sees this poem. Reminds us of what it takes to be a real hero. Please share this as a thank you gift with the special men in your life such as your grandfather, father, husband, brother, son, friend, teacher and guide.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

 

EQ – IQ Balance – Learning Video

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, family, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, Relationships, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Free Online Videos

Today’s learning video – for people at all levels in organisation

 

EQ-IQ Balance by Ranjan De Silva (6 mts)  

Helps understand the importance of having the right  balance between our Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Quotient (EQ). It helps understand the reason why we think, make sense, decide and act the way we do. It also helps in understanding others better and how they think, make sense, decide and act, thereby improving relationships.

Includes free self assessment to find out your EQ-IQ balance.

I hope this could be useful in providing online learning to your team during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

The following process can help you get good value from this video:

Continue reading “EQ – IQ Balance – Learning Video” →

If by Rudyard Kipling – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, SpiritualLeave a comment

If by Rudyard Kipling – narrated by Tom O’ Bedlam.

A poem that shows how the word ‘IF’ opens up possibilities in our mind.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

The Plea of a Graceful Women – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

The plea of a graceful women: Recited by Ranjan De Silva.

A poem for our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and friends. A nice thank you gift to be sent to the ladies in your life to give them courage and confidence to continue the great work they are doing.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

Natural Abilities – Learning Video

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Leadership, learning, Marketing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Sales, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Free Online Videos

Today’s learning video – for Leaders at all levels:

 

 

Natural Abilities (10 mts) by Ranjan De Silva

Helps understand the four natural abilities and how getting your team members in to their natural ability areas helps you to achieve near optimum performance. Includes free self assessment to find out natural abilities.

I hope this could be useful in providing online learning to your team members, family, friends and self during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

 

You can watch this alone or learn with others in-room or Online.

The following process can help you get good value from 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,

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.

In addition, we can also arrange online sessions or executive coaching for your current and future business needs. Please inbox if you would like to discuss options.

The Hero’s cry –  Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Today’s Soul Nourishing Poem is: The Hero’s cry by – Eddie Pinero

Dedicated to all heroes in our lives. We remember their names not because of a lack of mistakes but because they looked the universe dead in the eye and dared to give what it takes”

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.Soul Nourishing Poems

Anxiety Releasing Meditation – Online Learning

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, Team Excellence1 Comment

Free Online Videos

Today’s learning video is for anyone who is affected in someway by the crisis

Anxiety Releasing Meditation (17 mts) by Ranjan De Silva

Guided meditation, specially done to help release anxiety related to the Covid Pandemic. Follow it closed eyed or open eyed on a laptop watching the beautiful visuals of life. Do it in quiet place, using ear phones for best effect.

 

 

I hope this could be useful in providing online or in-room learning to your team members, family, friends and self during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.

How to get best value from the video:

Continue reading “Anxiety Releasing Meditation – Online Learning” →

If You Think You Can You Can – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

Today’s Soul Nourishing Poem is: If You Think You Can You Can  – recited by Ranjan De Silva

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

Little Cloud – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, family, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, TeamsLeave a comment

Today’s Soul Nourishing Poem is: Little Cloud – recited by Eric Carle

I am pleased to provide you a series of videos containing soul nourishing poems. There will be one every other day for the next few weeks.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

Eliminating Covid From Your Life – Learning Video

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, Teams, World affairs1 Comment
Free Online Videos
Today’s learning video is for employees at all levels.

Fight Covid-19 – 7 Simple Steps (7.35 mts.)

A 7 minute video with 7 tips on how to deal with the present and gear for the future.

 
I hope this could be useful in providing online learning to your team members, family, friends and self during the current down time so that they would be kept positive, motivated and sharp so that all of you would be geared to perform with excellence during the crisis and after.
How to get best value from the video:

Continue reading “Eliminating Covid From Your Life – Learning Video” →

Forgive Me When I Whine – Soul Nourishing Poem

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

Today’s Soul Nourishing Poem is: Forgive Me When I Whine

I am pleased to provide you a series of videos containing soul nourishing poems. There will be one every other day for the next few weeks.

I hope this could be useful in nourishing your soul with hope, aspiration, positivity and confidence to deal with the present and gear up for the future.

Please feel free to share this poem with others who can benefit and communicate with me if you would like to share your thoughts.

Soul Nourishing Poems

How to Survive and Rise from the Pandemic

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Environment, family, Health Care, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, World affairsLeave a comment

I hope you, your family and team are safe and in the event you or a loved one is affected by the virus, I wish you strength in dealing with the situation.

We are all in some way affected by the Covid-19. Many of the conversations are about the impact on health, economy, jobs, livelihood, etc. This is real and we need to first accept it and respond to the immediate realities. Once some of these immediate realities are responded to, it is important to reflect on how to rise and move in to the post-coved future. These 7 steps will help you in the process. Watch, reflect, customise, use, discuss and Share.

A 7 minute video with 7 tips on how to deal with the present & gear for the Future.

New Year during the Pandemic – A Reflection

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Ecology, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Sri Lanka, World affairsLeave a comment

NewYear 2020
Image Credits: Tripadvisor.com

Wish you all a happy new year, Subho nababarsho [Bengali], Sawatdii pimaï [Thai], Hnit thit ku mingalar pa [Burmese], Naya Barsa Ko Hardik Shuvakamana [Nepali], Nav varsh ki subhkamna [Hindi], Iniya puthandu nal Vazhthukkal [Tamil], Suba nava vasarak wewa [Sinhalese]

This is an amazing time every year for many countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia when most of us celebrate the traditional New Year. The New Year is celebrated between 13 to the 15 of April in India, Nepal, Myanmar [Burma], Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

However, this New Year is perhaps the most significant in our life time as we celebrate it during the pandemic which most of us are experiencing for the first time. Let’s explore the significance of the New Year this year from that context.

Continue reading “New Year during the Pandemic – A Reflection” →

The Purpose of the Pandemic – Purpose of Living – Part 37

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Ecology, Environment, family, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team Excellence, World affairs3 Comments

Animals and people near pond
Image Credits: Vectorstock.com

We are all in some way affected by the Covid-19 virus and wondering how it is going to affect our lives. Many of the conversations I read are about the materialistic impact such as health, economy, jobs, livelihood, etc. This is real and we need to first accept the reality and respond to it. The response needs to be at different levels; global bodies like the World bank and World Health Organisation, governments, business organisations, NGO’s, social groups, communities and individuals. It is heartening to see this happening at different levels, although much more still needs to be done. Once some of these immediate realities are responded to it could help to reflect on the bigger purpose of the pandemic.

Continue reading “The Purpose of the Pandemic – Purpose of Living – Part 37” →

Take a JUMP in to your purpose – Purpose of Living – Part 36

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, family, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual, Team Excellence, Teams2 Comments

Jump-blogI have learnt that we keep discovering our higher purpose as we live life once we discover the notion of purpose and is conscious of its existence. This had got me in to the habit of reflecting, reviewing, refreshing and re-writing my purpose every month.
The first part of my current purpose statement is;

Inspire others to live a purposeful life based on their own evolving beliefs, values and methods.

This is based on my discovery of how my beliefs, values and methods evolved during my first-person inquiry and my discovery of how different people have different beliefs, values and methods that evolve as they attempt to live purposefully, during my second-person inquiry. First- and second-person inquiry are methods of action research that I adopt in my doctoral research into the notion of ‘purposeful living’. Continue reading “Take a JUMP in to your purpose – Purpose of Living – Part 36” →

The Purpose of Family – Purpose of Living – Part 35

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, family, Knowing, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

purpose and family
Image credits: alagant-travel.com

It was not an easy decision to take 10 days off my busy schedule and travel to the other side of the planet to be with my sister for one of her milestone birthdays. It was not easy because I had to allocate time to respond to time demanded by my clients and team.

However, I made the decision, went through many challenges getting the visa because my busy travel schedule provided me only a small window to obtain the visa, worked long hours to clear as much work as possible so that I can be with the families of my sister and brothers during this time.

I am so glad that I made this decision to see the joy in my sisters face when I arrived at her door at 7am a few days ago, with my brother who picked me up from the Toronto Airport. I am so glad that I can spend time with the families of my brother and sister, catching up on their lives, sharing nostalgic moments, visiting interesting places, and spending quality time together.

Continue reading “The Purpose of Family – Purpose of Living – Part 35” →

How to use messages from our subconscious mind to live a purposeful life? – Purpose of Living – Part 33

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, SpiritualLeave a comment

purpose and subconscious
Image credits: theconversation.com/

The question for today’s blog post is; How can we use messages from our sub-conscious mind to live more purposefully? We have been exploring the notion of purpose and purposeful living over the past 33 posts and hence I assume the notion is clear to you. Therefore, let’s directly move on to exploring the sub-conscious mind and how we can use it to live purposefully.

The idea of deeper levels of information processing was developed and extensively studied by famous Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939). According to him, the mind could be divided into conscious, subconscious and unconscious levels. The Conscious Mind – defines all thoughts and actions within our awareness. For example, the beauty and pleasance of the smell of a red tulip. The Unconscious Mind– defines all past events and memories, inaccessible to us no matter how hard we try to remember to bring things up. For example, the first time you had ice cream, or how it felt to be able to speak for the first time. The Subconscious Mind defines all reactions and automatic actions we can become aware of if we think about them. For example, our ability to ride a bicycle: once we get skilled we stop thinking about balancing, when to pedal, when to break, when to speed up, when to slow down, when to bend etc., but when we think about it later, we become aware about all the action we took.

Continue reading “How to use messages from our subconscious mind to live a purposeful life? – Purpose of Living – Part 33” →

Purposeful Living through Releasing – Purpose of Living – Part 32

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Knowing, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Releasing, Spiritual3 Comments

Releasing
EntImage credits: 10ofcupsministries.org

After having been a student and teacher of how to master ourselves by living a purposeful life and programming our own mind, for the past twenty five years and believing that this is one of the best methods available to help us live a happy and successful life, finding ‘Releasing’ (or did Releasing find me?) has opened possibilities I thought never existed.

Sometimes opportunities find us when we welcome them. And perhaps it was such serendipitous moments when the notion of Purposefulness found me about 25-years ago and the notion of Releasing found me 25-years later.  Releasing, also presented under the rubric of The Sedona Method (same methodology with a different presenter), has been hailed by people like Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, was showcased in the best-selling The Secret, has been the subject of numerous testimonials from leading authorities like Dr. David Hawkins, Michael Singer and others in terms of being an exemplar of “inside out” breakthroughs. Continue reading “Purposeful Living through Releasing – Purpose of Living – Part 32” →

Stress & Life Purpose – Purpose of Living – Part 31

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Health Care, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team Excellence1 Comment

Stress and Life Purpose
Image credits: lifealchemyblog.com

Managing stress was at the center of a coaching discussion I had with a CEO a few months ago. He was very successful and his success is attributed to the hard work he put in to his job. He gave his job first place and was willing to work late in to the evening, work on weekends and travel extensively for the success of his organization.

He had not adequately developed his team to take over responsibilities as he preferred to get things done on his own. While this worked for a while, it was taking its toll when the organization grew to a larger scale. He was also having issues at home as his two teenage sons had lost interest in studies and sports and preferred a lazy life engrossed in video’s and games using the expensive devises the father had purchased for them. His wife had given up trying to get him involved in family matters and was trying to manage on her own, but the absence of the father’s love, guidance and attention could not be compensated adequately by her. This is a source of stress when he returns home.

Continue reading “Stress & Life Purpose – Purpose of Living – Part 31” →

Impact of religion and politics on personal purpose? – Purpose of Living – Part 27

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Knowing, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Sri Lanka, World affairs4 Comments

Impact of religion and politics of people 2

My blog post of last month addressed the notion of purpose of violence in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka. We saw the involvement of religion and politics in the aftermath of the incident, over the past month. The intention of this blog post is to help us to understand how religion and politics positively and negatively impacted the lives of people.

Since I am not an intelligence, theological or political science expert to make judgements about what happened, and who was responsible for what happened, I request you not to take the assumptions I make in this post as truth. I am far away from the inner circles to know the truth and I am basing this blog post on what I have heard from trusted personalities such as the Cardinal of Sri Lanka, the Commander of the Army, and a retired intelligence experts known to me personally.

Continue reading “Impact of religion and politics on personal purpose? – Purpose of Living – Part 27” →

Attacking the Innocent – What is the Purpose? – Purpose of Living – Part 26

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Knowing, Leadership, learning, psychology, purpose, Spiritual, Sri Lanka, World affairs9 Comments

easter attacks - condole april 19
Image Credits: fairmail.info

It was Easter Sunday (21 April 2019). I was in my flat in Dhaka, attending to some important business matters when I got a message that a bomb had gone off at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo. Having not heard of bombings and terrorist violence for the past ten years, since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, I hoped it was a hand grenade thrown by a business rival involved in unscrupulous business, with no injuries; these were the rare occurrences we heard of over the past ten years. Then the news started pouring in with photos and videos of simultaneous bomb attacks in two other churches and luxury hotels as well. My immediate concern was for my family who would have been at an Easter Mass at the same time. After calling and ensuring they were safe, my thoughts went out to the victims. I started hearing news of people known to me or families of people known to me having lost their lives or being injured, among the 253 souls that departed and 500 plus injured. I had visited St Anthony’s Church many times and I could picture the carnage as if I was there. It is considered a miraculous church and people from all religions visit to reflect on their challenges and ask help from St Anthony to resolve them.

Continue reading “Attacking the Innocent – What is the Purpose? – Purpose of Living – Part 26” →

When purposes clash at the workplace – Purpose of Living – Part 25

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Team Excellence, TeamsLeave a comment

collegue purpose conflits
Image credits: http://www.insperity.com

Have you ever faced a situation where you have a purpose that clashes with the purpose of a colleague, such as your boss, peer or a direct report? Has this situation led to misunderstandings, arguments, anger, click formation, politicking and even violence that starts affecting the business of the organisation? How did you handle the situation? Has it made you become disgruntled about the notion of ‘purposeful living’ and even resulted in discouraging team members in living purposefully. I will try to address this issue in this blog post from the experience I have had in dealing with such situations as a team member from within the organisation or as a consultant and coach from outside the organisation. Continue reading “When purposes clash at the workplace – Purpose of Living – Part 25” →

When Purposes Clash in Families – Purpose of Living – Part 24

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual1 Comment

When purposes clash
Image credit: http://www.keyministry.org a caption

Have you ever had a situation where you have a purpose different to the purpose of a family member, such as a spouse, parent, sibling or child? Has this situation led to misunderstandings, arguments, anger, violence or estrangement? How did you handle the situation? Has it made you become disgruntled about the notion of ‘purposeful living’. I will try to address this issue in this blog post from the limited experience I have had in dealing with such situations.

Recently I had the opportunity of counselling a couple who were facing such a situation;  the husband is a successful chief executive of a company and the wife is a senior manager in a bank. They have two adorable children. The family is financially sound with means of passive income. The husband was very caring to the family and they were always happy. The wife had always been supportive of the husband, specially in the early days of their marriage when he was struggling to move up the corporate ladder, while caring for the children. Continue reading “When Purposes Clash in Families – Purpose of Living – Part 24” →

Finding Purpose in giving – Purpose of Living – Part 23

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Communications, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual2 Comments

purpose in giving - jan 19
Image credit: http://www.stapostle.org

It’s interesting that the month of January 2019 was a month where I did as much free work as paid work. The first free assignment was to provide a keynote address at the new year celebration of a leading organisation in the insurance industry to inspire the staff of over 1000, who were gathered for the celebration, on the 1st of January. The second free assignment was to continue to help the administrators, parents and past pupils of my alma mater, St Anthony’s Collage, to take forward the strategic plan that I facilitated in formulating one year ago. The third free assignment was to help an important arm of the government of Sri Lanka to develop the leadership of a very important category of officials in becoming better leaders and making a better contribution for the development of the country. Continue reading “Finding Purpose in giving – Purpose of Living – Part 23” →

Purpose of Living – Part 21: Inspiring others to live a purposeful life

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Ecology, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, Team ExcellenceLeave a comment

inspire
Image credits: http://icorecoach.com

We explored the notion of purpose from various viewpoints in the first ten blog posts in this series. We then started making sense of our purpose in the next ten blog posts. I invite you now to reflect on the ninth aspect in the model of purposeful living– inspiring (the dark blue colour circle in the model). While this is the ninth and final circle, in real life it can happen anywhere in the nine circles, it’s not necessarily chronological. There could be also other circles that are yet to be discovered. Once we gather momentum in living purposefully, we start inspiring others to live purposefully as well.

This blog-post deals with our responsibility to inspire others to live a purposeful life. We can inspire others by design or by accident. On one hand, others can get inspired when they see the improvement of our quality of life as we attempt to live a purposeful life.  Living a purposeful life includes; living with a set of positive values, engaging in spiritual activities, looking after our health, building quality relationships, building financial stability, developing intellect and allocating time for purposeful activities. On the other hand, we could use our roles in life to inspire others. These roles include being a parent, sibling, relative, teacher, leader, colleague, author, speaker, and social figure such as a sportsman, entertainer, business leader, religious leader and social leader etc. Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 21: Inspiring others to live a purposeful life” →

Purpose of Living – Part 19: Responding to the Universe

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Ecology, Environment, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual, TeamsLeave a comment

universe responding to purpsoe
http://www.breathethinkwriterelease.com

We explored the notion of purpose from various viewpoints in the first ten blog posts in this series. We then started making sense of our purpose in the next eight blog posts. I invite you to now reflect on the seventh aspect in the model of purposeful living– Responding (the dark green colour circle in the model). While this is the seventh circle, in real life it can happen anywhere in the nine circles, it’s not necessarily chronological. An opportunity received could make someone feel fully alive and of service to the world and this can make him/her reflect and find purpose.

This blog-post deals with responding to the opportunities provided to us from the universe. I use the word universe to describe the energy system, a higher power that makes this planet tick. Those who are religious would make sense of this higher power as God, Allah or the Almighty. Whatever we call this power, I feel we are not intelligent enough to understand this higher power and it requires faith or a brilliant scientific mind. I believe the opportunities can come our way or we can go looking for the opportunities. Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 19: Responding to the Universe” →

Purpose of Living – Part 17: A Representation for the Purpose

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, SpiritualLeave a comment

Purpose artefact cropped
An artefact representing my life-purpose – read the post for an explanation of how it represents my life-purpose

We explored the notion of purpose from various viewpoints in the first ten blog posts in this series. We then started making sense of our purpose in the next 6 blog posts. I invite you now to  reflect on the fifth aspect in the model of purposeful living – Representation, the light beige colour circle in the model. While this is the fifth circle, in real life it can happen anywhere in the nine steps, it’s not necessarily chronological.

This blog post deals with creating a representation for our purpose that we have now started to glimpse, based on the processes suggested in the last few blog posts.  A representation when seen regularly helps us to internalise the purpose, remind ourselves that we are in this world for a bigger reason, helps us decide to take some baby steps during the day towards living a purposeful life, energizes us, makes us feel more valuable, helps us to make decisions, solve problems etc.

Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 17: A Representation for the Purpose” →

Purpose of Living – Part 16: Building Self to be Fit for Purpose

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Ecology, Environment, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual5 Comments

Building ourselves to live purposefully

We explored the notion of purpose from various viewpoints in the first ten blog posts in this series. We then started making sense of our purpose in the last five blog post. I invite you to now reflect on the fourth aspect in the model of purposeful living– Building – the light blue colour circle in the model. While this is the fourth circle, in real life it can happen anywhere in the nine steps; it’s not necessarily chronological.

This blog-post deals with building ourselves to be fit for purpose. I believe that God almighty or the universal energy system, or whatever way you make sense of the energy that makes life tick, would send us the opportunities to make our contribution to life. It could be a calling, a vocation, an opportunity to serve or an opportunity to further develop ourselves.

When I had a glimpse of my purpose 22 years ago, I decided to build myself by developing my spirituality through regular prayer and meditation, my health through regular visits to the gym, my relationships through spending more quality time with my family and team members, and my knowledge through re-introducing the reading habit to my life. These are four areas where we need to build ourselves; spiritual, physical, relational and mental. I started improving in these four areas and I felt successful and happy as a result, giving me peace of mind resulting in the improvement of the fifth aspect; emotional. I found I was getting less angry and was less frustrated when things did not go according to my plans. Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 16: Building Self to be Fit for Purpose” →

Purpose of Living – Part 13: Awareness about the Notion of Purpose

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Ecology, Health Care, Knowing, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Spiritual2 Comments

Purposeful Life - mar 2018
Image credits: Centre for disability and development – Texas A&M University a caption

We explored the notion of purpose from various viewpoints in the first ten blog posts in this series. We then started making sense of our purpose in the last two blog post. I invite you to now reflect on the first aspect in the model of purposeful living – Awareness, the grey circle.

This aspect deals with how we become aware of the notion of purpose, and realise the importance of living purposefully. There are some who are aware of the notion of purpose, but do not realise the importance of living a purposeful life. There are others who are aware of the notion of purpose and its importance as well. I believe both aspects are needed to motivate us to start seeing the glimpse of our own purpose, the second aspect of the model of purposeful living.  Let’s explore these two aspects in the next two paragraphs.

Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 13: Awareness about the Notion of Purpose” →

Purpose of Living – Part 12: Making Sense of our purpose – the space

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Ecology, Environment, Health Care, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, SpiritualLeave a comment

psychic energy
Image credits: http://getcontent.wordpress.com

We explored the notion of purpose from various viewpoints in the first ten blog posts in this series. We then started making sense of our purpose in the last blog post, the eleventh in the series. I invited you to explore a model of purposefulness that has been developed over the past three years of my doctoral studies. This is still work in progress and will continue to evolve in this year of writing my thesis and beyond.  However, I believe it has potential to help us make sense of our purpose because my professional practice over the past 20 years and my doctoral inquiry so far over the past three years has informed me of possible ways of making sense of our purpose.

The model as it stands now, presented in the previous (eleventh) blog post is based on the notion that our sense of purpose, that may evolve with life, is related to making a positive impact on the process of life using the talent, passion and compassion of each living being. I used the metaphor of the sun that provides us energy and inspiration, to explain purpose and the nine planets as the various aspects related to living purposefully. These aspects are related to each other through the space it resides in and I have a hunch that the space is the real thing. Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 12: Making Sense of our purpose – the space” →

Purpose of Living – Part 7: The Psychological Viewpoint

On By Ranjan De SilvaIn Business, Communications, Knowing, Leadership, learning, Personal Excellence, psychology, purpose, Relationships, Spiritual2 Comments

psychology of purpose
http://www.webpt.com

We explored the notion of purpose from the view point from Abrahamic Religions, Eastern Philosophies, Early Sciences, Modern Sciences and Philosophy in the last few blog posts in this series. Let’s now have a look at this notion from some of the Psychological viewpoints.

Although having been appointed to boards of two of the companies of John Keells Holdings, at the age of 27, after having been appointed Marketing Manager of that company at the age of 24, largely due to the gold medal I won at the final examination of the UK based Chartered Institute of Marketing examination, and many corporate successes, I had a sense of emptiness and meaninglessness in my life during my early thirties. The various solutions applied to deal with this emptiness were related to attempting to think and act positively after having attended the ‘Mastery of Self’ playshop during that period. I also find many of the participants attending workshops I facilitate grappling with such emptiness.

Positive psychology – A science of positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions promises to improve quality of life and prevent the pathologies that arise when life is barren and meaningless – addresses this feeling of emptiness, described with the word ‘barren’.  The exclusive focus on pathology that has dominated so much of our discipline results in a model of the human beings lacking the positive features that makes life worth living. Hope, wisdom, creativity, future mindedness, courage, spirituality, responsibility, and perseverance are ignored or explained as transformations of more authentic negative impulses (Seligman, Csikszentmihalyi, 2014, p.5).

Continue reading “Purpose of Living – Part 7: The Psychological Viewpoint” →