Stuart Tan:Connectedness within self and others?

Deep connectedness indeed. I’ve also come back from a short trip. Actually, it was an interesting a re-discovery of myself. I believe everyone needs to go back to themselves and figure out what has happened. Perhaps the true self has been left behind in all our quest for material gain.

Incidentally, spiritual connectedness within oneself when extended beyond the self becomes a very enriching experience. Recently, I discovered that there is someone whom I have a great connectedness to, in many ways than one. It’s almost like we can read each other’s mind. Of course, this is very rare. I’d say what this person is thinking or vice versa. I might even catch a glimpse of what this person is thinking or feeling.

What happens when you have something like this? It’s like a spiritual microcosm where the connectedness extends beyond yourself. It’s uncanny, though it might be possible to nurture.

Manoj Sharma - Life is Simple, We Complicate It

Stuart, I completely echo your post on Enlightenment especially the impact of spirituality at work, home and even at play.

There absolutely is a growing consciousness around the planet of the spiritual domain and how spiritual connectedness immediately impacts us in our personal and professional life.

Speaking with people over the last 10 years and from my own personaly experience I can safely say there is a clear recognition of the importance of spirituality especially by those who are successful in their finances, career, business, relationship and life.

Spirituality of course in this case is not to be mistaken for religion. After all there are many individuals who are spiritual with no religion to speak of and many religious people with no spirituality to speak of. Spirituality in its simplest terms being a deep connectedness with oneself.

I have just come back from a short break with my family and extended family in a less developed country and this allowed me many reflective moments. I couldn't help but notice, quite immediately, how contended people are with what they have and what pleasant, peaceful and "prosperous" lives they live. While this is not a new insight for me or even you the reader it is worthy of reflection as to how very simple life really is and to the degree we tend to complicate it with our wants and desires.

Interesting?

Stuart Tan: Enlightenment

Have you heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? He states that we aim to achieve self-actualization. In many cases, I see people striving for social and esteem needs in Singapore, but more and more, I realize that people have spiritual needs as well. There is a gradual shift in those who have earned their keep over the years and wonder what will happen after passing through this worldly existence. More importantly, the spiritual significance of such a change will be likely to impact the way we do business, run schools, engage in politics over the next 20 or 30 years to come. I’m not suggesting that people will turn God fearing suddenly. I’m saying the emphasis of spiritual needs will be likely to take a more prominent role in decisions we make in the world we know today.

Stuart Tan - The Fear Of The Unknown

It has been said that the fear of the unknown is one of the emotions that prevents people from accomplishing much. That because we are uncertain, we pull away. I believe that it is the fear of the unknown that also pushed early explorers to look around and to pay attention to new discoveries, new lands. When pursuing clarity and a pathway toward personal enlightenment we may face the issue of fear. Perhaps it could be fear of the unknown – but more so I believe it is the fear of what we already know, that we are unwilling or unable to come to terms with. My impression of any approach to reach our highest potential is about biting the bullet and confronting what we fear most. It’s like what they do in the show Batman Begins – you’re trained with the necessary resources to a point where you can literally flex your mental muscle and feel resourceful enough not to be fearful of uncertainty and the unknown. Confront your inner demons and transform them.

Stuart Tan - Ego is the biggest barrier to our growth

I’m picking up from you, Manoj. It’s an interesting comment you made – I’m not sure if you did this deliberately or not, but Ego: the biggest barrier to our growth? Hm. I thought about it a while and I think many people might agree with that statement, but I suspect that Ego drives everyone. It enables us to think, make decisions. What if ego is the greatest opportunity for our growth? Perhaps we are looking at the definition of ego, and then it is semantics. But I think for the benefit of those people on the blog, they will need to know what it really means to have an ‘ego’.

 

Supposing our definition is related to being prideful and egotistical. Such an individual is deemed as arrogant and yet unable to be an enlightened person. Comparatively, if our definition of ego is someone who carries presence, then it is different. The reason for this is that some individuals sometimes have a presence that is so overbearing that even though it is not this person’s intention to be egotistical, the apparent interpretation of his behavior is.

 

I suspect therefore, that the biggest barrier to our growth is the perception of our inabilities. Some people have answers and solutions – but the problem lies in that each and every potential solution never ‘works out’. This is worrying because I know that many solutions have their merits, but many people don’t take the next step to innovate that solution and bring that solution into a workable alternative. This mode of thinking is +1 mentality – if you have some idea, how about making it work the next time round adding a feature, giving the idea the next level up so you have a workable idea that creates a higher probability of success?

 

To give an example, one major issue is that if people want to start a business, a helpful friend might say – start business ABC and here are the steps how.

 

But – the individual, with all his insecurities, may understand but not experience the business idea. It then follows that a list of objections turn up, preventing the individual from starting the business.

 

“Hey Jim, I heard you wanted to start a business. That’s great! I’m sure with your knowledge of computers, you can start a successful IT consultancy”

“Yeah, but it’s so competitive. I don’t think we’ll be able to survive”

 

Sad, huh. The whole idea about innovation is you have to make up ideas that can work in the face of constraints. Yes, any business environment is competitive, but how about FINDING a way rather than seeing if there’s no roadblock? Limitations can be our strongest foes or our biggest allies. All it takes is that mental rigor to say “how can I turn this into an opportunity” and work with it.

Manoj Sharma - The Sign of An Enlightened Mind

Firstly thanks to Stuart for initiating this. After the numerous wonderful, thought provoking and deeply insightful conversations that Stuart and myself have been having over the years this has been a long time coming.

So here goes...

The sign of an enlightened mind it is said, is being able to consider ideas that contradict our own and work harmoniously with the people who have them. Do you realize all of us face this challenge everyday at work, home and at play?

And like most things profound (and from personal victorious and bitter experiences) this is not easy. Nevertheless it is one of the most rewarding experiences possible - getting past our personal ego. Our ego of course being the greatest barrier to our growth.

Stay tuned for more....

Stuart Tan - Why People Steal - The Excellence of Deviant Behavior

In recent news, there were people who were caught for having embezzled money. I simply wonder if it is just simpler to trick someone else instead of earning your own money. For some strange reason, these people choose to be excellent at stealing other people’s money rather than earning their own keep. I find that entertaining because I’m very certain that an elaborate plan requires a lot of thinking and the execution of the plan needs someone with a careful and innovative mind. The irony is that if you can do this, you can literally craft a plan.

 

The question: Why are these guys doing the right thing for the wrong reason?

The Answers will follow…

Stuart Tan - What makes people think

Since I began blogging I realized that there are many things that people don’t do on blogs. I mean, they type stuff in but it is hardly relevant to the lives of the people who view them. I thought then, to set up stuarttan.com, and that is where I list my blog stuart-tan.blogspot.com. My personal thoughts and reflections are there. But few people whom I know realize the impact of reflection and quiet time. The truth is that personal mastery or enlightenment can only occur when you find yourself on the right path or on a deviating path. Either of which will give you feedback so you can truly learn.

Stuart Tan - The Theory of Averages And The Theory of Excellence

Topic: Being Average = Being Excellent

We had a discussion previously about this – I think we had an interesting thought going.

Thought #1 - Some people are just meant to be excellently average, and that’s what they do. Anything they do over and above that is a bonus. So don’t let those occasional sparks of genius suddenly drive you to wild fantasies of super human performance.

Thought #2 - Of course, this is not necessarily true. Excellent people perform well because of capabilities and skills. Excellent teams may or may not outperform outstanding individuals, but they probably are far more stable.

Welcome To Enlightening Minds

I just got the blog set up so that Manoj and I can have our regular discussions without having to meet up all the time, or to consolidate the information we have already discussed. We are also in the process of forming up interesting ideas for you to consider in your personal and business lives. So stay tuned.

You can start posting here!