iCOns

If you had the chance to choose an icon, what would you choose for yourself? An icon is a symbol that would best represent who we are. Some famous icons are political icons and religious icons. In marriage, the wedding ring is a powerful icon that symbolises continuity, completeness. What would I choose? Maybe a large ear, because it would reflect what I do on a regular basis....listen as a counselor. Maybe you would differentiate different icons for different segments of your life. Icons are simple yet powerful symbols we can use to remind us, to challenge us, to slow us down. What would you use for yourself?
SELAH

ThRu' ThE LeNs....

Cameras......im a klutz when it comes to cameras.........I guess the simpler they are the better for me. Yet, cameras are supposed to be 'idiot proof' these days...nice label don't you think? THere are 2 schools of thought....should the camera be made for the consumer or should the camera challenge the ability of the consumer? It's a tough question, but it has to be a balanced perspective. If I can utilize my camera and all its functions, I become a genius and a master of my apparatus. If I choose to not want to learn, and keep saying to myself, "You can't take good pictures", then I would never fully know the value of my apparatus. It's not a camera......its a tool. We are the users of this tool....we need to be responsible and knowledgable in using it.....So next time you see a camera, ask yourself....taking pictures or making masterpieces?
SELAH

ThE BiG PiCtUrE

I love visiting Australia for many reasons...the food, the people, the scenery...YES! of course the scenery!! Who can forget the 12 Apostles or the beautiful Daintree forest or the majestic Uluru at its gloriest center? Yet, don't you hate those postcard shots of such famous places? They seem so limited in telling the story of granduer that Creation explodes before our eyes...I guess cameras can only capture a limited slice of grandeur.....but remember, its not the cameras but the person who takes the shots that we should address. How about using a wide angle lens? You get a better perspective, you get a sense of size, of position....you do justice to the picture taken. Isn't life like a camera shot? We may be amateurs, not professionals, but we shouldn't hone in on the small slice....let's get the big picture into perspective and enjoy or understand the event in its proper position. It may take a little effort, but its worth the picture......
SELAH

YOU CAN ONLY SEE THE VIEW IF YOU CLIMB

Have you been to the Equinox at Raffles City? What a view...what an elevator too! Climbing isn't my cup of tea. Those of you who know me would know that I like to test technology and it's claims...especially elevators and escalators! Nonetheless, climbing isn't avoidable. Life is like that isn't it? We want slopes that lead down, because it's easy; but we cannot avoid the steeps that take effort and sweat. We sometimes don't climb because our level of expectation isn't there. We become contended with mediocre or we just don't feel confident that we can climb higher. The view will always be nicer the higher we climb. Point here is this: we need to put into action our thoughts. We need to put effort in what we say. Yet the effort results in a rich reward.....the view! Aim for that......yes?
SELAH

RELIEF YOURSELF

THe bathroom......some people call it their palce of solace; some people call it their place of refuge and solitude, where they can gather their thoughts. Functionally, its a place of relief! It may sound a little squirmy talking about the bathroom so openly, but its a noted fact-we need quiet places to relieve (sic) ourselves. We need to purge (pun intended) our lives regularly to get rid of the clutter of emotions and thoughts that may prevent us from thinking clearly. How often do you do that? The last thing we need is a constipated mind that isn't productive.......
Time to flush!!
SELAH

Turning Messes into Messages

How do you feel about messes? Stupid question you may ask? Yet, its a pertinent question. How do we deal with messes? Most of us react to messes. When we encounter a mess, we get emotional, we react and explode. We don't have time to think, because we are thinking of how we are misrepresented, or misinterpreted in the mess. Its a ME-centred approach. That's why its a pertinent question. Society needs to move away from being ME centred to being US centred. When we start taking into consideration those around us and how they may inadvertently be hurt, then we would be more cautious in our processes and its outcomes. That's the message we need to convey. OTHERS DO MATTER, not just YOU!
SELAH

aLiVE adMidsT StOrMs

We have been hearing alot about weather differences lately. It's seems so difficult to accurately predict the wrath of a hurricane, the damage it can do. We seem to be at the mercy of the forces of Nature. Nature seems to have taken an angry tone. Yet there are lessons we can always learn from these instances:
1. We cannot predict, but we can be prepared. That means we need to be proactive rather than reactive
2. We need to learn to be cooperative rather than stand alone. Now isn't the time for us to be self-centerd; when disasters come, EVERYONE, in some way or another is affected. Helping each other makes the day seem brighter.
3. As always, we learn from our mistakes. We aren't perfect, but we can learn from our mistakes and be better equipped for the future.
SELAH

BloGGers ethics

Bloggers beware!

It was a subject all bloggers were engrossed in; rascist remarks on the Net. "Why?"; "How dare they?" would be most people's response. Some may argue that its freedom of speech here that's been impinged upon. What's our response? It's important to remember that though the blogger is writing in a private capacity, he is using public space. It's a question of sensitivity and responsibility. Surely you would like to enjoy your picnic in the park, but you are also to keep in mind that its a public space where others can use. In our self-absorbed society, we forget the need to remember the implications involved in our actions. We need to have a big picture perspective...always.
SELAH

superSTAR

It's been a while since I last blogged....but here I am.....

The surge of energy created by Channel U's runaway success, Project Superstar has got me wondering about how we view people these days...do labels maketh the man? Sadly, it seems to be the view of many that just because you may not dance or because you are disabled or disadvantaged or handicapped in some way, you won't fit the brand 'superstar'. On the contrary, what makes a superstar is someone who manages to smile and make himself/herself fit into normality of life, in spite of difficulties or circumstances faced. They deserve to be lauded as Superstars...
Thanks Kelvin and you deserve it....shine on for the rest of us to follow
SELAH

STiLL small VOICE

It's been a while since I last blogged. Did i have withdrawl symptoms? You bet! I don't know how many people actually stop and read what I share, but i felt really irresponsible for not doing my duty of writing this blog....even if it is totally voluntary!

Strange isn't it? This thing we call conscience. We wish for more of people in society to have a conscience of ownership, of responsibility, of justice. Imagine if we all set our consciences to high alert; this world would probably see a decline in vices and an increase in honesty, and integrity. Yet a conscience is only as good as how one uses it. If we choose to compromise and be complacent, it's voice is silenced.....
SELAH

Little Black Book

Black Books. You know, the ones where darkest secrets are written.....real 'tell-me-all" stories are found? Ones that you keep hidden in the deepest drawer so no one can see? We all have one, physically or metaphorically speaking. Some of us actually keep such a book, others, keep a drawer in our mind all locked up with a huge NO TRESSPASSING sign firmly displayed. Really, what we write in there doesn't quite help...it binds the secret to us...we and the secret become one. When we are so intertwined, the secret can become our reality. that's powerful but dangerous. Be careful what you put in your little black book...its black for a reason... or rather it should be red.....yes?
SELAH

Why BLoG?

I guess now is a good time as any to pose this question. Bloggers have been in the news lately, with not so good reviews. Blogging is like an online diary, where we pen our thoughts and share ideas. The danger of it being online poses ethical and moral dilemmas for us all. We have to be sensitive in what we say, conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner, so as not to offend anyone. Yet, the realist will argue that we aren't allowed to be ourselves, expressing how we really feel. There is truth in that, but there is also a need for us to remember responsibility needs to be taken seriously too. That's the reason why my blog is generic...it deals with motivation and inspiration through a reflective process from a counseling perspective. If it helps, I'm happy. If it makes you think, I ponder with you. If it changes your perspective positively, I smile.
SELAH

GOOD MORNings

Mornings.....what do they signify for us? Some of us dread mornings....we dread the unaccomplished from the previous day that now needs to be completed. We dread the relationships we need to face, the people we don't feel like saying 'hello' to; we dread the morning ritual of meetings, of targets, of........yes I could go on...but..we still wake up don't we? Especially when the sun tickles our eyelids and says "its a new day of life!" Haven't we forgotten? Mornings are testimonies that life is in us....we are......ALIVE!
SELAH

sMILE

A smile goes for miles! We don't smile enough these days. Maybe we do, at ourselves, a smirky smile that says I'm better than you; or we smile a seductive smile that says we can use you for ourselves? Smiles really tells us if your heart is smiling as well. Yup, a smile should come from the heart, not from the head. When we genuinely smile, all barriers are broken, bridges are restored, lives are mended. When we smile, we are spreading hope and happiness to a gloomy world. You don't have to follow the majority; don't scowl, don't despair.....sMILE!
SELAH

Facing Ends

They say that all goods must come to an end. It's an interesting quip to analyze when it comes to death. Do we really want to end our dreams, our aspirations,our journey? Some may say it's a viable option if you are struggling, if you are in hardship. I disagree. I believe the suffering and hardships are more lessons than trials for us. We learn resilence, we learn patience, we learn inner strength that helps us travel the journey with confidence and determination. Yes, if our day's journey comes to an end, we have to realize that, our final resting place isn't in our control, but in the control of God.It's how we face an end that will determine if it will becoming a beginning for us.
SELAH

dePRESSion

depression.....notice the operative paranthesis is the word PRESS? its what depression does...it presses us deeper into the muddle, the fog we have in our head. I remember, when I was in Queensland, I was caught on a boat with thick fog surrounding me; it was freaky, it was surreal. I really didn't know what was before me, or behind me, and i became conscious of my fears, my insecurities. Thats what depression does.....it pulls you in. But you have a CHOICE......sail persistantly on your desire to see your destination or be swallowed up....
SELAH

FEAR

Let's play a game....try rearranging the word 'fear' into as many combinations as you can...ready? let's see.....'ear';'far'...that's it? ear and far.....quite interesting that ear and far are two words we have different reactions too these days....Well, fear isn't far from us...bombs in London, suicide bombers in Palestine, tsunamis in Asia; fear isn't far, its very near and very scary for many of us. What about the word 'ear'? It's what we hear too....there is fear in our words as well. Fear is everywhere. Yes it maybe, but we don't have to have fear...we can choose faith. Faith in our values, faith in our beliefs.
SELAH

Where Am i In All Of This?

I heard a song many years ago that has stuck in my mind....and my heart. "My Place in this World" was a hit for its singer Micheal W Smith, but it asked a very pertinent question tht many people are asking today...where is MY place? In fact, the question today wouldn't so much center on our place, but is there going to to be one, knowing how uncertain life is? I am not God and I can't answer, but I know that what I do today has immense reprecussions on what I do tomorrow. I have learnt to take one day at a time, making each moment significant and relevant for my tomorrows. Relevant. Significant. That you are. Act upon it to make your tomorrow happen!
SELAH

uNdeRsTanDinG

Have you ever worn a pair of spectacles with a different degree lens? Or maybe a pair that you probably wouldn't need? It changes the whole landscape of what you see..the depth, of how far, how wide.What does it take to understand another person? As a counselor, I question myself continually. Quite often people don't accept an understanding, but demand an understanding. Understanding doesn't mean you judge; it means you listen, you digest, you take time to emphatize with the other person. You actually walk in the other person's shoes for a while and get a feel of the shoe, of the gait. That's true understanding-because you are trying to gain another person's perception.
SELAH

LiMiTs

We all hate limits. Well, it depends on the how you perceive limits. Some people see limits as a good thing, because it highlights their inability to control themselves, others see limits as obsessive control. To be honest, we all need limits. Wait! Let me rephrase that: we need to RESPECT limits. Limits are needed, no matter what we may think. Limits help us to pause and reflect; why are they there for? What do we need to consider? What steps do we need to take? Next time, when you see a limit, don't vehemently discard it, or cling it without first using it as a mirror to look deep within yourself.
SELAH