Busyness!
Think about it…
“I’m busy!”
How often is that your excuse?
It used to be my excuse every single day. My schedule used to leave me zero time for unplanned presence and awareness.
And I was proud of my busyness. I wore it like a badge!
“Didn’t you hear me? I am super busy, everybody! Keep this in mind, and have mercy on me! Please!”
Yes, that’s exactly what I used to want you to know about me…
But not anymore.
Now I actually pause, just to be and breathe. And I’m proud of it.
Here’s the thing: Busyness is NOT a badge of honor. There’s no honor at all in busyness.
Busyness is just an illness that makes everything harder than it has to be.
Busy for the Sake of Busy
If we’re not below the poverty line, juggling three jobs at once just to put food on the table, then our busyness is self-inflicted 98% of the time (the exception being that 2% of the time that a random series of incredibly difficult life events blindsides us).
I finally got a handle on my busyness when I studied it long enough to realize that, yes… my busyness was within my control. In fact, most of the time I actually created hurry and worry where none really existed. On any normal weekday, you would have found me running around begging family, business associates, and basically everyone nearby to move faster…
“If you don’t finish eating, we’re going to be late!”
“If we don’t get this task done in the next hour… we’re never going to hit our target!”
The funny thing is, whether I provoked everyone around me to move faster or not, we always collectively moved at about the same pace anyway. But when I provoked them, everyone (including myself) was unhappier.
It became crystal clear to me that nearly all of my busyness was an overreaction in my head. I was manufacturing it in hopes that it would create urgency in others, and somehow make my life easier. Instead, it did the exact opposite—my busyness only created anxiety, bitterness and complexity. And even on days when there really were lots of things to do, it was typically due to an overbooked schedule I had personally (and mindlessly) created.
All of this got me thinking:
Why in the world am I voluntarily making my life harder, busier and unhappier than it has to be?
The Reason and Answer for Needless Busyness (and Misery)
Sadly, a big part of the reason we fill our lives with needless busyness has to do with the always-connected, always-sharing, always-comparing society we live in.
We default to defining ourselves based on where we are and what we have in relation to everyone else.
If we don’t have a “better” career, house, car, or pair of shoes, we feel inferior. And the only way we can possibly do better, is to be busier doing… whatever! After all, we are what we do, right? Job title, employer… Aren’t these typically the first things we share with strangers we meet at parties?
We fill our Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat feeds, and our calendars, with manufactured busyness to avoid just being exactly who we are, exactly where we are. In the process, we not only miss out on the serenity and beauty that exists within ourselves, but we also miss out on experiencing that same serenity and beauty in the world around us, because our busyness has buried it with “hurry” and “worry,” and the endless need to be somewhere else, doing something else, as fast as feasibly possible.
Ready for a positive change in your life?
Join me, and let’s start mindfully letting our needless busyness and stress GO!
Let’s start CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK about all the things we "should" be doing, so we can start doing the right things, and actually live better lives.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Letter to Those Who've Lost Their Motivation
Dear CLINT
There’s so much I still want to create and foster in my life, and yet I feel utterly beaten down. I feel like I have nothing left to work with. I’ve been through a lot on my journey thus far, and I’m now at a point where I’ve lost all my motivation – I just can’t seem to find the external and internal sources of motivation I used to have. Do you have any wisdom you could share?
Sincerely,
A Discouraged Student
This
email was inspired by another email we received this morning from a new course
student:
Our reply (an open reply to all who have lost their motivation):
Dear Discouraged Student,It’s time for a quick story about life…
Once upon a time there was a woman in her mid sixties who noticed that she had lived her entire life in the same small town. And although she had spent decades enthusiastically dreaming about traveling and seeing the world, she had never taken a single step to make this dream a reality.
Finally, she woke up on the morning of her 65th birthday and decided that now was the time! She sold all of her possessions except for some essential items she needed, packed these items into a backpack, and began her journey out into the world. The first several days on the road were amazing and filled with awe – with every step forward she felt like she was finally living the life she had dreamed.
But a few short weeks later, the days on the road started taking a toll on her. She felt misplaced and she missed the familiar comforts of her old life. As her feet and legs grew more and more sore with each new step, her mood also took a turn for the worse.
Eventually she stopped walking, took off her backpack, slammed it on the ground, and sat down beside it as tears began streaming down her cheeks. She stared hopelessly down a long winding road that once led to an amazing world, but now seemed to lead only to discomfort and unhappiness. “I have nothing! I have nothing left in my life!” she shouted out loud at the top of her lungs.
Coincidentally, a renowned guru and life adviser from a nearby village was resting quietly behind a pine tree adjacent to where the woman was sitting. When the woman began shouting, the guru heard every word and he felt it was his duty to help her. Without thinking twice he jumped out from behind the pine tree, grabbed her backpack, and ran into the forest that lined both sides of the road. Stunned and in complete disbelief, the woman started crying even harder than before, to the point of near breathlessness.
“That backpack was all I had,” she cried.” And now it’s gone! Now everything is gone in my life!”
After about ten minutes of much-needed tears, the woman gradually collected her emotions, stood up again and began staggering slowly down the road. Meanwhile the guru cut through the forest and secretly placed the backpack in the middle of the road just a short distance ahead of the woman.
When the woman’s teary eyes fell upon the backpack, she almost couldn’t believe what she was seeing – everything she thought she had just lost was once again right in front of her. She couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. “Oh, thank heavens!” the woman exclaimed. “I am so grateful! Now I definitely have what I need to continue onward…”
REMEMBER:
As we journey through our personal and professional lives, there will inevitably be periods of incredible frustration and despair. During those tough times, it will sometimes appear to us that we’ve lost everything, and that nothing and nobody could possibly motivate us to move onward in the direction of our dreams. But just like the woman who stumbled across the guru, we are all holding with us a backpack of support that comes in many forms – it can be a simple email or text message from someone we respect, inspiring blog posts, insightful books, helpful neighbors, and so much more.
When we are feeling discouraged and demotivated, our opportunity is twofold:
Our reply (an open reply to all who have lost their motivation):
Dear Discouraged Student,It’s time for a quick story about life…
Once upon a time there was a woman in her mid sixties who noticed that she had lived her entire life in the same small town. And although she had spent decades enthusiastically dreaming about traveling and seeing the world, she had never taken a single step to make this dream a reality.
Finally, she woke up on the morning of her 65th birthday and decided that now was the time! She sold all of her possessions except for some essential items she needed, packed these items into a backpack, and began her journey out into the world. The first several days on the road were amazing and filled with awe – with every step forward she felt like she was finally living the life she had dreamed.
But a few short weeks later, the days on the road started taking a toll on her. She felt misplaced and she missed the familiar comforts of her old life. As her feet and legs grew more and more sore with each new step, her mood also took a turn for the worse.
Eventually she stopped walking, took off her backpack, slammed it on the ground, and sat down beside it as tears began streaming down her cheeks. She stared hopelessly down a long winding road that once led to an amazing world, but now seemed to lead only to discomfort and unhappiness. “I have nothing! I have nothing left in my life!” she shouted out loud at the top of her lungs.
Coincidentally, a renowned guru and life adviser from a nearby village was resting quietly behind a pine tree adjacent to where the woman was sitting. When the woman began shouting, the guru heard every word and he felt it was his duty to help her. Without thinking twice he jumped out from behind the pine tree, grabbed her backpack, and ran into the forest that lined both sides of the road. Stunned and in complete disbelief, the woman started crying even harder than before, to the point of near breathlessness.
“That backpack was all I had,” she cried.” And now it’s gone! Now everything is gone in my life!”
After about ten minutes of much-needed tears, the woman gradually collected her emotions, stood up again and began staggering slowly down the road. Meanwhile the guru cut through the forest and secretly placed the backpack in the middle of the road just a short distance ahead of the woman.
When the woman’s teary eyes fell upon the backpack, she almost couldn’t believe what she was seeing – everything she thought she had just lost was once again right in front of her. She couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. “Oh, thank heavens!” the woman exclaimed. “I am so grateful! Now I definitely have what I need to continue onward…”
REMEMBER:
As we journey through our personal and professional lives, there will inevitably be periods of incredible frustration and despair. During those tough times, it will sometimes appear to us that we’ve lost everything, and that nothing and nobody could possibly motivate us to move onward in the direction of our dreams. But just like the woman who stumbled across the guru, we are all holding with us a backpack of support that comes in many forms – it can be a simple email or text message from someone we respect, inspiring blog posts, insightful books, helpful neighbors, and so much more.
When we are feeling discouraged and demotivated, our opportunity is twofold:
- To recognize and appreciate our backpack of support – our external sources of motivation – before a random guru (or someone with far more crooked intentions) has to steal it from us so that we can finally see what we have always taken for granted.
- To be present and tap into our own hearts and minds – our internal sources of motivation – which have the power to push us back up on our feet and guide us down the road to our backpack of support, even when it appears to be lost forever.
No matter your circumstances, you
always have what you need to take the next smallest step.
As Epicurus so profoundly said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
Be mindful. Be present.
Keep going.
As Epicurus so profoundly said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
Be mindful. Be present.
Keep going.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
How to Change the Way You Think About the Things You Can't Change
Ready for the truth?
Most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. And when you adjust your thinking, all that extra stress is gone.
There is a real opportunity in every difficult situation to understand yourself more deeply, and also to improve your life.
I encourage you to reflect on recent situations where you’ve felt let down – where life’s outcomes were nowhere near as good as you expected. Rather than focusing on the uncontrollable things that were “done to you,” consider instead your part in what went down. For example, perhaps your gut told you not to do something, but you did so anyway. Or maybe you were deceived a second time by the same person, and wish you had let go of the relationship sooner. Or perhaps you just weren’t paying attention and ended up missing out on a great opportunity.
It’s so easy to be negative when things go wrong, or blame others for negative outcomes in your life. But do negativity and blame change anything for the better?
No!
Truth be told, the best time to be positive and take responsibility for your own peace of mind is when you don’t feel like it. Because that’s when doing so can make the biggest difference.
No matter what the specifics of your troubled times are, taking a moment to look inward at what you could have done differently and how you could potentially avoid similar situations in the future can be a healthy exercise. This is not to blame yourself or shame yourself, but simply to give you the opportunity to learn, on a higher level, from your experiences.
It’s about learning to choose the most effective response in a difficult, uncontrollable life situation.
It’s about learning to think better so you can ultimately live better, no matter what.
The key is to realize that no matter what happens, you can choose your attitude and inner dialog, which dictates pretty much everything that happens next. Truly, the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another – to train our minds to see the good in what we’ve got, even when it’s far less than we expected.
It’s about choosing: Will I allow this to upset me? Will I choose to make this bad or good? Will I choose to stay or walk away? Will I choose to yell or whisper? Will I choose to react or take the time to respond?
When our Getting Back to Happy course students come to us feeling down about a life situation they can’t control, we typically start by reinforcing the hard truth: sometimes changing your situation isn’t possible – or simply not possible soon enough. You can’t get to a new job in an instant. You can’t make someone else change against his or her will. And you certainly can’t erase the past. But...
You CAN always choose a mindset that moves you forward. And doing so will help you change things from the inside out, and ultimately allow you to grow beyond the struggles you can’t control at this moment.
Here's a powerful question that will support you with a positive attitude adjustment when you need it most:
Who would you be, and what else would you see, if you removed the thought that’s worrying you?
Think about it...
Identify a specific thought that’s been troubling your worried mind lately, and then visualize how your life would be different if you removed this thought:
Most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. And when you adjust your thinking, all that extra stress is gone.
There is a real opportunity in every difficult situation to understand yourself more deeply, and also to improve your life.
I encourage you to reflect on recent situations where you’ve felt let down – where life’s outcomes were nowhere near as good as you expected. Rather than focusing on the uncontrollable things that were “done to you,” consider instead your part in what went down. For example, perhaps your gut told you not to do something, but you did so anyway. Or maybe you were deceived a second time by the same person, and wish you had let go of the relationship sooner. Or perhaps you just weren’t paying attention and ended up missing out on a great opportunity.
It’s so easy to be negative when things go wrong, or blame others for negative outcomes in your life. But do negativity and blame change anything for the better?
No!
Truth be told, the best time to be positive and take responsibility for your own peace of mind is when you don’t feel like it. Because that’s when doing so can make the biggest difference.
No matter what the specifics of your troubled times are, taking a moment to look inward at what you could have done differently and how you could potentially avoid similar situations in the future can be a healthy exercise. This is not to blame yourself or shame yourself, but simply to give you the opportunity to learn, on a higher level, from your experiences.
It’s about learning to choose the most effective response in a difficult, uncontrollable life situation.
It’s about learning to think better so you can ultimately live better, no matter what.
The key is to realize that no matter what happens, you can choose your attitude and inner dialog, which dictates pretty much everything that happens next. Truly, the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another – to train our minds to see the good in what we’ve got, even when it’s far less than we expected.
It’s about choosing: Will I allow this to upset me? Will I choose to make this bad or good? Will I choose to stay or walk away? Will I choose to yell or whisper? Will I choose to react or take the time to respond?
When our Getting Back to Happy course students come to us feeling down about a life situation they can’t control, we typically start by reinforcing the hard truth: sometimes changing your situation isn’t possible – or simply not possible soon enough. You can’t get to a new job in an instant. You can’t make someone else change against his or her will. And you certainly can’t erase the past. But...
You CAN always choose a mindset that moves you forward. And doing so will help you change things from the inside out, and ultimately allow you to grow beyond the struggles you can’t control at this moment.
Here's a powerful question that will support you with a positive attitude adjustment when you need it most:
Who would you be, and what else would you see, if you removed the thought that’s worrying you?
Think about it...
Identify a specific thought that’s been troubling your worried mind lately, and then visualize how your life would be different if you removed this thought:
- How would it change your outlook on your present life situation?
- What other possibilities and opportunities might you see?
- What else would you be able to accomplish with this shift in your focus?
Monday, June 26, 2017
Steps to Fix Windows Defender Error Code: 0x80073b01 in Windows 8.1 Fix Window PC Error
Windows defender is a an inbuilt feature of Windows 8.1 operating system, through
this powerful feature one can protect their computer from malware, viruses,
spyware and other malicious attacks. But sometime due to any internal error
this inbuilt application may get damaged and start showing errors like error
577 or Code 0x80073b01. Don’t worry because you can fix this error without need
of any professional skill. Few methods are given below apply them to fix this
issue:
Edit Windows Registry Database
Generally Error code 0x80073b01 occurs because of damaged registry.
To repair Windows registry corruption, apply the below given method:
- First you have to open the Windows Registry Editor: to do this Press Windows Key + R this will open the Run Windows, at this window type Regedit and press Enter
- Now search and find the below given keys and delete msseces.exe:
- “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Image File Execution Options\ ” and delete the entry msseces.exe and
- “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun” and delete the entry msseces.exe.
- After doing all the above given steps restart your computer. Try to open Windows Defender/Security Essential.
Run System File Checker
The SFC or System file checker is designed to
scan the windows files and verifies the integrity of important system files. This
is an inbuilt Windows mechanism that helps user to fix any damaged or corrupt
System file. Execution of this inbuilt feature is really very easy, methods are
given below apply them carefully.
- Open the command prompt with the administrator privileges, open the run Window and type cmd and hit enter
- In this window type sfc/scannow and press enter
- It take little time to complete the scan of corrupt system file, it also fixed them if any damaged files are found.
- After it try to open Windows Defender
If you are still unable to fix Defender Error
then you need a professional tool to fix Defender Error code 0x80073b01
.
This is the way through which one can easily get rid of this error, run this
tool and it will take few seconds to remove any Windows error. The best part of
this tool is, it doesn’t need any professional skill or you don’t need to type
any command.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
The Impacts (Positive and Negative) of ICT on Education in Nigeria
ABSTRACT
During the last decades, considerable resources have been invested in hardware, software, connections, training and support actions under the scope of improving the quality of teaching and learning. A major tenet of the policies that supported the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education was that they can become catalysts for change. Undoubtedly, some countries have made considerable progress in bringing networked ICT into education and made it possible for teachers and learners to use them on a daily basis. In many other cases, however, implementation policies have not been a consequence of systematic analysis and reflection. As a consequence, we still know little about the impact and effectiveness of ICT in education. To close this gap, this paper will be examining the positive and negative impact of ICT on education. Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), education, performance.
1.0 INTRODUCTION Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the most important driving forces promoting economic growth in the economy. However, there is less of a consensus among economists on whether the impact of ICT also stems from higher total factor productivity (TFP) growth and improved efficiency of production (due to a better educated population). During the last two decades countries have invested heavily in ICT. Indeed, the use of ICT in education and training has been a key priority in Nigeria in the last decade, although progress has been uneven. ICT has had a major impact on the education sector, on organisation and on teaching and learning methods. Yet there are considerably different ICT expenditure levels between institutions within the country. Some schools have embedded ICT into the curriculum, and demonstrate high levels of effective and appropriate ICT use to support teaching and learning across a wide range of subject areas. However, some other schools are in the early phase of adopting ICT, characterised by important enhancements of the learning process, some developments of e-learning (ICT-enabled learning), but without any profound improvements in learning and teaching (Balanskat et al., 2006).
One puzzling question concerns the effective impact of these technologies on educational outputs and outcomes. As ICTs are being increasingly used in education, indicators to monitor their impact and demonstrate accountability to funding sources and the public are ever more needed. Indicators are required to show the relationships between technology use and educational performance. ICT can be defined as computer based tools and techniques for gathering and using information. It encompasses the hardware and software, the network and several other devices (video, audio, photographic camera, etc) that can convert information, images, and sound into common digital form. It includes electronic information in processing technologies such as computer and internet, as well as fixed-line telecommunication networks. ICT is an eclectic application of computing, communication, telecommunication and satellite technology (Yusuf, 2000). The information accessed through digital technologies can promote innovation, increase productivity and enrich the quality of lives. ICT in education is broad, deep and rapidly growing field of study (Moursund, 2005). ICT utilizes a broad range of technologies that are applied in the process of collecting, storing, editing, retrieving and transfer of information in various forms. One of the major factors or agencies of national development and global competitiveness is Education.
2.0 POSITIVE IMPACT OF ICT ON EDUCATION ICT has increasingly played a critical role in all fields of human endeavours. It is being used globally to translate ideas into realizable goals and develop same into concrete achievement. ICT is readily useful in the areas of agriculture, engineering, medicine, law, architecture, aviation, commerce, insurance, banking and finance as well as maritime activities. ICT has the potential to contribute to substantial improvements in the educational system (Moursund, 2005). However to date, relatively little of this potential has been achieved in spite of ICT having significant impact on traditional school system. They have provided innovation for teaching and learning, and have engendered advances in research about how people learn, thereby bringing about
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rethinking the structure of education (Lopez, 2003). It is also widely acknowledged that ICT can be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the school system (Yusuf, 2000). The prevalence and rapid development of ICT have transformed human society from the information age to the knowledge age (Galbreath, 2000). In fact, ICT is becoming a natural part of man’s daily life. Thus its use in education is becoming a necessity. Moreover, the pace of change of ICT field currently exceeds the pace of progress of making effective use of ICT in education. There is a lot of transformation through ICT. There is an international consensus on the importance of intellectual input in creating value, underlining the need for investment in education and skills in general with a special focus on ICT skills and research development. ICT has changed the face of modern researches, requiring research organizations to be linked to each other through advanced network that is connected to the rest of the world. ICT provides resources and services to support the education, research and public services missions to universities. ICT also enhances the development and implementation of policies and procedures necessary to ensure the effective, secured and appropriate use of universities information resources and services. ICT provides a lot of services for students including distance education programmes, inexpensive printing, cell phone plans, internet connection, free dial-up, technology equipment, rentals classroom media stations, etc. Lecturers and students get relevant materials needed through the Internet. Such quality materials are used in equipping the students and upgrading their knowledge in their field of study. Moursund (2005) stated that ICT brings some very powerful aids to translating theory into practice. Two of these aids are computer-assisted learning and distance education. These days, computers with Internet connectivity have become common household items. Students often have access to: pure educational, designed specifically to provide instruction to help the user learn; communication tools and reference materials including e-mail, web, encyclopaedia, books, and other reference materials; pure entertainment, that is, games that are not designed to be educational; tools such as word processor, graphics software, e.t.c. Cellular phones, household computer games and toys, television, CD players and recorders, video tape players and recorders, are now commonplace. When students grow up in an ICT environment, they may gain many hours of experience using ICT facilities. ICT is an example of a technology that is a powerful change agent. In the view of Moursund (2005), ICT is a mind tool. Butcher (2003) & Ofojebe (2006) in Okeh & Opone (2007) viewed ICT as electronic technology for collecting, storing, processing (editing) and communicating (passing on of) information in various forms. It is an applied technology of Science and Technology for effective and efficient generation, storage, organization, protection and dissemination of information (Adjaiho, 2006 in Okeh & Opone, 2007). It is evident that ICT incorporates and extends some of the power of reading, writing and arithmetic. It facilitates the automation of many mental activities. ICT has proven to be a valuable aid to solve problems and accomplishing task in education, business, industry, science and many other human endeavours. The Science Of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) have made great progress in recent times. Braisford (1995) in Bamigboye, Aderibigbe & Buraimo (2007) described four important components of SOTL to include: Constructivism, Situated Learning, Motivation, and Transfer of Learning. Each of these is important to all teachers and students at all levels and in all academic discipline. Today, ICT provides knowledge based system that includes knowledge acquisition, knowledge incubation, knowledge amplification and knowledge dissemination. It is evident that information is a key resource which permeates teaching, learning, research and publishing. To this end, Robinson (1991) in Okeh & Opone (2007) stated that the use of new information technology can serve three main functions in the national educational growth. These are to: a. deliver all or part of the learning experiences to learners; b. supplement and extend content provided in different forms other than printed (hard copy); and c. provide a two-way channel of communication for exchange between tutors and students with their peers for feedback or for learning, problem- solving, advice, debate, and reports. Other ways in which ICT can be used in education as stated by Ikelegbe (2006) in Okeh & Opone (2007) include: i. Supporting conventional classroom work; the teacher could ask his/her students to use ICT approach; ii. Helping in the design and development of learning materials. A lot of materials can be downloaded from the Internet. Such materials must however be adapted to suit the specific instructional objectives; iii. Accessing electronic teaching materials such as books, journals. These can be accessed, stored and analyzed by the use of ICT; iv. Accessing virtual library “stocks” electronic versions of books’ journals; v. Giving or providing access to the world of resources especially in electronic form; vi. Playing a key role in educational administration. Students’ data, personnel administration, purchasing and supplies, advertisement, etc can be handled with ease using ICT; vii. Facilitating independent study and individual instruction especially on the open distance-learning programme; viii. Making learning more vivid and engaging; ix. Assisting the teacher in assessment and testing; and x. Bringing a permanent solution to brain drain problems as we now live in a global village.
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ICT is now a global phenomenon. It has been embraced all over the world due to its importance. Governments all over the world are harnessing the rich potentials of ICT and are using ICT as a tool for educational developments, economic recovery and wealth creation (Okonta, 2006). It is very useful in tackling the ills and problems facing the educational system. Today, no nation can attain its height educationally, economically and socially without ICT. ICT has also increased the ability to perform ‘impossible’ experiments’ by using simulations, as well as the possibility for students to have individual learning programs within a topic, rather than everybody having to do the same thing at the same time at the same pace. More able students can be given more challenging work, less able students can access remedial lessons.
3.0 THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF ICT ON EDUCATION There are large costs involved and poorer students and educational establishments may end up being disadvantaged. This is often referred to as being a factor in the digital divide. Students, and sometimes teachers, can get hooked on the technology aspect, rather than the subject content. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and other social media networking sites can be a distraction to living and learning in the real world. Advertisers take advantage of the big data that exists in the interface of users of these networking sites and market their various goods and services to the users. Educational institutions are not except from this marketing effort of the big data houses such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo etc. There are services geared toward the institutions offering them free Internet hosting and data storage space in the cloud in exchange for access to their data availability for analysis and advertising.
4.0 CONCLUSION The advantages of ICT on education overweighs the disadvantages ICT, therefore it can be said that ICT has a positive impact on education but nevertheless the manner in which the subject is taught has a larger effect than the mere use of ICT. i.e. if the teacher does not adapt their methods in order to make best use of ICT, then the purpose of using ICT becomes defeated, also the attitude of the educational establishment also seems to have a greater effect, when the people running them do not have the knowledge and experience, or often the money, to enable widespread and effective use of ICT in their schools, it becomes a disadvantage. Finally, the attitude of society and government has a large impact of how ICT is perceived and thus how effectively it is used. Countries where the government encourages ICT usage and where the majority of the people use ICT on a daily basis are likely to make better use of ICT in education as well as in the larger society.
5.0 REFERENCES Bamigboye, O.B. Aderibigbe, N.A. & Buraimo, O.K., (2007). Information Communication and Dialogue in conflict management: A study of Olabisi Onabanjo University Students and Ago- Iwoye Community Conflict, Journal of Library and Information Science (JOLIS), 4 (1 and 2), 23 – 38. Butcher, N. (2003). Technological Infrastructure and Use of Information and Communication Technology in Education in Africa: An Overview, Paris: ADEA. Galbreath, J. (2000). Knowledge management technology in education: An Overview, Education Technology, 40(5), 28 -33. Lansen, K. & Vincent-Lancrin, S. (2005). The impact of Information and Communication Technology on tertiary education: advances and promises, A paper presented at the OECD/NSF/U, Michigan Conference Washington DC. Lopez, V. (2003). An exploration of the use of information technology in college classroom, College Quarterly, B(1) http://www.Collegequarterly.Ca/2003-vol06-num01-fall/lopes.htm. Retrieved November 1st 2014. Magbagbeola, N. O. (2004). Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria: A Critical Assessment. Moursund, D. G. (2005). Introduction to Information and Communication Technology in Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, http://uoregon.edu/%7emoursund/Books/ICt/ ICTBook.pdf. Retrieved November 1, 2014. Ofojebe, W. (2006). The Place of Teacher Education in Manpower Development in Nigeria, Onitsha: West and Solomon Publishing Co. Ltd. Okeh O. D. & Opone, M. C. (2007). Information and Communication Technology (ICT): A veritable tool for national Educational Growth, Journal of Academics, 2(3), 234 – 246. Yusuf, O. Y. (2000). Integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Nigeria tertiary education, The African Symposium, An on-line Journal of African Educational Research Network.
1.0 INTRODUCTION Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the most important driving forces promoting economic growth in the economy. However, there is less of a consensus among economists on whether the impact of ICT also stems from higher total factor productivity (TFP) growth and improved efficiency of production (due to a better educated population). During the last two decades countries have invested heavily in ICT. Indeed, the use of ICT in education and training has been a key priority in Nigeria in the last decade, although progress has been uneven. ICT has had a major impact on the education sector, on organisation and on teaching and learning methods. Yet there are considerably different ICT expenditure levels between institutions within the country. Some schools have embedded ICT into the curriculum, and demonstrate high levels of effective and appropriate ICT use to support teaching and learning across a wide range of subject areas. However, some other schools are in the early phase of adopting ICT, characterised by important enhancements of the learning process, some developments of e-learning (ICT-enabled learning), but without any profound improvements in learning and teaching (Balanskat et al., 2006).
One puzzling question concerns the effective impact of these technologies on educational outputs and outcomes. As ICTs are being increasingly used in education, indicators to monitor their impact and demonstrate accountability to funding sources and the public are ever more needed. Indicators are required to show the relationships between technology use and educational performance. ICT can be defined as computer based tools and techniques for gathering and using information. It encompasses the hardware and software, the network and several other devices (video, audio, photographic camera, etc) that can convert information, images, and sound into common digital form. It includes electronic information in processing technologies such as computer and internet, as well as fixed-line telecommunication networks. ICT is an eclectic application of computing, communication, telecommunication and satellite technology (Yusuf, 2000). The information accessed through digital technologies can promote innovation, increase productivity and enrich the quality of lives. ICT in education is broad, deep and rapidly growing field of study (Moursund, 2005). ICT utilizes a broad range of technologies that are applied in the process of collecting, storing, editing, retrieving and transfer of information in various forms. One of the major factors or agencies of national development and global competitiveness is Education.
2.0 POSITIVE IMPACT OF ICT ON EDUCATION ICT has increasingly played a critical role in all fields of human endeavours. It is being used globally to translate ideas into realizable goals and develop same into concrete achievement. ICT is readily useful in the areas of agriculture, engineering, medicine, law, architecture, aviation, commerce, insurance, banking and finance as well as maritime activities. ICT has the potential to contribute to substantial improvements in the educational system (Moursund, 2005). However to date, relatively little of this potential has been achieved in spite of ICT having significant impact on traditional school system. They have provided innovation for teaching and learning, and have engendered advances in research about how people learn, thereby bringing about
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rethinking the structure of education (Lopez, 2003). It is also widely acknowledged that ICT can be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the school system (Yusuf, 2000). The prevalence and rapid development of ICT have transformed human society from the information age to the knowledge age (Galbreath, 2000). In fact, ICT is becoming a natural part of man’s daily life. Thus its use in education is becoming a necessity. Moreover, the pace of change of ICT field currently exceeds the pace of progress of making effective use of ICT in education. There is a lot of transformation through ICT. There is an international consensus on the importance of intellectual input in creating value, underlining the need for investment in education and skills in general with a special focus on ICT skills and research development. ICT has changed the face of modern researches, requiring research organizations to be linked to each other through advanced network that is connected to the rest of the world. ICT provides resources and services to support the education, research and public services missions to universities. ICT also enhances the development and implementation of policies and procedures necessary to ensure the effective, secured and appropriate use of universities information resources and services. ICT provides a lot of services for students including distance education programmes, inexpensive printing, cell phone plans, internet connection, free dial-up, technology equipment, rentals classroom media stations, etc. Lecturers and students get relevant materials needed through the Internet. Such quality materials are used in equipping the students and upgrading their knowledge in their field of study. Moursund (2005) stated that ICT brings some very powerful aids to translating theory into practice. Two of these aids are computer-assisted learning and distance education. These days, computers with Internet connectivity have become common household items. Students often have access to: pure educational, designed specifically to provide instruction to help the user learn; communication tools and reference materials including e-mail, web, encyclopaedia, books, and other reference materials; pure entertainment, that is, games that are not designed to be educational; tools such as word processor, graphics software, e.t.c. Cellular phones, household computer games and toys, television, CD players and recorders, video tape players and recorders, are now commonplace. When students grow up in an ICT environment, they may gain many hours of experience using ICT facilities. ICT is an example of a technology that is a powerful change agent. In the view of Moursund (2005), ICT is a mind tool. Butcher (2003) & Ofojebe (2006) in Okeh & Opone (2007) viewed ICT as electronic technology for collecting, storing, processing (editing) and communicating (passing on of) information in various forms. It is an applied technology of Science and Technology for effective and efficient generation, storage, organization, protection and dissemination of information (Adjaiho, 2006 in Okeh & Opone, 2007). It is evident that ICT incorporates and extends some of the power of reading, writing and arithmetic. It facilitates the automation of many mental activities. ICT has proven to be a valuable aid to solve problems and accomplishing task in education, business, industry, science and many other human endeavours. The Science Of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) have made great progress in recent times. Braisford (1995) in Bamigboye, Aderibigbe & Buraimo (2007) described four important components of SOTL to include: Constructivism, Situated Learning, Motivation, and Transfer of Learning. Each of these is important to all teachers and students at all levels and in all academic discipline. Today, ICT provides knowledge based system that includes knowledge acquisition, knowledge incubation, knowledge amplification and knowledge dissemination. It is evident that information is a key resource which permeates teaching, learning, research and publishing. To this end, Robinson (1991) in Okeh & Opone (2007) stated that the use of new information technology can serve three main functions in the national educational growth. These are to: a. deliver all or part of the learning experiences to learners; b. supplement and extend content provided in different forms other than printed (hard copy); and c. provide a two-way channel of communication for exchange between tutors and students with their peers for feedback or for learning, problem- solving, advice, debate, and reports. Other ways in which ICT can be used in education as stated by Ikelegbe (2006) in Okeh & Opone (2007) include: i. Supporting conventional classroom work; the teacher could ask his/her students to use ICT approach; ii. Helping in the design and development of learning materials. A lot of materials can be downloaded from the Internet. Such materials must however be adapted to suit the specific instructional objectives; iii. Accessing electronic teaching materials such as books, journals. These can be accessed, stored and analyzed by the use of ICT; iv. Accessing virtual library “stocks” electronic versions of books’ journals; v. Giving or providing access to the world of resources especially in electronic form; vi. Playing a key role in educational administration. Students’ data, personnel administration, purchasing and supplies, advertisement, etc can be handled with ease using ICT; vii. Facilitating independent study and individual instruction especially on the open distance-learning programme; viii. Making learning more vivid and engaging; ix. Assisting the teacher in assessment and testing; and x. Bringing a permanent solution to brain drain problems as we now live in a global village.
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ICT is now a global phenomenon. It has been embraced all over the world due to its importance. Governments all over the world are harnessing the rich potentials of ICT and are using ICT as a tool for educational developments, economic recovery and wealth creation (Okonta, 2006). It is very useful in tackling the ills and problems facing the educational system. Today, no nation can attain its height educationally, economically and socially without ICT. ICT has also increased the ability to perform ‘impossible’ experiments’ by using simulations, as well as the possibility for students to have individual learning programs within a topic, rather than everybody having to do the same thing at the same time at the same pace. More able students can be given more challenging work, less able students can access remedial lessons.
3.0 THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF ICT ON EDUCATION There are large costs involved and poorer students and educational establishments may end up being disadvantaged. This is often referred to as being a factor in the digital divide. Students, and sometimes teachers, can get hooked on the technology aspect, rather than the subject content. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and other social media networking sites can be a distraction to living and learning in the real world. Advertisers take advantage of the big data that exists in the interface of users of these networking sites and market their various goods and services to the users. Educational institutions are not except from this marketing effort of the big data houses such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo etc. There are services geared toward the institutions offering them free Internet hosting and data storage space in the cloud in exchange for access to their data availability for analysis and advertising.
4.0 CONCLUSION The advantages of ICT on education overweighs the disadvantages ICT, therefore it can be said that ICT has a positive impact on education but nevertheless the manner in which the subject is taught has a larger effect than the mere use of ICT. i.e. if the teacher does not adapt their methods in order to make best use of ICT, then the purpose of using ICT becomes defeated, also the attitude of the educational establishment also seems to have a greater effect, when the people running them do not have the knowledge and experience, or often the money, to enable widespread and effective use of ICT in their schools, it becomes a disadvantage. Finally, the attitude of society and government has a large impact of how ICT is perceived and thus how effectively it is used. Countries where the government encourages ICT usage and where the majority of the people use ICT on a daily basis are likely to make better use of ICT in education as well as in the larger society.
5.0 REFERENCES Bamigboye, O.B. Aderibigbe, N.A. & Buraimo, O.K., (2007). Information Communication and Dialogue in conflict management: A study of Olabisi Onabanjo University Students and Ago- Iwoye Community Conflict, Journal of Library and Information Science (JOLIS), 4 (1 and 2), 23 – 38. Butcher, N. (2003). Technological Infrastructure and Use of Information and Communication Technology in Education in Africa: An Overview, Paris: ADEA. Galbreath, J. (2000). Knowledge management technology in education: An Overview, Education Technology, 40(5), 28 -33. Lansen, K. & Vincent-Lancrin, S. (2005). The impact of Information and Communication Technology on tertiary education: advances and promises, A paper presented at the OECD/NSF/U, Michigan Conference Washington DC. Lopez, V. (2003). An exploration of the use of information technology in college classroom, College Quarterly, B(1) http://www.Collegequarterly.Ca/2003-vol06-num01-fall/lopes.htm. Retrieved November 1st 2014. Magbagbeola, N. O. (2004). Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria: A Critical Assessment. Moursund, D. G. (2005). Introduction to Information and Communication Technology in Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, http://uoregon.edu/%7emoursund/Books/ICt/ ICTBook.pdf. Retrieved November 1, 2014. Ofojebe, W. (2006). The Place of Teacher Education in Manpower Development in Nigeria, Onitsha: West and Solomon Publishing Co. Ltd. Okeh O. D. & Opone, M. C. (2007). Information and Communication Technology (ICT): A veritable tool for national Educational Growth, Journal of Academics, 2(3), 234 – 246. Yusuf, O. Y. (2000). Integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Nigeria tertiary education, The African Symposium, An on-line Journal of African Educational Research Network.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Bishops Onah and Okobo Visit Students Under Diocesan Scholarship at Veritas University Abuja
Bishops Onah and Okobo Visit Students Under Diocesan Scholarship at Veritas University Abuja
It was simply like a family meeting where the family members gather at the foot of the grandfather and father to receive instructions, admonitions, encouragement, blessings etc. No doubt such scenario gives boost, vigour and uncommon courage. Such was the privilege of the nine lucky candidates awarded scholarship by the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, under the auspices of the Bishop, Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, at Veritas University Abuja (The Catholic University of Nigeria), who were blessed with the visit of both the incumbent and emeritus Bishops of the diocese.
This happened recently during the 4th and 5th convocation ceremony of the said Catholic University. The nine candidates include: Rev. Fr. Paschal Eze- Economics, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ugwumgbo- English and Literary Studies, Boniface Onoyima- computer science, Chifurumnanya P. Okoro- Biological sciences and biological education, Ifeoma Ugwoke- English and literary studies, Jude Mary C. Ngwoke- Microbiology, Martha Ada Agada- computer Science, Maureen Makata- Biochemistry/Microbiology, Petrus Ejike Eze-Mass communication.
In a brief chat with the lucky candidates, the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey I. Onah, reminded them that Nsukka people may not have money but they are brainy. In his words "I expect that during your own convocation ceremony you will be among those to receive gifts".
In an aside with the two-priest candidates, Fr. Bishop, reminded his priests that the whole idea of further studies of the priests is to further arm the priests with arsenals that will enhance their ministry. According to him the very moment the studies no longer help the priest to perfect his ministry of spreading the Gospel, the studies is of no meaning and the priest is finished. Citing example with his encounter with his former students in Rome, he said: "I used to tell my students back then in Rome, that if the reason why I became a priest is to teach or tell you about Aristotle and Aquinas, then it is of no use, because I can as well do that without becoming a priest."
The Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Okobo, on his part exchanged pleasantries with the students who were beaming with smiles and filled with awe at such unimaginable privilege. His grandfatherly presence and encounter with the students was assuring, and inspiring. Also in the company of the two Bishops was the personal secretary to the Emeritus Bishop, Rev. Fr. Chinedum Asogwa.
It was simply like a family meeting where the family members gather at the foot of the grandfather and father to receive instructions, admonitions, encouragement, blessings etc. No doubt such scenario gives boost, vigour and uncommon courage. Such was the privilege of the nine lucky candidates awarded scholarship by the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, under the auspices of the Bishop, Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, at Veritas University Abuja (The Catholic University of Nigeria), who were blessed with the visit of both the incumbent and emeritus Bishops of the diocese.
This happened recently during the 4th and 5th convocation ceremony of the said Catholic University. The nine candidates include: Rev. Fr. Paschal Eze- Economics, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ugwumgbo- English and Literary Studies, Boniface Onoyima- computer science, Chifurumnanya P. Okoro- Biological sciences and biological education, Ifeoma Ugwoke- English and literary studies, Jude Mary C. Ngwoke- Microbiology, Martha Ada Agada- computer Science, Maureen Makata- Biochemistry/Microbiology, Petrus Ejike Eze-Mass communication.
In a brief chat with the lucky candidates, the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey I. Onah, reminded them that Nsukka people may not have money but they are brainy. In his words "I expect that during your own convocation ceremony you will be among those to receive gifts".
In an aside with the two-priest candidates, Fr. Bishop, reminded his priests that the whole idea of further studies of the priests is to further arm the priests with arsenals that will enhance their ministry. According to him the very moment the studies no longer help the priest to perfect his ministry of spreading the Gospel, the studies is of no meaning and the priest is finished. Citing example with his encounter with his former students in Rome, he said: "I used to tell my students back then in Rome, that if the reason why I became a priest is to teach or tell you about Aristotle and Aquinas, then it is of no use, because I can as well do that without becoming a priest."
The Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Okobo, on his part exchanged pleasantries with the students who were beaming with smiles and filled with awe at such unimaginable privilege. His grandfatherly presence and encounter with the students was assuring, and inspiring. Also in the company of the two Bishops was the personal secretary to the Emeritus Bishop, Rev. Fr. Chinedum Asogwa.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
FIVE PROMISE YOU SHOULD MAKE TO YOURSELF AND KEEP FOREVER
Life is not all rainbows and
butterflies. It can be tough sometimes. And you've paid a heavy
price to get this far, so the best option is to really make it count by moving
forward from where you are. Free yourself from the world's negativity –
from the sources of ignorance telling you what you can and cannot do – by
promising to look ahead, to live ahead, and to get ahead. In other words,
start making positive promises to yourself!
Promise to fight back, to fight harder, to laugh louder and longer and slap adversity back into its seat whenever it dares to stand against you. Promise to be a force to be reckoned with – because you are a force to be reckoned with.
Make these promises to yourself, and keep them forever. Repeat after me: "I promise..."
Promise to fight back, to fight harder, to laugh louder and longer and slap adversity back into its seat whenever it dares to stand against you. Promise to be a force to be reckoned with – because you are a force to be reckoned with.
Make these promises to yourself, and keep them forever. Repeat after me: "I promise..."
1. "I will not hold the past against myself." – Your problems, your weaknesses, setbacks, regrets and mistakes teach you if you're willing to learn, or they will punish you if you're not. So let them teach you, every day. Take everything as a lesson learned. If you regret some of the decisions you have made in the past, stop being so hard on yourself. At that time, you did your best with the knowledge you had. At that time, you did your best with the experience you had. Your decisions were made with a younger mind. If you were to make these decisions with the wisdom you have today, you would choose differently. So give yourself a break. Time and experience has a wonderful way of helping us grow and learn to make better choices today, for ourselves and those we care for.
2. "I will live a life that feels right to me, not one that looks right to everyone else." – Give yourself permission to follow the path that makes YOU happy. And realize that some people in your life will refuse to walk beside you as you embark on this journey; they simply won’t approve no matter what you say, and that’s OK. Sometimes when you commit yourself to creating your own happiness, it clashes with the perceptions of others. Sometimes when you gain something great, you have to let go of something else. And sometimes this ‘something else’ is a relationship that only wants you to do what they want you to do.
3. "I will let go of relationships that are obviously not meant to be." – Most people come into your life temporarily simply to teach you something. They come and they go and they make a difference. And it’s OK that they’re not in your life anymore. Not all relationships last, but the lessons these relationships bring to you do. If you learn to open your heart and mind, anyone, including the folks who eventually drive you mad, can teach you something worthwhile. Sometimes it will feel weird when you realize you spent so much time with someone you are no longer connected to, but that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. You are exactly where you’re supposed to be. We all are.
4. "I will not let any situation permanently steal my smile." – Even when times are tough, take a moment to pause and remember who YOU are. Take a moment to reflect on the things that have real and lasting meaning in your life. And then smile about how far you’ve come. Honestly, nothing in this world is more beautiful and powerful than a smile that has struggled through the tears. Any fool can be happy when times are easy. It takes a strong soul with real heart to develop smiles out of situations that make us weep. No matter how long it takes, it will get better. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.
5. "I will keep stretching myself beyond my previous level of comfort." – Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Know this! When you’re struggling, that’s when you’re growing stronger and smarter. The more time you spend there, the faster you learn. It’s better to spend an extremely high quality ten minutes growing, than it is to spend a mediocre hour running in place. Every day, you want to practice at the point where you are on the edge of your ability, stretching yourself just a little more than before, making mistakes, stumbling, learning from those mistakes and stretching yourself even farther
Saturday, March 11, 2017
A Good Man vs. A Real Man
Hi
What’s the difference between a “good” man and a “real” man?
Many would say a “good” man is caring, responsible, honest, fair and puts other’s needs before his own.
At the same time, many would define a “real” man as someone who is strong, aggressive, takes charge, takes risks, and leads with authority.
I know these are bold stereotypes but I also know they hold some truth.
It was meant to be a trick question.
Why should there be a difference between a “real” man and a “good” man?
More importantly, what does it mean to be a real, good man in our modern world?
We rarely consider the changes men and boys are facing as women make well-deserved strides toward equality. Studies show that men are increasingly unhappy, unmotivated, and unsure of their role in society and individual relationships.
The world needs more real, good men that can lead by example.
This is why I am teaching a seminar for
Men Only this April 1-2 in Tiburon, California.
You can click here now to learn more. I also encourage you to forward this email to any men in your life that would benefit from the experience.
The entire weekend is focused on men’s core issues.
For some men, it’s their jobs. They know they’re meant for more, something greater, something fulfilling. That could mean starting a business, or just finding a new job. Or even negotiating a new salary at work.
For some men, it’s their romantic relationships. They lack a deep connection and feel lost or unsure in their current relationship. Some keep dating the wrong women, over and over.
It’s time for a change. It’s time to create the life that every man should have.
During this breakthrough experience, I will teach you:
How to find your purpose and reach your fullest potential
The secret to a passionate, sex-filled marriage
How to master your emotions and resolve conflicts
Natural ways to boost your testosterone
How you can help a woman balance her hormones
Methods for lowering stress at home and at work
I will create a place for men that is safe and respectful, yet challenging. They will be able to speak their truth, be vulnerable, air frustrations, share pain, and find a part of themselves they have been missing.
I will lead them through discussions that examine modern masculinity, accountability, leadership, and competition. We will explore authentic male emotions, conflicts and healthy power.
The group will be engaged to revisit their life history, resolve the past mistakes and connect to the potential that lies ahead. This entire weekend is the beginning of a new future that is full of purpose and intention.
Imagine a man waking up with excitement and inspiration each morning because he knows he is doing his life’s work.
Imagine a man having full confidence in his abilities and having no worries or anxiety about what he is doing and where he is going.
Imagine having a deep connection with your partner where you can feel appreciation and enjoy the best sex of your life.
Imagine a man having the wisdom and the inner strength to create the life he has always wanted on his own terms.
This seminar teaches men what it means to be a real, good man, every day, in every way.
When a man takes an active role in his personal growth, it not only helps himself, it benefits his family, his community, and the world.
What’s the difference between a “good” man and a “real” man?
At the same time, many would define a “real” man as someone who is strong, aggressive, takes charge, takes risks, and leads with authority.
I know these are bold stereotypes but I also know they hold some truth.
It was meant to be a trick question.
Why should there be a difference between a “real” man and a “good” man?
More importantly, what does it mean to be a real, good man in our modern world?
We rarely consider the changes men and boys are facing as women make well-deserved strides toward equality. Studies show that men are increasingly unhappy, unmotivated, and unsure of their role in society and individual relationships.
The world needs more real, good men that can lead by example.
This is why I am teaching a seminar for
Men Only this April 1-2 in Tiburon, California.
You can click here now to learn more. I also encourage you to forward this email to any men in your life that would benefit from the experience.
The entire weekend is focused on men’s core issues.
For some men, it’s their jobs. They know they’re meant for more, something greater, something fulfilling. That could mean starting a business, or just finding a new job. Or even negotiating a new salary at work.
For some men, it’s their romantic relationships. They lack a deep connection and feel lost or unsure in their current relationship. Some keep dating the wrong women, over and over.
It’s time for a change. It’s time to create the life that every man should have.
During this breakthrough experience, I will teach you:
How to find your purpose and reach your fullest potential
The secret to a passionate, sex-filled marriage
How to master your emotions and resolve conflicts
Natural ways to boost your testosterone
How you can help a woman balance her hormones
Methods for lowering stress at home and at work
I will create a place for men that is safe and respectful, yet challenging. They will be able to speak their truth, be vulnerable, air frustrations, share pain, and find a part of themselves they have been missing.
I will lead them through discussions that examine modern masculinity, accountability, leadership, and competition. We will explore authentic male emotions, conflicts and healthy power.
The group will be engaged to revisit their life history, resolve the past mistakes and connect to the potential that lies ahead. This entire weekend is the beginning of a new future that is full of purpose and intention.
Imagine a man waking up with excitement and inspiration each morning because he knows he is doing his life’s work.
Imagine a man having full confidence in his abilities and having no worries or anxiety about what he is doing and where he is going.
Imagine having a deep connection with your partner where you can feel appreciation and enjoy the best sex of your life.
Imagine a man having the wisdom and the inner strength to create the life he has always wanted on his own terms.
This seminar teaches men what it means to be a real, good man, every day, in every way.
When a man takes an active role in his personal growth, it not only helps himself, it benefits his family, his community, and the world.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Saturday, February 25, 2017
LITTLE THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN LIFE NO LONGER EXCITES YOU
Once upon a time, there was a girl who could do anything in the world she wanted. All she had to do was choose something and focus. So one day she sat down in front of a blank canvas and began to paint. Every stroke was more perfect than the next, slowly and gracefully converging to build a flawless masterpiece. And when she eventually finished painting, she stared proudly at her work and smiled.
It
was obvious to the clouds and the stars, who were always watching over her,
that she had a gift. She was an artist. And she knew it too.
She felt it in every fiber of her being. But a few moments after she
finished painting, she got anxious and quickly stood up. Because she
realized that while she had the ability to do anything in the world she wanted
to do, she was simply spending her time moving paint around on a piece of
canvas.
She
felt like there was so much more in the world to see and do – so many
options. And if she ultimately decided to do something else with her
life, then all the time she spent painting would be a waste. So she
glanced at her masterpiece one last time, and walked out the door into the
moonlight. And as she walked, she thought, and then she walked some more.
While
she was walking, she didn’t notice the clouds and the stars in the sky who were
trying to signal her, because she was preoccupied with an important decision
she had to make. She had to choose one thing to do out of all the
possibilities in the world. Should she practice medicine? Or design
buildings? Or teach children? She was utterly stumped.
Twenty-five
years later, the girl began to cry. Because she realized she had been
walking for so long, and that over the years she had become so enamored by
everything that she could do – the endless array of possibilities – that she
hadn’t done anything meaningful at all. And she learned, at last, that
life isn’t about possibility – anything is possible. Life is about making
a decision – deciding to do something that moves you.
So
the girl, who was no longer a girl, purchased some canvas and paint from a
local craft store, drove to a nearby park, and began to paint. One stroke
gracefully led into the next just as it had so many moons ago. And as she
smiled, she continued painting through the day and into the night.
Because she had finally made a decision. And there was still some time
left to revel in the magic that life is all about.
But, but (there’s always a “but”)…
There’s
more to life than just following your passion, right?
Absolutely.
For instance, not all passions earn an income, at least not in the
near-term. And most of us have families to care for, mouths to feed, and
bills to pay. So yes, there needs to be more
than just passion.
But
there ALSO needs to be some passion too!
The
key is to realize it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
The
short story above isn’t about following your passion into a hole of debt, it’s
about NOT pushing your passion off into an abyss of unhappiness.
When
you discover something that nourishes your soul and brings you joy and
excitement – something that truly matters to you – care enough about yourself
to make room for it in your life, even if you can only spare a little time on
the side. And if you find that you don’t have any time at all for what
matters to you, stop doing things that don’t…like watching another TV program
or getting lost stalking people on social media.
In
the end, purpose is the reason you journey, and passion is the fire that lights
your way. Without passion, it’s impossible to progress in life. The
heart of human excellence begins to beat when you discover a pursuit, big or
small, that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, and gives you a sense of
meaning. Some resist this fact and think passion is just
fluff. Well that’s nonsense! Honestly, the saddest mentally stable
people I’ve ever met in life are the ones who don’t have a deep passion about
anything at all. Passion and satisfaction go hand in hand, and without
them, any happiness is only temporary, because there’s nothing meaningful
behind it to make it last.
So
remember, if there was ever a day to follow your heart and do something small
that matters to you, that day is today.
Here
are some little things worth remembering:
- A big part of your life is a result of the choices you make. And if you don’t like your life – if it completely lacks excitement and passion – it’s time to start making changes and better choices.
- Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. You CAN follow a path that moves you. You are always free to do something small and positive that makes you happy
- There is good reason why you should wake each morning and mindfully consider what and who you will give your day to. Because unlike other things in life – money, entertainment, obligations, etc. – time is the one thing you can never get back once it’s gone.
- It’s not what you say, but how you spend your time. If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.
- Your passion is an inherent part of you. Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about. Nothing you have that much passion for is ever a waste of time, no matter how it turns out in the long-term.
- When you focus your heart and mind upon a meaningful purpose, and commit yourself to fulfill that purpose a little bit every day, positive energy gradually floods into your life.
- We have to stop telling ourselves that other people are our reason for being unhappy, unfulfilled, etc. They aren’t in the long run.
- The more we fill our lives with genuine passion and purpose the less time and energy we’ll waste looking for approval and admiration from everyone else.
- Your body may eventually grow tired, you may lie awake some nights listening to your past regrets, you may miss your only love, you may see the world around you overcome by negativity, or know your respect has been trampled on by unfriendly faces. There is only one thing for healing that works every time – to rediscover what excites you and then dive deeper into it. That’s the only positive effort that a battered mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or doubt, and never dream of regretting
- Just one small step today. That’s all. True purpose has no time limit. True passion has no deadline. Don’t stress and overwhelm yourself. Just do what you can right now – just the next smallest step on a meaningful path.
Afterthoughts… On Being Passionate
Passion
is the secret ingredient that has kept me going through some of the most
painful times of my life. Because at some point, especially when the
going gets tough, you have to wonder what you’re doing and why.
Over
the years, I’ve questioned myself and given myself a thousand little reasons to
keep working on CLINTONFAZE.BLOGSPOT.COM, but it always comes back to where it
started – it comes down to my core passion to explore life’s challenges, study
them, and write about them.
What
distinguishes many of us who are actively pursuing a small piece of our dreams
from those of us on the couch is that some of us have learned the hard way –
perhaps through a severe loss or crisis – that life is short, and that we must
capitalize on the priceless opportunities each day gives us, on the raw
potential our minds and bodies are capable of, and on every ounce of willpower
we can muster to make our journeys worthwhile.
Of
course, we can’t do it all and we can’t have it all. Sometimes we have to
say no to good things to be able to say yes to the most important things.
Sometimes we have to take little risks with our time and energy. But in
life, if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything.
So
go head and take a little risk today.
Feel
some passion.
Discover
love.
Run
free.
And
revel in the magic that life is all about.
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