Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland and life was extremely tough as a slave where she was poorly fed and beaten often. As a teen, she suffered a serious head injury from trying to protect another slave from injury. She had to endure brain surgery without anaesthetic. For the rest of her life, she continued to suffer from seizures, headaches and buzzing in her ears.
She planned her escape to free herself from slavery and when she reached the safe haven, instead of starting a new life, she focused on rescuing her family and over 300 slaves seeking freedom too. During the American Civil War, she nursed injured soldiers and rescued over 750 slaves.
Our ability to respond is limitless. #LimitlessResponseAbility
The mind’s neural pathways are continually growing and evolving through a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. It’s the brain’s ability to learn and adapt that enables us to pick up new skills, drop old habits, adjust to new environments and even heal from distressing experiences in life.
Scientists have found that the consistent practice of meditation is a powerful tool to change and strengthen the brain networks for the better. It is proven to boost brain function and uplift wellbeing as it relieves the effects of stress hormones on the brain.
Whenever I read this Nelson Mandela’s quote, I get goosebumps as it reminds of the Costa Rican phrase plan de vida meaning soul’s purpose, the Japanese call it ikigaimeaning life purpose and the French term it raison d’êtremeaning reason for being. It is rooted in the belief that we have a unique reason for existence and we should discover for ourselves along life’s journey what it is and consciously create a life that fulfills this. The Japanese refer to ikigai as defining your personal meaning of life in relation to your talents, passions and most importantly, what you can contribute to the wider world around you.
Dan Buettner’s Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets from the Blue Zones uncovers how having a strong plan de vida and ikigai helps you lead healthier, more vibrant lives and drives you to a higher purpose that serves the collective good.
Start by setting goals that are motivational and excite you when you think of it, ensure you have a realistic time frame to achieve them and create clear actions that will help you achieve them.
Elizabeth Garett Anderson was the first woman to qualify in Britian as a doctor. She was rejected from every medical school she applied to because of her gender. She smartly found a technical loophole at the Society of Apothecaries by passing all the exams to become a registered practitioner.
She campaigned for women’s rights and was the co-founder of the London School of Medicine for Women which was the first medical school in Britain to train women as doctors. In 1876, women in Britain were officially recognised to qualify as doctors, however it wasn’t until 1892 that the British Medical Association accepted female doctors.
“It is better to strive for progress than perfection” she stressed the greater value of continuous improvement as she recognised that in pursuit of perfection, we risk becoming paralysed by the fear of failure.
Our ability to respond is limitless. #LimitlessResponseAbility
A quotable quote meets you where you are and it has the capacity to take you as far as it can because often, as AnaÏs Nin wisely said “we see the world not as it is but as we are.” It is through our lens that we perceive our experiences in life.
A quotable quote seems to exist in the space between and that invisible connection to one’s life experiences. As such, a quotable quote acts like a red thread and enables you to discover for yourself to the depths it can take you depending on where you are and allowing you to find your own way through your own experience.
For further read: Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul
A purposeful life is when you can find ways to use your talents professionally and personally. Talents come in many forms and they are a part of you that feels like second nature. By focusing on where your natural talents lie often, they can lead to greater sense of fulfilment. What energises you and how do you love to spend your time? Clarity of vision motivates, inspires and energises you and it helps drive the actions you take.
Siya Kolisi, rose from poverty to heroically leading South Africa as the Springbok’s first black captain to win a Rugby World Cup in 2019. Rugby was an important part of the apartheid architecture set against the backdrop of South Africa’s history of racism, segregation and colonialism.
Siya is fondly remembered by his teacher as a poor boy with a wealth of talent. He came from a broken family and grew up without food to eat and without shoes on his feet. He was raised by his grandmother who was his pillar of courage, she went days without eating and sacrificed all she could for him. At the age of 9, he had to stop going to school to care for his ailing grandmother and was forced to grow up quickly given his life’s circumstances. His rise from poverty showed children who looked and lived like him that you can be what you see. He smiled through all the tough times because he recognised he stood on the heads of all that came before him and their sacrifices.
“Dream big and dream about things that people tell you that you can’t achieve. You got to use what you have around you. And once you get those dreams, once you get to the positions that you never asked for or dreamed for, stand firm and stand strong because you are chosen for a reason, you are there for a reason and you are there to inspire. You are there to tell your story, and do that as much as you can.” Siya Kolisi
He speaks passionately about the philanthropic work he does off the field being far more important and have greater impact than the games he plays on the field. During COVID-19 pandemic, he addressed the food scarcity in his country through his foundation and travelled 15,000 kms to feed over 41,000 people.
Tune in to Siya Kolisi on the Netflix series ‘Live to Lead’.
Our ability to respond is limitless. #LimitlessResponseAbility
The Dalai Lama has continued through the years to directly encourage research on the brain and meditation, the neuroscience of meditation. Countless Tibetan Buddhist monks have worked with Richard Davidson, a prominent professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who researched monks meditating over the course of tens of thousands of hours. These research studies have shown that through the practice of meditation, these monks have altered the structure and function of their brains.
“By mobilizing our thoughts and practicing new ways of thinking, we can reshape our nerve cells and change the way our brains work.” Dalai Lama
Neuroplasticity, describe the brain changes that occur in response to experience which ranges from the growth of new connections to the creation of new neurons. Several studies have shown that the constant practice of meditation induces neuroplasticity that boost attention and focus, improve emotion management and builds resilience.
For further read: Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
Living a life that is aligned to your core values goes a long way towards feeling more fulfilled and help you experience a greater sense of wellbeing. Start with self-compassion, not approval from others. A step in helping you find clarity to being your best is to reflect on what are your top 3 values, what they mean to you and why they matter to you? Use them to guide you on your journey of discovery.
Gloria Steinem, a writer and trailblazing feminist sparked a movement amongst women while pushing for a future of equality, authenticity and respect.
Gloria marshalled a new age of equality, through her work more women are afforded the respect and opportunity they deserved and also changed how women thought about themselves. She speaks passionately about the power of empathetic connection – the human potential within that we are each unique and share our humanity. What makes a personal connection to you and what connects you to other people?
She shares how the circle is the natural form and how as communities we have been sitting around campfires for over 100,000 years telling each other our stories because it is in our cellular memory that this is the way we communicate. This is the way we know what the other person is experiencing and ultimately, the way we know that we are linked, and not ranked.
To see the upside, in the downside. To not worry about what we should do, but do whatever we can.
Gloria Steinem
Tune in to Gloria Steinem on the Netflix series ‘Live to Lead’.
Our ability to respond is limitless. #LimitlessResponseAbility
