enlightenment is the process of thinking for yourself for using your intellect to
for yourself for using your intellect to
for yourself for using your intellect to decide what to believe and how to act
decide what to believe and how to act
decide what to believe and how to act it means removing from the sheep
it means removing from the sheep
it means removing from the sheep mentality and examining things for
mentality and examining things for
mentality and examining things for yourself deciding on your actions
yourself deciding on your actions
yourself deciding on your actions deciding on your behavior deciding how
deciding on your behavior deciding how
deciding on your behavior deciding how to behave in a rapidly changing society
to behave in a rapidly changing society
to behave in a rapidly changing society is technologically driven and social
is technologically driven and social
is technologically driven and social media-driven
what does it mean for you the above
what does it mean for you the above definition requires you to reflect more
definition requires you to reflect more
definition requires you to reflect more specifically to self reflects the murray
specifically to self reflects the murray
specifically to self reflects the murray webster online dictionary this
webster online dictionary this
webster online dictionary this definition of reflection is an opinion
definition of reflection is an opinion
definition of reflection is an opinion that you form or remark it you make
that you form or remark it you make
that you form or remark it you make after carefully thinking about something
after carefully thinking about something
after carefully thinking about something whereas self-reflection means careful
whereas self-reflection means careful
whereas self-reflection means careful thoughts of your own behavior and
thoughts of your own behavior and
thoughts of your own behavior and actions and beliefs this is key you’re
actions and beliefs this is key you’re
actions and beliefs this is key you’re thinking about your behavior your
thinking about your behavior your
thinking about your behavior your actions or your interactions towards
actions or your interactions towards
actions or your interactions towards yourself towards others you’re thinking
yourself towards others you’re thinking
yourself towards others you’re thinking about your beliefs whether they are
about your beliefs whether they are
about your beliefs whether they are harmful or good for others so what do I
harmful or good for others so what do I
harmful or good for others so what do I do about my self-reflection the best way
do about my self-reflection the best way
do about my self-reflection the best way to explain is to tell you a personal
to explain is to tell you a personal
to explain is to tell you a personal experience that I had I had this
experience that I had I had this
experience that I had I had this incredible fear of heights by incredible
incredible fear of heights by incredible
incredible fear of heights by incredible fear I mean it got to the point where I
fear I mean it got to the point where I
fear I mean it got to the point where I couldn’t visit a friend in a high-rise
couldn’t visit a friend in a high-rise
couldn’t visit a friend in a high-rise apartment building because I would be
apartment building because I would be
apartment building because I would be walking along the side of the wall like
walking along the side of the wall like
walking along the side of the wall like this because the corridor was open on
this because the corridor was open on
this because the corridor was open on that side I couldn’t change a light
that side I couldn’t change a light
that side I couldn’t change a light globe there was a nightmare I couldn’t
globe there was a nightmare I couldn’t
globe there was a nightmare I couldn’t walk down a flight of stairs because I
walk down a flight of stairs because I
walk down a flight of stairs because I would get dizzy looking down sometimes I
would get dizzy looking down sometimes I
would get dizzy looking down sometimes I fell down and so when I was brushing my
fell down and so when I was brushing my
fell down and so when I was brushing my teeth I would regularly ask myself why
teeth I would regularly ask myself why
teeth I would regularly ask myself why is this fear
is this fear
is this fear growing why are you so scared this is
growing why are you so scared this is
growing why are you so scared this is ridiculous you got to do something about
ridiculous you got to do something about
ridiculous you got to do something about this
this
this because it was really limiting and so
because it was really limiting and so
because it was really limiting and so one day I found the courage to do
one day I found the courage to do
one day I found the courage to do something I signed up for parachuting
something I signed up for parachuting
something I signed up for parachuting classes yes I signed up to jump out of
classes yes I signed up to jump out of
classes yes I signed up to jump out of an airplane on my own and so for three
an airplane on my own and so for three
an airplane on my own and so for three weeks I went for training three weekends
weeks I went for training three weekends
weeks I went for training three weekends we practiced and we practice and we
we practiced and we practice and we
we practiced and we practice and we practice and eventually but the time to
practice and eventually but the time to
practice and eventually but the time to climb into the airplane it was a tiny
climb into the airplane it was a tiny
climb into the airplane it was a tiny little sis known as airplane it sounded
little sis known as airplane it sounded
little sis known as airplane it sounded like a mosquito when I took off and
like a mosquito when I took off and
like a mosquito when I took off and there were only space for five people
there were only space for five people
there were only space for five people the pilot the instructor and the three
the pilot the instructor and the three
the pilot the instructor and the three of us that were going to jump I was the
of us that were going to jump I was the
of us that were going to jump I was the last one to jump so as I got too close
last one to jump so as I got too close
last one to jump so as I got too close to the door my fear just just rose and
to the door my fear just just rose and
to the door my fear just just rose and rose and it was my turn to be by the
rose and it was my turn to be by the
rose and it was my turn to be by the open door I looked out and I looked down
open door I looked out and I looked down
open door I looked out and I looked down everything was these tiny little images
everything was these tiny little images
everything was these tiny little images on the ground and I didn’t know if I
on the ground and I didn’t know if I
on the ground and I didn’t know if I wanted to faint or vomit so I looked at
wanted to faint or vomit so I looked at
wanted to faint or vomit so I looked at my instructor he smiled
my instructor he smiled
my instructor he smiled is his out
I don’t remember going onto the wing the
I don’t remember going onto the wing the next thing I remember was staring at my
next thing I remember was staring at my
next thing I remember was staring at my white knuckles hanging on to the side of
white knuckles hanging on to the side of
white knuckles hanging on to the side of the wings looking down there was 1500
the wings looking down there was 1500
the wings looking down there was 1500 kilometers between myself and Mother
kilometers between myself and Mother
kilometers between myself and Mother Earth I looked at my instructor and he
Earth I looked at my instructor and he
Earth I looked at my instructor and he said jump my hands betrayed me my hands
said jump my hands betrayed me my hands
said jump my hands betrayed me my hands opened just pure reflex from the
opened just pure reflex from the
opened just pure reflex from the training and the next thing I was
training and the next thing I was
training and the next thing I was falling in this space my mouth opened
falling in this space my mouth opened
falling in this space my mouth opened and this terrible scream came out I was
and this terrible scream came out I was
and this terrible scream came out I was supposed to be counting and my parachute
supposed to be counting and my parachute
supposed to be counting and my parachute opened an era was floating and I looked
opened an era was floating and I looked
opened an era was floating and I looked up everything was okay I looked around
up everything was okay I looked around
up everything was okay I looked around and I was like wow it’s so quiet up here
and I was like wow it’s so quiet up here
and I was like wow it’s so quiet up here and then I looked down and I was
and then I looked down and I was
and then I looked down and I was actually this isn’t so bad
actually this isn’t so bad
actually this isn’t so bad this feels really exhilarating I grabbed
this feels really exhilarating I grabbed
this feels really exhilarating I grabbed the toggles and I started playing with
the toggles and I started playing with
the toggles and I started playing with the parachutes and started to expand and
the parachutes and started to expand and
the parachutes and started to expand and sing when I landed I wanted to go again
sing when I landed I wanted to go again
sing when I landed I wanted to go again my fear was gone because it was a
my fear was gone because it was a
my fear was gone because it was a ridiculous fear and it would mean so
ridiculous fear and it would mean so
ridiculous fear and it would mean so limiting and since then I’ve done the
limiting and since then I’ve done the
limiting and since then I’ve done the highest courts swing in the world I’ve
highest courts swing in the world I’ve
highest courts swing in the world I’ve done ziplining I’ve done hiking don’t
done ziplining I’ve done hiking don’t
done ziplining I’ve done hiking don’t get me wrong I still get scared but it’s
get me wrong I still get scared but it’s
get me wrong I still get scared but it’s a normal person scared so how do i
a normal person scared so how do i
a normal person scared so how do i reflect overcoming my fear started a
reflect overcoming my fear started a
reflect overcoming my fear started a deeper self reflection of growth change
deeper self reflection of growth change
deeper self reflection of growth change self reflection became a daily exercise
self reflection became a daily exercise
self reflection became a daily exercise and a call to action
and a call to action
and a call to action self reflection means looking at
self reflection means looking at
self reflection means looking at yourself in the eye I mean the tree take
yourself in the eye I mean the tree take
yourself in the eye I mean the tree take a mirror and look yourself in the eye
a mirror and look yourself in the eye
a mirror and look yourself in the eye ask yourself hard questions ask yourself
ask yourself hard questions ask yourself
ask yourself hard questions ask yourself about things that happen that day how
about things that happen that day how
about things that happen that day how did I handle the situation could have
did I handle the situation could have
did I handle the situation could have handled the situation better do I need
handled the situation better do I need
handled the situation better do I need to apologize for how I handled the
to apologize for how I handled the
to apologize for how I handled the situation should I have done something
situation should I have done something
situation should I have done something better could I have been better you get
better could I have been better you get
better could I have been better you get the idea
the idea
the idea self reflection should
self reflection should
self reflection should habits something you do every day always
habits something you do every day always
habits something you do every day always think about the actions you need to take
think about the actions you need to take
think about the actions you need to take to improve once you have reflected so
to improve once you have reflected so
to improve once you have reflected so what is the point of self reflection
what is the point of self reflection
what is the point of self reflection self reflection helps you to assess who
self reflection helps you to assess who
self reflection helps you to assess who you are and to understand yourself
you are and to understand yourself
you are and to understand yourself better honest self reflection not easy
better honest self reflection not easy
better honest self reflection not easy looking yourself in the eyes and asking
looking yourself in the eyes and asking
looking yourself in the eyes and asking hard questions not easy making changes
hard questions not easy making changes
hard questions not easy making changes even more difficult you need to find
even more difficult you need to find
even more difficult you need to find those changes to be able to mature to
those changes to be able to mature to
those changes to be able to mature to break habits that are easy and
break habits that are easy and
break habits that are easy and comfortable changes are uncomfortable
comfortable changes are uncomfortable
comfortable changes are uncomfortable for example when I finished school I
for example when I finished school I
for example when I finished school I decided to be a Chartered Accountants so
decided to be a Chartered Accountants so
decided to be a Chartered Accountants so I started my internship with KPMG a peck
I started my internship with KPMG a peck
I started my internship with KPMG a peck KPMG one of the big accounting companies
KPMG one of the big accounting companies
KPMG one of the big accounting companies you know I was gonna make a lot of money
you know I was gonna make a lot of money
you know I was gonna make a lot of money never worry about money you know it’s
never worry about money you know it’s
never worry about money you know it’s gonna be rules of boodle and two years
gonna be rules of boodle and two years
gonna be rules of boodle and two years into my internship I didn’t like going
into my internship I didn’t like going
into my internship I didn’t like going to work I felt unfulfilled so I started
to work I felt unfulfilled so I started
to work I felt unfulfilled so I started asking questions why do you feel like
asking questions why do you feel like
asking questions why do you feel like this is it my environment that’s making
this is it my environment that’s making
this is it my environment that’s making me feel like this is it me that break
me feel like this is it me that break
me feel like this is it me that break feels like this so the tender age of 21
feels like this so the tender age of 21
feels like this so the tender age of 21 I went back to university for four years
I went back to university for four years
I went back to university for four years to study to be a teacher one of the best
to study to be a teacher one of the best
to study to be a teacher one of the best career moves I ever made I have never
career moves I ever made I have never
career moves I ever made I have never looked back
looked back
looked back as you understand yourself better
as you understand yourself better
as you understand yourself better through self-reflection you find
through self-reflection you find
through self-reflection you find yourself making changes challenging
yourself making changes challenging
yourself making changes challenging yourself to do better to be better some
yourself to do better to be better some
yourself to do better to be better some reflections might result in you being a
reflections might result in you being a
reflections might result in you being a better son a better daughter a better
better son a better daughter a better
better son a better daughter a better students a better friend a better
students a better friend a better
students a better friend a better defender of the helpless self reflection
defender of the helpless self reflection
defender of the helpless self reflection crowns you it matures your reasoning and
crowns you it matures your reasoning and
crowns you it matures your reasoning and understandings because it requires
understandings because it requires
understandings because it requires changes as this happens you start having
changes as this happens you start having
changes as this happens you start having a better relationship
a better relationship
a better relationship yourself you start to like yourself a
yourself you start to like yourself a
yourself you start to like yourself a bit more you start to do things that
bit more you start to do things that
bit more you start to do things that make you a happier person you start to
make you a happier person you start to
make you a happier person you start to think clearly on your day to day
think clearly on your day to day
think clearly on your day to day interactions as they are happening you
interactions as they are happening you
interactions as they are happening you start to think clearly on situations as
start to think clearly on situations as
start to think clearly on situations as they are happening because reflection
they are happening because reflection
they are happening because reflection has become a habit
has become a habit
has become a habit so you reflect almost immediately I had
so you reflect almost immediately I had
so you reflect almost immediately I had one of those moments when I turned 14
one of those moments when I turned 14
one of those moments when I turned 14 I reached one of my dreams I became a
I reached one of my dreams I became a
I reached one of my dreams I became a principal one of the youngest principals
principal one of the youngest principals
principal one of the youngest principals in a chain of colleges in South Africa I
in a chain of colleges in South Africa I
in a chain of colleges in South Africa I got the smallest college it only had
got the smallest college it only had
got the smallest college it only had around 250 students and one of my jobs
around 250 students and one of my jobs
around 250 students and one of my jobs besides being principal was to grow the
besides being principal was to grow the
besides being principal was to grow the college and to also collect all the
college and to also collect all the
college and to also collect all the outstanding fees and so the team that I
outstanding fees and so the team that I
outstanding fees and so the team that I inherited and myself got together we
inherited and myself got together we
inherited and myself got together we talked about the problems we discussed
talked about the problems we discussed
talked about the problems we discussed the problems and my style of management
the problems and my style of management
the problems and my style of management is more humanitarian so people came up
is more humanitarian so people came up
is more humanitarian so people came up with ideas and of that great idea you’re
with ideas and of that great idea you’re
with ideas and of that great idea you’re in charge of the project and so
in charge of the project and so
in charge of the project and so everybody bought into solving problems
everybody bought into solving problems
everybody bought into solving problems in the college and within 10 months we
in the college and within 10 months we
in the college and within 10 months we grew 110 percent so we had over 500
grew 110 percent so we had over 500
grew 110 percent so we had over 500 students in 10 months to the point where
students in 10 months to the point where
students in 10 months to the point where I could rearrange and restructure the
I could rearrange and restructure the
I could rearrange and restructure the internal organization and classrooms of
internal organization and classrooms of
internal organization and classrooms of the college the unpaid fees suddenly
the college the unpaid fees suddenly
the college the unpaid fees suddenly were down to like 5% of unpaid fees and
were down to like 5% of unpaid fees and
were down to like 5% of unpaid fees and those were people who were struggling
those were people who were struggling
those were people who were struggling and we made arrangements for them to pay
and we made arrangements for them to pay
and we made arrangements for them to pay off their debts I had a director
off their debts I had a director
off their debts I had a director brilliant brilliant woman near the
brilliant brilliant woman near the
brilliant brilliant woman near the education system understood educational
education system understood educational
education system understood educational theories I have the utmost respect for
theories I have the utmost respect for
theories I have the utmost respect for her but she was a autocratic manager so
her but she was a autocratic manager so
her but she was a autocratic manager so you got a human man humanitarian and an
you got a human man humanitarian and an
you got a human man humanitarian and an autocrat my autocratic manager said I
autocrat my autocratic manager said I
autocrat my autocratic manager said I needed to harm manage my staff the same
needed to harm manage my staff the same
needed to harm manage my staff the same way I needed to be autocratic and it
way I needed to be autocratic and it
way I needed to be autocratic and it made me really unhappy too
made me really unhappy too
made me really unhappy too kind of pressure and I reflected on it
kind of pressure and I reflected on it
kind of pressure and I reflected on it and eventually I picked up the phone of
and eventually I picked up the phone of
and eventually I picked up the phone of Hardin asked for a meeting and we sat
Hardin asked for a meeting and we sat
Hardin asked for a meeting and we sat down and discussed our differences in
down and discussed our differences in
down and discussed our differences in management she was insistent that I
management she was insistent that I
management she was insistent that I still be an autocratic manager so I
still be an autocratic manager so I
still be an autocratic manager so I resigned a couple of months later this
resigned a couple of months later this
resigned a couple of months later this is where the 2008 tea and the two
is where the 2008 tea and the two
is where the 2008 tea and the two suitcases happened I ended up in Taiwan
suitcases happened I ended up in Taiwan
suitcases happened I ended up in Taiwan in this day of digital technology many
in this day of digital technology many
in this day of digital technology many people stopped reflecting they’re
people stopped reflecting they’re
people stopped reflecting they’re distracted by these smart devices and
distracted by these smart devices and
distracted by these smart devices and social media I know I’m guilty too
social media I know I’m guilty too
social media I know I’m guilty too they spent countless hours on these
they spent countless hours on these
they spent countless hours on these devices social media creates a lot of
devices social media creates a lot of
devices social media creates a lot of influence whether you realize it or not
influence whether you realize it or not
influence whether you realize it or not it influences your self perception it
it influences your self perception it
it influences your self perception it influences your self-image it influences
influences your self-image it influences
influences your self-image it influences how you perceive the world how you
how you perceive the world how you
how you perceive the world how you perceive other people you need to
perceive other people you need to
perceive other people you need to reflect on your use of digital media and
reflect on your use of digital media and
reflect on your use of digital media and make the necessary changes but this I
make the necessary changes but this I
make the necessary changes but this I mean you ask questions like do I spend
mean you ask questions like do I spend
mean you ask questions like do I spend too much time on my social media and so
too much time on my social media and so
too much time on my social media and so honestly is this influence a positive
honestly is this influence a positive
honestly is this influence a positive influence is it a negative influence how
influence is it a negative influence how
influence is it a negative influence how much is it interfering in my life does
much is it interfering in my life does
much is it interfering in my life does it make me depressed
it make me depressed
it make me depressed does it interfere with my self-image is
does it interfere with my self-image is
does it interfere with my self-image is it interfering with my relationship with
it interfering with my relationship with
it interfering with my relationship with other people are they more constructive
other people are they more constructive
other people are they more constructive things that I can do with my time your
things that I can do with my time your
things that I can do with my time your sort of affection is dependent on your
sort of affection is dependent on your
sort of affection is dependent on your use of social media the decision to
use of social media the decision to
use of social media the decision to change is yours and yours alone but
change is yours and yours alone but
change is yours and yours alone but making the change does not have to be
making the change does not have to be
making the change does not have to be done alone what a self-reflection is
done alone what a self-reflection is
done alone what a self-reflection is realizing that maybe you need help to
realizing that maybe you need help to
realizing that maybe you need help to make the changes and that help might be
make the changes and that help might be
make the changes and that help might be in the form of some professional help
in the form of some professional help
in the form of some professional help the help might be in the form of asking
the help might be in the form of asking
the help might be in the form of asking a trusted friend to be your sounding
a trusted friend to be your sounding
a trusted friend to be your sounding board that help might be as
board that help might be as
board that help might be as your friend she’ll help you stay
your friend she’ll help you stay
your friend she’ll help you stay motivated in your path of change and she
motivated in your path of change and she
motivated in your path of change and she push you back on the path when you start
push you back on the path when you start
push you back on the path when you start falling off so when you go home look at
falling off so when you go home look at
falling off so when you go home look at yourself in the mirror look at yourself
yourself in the mirror look at yourself
yourself in the mirror look at yourself in your eyes don’t look at your features
in your eyes don’t look at your features
in your eyes don’t look at your features like oh my nose is too small and my
like oh my nose is too small and my
like oh my nose is too small and my mouth is too big and all my ears they
mouth is too big and all my ears they
mouth is too big and all my ears they cats you far actually want you to look
cats you far actually want you to look
cats you far actually want you to look in your eyes it’s weird it’s
in your eyes it’s weird it’s
in your eyes it’s weird it’s uncomfortable looking yourself in your
uncomfortable looking yourself in your
uncomfortable looking yourself in your eyes then start asking yourself
eyes then start asking yourself
eyes then start asking yourself questions starters I mean I don’t know
questions starters I mean I don’t know
questions starters I mean I don’t know you’ve suffered something complex like
you’ve suffered something complex like
you’ve suffered something complex like Who am I or you could start with
Who am I or you could start with
Who am I or you could start with something a little easier what if I get
something a little easier what if I get
something a little easier what if I get out of this TEDx event that I spent my
out of this TEDx event that I spent my
out of this TEDx event that I spent my Saturday afternoon at the great thing
Saturday afternoon at the great thing
Saturday afternoon at the great thing about self reflection is that you could
about self reflection is that you could
about self reflection is that you could spend time on reflection you don’t need
spend time on reflection you don’t need
spend time on reflection you don’t need an immediate answer some questions
an immediate answer some questions
an immediate answer some questions require yours and the way you examine
require yours and the way you examine
require yours and the way you examine that question changes over time because
that question changes over time because
that question changes over time because you mature and your perceptions around
you mature and your perceptions around
you mature and your perceptions around you to change some questions are
you to change some questions are
you to change some questions are repetitive in nature like the question
repetitive in nature like the question
repetitive in nature like the question Who am I be proactive if you’re one of
Who am I be proactive if you’re one of
Who am I be proactive if you’re one of those people who walk around complaining
those people who walk around complaining
those people who walk around complaining about everything we’ve all got friends
about everything we’ve all got friends
about everything we’ve all got friends like that and they do nothing but
like that and they do nothing but
like that and they do nothing but complain take a moment stop ask yourself
complain take a moment stop ask yourself
complain take a moment stop ask yourself why am i complaining so much what is the
why am i complaining so much what is the
why am i complaining so much what is the problem
problem
problem what can I do I’ll give an example
what can I do I’ll give an example
what can I do I’ll give an example you know people complain about it that
you know people complain about it that
you know people complain about it that term litter in the ocean let’s earn this
term litter in the ocean let’s earn this
term litter in the ocean let’s earn this on the beaches and are you one of those
on the beaches and are you one of those
on the beaches and are you one of those people that complain about litter as
people that complain about litter as
people that complain about litter as you’re stepping over an empty Cola
you’re stepping over an empty Cola
you’re stepping over an empty Cola bottle and carry on walking and say Oh
bottle and carry on walking and say Oh
bottle and carry on walking and say Oh somebody needs to do something about
somebody needs to do something about
somebody needs to do something about others litter why not you why don’t you
others litter why not you why don’t you
others litter why not you why don’t you make the change
self-reflection covers many areas of
self-reflection covers many areas of your life is your reflective change that
your life is your reflective change that
your life is your reflective change that promotes growth and maturity in yourself
promotes growth and maturity in yourself
promotes growth and maturity in yourself it
it
it it’s a strong relationship with yourself
it’s a strong relationship with yourself
it’s a strong relationship with yourself and a love for yourself it is the
and a love for yourself it is the
and a love for yourself it is the beginning of a journey to enlightenment
beginning of a journey to enlightenment
beginning of a journey to enlightenment thank you
”
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