ROOTS and MODERNITY

Walking through the streets of Dubai earlier this year, during the special month of Ramadan, a number of things had struck my attention.

Dubai is a city of impressive modernity, fully embracing technological advancement and integrating it into people’s lives.

It is also a place of rich historical heritage and of general tolerance to different cultures. 

Dubai as well as the rest of the country have undergone enormous transformation in only a few decades. And the awe-inspiring progress continues.

My pleasant stroll in Dubai reinforced some of my convictions, which are also topics I strongly focus on with my mentoring and coaching clients:

To progress and make aligned, positive changes in our lives, to fully live out our own unique essence, we need to embrace ROOTS and MODERNITY.

What do I mean?

ROOTS in this case refers to a strong foundation, unique to us and to our purpose.

We are the ones who need to CREATE this foundation in our minds and hearts for ourselves.

This has nothing to do with geography, traditions or conforming to social norms.

ROOTS are a balance of what we have personally decided to keep, remove or (re)invent from the upbringing and education we have received. ROOTS represent stability. ROOTS are not what we have passively inherited. Rather, ROOTS are what we have consciously created ourselves by building on what we have (or not) received during our upbringing and education. Such a state of elevated proactivity requires smart work.

When I refer to MODERNITY, I mean being aligned with the current times: socially, culturally, psychologically, technologically, etc. 

It means, for example, having the courage to let go of acquired behaviours that no longer have a sense or purpose in today’s ever-changing world. 

They are certain rituals and conditioned ways of being that may have, perhaps, been relevant decades or centuries ago when society was structured very differently to today. This includes so-called traditions or rituals that are totally outdated and are no longer useful. It means releasing certain pointless ways of being or acting “because it has always been done like that”, without even asking ourselves "why would we do that?" or "what sense does it have in today's evolved reality?". 

ROOTS and MODERNITY signify creating your own foundations that serve you. By consciously eliminating noise and nonsense due to conditioning or so-called traditions, we embrace and become available to welcome freshly new ways of being into our lives that truly resonate with our purpose. 

What is your take on that? 

About me: I am the founder and CEO of Emerald Jaaz, a purposeful lifestyle brand and platform offering information, products and services. We celebrate authentically audacious people. 

I would love to know how I could add even more value to you or your business. 

Interested to work with me, share ideas or have questions? Please get in touch! 

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My personal and my company's guiding philosophy: "We choose to live our lives with intention, audacity and in full harmony with our own unique personal essence."