Self-Improvement Blogs (525)

Do you have a cool head in a crisis or do you panic. Can you handle a crisis or do you stand around not knowing what to do? Or even worse, do you break down?

A crisis is like any other event in your life. The more you are exposed to it, the better you can cope with it. If the same crisis occurs regularly, it becomes routine. It is the same as an inexperienced soldier going to war. He will forget his training, fear for his life and panic. The duration and the degree of panic will depend on the person.

That is why new recruits are sent to war with old hands to stabilize them. After a while he gets used to the carnage and he copes better. It is then said that he has seen the elephant. He is still scared but he can handle it.

There is no disgrace in being scared. It is a primal instinct to secure self-preservation. Any fear can be overcome if you are exposed to it often enough. The secret is to control the fear so you can effectively counter the threat.

My father often exposed us to a crisis deliberately. One such an instance I will never forget. We were to go camping when my sister was still a baby. I was about ten at the time. My father, my brothers and I were to leave three days before my mother would follow with my grandfather and family. We never camped in a park; always in the wild.

When we arrived there, we discovered that our food and water supplies that I so carefully helped to pack, were no longer in the car; only empty water containers. I suggested that we go back to fetch it but my father said that there was not enough fuel in the car and he forgot his wallet at home.

After some deliberation, he suggested that fresh water was the primary need as we could feed us from the sea and we all set off on the 4 km journey along the beach to get fresh water. Funny enough. there was a water container for each to bring back some water; all according to our abilities. At the fishing village my father ‘discovered’ enough change in his pocket to buy two loaves of bread.

Arriving back, my father caught some fish and took out a few crayfish while I had to harvest some black mussels. Then I ‘discovered’ some ground coffee and sugar under the car seat when he sent me to look for his ‘mislaid’ car keys and he produced a tin can and two plastic cups from the boot of the car. We ate like kings until the rest of the family arrived. Bread without butter never tasted better.

My father had a knack to turn a dead normal situation into a crisis. Granted, he did put some stress on us but in the process, he taught us how to cope in an ‘emergency’ and that there is a solution to every problem, no matter how monstrous it appears.


And have a great day out there. Wednesday is small Saturday!

The play field of life is uneven. We all start with different chances, and what we do with it, determines our future.

It is like a game of poker. Some start off with better hands than the others and some have better cash reserves than others. It is up to the player to improve what he holds and to use it to the best effect.

The secret is in what to hold, what to discard and when to fold. But remember that what you discard, you cannot get back, and that there is no guarantee that you will draw better cards than what you started with.

But the best hands do not always win. Very often, the player with the most confidence in what he holds is the winner. And occasionally you meet an opponent stubborn enough to throw money at it and call your bluff. Some you lose and some you win. You cannot always win.

Nor can you gain without risk and if you fold you’re out of the running but sometimes it is better to cut your losses and wait for the next opportunity. We don’t carry all our eggs in one basket.

Life has never been fair and nobody ever promised us anything different. We have to make do with what we are dealt with, take our chances and play the percentages to minimize the risk.


May you all have a wonderful day.

I am considering changing my day job from being a 'Pro-scammer' to a 'sign-writer' as I've tried singing, acting and Ballet Dancing. None seem to work for me.

Today I volunteered my skills (first time ever} to do the sign above Kittys new Shop. And it seems that she is quite satisfied with my artistic flair. Lets hope she shows her 'gratitude' when she receives my invoice....






Half-way there...

Greatest tragedies in human relationships are the inability and unwillingness to tolerate and accommodate views that are different.

We find comfort in those who agree with us, but personal growth occurs in situations where there are differences in views.

It is best to express our views regarding any matter, without the usage of harsh words written in anger to hurt other people's feelings.


Sometimes opinions others have of our views and actions may not be what we would like to hear. But if we listen to them, we often find some truth in their opinions. If we are prepared to change our ways and approaches there is always a chance for self improvement.

No one can hope to change the world by preaching a message of love while criticizing, blaming and publicly humiliating fellow humans. On the other hand if we can not deliver a Godly message in a gentle manner with respect to every living being, then we may sound like we are preaching some failed religion with a false prophet.

And it is not fair to lose temper when our faults are pointed out. Though we might think we can intimidate others by using foul language, to overlook our shortcomings, it exposes our weakness of inability to handle criticism. Foul language and anger are weak man's imitation of strength.


Having said that, we cannot remove all the stones and thorns so that the pathway be smooth. To feel comfortable, it is better to wear a pair of shoes instead. likewise, we should learn to guard our senses to have our peace of mind since we cannot succeed in removing all the disturbing objects from the world.

The mark of great people lie in how they face daily irritations with equanimity.

Wish You a Blessed Weekend!!!