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How to Meditate
If you’ve ever been curious about meditating, and you’re wondering how it gets done, we hope this will be of help to you as you embark on that journey. Establish presence, practice mindfulness and embrace gratitude. Whether you choose to sound bath, pray, sauna or hum, put these steps into practice and see how it changes your life.
Are you ever curious about what it means to genuinely meditate? Like, seriously. Maybe you, like most people, have at one point or another mimicked something you saw on television or at the movies, like mindless hmm and hawing or some variation of assorted affirmations and relaxation exercises.
Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines the term meditate as a verb that means “to engage in contemplation or reflection.” In another entry, they define the term as a verb that means “to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.”
At the end of the day, meditation is always a practice that is carried out with intention and expectancy. Whether your expectation is to feel more present, fulfilled or well rested, there is always a reason for employing the practice of meditation in one’s life. Today, we’re going to discuss three steps you should take when deciding to meditate.
Step One: Establish presence.
Eckhart Tolle is one of the most well-known spiritual teachers in the world. According to his website, his bestselling books, The Power of Now and A New Earth are published and distributed in 52 different languages – an impressive feat for literally any single person. Moreover, his work has very much been focused on inspiring and empowering people to lead more mindful lives and embrace the advent of being present in each moment of life.
Being present, according to Tolle, is about experiencing the freedom and joys of life. In a popular video of his, he illustrates the importance of being alert, or aware of what is happening around you. He spoke about how our awareness grows and recedes based on the nature of the moment you are living in.
Step Two: Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a hot topic of discussion in today’s social landscape. Possibly because so many of us have misunderstood what it means, or we’ve found ourselves caught up in fringe conspiracies about its place in the aimless musings of abstract thought. Fortunately, psychologists were able to agree.
“Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention to the present. This state is described as observing one’s thoughts and feelings without judging them as good or bad.” (PsychologyToday)
When preparing to meditate, it is important that you understand what it means to be present, and to be aware of and alive in the moment. Some exercises to activate mindfulness include paying attention, living in the moment, focusing on your breathing, and other practical activities recommended by Mayo Clinic, The Harvard Gazette and others.
Step Three: Embrace Gratitude.
Once you’ve established presence, and put mindfulness into practice, there’s only one thing left to do. Embrace gratitude. According to research conducted in the field of positive psychology, “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” (Harvard Health)
The embrace and expression of gratitude is linked to a long list of positive outcomes for those who use it in their lives. Stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, closer relationships and more are all linked to the implementation of gratitude in one’s life. In 2010, Greater Good Magazine actually published a segmented list to review the positive effects of gratitude on the physical, psychological and social levels.
If you’ve ever been curious about meditating, and you’re wondering how it gets done, we hope this will be of help to you as you embark on that journey. Establish presence, practice mindfulness and embrace gratitude. Whether you choose to sound bath, pray, sauna or hum, put these steps into practice and see how it changes your life.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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October Week Four Scholarship Updates
Every week, we are adding schools to our list for scholarship eligibility. For Wednesday October 26, 2022, here are the schools we’ve added to our list.
At SEA, we believe in making education accessible to as many people as possible. Because the courses we offer count towards extracurricular learning, we want to make them more affordable for prospective students in high school and college/university who have expressed interest in higher learning that they can use in real life. That is why every week, we are adding schools to our list for scholarship eligibility. For Wednesday October 26, 2022, here are the schools we’ve added to our list.
Académie Marie-Claire (Visit Website)
Académie Marie-Claire of Kirkland, Quebec (Canada) is now on our list.
Current and former students of this institution are encouraged to apply, should they wish to be considered for a scholarship at SEA. Students must be able to prove their affiliation with this institution in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Applying does not guarantee that a scholarship will be granted.
Aeres University of Applied Sciences (Visit Website)
Aeres University of Applied Sciences of Dronten, Flevoland (Netherlands) is now on our list.
Current and former students of this institution are encouraged to apply, should they wish to be considered for a scholarship at SEA. Students must be able to prove their affiliation with this institution in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Applying does not guarantee that a scholarship will be granted.
Presentation High School (Visit Website)
Presentation High School of San Fransisco, California (United States) is now on our list.
Current and former students of this institution are encouraged to apply, should they wish to be considered for a scholarship at SEA. Students must be able to prove their affiliation with this institution in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Applying does not guarantee that a scholarship will be granted.
College of the Canyons (Visit Website)
College of the Canyons of Santa Clarita, California (United States) is now on our list.
Current and former students of this institution are encouraged to apply, should they wish to be considered for a scholarship at SEA. Students must be able to prove their affiliation with this institution in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Applying does not guarantee that a scholarship will be granted.
Nichols School (Visit Website)
Nichols School of Buffalo, New York (United States) is now on our list.
Current and former students of this institution are encouraged to apply, should they wish to be considered for a scholarship at SEA. Students must be able to prove their affiliation with this institution in order to be considered for a scholarship award. Applying does not guarantee that a scholarship will be granted.
Applying for a Scholarship at SEA
Students interested in being considered for a scholarship at SEA are encouraged to click here and fill out the form. As of this writing, you must be a current or past student of a school on our list. Please keep in mind that although this post includes a limited number of schools, the full list can be found here.
Scholarship awards will be announced once every three months. Winners of the scholarship will be published to our blog and social media, and may be shared on other media created or supported by the academy. The scholarship announcement schedule will be as follows:
January Week One – Fall Winners Announced
April Week One – Winter Winners Announced
July Week One – Spring Winners Announced
October Week One – Summer Winners Announced
More Information
As we continue to develop new ways to increase access to learning opportunities at SEA, we are proud to award up to $500 in scholarships for eligible students from all around the world. Institutions added to the scholarship watchlist at SEA are chosen by a lottery system, and are in no way to be misunderstood as partners or collaborators with the academy unless otherwise explicitly stated. Announcements made for awarded scholarships will be made public record, and by filling out the application form you confirm your consent to have your name published to the academy website, social media and marketing platforms. Scholarships awarded at SEA are applied directly to the courses for which they have registered and are non transferable. They are not paid out in the form of cash or deposit, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offering made available at SEA. There is no fee associated with the scholarship application at SEA, nor does the purchase of anything SEA has to offer increase the chance of being awarded a scholarship.
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How to Get Up Early in the Morning
Here at SEA, we hold the advent of rising early in very high regard. In fact, it’s probably the biggest bias we’ll ever admit to embracing. If we discover any others, we promise to work on them. Until then, take these steps towards building the habit of getting up earlier in the morning and see how it begins to change your life.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get up earlier in the morning? Whether you are looking to rise before the sun, or simply add more time or productivity to your day, if at any point you felt seen (or dragged) while reading this post so far, then this is for you.
Something some of our audience may find remarkable in today’s post, is that there is absolutely no major mindblowing recommendation in our advice for how to get up early in the morning. I know that may kill some of the suspense, but no it doesn’t, because we clearly outlined this post with three sections, each titled with what to do to achieve the “how to” item mentioned in the title. Anyway, now that that’s out of the way, let’s dive into three important things you should do if you would like to start getting up earlier in the morning.
Step One: Make a plan.
Before we dive into your first step towards getting up earlier in the morning, let’s take a moment to remember an important note of wisdom, bestowed on us by the late Mr. Benjamin Franklin.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Ben knew, perhaps from experience, that success should never be expected from the person who has not prepared to make it happen. So for all our achievers visiting this post today, it’s time to take out your pen and paper and think about what you can do to build the habit of getting up earlier in the morning moving forward. Here are some tips on things you may want to consider:
Go to sleep earlier in the night (different from going to bed… right?)
Disconnect from electronic devices at least one hour before bed
Blackout the entire room before bed time
Adjust the alarm to an earlier time
Note the time you’re getting up!!
This list may look a lot different, depending on who you are and how you normally spend your time. Maybe it will include leaving the party or the dinner with friends earlier, and sometimes it may look like not going at all. A strong recommendation to build desire towards getting up the next day is to write down what you will do in the morning that you are genuinely looking forward to. This is an exercise that can help excite and prepare you mentally and emotionally, so the physical advent of getting up can be made easier when it is time.
Step Two: Go to sleep on time.
Reminder – going to bed and going to sleep are two very different things. Can I get an amen? Lol, we don’t need to go into the details of why they are two different things for you (or for me) – let’s just accept that this is true, and vow to make sure we will be getting to sleep on time from now on. Also, as I mentioned earlier, there may be some night time sacrifices made in order to achieve your goal of getting up earlier in the morning.
It may sound tough right now, but please trust that the tub of ice cream will be in the freezer in the morning. The new album from your favourite artist that drops in the middle of the night will still be there in the morning. Your friends will still love you even if you can’t stay out late every single night of the week for dinner, drinks, dessert and debauchery.
Get to sleep on time. Zero excuses. You are the architect of the life you lead. No seriously…
“You are the architect of your own future, so design your future with uncompromising sincerity.” ― Debasish Mridha
Step Three: Get up on time. Regardless of how you feel.
Remember when you were making a plan to start getting up earlier in the mornings? What was the time you wrote down? Not the time you had in mind, or the time that your girlfriend says she gets up in the morning. What was the time you wrote down?
That’s the time you need to get up.
Zero excuses.
If you know, or suspect, you may need to wake up a few minutes earlier in order to muster the strength and willpower to pull yourself up out of the bed on time, plan accordingly. Getting up in the morning is no one’s responsibility but your own. If you made it this far into the post, then it’s because you believe getting up earlier is something you ought to try. Well, congratulations! You’ve just hit the jackpot on how to get it done.
Here at SEA, we hold the advent of rising early in very high regard. In fact, it’s probably the biggest bias we’ll ever admit to embracing. If we discover any others, we promise to work on them. Until then, take these steps towards building the habit of getting up earlier in the morning and see how it begins to change your life.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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A Mindful Daily Routine With Ashley Graham
In a recent article, published to The Wall Street Journal, Ashley opens up about how she prioritises her time, and sheds light on her daily routine. Here are three things that stuck out to us, and why we ought to consider establishing these practices in our own lives.
The model, icon and activist channels mindfulness in these three ways.
Ashley Graham is an icon in her own right. She is a woman of many firsts, including the first curvy or plus-sized model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine (2016) as well as Vogue Magazine (2017), although (mindfully) she is not a fan of the term “plus-sized”, a stance she has expounded on in her 2015 TEDx Talk at TEDxBerkleeValencia.
In a recent article, published to The Wall Street Journal, Ashley opens up about how she prioritises her time, and sheds light on her daily routine. Here are three things that stuck out to us, and why we ought to consider establishing these practices in our own lives.
Getting Up Early in the Morning
As a mother of three children, Ashley notes that it is important to her that she be up ahead of them to ensure enough space for her to have some alone time before their day begins. Early in this case is approximately 06:30a or 06:45a depending on the day. For others it could be the same, or a bit earlier or later depending on the person.
Getting up early is an important thing to consider. Studies have long demonstrated a link between getting up early and increased productivity or overall wellness, although each case is different per person. For more information on why you should consider getting up earlier in the morning, check out this article published to Healthline, listing ten benefits observed in the adoption of an early riser’s lifestyle.
Taking Vitamins
Mindful of all that her body has gone through in its 32 year journey on this planet, Ashley shares that she is in fact a vitamin consumer. She mentions that she is actually currently working with a naturopath to “regulate literally everything” going on in her body.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition reports as recently as 2019 that nearly 80% of all adults in the United States are using vitamins or dietary supplements. In the same year, the American Osteopathic Association reported an even higher number, however, they made note that out of all the people taking vitamin supplements, “only 21% have a confirmed nutritional deficiency.”
Most people, confirmed nutritional deficiency or not, do not have the means to hire a doctor specifically for the compilation of vitamin supplements, let alone visiting a doctor outside of their primary care physician. So for all our multivitamin consumers out there, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s The Nutrition Journal published an article that lists out some things you should consider before taking vitamin supplements regularly. Here’s a brief look at what they recommended:
“Reasons to use a multivitamin:
I am eating a limited diet or my appetite is poor so that I am eating less than usual.
I am following a restricted diet for longer than one week. This could be prescribed such as a liquid diet after a surgical procedure, or a self-imposed diet such as on with the goal of weight loss.
I have a condition that reduces my body’s ability to absorb nutrients (celiac disease, ulcerative colitis) or have undergone surgery that interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients (gastric bypass surgery, Whipple procedure).
I temporarily have increased nutrient needs, such as being pregnant.
I’m very busy and just can’t eat a balanced diet every day.
Reasons that may not need a multivitamin:
I eat well but am feeling tired all the time (discuss first with your doctor so they can investigate other possible causes).
I eat a pretty good diet but want to improve my health as much as possible, so it couldn’t hurt to get some extra nutrition from a vitamin.
I have osteoporosis and need more calcium, or I have iron-deficiency anemia and need more iron (in both scenarios, you may only need to take those individual nutrients rather than a comprehensive multivitamin).”
Of course, at the end of the day, what you choose to invest is between you and your doctor.
Utilising Meditation and Prayer
Another note Ashley touched on in her discourse with Lane Florsheim, the author of the article published to The Wall Street Journal, was one of meditation and prayer.
“Usually in the mornings, that will be my time for a true meditation prayer. Justin (her husband) and I have been doing it together for years, and we started inviting Isaac into prayer time, and he loves it. Alone time, which is just as important for me, is really when the children go down. Justin and I have a thing where we just know that in order to be better for each other, we also need to have our own time and our own space.”
The impact of meditation and prayer on our mental, emotional and physical health has been studied for years, with varying results. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says “much of the research on these topics has been preliminary or not scientifically rigorous. Because the studies examined many different types of meditation and mindfulness practices, and the effects of those practices are hard to measure, results from the studies have been difficult to analyze and may have been interpreted too optimistically.” Adversely, this article published to the Emory News Center at Emory University notes the benefits observed by a practising psychologist in Sri Lanka following the tsunami of 2004.
Although conclusive research on meditation and prayer is still minimal, the testimonies of those who already use these methods for mindfulness and wellness may make the consideration worthwhile.
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How to End A Relationship, Respectfully
A lot of people get stuck reminiscing on past memories shared with people who are no longer a part of their lives, and if they’re not careful, they begin to dwell in that space, abandoning their present and future potential by focusing on something that they had once resolved to leave behind. If you are in a situation right now where you feel it necessary to end a relationship (or two, or six, or nine), take this advice. Don’t go another day wondering why things never work out.
Are you in an unhealthy relationship with someone you love and respect, but you just don’t know how to get out of it? Are you in a relationship with someone you feel you have lost respect for, but you’re still unsure of the best way to discontinue your relationship? If you’re in any variation of these tricky situations, and you are hoping to move forward without the tumult of the relationship you are currently in, then this post is for you.
Check in with yourself.
Being in a relationship, whether it be romantic or platonic, professional or familial can be really challenging for a number of reasons. One of the more challenging aspects of relationships we find ourselves really involved in is that sometimes, if we’re not careful, we begin to think a bit too much from the perspective of the other person and a bit too little from the perspective of our authentic selves.
In good times and bad times, in all life’s ups and downs, the most important voice you will ever listen to is your own. It is incredibly important that you are in tune with your truest self and the reality of your interests and desires. This is how we show up authentically in our relationships with others. So, when things have gone awry in any relationship in your life, take a moment to check in with yourself?
“Have I been honest about who I am and what I desire?”
“Have I been consistent? Are there any mixed messages I may have been sending as of late?”
“What am I really feeling in this relationship right now, and what do I want moving forward?”
“Am I willing to move forward with this person, and to what extent or cost?”
These are some example questions you may need to ask yourself when dealing with a relationship that feels broken, especially one that feels broken beyond the hope of repair because let’s face – if you’ve come to this post, then you probably already know what it’s like to be in one of these situations.
Check in with the other person.
A really important next step when dealing with the desire to end a relationship is checking in with the other person. Now, it is not always necessary to check in with a person to discuss the end of a relationship. Here’s why. Regardless of what social media or Lifetime TV may have told you, you don’t inherently owe anyone anything, and no one in this life inherently owes you anything. Period.
Some relationships require some discussion in order for you to clear a path forward for yourself that successfully avoids unnecessary tolls on your mental and emotional health, however, this is not always the case. It is important for you to be able to discern the difference.
If you are able, and the other person is willing, create a safe space for the two of you to engage in a discussion about the problems each of you are facing within the context of your relationship. If you are open to rekindling what the two of you once shared, go ahead and make that clear. However, if you are unwilling to move forward with this person, go ahead and make that clear during your discussion when it is most appropriate.
Safe spaces are paramount to the success of tough conversations. Before you dive into the issues of how this person’s words and actions have left you to feel, and before they dive into the illustration of how your behaviour has impacted them, be sure to make it very clear that you are both committing to holding a safe space for the other person to express themselves with uninterrupted authenticity.
Now, if you feel like a conversation about the potential end of your relationship with someone in your life will require more than you can afford to give of your mental health, go ahead and exit stage left—let the relationship go without the conversation. Even if you are feeling unsure, it is always better to move forward than to remain still in one place for too long a time. It is also better to end the relationship without the conversation than to have the conversation without the procurement of a safe space.
Ghosting does not have the best reputation socially, however, we do it a lot more than we care to admit, and sometimes we don’t do it when it actually needs to be done. Sure, it is nice to feel a sense of closure from one chapter of our lives that helps us turn the page to what’s next, however, if you are unable to endure the process of what the journey to that closure might look like right now, you need to do what is best for you. Even if it feels selfish, do what needs to be done. You cannot help someone if you are unwilling to help yourself.
Move on with your life.
Once you have resolved to end a relationship, you need to move on. There is more life to be lived – go out and live it! What dreams are you chasing? What new realities do you have the power to create? Your future is literally in the palm of your hands –don’t waste it fixating on what used to be.
This is a really important part of ending a relationship. A lot of people get stuck reminiscing on past memories shared with people who are no longer a part of their lives, and if they’re not careful, they begin to dwell in that space, abandoning their present and future potential by focusing on something that they had once resolved to leave behind.
If you are in a situation right now where you feel it necessary to end a relationship (or two, or six, or nine), take this advice. Don’t go another day wondering why things never work out. Take ownership of your decision to stay or go, and take action in direction of the desires of your heart.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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How to Embrace Your Family’s Culture
If you have been wanting to build more closeness and understanding with your family, such that you might be able to effectively embrace or identify with their culture, consider these steps and see where they take you. After all why sink when you can SWIM?
Have you ever wanted to connect more with your family’s culture? Ever felt like maybe there was something more you could do to show your interest in understanding your family members and your family history? This may not be the tell-all or the “ultimate guide” on how to embrace your family structure, however, we felt these three nuggets might be most useful for our readers who are looking to identify more with their family’s culture and heritage.
Ask questions
One of the quickest routes to the answers of life is always going to be found in the asking of a question. “How was your day?” “Do you like our new beverage?” “What’s the weather like outside?” The same principle applies when it comes to getting to know your family.
Asking questions is an important step in learning how to embrace your family’s culture because it provides the foundation for understanding to be built. These questions can range in depth and severity depending on who you are speaking with and what your objectives are. Remember to always exercise patience and gratitude when asking questions about a family member or a family story – as close as you may be in each others hearts, you never know what triggers you may be tripping in your discussions with the ones you love.
Here is a short list of some questions you might ask to better understand your family’s culture, heritage or traditions:
What country are you from?
What is your native language?
What was your relationship with your mother like while growing up?
What was a normal day for you during your primary school years?
What was home life like for you and your family growing up?
What are some of your favourite family traditions and why?
Did you have any dreams about your future when you were little?
How did your family respond to or support your dreams as a child?
What are your favourite memories of your family?
Were there any special family traditions?
Do you have any special family dishes I should know about?
What’s one difficult situation you faced with your family, and how did you handle it?
What is one difficult family memory you have, and how do you navigate those feelings?
Participate in family traditions
If the first step to embracing your family’s culture is to ask questions and build understanding, then the next step that would make the most sense is to get involved and be an active participant in family activities. It’s time to participate in your family’s traditions.
Now, depending on your family’s background and the current interests of the leading members of your family, your traditions might look a little different than others… or a lot. It all depends.
Maybe it’s Sunday night football, Taco Tuesday or Wednesday night Bible study. Maybe it’s digital distancing on Fridays and Saturdays, or dinner at Auntie’s on Thursday nights. Maybe it’s celebrating the High Holy Days, going to church or fashion week. Whatever your family’s traditions are, participating in one or more will help you in embracing your family’s culture, and may actually bring your family closer together.
Here is a short list of some common family traditions:
Sitting down for a meal together
Saying a prayer together regularly
Singing, dancing or performing together
Reading together as a family
Family story time
Family movie night
Family game night
Annual family vacation
Weekly family mental health check in
Family group hugs and handshakes
Family hiking, fishing, or other outdoors adventure
Attend family gatherings
Whether the gathering itself be common or uncommon, take the time to be present with your family when the opportunity arises. This is the most organic way to build closeness, to understand and embrace the culture of your family, and to even help perpetuate it.
If you’re in your hometown, perhaps coordinate with family members to have a dinner or a special family outing. Visit someone’s house, or go support a loved one at something special they have going on. Take the time to get to know your loved ones – after all, culture is really driven by who we are.
So there you have it. If you have been wanting to build more closeness and understanding with your family, such that you might be able to effectively embrace or identify with their culture, consider these steps and see where they take you.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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Ketanji Brown Jackson Introduces Herself as A Force to Be Reckoned With
Insights from her first week as a Supreme Court Justice position Jackson as a powerful player in the Judicial Branch of the United States.
Insights from her first week as a Supreme Court Justice position Jackson as a powerful player in the Judicial Branch of the United States.
SCOTUS Significance
Today’s post is all about the powerful entry of one Ketanji Brown Jackson as the newest Supreme Court Justice. For that reason, we are going to pause for a moment to provide context in case any of our readers are unfamiliar with the Supreme Court of the United States, or why it is such a “big deal” to many people throughout the country and around the world.
The Supreme Court, established on September 24, 1789 is the “the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary (the judicial authorities of a country) specifically required by the Constitution.” (The White House) At present, there are nine Supreme Court Justices, including John G. Roberts Jr. (Chief Justice of the United States), Clarence Thomas (Associate Justice), Samuel A. Alito Jr. (Associate Justice), Sonia Sotomayor (Associate Justice), Elena Kagan (Associate Justice), Neil M. Gorsuch (Associate Justice), Brett M. Kavanaugh (Associate Justice), Amy Coney Barrett (Associate Justice), and Ketanji Brown Jackson (Associate Justice).
In order to become a Supreme Court Justice, you must be appointed by the President of the United States, and confirmed by Congress. Supreme Court Justices are granted a life term, and are expected to serve until they die, retire, or find themselves impeached and convicted.
Merrill vs. Milligan//Voting Rights
Just last week, the Supreme Court took a moment to hear the Merrill vs. Milligan case, which narrows its focus on “how much those who draw electoral districts should be required to consider race.” (The Guardian)
During the hearing, the solicitor general for Alabama, Edmund LaCour argued that the layout of his state’s congressional map was not in discrimination against voting citizens who are Black. And when the plaintiffs of the case illustrated the feasibility of redrawing the map to include two majority-Black districts instead of one, LaCour insisted that doing so would require the mapmaker to go to dramatic lengths to consider race – which he believed to be at conflict with the provision of the 14th amendment of the US Constitution.
In response to LaCour’s argument, Ketanji Brown Jackson took about five minutes to refocus the court’s understanding of the 14th amendment, which was created to protect each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law, regardless of the colour of their skin. An article published to The Guardian captured the perspective of court observers on this interaction:
““I think it’s really clear she’s just going to be a force to be reckoned with,” said Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan. “Both in questioning positions that she’s skeptical of, but also in providing support for lawyers when they’re being subject to hostile questioning.”” (The Guardian)
“I don’t think that the historical record establishes that the founders believed race neutrality or race blindness was required,” said Jackson, in response to LaCour. “It was drafted to give a foundational, a constitutional foundation for a piece of legislation that was designed to make people who had less opportunity and less rights equal to white citizens… I’m trying to understand why that violates the 14th amendment given the history and background of the 14th amendment.”
Universal Core Competencies on Display
Our takeaways from what we’ve seen and read in the last week as Ketanji Brown Jackson has officially taken her seat and gotten to work as the newest Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of the United States are many. Still, we are compelled to examine the resolve and the authority displayed by Jackson in her response to the solicitor general. Here are three universal core competencies we saw on display from the Associate Justice, accompanied by their definitions.
Respect for Policies
One's capacity for honouring an established set of rules and guidelines, especially in a professional, academic, religious or governmental setting.
Jackson’s response was one that brought attention to the 14th amendment, which was pushed in LaCour’s argument as being dismissed at the notion of restructuring Alabama’s congressional map in the way that was illustrated by the plaintiffs in the Merrill vs. Milligan case. She focused on bringing attention to the context and the intention of the amendment, which was introduced in the 19th century.
Traditional/Regulatory Drive
One's capacity for feeling and adhering to a compulsion to achieve or accomplish something related to principle.
Again, Jackson’s response illustrated that she is focused on honouring the principle of the laws and the US Constitution. Inasmuch, her aim to find clarity in LaCour’s argument was presented through this lens.
Balanced Decision Making
One's capacity for objectively evaluating available options against desired objectives and potential outcomes, and selecting a course of action with confidence and resolve.
During the course of the hearing of this case, there were many notes and perspectives introduced and addressed. In the moments where Justice Jackson chose to speak, she was very intentional with the direction she chose, carefully considering the desired outcome of what she was presented to work with.
Who is someone who has inspired you recently? What was it that they said or did that you found encouraging or otherwise noteworthy? What are some of the universal core competencies that they displayed with their words or actions? Hopefully you can continue to identify the north stars in your everyday life, and use them to propel you towards your purpose, your passions and your dreams.
Until next time…
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How to Establish Your Purpose
There are many situations or experiences that carry the potential to evince purpose in your life. Some people make it to the end of their days without ever stopping to discover, establish or understand their purpose—the reason they were ever alive.
Has anyone ever asked you what your purpose is in life? Have you ever wondered if there was a particular reason why you were born? Do you struggle with the idea that your life has meaning? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this post is for you. Let’s talk about it.
What is purpose?
In very simple terms, purpose is “why you do something or why something exists.” At least that’s how Cambridge Dictionary defines it. Another phrasing from Collins Dictionary clarifies that “the purpose of something is the reason for which it is made or done.”
In a rather popular article, published to the Greater Good Science Magazine at Berkeley University of California, it is noted that for psychologists, “purpose is an abiding intention to achieve a long-term goal that is both personally meaningful and makes a positive mark on the world.” It’s something that evolves throughout the course of our lives, and helps us navigate life and living with a perceptible sense of meaning.
Why is purpose important?
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Purpose is important because it is literally how we articulate our utility, or our reason for being present or active in any particular moment or situation. Sometimes we attach our perceived utility or potential to a larger organisation such as a church, a community or a government, however there is no one way to discover or define the purpose of all people.
No matter where your purpose is found, it is pretty safe to say that it will always be in service of something larger than yourself. You may not be Mother Teresa, but you may be passionate about feeding the hungry, clothing the poor or housing the unhoused. You may not be Nelson Mandela, but you may find yourself in a position where you can inspire people to love others unconditionally just by the way you respond to the circumstances of your life.
Where does purpose come from?
Again, there is no one way to discover or define the purpose of all people. There are many situations or experiences that carry the potential to evince purpose in your life. Some people make it to the end of their days without ever stopping to discover, establish or understand their purpose—the reason they were ever alive. Some people spend their time worrying that they may never find out why they’re here.
A simple way to look at where purpose comes from is to begin with universal core competencies, and then pairing your skills with your passion. What are you skilled at? Is aesthetic awareness a strength of yours? Balanced decision making and collaboration? These competencies, for example, are necessary for someone who works in interior design, but they may also be the skillset of a person who works in production, customer experience or the visual arts. It all depends on the person, however, there is no shortage of potential utility, purpose or value.
If we’re not careful, we might spend our whole lives waiting to find purpose someday, when all the while we have the power to build and define what purpose is in our lives. That’s why in some of our courses it’s required that students complete a self-assessment of universal core competencies. It is important to move with purpose in order to lead a meaningful and comprehensive life. Take the power back into your hands and own your why. See how things start to change in your life.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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How to Identify Your Passion
Sometimes, if we’re not careful, we begin to buy into this idea that passion is some lofty out of reach thing we must aspire to, when in reality it doesn’t need to be. If you’re that person who is feeling down on their luck today because they haven’t found their passion, pull yourself together.
Have you ever been that person who felt unsure of what they wanted most out of life? Do you ever feel lost or unenthused? Are you trying to find your passion and struggling with where to begin? If you answered yes to any part of these questions, then today’s post is for you.
If you’re here today, chances are you’ve got questions, or you’ve heard questions like these before:
“What is a passion?”
“Why is passion important?”
“Do I really need passion in my life?”
Passion can be defined as a very “strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something” (The Britannica Dictionary)
Some people are passionate about singing. Some are passionate about cooking, dancing or playing instruments or sports. Some people are passionate about learning or making a noticeable change in the world around them. Some people know that passion they have deep down in their heart, and others are less passionate about life or maybe unaware. Wherever you are on the spectrum of passion, it’s useful to know that passion can be developed by design.
How is passion developed, you ask? Simple.
Practice perpetuates passion.
Pick something you enjoy. Anything. Watching movies, listening to music, observing large crowds of people from a distance. Set aside time to enjoy this activity, and make it a priority to better understand what it is about the experience you enjoy most.
Maybe in your heart you’re searching for joy, interpersonal connection, an inspiration or a muse. Maybe that one activity you enjoy might spark your curiosity, and lead you to something you never even realised you might be passionate about. Maybe you’ll find nothing, and in your search for passion, you’ll discover that you’ve simply become passionate about enjoying life on your own terms.
Sometimes, if we’re not careful, we begin to buy into this idea that passion is some lofty out of reach thing we must aspire to, when in reality it doesn’t need to be. If you’re that person who is feeling down on their luck today because they haven’t found their passion, pull yourself together. Start doing the things you know you enjoy, and see where it takes you.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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How Tommy Hilfiger Taught the Power of A Passion
From its launch in 1985, the Hilfiger name has been a strong contender in the fashion industry… Here are a few notes he shared that shed a light on the power of a passion.
Tommy shares his thoughts on a number of topics, from fashion to business and everything in between.
Tommy Hilfiger is one of the top ten designer brands in America. From its launch in 1985, the Hilfiger name has been a strong contender in the fashion industry, closing out with an estimated $4.7 billion in revenue just last year.
In a recent article written by Chris Black for HIGHSNOBIETY, beloved designer Tommy shares his thoughts on a number of topics, from fashion to business and everything in between. Here are a few notes he shared that shed a light on the power of a passion.
Inspiration
Tommy was first inspired by a shift he saw in the world around him in his youth. “...It was a dramatic revolution in politics and fashion. That’s what prompted me to go into business... It was about making cool clothes for people who wanted to be in the groove or part of the scene.”
Balance
He survived a period of time where his passion led to an imbalance of creativity and business. He had to learn the hard way, navigating financial struggles earlier on in his career.
The key takeaway he shares from this is simple. “...If you’re very creative, but you don’t have a business head or a great partner, you won’t make it. And if you’re a good business person, but you have no creativity, you’ll fail. You need both.”
Adaptability
The Tommy Hilfiger brand rose to prominence in a time where the world worked a lot differently than today. Back in the earlier stages of the business, which was almost four decades ago, they would send a sketch of a design to the factory and wait for the prototype to be sent back to them. As Tommy recalls, this process was usually back and forth because it was very common for the factory to send the garment back with errors the first five times or so.
Today, with the power of 3D design, they are able to send a more technologically advanced rendering of the concept to the factory, which then allows for a quicker turnaround time on the prototype which is pretty much perfect on its first delivery from the factory these days.
Tommy is very keen on keeping up with the evolution of technology. “If you don’t keep up with it or stay a step ahead of it, if you fall behind, catching up is very difficult to do” he says.
Passion
The journey to success was hardly a straight and narrow for this designer, who came from a humble and largely unknown town in upstate New York. But all things are possible for those who believe. “If you follow your passion, whether you’re a musician or an actor or an athlete, you can be successful.” — Tommy Hilfiger (HIGHSNOBIETY)
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How to Overcome Fear
Whatever fears you may be facing today, there is a way to overcome them. Fear is not more powerful than you, and it does not need to have the final say in any season of your life.
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you felt like you could not move forward because of something that made you feel afraid? Have you ever felt so driven by your worry that you spoke or acted out of character and wished you could take back what you said or did? If you answered yes to any part of these questions, then this post is for you.
How many times have you heard the “I would, but I’m scared…” or “I want to, but I’m worried…” statements in your life? How many times have you been the person saying or thinking/believing these things? Fear has long been known as an enemy of progress in the lives of humans everywhere. Still, not everyone understands why.
The Definition of Fear
Fear can be defined as “an unpleasant feeling or thought perpetuated by the concern of some potential threat or danger, whether real or imagined. [2] An archaic term used to describe an indeterminable blend of dread and respect for a powerful being or deity.” (The Academic Blog)
There is this troubling thing we do as humans, especially in some certain subsects of culture, where we limit our understanding of what fear is and how it operates based on acronyms that encourage us to think a certain way about it.
“Fear is the false evidence of things appearing real.”
“Fear stands for face everything and rise.”
As well meaning as these statements may be, they are in fact untrue. Fear cannot be reasonably summed up as the false evidence of things appearing real. Sometimes the things we are worried about or afraid of are actually real and often difficult to understand or navigate. The same could be said for the call to action concept that fear means “face everything and rise,” although this statement would be more useful in most situations. Eventually, we hope to rise out of any situation that has us feeling down. Right?
Overcoming Fear
In order to face the things we fear and overcome them, we need to build bridges of genuine understanding, courage and faith between where we are and where we would like to be. Let’s look at this example:
You and your friend Jeremy haven’t been talking lately. He threw a birthday party and you totally forgot about it because you’ve been stressed under the pressure of preparing for a big exam, and you never added the event to your calendar. You did promise him two weeks ago that you would be there though, so he was expecting you to show.
It’s been a few weeks since you missed the party, and you’re afraid to reach out because Jeremy has been posting about the party, and you are afraid he will be upset with you and possibly not want to be your friend anymore, especially since this is not the first time something like this has happened. You want to make up and continue the friendship, but your fear has gotten the best of you.
Understanding that you both have unique experiences and feelings around this situation implies that in order to get through this, both you and Jeremy will need to have a discussion about the matter at hand in a safe space, where the both of you will be free to honestly express your feelings, hopes and intentions.
Courage will be needed, because even though you can be confident or certain about your intentions to be honest and non confrontational, you may still be nervous and unsure about Jeremy’s initial reaction or final decision on the matter. Last, and far from least, faith is very much required in the advent of overcoming fear.
Faith is “an active belief in a potential outcome that has not yet been seen or otherwise proven or experienced.” (The Academic Glossary) It is distinguished from the qualities of hope, belief or intent because it is always paired with action towards an expected unknown outcome. So in the case of your rift with your friend Jeremy, by reaching out and having the discussion you are acting in faith. Faith that you will find closure, or reconciliation. Faith that you will learn or achieve something new.
Whatever fears you may be facing today, there is a way to overcome them. Fear is not more powerful than you, and it does not need to have the final say in any season of your life.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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How to Stop Negativity
Once you have defined and understood the problem area in your life that is draining your enthusiasm or sense of hope, you need to determine the best course of action on your part. Sometimes we get really excited about placing the blame on others, however, it is actually very important that we genuinely understand the very real role we play in the ongoings of our own lives.
Most of the content we create for the How to SWIM series starts off with an identifying hook that speaks to who this content is for. For today’s post, we actually want to make it very clear who this content was not intended for.
If you are someone who prefers to be led by your emotions, today’s post may not be for you. If you are someone who enjoys laughing at the expense of others, especially while refusing to take ownership of the impact of your words or actions, this post was not made for you. This post is for people who see negativity in their lives and in the world around them and desire to build or help create a positive change. This post is for people who actually want to stop negativity.
Define the Problem
Life is full of unpleasant or negative experiences. One of the challenges we are faced with, often on a daily basis, is the advent of determining when it’s necessary that we do something about them.
Negativity can be defined as “the fact of tending to consider only the bad side of something/somebody; a lack of enthusiasm or hope” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary).
Can you remember a time where you were in a situation where you felt a lack of enthusiasm or hope? Why were you there? What was the driving force behind that experience? How could you have made things different or better? We can’t control everything in our lives, however, we can overcome some of the challenges we face once we understand them better.
For example, if you continually find yourself in the middle of workplace gossip or drama, you could remove yourself from unpleasant discussions about others or commit to taking your issues directly to the people you have concerns with. If you are struggling with an unprecedented onslaught of unsolicited destructive opinions from strangers on the internet, you could change the privacy settings of your accounts, or take a break from the internet altogether.
Once you have defined and understood the problem area in your life that is draining your enthusiasm or sense of hope, you need to determine the best course of action on your part. Sometimes we get really excited about placing the blame on others, however, it is actually very important that we genuinely understand the very real role we play in the ongoings of our own lives.
Do you know how you stop negativity? You simply stop feeding it. Wherever you plant your focus, you will see growth. This is why people who focus on the idea that they are incapable of achieving great things tend to accomplish very little with their lives, and the people who focus on the concept of everything that makes them feel amazing, competent and/or capable tend to accomplish many great things.
The solution to dealing with experiences of negativity is to build experiences of positivity.
Positivity can be defined as “the practice of being positive in your attitude and focusing on what is good in a situation.” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary)
Dictionary definitions of this term make it difficult to reach a common understanding on the practical application of positive thinking, especially considering that what is seen as ‘good’ to one person might not be the same for another. At SEA, we define positivity as an experience that produces confidence and clarity. It is something that we build that allows us to see more of what is possible and promotes awareness around what can help us move forward in our lives in a more favourable manner.
When you lean into positivity, it creates a boundary between you and negative experiences. If you’re suffering the consequences of the choice you made to dwell in negativity, choose a different path. If you’re struggling with the impact of a negative experience, create as much space as you can between you and the experience, and focus on building positivity in your life. See how things begin to change.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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There’s a Lesson in the Dream Face Reveal
It’s not easy, being transparent and vulnerable. Society plays a huge role in the build up of the challenge. Still, no matter what people say or think of you, only you get to determine who you will be and how you will share yourself with the world.
It’s not easy, being transparent and vulnerable.
This past weekend, 23 year old Clay, the Youtuber and Twitch streamer known as Dream, took to the internet to reveal his face for the first time.
“Just met Dream!! :)” — George, another popular gaming streamer who has been internet friends with Dream for years without ever meeting him in person.
On Sunday evening, Dream took to Twitter, where every single one of his tweets tend to go viral, to give the world a two-hour heads up that he would be premiering his face reveal on YouTube. He also shared that he would be posting a picture of him and his “best friends finally being together.”
The reason we chose this as our north star inspiration this week is not because we’re obsessed, happy, disturbed or unimpressed, but because we believe there’s a lesson in Dream’s face reveal.
Have you ever felt like you wish you could share a part of yourself with a certain person or group of people in your life, but you didn’t know how to share it or how it might be received? That’s sort of the big deal around Dream revealing his face to the world, especially after keeping it strategically hidden for so long.
There’s something freeing about being yourself fully in every space you occupy and being able to share yourself freely with others. Of course, that doesn’t mean that everyone needs to know everything about you and your personal business. You can be yourself and still practise healthy boundaries in your life while being careful to ensure you don’t slip into the dark side of compartmentalisation.
This week, we are celebrating Dream’s decision to share his face with the world. It’s not easy, being transparent and vulnerable. Society plays a huge role in the build up of the challenge. Still, no matter what people say or think of you, only you get to determine who you will be and how you will share yourself with the world.
Watch the official face reveal video Dream posted to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtpdMkKvB6U
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Helena Christensen’s Inspiring Body Positivity
This week, we are leaning into the power of getting real about how we feel about ourselves, and about the lives we lead.
The supermodel will be shining bright and inspiring us all week long.
Danish model and photographer, and former Victoria's Secret model, Helena Christensen was in the news last week for her stunning looks and some inspiring statements she made about the female body.
The 53 year old supermodel, who became a globally famous breakout star for her leading role in the official music video for “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak almost 30 years ago, made headlines last week for many things from her reunion with Eva Herzigova at the front row of Dolce & Gabbana's Autumn/Winter 2022 runway show for Milan Fashion Week (the show was curated by Kim Kardashian), to her jaw-dropping appearance as the face of the newest Coco de Mer Icons Collection campaign. And as amazing as each of these headlines are, nothing caught our attention like the ones we’re about to speak on.
A recent article published to Body+Soul illustrated the perspective of one journalist, Angela Mollard on fashion freedom and body positivity for middle aged women. Angela wrote her thoughts after reading the harsh criticisms of a former fashion publicist regarding Helena Chrstensen’s outfit choice for Gigi Hadid’s 24th birthday party.
“I refuse to be shamed into covering my arms,” Mollard says in the article. And fortunately, it seems the same is true for Helena, as we’ve seen in both her personal photos and professional work since that party in 2019.
Another statement that caught our attention in the press last week was one where Helena speaks on body confidence in a woman. In an article published to The Telegraph, Christensen is quoted saying “no woman feels confident about her body all the time – it’s just not possible.”
Reading this statement felt very freeing and inspiring for us, because we believe there is power in vulnerability and transparency, although it is not something we always display towards or receive from others.
This week, we are leaning into the power of getting real about how we feel about ourselves, and about the lives we lead. It’s not that we have to focus on being dissatisfied with ourselves or our lives – it’s about being freed from the dishonesty that societal pressures often trap us in when it comes to our image and who we really are.
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How to Make the Most of a Bad Situation
Observe what is happening to you. Observe how it makes you feel. Identify the skills you have relevant to the situation you are in. No more endless suffering. Take back your power. Build a game plan and take action.
Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a tough situation, and you just didn’t know how to get out? Have you ever found yourself trying to figure out how to keep a level head or a positive mindset through a difficult or troubling circumstance? If your response to either of these questions is a yes, then this post is most certainly for you.
Sometimes life deals us a deck of cards that really suck. It’s the truth. Whether it’s a breakup on your birthday, a death at graduation, another year in a dead end job, or any number of experiences that feel big and sad. Fortunately, there are some things we can do to improve our life’s circumstances, even when they feel really big and overwhelming. And just an FYI before we get going, there are absolutely zero gimmicks or tricks involved in today’s post. Sometimes, if we’re not careful, we find ourselves looking for quick tips or hacks to try and trick ourselves into believing that everything is okay instead of actually addressing the problem areas in our lives. There will be none of that behaviour in this post, or promoted by the academy, ever.
There’s a popular saying that goes “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” You may have heard it before somewhere in your life – it’s a beautiful statement that often goes misunderstood.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”—Joseph Kennedy
If you’ve ever heard, read or even said this and had no idea what it really means, let’s take a moment to break it down.
Sometimes life gets hard. Right? Right. Sometimes the challenges of life begin to seem insurmountable when they continually come our way with little to no reprieve. This is when the going gets tough. On the other hand, Joseph Kennedy is saying that when this happens, tough people get to work to push back against or overcome the challenges they are presented with. In other words, there is a conscious action taken by the person presented with adversity.
When you find yourself stuck in a bad situation, it is your responsibility to find a way out. This does not mean that the purpose of every challenge you face is there to make you stronger. It means that if you don’t like the situation you are in, you can either find a way to make it out, or find a way to make it through your situation.
Observe what is happening to you. Observe how it makes you feel. Identify the skills you have relevant to the situation you are in. No more endless suffering. Take back your power. Build a game plan and take action.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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How to Be A Leader
Oftentimes, we look to the number of followers a person has in order to determine how great of a leader they actually are — this sometimes leads to feelings of inadequacy though, if we’re not careful. Today we will look at what it looks like to be a leader, with or without external validation from others.
Have you ever wondered what it means to be a leader? Have you ever thought of yourself as more of a leader or a follower? Do you feel like you sometimes struggle with taking initiative? Well, by now you probably know the deal. If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this post was made for you.
What is a leader?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a leader is “the person who leads or commands a group, organisation, or country.”
There are many different kinds of leaders in the world today. From religious leaders and government officials, to bloggers and social media influencers.
Oftentimes, we look to the number of followers a person has in order to determine how great of a leader they actually are — this sometimes leads to feelings of inadequacy though, if we’re not careful. You see, one of the challenges we often see in people who desire to be a leader is that they look at leadership more as a position that you are put into by someone else rather than a posture that you put yourself into. Today we will look at what it looks like to be a leader, with or without external validation from others.
Practice Accurate Self-Assessment
Self Assessment is defined as “one's capacity for observing, understanding and accurately judging the quality of one's own skills and abilities based on their performance.” (The Academic Glossary)
In order to be a leader, it is important to understand your strengths and weaknesses, or the areas in which you still need improvement. Maybe you are a strong vocalist who is really good at creating musical content when collaborating with a stronger lyricist. Or maybe you’re really good at both. Knowing your strengths will help you build leadership skills, and knowing your weaknesses will help you identify the areas where you need help in order to be the best leader you can possibly be.
Commit to Serving Others
Another important note about being a good leader is this: leadership = service.
In order to lead others, you must be willing to serve them. For example, your service as a stellar vocalist may be to entertain your fans with new content, or to educate your clients or students through your skill. A community leader may serve their community by representing their voices on a larger platform in order to help create a desired or otherwise necessary change. Your leadership may look different depending on your skills and passions, however, it will always include acts of service towards the very people you lead. Which brings us to our next and final note… following through.
Follow Through
In an article published to Medium.com back in 2020, blogger Tullio Siragusa argued that the significance of follow through could “never be emphasized enough.” In expansion:
“Living up to your commitments is helps you earn credibility. It is something people notice immediately about you. If you mean what you say and do what you committed to doing, you will earn trust and respect from people.
On the other hand, if you don’t follow-through on your words, people will soon stop caring about what you have to say. For leaders, this behavior can translate into utter disappointment for the employees, and disengagement.” – Tullio Siragusa
Good leadership requires follow through, and while there may be no one-size-fits-all approach to leading a life well lived, it is certainly important that each of us strives to do what we say we will do, and work on improving our consistency and reliability.
So take what you’ve learned today, and see how it changes your life. Practice accurate self-assessment, commit to serving others, and always follow through.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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Ye’s Most Recent Lecture on Self Confidence
Ye West (formerly known as Kanye West) appeared in a video that was first published to CNBC on Thursday September 15, 2022 to confirm that he is terminating his deal with Gap, Inc. one of the largest retailers in the United States and around the world.
“A King can’t live in someone else’s castle, a King has to live in his own castle” – Ye West
Ye West (formerly known as Kanye West) appeared in a video that was first published to CNBC on Thursday September 15, 2022 to confirm that he is terminating his deal with Gap, Inc. one of the largest retailers in the United States and around the world.
During the clip, Ye sheds a light on some of the key reasons for the dissolution of his relationship with the retailer including, price point issues, unfulfilled promises on the development of Yeezy Gap stores, product distribution, creative direction and more.
What stands out for us in this video is the clarity of Ye’s self-expression. Throughout the video, Ye plainly expresses that his relationship with the retail giant is dissolving because there is nothing there to hold onto. Things are falling apart because promises were not being upheld, and time and resources were being carelessly wasted.
Self Confidence is defined as “one's capacity for believing and trusting in one's own abilities, qualities and judgement” (The Academic Glossary), and in this clip we see someone who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to exercising self confidence, even in the face of unfulfilled promises and public criticisms. Ye sees himself at the top of the mountain, and his work has proven his perspective and his perseverance many times throughout his career.
We wait to see more of his story unfold.
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How to Get Rid of Old Habits
You don’t have to be bound by your old ways. The future you shouldn’t have to suffer under the weight of the old you. Take back your power and build a better tomorrow. You’ve got this.
Do you have any unhealthy or expired habits? Maybe you have what you call “bad habits” or “toxic traits”? Well if so, then today’s post is here for you, and it’s all about getting rid of them.
Rap artist Lecrae was once quoted having said that “old habits die hard, and if you're not careful, the person you used to be can overtake the person you're trying to become.”
Sometimes we get a bit too hard on ourselves when it comes to managing our habits. We get frustrated after picking up that third drink, going to see a certain person, or opening a certain Twitter list we swore we’d never open again. People struggle with change because we are hardwired to prefer familiarity no matter how “good” or “bad” it may be.
So how do we overcome? Humans are habitual beings, so if you want to get rid of an old one, you’ll have to replace it with a new one. And for as simple as that may seem to some of you, rest assured it is always easier said than done. Today, we are going to look at three things you can do to successfully get rid of old habits.
Identify an Old Unhealthy Habit
The first step towards shedding an old habit is identifying what it is, and how it is adversely impacting a specific area of your life. For example, if you are unhappy about feeling like you never have enough time to accomplish your goals outside of work, maybe look at how you are spending your time throughout each day. If you do not have a calendar or a weekly agenda, then you might want to start by breaking the habit of disorder and irresponsibility with your time, and begin to schedule out your days.
Identify What Motivates You to Take Action
The second step to getting rid of an old habit is to identify your motivators. What gets you excited about taking action in your life? For some people, the satisfaction of taking action is found in the journey, and for others it’s in the end result. Regardless of what your motivators may be, once you identify and understand what they are you can begin to build motivation towards your new healthy habit, and stop feeding motivation towards your old and unhealthy habit.
Build Motivation Towards A New and Healthy Habit
Once you have identified your old unhealthy habit, as well as what motivates you to take action, it’s time to really build that motivation up and get to work on replacing that old unhealthy habit with a new and healthy one. If the idea of reaching a new milestone in your career or your dreams is what gets you going, start putting specific tasks on the calendar, and write down which exciting milestone each action item is related to. If you need someone to go on the journey with you, tap into your community and find yourself an accountability partner or group that will help you in being responsible towards reaching your goals.
You don’t have to be bound by your old ways. The future you shouldn’t have to suffer under the weight of the old you. Take back your power and build a better tomorrow. You’ve got this.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
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How to Stand For What You Believe In
Don’t allow disagreements to keep you down, and don’t allow yourself to suffer in silence. Build better relationships and understandings with what you believe in, and see how your world begins to change.
Have you ever felt like you needed to stand up for yourself, someone else, or something you believe in your heart but you just didn’t know how? If you were honest, then like most people your answer to this question is a resounding yes, and this post is for you.
Standing up for what you believe in is a vitally important part of creating success in your individual life, as well as creating a positive impact in the lives of others. Virtually everyone you know has their own unique perspective built at the intersection of past experiences, future hopes and current beliefs.
Sometimes we shy away from standing up for ourselves because we find that we are uncomfortable with confrontation. Sometimes, we just don’t know what to say. Whatever the reason for your struggle, there are a few things you can do to improve your ability to accurately and respectfully convey your thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
Learn More About What You Believe
In case you were previously unaware, standing up for and defending something you know nothing about is an act of stupidity. Imagine defending the belief that the sky is purple, or that the Earth is and has always been flat. Knowledge is power – it’s cliche because it’s true.
In order to build clarity and confidence when it comes to standing up for yourself and what you believe, you must first build knowledge and understanding. For example, most Christians are pretty happy to share that they believe in Jesus, however, it is uncommon that you meet someone who identifies as a Christian and is capable of holding a conversation on the subject of anachronisms, transliteration or apocrypha. This is largely due to the fact that many active followers of the religion have employed the sneakily unhealthy habit of allowing another person to tell them who they are and what they are allowed to believe, say and do in this life.
While it is unlikely that you will be able to learn absolutely everything related to what you believe in, it is important to develop a functional, real world understanding of your relationship with what you claim to believe. Ironically enough, it is an actual rule of the religion that Chrisitans be ready to defend (or stand up for) what they believe in.
Oftentimes people just don’t know what to say when it comes to defending their beliefs, and that’s where improved speech comes into play.
Speak with Clarity and Confidence
When you speak, do you do so with intention? When it comes to your core values and that which you believe in most, it is important to speak with clarity so that what you have said can be well understood by others. This is a very important part of standing up for what you believe in.
Be sure to refrain from speaking unnecessary words, or mixing in gossip or unruly talk when defending your beliefs. Think of it this way — if the defence of your core values is at the same table as the latest hot gossip in class or at the office, you’ve compromised an opportunity to be clear with what you say, and there is no valid expectation of clarity from you. In fairness, it is better to refrain from using unnecessary words, or participating in gossip or unruly talk altogether.
We as humans are capable of accomplishing more with that which we understand the most. That being said, it is more advantageous for each person to expand their vocabulary as well as their understanding, so that they may communicate with a stronger sense of belief and trust in their ability, even when they are nervous.
Improve Emotional Management
Every human experiences emotion. What sets us apart is how we choose to respond to the emotions we feel. When you wake up in the morning and feel sad because your body is tired, do you take ownership of that moment and complete the responsibility of getting up, or do you go back to sleep? Now, which of these two types of people do you think is better equipped to stand up for what they believe in? Hint: it’s the one who got up.
Improving emotional management is an important step for all people, because it requires us to better understand and express ourselves, while also providing us insights on how others experience and express their feelings. In the case of standing up for what you believe in, better emotional management skills will help when communicating or defending your beliefs.
Don’t allow disagreements to keep you down, and don’t allow yourself to suffer in silence. Build better relationships and understandings with what you believe in, and see how your world begins to change.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
Queen Consistency
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was many things to many people. She was a traditionalist—a ruler and a servant. May she rest eternally, and may we be inspired to build a better future.
70 years is a long time in any job.
As you probably know by now, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II drew her last breath on Thursday, September 08, 2022. The details of her life and legacy have been the main focus of many writers and publications ever since the day, and as is usually the case, there have been many people who sit on either side of the conversation.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was many things to many people. She was a traditionalist—a ruler and a servant. A privileged and dutiful woman. Her choices created change in the lives of everyday people, some of those changes more pleasant than others. Regardless of the opinions and the feelings of the people whose lives were impacted under her rulership, there is one lesson for us all to learn of her life and her legacy…
Consistency.
There is power in consistency. In fact Alex Dimitriu, M.D. once wrote in an article for Psychology Today that our good health relies on it. And as the world pauses to reflect on the life and legacy of the one, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, we pause to admire the power of consistency she leveraged to create during her time. We won’t go into many details of her work (you can read about it here), however, we will note that 70 years is a long time in any job, and we are inspired by the level of resolve with which the Queen appeared to have made her decisions while on the throne.
May she rest eternally, and may we be inspired to build a better future.
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During this course, students will reflect on the reality of their past, present and future identities, and the significance of interpersonal relationships and habitual practices to build self-confidence and determination.