Success | Overcoming Depression

October 23, 2012 by Karin Stewart Leave a Comment

The Power of Words – Sir John Gurdon – Nobel Prize winner

In the beginning God spoke the Universe into being. “And God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light…'” (Genesis 1).

Words are powerful – once spoken they’re out in the open and there’s no way you can make them disappear. Some people can be really nasty and mean but if you believe that the nasty words spoken to you are true, you will make them come true. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. However you can also choose to reject those words as untrue and not let them take away your dreams.

2012 Nobel Prize in Medicine

This prestigious award was recently given to Britain’s Sir John Gurdon and the Japanese Scientist Dr Shinya Yamanaka for their groundbreaking work in stem-cell research.

What really fascinated me was Gurdon’s story of his school experience. Gurdon proved that teachers don’t always know the truth!

Gurdon’s schoolboy ambition was to become a scientist.

“Quite ridiculous” said his Eton schoolmaster. “I believe Gurdon has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous; if he can’t learn simple biological facts, he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who would have to teach him.”

There is power in the spoken word and that year, Gurdon scored the lowest mark for biology in his year at Eton. “Out of 250 people, to come bottom of the bottom form is quite something, and in a way the most remarkable achievement I could have been said to make,” said Gurdon.

Gurdon framed the old school report which is now a browning scrap of paper as a reminder. It keeps him humble when an experiment doesn’t work out!

What can we learn from this?

What God speaks will come into being but … teachers and parents? No, not necessarily. Children often think adults are God-like and what they speak is the truth, but they’re not. They make mistakes and get things wrong.

Can you think of some nasty or destructive things that were said to you as a child that still impact on your life? Time to throw them out and live the life that you are meant to live.

Read more on the work of Gurdon and Yamanaka at http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/oct/08/nobel-prize-briton-science-teacher

September 28, 2012 by Karin Stewart Leave a Comment

Live life like an artist! – Andrew Verster

Live your life like an artist and enjoy life’s journey!

“Every artist enters unknown, uncharted territory every day of their lives.There are no maps, except for those you make yourself. There are few signposts. And there is no guarantee that you will reach your destination.

At each moment in the making of an artwork there are choices.

What is the next move?
What color is right?
What shape goes with this shape?
Do I need more texture? Less texture?
Are the materials appropriate?
What about the size?
Who am I making this for?
What about the subject? Style?
Content?

And a hundred other questions.

Now each of these questions needs an answer as you grope your way from this point to the next.
And it is only you who can answer the question.

Picture making cannot be done by proxy. In the same way, life cannot be lived by proxy.

And that in essence is what prepares you for all the other things you might do in your life. The training forces you to make decisions, and in so doing, you define who you are. And who you are not.

Even making the wrong decisions can be useful, forcing you to retrace your tracks and take another fork in the road.

In the end, a painting or a sculpture or a video a drawing or a tapestry, is a map of where you have been. A map of your journey. And, most importantly, a record of a number of decisions…..

Someone once said that making art was like dancing in the dark. You know your feet are moving but you don’t know where you are going.

And I think it is this that thrills me about all the creative processes. This sense of discovery.This hunch that you are going somewhere but you don’t know where.” – Andrew Verster

This inspirational extract is from an acceptance speech given by Andrew Verster, the famous South African artist, on receiving an honorary PhD. Arts from the Durban University of Technology in 2009. He was addressing Art student graduates.

Picture making cannot be done by proxy. In the same way, life cannot be lived by proxy. Make the most of what you can. Your life is like a blank canvas waiting to be painted creatively. The only person who can paint it is you!

September 4, 2012 by Karin Stewart 2 Comments

Dave Du Plessis survives being shot in the Amazon

Dave Du Plessis, a South African from Durban is an adventurer. All adventurers know that you face risks when pushing boundaries. But then who wants to live life from an armchair, cocooned in safety. Dave has been in the news because he was shot while paddling a kayak in the Amazon. The fact that he is alive is a miracle and has much to do with his determination for life.

Wanting to know more about this incredible man I had a look at his blog and found these words which can truly inspire all of us.

Take Action

“Learn to take action, coupled with thought, determination and faith in your ability. That brilliant business idea you have – put it into physical form, make the idea tangible and physical. That person you want as a partner – don’t just say great things do great things, don’t say Love, DO Love. Take action, physical action and results will appear, maybe not the results that you ideally believe should be in place, but remember that what ever is out there, that system has foresight that humans lack. We don’t see the BIG, REALLY BIG picture – the universe’s governing system does and this only becomes apparent when taking action with belief and faith in you.

Don’t sweat the small stuff!

Don’t sweat the small stuff either. For example I knew why I wanted to go for such a project, I never knew how and still don’t know how it will turn out – the ‘how’s’ are up in the air and not for me to decide. I decide the ‘why’s’. That life governing system creates the ‘how’s’. Know, to your core, ‘why’ you have to do something and take action, the ‘how’ will fall into place. The unknown ‘how’ is what makes life beautiful, spontaneous and incredible!

Embrace the why’s, faith in the how’s!

Imagine if you knew how everything turned out? There would be no surprise, excitement, lessons, spontaneity, change and all those other words that evoke the most incredible human emotions. There would be no unknown, no butterflies, no goose bumps and no tears. Embrace the why’s, faith in the how’s!

To live is action

To Live is an action, not a thought alone. Thoughts are your blueprint so make sure they are structured to enable your actions to produce the results.
Think to Live, Live through Action.

‘DO or DO NOT, there is no TRY’ – Yoda

Live Inspired.” – Thank you Dave for these words of inspiration. We wish you a speedy recovery.

Ref: http://worldwonderer.co.za/

Other posts of inspirational people: Winning starts in the head – Olympics 2012, Paralympics London 2012

August 6, 2012 by Karin Stewart 1 Comment

Winning starts in the head!

1968 America Gold Medalist – Sprinter Tommie Smith

The other evening I really enjoyed watching a BBC Postcard interview with the American sprinter Tommie Smith. In 1968 he won the Gold medal in the 200m sprint in Mexico City Olympics. During the award ceremony, he raised his gloved right fist in protest again racial discrimination. He also ran in black socks, which, with the black glove, represented the need to survive. Going without shoes represented poverty.

Smith was motivated to win so he could make a statement about racial injustice. He had something important to say. On his return to California he was treated as a traitor and for many years he couldn’t find a job. He has to be admired for standing up for his convictions and his fight against racial injustice. Thankfully, legalized racial discrimination is now a thing of the past.

For many years Smith worked as a sprinting coach and his key words for succeeding are these: “if you want to succeed you have to watch what goes on in your head”. This doesn’t only apply to sprinting, but whatever we wish to succeed in. Our thoughts direct our behavior, not the other way round. If you want to do well, you have to visualize and believe success. You have to watch your self-talk, which is all that non-stop chatter that goes on in your head. “You’re what you believe” said Smith. Obviously you also have to do the physical training, but success starts with the head, what you believe about yourself.

Just Do It!
Winning also starts in the head. “If you run as fast as you can, you win. You might not hit the tape first, but you have won in your own mind because you beat yourself from the last time.” In other words, as the Nike advert says “Just Do It”. You’re only a failure when you stop trying.

2012 American Gold Medalist – Michael Phelps

Back to the London Olympics!
Have you noticed how many Olympic swimmers, including Michael Phelps, stroll into the swimming arena listening to ‘something’ on their headphones. I couldn’t help but wonder what on earth they were listening to. Watching TV a BBC interviewer must have read my mind because he asked a sports psychologist the very same question. “What goes on in your mind is very important if you want to perform to your max”, he replied. There we go again with this ‘mind thing’! “It all starts with the mind” said Smith, years before.

All the shouting and excitement from the audience can be distracting as the athletes prepare themselves for the race. So rather put on the headphones, turn up the volume and fill your head with music that’s motivating, that will psyche you up for winning. I wonder what Phelps listens to. I’m sure it’s not country music nor do I think it’s Dori singing “Just Keep Swimming,” in the movie Finding Nemo!

Application to all of us non-Olympic medalists!

It all starts in the mind. Be careful of the thoughts you entertain.
If you’re battling with depression, your thoughts can be extremely debilitating. Just remember that the mind can only hold one thought at any one given moment in time. So … if you have thoughts that are pulling you down or negative thoughts dominating your mind, do as these athletes do. Find music that inspires you and lifts your spirit, load them onto you MP3 player, put on the headphones and tune yourself into some more upbeat words of encouragement. Start singing and dancing to the music!

Oscar Pistorius – Mothers Day tribute-

Oscar Pistorius, known as the ‘blade runner’ is South Africa’s sporting hero. We’re so proud of him being chosen to represent our country in the Olympic Games (for the able-bodied) despite being technically disabled with prosthetic legs.

His sporting motto is “You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have”. Focus on your abilities rather than allowing yourself to be brought down by your disabilities.

Being Mothers Day I thought I would read up about what his mother was like. I could only think that she must have been an incredible driving force behind Oscar as he was growing up. I wasn’t disappointed with what I read.

Oscar has a brother Carl and when their mother Shiela told Carl to put his shoes on, she told Oscar to put his legs and and ‘that’s the last I want ot hear of it!” She died when Oscar was 14 and he has wonderful memories of her. ‘She was very cool; a very hectic, free spirit. She didn’t really comply with much and had a very carefree approach to life. She didn’t take anything too seriously…. and never made decisions for us. When you try to do things sometimes and you don’t succeed and you give up, you never really know what the potential could have been if you had stayed dedicated to something.’ What inspiring words and what a wonderful tribute to his mother.

This did get me thinking… We can either bring our children ready to explore this wonderful world of ours, or we can limit them by our own fears. When we limit them by our fears children walk in the footsteps of their parents, go to the same college, qualify for the same job and marry the same sort of person as their opposite sex parent. Children grow up into replicas of their parents – all very safe!

We all learn from our mistakes and so children should also be given the opportunity to explore this world and grown into the people they are meant to be. If you don’t try you don’t know what you’ve missed out on, so you’d better make the most of every opportunity that comes your way!

To all the mothers out there – Wishing you a very happy Mothers Day!!

Information on Oscar Pistorius obtained from : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2117316/Oscar-Pistorius-exclusive-walking-wild-side.html#ixzz1tv4EM24y

The Power of Words – Sir John Gurdon – Nobel Prize winner

Live life like an artist! – Andrew Verster

Dave Du Plessis survives being shot in the Amazon

Winning starts in the head!

Oscar Pistorius – Mothers Day tribute-

Categories

Latest blog posts

Feeling Good By David Burns

Need help for anxiety?