Four Things We Can All Learn From Donald Trump

Disclaimer: This is by no means an endorsement of Donald Trump. I could have written my blog post on "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People", but this is the positive zone, so...

With people in the UK voting for assembly members, councillors, mayors and police commissioners, today is the UK's biggest election day, and in keeping with the theme, I have decided to speak on something a bit controversial. Whatever our sentiments are towards Donald Trump's presidential campaign, there is no denying that there is a lot that can be learned from this man's apparent success.

Credits: Wikipedia

1. Have an unwavering belief in yourself
When Trump announced that he was running for presidency in June last year, I am sure we all laughed collectively. After that I didn't give it a second thought, because I actually thought there was no way this announcement could be serious. However, with the ever increasing amount of coverage Mr. Trump was receiving I began to realise that this guy is not a farce. But a full on presidential candidate. With a whole team behind him, and a small following of supporters! The lesson here? No matter what you are aiming for, believe in yourself, and others will believe in you too.

2. Be persistent and fight resistance!
After hearing that all the other republican candidates had fallen off the presidential wagon one by one, and that Trump will be THE likely republican nominee to face off the opposition, I could only stare at my TV screen in amazement. Like Trump, you need to keep going, even in the face of criticism and ridicule. 

Credits: cnn.com

3. Stand out from the crowd
Whilst the other candidates ((republican and democrat) have been blazing their campaign trail with talk about the economy and foreign policy, our friend Trump had other more pressing issues to speak about.  In this modern age, I can actually say I have never heard of any presidential candidate saying they will build a wall to keep immigrants out; or making lewd comments about a female reporter's monthly cycle . However, the joke that is Trump's presidential campaign has marked him out as the subject of many a discussions. I am by no means saying you should be as lewd, however I am saying that you can never expect to stand out if you are always trying to fit in.

4. Talent will get you there, determination will keep you there!
There is no doubt that Trump is a very successful businessman and TV personality. It is this success, that has catapulted him into popularity. But did you know that Trump has NO political experience? But what he does have is determination (and an amazing PR team!) What am I saying? Talent can only get you so far. 

Credits:abcnews.com

Sorry, I know you'd have  rather read about something else today, but what do you think? Are the any additional lessons we can learn from the man that is Trump?

Study Time: Four Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional Part 2

I hope last week was good for you. For me the last week and a half has been a very busy week, as we celebrated four birthdays in our family – the last being my fiancé’s. He didn’t want a fuss made, but seeing as birthdays only come once a year, I thought to myself “why not go out and celebrate?”. So off we went, last Monday night to one of our favourite Thai restaurants in Stratford City, East London to eat, make merry and to generally be thankful for another year (I hope you like the pics!)

Birthdays aside, I wanted to continue with a discussion I started a few months back, and which many of you got in touch with me over, to tell me you found helpful. 

The work environment is a peculiar one, because you are thrown in with people who you have little in common with, except the job! But, as work is where we spend most of our time, it also happens to be a significant aspect of your life. But sometimes dynamics can be a little awkward, for example when you are forced to work with someone you might not necessarily get on with; or when you have to look your manager in the eye whilst you hand in your resignation. 

So I have compiled a short list of scriptures to encourage you as you survive in your career. Admittedly, this blog post will not be for everyone. I know I might have already lost a few readers just by mentioning the word "scriptures". However, if you have read up until now, I do urge you to stay. A lot of wisdom can be gained from from the Bible as you will see...

1.  When a colleague does something to upset you

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all (Romans 12:17 ESV )

Sometimes it is easy to lash out , or to choose hostility for a colleague that is grinding your gears. But trust me, it only leads to a work environment, which is dense and difficult for everyone to work in. I am not saying that bad behaviour should not be addressed or confronted, but what I am saying is that it should be done with some decorum. The workplace can be a tricky one, and very easily the one who confronts every situation is often branded uncollaborative and difficult to work with. As a side note, most employers will look for employees who are  able to work amicably with all kinds of characters.

2. When your colleague persists in antagonising you

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, (Titus 3:10 ESV )

As a continuation from my last paragraph, what do you do when a colleague continues to deliberately step on your toes after you have spoken to them? It gets to a point where you’ll just have to just forgive and love them from afar, keep it strictly professional and keep it moving.

 3. When you have handed in your resignation

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust (Peter 2:18 , ESV).

I must admit that the socio-economic context of the Bible does mean that the language can appear extreme. But fast forward to 2016, all this verse is simply saying is to respect whoever your boss is. Even if he or she is a monster! If you have to address an issue with your boss, do it with manners and in keeping with your company’s policy. Maybe his or her character has led you to hand in your resignation, but even so, that does not mean you should be a jackass whilst you work your notice. Continue to work with a good attitude until your last day, and even after you leave avoid airing out your grievances on social media, or to your new employers. Trust me. It is not a good look!

 4. Considering a career change?.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) .

I think, most people at some point in their lives will think “why am I still doing this job?”. And to me this is quite normal. As growing, and ever changing entities, it is inevitable that our interests will change at some point. However, speaking as a human, I would say it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly; and as a Christian, I would say don't move an inch without praying over it first. When you do this, God will definitely send you clear signs on the next move to make.

Thank you for reading. Are there any words of wisdom you have to encourage the young professional?

If you enjoyed this post, you will like part one of this series: Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional

Retreat and Restoration: Ashburnham Place

Can you believe we are already halfway through April? The year is not so young anymore. If you have been sitting on all of your lovely plans for this year, thinking, “I’ll start tomorrow…or next week…maybe next month…actually, later”, then it is maybe time to repent, and kick start your projects into motion! However If you have been busy “doing you”, well done. If you are ready for a well deserved break, you might want to consider what I have to say next.

Just over a week ago, I and a group of ladies (comprising of my mum, and a few friends) took a weekend vacation to Ashburnham Place, a sanctuary of escape tucked away in the Sussex Countryside, isolated from all of everyday life’s noise.The trip came at a good time because the majority of the group (excluding my mother who had just got back from a trip to the states!) was feeling a bit worse for wear and in need of a quick, and inexpensive getaway which did not require the need for passports, visas and boarding passes! We simply hit the motorway and were there in a couple of hours.

My initial reaction was that the facility and rooms were pretty basic (albeit clean) not with all the perks that one might be accustomed to. The rooms are twin rooms so I shared with my mother. But for less than £100 for two nights (with breakfast and dinner provided) what else was I expecting? 

On second thoughts, the point  of the weekend away was not to sit in the room all day, but to explore the bookshop, make use of the library, prayer rooms or the music room, all at hand to help you switch off. This explains why wi-fi was non-existent in the communal parts of the grounds, and why there were no TVs anywhere (doing away with worldly distractions, eh?)

The beautiful landscape makes for enjoyable and peaceful walks by the lake. Or you can be even more chilled and have a spot of afternoon tea at the Orangery Tea Room. 

On the weekend we went, there were two pretty large (well known) church groups holding a weekend retreat. They had booked out a few of the larger meeting halls to hold their church services/ prayer sessions in. Ashburnham is very ideal for large groups wanting to escape the hustle and bustle to focus on prayer and restoration for a few days. But in my honest opinion, you might end up hearing the sound of your own thoughts a little too loudly, after a day, if you go alone.  

We booked our stay when there weren’t many activities happening, but I do know that at various times of the year, they hold  themed weeks, such as an Arts & Poetry week, for creative minds, or a Musician's week for musical minds. They also invite speakers to hold talks on various faith based topics from time to time.

The staff are all very polite and are more than happy to go the extra mile to make guests feel comfortable. The ladies and I had a lovely time in each other’s company and spent the two days in quiet reflection, prayer, rest and D&Ms! (deep and meaningful conversations). I came back feeling fully rested, and with a more positive outlook on my future!

For more info, please visit Ashburnham Place’s website (http://www.ashburnham.org.uk/)

This is not a sponsored post or collaboration. All opinions are my own.

What are your Q1 Results?

Praise be to God almighty! Winter has finally loosened its cold grip on life and has allowed Spring to poke its dainty foot through the door! Admittedly it has still been a little cool, BUT I have noticed that for some time now the evenings have been getting lighter. When the clocks went forward over the weekend I knew it was curtains for harsh, cold Winter.

How has 2016 been for you so far? Are you sticking to your new year’s resolutions? Are you on your way to achieving any goals set at the top of the year?

The end of March  signifies the end of the first quarter of the year, or "Q1" as most businesses refer to it. If you have been paying close attention to business news, you will have noticed that many companies released a statement of their Q1 results this month, and will do the same for Q2 (April to June) and Q3 (July to September).

As the core principle of most companies is to make a profit, these quarterly results will contain a detailed analysis of their earnings and other business performance measures.

Reviewing the year so far is so important as it is a good indication of how the rest of the year will go (whether good or bad) if current trends continue. It also presents companies with an opportunity to make any necessary financial and commercial adjustments if necessary, so they can hit any targets they have set for themselves.

Taking time to reflect every so often  is good for all of us, not just trading companies.  It may not be a financial analysis, but you can weigh what you have acquired in the past three months and how it has added to your value, be it experiences, friendships, knowledge or even a new attitude to life.

It’s NOT an opportunity to lament over resolutions already broken or things you haven’t done yet, but a time to celebrate what you have achieved so far, and to take stock of any “adjustments” you may need to make in order to put you back on the right track, if you feel you have veered off it.

For me, the first three months have been super busy. My fiancé and I have been heavily investing time, money and energy in a few projects, and whilst we have suffered a temporary knock in these areas, we do hope "projections" will go up in the future. Sorry if this does not make much sense for now. I do hope to be able to share more in my "Q2 results". 

So, my question again, what are your Q1 results?

A round up of the year so far in pictures

Just In Case!

Hi all

I don’t want to do too much talking today. But I do feel that this post is important. Simply  because most of us, on work days, spend most of our waking hours at our offices or places of work than we do in our own homes! So it’s important to ensure we are “well stocked”

Whether you have ever faced the aggravating situation of your tights laddering in the middle of the day, or have had to run back out onto the shop floor to serve customers after a lovely salad drenched in garlic dressing, I am sure you can agree with me that having your drawer or locker stocked with a few essential items is a very good idea.

Sometimes, your manager might ask you to attend a client event at very short notice, and if you're the kind of person who cannot say 'no', you'd want to make sure you have everything you need to freshen up!

I hope you enjoy viewing these pictures, and hopefully it will give you some ideas on some of the items you should perhaps keep at your place of work, “just in case!”

What are some of the items you feel should go in your work survival pack?

Study Time: Gratitude

Wow, it has been a hot minute since I spoke with you guys! I hope you are all doing well. I have been real busy!

The Belfry in St.Peters Square
Ghent, Belgium

One of the things I had the opportunity to do at work is visit Ghent in Belgium for three days. I attended the Flanders Belgium Travel Forum, which was the flagship event of the whole trip. It was for organised by the Visit Flanders Tourist Board and was another opportunity for key players in the travel industry to network and do business. Aside from the "work" part, I was blessed with the chance to tour the historical city of Ghent and to learn all about its history and culture.

The canal in the historical town

For someone who up until a couple of years was in a mundane job she wasn't exactly thrilled with,I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for how far I have come, and the opportunities that are now afforded me. This has inspired the theme of today's blog post. It's the latest installment of the Study Time series.

So, what is Gratitude? It is described as the quality of being thankful or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.

The old Ghent prison
(You need to find out why it's called the Mammelokker. Hehe!)

For those of us who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible, we ought to be grateful to God who we believe has blessed us with eternal life, life on earth and everything in it. 

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, MSG)

Not convinced? In an April 2015 study of 186 men and women with heart damage, researchers rated the people’s levels of gratitude and spiritual well-being. They found that higher gratitude scores were linked to having a better mood, higher quality sleep and less inflammation (Time.com, Nov 2015)

You cannot go to Belgium and not try a Belgian beer!

With that said, can we please do a short study on why gratefulness is important, and the benefits of displaying an attitude of gratitude?

1. It takes the focus off of what you don't have.

All that I am ...praise [bless] the Lord; everything in me ...·praise [bless] his holy name. My whole being ...praise [bless] the Lord and do not forget all his kindnesses [gifts; benefits]. (Psalms 103: 1,2 EXV)

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2. It attracts more kindness from others
Ruth fell at [Boaz's] feet and thanked him warmly. "What have I done to receive such kindness?"...At mealtime, Boaz called to her "come over here and help yourself to some food..." (Ruth 2: 10, 14a, NIV)

Dinner at the very prestigious Belga Queen

3. It grants you peace 

And when you pray, always give thanks... And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6b - 7a, ICB)

4. It grants you joy 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name...For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;at the works of your hands I sing for joy. (Psalm 92: 1, 4 ESV)

Belgian hot chocolate, with whipped cream. Mmmm.....

There is a story in the Good Book (Luke 17:11-19) of ten men suffering from leprosy, which is a horrible, flesh eating disease. Even today, these men are known as the ten lepers. Even though all ten were healed by Jesus, only one made a point of saying "thank you" to him. Jesus, astonished that only one of the ten had the common decency to say thank you, said to the one man "Get up and go. Your faith has healed you" (v19) Only God knows the implications of that for the other nine!

This is an important lesson in being grateful. So, how do you show gratitude?

1. Saying "thank you" (well that's obvious!)

2. Choosing to focus on the good

3. Being satisfied with what you have

4. Being joyful (different to happiness, which is only determined by your current circumstances)

5. Getting out of the mindset that somehow the world owes you something

6. Giving back to others

Thank you Visit Flanders! Very grateful for the opportunity.

Whether you choose to take the 100 days of gratitude challenge, or simply make notes on everything you have to be grateful for, please do not forget that an attitude of gratitude will determine your altitude!

What are some of the ways in which you show gratitude, or have been shown gratitude? Please comment below.

5 Ways to Keep Love Alive

Hi all, how has your week been? Unfortunately, my energy has totally been sapped away by a horrible cold, so I have had a week of sniffles, coughing and headaches.

But love is in the air because ladies and gentlemen it’s officially Valentine’s week and I am sure we are all so busy thinking about how to make our loved ones feel special.  (Valentine’s day can also be shared with friends and family you know?) And if you are single, so what?? Treat yourself! Take a day off. Book yourself into a spa. Go out to dinner, or order in! After all self-love is the best love!

But for those of us who will be spending it with a partner, how do you make sure that the love shared on the 14^th February is not just a fad? How do you keep the love burning way after Val’s day? Well, I am no relationship expert but I would love to share with you my five top tips on keeping love alive.

**DISCLAIMER ALERT** These tips are from my personal experiences, and they have worked for me. Also as I am not yet married, please do not take this as marital advice. See a counsellor instead.

1. Build and maintain a friendship

I know some people who have been fortunate to enough to have had a long term relationship or marriage to their childhood sweetheart or someone they have grown up with. This was not the case for Michael and I. We were basically two people who found each other attractive so it was imperative for us to go back and find the things we have in common; the things that make us both laugh; if we could easily make conversation; and if we could make fun of each other.  

2. Communicate with love

A lot of relationship gurus and manuals will tell you that communication is the key. But my question is what are you communicating? You could just as easily communicate anger, selfishness and jealousy, so make sure that when you speak to your partner you are doing it with love and honesty. Also make sure you are listening to your partner. 

I appreciate that not all speech will come out in heart shaped clouds, but even when you are having a disagreement you should really avoid spewing out hateful words solely to hurt your significant other. Remember once you let those words tumble out of your mouth, there is no taking them back! If your partner offends you, aim to resolve it quickly. Talk through the issue because brushing it under the carpet is tantamount to relationship suicide. It will only pop its ugly head out later. And ladies – once it’s resolved move on! Trust me, men find it very annoying when you keep bringing up old issues.

3. Put selfishness aside

I remember when my girlfriends and I were a little younger (and immature!) we used to talk a lot about what a man should do and should be to us: “he better have money” and "he has to have a six pack!”. First of all, these things are very superficial. But most importantly, there was never any talk about what we were going to bring the table. I believe a lot of relationships break down because of the “me” centred approach. Consider the feelings of your loved one. Be understanding of his or her weaknesses and be supportive.

4. Spend time with each other

They say absence make the heart grow fonder, however I think that too much distance for prolonged periods can do more harm than good. Also, if you are in love with someone why would you want to be away from them? I am not saying you should always be in their face because that’s just suffocation, but even being in the same room whilst doing separate things can be enough comfort. If you live far from each other or your relationship is long distance, set time aside for some ‘we’ time. 

5. Be intimate
This is going one step further than just being in the same space. And no, I am not just referring to sex either. I am talking about exploring the physical, emotional and spiritual connection you have with each other. This is where you can say a lot without the need to utter a word. This is where you “feel” each other without the need to touch. And if you do touch this is where it goes further than a purely physical connection.  

That’s it folks. I have limited it to five because I know I have the tendency to ramble on for ages. But this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are others such as DO NOT CHEAT!; not badmouthing your partner to friends and family; being romantic and surprising and wooing each other; and respecting each other’s personal space, BUT that will be for another time.
Whether you are in love or going it solo Michael and I are wishing you a HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

I hope I have helped you with these tips on keeping love alive year round. What do you think? Do you disagree with any of them? Or do you have any of your own?