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Browse published articles attributed to Tony Fahkry, with full-archive search.
“What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you can achieve.” - Norman Vincent Peale “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it,” remarked the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
“People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.” - Thomas Szasz What is lost can never be found, what is found can never be forgotten. So echoes the quest to realise your true identity. I remain convinced you do not discover your identity in as much as evolve into it. As you discard the image of the formed self, you allow the authentic self to emerge.
“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” - Harriet Beecher Stowe Think like a Billionaire I am fascinated by billionaires. There I said it. Please don’t hold me in contempt as I endeavour to explain myself.
“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” – Randy Pausch
What does motivation represent to you? How do you motivate yourself? Do you require constant motivation? I want you to consider these questions throughout this article. Motivation has come to embody a pivotal role in people’s lives within the developed world. Those from non-English speaking countries often lament how lazy we are in English speaking countries. Work ethic remains consistently high within the Asian and European countries. This cultural ethos is passed down from generations and instilled in their young.
“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” - Haruki Murakami Life is unpredictable. No surprises there. You never know what lies around the corner waiting to test your resolve.
The Tyranny of Time In his book, The Power of Purpose, author Richard J. Leider offers readers an insightful story for finding one’s purpose through action: “A young man who was searching for his life’s purpose wrote to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. He said he had discussed the purpose question with every wise person he had come across, had read every book on purpose he could find and had travelled to faraway places to seek the guidance of some of the greatest spiritual teachers. However, no one had ever been able to tell him what his purpose was.
“Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes When it became clear that the Master was going to die the disciples were depressed. The Master smilingly said, “Don‘t you see that death gives loveliness to life?” “No. We’d much rather you never died.” “Whatever is truly alive must die. Look at the flowers: only plastic flowers never die.”
“In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
“To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says: "Leave no stone untu ed." - Edward Bulwer Lytton
“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.” - Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass The journey to reach your goals far exceeds the goal itself. Furthermore, the final outcome may not be as significant as you’ve been led to believe. Two bold statements, yes I know. Indulge me for a brief moment as we explore further.
“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.” - William Shakespeare Taming the monkey mind It’s an all too common experience - the silent, yet incessant self-doubt which inhabits your mind, combined with the stream of destructive thoughts which accompany it. The voice repeatedly commands your attention, while reminding you of your inherent weaknesses. The ceaseless inner dialogue knows no boundaries until it has completely overwhelmed you. In that very moment you have surrendered, knowing it has taken hold of you once more.
What Constitutes Talent? I still recall my final year of university with restrained enthusiasm. I wrote my final paper on a prominent figure whom I admired at the time. I firmly recall a passage from a book loaned to me, which was translated from Italian to English. It said of the person, “He was so talented that even the blind were aware of him.” I felt it was a fitting description for a person of great talent. That passage has stuck with me for seventeen years, etched in to my mind as a measure of an individual’s influence on the world.
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.” - Lewis Carroll A Roman general known for his valour, insisted a slave follow him everywhere holding a sign that read, momento mori which translated means, “remember that you have to die.” I invite you to consider the extent of your life be measured by the significant moments instead of missed opportunities. Knowing life is short, we must seize the day to discover our path.
“Never idealise others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don’t over-analyse your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness.” - Leo F. Buscaglia Reflections of Ourselves Relationships are the most significant and nourishing experiences of our lives if approached with an open mind and a compassionate heart. Take a moment to reflect on an existing relationship which may be causing you distress. Although you share a common bond, there may possibly be a differing of opinions which warrants disagreement at times.
“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” - The 14th Dalai Lama I wish to draw your attention to a line from the Dalai Lama’s opening quote, “…he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
Your authentic self I wish to present you with an uncommon view of reality. For the next five minutes, the time it takes you to read and integrate this information, I intend to put forward an alte ative view of life which you may not have previously considered. Indulge me as I outline a case for the benefits of merging mind, body and spirit.
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brené Brown The Master was never impressed by diplomas or degrees. He scrutinised the person, not the certificate. He was once heard to say, "When you have ears to hear a bird in song, you don't need to look at its credentials." The passage from Anthony De Mello’s book, One Minute Wisdom underscores the message that brilliance always seeks its own path to reveal itself.
Whether you’re starting out or a season veteran, following your dreams remains an elusive yet fulfilling quest. Ask any person who has traded their career to follow an endless dream and they’ll advise you they have not worked a single moment in pursuit of their passion. Yet for many, chasing one’s dream may be filled with fear and intrepidation. The fear of the unknown is stifling to some. For others, placing trust in a universe that rarely interacts with them can be soul-destroying.