The Future of God: The Merging of Science and Religion

Courage and Depth

We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers — Carl Sagan

Practice Makes Perfect

Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-Hour Rule Visualized: Practice Makes Perfect

One of the most interesting parts of Malcolm Gladwell’s fantastic book Outliers is his discussion of the “10,000-hour rule,” which posits that it takes about 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to truly master a skill, be it playing the violin, computer programming, or skateboarding.

Gladwell covers several tantalizing examples, from the Beatles to Bill Gates, and argues that the biggest factor in their success is not innate talent or blind luck, but rather dedication to their chosen craft. It’s an empowering message, and one that suggests that almost anyone can succeed if they put in the time (could those saccharine posters be right?).

Of course, privilege and luck can greatly ease the way, but there’s little substitute for 10,000 hours of work.

This infographic, created for the blog Zintro by Nowsourcing, takes a closer look at practice and the 10,000-hour rule.

Of course, as Kurt Cobain said, “Practice makes perfect, but nobody’s perfect, so why practice?”

Click here to view the infographic.

The Challenge of Humility while climbing the Ladders of Success

Too often have I seen money, power, greed and fame corrupt the character of otherwise strong men and women. Driven by ambition, we start to climb the ladder of success long before our first job. While we grow up, we will have undergone tests, trials and undertaken the endeavors of our skills. These usually take place in an educational setting and serve to hone an inborn inclination to succeed, to surpass others. Subtle intellectual and emotional exercises serve to stiffen character and prepare the individual to weather the various setbacks and disappointments that are inevitable in the struggle for success. Today I'd like to discuss about how we can hone the values of humility while seeking to climb the ladders of success.

We are often reminded that the door to the kingdom of God is exactly as high as we are when we walk on our knees. If we are standing tall, full of pride, we can't get through. However in the office, the opposite behaviour is promoted. We can't get ahead, unless we promote ourselves, we must take the centre stage, claim all the credit for success, even if this means climbing the backs of your colleagues. The quiet achievers remain anonymous, while the loud and the proud leap forth with promotions, attention and success.

It's not just the office culture that has the problem with humility. Many of us still equate it with self-hatred and self-disgust. "I'm not very good at so and so", "I'm not pretty", "I'm no way as good as him/her" is the usual humility seeking behaviour that I often see amongst people, and especially Christians. But as a slogan that I encountered put it, "The challenge is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less often". This is the art of self-forgetfulness. 

Humility comes naturally to some people but usually it needs to be learned. We become humble by being around humble people and by consciously acknowledging that we are not better than others. Humility means not putting yourself either above or below others; it means not thinking about your position on a scale. Humility is not about thinking life and success as a ladder, but rather as a path, a journey in which you, him, her and I are walking forwards together. A ladder suggests the egoistic concept of ourselves and our individual desires. A path suggest a way laid down for us and for others as well. That very difference is humbling and liberating. 

We must forget about thinking life as a ladder, but rather as a road, a journey in which you, him, her and I are walking forwards together. We must forget that success is not a ladder, but a road that each of us is on. We must not think about life as a ladder, but as a road, a journey to walk forth together. It is acknowledging that we are all on this walk of life together. This includes the evil, the corrupted, the broken, the ugly, the poor, the hungry, everyone including the average person we often come across briefly in our lives. Once we have this viewpoint, we will see everyone as equals and remove the thought of the ladder and judgement. Some may choose to run ahead, let them for it is their choice. Many do so leaving behind their friends and family. Others may stumble and fall. The truth is that we must approach life with the virtue of love — we must help those who stumble and fall and also those who may get lost running ahead. Guided by love and light, you will see others join your company and with your walk in life. 

A musician was asked how he could play so beautifully. His reply was "I have splendid music, a splendid instrument, a splendid bow. All I have to do is bring them together and get out of the way." Every teacher or speaker knows what this means — and how difficult it can be to do. We have to put aside our need for attention so that the bright light of what we are presenting is what people see.

We must not make a fuss over fame or failure. Those who are attached to the roar of the crowd or the agony of their defeats are imprisoned in their own dramas. When honors come, accept them gratefully without fanfare. When you are ignored, let the feeling of unimportance pass calmy. Think of both reward and rejection as similar to a wind that comes and then passes. 

Many of the great spiritual masters practiced what could be called "downward mobility." Jesus, for example, encouraged his disciples to create a community of equals. After they argued over who was the greatest, he knelt before them and washed their feet. "I am among you," he said another time, "as one who serves." Strive to create the conditions in the world that will lead to a this kind of community. In daily life, this means working to break down the barriers that separate people and put the rich over the poor, the able-bodied over the disabled, the literate over the illiterate, the strong over the weak. (Matthew 5:3-11)

In summary, in order to remain humble and to be successful in the workplace, we must not see life, career and success as a ladder, but as a pathway, a journey in which we are all walking forth together. While we must place importance about self-forgetfulness, we must present the light in our passions, our talents and our virtues. We must not act to be the light that shines, but to present that light through love, and the moment we present the light, we truly become the light that shines. The freedom that comes in doing so, makes our present lives on earth feel like heaven. Once we begin to see that each of us have one thing in common — the gift of life —  our hearts begin to be touched by love and softened. We begin to see beyond the corruptness, greed, evil and see that life is truly beautiful. Nethertheless, we must accept that we are here to service and honour our gift of life while walking alongside with others. We begin to not think of ourselves, but by equally loving all others who are also in this walk of life. A universal connectedness in this journey of life. 

Success is therefore not a ladder, but a path and journey to be shared. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Mirrors by Laura Williams Photography

Mirrors by Laura Williams Photography 

Ten Things Everyone Needs To Learn From Their Childhood Self

Ten Things Everyone Needs To Learn From Their Childhood Self

We can all learn from our childhood selves. That innocent kid within us that used to take the world at face value and trusted the process of life. I know that we can learn a lot from our childhood self and re-introduce a childlike wonder into our daily experiences. Here’s how…

1. Be more trusting of others & let others in instead of building barriers

As we get older, life throws us challenges and sometimes those challenges cause us to shut off from the world in order to protect ourselves. We get hurt and we quickly learn to judge others and build barriers to keep others and the world at bay. This gives us a sense of control but it also fosters loneliness and disconnection from others. Learn to let the barriers down and allow others to get to know the real you. The more someone knows you, the more empathy they will have for you. The world will seem a warmer, friendlier place.

2. Adopt an open, honest attitude and express yourself freely
Children speak their minds but this isn’t taken the wrong way because young children do not operate with malicious intent. They just express congruency between their inner world and their outer world. Freedom of expression starts to dwindle as we get older. Society conditions us to keep quiet and behave. In this way, we tend to lose a small part of our true character in an effort to fit in and be acceptable in society. By expressing yourself and resisting the urge to always be politically correct, you are honoring your childhood self. Speak your mind and be open in a positive way. Compliment others and spread goodwill. You’ll be making the world a better place.

3. Wear your heart on your sleeve

There is an innocence and a delicate trust that children show when they wear their hearts on their sleeves, yet they do it naturally. They will tell someone that they like them or that they would like to spend time with them. Adults who often fear rejection, hide their true intentions leading many interactions to resemble a guessing game. When we don’t trust the world, we focus on our suspicions and our thinking changes the way we interact with others. We treat others with caution and unwittingly change the whole dynamic of the social interaction by way of our behavior. Actively choose to see the good in others, learn to trust and people will more often than not meet that expectation in a positive way. When we give others the chance to help us or do the right thing, they will often oblige.

4. Rediscover your curiosity about life, love and the ways of the world

Being inquisitive involves understanding that there is still so much to learn. We never stop learning no matter what age we are. Children constantly ask “Why?” and this is a habit that we tend to grow out of. Start asking yourself “why” instead of just accepting the status quo. Our childhood self had a hunger for knowledge that helped us grow and discover. You are never too old to learn and understand more. An active brain keeps the mind healthy and strong- it needs to be exercised, just like the rest of your body. Curiosity is a virtue.

5. Foster optimism about the future

Do you remember how excited you used to be just before Christmas? That feeling of intense joy and anticipation is hard to beat. Rekindle that childlike emotion by expecting good things in your future. As adults, we tend to be more cynical and almost expect disappointment but this can set us up for failure. Expect the best and try not to constantly imagine all the things that could go wrong. Imagine that the best is yet to come and trust that things will turn out okay. Even if they don’t turn out as you expected, deal with what comes your way without torturing yourself needlessly with negative anticipation.

6. Dream big and imagine the impossible

How often have you heard a child say something like “One day, I am going to be an astronaut”. Our adult minds immediately scoff at this idea and think about all the logical reasons as to why this might never happen…financial restrictions, competition from others to find a job and so on. We employ self limiting beliefs without even realizing it and in the process. We minimize our chances of attaining what we dream about. It’s okay to dream big just as our childhood self did. As the saying goes “you can’t score a goal if you aren’t on the playing field.”

7. Maintain a “can do” attitude

Most children tend to think positively rather than negatively. Once we become adults, our thinking tends to default to the negative. Our childhood self looked at possibilities. If we wanted to build a tree house, we would go about thinking about how to make it happen instead of focusing on all the reasons it might not happen. This is an important attitude to nurture. It can fill your life with possibilities rather than regrets.

8. Be playful and silly sometimes

All work and no play makes a person very dull (and miserable!). Children spend a large amount of time escaping from reality to mess about and have fun. Make time for your childhood self to come out and play. Run around the garden, wear a silly hat or spend time laughing. All of these activities release endorphins – that ‘feel good’ hormone that makes us feel happy and alive. Life can be too serious sometimes so make sure to lighten your life up with a little fun.

9. Live in the moment

There’s a lot to be said for enjoying the present moment. Often, we’re either resentful about the past or worrying about the future. When we do this, we suck the enjoyment out of the present moment by not being fully present in the here and now. As a child, life was lived as it played out – then and there. Your childhood self was present in the moment and enjoying everything that was happening around them as it happened. Your childhood self savored every moment and rarely worried about the past or the future. This is one of the keys to happiness.

10. No hidden agenda

What you see is what you get. Young children very rarely have a hidden agenda and your childhood self was no exception. That childlike innocence that is devoid of assumptions and prejudices. You still have this skill within you. See the world at face value, like a child would and you will enjoy a more peaceful existence. As adults we torture ourselves with ideas about what someone intended or why they behaved a certain way. Often, we will never know but we nevertheless agonize over situations and possible “what ifs.” When you take situations at face value, the innuendo and game playing goes over your head and cannot bother you.

We automatically assume that as adults, we are wiser than when we were children but there is a lot to learn from our childhood self. That raw, true element of our nature that lived life with no holds barred and worried less about outcomes, possessed wisdom. Reconnecting with your childhood self allows freedom and creativity to flourish. Approach the world with an open mind, judge less and laugh often and you will be on your way to rediscovering your childhood self.

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/ten-things-everyone-needs-learn-from-their-childhood-self.html

21 Habits of Happy People

21 Habits of Happy People

“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed.

We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. The following are 21 things happy people make a habit of doing:

1. Appreciate Life

Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

2. Choose Friends Wisely

Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.

3. Be Considerate

Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.

4. Learn Continuously

Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.

5. Creative Problem Solving

Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.

6. Do What They Love
Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.

7. Enjoy Life

Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.

8. Laugh
Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)

9. Forgive

Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.

10. Gratitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.

11. Invest in Relationships

Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.

12. Keep Their Word

Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.

13. Meditate

Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.

14. Mind Their Own Business

Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.

15. Optimism

See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.

16. Love Unconditionally

Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.

17. Persistence

Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.

18. Be Proactive

Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.

19. Self Care

Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.

20. Self Confidence

Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.

21. Take Responsibility

Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.

Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits as you own. The more you incorporate the above habits into your daily lifestyle – the happier you will be.

Most of all: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

Hidden Wonders Around the World

Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Tulip Fields in Netherlands

One of the World’s Largest Mirrors, Bolivia

Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Red Beach, Panjin, China

Bamboo Forest, Japan

Street in Bonn, Germany

Naica Mine, Mexico

Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan

Black Forest, Germany

Fields of Tea, China

Tianzi Mountains, China

Hang Son Doong, Vietnam

Shibazakura Flowers, Takinoue Park, Japan

Antelope Canyon, USA

Lake Hillier, Australia

Lake Retba, Senegal

Lavender Fields, UK and France

Canola Flower Fields, China

Mount Roraima, South America

Zhangye Danxia Landform, China

The Butterfly Circus

Lights

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness 

by Timothy Keller 

What are the marks of a heart that has been radically changed by the grace of God? If we trust in Christ, what should our hearts be like? It is not simply a matter of morally virtuous behaviour. It is quite possible to do all sorts of morally virtuous things when our hearts are filled with fear, with pride or with a desire for power. We are talking about hearts that have been changed, at the root, by the grace of God - and what looks like in real life. 

We will be focusing on a section of Paul's first letter to Corinthians - 1 Corinthians 3:21 - 4:7. 

So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hide in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 3:21  

The Corinthian church was filled with division. It has originally been planted by Paul. But, as we see from the references to Apollos and Cephas, other evangelists had come to the Corinth later on. As a result different people had connections with different prominent ministers. So one person was mentored and disciplined by Paul, another was mentored and appointed leadership by Apollos (another great teacher) and so forth. Instead of everybody being happy they had a relationship with Paul or with Apollos, these relationships are now the basis for power-play. Parties have arisen and visions are tearing the church up. One person argues that he should be the leader because he was discipled by Paul, the Saint Paul. And another lays claim to a particular relationship with some other prominent minister. And so on.

  In this passage, Paul shows that the root cause for the division is pride and boasting. That is the reason we cannot get along, the reason there is no peace in the world and the reason we cannot live at peace with one another. Have a look. Verse 21 starts off 'no more boasting'; chapter 4:7 says 'why do you boast...?'; and note verse 6 especially where he urges them not to 'take pride in one man over against another'.

  'No pride, no boasting,' says Paul. So we after the trait of humility. And that means we get into the very interested subject of self-esteem.

  Up until the twentieth century, traditional cultures (and this is still true of most cultures in the world) always believed that too high a view of yourself was the root cause of all the evil in the world. What is the reason for most of the crime and violence in the world? Why are people abused? Why are people cruel? Why do people do bad things they do? Traditionally, the answer was hubris - the Greek word meaning pride or too high a view of yourself. Traditionally, that was the reason given for why people misbehave.

But, in our modern western culture, we have developed an utterly opposite cultural consensus. The basis of contemporary education, the way we treat incarcerated prisoners, the foundation of most modern legislations and the starting point for modern counselling is exactly the opposite of traditional consensus. Our belief today - and it is deeply rooted in everything - is that people misbehave for  a lack of self-esteem and because they have too low a view of themselves. People used to think it was because they had too high a view of themselves and had too much self-esteem. Now we say it because we have little self-esteem.

  A few years ago, there was an article in the New York Times magazine by psychologist Lauren Slater called 'The Trouble with Self-Esteem'. It wasn't a groundbreaking article or a bolt out of the blue. She was simply to beginning to report what experts have known for years. The significant thing she says is that there is no evidence that low self-esteem is a big problem in society. She quotes three current studies into the subject of self esteem, all of which reach this conclusion and she states that 'people with high esteem pose a great threat to those around them than people with low self-esteem and feeling bad about yourself is not the source of our county's biggest , most expensive social problems. [1]

  It would be fun to explain how that works and why that works and so on. But, for now, let's say that she is right when she says it will take years and years for us to accept this. It is so deeply rooted into our psyche that lack of self-esteem is the reason why there is a drug addiction, the reason why there is crime, wife beating and so forth. Slater says it is going to take forever for this view to change.

  You see, the thing about the 'low self-esteem theory of misbehaviour' is that it is very attractive. You do not have to make any moral judgements in order to deal with society's problems. All you have to do support people and build them up. In traditional cultures, the way you dealt wht these problems was that you clamped down on people and convicted them and called them bad!

  What is intriguing about this passage in 1 Corinthians is that it gives us an approach to self-regard, an approach to the self and a way of seeing ourselves that is absolutely different form both traditional and modern / post modern contemporary cultures. Utterly different.

The three things that Paul shows us here are:

1. The natural condition of the human ego. 
2. The transformed sense of self (which Paul had discovered and which can be brought about through the gospel).
3. How to get that transformed sense of self. 

To be continued...

The Natural Condition of The Human Ego 

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