There was a stingy and rich businessman. One day, he invited the local governor to his house for dinner. So he told his cook to prepare the most expensive and delicious food for his guest. During the dinner, the cook prepared Shark Fin Soup, Abalone, etc for them. The businessman was very happy until the last dish, when the Peking Duck was served. The duck had only one leg!!! The businessman was very angry and demanded the cook to give his explanation.
The cook replied, "Sir, the ducks in your house had only one leg". "That's impossible!" the businessman said. "All right, we shall go to the backyard and have a look whether the ducks have two legs or one leg."
As it was the night already and all the ducks were sleeping, they were all standing on one leg. The cook said, "Sir, see I told you, the ducks have only one leg." The businessman was not convinced, and he started to put his hands together and clap very loudly. The ducks were wakened up and started to run here and there. The businessman said, "Now you tell me, the ducks have how many legs."
The cook replied, "Sir, if you have given me the clap, I would have given you two legs too".
Everybody needs a pat on the shoulder to continue working. When was the last time, you show your appreciation to people who helped you or work for you?
Now if you have a role model (it can be a friend or famous people), who is able to score 100 points each for the above 5 characteristics, how much points do you give yourself? If you are not able to score full points, start working on it and maybe you can be somebody else's role model in future.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Life Skill #4 To overcome excessive worry and tension
Long time ago in China, there was a couple with a twins. One was very positive, but the other one was very negative. During their birthday, their parents decided to give them birthday presents. For the negative child, their parents gave him lots of toys. They thought this would make him happy. As for the positive child, the parents thought that since this child was already positive, just gave him some white papers.
However, when the couple went to see their children, they were surprised to see the negative child crying. The father asked, "My dear son, why aren't you happy? You don't like the toys?" The boy replied, "You give me so many toys to play, if they are spoilt and I don't know how to repair, what should I do?" And the boy continued to cry. When the couple went to see the positive son, they were surprised to see him so happy. The mother asked her son, "My dear son, why are you so happy?" He replied, "The white papers you gave me, I can use it to fold a boat, I can also write something on it. There are so many uses for paper. Thank you very much for your present."
Do you know that it is important to overcome worries and tension? Only when you are able to do so, you are able to enjoy better relationship with people, and face greater challenges.
However, when the couple went to see their children, they were surprised to see the negative child crying. The father asked, "My dear son, why aren't you happy? You don't like the toys?" The boy replied, "You give me so many toys to play, if they are spoilt and I don't know how to repair, what should I do?" And the boy continued to cry. When the couple went to see the positive son, they were surprised to see him so happy. The mother asked her son, "My dear son, why are you so happy?" He replied, "The white papers you gave me, I can use it to fold a boat, I can also write something on it. There are so many uses for paper. Thank you very much for your present."
Do you know that it is important to overcome worries and tension? Only when you are able to do so, you are able to enjoy better relationship with people, and face greater challenges.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Life Skill #3 . To maintain the high level of enthusiasm at workplace and in daily living
How many of us wake up every morning and say to ourselves, "What a good day. It's a nice good day for challenges again"? I guess not, most of us would probably want to remain in the bed, hugging our bolster. We seem like getting up from the wrong side of the bed everyday. So, what's the problem?
We add sugar to our coffee when it not bitter, we add salt when our soup is blend, we add chili when we want some spice in our food. We eat everyday and we add seasoning to our food everyday.
We work everyday, but do you add seasoning to your work everyday too? Do you know "Lack of enthusiasm will wrinkle your soul"? Spice up your life now!
We add sugar to our coffee when it not bitter, we add salt when our soup is blend, we add chili when we want some spice in our food. We eat everyday and we add seasoning to our food everyday.
We work everyday, but do you add seasoning to your work everyday too? Do you know "Lack of enthusiasm will wrinkle your soul"? Spice up your life now!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Life Skill #2 To be accepted by others with ease
Did you come across somebody whom simply irritates you? I went to a restaurant for dinner with my friends the other day. The food was great and I even told my friends that we can come here again the next time.
After we finished the food, I asked the waiter for the bill. I was taken back when he coldly told me, "$38". No "please", and no "thank you"! Just "$38"!!! The worst part was after that I made the payment by credit card, he threw my card and the receipts on the table, without arranging them properly. Despite my image of "Mr. Nice Guy", I became nasty. I went forward to the waiter and asked him, "Do you have a problem? What kind of attitude is this?" If the waiter had treated me better, would I need to create a big fuss?
Sometimes in our life, did we also do something that irritates people? The golden rule applies, "Put on a smile, and you make a day for all of us".
After we finished the food, I asked the waiter for the bill. I was taken back when he coldly told me, "$38". No "please", and no "thank you"! Just "$38"!!! The worst part was after that I made the payment by credit card, he threw my card and the receipts on the table, without arranging them properly. Despite my image of "Mr. Nice Guy", I became nasty. I went forward to the waiter and asked him, "Do you have a problem? What kind of attitude is this?" If the waiter had treated me better, would I need to create a big fuss?
Sometimes in our life, did we also do something that irritates people? The golden rule applies, "Put on a smile, and you make a day for all of us".
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Life Skill #1 To express ourselves clearly and freely
How many of us are able to say what we want, how we feel? It was late Saturday night. Henry was not home from work yet. His wife was worried. But as soon as Henry stepped through the front door, the first thing that his wife greeted him was, "Where the Hell did you go? Do you know how late it is now?!"
You can imagine how the rest of the night went, as both of them started to argue. If Henry's wife was able to express herself better and said, "Henry, where did you go? I'm so worried about you," the argument could be prevented, and their feelings could be expressed.
Now, think about yourself, when was the last time you were so over-controlled by your own feelings and emotions that you were not able to express how you actually felt? Could the situation be improved?
You can imagine how the rest of the night went, as both of them started to argue. If Henry's wife was able to express herself better and said, "Henry, where did you go? I'm so worried about you," the argument could be prevented, and their feelings could be expressed.
Now, think about yourself, when was the last time you were so over-controlled by your own feelings and emotions that you were not able to express how you actually felt? Could the situation be improved?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
SMILE!!!!!
She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindnesses of a friend
And wrote him a thank you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank you
That he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
Bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings,
And gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room.
He didn't know at that moment
that he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
And took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked till he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn't cost a cent.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindnesses of a friend
And wrote him a thank you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank you
That he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
Bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings,
And gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room.
He didn't know at that moment
that he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
And took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked till he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn't cost a cent.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ten Secrets of Love
* The first secret - the power of thought.
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about. Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships.
Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about ourselves and others. If we want to love someone, we need to consider their needs and desires.
Thinking about your ideal partner will help you recognize her when you meet her.
* The second secret - the power of respect.
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them. The first person you need to respect is yourself.
To begin to gain self-respect ask yourself, "What do I respect about myself?" To gain respect for others, even those you may dislike, ask yourself "What do I respect about them?"
* The third secret - the power of giving.
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it! The more love you give, the more you will receive.
To love is to give of yourself, freely and unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness. Before committing to a relationship ask not what the other person will be able to give to you, but rather what will you be able to give them.
The secret formula of a happy, lifelong, loving relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead of what you can take.
* The fourth secret - the power of friendship.
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend.
Love does not consist of gazing into each other's eyes, but rather looking outward together in the same direction.
To love someone completely you must love them for who they are, not what they look like. Friendship is the soil through which love's seeds grow.
If you want to bring love into a relationship, you must first bring friendship.
* The fifth secret - the power of touch.
Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love, breaking down barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and emotional states and makes us more receptive to love.
* The sixth secret - the power of letting go.
If you love something, let it free. If it comes back to you it's yours, if it doesn't it never was. Even in a loving relationship, people need their own space. If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive and let go of past hurts and grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, egos and conditions. "Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power over me - today is the beginning of a new life."
* The seventh secret - the power of communication.
When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes. To love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love know that you love them and appreciate them. Never be afraid to say those three magic words: "I Love You." Never let an opportunity pass to praise someone.
Always leave someone you love with a loving word - it could be the last time you see them. If you were about to die but could make telephone calls to the people you loved, who would you call, what would you say and ...why are you waiting?
* The eighth secret - the power of commitment.
If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it, and that commmitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions.
Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to have loving relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an option.
Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship from a strong one.
* The ninth secret - the power of passion.
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not come through physical attraction alone, it comes from deep commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement.
Passion can be recreated by recreating past experiences when you felt passionate. Spontaneity and surprises produce passion. The essence of love and happiness are the same; all we need to do is to live each day with passion.
* The tenth secret - the power of trust.
Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Without it one person becomes suspicious, anxious and fearful and the other person feels trapped and emotionally suffocated. You cannot love someone completely unless you trust them completely.
Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never end. One of the ways you can tell whether a person is right for you is to ask yourself, "Do I trust them completely and unreservedly?" If the answer is "no", think carefully before making a commitment.
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about. Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships.
Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about ourselves and others. If we want to love someone, we need to consider their needs and desires.
Thinking about your ideal partner will help you recognize her when you meet her.
* The second secret - the power of respect.
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them. The first person you need to respect is yourself.
To begin to gain self-respect ask yourself, "What do I respect about myself?" To gain respect for others, even those you may dislike, ask yourself "What do I respect about them?"
* The third secret - the power of giving.
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it! The more love you give, the more you will receive.
To love is to give of yourself, freely and unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness. Before committing to a relationship ask not what the other person will be able to give to you, but rather what will you be able to give them.
The secret formula of a happy, lifelong, loving relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead of what you can take.
* The fourth secret - the power of friendship.
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend.
Love does not consist of gazing into each other's eyes, but rather looking outward together in the same direction.
To love someone completely you must love them for who they are, not what they look like. Friendship is the soil through which love's seeds grow.
If you want to bring love into a relationship, you must first bring friendship.
* The fifth secret - the power of touch.
Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love, breaking down barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and emotional states and makes us more receptive to love.
* The sixth secret - the power of letting go.
If you love something, let it free. If it comes back to you it's yours, if it doesn't it never was. Even in a loving relationship, people need their own space. If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive and let go of past hurts and grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, egos and conditions. "Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power over me - today is the beginning of a new life."
* The seventh secret - the power of communication.
When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes. To love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love know that you love them and appreciate them. Never be afraid to say those three magic words: "I Love You." Never let an opportunity pass to praise someone.
Always leave someone you love with a loving word - it could be the last time you see them. If you were about to die but could make telephone calls to the people you loved, who would you call, what would you say and ...why are you waiting?
* The eighth secret - the power of commitment.
If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it, and that commmitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions.
Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to have loving relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an option.
Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship from a strong one.
* The ninth secret - the power of passion.
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not come through physical attraction alone, it comes from deep commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement.
Passion can be recreated by recreating past experiences when you felt passionate. Spontaneity and surprises produce passion. The essence of love and happiness are the same; all we need to do is to live each day with passion.
* The tenth secret - the power of trust.
Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Without it one person becomes suspicious, anxious and fearful and the other person feels trapped and emotionally suffocated. You cannot love someone completely unless you trust them completely.
Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never end. One of the ways you can tell whether a person is right for you is to ask yourself, "Do I trust them completely and unreservedly?" If the answer is "no", think carefully before making a commitment.
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