The Circle of Life

Do you remember being asked what you wanted to do when you finished school? Everyone expected you to know what you wanted to do for the rest of your life even though you were not even an adult. 

For many of us, our careers are a voyage and we learn much along the way as our ‘ship’ docks at many different ‘ports’. We meet different people, experience different cultures, food, language and religions. It is a knowledge process and as we learn what it is that we are good at – our personal strengths –we often find that this is where our career path leads. Of course, this is not always the case. Economic considerations sometimes determine the course of our career, at least initially. The interests that reflect our real passion may not necessarily bring us insufficient money to sustain us and our family and so we may have to choose a course that reflects pragmatism rather than personal passion.

In such a scenario, we will have to recognize, and correctly identify, our priorities and learn to relegate our passion(s) to take second place to our need to earn a living. The secret is to try to choose a career path that will inspire us to work with energy and enthusiasm. ‘Work is love made visible’, the great poet, Khalil Gibran wrote – and that is how it should be, wherever possible.

Developing Potential

I wonder for those of you who have teenage children as to whether you allow their potential to grow at its own pace. Do you encourage your children to take their place in society and to be a force for good within the community? Do you make it easy, or hard, for each child to unlock their own personal potential?

Everyone needs encouragement! Whether child or adult; boy or girl, man or woman, husband or wife, mother or father. As individuals, we can all lose focus at some time and maybe also lose our way. Similar to a ship being off course, we may need realignment and our passage to be re-charted. It is not unusual to find ourselves dissatisfied and demotivated and it is at times like these that we need someone to help us get back on track - someone we can trust and respect.

That could be your father or mother, your manager or CEO, your priest or imam, your friend or confidante. Many could fulfill this role if they have the necessary experience and knowledge. The only question is, will they take the time to offer you their help?

Being a Catalyst

Just being the catalyst at the right time can mean all the difference, for someone, between success and failure. If such a request were made to you for help, it would be a sincere compliment. How valuable must it be to know that you could make a difference to someone else’s life?

Helping others brings with it a unique satisfaction that is difficult to emulate by other actions. Being there for someone is more than just an act of kindness – it brings growth to both the giver and the recipient because to aid and assist others is a privilege.

A Final Word from Khalil Gibran

Those who help others in need are, temporarily, as a husband and wife. “In friendship or in love, the two side by side raise hands together to find what one cannot reach alone.” Khalil Gibran